27 minute read
see RELAY
Verizon retailer to donate backpacks on July 31
Contributed Report
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Round Room, LLC., the nation’s largest Verizon Authorized Retailer, has announced that its TCC and Wireless Zone stores are donating 140,000 backpacks full of school supplies in the upcoming milestone 10th annual School Rocks Backpack Giveaway.
In its 10 years of occurrence, the School Rocks Backpack Giveaway has provided more than 1.2 million backpacks full of school supplies to children across the U.S. as they prepare for their upcoming school years.
On Sunday, July 31, between 1-4 p.m. local time, more than 1,200 TCC and Wireless Zone nationwide stores are inviting local families to their locations to pick up a backpack fi lled with pencils, paper, a pencil box, folders, a ruler and glue. One backpack per child present will be given away on a fi rst-come, fi rst-served basis while supplies last.
Wireless Zone of Powhatan, located at 2490 Anderson Highway, will participate in the event.
In addition to the backpack donations, families can enter their students in a sweepstakes to win a $10,000 college scholarship through the giveaway’s Big Impact. Children in grades K-12 are eligible for entry and can be registered at their local TCC and Wireless Zone stores during the School Rocks Backpack Giveaway event. Five scholarships in total will be awarded to randomly selected winners.
“For the School Rocks Backpack Giveaway to reach its tenth edition is truly monumental for all of us at Round Room, TCC and Wireless Zone. This event is now an annual staple in communities nationwide and we couldn’t be more proud of how much we’ve been able to positively impact students these last ten years,” said Scott Moorehead, CEO of
see BACKPACKS, pg. 7
Quild guild seeks to honor veterans
The Country Piecemakers Quilt Guild is once again looking forward to honoring local veterans. Do you know a service member or veteran who has been touched by war that you would like to nominate to receive a Quilt of Valor? If so, the Powhatan-based guild would like to hear from you. Share your nomination by sending the guild a 250-word essay describing the service member or veteran to pooderlil1152@gmail.com or mail it to he Country Piecemakers Quilt Guild, 2579 Walkers Ridge Terrace, Powhatan, VA 23139 along with your contact information.
Arrests
One male was charged on
July 12 with possession of controlled substances (felony) and driving a motor vehicle while intoxicated (misdemeanor). One male was charged on
July 12 with violating a protection order (M). One female was charged
on July 14 with petty larceny (M). One female was charged on July 15 with petty larceny (M). One female was charged on July 15 with petty larceny (M). One male was charged on
July 16 with destruction of property, monument
(M) and reckless driving – failure to maintain control (M). One male was charged on July 16 with revocation of suspended sentence and probation (F). One male was charged on July 18 with assault and battery of a family member (M).
Incident report for July 11 to 17 - Incident type & total calls
Advice 32 Animal calls 16 Assist 12 Attempt to locate 9 B&Es 2 BOL 2 Child welfare 1 Civil 1 Damaged property 1 Death investigation 1 Deliver message 1 Disabled vehicle 12 Disorder/disturbance 6 Domestic 8 Fingerprints 1 Follow-up 1 Fraud 2 Funeral 2 Gas drive off 1 Gunshot calls 3 Hit and run 1 Investigation 7 Larceny 6 Lockout 5 MVAs 11 Panic alarm 1 Pd alarm 5 Phone threat 2 Reckless driver 12 Shoplifting 5 Suspicious 15 Traffi c hazard 12 Traffi c stop 64 Transport 1 Trespass 2 Unconscious 1 Unknown emergency 29 Vandalism 1 Warrant service 5 Welfare check 5
BUSINESS BRIEF
The Powhatan County Economic Development Department is pleased to announce Three Crosses Distilling Company’s latest wins from The 2021 Craft Distillers Spirits Competition.
In the Premium Whiskey category, Three Crosses American Whiskey received a Double Gold medal, and Best of Class honors. A Double Gold is only awarded to those spirits that all judges unanimously award a gold medal.
Additionally, Three Crosses Distilling received a gold medal for its Noble Hound Rye Whiskey and a silver for its Noble Hound Dark Rye Whiskey.
The distillery also has previously won nearly two dozen awards from many national and international competitions across their product line, including awards from the Great American Spirits Competition, New York International Spirits Competition, American Distilling Institute, Virginia Bourbon Invitational, Sunset International Spirits Competition, Virginia Living’s Best of Virginia, and World Whiskey Awards. These numerous
see THREE CROSSES, pg. 7
RELAY
Continued from pg. 1 that is near and dear to their hearts,” she said.
The event participants actually reached the $100,000 goal on June 23 but kept going in fundraising efforts, she said. Corporate sponsorship accounted for about a quarter of funds raised, and that combined with team fundraising, company matches and day-of-the-event proceeds such as luminaries and on-site fundraising.
The actual Relay for Life event on June 11 had a good showing this year, raising $10,537 on that day alone, said Stephanie Pugh, the event’s American Cancer Society staff partner.
It’s been an outstanding Relay for Life season with teams executing successful team and individual fundraisers that ultimately led to the event hitting goal early this year. Pugh praised the participants’ of the combined Powhatan and Chesterfi eld event and what they accomplished throughout the year. A big highlight of the season was also the sponsorship committee and other participants more than doubling sponsorship dollars over last year.
“We have seen a lot of great success with Relay for Life events within the American Cancer Society this year. Relay for Life of South of the James was the fi rst Relay in Virginia to exceed goal this year,” she said.
Funds raised through events like Relay for Life are providing critical dollars to move the mission of the American Cancer Society forward, Pugh added. There are currently 13 active research grants between UVA and VCU totaling over $7.4 million.
“The American Cancer Society directly and measurably improves the lives of people with cancer and their families by focusing on the core area of patient support,” she said. “We help people fi nd answers and resources, whether they want to help reduce their cancer risk, understand a cancer diagnosis and treatment options, learn how to manage side effects, or fi nd transportation or a place to stay at our Hope Lodge communities when treatment is far from home.
“We work with health care providers, health systems and public health organizations in the U.S. and globally to reduce barriers for all people across the cancer care continuum, resulting in increased screening and vaccination rates, more effective patient support services, and greater access to treatments and pain relief,” she continued.
Even as they celebrate the accomplishments of the 2022 season, Johnson said she is already looking to the future and how organizers, teams and the public can make help make the 2023 season even better.
Much of the 2023 leadership committee will return, including Johnson, but they are looking for volunteers to fi ll four key positions: activities and entertainment chair, fundraising and recognition chair, marketing, online and social communications chair, and registration, survivor, and caregiver chair.
Johnson said she hopes to have the 12-member leadership committee in place by September for planning and to have team meetings begin in early 2023. The group will be meeting in person, which is crucial for an event this size spreading over two counties, she added.
“We are really looking for sponsorships for 2023. We are looking for teams for 2023. I need four strong people for the committee,” Johnson said.
Anyone interested in fi lling one of those positions can contact Pat Johnson at Pat.rfl soj@gmail.com.
Laura McFarland may be reached at Lmcfarland@ powhatantoday.com.
CHURCH DIRECTORY
SECONDANTIOCH BAPTISTCHURCH 1059DorsetRoad Powhatan,VA23139
ReverendMarkA.Divens,Sr. Pastor PraiseandWorshipService SundaySchool9:45-10:45 SundayMorningWorship willbeginat11:00a.m.
GREENBRIER BAPTISTCHURCH
“Godusesordinarypeopletodo extraordinarythings. Wewalkbyfaithandnotbysight” –PastorDarnellCarruthers
SundaySchool:10:00-10:45a.m. WorshipService:11:00a.m. 4731BellRoad, Powhatan,VA23139 804-598-5491
2390EmmanuelChurchRoad 804-372-9254 www.newwalkbible.org SundayWorship10:00AM SundaySchool9:00AM BibleStudyWed.7:00PM
HollyHills BaptistChurch
www.HollyHillsBaptist.org (IndependentBibleBelieving) RandyBlackwell,Pastor
SundaySchool-10:00a.m. SundayMorningWorship-11:00a.m. WednesdayPrayerMeeting7:30 p.m. 379-8930 1659AndersonHighway 3½mileseastofFlatRock
MOUNTZION
BAPTISTCHURCH
2591RidgeRoad Powhatan,Virginia23139 804-598-2051 Rev.BryanStevens,Pastor
MuddyCreek BaptistChurch
SundaySchool-9:45a.m. Worship-11a.m. WednesdayBibleStudy& PrayerService-7:00p.m. PastorJeffBeard,MA,MBA 3470TrenholmRoad www.muddycreekbaptist.org
5680CartersvilleRoad Powhatan,Virginia23139
PastorGregoryL.BeechaumSr. “ThechurchwhereJesusisAlive”
9:00a.m.----SundaySchool 9:45a.m.-----Prayer&Praise 10:00a.m.---SundayMorningWorship 5thSundayat11a.m. HourofPower 7:30p.m.----TuesdayNightWorship& BibleStudy
804-375-9404 Hollywood
BaptistChurch
“AChurchWhereLove NeverFails!” PastorOtisB.Lockhart,Jr. 598-2763
SundaySchool at9:30a.m. MorningService at11:00a.m. BibleStudy EveryWednesdayNight at6:30p.m. 3964OldBuckinghamRoad
FIRSTANTIOCH BAPTISTCHURCH
3920MAIDENSRD.,POWHATAN 804-598-2301
SundaySchool10:00a.m. SundayMorningService 11:00a.m. WednesdayMidDay BibleStudy11:30a.m. EveningBibleStudy7:00p.m.
Advertisein Powhatan Today’sChurch Directory. Call804-746-1235 ext.2fordetails.
Family WorshipCenter
“YourCommunity Church” 2901JudesFerryRoad
Powhatan,Va23139 804-379-8223
Sundays10:00a.m. Wednesday6:30p.m. Experiencingthepresence, powerandpersonofJesusChrist
2095RedLaneRoad 1/2mileoffRt.60onRedLaneRoad 804-598-2455 www.redlanebaptist.org SmallGroupClasses 9:00a.m. WorshipService 10:30a.m. Dr.JamesTaylor,Pastor
GracelandBaptistChurch Dr.RonaldWyatt,Jr.,Pastor
Contemporary–9:00a.m. SundaySchool–9:45a.m. Worship–11a.m. Children’sWorship–11a.m. Praise&Worship–6p.m. LighthouseYouth–Wed.5:30p.m. BibleStudy–Wed.6:30p.m. Children’sWorship(allages)–Wed.6:30p.m. MiraclesofGodSp.NeedsService: 2p.m.the2ndSat.ofeachmonth 598-3481•975DorsetRoad www.gracelandbc.org
3619HuguenotTrail Powhatan,Virginia23139 www.finecreekbaptist.org SundaySchool:9:45a.m. WorshipService:11:00a.m. Traditional VernGilmer,Pastor
OLDPOWHATAN BAPTISTCHURCH
BradRussell,Pastor 598-4241
Servicetimesare 8:30a.m.and10:15a.m. Worshiponlineat10:15a.m. 2202OldChurchRoad www.powhatanbaptist.org
Loving,Investing,Fulfilling,Empowering SeniorPastorJustinWilson SundayService10:30am 2410NewDorsetCircle www.Communitylifechurchpowhatan.org
Sunday10am,11am&6pm Wednesday7pm
TravisL.Keith-Pastor ChurchOffice:794.7054
The annual Barks, Bourbon and Bronze Glow to benefit the Powhatan Animal Shelter drew a great crowd on July 21 to Three Crosses Distilling Co. The event, which was sponsored by the distillery and Island Glow Tanning & Beauty, raised $3,070 in monetary donations and over 550 pounds in food and supplies for the shelter. Plenty of people brought their canine companions to the event. Organizers offered appreciation to the local business who donated raffle prizes.
ORCHID
Continued from pg. 1
“I even got an email from the White House fl orist saying, ‘they are on their desks just like we talked about.’ … What a compliment, my gosh. They could have anything on their desk and (Dr. Biden) thought it was important enough to have one of our orchid hybrids,” Chadwick said with a grin.
It was a big moment in an even bigger tradition. Chadwick has presented every fi rst lady since Hilary Clinton with a cattleya hybrid orchid he has grown. The practice existed before him but not by a single grower.
“This is a tradition that was in pieces but there were about six or eight of them that had already been done,” he said. “I was reading about this in old magazines that my father had, and I was like gosh, no one has really picked this thing up; it is just sort of dying on the vine. And at the time Mrs. Clinton was fi rst lady, so that was my fi rst one in 1993.”
Currently, 19 consecutive fi rst ladies have had orchids named in their honor – 12 of them by Chadwick – although some of them are additions he did retroactively, such as Edith Wilson, the wife of the 28th president, Woodrow Wilson.
“She revolutionized orchids because she wore them wherever she went,” he said of Edith Wilson.
For Chadwick, this is a tradition that ignores politics since the orchids are presented to every fi rst lady, regardless of political party. He occasionally gets pushback from people who see a particular presentation of an orchid “in a vacuum” rather than as the continuum he wants it to be.
The Brassolaeliocattleya Jill Biden is a somewhat unique addition to the tradition. Chadwick said he actually named the orchid hybrid in 2013, when Joe Biden was vice president. The couple was from Delaware and so was Chadwick, so he decided to name an orchid in Jill Biden’s honor then. However, throughout Joe Biden’s time as vice president and then again in 2021, the Bidens’ fi rst year in the White House, Chadwick was unable to get an appointment to do a presentation at the same time one of the orchids was in bloom.
“For 10 years in a row I have been watching it come to bloom and I try to get an appointment. It has got to be when she is available and the orchid is in bloom. That is a narrow window; that is just a couple of weeks. If she is traveling or whatever, it is not going to happen, and she’s got more important things to do, generally than accept fl owers,” Chadwick said. “I mean, on Tuesday, when she met me, she had just come from a two hour meeting with the First Lady of Ukraine (Olena Zelenska) talking about what is going on over there, so the little orchid thing was very minor in her world.”
Chadwick gave full credit to Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger for helping him get on the fi rst lady’s schedule. When the orchid came into bloom this year, he reached out and asked if she could help arrange the meeting, which she did.
Chadwick traveled to Washington, D.C. the night before to make sure he was at the White House in plenty of time, which was important, especially given how many security checks both he and the orchids had to pass through before meeting the fi rst lady. “The security was unbelievable.”
Then getting to have such a fascinating discussion with Jill Biden on a topic he loves, even examining the fl owers in the portraits of the six fi rst ladies that hang in the Vermeil room, was amazing for Chadwick. He said he ended his visit with a tour of the gardens, which was a great way to wrap up a trip so long in the making.
“It is a labor of love – 30 years of passion. It is totally a sideline to the other stuff I’ve got going, the everyday stuff, but this really energizes me,” he said.
The hybrid is offi cially registered with the Royal Horticultural Society. The entire fi rst lady orchid collection resides at the Smithsonian Gardens in Washington, D.C., which is where the orchids Chadwick presented last week will go once they are no longer in bloom. Chadwick also keeps a sample of every fi rst lady’s orchid at his green house in case something ever happens to the offi cial orchid.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIN SCOTT, OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHER
Art Chadwick, owner of Chadwick and Son Orchid Inc., presents First Lady Jill Biden with her namesake orchid in a ceremony at The White House on July 19.
HONOR ROLL
Continued from pg. 4 Haven Pope, Corbin Porthouse, Preston Pullin, Hans Rehme, Jacob Rogers, Jasmine Scott, Caitlyn Shelton, Reagan Sinkway, Ella Smith, Madison Spence, Kayla Terry, Kyle Thomas, Nathan Tomlinson, Vincent Torrijos, Brooke Turner Gregory, Hayden Wasson, Reagan Wilkinson.
MEETOSCAR ANDOLIVIA
Theywerestraysthatno onecametoclaim.Male has blue/brown eyes, Female has both blue eyes.Superfriendly.Ifyou wouldliketomeetthese 2beautiesPleasecontact usat804-598-5672.
P.S.Wehavesomeexcitingnewstosharetoyou!
Wehavebeengivenanawesomeopportunitytoupdateour shelterkennels!Wearestartingour$$CashforKennels$$ Fundraiser!Ourgoalistoraise$100,000fornewkennels forthedogsandcats!Everydollarisgreatlyappreciated! Donationscanbedroppedoffattheshelterlocatedat4000 OldPlantationRoadormailedtoP.O.Box133ATTNAnimal Control.Inthememowrite“$$CashforKennels$$”.Ifyou haveanyquestionspleasecall804-598-5672! Ifyouwouldliketohelptheanimals inourcare,youcandosobydonatingtoour medicalfundatClawsandPaws,
4313AndersonHwy.,Powhatan,VA23139 12th Grade All A/B:
Garrett Albert, Ainsley Alexander, Riley Allen, Shane Allen, Jack Altieri, Lillian Amick, Bryson Amorese, Nathan Anderson, Carmen Andrews, Briauna Anstine, Joshua Atkinson, Neal Bailey, Peyton Baker, Regan Baltz, Delaney Balzer, Ryan Barnett, Isabella Boggs, Byron Bolt, Madison Bradley, Raleigh Braswell, Ivey Brooks, Kyleigh Brooks, Bianca Brumfi eld, Audriana Buczkowski, Andrew Cheatham, Dylan Coward, Sheyla Daniels, Jade Davis Brown, Marshall Davis Jr., Samuel Davis, Isabella Day, Carly DeLong, Jack Dennis, Natalie Diggs, Trista Domer, Conner Donnelly, Kylie Driscoll, Katie Drumheller, Nicholas Dudley, Amanda Eacho, Sophia Edwards, Abby Elliott, Sean Farmer, Naveah Ferguson, Riley Fletcher, Katlyn Foltyn, Cameron Fox, Owen Franklin, Lindsay Freeman, Kailani Ganaden, Chase Gayness, Anthony Gentry, Erik Glanden, Catherine Griffi th, Alyssa Hagan, Jaxson Hall, Gabriell Hammond, Zackary Hammond, Ethan Harold, Savanna Harrison, Jack Hauser, Nolan Heckel, Peyton Henke, Fonze Hensley IV, Carsen Hogston, Gavin Honigmann, Jacob Hymel, Connor Jeffs, Charles Jennings, Mitchell Johnson, Savannah Johnson, Miller Kieran, Taylor Kneessi, Jordan Krauss, Elizabeth LaMack, Natalie Lampman, Tristan Lawrence, Meagan Lively, Jillian Mandarino, Nicholas Mattison, Olivia Mazzucco, Addison McCullough, Emilie McDaniels, Jack McMinn, Kendal McMullin, Macy Milburn, Kelsea Miller, Shaniece Morris, Hanna Nash, Kyla Newcomb, Callie O’Brien, Alyssa O’Quinn, Grace Pafford, Alyssa Palmore, Lena Parker, Jacob Pfab, Emma Phillips, Landon Phillips, Naomi Pike, Mckenzie Prince, Autumn Redd, Erika Roark, Peter Rusin Jr, Michele Sanchez, Lila Sankey, Conner Saunders, Bailey Sawyer, Tiffany Scrivner, Olivia Seaver, Madison Sharon, Matthew Shores, Megan Shortridge, Alyssa Sikes, William Slagle, Robert Sloan, Brynne Smith, Robert Smith, Albert Stine, Hunter Stoddard, Abigail Sweet, Mary Tackett, Kiersten Thompson, Ashton Tingle, Makaiya Turner, Peyton Tuttle, Julie Vaughan, Hanna Vosburg, Ethan Walls, Zackery Warinner, Rebekah Warren, Brandon Washburn, Colin Weinhardt, Jordan Wellborn, Andrew Wilson, Mia Wilson, Lin Wood, Grant Woodard.
ColonyConstruction,Inc.isHiring!
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July 27, 2022
What are you and your family doing to stay safe in the summer heat? E-mail answers to editor@powhatantoday.com or share them on the Powhatan Today’s Facebook page.
Page 7A
Just Kids volunteers make shop welcoming
By Laura McFarland
Managing Editor
Several weeks ago, I had a truly fabulous shopping experience that was of almost no benefi t to me.
I am going to start this off by saying I truly enjoy the journey that is shopping second hand. I am fi ne to go in a regular retail store and look through the carefully coordinated outfi ts of that season, all pristine and still bearing the tags that often make me want to drop them like a hot potato (the tags, not the clothes).
However, in addition to being more expensive, the experience for me somehow lacks the sense of fun that you get when you are perusing the random offerings of a yard sale, thrift store or consignment shop.
Do I have items in my closet that, to this day, don’t have complimentary articles of clothing to make them a complete outfi t? Absolutely. My closet could reasonably be viewed as a work in progress to some. But for a deal shopper, the thrill of the chase – of fi nding the perfect shrug for the perfect tank or a gorgeous article of clothing you wonder how anybody could part with – makes it more than an exercise in functionality.
I recently took that treasure hunting mindset along on a visit to the Just Kids secondhand shop that May Memorial Baptist Church opened in June in the church’s youth building. The shop is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Thursdays and Saturdays and sells clothing and shoes only for $2 a bag full.
When I was interviewing Sandra Cowles, the driving force behind the shop, about why she wanted to open Just Kids, I was automatically appreciative. She recognized a hole left by the closing of the Clothes Closet, which was formerly operated by the Woman’s Club of Powhatan, and wanted to help one of the more vulnerable populations – parents with young children – impacted by the closing.
Since it is a children’s shop that sells only clothes newborn to size 8, it didn’t automatically seem like a natural fi t for me. After all, I have no children and all of my nieces and nephews are grown.
But I do have a friend who just had a baby in April and has multiple other children. I was eager to stretch my dollars and offer her some quality clothes to lighten the load since there were several years between the newborn and her youngest girl, making for a decided lack of hand-me-downs.
I checked with her fi rst, calling to make sure she was OK with secondhand clothes, which she was, saying she trusted my judgement since she couldn’t make it there herself that day. Then I headed over on my lunch break and started searching for cute outfi ts for a baby girl. I didn’t have to look far, soon having a great stack of clothes to help clothe my friend’s baby from late summer into the fall.
Even though the friend said she trusted my judgement, I wanted to be sure. So, with the permission and indulgent smiles of the ladies in the shop – Sandra Cowles and Pat Cover – I did a quick video chat with my friend, holding up the little girl outfi ts with pride. Fortunately, she liked almost all of my choices, which made me feel great because she can be particular. The one outfi t she didn’t want for the baby was cute but had sleeves that ride up on arm and can be irritating to them, she told me.
As my friend gave the green light on each outfi t, Ms. Cover was there to help me take the clothing off the hangers, fold them neatly and put them in the bags. She didn’t throw the clothes in willy nilly – she packed those articles of clothing in the bags like she was maneuvering Tetris pieces to fi nd the right fi t and maximize the space. To say I got my money’s worth - $2 a bag – would be a drastic understatement.
Everything about the experience was fantastic, but the part that made it the best was Sandra Cowles’ vision for creating a resource that could help families struggling but still wanting to give their children quality clothes and the church’s willingness to let that vision come to life.
Laura McFarland may be reached at Lmcfarland@ powhatantoday.com.
A healthy dose of separation anxiety
By Jim Ridolphi
Contributing Columnist
As I sat in a dormitory room and gazed out of a window overlooking Monroe Park, I wondered just how long it had been since I’d been on the VCU campus.
After pondering the question, I realized this was my fi rst time on the campus since my graduation decades ago. And for sure, the campus has changed quite a bit since my days spending more time that I should have sitting in Shaffer Court, and what was once a disjointed collection of buildings has transformed in to a beautiful campus, something only envisioned when I attended.
My twins, Jack and Emma, are attending VCU this fall, and Jack has enrolled in the Summer Scholar Program to get a head start on his studies.
As I visited with Jack and listened to his excited conversations regarding his classes and the start of a new adventure, I was overcome with a sense of pride as I watched him.
I’m sure it’s the same sentiment felt by most parents as they watch their children embark on new journeys, begin new adventures and stand on the brink of numerous possibilities and challenges. Whether it’s watching a child move to dormitory or seeing them begin new careers or pursue other interests, it’s a time of transition for both children and parents.
But, in Jack’s case, that sense of accomplishment seems more important as I sat in his room and considered the challenges he’s faced on his journey to this college dormitory. I thought back to a dire diagnosis more than a decade ago when every obstacle seemed so impossible and solutions seemed too distant to consider.
In the depths of despair those days presented, it was Jack who led me from the darkness of hopelessness to the reality of life and the gift it provides each day. Giving up was always too easy for Jack and never considered an option. He began a steady and determined drive to achieve his dreams, because, in Jack’s mind, not only was anything possible – everything was possible.
Certainly, I’m not the only parent saying farewell to children heading to college or other pursuits, and I’m sure the separation anxiety is an emotion felt by parents throughout time. No matter how confi dent we are in our childrens’ abilities to succeed, it’s always hard to stand back and watch from a distance.
Jack’s independence is no different from the thousands of students making the same transition, and our feelings as a family are no more signifi cant than any of those individual stories.
But realizing my son’s limitations, the fi rst few days haven’t been easy for those who love and support him. His sisters have taken turns spending evenings and nights with their brother, and his mother makes numerous trips each day to assist Jack.
It’s a process, but Jack assures us he’s ready to begin his journey as an independent adult, and we’ve learned not to doubt his tenacity and determination.
At the risk of sounding like an over indulgent parent who can’t stop bragging about their kids, seeing Jack in his dorm is one of the proudest moments of my life, and I exited the building with a single thought ran through my mind.
You can’t hide happy!
BACKPACKS
Continued from pg. 5 Round Room. “The rising costs of school supplies have made it immensely diffi cult for many families to adequately prepare their children each school year. Our goal is to alleviate these challenges for as many families as we can through this annual give back event.”
According to the National Retail Federation, American families with school-aged children spent an average of $849.90 on school supplies in 2021 – totaling $37.1 billion spent in America last year on school supplies alone. Round Room is working to ease the strain of rising school supply costs with this annual program through its TCC and Wireless Zone stores nationwide.
THREE CROSSES
Continued from pg. 5 awards have made the distillery one of Virginia’s most accomplished new craft distilleries. The family and veteran-owned distillery is run by wife and husband team, Michelle and John Davenport, in the heart of the Powhatan Village.
Information submitted by the Powhatan County Economic Development Department.
CALENDAR
Continued from pg. 2 Backpacks of Love, a nonprofit committed to eliminating hunger in school-age 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 and or Amelia County. These are great jobs for students looking for community hours. Always accepting food donations of single serve raviolis, spaghettios, apple sauce, cereal, cookies, crackers and more. Contact
Kevin Hardy at 804-350-1127.
Young people in the 4-H community learn leadership, citizenship, and a vast array of life skills that benefit them for the rest of their lives. Through school-based, after-school, and community clubs as well as camp settings, 4-H members pledge to build a better community, country, and world. The new 4-H year starts Oct. 1 and runs through Sept. 30, 2022, so this is a great time to join a 4-H club!
In Powhatan County, 4-H SPIN and project clubs include the following designed for youth ages 9-18: Livestock, Archery,
Equine, Dairy Judging, and
Shooting Education (waiting list).
For our younger youth, ages 5-8 years old, we’re seeking new club leaders interested in starting a second Cloverbud 4-H
Club in Powhatan. 4-H School
Enrichment programs are also available for homeschool groups.
Reach out to Cathy Howland,
Powhatan 4-H Extension Agent, at 804-598-5640 or chowland@ vt.edu for details about the 4-H opportunities listed, and/or information on starting new 4-H clubs or programs. Powhatan Food Pantry is currently seeking volunteer drivers who can pick up food from the local Food Lions on different days between 8:30 and 10 a.m. and transport them to the nonprofit at 2500 Batterson Road.
Contact the pantry at 804-3729526 or powhatanvafoodpantry@ gmail.com.
Powhatan Parks and Recreation is pleased to offer the following at the Pocahontas Landmark
Center Gym (4290 Anderson
Highway, Powhatan). Keep in mind when county offices are closed for holidays, inclement weather, etc., activities will not be held unless specifically noted: Open Walking Club,
Wednesdays, 9-11 a.m.; Open
Gym Pickleball, Tuesdays and
Thursdays, 9-11:30 a.m.; Open
Adult Special Needs Basketball, every Monday, 10 a.m.-noon;
Paid Momentum Volleyball,
Tuesdays and Thursdays through June as well as paid
Volleyball Clinics this summer (contact Cindy Bryant by email at momentumvolleyballclub@gmail. com); Paid Pulse Basketball,
Mondays and Wednesdays through March 2022. Contact
Brian Griffen by email at vicepresident@powhatanpulse. com; Senior Basketball coming in
April on Monday nights, so stay tuned for more information as the date get closer; Adult Open
Gym Basketball will start back up on Wednesday nights beginning
March 16; Open Volleyball will start back in the summer, and we are also hoping for a Pickleball night session once gym space opens up. Continue to follow all
COVID-19 guidelines. Everyone will also need to sign a facility use waiver that we will keep on file for one year, and there is a $10 non-resident fee for activities.
Remember we ask everyone to wear rubber soled shoes (no heels) on the gym floor and only allow water in the gym. We are still working on other activities as well. Contact the Recreation Office at 804-598-5275 with any questions or send an email to mshelton@powhatanva.gov or mwoodel@powhatanva.gov.
The Friends of Powhatan County
Public Library’s Bookshop is open during library hours and accepting donations again.
The bookshop accepts books, movies, audiobooks, CDs, and magazines. Materials can be given to a library staff member or placed in the book shop corner (tuck them by the file cabinet in the back), which is at the end of the passageway once you come in the front door. Proceeds from the book sale are used for additional library programming.
The Powhatan County
Cooperative Extension Master
Gardener Help Desk is here for yet another growing season.
Although office hours are reduced because of COVID19 restrictions, the Help Desk is still ready and available.
Email questions and detailed photos of your stricken plants to gpmastergardener@gmail. com and volunteers will try and find a solution for you.
You can also directly call the
Powhatan County Extension at 804-598-5640 and leave a message. The Help Desk will be in touch. If a real-life diagnosis or determination is needed, large plant samples including root, stem and leaves can be dropped off at the Powhatan
County Extension’s office after consulting with Master
Gardener volunteer. If you have plants/shrubs/trees needing identification in your yard, or are new to the Powhatan or
Goochland area, we also offer free one to two-hour site visits.
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Managing Editor Laura McFarland lmcfarland@powhatantoday.com
WE WANT TO PUBLISH YOUR ISSUE-DRIVEN LETTERS
Powhatan Today welcomes your Letters to the Editor on topics of concern to you and the community. Letters, which should be no longer than 400 words, must include the name, address and telephone number of the author. Th e deadline is noon the Th ursday before publication, but letters may be held until the following week upon the editor’s discretion. Th e publisher or editor of Powhatan Today reserves the right to edit or withhold from publication any letter for any reason whatsoever. Once received, all letters become the possession of Powhatan Today. Letters refl ect the opinion of the author, not necessarily that of Powhatan Today or its staff . Powhatan Today is published weekly on Wednesday with offices located at 8460 Times Dispatch Blvd., Mechanicsville, Va 23116. Periodical Postage paid at Powhatan, Va. 23139. USPS # 000-035 © 2022 by Richmond Suburban Newspapers. All advertising and editorial matter is fully protected and may not be reproduced in any manner without the permission of the publisher. CAC Audited Circulation: 11,026.
