Inside A8 Powhatan youth enjoy 4-H summer camp
Powhatan, Virginia B1 Powhatan golfers earn major team win
Vol. XXXV No.. 12
September 22, 2021
Powhatan strives to bridge the ‘digital divide’ By Laura McFarland Managing Editor
P
OWHATAN – Powhatan’s local, state, and federal elected representatives gathered last week to celebrate a recent initiative that should see county residents fully served with broadband internet within the next three years. On Tuesday, Sept. 14, the county held a press conference attended by Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, D-7th, State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, and Del. Lee Ware, R-65, as well as all five supervisors and one school board member. The purpose was to highlight Powhatan County’s efforts to extend broadband coverage to all of its residents and businesses through partnerships with Dominion Energy and Firefly Fiber Broadband. On Aug. 23, the board of supervisors unanimously approved a partnership with Firefly and Dominion to provide broadband to unserved areas. The decision came with a commitment to put at least $3 million in American Rescue Plan funds toward the project and an authorization to increase that to $5.3 million if the project doesn’t win the Virginia Telecommunications
PHOTO BY LAURA McFARLAND
Gathering to celebrate the initiative to bring broadband to all of Powhatan County are Ned Smither, from left, Eric Jones, Ghazala Hashmi, Kim Hymel, Karin Carmack, Abigail Spanberger, Diane Leopold, Mike Byerly, Gary Wood, Bill Cox, David Williams, Tom Berry, and Lee Ware.
Initiative (VATI) grants it is seeking. If successful, VATI grant funds would be used to offset nearly 30% of the cost for Firefly to build fiber
in the county. The remaining 70% would be funded between Powhatan County and Firefly. see BROADBAND, pg. 6
School board considers beginning of school year issues, COVID-19 impacts Parents continue to push back against masking students By Laura McFarland
PHOTO BY LAURA McFARLAND
Managing Editor
METRO CREATIVE
to school to date, touching on enrollment numbers, COVIDrelated absences, technology issues, transportation, and food services. The board spent almost an hour and 45 minutes discussing the various topics related to
this matter and the implications on students and the division. While it wasn’t an agenda topic by the board, the required wearing of masks by students and staff was still a vital topic
Martin thrilled to serve as PHS principal By Laura McFarland Managing Editor
see SCHOOLS, pg. 4
POWHATAN – When Michelle Martin learned she
Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Powhatan, VA Permit No.19
POWHATAN – The Powhatan County School Board recently got a closer look at some of the issues faced with the start of the new school year at Powhatan County Public School (PCPS), including the continued impacts of the pandemic. During the school board’s meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 14, Dr. Eric Jones, superintendent, gave a presentation on the return
Michelle Martin has been promoted from assistant principal to principal of Powhatan High School.
had been chosen as the new Powhatan High School principal, she was thrilled. Having worked in educasee MARTIN, pg. 4
McFarland chosen as Richmond Suburban News managing editor
DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Powhatan, VA 23139
By Jim Ridolphi For the Powhatan Today
FILE PHOTO
Marilyn Merlot (played by Ashley Ray) greets guests to the Powhatan Festival of the Grape in 2019. The festival will return in 2021 on Oct. 2 in the Historic Powhatan Village.
Excitement rising for return of the Festival of the Grape By Laura McFarland Managing Editor
POWHATAN – Based on early enthusiasm seen from vendors and ticket sales, organizers of the returning Powhatan Festival of the Grape are expecting a great return to festivities in 2021. Dubbing it the 18th (mostly) annual Festival of the Grape because of the year missed by the pandemic, the event is back strong with a long list of food, alcohol, and craft vendors, all-day entertainment, and small town charm, said Angie Cabell, executive director of the Powhatan Chamber of Commerce. The event will be held from 11
a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 2 in the Historic Powhatan Village. Tickets for people 21 and older are $25 in advance or $30 at the gate. A youth ticket for ages 13 to 20 is $20 in advance and $25 at the gate. Children 12 and under are free. Planning this event with all of the uncertainty of directives from the state has presented its own challenges for this year’s festival, but it hasn’t dampened people’s enthusiasm, Cabell said. “All of our volunteers, our supporters are very excited to be able to hold the event this year. With every festival there are unknowns, so this isn’t really differsee FESTIVAL, pg. 3
Richmond Suburban News (RSN) is proud to announce the appointment of Powhatan Today editor Laura McFarland to Managing Editor of all of its publications including The Mechanicsville Local, the Ashland-Hanover Local, The Goochland Gazette and Powhatan Today. McFarland has served as editor of Powhatan Today for the past seven years and will continue in that role with additional managerial duties. McFarland said she is excited to assume her new role and looks forward to continuing her commitment to local journalism and RSN. “Getting the news that I had been named managing editor was both exciting and daunting,” she said. “Having worked for Richmond Suburban News for seven years, I feel like I have a good knowledge of our news organization and am so proud of the products we
MCFARLAND produce in the counties we cover,” she added. During the past years, McFarland has formed working relationships and friendships with the RSN staff and has gained a healthy respect for the job they do. “Each member of our staff carries the workload of several people as they endeavor to produce quality newspapers in our communities every week,” she said. “I literally can’t say enough about how amazing they are and how proud I have been to call them my coworkers for the last seven years.” Taking on new responsibilities while being able to remain in a comsee RSN pg. 5