31 minute read
see VOTING
Continued from pg. 1 to previous news reports that ballots have been mishandled, Alexander said. She added that she has a great working relationship with the local post offi ce, which has “gone to great efforts on numerous occasions to make sure that ballots are handled with priority and hand delivered at times to the registrar’s offi ce on Election Day in order to meet election deadlines.”
However, to help allay fears, her offi ce purchased and installed a secure ballot drop box at the offi ce that it began using for the June Primary with much success.
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While a spokesperson from the U.S. Postal service declined an interview, the following statement was issued on concerns of the security of the mail.
“The U.S. Mail remains a secure, effi cient, and effective means for citizens to participate in the electoral process, and the Postal Service is proud to serve as a critical component of our nation’s democratic process. All U.S. Mail is protected by more than 200 federal laws enforced by the United States Postal Inspection Service, one of the nation's oldest federal law enforcement agencies. The Inspection Service has a proud history of identifying, arresting, and assisting in the prosecution of criminals who use the nation’s postal system to defraud, endanger, or threaten Americans,” the statement read.
The Inspection Service maintains robust mail theft, mail fraud, cyber, and security programs that identify, prevent and mitigate issues that could undermine the integrity of election mail, the statement continued. The Inspection Service works closely with the Postal Service as well as local, state and federal partners, to address customer concerns involving election mail.
To report law enforcement matters relating to election mail, call the Postal Inspectors at 1-877-876-2455.
Early voting
Many people mistakenly think the polls will not be open on Election Day for in-person voting, but they absolutely will be, Alexander stressed. Residents have three options for voting: request to have an absentee ballot mailed to them, vote early in person, or vote in person on Election Day at their assigned precinct. Many people may choose the fi rst two options because of the expected high voter turnout on Election Day.
As of July 1, 2020, absentee voting no longer requires citizens to have a reason to vote prior to the Election Day. Now, as the law states, starting 45 days prior to the election, anyone can vote early for any reason, Alexander said. The fi rst day of early voting in Virginia is Friday, Sept. 18.
As of Sept. 4, 2020, the offi ce of elections had already received and processed about 1,400 voteby-mail applications, Alexander said.
She explained that some people have requested an absentee ballot and then asked about voting on Election Day in person instead. If someone has requested an absentee ballot but then decides to vote in person on Election Day, they must bring the unmarked absentee ballot to the polls to switch it out with an inperson ballot. She warned that while this is an option, it will slow down the process and make the voting time take longer.
Powhatan is doing something very unique this year in its efforts to provide an in-person early voting option while still combatting the spread of COVID-19. Instead of voting in the offi ce of elections, which is located in the Village Building, there will be a drive through tent for early voting in the rear parking lot of the offi ce, which is at 3910 Old Buckingham Road.
Starting Sept. 18, residents wishing to cast their ballots early can do so from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday and on the two Saturdays just prior to the election, Oct. 24 and 31.
No reservation or appointment or paperwork is needed. Voters will follow the detour signs to the entrance off Tilman Road, drive up to the very clearly marked voting tent, and be able to vote from the comfort and safety of their car.
Election offi cials will greet each voter at their car to check their identifi - cation and to give them their offi cial ballot, she said. Voters can either exit their car to cast the ballot on the scanner themselves or they can remain in their car and hand back their ballot upside down in a protective folder for the election offi cial to cast for them while they watch.
Alexander said her offi ce has already received CARES Act money from the Virginia Department of Elections specifi cally for expenses related to COVID-19 in the upcoming election.
Safety measures
Election Day voting is expected to be mostly similar to what residents have experienced in the past, but there will be added COVID-19 safety measures, Alexander said. Voters are asked to wear a mask and social distance with others in the voting precincts. The polls will have hand sanitizer for voters, use onetime pens, and have as many no-touch processes as possible. The privacy booths where people will fi ll out their paper ballots will be cleaned after each use.
The polls will have curbside voting on Election Day, but it does slow down the process, Alexander said. She recommended that those who don’t want to get out of their car to vote take advantage of the early voting drive-through tent.
“We are asking people to be as patient as possible because we are expecting a huge turnout and the process will take longer because of the safety procedures we are putting in place for COVID,” she said.
Feeling overwhelmed
Part of the higher stress levels with this particular election for voter registrars stems from the changes and requirements they continue to receive from the Virginia Department of Elections and the General Assembly, Alexander said.
For instance, the department of elections has cyber security standards that it wanted to have initiated in each locality prior to November that are just unattainable, Alexander said.
“Our IT director has assessed that the requirements the state board of elections is insisting upon would take fi ve director level staff and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to initiate,” she said.
In another instance, the General Assembly is in a special session now where they are entertaining legislation that would potentially do away with the required witness signatures on absentee ballots, she said. It would create the need for localities to pay for the postage to all returned absentee ballots.
Last month, a frustrated Alexander emailed the department to let them know she thought the lo
2020 November General Election
Important dates
Friday, Sept. 18 – Early voting begins. Residents wishing to vote early can do so by either requesting an absentee ballot from the Powhatan County Offi ce of Elections or going through the drive-through early voting tent that will be located in the parking lot behind the Village Building from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday and on two Saturdays, Oct. 24 and 31.
Tuesday, Oct. 13 (by midnight) – This is the last day to register to vote or change your voter registration information for this election. Mailed voter registration applications must be sent to the Powhatan County Offi ce of Elections postmarked on or before this deadline.
Friday, Oct. 23 (by 5 p.m.) – Last day to request via application to ha ve an absentee ballot mailed to you. In order to be counted, marked ballots must either be returned in-person to the Secure Ballot Drop-Box at the Offi ce of Elections, or postmarked on/before Nov. 3 and also received by the Powhatan County Offi ce of Elections by noon on Friday, Nov. 6.
Tuesday, Nov. 3 – Election Day. All 12 precincts will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the voters assigned to that precinct. Any qualifi ed voter who is physically in line by 7 p.m. will be able to cast their ballot.
A valid form of identifi cation is required to vote.
Verify your voter registration, polling place, and identifi cation validity before Election Day at http://elections.virginia.gov/.
cal voter registrars “are unequivocally being setup to fail this November.”
“I have never before felt so overwhelmed and disheartened by the surmounting infeasibility to perform the duties incumbent upon me as a director of elections and voter registrar; the most critical of which is to uphold the security and integrity of elections in the Commonwealth of Virginia,” she wrote. “The public’s trust in Registrars’ capabilities is diminishing by the minute. It’s becoming harder and harder to blame them when I see how out-ofcontrol this process has been twisted.”
Alexander cited the “unattainable cyber-security standards; the everchanging legislation; the shameful extension of critical deadlines and certifi cation requirements; the unjustifi able time, expense and manpower needed to comply with illconceived changes in responsibilities that are befalling us daily” and the additional burden of COVID-19 precautions.
“I’m not pointing fi ngers, but rather begging for some relief and professional respect from whomever has the power to offer it. Each and every one of us works way too hard and cares way too much about the responsibilities of this role, to constantly feel so defeated and beat-down,” she wrote.
Laura McFarland may be reached at Lmcfarland@powhatantoday. com.
CHURCH DIRECTORY
SECOND ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH
1059 Dorset Road Powhatan, VA 23139 Reverend Mark A. Divens, Sr. Pastor Praise and Worship Service
Sunday School 9:45-10:45 Sunday Morning Worship will begin at 11:00 a.m.
GREENBRIER BAPTIST CHURCH
“God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. We walk by faith and not by sight” – Pastor Darnell Carruthers
Sunday School: 10:00-10:45 a.m. Worship Service: 11:00 a.m. 4731 Bell Road, Powhatan, VA 23139 804-598-5491
Holly Hills Baptist Church www.HollyHillsBaptist.org (Independent Bible Believing) Randy Blackwell, Pastor Sunday School - 10:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship - 11:00 a.m. Youth Ministry 6:00 p.m. Adult Bible Study 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Prayer Meeting 7:30 PM 379-8930 1659 Anderson Highway 3½ miles east of Flat Rock
MOUNT ZION BAPTIST CHURCH 2591 Ridge Road Powhatan, Virginia 23139 804-598-2051
Muddy Creek Baptist Church Sunday School - 9:45 am Worship - 11 am Wednesday Bible Study & Prayer Service - 7:00 pm Pastor Jeff Beard, MA, MBA 3470 Trenholm Road www.muddycreekbaptist.org 375-9212
5680 Cartersville Road
Powhatan, Virginia 23139
Pastor Gregory L. Beechaum Sr. “The church where Jesus is Alive” 9:00 a.m. ---- Sunday School 9:45 a.m.----- Prayer & Praise 10:00 a.m. --- Sunday Morning Worship 5th Sunday at 11 a.m. Hour of Power 7:30 p.m. ---- Tuesday Night Worship & Bible Study
804-375-9404
Hollywood
Baptist Church
“A Church Where Love Never Fails!” Pastor Otis B. Lockhart, Jr. 598-2763
Sunday School at 9:30 am Morning Service at 11:00 am Bible Study Every Wednesday Night at 6:30 pm 3964 Old Buckingham Road
FIRST ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH
3920 MAIDENS RD., POWHATAN 804-598-2301 Sunday School 10:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Service 11:00 a.m. Wednesday Mid Day Bible Study 11:30 a.m. Evening Bible Study 7:00 p.m.
Advertise in Powhatan Today’s Church Directory. Call 804-746-1235 ext. 2 for details.
Family Worship Center “Your Community Church” 2901 Judes Ferry Road
Powhatan, Va 23139 804-379-8223
Sundays 10:00 AM Wednesday 6:30 PM Experiencing the presence, power and person of Jesus Christ
2095 Red Lane Road 1/2 mile off Rt. 60 on Red Lane Road 804-598-2455 www.redlanebaptist.org Worship Service 9:00 a.m. Small Groups 10:30 a.m. Wednesday Night Classes for all ages at 6:15 Dr. James Taylor, Pastor
3619 Huguenot Trail Powhatan, Virginia 23139 www.finecreekbaptist.org Sunday School: 9:45 a.m. Worship Service: 11:00 a.m. Traditional Rev. David A. Simpson, Pastor
Graceland Baptist Church Dr. Ronald Wyatt, Jr., Pastor Contemporary – 8:30 a.m. Sunday School – 9:45 a.m. Worship – 11 a.m. Children’s Worship – 11 a.m. Prayer/Bible Study – Wed. 6:30 p.m. Children’s Worship (all ages) –Wed. 6:30 p.m. New Generation Praise & Worship –Sunday 6 p.m. Lighthouse Youth – Wed. 5:30 p.m. Miracles of God Sp. Needs Service: 2 p.m. the 2nd Sat. of each month 598-3481 • 975 Dorset Road www.gracelandbc.org
OLD POWHATAN BAPTIST CHURCH
Brad Russell, Pastor 598-4241
Worship on the Lawn Service Times 8:30AM and 10:15AM OPBCKids during 10:15AM service 2202 Old Church Road www.powhatanbaptist.org
Loving, Investing, Fulfilling, Empowering Senior Pastor Justin Wilson Sunday Service 10:30am 2410 New Dorset Circle www.Communitylifechurchpowhatan.org Feeding Powhatan Open 3rd Wednesday of the month
Sunday 10am, 11am & 6pm Wednesday 7pm
Travis L. Keith- Pastor Church Office: 794.7054
By Laura McFarland
Editor
POWHATAN – A Powhatan man who ran 85 miles last year in remembrance of fi refi ghters who died in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, will commemorate the day again this week with a run to honor the law enforcement offi cers who lost their lives that day.
Russ Holland Jr. is planning a 72-mile run on Sept. 11 around the Village area that will honor the 72 law enforcement offi cers who died in the attacks. The all-day event is once again free and open to anyone who wants to walk or run in remembrance.
Holland is also once again using the event as a fundraiser, with proceeds being split between Powhatan’s fi rst responder agencies.
The 2020 run is changing both the course and format. Instead of running laps at Powhatan High School, Holland will be running 4-mile stretches every hour that start and stop at the Powhatan Rescue Squad Building, located at 3920 Marion Harland Lane.
Laps will start at the top of every hour beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Sept. 11 and follow a 4.1-mile course around the Village that has been mapped out. The course, which is reproduced here, can also be found on the run’s offi cial website, www.neverforget. run. It will incorporate parts of Scottville, Old Buckingham Road, Mann Road, and Fighting Creek Park.
The public is welcome to come and participate at any point of the 18-hour event, running or walking some or all of the 4.1-mile course, Holland said.
At 5 p.m., Holland will start his last lap as usual from the rescue squad. At about 5:30 p.m., Holland is hoping local fi rst responders will join him in the fi nal stretch from the courthouse to the rescue squad to honor what they do for the community.
Holland, an IT specialist with Dominion Energy, loves running and organized the fi rst run in 2019 to both honor and show support to local fi re and rescue personnel and remember the 343 fi refi ghters who died on 9/11 in a meaningful way.
For the 2020 event, Holland said he was driven to honor all fi rst responders but law enforcement offi cers in particular because of the toxic and polarized environment the nation is currently experiencing. He said he felt strongly that the actions of those
CALENDAR
Continued from pg. 2 Habitat Store, call 804-594- 7009. For those wishing to make cash donations, donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 416, Powhatan, VA 23139. Check out our website at habitatpowhatan. org and become a friend on Facebook at Habitat For Humanity Powhatan!
The Riverside Center for
Excellence in Aging and
Lifelong Health is offering
“Caring for You: Mind, Body and Soul,” an educational course at no cost for caregivers of individuals with memory loss, including
Alzheimer’s disease. This new program consists of 10 short and informative lessons. Participants will benefit from: learning new skills and tools to increase self-care and confidence as a caregiver; a fully online course with lessons accessible at anytime from anywhere without scheduling or leaving home, and microlearning, allowing caregivers to learn information in brief bursts (five to 10 minutes) that they can apply quickly to their demanding lives.
Lessons include: Caring for Your Mind: Guilt and
Fear, Frustration, Loss and Grief; Caring for Your
Body: Body Mechanics,
Sleep; Caring for Your
Soul: Spirituality, Being in the Moment Together, Just for You; and Caring for
Your Mind, Body and Soul:
Identifying and Accepting
Help. Register online for this free educational course supporting caregivers at: https://learning. virginianavigator.org/.
Contact Riverside Senior
Care Navigation at 1-888- 597-0828 or email: senior. carenav@rivhs.com.
The Coalition of Powhatan Churches has recently been given office space by May Memorial Baptist Church. This office is in the Youth House adjacent to the church. COPC is very grateful to finally have a central location. The nonprofit is now looking for volunteers to receive applications, answer the phone, etc. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. If this is something you think you would enjoy a day a week or month, contact Patsy Goodwyn at 804-598-4464 or patsy@goodwynlumber. com. If you have submitted your name as a volunteer before, contact Patsy again as some previous information was lost.
Powhatan Food Pantry is in need of volunteers for AM food pickups at both Food
Lion stores for various days of the week or substituting for illnesses and vacations.
Vans for pickup are provided. Contact the food pantry at 804-372-9526 or powhatanvafoodpantry@ gmail.com.
No one deserves to be abused. Find safety, options and support.
Women’s support group based in Powhatan but open to all women impacted by domestic violence. The group is free, confidential and childcare is available. Contact 804-598- 5630 ext. 2422 or 2420 for more information.
Powhatan County Public
Library is excited to partner with Wowbrary to offer library patrons the opportunity to subscribe to a curated weekly e-newsletter showcasing new library acquisitions.
Each newsletter features the latest bestsellers, movies, audio books, children's titles, cookbooks, mysteries, and more purchased by the library. Wowbrary alerts are free and all you need is a valid email address.
Visit www.wowbrary.org to sign up. A Powhatan
OBITUARY SUBMISSIONS
MAP COURTESY OF RUSS HOLLAND JR.
Russ Holland Jr. has mapped out a 4.1-mile course in the Village for a 72-mile run in honor of law enforcement officers killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The public can join in the walk/run at any time. Holland will start each loop at the top of each hour, starting at 12:01 a.m. on Sept. 11.
offi cers who have acted wrongly should not diminish the hard work and dedication of all law enforcement offi cers, including those in Powhatan County.
“We would like to remind them that we understand it is not them as a whole and that 9/11 and those 72 offi cers that died on 9/11 represent the best of what offi cers are,” he said.
Organizers were still working on logistics, but they plan to have the photos of the 72 fallen offi cers displayed along the route. Four offi cers will be recognized at the top of every hour with each person having 1 mile run in their honor that day.
Parking can be found behind the rescue squad. People are encouraged to social distance and respect others who are social distancing during the event.
Those who wish to donate to the fundraiser in honor of local fi rst responders can do so at https://www.gofundme.com/f/fi rst-responders-day-celebration-andrun.
However, Holland
Rebecca Worley, P.E., was named resident engineer for the Chesterfi eld Residency of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) effective Aug. 25.
Worley will serve as primary VDOT transportation offi cial for Amelia, Chesterfi eld and Powhatan counties. She will oversee road maintenance and operations, land development, budgeting, and business operations.
Worley began her VDOT career in the Core Development Program in 2011. Upon successful completion of the program, she served as a hydraulics engineer in the statewide Location and Design division. She has been serving as the Chesterfi eld Residency’s assistant resident engineer since 2017, focusing on safety, project development, • One female was charged on Aug. 25 with assault and battery of a family member (Misdemeanor). • One male was charged on Aug. 25 with assault and battery of a family member (M). • One male was charged on Aug. 25 with assault and battery of a family member (M). • One male was charged on Aug. 26 with possession of marijuana (M). pointed out that donations are not necessary to participate in the remembrance event.
“I have actually had people ask if they have to pay to run with me, which they do not. They don’t have to contribute a penny to come out and join me,” he said.
Laura McFarland may be reached at Lmcfarland@
County Public Library card in good standing is required to check out print and electronic items. To obtain a library card, visit the library or apply online at www. powhatanlibrary.net.
Narconon Arrowhead is here to help you. Narconon offers free addiction counseling, assessments, and referral services to rehabilitation centers nationwide. Call 1-800-468-6933 or log on to www.narcononarrowhead. org.
A box was provided by the National Association of
Counties (NACo) to provide citizens a place to bring flags that need to be retired properly. It is located at the County Administration
Building in the vestibule area by the front doors.
County Administration is working with local groups that hold flag disposal ceremonies and will be routinely transporting the flags collected to these ceremonies. For questions, call 804-598-5612.
Hope Project provides free transportation for Powhatan
County residents to court, rehab, job interviews, doctor's appointments, and probation meetings for the those who have lost their driver's licenses due to drug-related charges.
Contact the Hope Project coordinator at 804-301- 3324. Give a minimum of 24 hours notice.
The Powhatan County
Cooperative Extension
Office and Powhatan
Department of Public Works have partnered with Virginia
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences (VDACS) to bring a free recycling service to area farmers and horticulture business that were, up until now, without a location to recycle their properly rinsed pesticide containers. The collection site is a shed in the back right corner at
Powhatan Volunteer Fire
Department Company 1, 3971 Old Buckingham
Road. Before bringing containers to the collection site, applicators must triple rinse or jet rinse containers, remove plastic sleeved label and/or label booklets, and remove caps. To schedule a drop off, contact Rachel
Grosse at 804-598-5640 or 804-385-5370 or Dave
Johnson at 804-385-6231. eliminating hunger in schoolage children by providing nourishing food for their weekend, needs help. BPOL is looking for delivery drivers that would be available to deliver on Thursdays. They are in immediate need of a driver to deliver to Cumberland County. The group also needs help breaking down boxes for recycling. This job should be done weekly, preferably on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and/ or Thursdays after packing days. These are great jobs for students looking for community hours. Contact Brenda Fulcher at 804-598- 2723.
Upcoming
The Powhatan Chapter of
Relay for Life will join with other local communities to officially close out the 2020 Relay season. Join us on Friday, Sept. 18 at
Westchester Commons from 7:30 to 9 p.m. for a drive thru luminaria and restaurant percent night fundraiser. Dedicate your luminaria bags at www.RelayForLife.org/
PowhatanVA by Wednesday,
Sept. 16. Closer to the date, check the website for a full list of participating restaurants. Donate today and ask you family, friends and community business partners to help us save the mission of the
American Cancer Society at www.RelayForLife.org/
PowhatanVA.
Graceland Baptist Church, 975 Dorset Road, Powhatan, will hold a church yard sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on
Saturday, Sept. 19.
A CD Release Party – Just
Us Country Gospel Band
Concert will be held at
Graceland Baptist Church
Pavilion, 975 Dorset Road,
Powhatan, at 6 p.m. on
Friday, Sept. 25. Dinner will be provided. There is no admission cost.
Fax submissions to calendar to 804-344-8746 email to news@powhatan.com, or mail to 8460 Times Dispatch Blvd., Mechanicsville, Va 23116. Deadline is 3 p.m. Wednesday for the following week’s issue. Calendar announcements cannot be taken by phone. We reserve the right to edit all items submitted.
Rebecca Worley named VDOT Chesterfi eld Resident Engineer
Contributed Report
powhatantoday.com. WORLEY
construction and local government programs.
Worley holds a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from the University of Virginia and a Master of Business Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is a licensed professional engineer in the Com
CRIME REPORT
Arrests monwealth of Virginia. • One male was charged on Aug. 26 with possession of marijuana (Civil). • One male was charged on Aug. 28 with failure to pay child support. • One female was charged on Aug. 29 with brandishing a fi rearm (M), and two counts of assault and battery of a family member (M). • One male was charged on Aug. 30 with destruction of property, monument (M).
What is your favorite way to use the Powhatan County Public Library? E-mail answers to editor@powhatantoday.com or share them on the Powhatan Today’s Facebook page.
September 9, 2020
Page 7A
Library is still a great Powhatan resource
By Laura McFarland
Editor
The old adage about not knowing what you have until it’s gone only rings true if you didn’t already see the value of what you had.
Back in March, when the entire world seemed to shut down overnight, we as a nation got a lesson in what was considered essential. If you are anything like me, you probably realized that you might have been taking for granted the simple things in life, whether it was quick trips to the store, eating out at a restaurant on a whim, or being with family, friends, and co-workers without worrying about being a risk to their health.
I missed all of those things and so much more, but the absence of one place stood out in particular – the library. Whether I was going to one of the Chesterfi eld County Public Library locations where I used to live or the Powhatan County Public Library, they were always favorite haunts of mine.
Despite having a pretty impressive book collection that I haven’t completely made my way through, I am nerdy enough to love the thrill of browsing the library stacks or spotting something on a special display that catches my eye and picking it up. Who am I kidding – I totally judge books on their covers. Powhatan Library also is great about having a display of new and interesting movies and television shows near the front desk for an impromptu movie night.
And of course there also was the temptation of the Friends of Powhatan Library’s ongoing book sale. When it was open you could fi nd such good deals that it almost seemed negligent not to pick up a new book or movie to add to my collection.
I have lost count of the number of meetings and special events I have attended or covered in the Powhatan Library’s meeting rooms. I have attended everything from roundtables to classes to crafting group gatherings to government meetings, and the library and its staff and volunteers have always been gracious hosts.
And especially when I was still living in Chesterfi eld, the Powhatan Library would sometimes be my place of refuge for several hours at a time to allow me to work between assignments.
Having the library closed for several months was diffi cult in terms of logistics but also just sad for this reader. I missed it on a personal level, whether it was running into people I knew and chatting, catching the occasional exhibits and displays they curated or invited in, or, as mentioned above, fi nding more books I didn’t really need to take home but did anyway.
But I also missed getting to stop by special events they were having to cover them for the Powhatan Today. Despite not having any children of my own, I genuinely like the creativity of the summer reading program put on collaboratively by the library and the school division and seeing what interesting activities and themes they utilize to draw in young readers. I love seeing youth so excited to get their free book at each program, listen to the story time, and usually do some type of craft.
If it sounds like I am writing a love letter to the library – any library really – that’s probably not too far off. But really what made me think about all the ways the library is special to me is seeing the notice about September being Library Card Sign-up Month. The national campaign emphasizes the importance of library cards to a child’s education and to combat illiteracy, according to the American Library Association (ALA) website.
In 1987, then Secretary of Education, William Bennett, stated: “Let’s have a campaign … Every child should obtain a library card and use it,” according to the ALA website. The ALA took Bennett’s words seriously and teamed up with the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) to start the campaign, with a grant of $85,000 from the Reader’s Digest Foundation. A telegram was sent to Bennett saying, “We accept your challenge.” Oct. 14, 1987, was the kick-off celebration for the campaign held on the Mall in Washington, D.C., with 500 children in attendance. The following year September was declared Library Card Sign-Up Month.
Unfortunately, the library can’t be all we want it to be right now. There is no adult or children’s programming, the meeting rooms are closed, and none of the summer reading programs were held this year.
Fortunately, staff members are doing what they can to make sure the library is still a great resource for the community, whether it is offering curbside print services, books to go, Facebook story times, free Wi-Fi, or continued access to thousands of print and electronic resources for free.
So, if you don’t yet have a library card or you haven’t been in a while, this month is an excellent time to go reacquaint yourself and your family with this great community resource.
Laura McFarland may be reached at Lmcfarland@ powhatantoday.com.
Battle of the Bands provides musical last gasp
By Jim Ridolphi
Contributing Columnist
It was soul music’s last gasp in Richmond’s West End. The infamous battle of the bands at Tucker High School in 1968 was a clash of an evolving era of psychedelicinspired music versus the homespun base of Southern culture, soul music. For once in my life, I was on the traditional side of the argument. After beginning my career behind a small set of blue pearl Ludwig drums at the Parham Teen Club, the stint for The Determinations Band and Show was the culmination of endless nights of compensation-free gigs in less than honorable locations. That didn’t include the months in Beatle boots playing in church social halls.
While powerhouses like Stacy Henry and the Majestics and Lil Walter and the Bonnevilles were pounding out the most solid rhythms in the city, The Determinations also found their niche.
We became a favorite at high school proms and local night clubs like the Black Cat and equally welcomed at fraternity gigs on local campuses, playing to a largely white or mixed audience.
I sat happily behind a wall of drums, enjoying the show for several years, thinking I was pretty special and lucky to be part of such a solid rhythm section. And while the other Richmond stalwarts were packing the Mosque Ballroom and Tantilla, we could fi ll the house at The Sahara Club or Pink Garter on a Friday, and play a prom at a tony country club that Saturday night.
Soul music wasn’t declining in the African American community, and still had a strong following at practically every fraternity house in the country, but the mood in everyday America was changing.
And, gradually, groups emerged in the Richmond area who no longer played Motown, or Top 20 for that matter. Groups like Mercy Flight and others peddled their wares in the hardcore venues on Grace Street in The Fan.
It was the beginning of a new era of a music in Richmond. For a group of typically high school students mixed with a few musicians from the other side of town, it was a career showdown.
For some of us, we’d reached our full potential musically, and being near or top of the heap locally was more than enough.
But for others in the band, musical pursuits were just beginning and they knew their futures lay in larger projects with other players.
So, the big Battle of the Bands was sort of a swan song for The Determinations, still sporting every original member when the end fi nally came later that year. Talent-wise, we weren’t the best band in the battle. It was laden with talented guitarists, precision drummers and fi rst class keyboardists.
What they didn’t have and we did was a horn section that literally made the hair stand up on the small of your back when they all played in unison. It was the essence of soul music, more of a feeling than a philosophy. It was the kind of music that hit your chest like a small explosion. That was our fi rst advantage — one of the fi nest horn sections in the city. But that wasn’t the closer. The Determinations Trio consisted of Pheeny, Al and Leo, each with a different unique set of pipes. In combination, they could copy any Temptations or Four Tops song to the “t”.
Individually, close your eyes and you might have thought Al Green, James Brown or Sam and Dave were in the house.
Their energy brought the most skeptical of fan to their feet, their harmonies contagious and seemless moves effortless.
At the end of the night, soul music prevailed, and The Determinations Band and Show recorded their last victory ever in a battle of the bands.
Many of the members went on to colorful and fruitful careers in the music industry. Our guitar player still showcases his skills in several local bands. The sax player is a wedding singer in San Antonio.
For the majority of the band, that night was the pinnacle of our music careers. We carry forever the stunned look of the other bands as the winner was announced. The continuing applause and shared celebration will always be a highlight in our memories.
Few will note the accomplishments of a group of black and white youths who shared a love of music and ignored the stereotypes, all united by one common bond — the sweet sound of soul.
But I will.
CLINIC
Continued from pg. 2
is not isolated. In a June study performed nationwide by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 41 percent of respondents reported at least one adverse mental or behavioral health condition related to the stress of COVID, including symptoms of anxiety or depression, symptoms of a trauma and stressorrelated disorder, and having started or increased substance use to cope with stress. The CDC also found that some people respond more strongly to the stress of a crisis including: Those at higher risk from COVID-19 (for example, older people, and people of any age with certain underlying medical conditions). Those caring for family members or loved ones. Frontline workers such as health care providers and fi rst responders. Essential workers who work in the food industry. Those with pre-existing mental health conditions. Those who use alcohol, drugs or have a substance use disorder. People who are socially isolated from others, including people who live alone, and people in rural areas.
Additionally, they report that not all children and teens respond to stress in the same way. Some common changes to watch for include: Excessive crying or irritation in younger children. Returning to behaviors they have outgrown (for example, toileting accidents or bedwetting). Excessive worry or sadness. Unhealthy eating or sleeping habits. Irritability and “acting out” behaviors in teens. Poor school performance or avoiding school. Diffi culties with attention and concentration. Avoidance of activities enjoyed in the past. Unexplained headaches or body pain. Use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.
To help address these needs, the Free Clinic is also expanding its collaboration with Powhatan schools. Knable will continue to provide counseling services at the high school and will begin at the middle school in the fall. Issues addressed include depression, academic and social anxiety, poor school performance, anger management, suicidal thoughts, and ADHD. School counselors can provide an immediate referral.
The Free Clinic of Powhatan is here to help address the physical and mental health challenges of our friends and neighbors in need. Call 804-598- 5637 for an appointment or more information regarding qualifi cation guidelines.
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