Inside A10 Powhatan holds Christmas tree lighting
Powhatan, Virginia B1 DeLeon named ODAC’s offensive player of the year
Vol. XXXV No.. 24
December 15, 2021
Powered Up By Laura McFarland Managing Editor
OWHATAN – Powhatan’s love of its beautiful night skies and avoidance of light pollution is well known. One exception comes every year during the holiday season. For the most part people will find themselves driving around the winding roads of Powhatan in inkyy darkness, but every once nce in a while in the weeks eeks surrounding Christstmas, travelers mayy stumble across a beacon of holiday spirit lighting up the night. However, they are not always easy to find. So evvery year the Powhatan atan Today tries to take some of the guess work out of findfinding beautiful Christmas displays that will bring a smile to our readers’ faces. The Powered Up Powhatan light display list is now in its fifth year and is one of the strongest lineups to date. In addition to four new houses on the list, several returning entries were eager to show off their hard work and invite the community out to enjoy the show. The 2021 season still isn’t quite what it has been pre-pandemic, but the Powhatan community has seen many of its beloved traditions come back for a new year. Regardless of whether families are still keeping a little distance or are diving head first into the holiday happenings, Christmas light decorations are an event that anyone can enjoy without stress or worry.
PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
A light display from 2401 Ocala Drive is shown center. The Powered Up Powhatan list can be found on Pages 6 and 8.
PHOTO BY ANJIE KAY
Santa and Mrs. Claus joined with Cub Scout and Boy Scout Troop 1823 as the final entry in the 2021 Powhatan Christmas Parade. The couple spent the time before and after the parade meeting with families in the Village. See more parade photos on page 10A.
Christmas Parade spreads holiday cheer By Laura McFarland Managing Editor
POWHATAN – After two years without a Powhatan Christmas Parade, the event returned in full force Saturday with hundreds of people filling the Village with holiday cheer. A slightly overcast and windy day wasn’t enough to dampen spirts as the 2021 parade saw dozens of entries rolling down Old Buckingham Road to the delight of people of all ages. In true Powhatan spirit, the parade represented a wide cross-section of the community, with civic groups, churches, fire and rescue, school groups, sports groups, youth-oriented groups, seniors groups, equestrian clubs, auto clubs, law enforcement and so many more filling out the more than hour-long parade. When the parade wrapped up, a large crowd of people walked over to the com-
munity’s new Christmas tree to listen and sing along to Christmas music and watched the lighting of the tree. After inclement weather canceled the parade in 2019 and COVID-19 meant no parade in 2020, it was disheartening for many to learn earlier this fall that this year’s Christmas Parade might not happen for lack of a sponsor. Then Luck Stone Companies stepped up as sponsor and newcomer Grace Cardenuto agreed to be the parade chair, and the parade was back on. A thrilled but obviously exhausted Cardenuto said after the tree lighting that the day was amazing. There were a few glitches, but overall, she was incredibly pleased with how the community came together to put on such a great show. She added that the Powhatan Lions Club was instrumental along with Luck Stone with running the parade. see PARADE, pg. 4
PCPS superintendent to retire in July 2022
Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Powhatan, VA Permit No.19
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The list, as always, is aimed at showcasing some amazing light, decoration and music displays we hope Powhatan residents will think was worth the drive (and there are some drives). But, as always, please keep in mind that while these are great displays, this is not Richmond’s Tacky Lights Tour, which asks for a minimum of 40,000 lights to participate. Still, the displays on this list are all special in their own wayy and should bring a w w smile and more than a few gasps of wonder. Before you go, a B few things to rememfe ber. b The homes are uusually found on rurral roads – one is eeven on a private road – that will be r dark and may not da have many places to hav pull oover and look at the (this is especially true lights (th of the Judes Ferry and Flint Hill houses). Be extremely mindful of the lack of visibility and the speed with which everyone knows drivers sometimes use even on dark, windy roads. With a few exceptions, most of this year’s participants ask that people remain in their cars to see the displays and do not get out and walk around them. This amount of lights takes a ton of wires and it is too dark to wander around. If they have neighbors, they ask you to be respectful of them and the areas you are visiting.
By Laura McFarland DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Powhatan, VA 23139
Managing Editor
POWHATAN – Powhatan County Public Schools Superintendent Eric Jones last week anPHOTO BY LAURA McFARLAND nounced he will retire Speaking during the Dec. 7 school board meeting, DaLynn from his position effective Prince-Jones, right, asks those representing several local groups July 1, 2022. speaking out against racism in schools to stand together. Jones has been the superintendent for PCPS for nine years and has served in education for the last 32 years. He said he intends to carry on as normal for the remainder of the school year and “looks to ing about instances of racial slurs finish strong and have a By Laura McFarland and discrimination experienced in successful year.” Managing Editor Powhatan schools and the impact A large crowd of community these incidents have had on their members put the problems of rac- sense of safety and well-being. ism and transgender issues in Pow- Many community members also hatan County Public Schools front spoke up, dismayed about the devand center at last week’s school astating impact these issues are having on the schools and the counboard meeting. On Tuesday, Dec. 7, 21 commu- ty as a whole and urging the school nity members addressed the contro- board to stand up for the rights of versial issues in some way in their BIPOC (black, indigenous, people comments to the school board. Of of color) and LGBTQ students and By Laura McFarland Managing Editor those, 19 directly pleaded with or staff members. The 19 people who addressed demanded that the board members POWHATAN – The act and not ignore issues of bullying problems of discrimination and Central Virginia Transporand people feeling unsafe that they bullying in the schools covered a tation Authority (CVTA) said have been going on in Pow- wide range of topics, including sperecently took action to apcific incidents of racial and homohatan schools for years. propriate a fi rst round of The emotional public comment phobic slurs aimed at students; period, which lasted more than an youth not feeling safe; the long- regional funds to advance $113 million in transporhour, saw students and parents talksee RACISM, pg. 5 tation projects, including a
Community members address racism issues
ERIC JONES Although he does not yet have firm plans for retirement, Jones said he see JONES, pg. 9
Powhatan to receive $1.8 million in CVTA funds for road project major road improvement in Powhatan County. On Friday, Dec. 3, the authority hosted a public hearing to gather input on a commitment of fiscal year (FY) 2021 and FY 2022 regional transportation revenues to a slate of proposed regionally sigsee CVTA, pg. 4