Inside A8 Community invited to participate in 9/11 run
Powhatan, Virginia B1 Powhatan football wins season opener 21-20 in overtime
Vol. XXXV No.. 10
September 8, 2021
Goodman named Powhatan Christmas Mother By Laura McFarland Editor
P
OWHATAN – Despite being a lifelong resident of Powhatan County, Dale Goodman didn’t get her first glimpse at the behind-the-scenes workings of the Powhatan Christmas Mother program until 2019. Having worked in the public school system for more than three decades, Dale knew the help the program provided to families in need in the county. But it wasn’t until her sister-in-
law, Josephine “Jo” Goodman, served as the county’s 50th Christmas Mother that Dale got more exposure to the hard work that goes into the program. So when outgoing Christmas Mother JoAnn Woodson called Dale in June and asked if she would consider being the 2021 Powhatan Christmas Mother, she had a good understanding of what she would be signing up to do. “I definitely got a lot more exposure. (Jo) hosted a Christmas Mother Gala and she had me to do all the decorating,”
Dale said. “The other side of it, the things she was involved with, going around speaking to different groups in the county, I got to know a lot through her.” Knowing what a commitment it would be, Dale asked for a little time to think about it. She was already leaning toward saying yes, but during that time, she attended the June 22 joint meeting of the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors and School Board, which got quite contentious. “The very next day I called see CHRISTMAS, pg. 6
PHOTO BY LAURA McFARLAND
Dale Goodman has been named the 2021 Powhatan Christmas Mother.
State superintendent visits Survivors: Flat Rock during first week Local women show they are more than a cancer diagnosis By Laura McFarland Editor
POWHATAN – Being a survivor often calls forth an image of strength. Someone goes through something unimaginable – some mental, physical, or emotional battle – that none of us would want to face on our worst day and manages to survive it. We applaud them for facing
whatever that situation was and coming out on the other side, sometimes battle scarred but still a survivor. But imagine if you came through a situation like that and were told to go back and do it all over again. And imagine if the enemy you were fighting was in your own body. In the third week of the Powsee SURVIVORS, pg. 2
PHOTO BY LAURA McFARLAND
State superintendent Dr. James Lane exchanges a cardboard high five with students in Colleen Schwartz’s kindergarten class at Flat Rock Elementary during a recent visit.
By Laura McFarland Editor
Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Powhatan, VA Permit No.19
POWHATAN – State Superintendent Dr. James Lane recently visited Flat Rock Elementary School to check on the
progress of the new school year. Lane visited the local elementary school on Friday, Aug. 27, visiting classrooms in all age groups to see how students and staff were progressing by the see FLAT ROCK, pg. 6
Lee Ware seeks re-election for House of Delegates seat
DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Powhatan, VA 23139
Contributed Report “With years of experience come larger responsibilities—and larger opportunities, too, for successful service.” In a nutshell, that is how Delegate Lee Ware describes his objective in seeking re-election to the House of Delegates from the 65th District. As the sixth most senior member of the House, Ware wields influence commensurate with his years of service and numerous legislative accomplishments. With about 90,000 residents, the 65th District includes all of Powhatan, western Chesterfield, western Goochland, and eastern Fluvanna counties. A former chairman of the House Finance Committee, Ware, who is a Republican, remains a ranking member of that committee and also of the committees on Labor and Commerce, Transportation, and Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources. He serves, too, by appointment of the Speaker, on the Governor’s Advisory Council on Revenue Estimates, and commissions on Unemployment, Health Insurance Reform, MEI Project Approval, and Employment Retirement Security and Pension Reform. A retired teacher, who taught history and government students for three decades roughly divided between Powhatan High School and Blessed Sacrament Huguenot, Ware concluded his career in education as Academic Dean of Benedictine College Preparatory. Prior to his election to the legislature, Ware served two consecutive terms on the Powhatan Board of Supervisors. He also served one term, by appointment of Gov-
Luck Stone takes on role of parade sponsor By Laura McFarland Editor
ernor George Allen, as the first public school teacher in at least a century on the State Board of Education. Ware’s ability to guide meaningful legislation has earned him plaudits from a wide range of civic and professional associations, ranging from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to the Virginia State Police Association, the Virginia Dental Association, the Farm Bureau, the National Federation of Independent Business, and the Virginia Education Association. Broadband expansion to rural Virginians has been a priority of his for several years. A decade ago he served as chairman of the first joint subcommittee of legislators trying to find a way to combine private and public resources to achieve the goal. This year, Ware was pleased to support an $800 million investment in broad-
POWHATAN – With a new sponsor and event coordinator signed on, the Powhatan Christmas Parade is back on schedule for 2021. After announcing in August that the parade’s previous sponsor was unable to carry forward with the event this year because of lack of personnel, members of the Powhatan Christmas Everyday Committee were thrilled to announce last week that Luck Stone had stepped up and agreed to be the new sponsor. The event, which has not been held for various reasons since 2018, is scheduled to be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 11 in the Village. It is open to the public. A few weeks ago, Jamey Epps, plant manager for Luck Stone, was approached by the 2021 Powhatan Christmas Mother, Dale Goodman, with a request for the company to step up and take over the event. He said becoming the parade’s sponsor gave the company the chance to give back to the Powhatan community, which has supported it for more than 30 years. “It is a great opportunity to engage our associates, engage our organization into an event that benefited the entire County of Powhatan,” he said.
see WARE, pg. 3
see PARADE, pg. 3
WARE