Inside A3 Graceland Baptist holds Christmas Drive Through
Powhatan, Virginia B1 Indians open season with 2 victories, 1 loss
Vol. XXXV No.. 23
Decemeber 8, 2021
First Powhatan Christmas Mother remembered By Laura McFarland Managing Editor
P
OWHATAN – Family and friends recently shared their memories of Helen Mason, who helped start one of Powhatan’s most beloved Christmas traditions by serving as the county’s first Christmas Mother. When Mason, 93, died on Thanksgiving Day, she left behind a legacy in Powhatan County of years of service to others and a joyous spirit that sought to bring happiness to anyone she met. That service included, but was not limited to, agreeing to serve as Powhatan’s first Christmas Mother in 1967 without really knowing what it would entail or the tradition she would help launch that has touched countless lives
over the program’s 54 years in existence. She would also remain involved in the program for another 40 years by going in around Christmas time to wrap gifts. On the 50th anniversary of the Christmas Mother program, Mason talked about its simple start in 1967, helping about 30 recipients, ranging from children to seniors. The only cash the program had was $60 given by the Welfare Department, which went to buy fresh fruit, nuts, candy and some canned goods for the recipients. Additionally, the county’s home demonstration clubs were asked to fix up gifts, especially for the children. It wasn’t extravagant, but it was meant to make sure they all knew someone was thinking of them, Mason said in 2017. But as much as Mason was proud of
HELEN MASON that role in the county’s history, she didn’t try to draw attention to herself because of it, said Ben Mason, one of
Helen Mason’s four children with her late husband of 54 years, Les. His mom didn’t talk about the role much, but he recalled hearing stories from others through the years, both about her time as Christmas Mother and the many ways she served the community and earnestly tried to help people. “The real joy for her was behindthe-scenes small things,” he said. “She liked to help the less fortunate. You might not know who receives it. I think she really preferred that.” Longtime friend Ruth Boatwright of Powhatan said Helen Mason’s legacy, outside of her family, is that she genuinely enjoyed touching the lives of people and was eager to contribute her time, money and efforts to projects that made life better in Powhatan. see MASON, pg. 4
Parade, tree lighting to fill Village with cheer By Laura McFarland Managing Editor
Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Powhatan, VA Permit No.19
POWHATAN – Powhatan County will embrace the holiday season in earnest this weekend as the Powhatan Christmas Parade and the lighting of the new community Christmas tree fill the Village with joy and laughter. Final preparations are underway for the festivities on Saturday, Dec. 11, which begins with the Powhatan Christmas Parade at 2 p.m. The fun doesn’t stop when the parade ends as people are invited to surround the county’s new Christmas tree immediately after at the lot across from Four Seasons Restaurant on Old Buckingham Road. All the while, people can also visit vendors that will
PHOTO BY LAURA McFARLAND
PHOTO BY LAURA McFARLAND
Attending the planting of the new community Christmas tree on Dec. 2 were Dale Goodman, from left, Mike Byerly, Steve McClung, Karin Carmack, Bill Cox, Ned Smither, David Williams and Robert Watkins.
be set up on the Courthouse Green representing local churches, civic organiza-
tions, artisans and more. There will also be food for sale at the event.
see TREE, pg. 6
Delegate seeks to protect well water from landfills By Laura McFarland Managing Editor
DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Powhatan, VA 23139
This year’s Christmas parade, which is expected to
POWHATAN – A Powhatan-led amendment to state code is expected to be presented to the General Assembly in January 2022 to protect well water users near landfills, but whether or not that change, if passed, will impact a landfill currently being proposed just across the border in Cumberland County is yet to be determined. Del. R. Lee Ware, R-65, sent an email to the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors and fellow state representative Sen. Ghazala Hashmi on Tuesday, Nov. 30 announcing he had submitted a draft request in keeping with one of several legislative priority items presented to Ware and Hashmi by the board for the 2022 session. In their request, the board members
pointed out that Virginia Code Section 9VAC20-81-120 “protects public water sources by prohibiting new landfills within a one mile upgradient of any existing surface or groundwater public water supply intake or reservoir; or within three miles upgradient of any existing surface or groundwater public water supply intake or reservoir.” However, in a rural community such as Powhatan, a significant portion of the population draws their drinking water from private wells, which are not protected under this state code section. The supervisors asked Ware and Hashmi to propose that private wells be included in the water sources protected by the section. Ware’s proposed amendment, simply requests that Section 9VAC20-81120 also “prohibit new landfills within a see WELL WATER, pg. 4
Raymond Jackson Jr. takes a quiet moment to soak in the surroundings of his new rental home, which was renovated through the Coalition of Powhatan Churches.
Coalition helps renovate home to assist family By Laura McFarland Managing Editor
POWHATAN – The Coalition of Powhatan Churches thought outside the box this year to help a family get back on their feet and have a safe place to live. Thanks to the local nonprofit and several dozen volunteers, Raymond Jackson Jr. and his son Raymond III moved into a newly renovated rental home last week that will allow them to stay in the county. The huge undertaking involved in the project was a new experience for the Coalition, which went beyond what it has done before to help the father and son, said Patsy Goodwyn, Coalition president. The house actually belongs to a local family and used to be the home of a Coalition client who died, but it had fallen into disrepair, Goodwyn said. The nonprofit approached the homeowners with an offer this summer – the Coalition would update and clean the house in western Powhatan and the Jacksons would be able to live there rent free for a year. After that, they are hopsee HOME, pg. 5
Residents urged to recycle holiday debris carefully By Roslyn Ryan Richmond Suburban News
With Christmas now less than a month away, many Powhatan residents are no doubt already well into the annual sprint to procure presents, plan holiday feasts, and deck as many halls as they possibly can before the big day arrives. And as that blizzard of bows, boxes and other holiday accoutrements bears down, local recycling centers are once again gearing up for a major influx of material.
According to Julie Buchanan, public relations coordinator for Central Virginia Waste Management Authority (CVWMA), a public service authority that coordinates recycling and solid waste management programs for 13 localities including Powhatan, Goochland and Chesterfield, her organization can expect to see an increase of up to 25% during the holiday season. While that is certainly a good thing from an envisee RECYCLE, pg. 3
PHOTO BY LAURA McFARLAND
Shelley Shust recycles at the Powhatan Convenience Center.