Powhatan Today –11/02/2022

Board considers larger issues as part of rezoning discussion

By Laura McFarland Managing Editor

Page Road approximately 0.2 miles northwest of the intersection with Anderson Highway.

POWHATAN

– The role of the county’s comprehensive plan, the expectations of the business community when making future plans and resident perspectives were all elements in a decision by the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors on a rezoning issue on Page Road last week.

During the meeting held on Monday, Oct. 24, the board voted 3-2 in favor of rezoning a 5.93-acre parcel on Page Road from Agriculture (A-10) to Commerce Center (CC). The property is on the west side of

Chair Mike Byerly, who represents District 3; Steve McClung, District 2; and Karin Carmack, District 5, voted in favor of the rezoning, while David Williams, District 1, and Bill Cox, District 4, voted against.

The case dealt with the decision of whether to rezone the property, which would allow for Stroud Ventures LLC to construct a contractor’s office along with the storage of a limited quantity of materials, supplies and equipment inside the building.

However, the discussion by

the board as well as the feedback from the community was never a straightforward discussion of what the business would or would not bring to the county as it also delved into issues of traffic impact, the role of the comprehensive plan in deciding future development and county interactions, and transparency with the local business community.

Eleven speakers addressed the board about the Page Road project either during the public comment period or a public hearing associated with the case, with 10 speakers asking for the project to be denied and one backing the business’ ap-

Pumpkin decorations spark joy

Middle school rolls out variety of clubs to engage students

By Laura McFarland Managing Editor

POWHATAN – Powhatan Middle School will be buzzing with different kinds of activities moving forward as new clubs allow students to bond with other students with similar interests.

The weekly clubs, which launched on Oct. 21, will be held every Friday during Indian Time for the rest of the year, according to former principal Samantha Martin.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the middle school had clubs but they had a broader focus, she said. This new iteration involves offering more specialized clubs based on student interests.

“We started with student

requests. The students completed their requests of what they were interested in first. Then the teachers signed up to be a sponsor for a club and we sent it back out for students to sign up. So it was all focused on student interest,” said Martin, who has now transitioned into the role of the school division’s coordinator of innovative learning.

With 48 clubs for students to choose from, she hopes every middle schooler will have the opportunity to interact with other students they might not normally meet but with whom they may share an unexpected bond, she said.

Just some of the club top-

By Laura McFarland Managing Editor

POWHATAN – Oscar the Grouch and his furry friends beat out a pair of Venus fly traps, a friendly hedgehog and a scrumptious ice cream to take first place at the 12th annual Pumpkins for Kids Project.

The annual pumpkin decorating contest once again saw businesses from around the region participating in a lighthearted (although still competitive) competition Friday, Oct. 28 at Independence Golf Club in Powhatan.

The annual benefit for the Children’s Hospital Foundation is also a way bring the business community together for a good cause and spread a

little joy along the way, said organizer Rachel Massengill of Powhatan. The event raised more than $3,000 for the foundation but is still accepting donations using the QR code.

“This is ridiculous. These companies put so much into this and they do such a great job decorating these pumpkins. To know the kids at the children’s hospital are going to get to see this is great,” she said after the contest ended.

Judges from the children’s hospital and foundation narrowed this year’s 35 entries down to the top 10, and then Powhatan County Sheriff Brad Nunnally and assistant commonwealth’s attorney

Community plans three days of honoring veterans

Staff Report

The Powhatan County community will offer several opportunities over Veterans Day weekend to honor those men and women who have served their country in one of the branches of the United States military.

All events are free and open to the public, and local organizations hope veterans will consider coming out and being honored at one of the five events being offered over three days.

Powhatan Elementary School will hold its annual Veterans Day salute, “Thank you, Military,” at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 11, and local

veterans are invited to attend and be honored. The fifth graders will perform a schoolwide assembly for local veterans. Powhatan Middle School assistant principal Jon Ferguson will be the honored veteran guest speaker. Middle school band and choir members will also perform patriotic selections and the Powhatan High School JROTC will present the colors.

Powhatan American Legion Post 201 is sponsoring a Veterans Day Program to be held at the War Memorial Cultural Arts & Community Center on Friday, Nov.

Two elementary schools celebrate fall festival fun

Left, Jaxton and Jemma Cabaniss try to eat doughnuts on a string without using their hands during Powhatan Elementary’s Fall Game Night on Oct. 27. See more PES photos on Page 6A.

Right, Karmen Rose enjoys her cotton candy during Flat Rock Elementary’s Fall Festival on Oct. 27. See more FRES photos on Page 8A.

Powhatan, Virginia

PHOTO BY LAURA McFARLAND

Eighth grade math teacher Phil Nusbaum gives instructions during the second Rubik’s Cube Club, one of many now being held every Friday at Powhatan Middle School.

PHOTO BY LAURA McFARLAND

Powhatan County Sheriff Brad Nunnally, right, and assistant commonwealth’s attorney Alice Sheridan judge the Pumpkins for Kids contest to pick the top five entries on Oct. 28.

PHOTOS BY LAURA MCFARLAND

Wednesday, Nov. 2

No excuse early voting for the 2022 General Election is available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday as well as Saturday, Nov. 5 at a drive-thru behind the Village Building. For more information about voting, contact the Powhatan Office of Elections at 804-5985604 or visit https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/ VoterInformation.

Powhatan County Public Library will hold Read 2 Rover from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 2 and Dec. 7. Would you like to gain confidence in your reading skills and have fun? Sign up to read to a certified therapy dog! Reading sessions are 15 minutes per child. A parent or guardian must stay with the child while they read. Register through the library website, http://www. powhatanva.gov/247/Powhatan-County-PublicLibrary, or by calling 804-598-5670.

Community Matters is a resource for all 55 and forward interested in learning, staying active and engaging with peers. Challenge and socialization are powerful combined and crucial at any age! Program is free; requires independent participation. Weekly sessions with a wide range of topics and activities are held on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Rescue Squad Building, 3920 Marion Harland Lane. Information on various offerings, activities and topics presented can be found on Facebook: Powhatan County Reach for Active Services. Call program coordinator Jayne Lloyd at 804-698-0438 for more information.

Powhatan County Public Library is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays, and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Meeting rooms are available by reservation; study rooms are available first come, first served. The library offers e-books through Overdrive and materials to borrow in person or by using Books to Go. With Books to Go, patrons may reserve print materials, DVDs, and audiobooks 24/7 online at www.powhatanlibrary or by phone during open hours at 804-598-5670; once the patron is notified that their order is ready, they have three days to pick it up at the to-go shelf. The outdoor library book drop is open 24/7 for returning library items; however, patrons must return mobile hotspots to the circulation desk inside the library. The library accepts donations and the Friends of the Library bookstore is open during library business hours. Visit www.powhatanlibrary.net or call the library at 804-598-5670 for more details, and like the library’s Facebook page for all the latest, up-to-date library news, information and program schedules.

Powhatan County Public Library will hold a weekly Story Time on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. Participants will read stories, sing songs, learn finger plays and more! Story Time generally meets in front of the fireplace, and occasionally in our outdoor space.

Business Network International (BNI) Powhatan chapter meets virtually from 8 to 9:30 a.m. every Wednesday. Visit Www.BNIVA.com for information. To register, visit https://tinyurl.com/ BNIOnFire or contact executive director Dawne Gulla at dawne@bniva.com or 804-690-9220 for more information.

The Free Clinic of Powhatan serves residents from Powhatan, Amelia and Cumberland Counties as well as select Chesterfield areas. Services include medical, dental, counseling and women’s healthcare by appointment. Eligibility requirements on website www. freeclinicofpowhatan.org/patients. Registration for new patients by appointment Mondays 5-8 p.m. or walk-in Tuesdays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. For more information or to make an appointment, call (804) 598-5637.

The Powhatan Lion’s Club will meet at 6 p.m. at the County Seat Restaurant. Contact Mike Jones at 804-794-1440 for more information.

Thursday, Nov. 3

On Nov. 3, the Pocahontas Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society is pleased to welcome Kaity Bevenour, an ecological horticulturalist and the owner/operator of Parallel Nursery, a sustainable plant nursery in Richmond, specializing in growing species from the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast U.S. Bevenour will be discussing her entrepreneurial journey with Parallel and the exploding native plant industry. She will discuss small business resources, how to bring others into the native plant community, and thoughts on the future of the industry. This hybrid meeting (live or via Zoom) is free and open to the public. The live meeting will be at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Kelly Center. The meet and greet starts at 6:30 p.m., followed by the presentation at 7 p.m. A short business meeting will follow the presentation. The chapter serves several cities and counties throughout the Richmond region, including Goochland, Hanover, King William and Powhatan. Membership in a chapter is available to anyone who joins the Virginia Native Plant Society. For more information, visit the state website: http:// vnps.org/.

Just Kids, an affordable clothing shop selling gently used children’s clothes, sizes newborn to 8 plus, had its official opening June 7. Moving forward, the store will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The shop is located in the Memorial Baptist Church Youth House, 3926 Old Buckingham Road.

Just Kids is a ministry of May Memorial Baptist Church. Clothes cost $2 per bag.

A Called to Care Meeting will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of each month at Powhatan United Methodist Church. This organization offers both support to persons who have health issues and those who are caring for persons with health issues. The meetings may include guest speakers on a myriad of topics related to aging and good health. Guest speakers have included a nurse practitioner, neurologist, nutritionist, physical therapist and many more. All are welcome to attend. This group is facilitated by Judy Cain-Oliver, licensed clinical psychologist.

The Powhatan Food Pantry is open from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursdays, Saturdays and Tuesdays at 2500 Batterson Road. Contact the pantry at 804-372-9526 or powhatanvafoodpantry@gmail. com.

The Huguenot Beekeepers Association is a group of experienced and beginner beekeepers that are dedicated to promoting beekeeping in our communities and supporting each other in our

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

beekeeping activities. The group meets from 7 to 9 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month in the auditorium of the Powhatan Village Building, 3910 Old Buckingham Road, Powhatan. Visit https:// huguenotbeekeepers.org.

Extension specialists and industry experts share timely topics for farmers in the Virginia Cooperative Extension Ag Today, held virtually at 9 a.m. every Thursday. These updates are relevant and brief and are recorded for folks who can't join on that day and time. Podcasts (audio only) are posted on Westmoreland VCE webpage and YouTube video recordings can be found at https://www.youtube.com/ playlist?list=PL7_2 QUVzrPXDpYsV2HY11CH8KBrluifyO. Contact Stephanie Romelczyk (sromelcz@vt.edu) for information on joining the meeting live. Watched or listened to VCE AG Today? Let us know how we are doing! Find our survey here: https://vce. az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6fiYBb914AYRdn7.

The Powhatan County Fair association meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Powhatan Fairgrounds located at 4042 Anderson Highway, Powhatan, Virginia 23139. For more information, visit www.powhatanfair.org.

The original Powhatan AA meets from 7 to 8 p.m. every Thursday in the Powhatan Village Building.

The Powhatan Rotary Club meets at 7:30 a.m. every Thursday at the County Seat Restaurant.

The Powhatan Garden Club meets the first Thursday of the month at the Powhatan Rescue Squad Building, 3920 Marion Harland Road, starting at 10 a.m. for refreshments and at 10:30 a.m. for the meeting and program. The presenter will be Diane Burgess, a flower show judge and a Piedmont District Director who will give a presentation on floral design. For more information, contact Laura Divinski at 804-3729572.

Friday, Nov. 4

Powhatan County Public Library’s Middle Grade Anime Club will meet from 4 to 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 4 and Dec. 9. Bring manga, notebooks, cosplays, or other projects to work on. We will watch a different anime each meeting. For local children aged 8-12. Application required to join. Pick up one at the library front desk.

Powhatan Cruizer’s car club, which is open to any vehicle or motorcycle owner, meets at 6 p.m. on the first Friday of the month at the Powhatan County Fairgrounds. Meetings are open to anyone. For more information, contact Charlie Williams at 804-898-0876.

Saturday, Nov. 5

Powhatan County Public Library’s Thanksgiving Food Drive will be held during the entire month of October and until Nov. 5. Bring in five canned goods or nonperishable items to be entered in to be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift card. All donations will go to the local food pantry.

Habitat For Humanity - Powhatan depends on volunteers and donors. Habitat is blessed with the community’s helpful and generous participation.

The Habitat ReStore at 1922 Urbine Road will be open every Saturday, come November 2022, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The office is located upstairs at the Habitat ReStore and the office number is 804-594-7009, ext. 2. Call and volunteer. Help us at the ReStore, perform critical repairs and/or with our upcoming builds.

Powhatan AA meets at 8 p.m. every Saturday at Manakin Episcopal Church on Huguenot Trail.

Monday, Nov. 7

Powhatan County Public Library will hold Brick Slayerz from 4 to 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 7 and 21 and Dec. 5 and 19. This is a LEGO building club for 6-12 year-olds. Bricks and bases will be provided to attendees. A parent or guardian is required to stay with their child during the program.

A Grief Support Group meets from 10 to 11 a.m. on the second Monday of each month at Powhatan United Methodist Church. All are welcome to attend. This group is facilitated by Judy Cain-Oliver, licensed clinical psychologist.

The Huguenot Ruritan Club meets at 7 p.m. on the first Monday of the month at May Memorial Baptist Church. For more information, contact Tom Grasty at 804-598-0777.

A Powhatan Hope Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meeting will be held from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. every Monday at PCC Church, 4480 Anderson Highway, Powhatan, Room 102. It is an open discussion meeting. Wheelchair accessible.

Tuesday, Nov. 8

Polls will be open for Election Day 2022 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Verify your precinct before going at https://www.elections.virginia.gov/casting-aballot/polling-place-lookup/.

Awaken to Hope Al-Anon meets at 8 p.m. every Tuesday at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.

The new Bridge of Reason AA meeting is held at 7 p.m. every Tuesday at Powhatan Mennonite Church, 3549 Old Buckingham Road, Powhatan. It is an open, decision and literature meeting for Powhatan, Goochland, and Cumberland counties. AA meets at 8 p.m. every Tuesday at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church on Huguenot Trail.

Upcoming

Girl Scout Troop 3029 is helping the Huguenot Volunteer Fire Department achieve a long-held goal of building a memorial to honor the victims of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 at the station. The Girl Scouts are selling 411 bricks inscribed with the name, rank and company of a firefighter, law enforcement officer or paramedic killed during the attacks. A donation of $23 will cover the cost of one inscribed brick in honor of a first responder. To purchase a brick, visit www. bricksrus.com/donorsite/memorial911. Checks payable to Troop 3029 may also be mailed to Laura Baltz at 1510 Holly Hills Road, Powhatan, VA 23139. For more information, contact Baltz at 804-467-4313 or Ljbal65@aol.com.

Dreaming Home, a conversation for the elders of Powhatan County, will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at the Powhatan Rescue Squad, 3920 Marion Harland Lane. Participants will discuss senior living options available in the region. Tell us what options you desire most

and what you dream of when you think of your elder home. Register by Nov. 3 by calling 804925-2660 or reaching out to dreaminghome@ leadingagevirginia.org.

Teen Anime Club will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10 and Dec. 8 at Powhatan County Public Library. Bring manga, notebooks, cosplays, or other projects to work on. We will watch a different anime each meeting. For local teens aged 13-18 (grades 6-12). Application required to join. Pick up one at the library front desk.

Powhatan Elementary School will hold its annual Veterans Day salute, “Thank you, Military” at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 11, and local veterans are invited to attend and be honored. The fifth graders will be performing a schoolwide assembly for local veterans. Powhatan Middle School assistant principal Jon Ferguson will be the honored veteran guest speaker. Middle school band and choir members will also perform patriotic selections and the Powhatan High School JROTC will present the colors.

Powhatan American Legion Post 201 is sponsoring a Veterans Day Program to be held at the War Memorial Cultural Arts & Community Center on Friday, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. All veterans will be recognized at the event. Dr. Harold F. Young, former Vietnam MASH hospital surgeon and a renown neurosurgeon at the VCU Hospital, will be the guest speaker. For more information about Young, visit https://neurosurgery.vcu.edu/ about/our-team/harold-f-young-md.html.

Habitat for Humanity-Powhatan will hold an Exterior Critical Repair Blitz on Nov. 11 and 12. Do you know someone elderly, or a veteran and or a homeowner with a disability on a limited income who has struggled to maintain the exterior of their home — dangerous steps, decking, rotted siding here and there? Habitat has a limited number of spots that weekend. Send contacts for who you are thinking of and Habitat can see if they are eligible for the program. Call 804594-7009, ext. 2 or e-mail executivedirector@ habitatpowhatan.org.

The annual Huguenot Springs Cemetery Veterans Day Candlelight Service will be held at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11 at 907 Old Confederate Cemetery Road, Midlothian, 23113 (northeastern Powhatan County). The memorial service is sponsored by the J.E.B. Stuart Camp #1343 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the Huguenot Springs Cemetery Foundation. The service will be honoring all American veterans. There will be bagpipe music by David W. Hinton of the Virginia Scots Guards, a wreath laying ceremony and artillery salute by Knibb’s Battery. The speaker, Ken Wiseman, will represent the VFW and speak on “Service after Enlistment. The event is free and open to the public. Call 804-690-0268 if you have any questions.

Powhatan County Branch NAACP will hold a Veterans Day Program at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12 at the Powhatan African American Cultural Arts Museum, Pocahontas Landmark Center, 4290 Anderson Hwy, Powhatan. Guest Speaker will be the Rev. Dr. Vera Rhyne with music by Brother Edward Foster.

Powhatan County Public Library will have Craft Time! From 10:30 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12 and Dec. 3. Elementary school aged children are invited to participate in this arts and craft program. Registration required.

Powhatan State Park will hold a Volunteer Kickoff Even from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Nov. 12 at Shelter #1 in the park. Learn about volunteer perks and benefits and park projects and opportunities The day will also include an opportunity to meet park staff and friends group members; enjoy refreshments and several prize drawings for Powhatan gifts and apparel and participate in optional volunteer projects and/or an craft activity. Free parking for attendees. The rain date is from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13.

The Seeds of Hope Harvest Festival will be held from noon to 4 p.m. at The Venue at Orchard View Farm, 136 Baber Rd., Cumberland, VA 23040. Powhatan-based nonprofit, Together for Tanzania, hosts this fundraising event designed for families to enjoy a casual, fun-filled afternoon at this lovely venue while helping TFT to raise funds for the construction of Save Life English Medium School in southern Tanzania. The event is catered by Deep Run Roadhouse and music is by Willie De Trio. Games and activities will entertain both adults and children. At 2 p.m. special Tanzanian guests will speak, followed by a live auction of an 8-foot kayak and a lovely Lake Gaston home stay, four days/three nights. To learn more and purchase tickets, visit www. togetherfortanzania.org.

The Fitzgerald Memorial Baptist Church’s Women on a Mission will hold a Holly Jolly Bazaar from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12 at the church, 14 Fitzgerald Road, Cumberland. Fitzgerald’s annual shopping extravaganza will have a little bit of everything, including locally made arts, crafts, homemade goodies and more. The women host the event to raise money for local missions.

A Veterans Day service will be held at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 13. Join us as we honor all American veterans, living and deceased, who served this country honorably during wartime and peacetime. We will pray for our veterans, sing beloved hymns, read from the Bible and enjoy beautiful music played on the harp by our organist Betsy Brandt. St. Luke’s cemetery has over 40 service men and women interred, who served. During the service, we will honor each by reciting their names. If you have a family member who served in the military and would like their name to be mentioned, please contact the Church Office 804-794-6953 or secretary@stlukespowhatan.org) by noon, Thursday, Nov. 10.

Powhatan Christmas Mother Headquarters will be open on the following evenings for volunteers: Tuesday, Nov. 15 and 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 19 and Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visit https://powhatanchristmasmother.org/.

Powhatan County Public Library’s Teen Advisory Board meetings from 4 to 6 p.m. on Nov. 15 and 29 and Dec. 13. Help plan and run teen programs, create library displays, suggest YA books and materials, and get volunteer hours. For local teens aged 13-18 (grades 6-12). Application required to join. Pick one up at the library front desk.

Lonesome Dove Equestrian Center, which is located at 6137 Old Buckingham Road, provides year-round therapeutic horseback riding

exclusively for veterans with special needs and disabilities. Focusing on veterans in Central Virginia, the goal of this program is to improve the quality of life for the participants through activities that are positive to their cognitive, physical, emotional and social well-being. As of Jan. 1, 2021, the program is also welcoming first responders to come ride with the program. In November, volunteers are asked to arrive at 10 a.m. and the riding sessions begin at 11 a.m. Upcoming dates are Nov. 15 and 30. There are no sessions in December. LDEC is able to provide a variety of services to the veterans because of dedicated volunteers. Those who would like to help and have fun at the same time are asked to consider becoming a member of one of these teams. For more information about Lonesome Dove, visit http://ldequestrian.com/ or contact 804-318-6485.

The Powhatan County Public Library is spicing up the fall with its programming for adults. On Saturday, Nov. 19 at 10:30 a.m., the library will hold Gentle Beginner’s Yoga with Joanna Bartles. Participants will learn breathing techniques, postures and movements to relieve tension and tightness in muscles and joints. Bring a yoga mat or beach towel, and if able a firm pillow, block or towel for support. Bottled water will be provided. For details, contact Powhatan County Public Library at 804-598-5670 or library@ powhatanlibrary.net.

The RVAg Pop-Up Market Series at Fine Creek Brewing Company concludes with the event on Sunday, Nov. 20 from noon to 4 p.m. The event will include local vendors for your shopping pleasure. Sit on the veranda or out in the yard and sip on Fine Creek beer or cider and eat from their delicious menu.

Powhatan County Public Library will hold Brick Slayerz from 4 to 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 21 and Dec. 5 and 19. This is a LEGO building club for 6-12 year-olds. Bricks and bases will be provided to attendees. A parent or guardian is required to stay with their child during the program.

A Powhatan Day of “Praying for Others First” will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 3910 Old Buckingham Road, Powhatan. For more information, call 804-256-4411.

Unity Community Church will present its annual Unity Around the Table Thanksgiving Dinner from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 24 at 3910 Old Buckingham Road, Powhatan. The event is free and open to the public and includes food, family, fellowship and a toy giveaway. For more information, visit www.ucc4me.org or contact 804-256-4411.

Passion Community Church will hold a Community Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday, Nov. 24 at its Powhatan Campus, 4480 Anderson Highway. The free meal will be held from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. ALL are welcome to join us at the Powhatan Campus for a Thanksgiving dinner OR stop by to pick up to-go lunches for your family! Spread the word and invite those you know who may be alone or unable to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal. Your RSVP for dinner (or to pick up dinners) is most appreciated via the form on the church website, https://pccwired.net/fall-events/, found under the Powhatan Campus list. Food donations are also welcome! Items needed include: turkeys, hams, dressing mix, instant mashed potatoes, green beans, and veggie trays. Drop off all donations at the Powhatan Campus. Interested in helping us prepare food? Complete the form on the church website and select the appropriate option. You can also RSVP. Contact Melinda Kinney at 518-429-9873 or melinda.kinney@ pccwired.net.

Blessed Sacrament Huguenot Drama will put on a production of “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe” with performances at 7 p.m. Dec. 2 and 3 and 3 p.m. on Dec. 3 in the school’s gym. The play is based on the story by C.S. Lewis. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students.

Powhatan County Parks and Recreation will offer a free Introduction to Pickleball session from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3 at the Pocahontas Landmark Center Gym, 4290 Anderson Highway. The event is for adults ages 18+ and is free for Powhatan County residents only. It will be taught by Linda Scott, a certified IPTPA instructor and USA Pickleball District Ambassador Virginia Central District. If you have your own paddles, bring them with you. Proper shoes and attire required. Participants must register and sign a waiver. Contact 804-598-5275 or mshelton@ powhatanva.gov.

The Heart of Virginia Beekeepers plans to meet Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. at the Prince Edward County Extension Office, 100 Dominion Dr., Farmville, VA 23901 next to Lowe's. We are planning to hold elections and our annual holiday dinner, so bring a dish to share. Details to be announced. Anyone who has bees or is interested in bees is welcome. For more information call Mary Jane Morgan at 434-315-1433. To check on possible cancellations or changes, visit Facebook or our website: heartofvirginiabeekeepers.org.

Powhatan County Public Library will hold Read 2 Rover from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 7. Would you like to gain confidence in your reading skills and have fun? Sign up to read to a certified therapy dog! Reading sessions are 15 minutes per child. A parent or guardian must stay with the child while they read. Register through the library website, http://www.powhatanva. gov/247/Powhatan-County-Public-Library, or by calling 804-598-5670.

Powhatan County Public Library’s Middle Grade Anime Club will meet from 4 to 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 9. Bring manga, notebooks, cosplays, or other projects to work on. We will watch a different anime each meeting. For local children aged 8-12. Application required to join. Pick up one at the library front desk.

Come join us for the Powhatan Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting on Dec. 10. Parade lineup starting at 1 p.m. with the parade starting at 3 p.m., the parade route is along Old Buckingham Road, from Mann Rd to the Courthouse area. There will be vendors in the Courthouse area beginning at 1 p.m. and Santa will be available for Christmas wishes and pictures. The Tree Lighting will be held in the Village following the parade. Applications can be found at www. PowhatanChristmasMother.org or by contacting the Parade committee at PowhatanChristmas@ gmail.com Hope to see you there!

Calling local authors. After a several year hiatus, Writers Round-up is returning to Powhatan

YMCA honors first responders

On Oct. 27, the Elizabeth Randolph Powhatan YMCA’s Active Older Adults prepared a spaghetti lunch and invited all first responders in Powhatan County as a thank you, to honor local heroes and to show simple appreciation for their hard work and dedication to the Powhatan community.

Community Matters, a weekly group for Powhatan’s 55+ community, has been involved in the Humblebee Project as an ongoing project. Participants create no-sew fleece blankets for the Child Life Department at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond (VCU). They assist pediatric inpatients with coping and adjustment to medical issues, and make them more comfortable in all facets of their care. Participants recently took the group’s first 14 blankets to the hospital. Community Matters will continue to participate in this project. The Humblebee Project brings 55+ together – encountering each other and socializing while providing outreach for a wonderful cause. Community Matters meets every Wednesday at the Powhatan Rescue Squad Building.

Christmas Mother to visit ReStore Contributed Report

More and more of Powhatan businesses and nonprofits are jumping in to help the Powhatan Christmas Mother get started on serving others this Christmas. One such entity is our own Habitat for Humanity – Powhatan.

The Habitat ReStore will open its doors for anyone to bring a toy, a board game, (perhaps STEM toys) to the building at 1922 Urbine Road on Saturday, Nov. 19 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Bring your contribution and have a homemade cookie as a thank you. While

you’re there you can peruse the ReStore and possibly discover that there are many items that you might usually search for in a big box store further away from home. Additionally you will be helping both Habitat and the Christmas Mother help others.

Mark your calendar for Nov. 19 to come by the Powhatan ReStore at 1922 Urbine Road between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Bring a toy or a game and receive a free homemade Christmas cookie while checking out the many good deals available at the ReStore.

ics include photography, jazz band, Fantasy Football, Relay for Life, fishing, gardening, coloring, crocheting, chess, anime, pets, walking and talking, memes, guitar, student leadership, camping and travel, snakes and other critters, Kindness Club, nature walking and sewing.

Gina Beberdick, a reading intervention coach, is leading the Lego Club with teachers Kim Wasosky and Catrina Garner. Students spent the bulk of the time in club Friday just creating with Legos, which, aside from being fun, have potential in the areas of engineering and robotics for the future for the club.

The activity is great for all ages and they can team build or make their own creations, she noted.

“We will have Lego books, too, so they can build certain things that they want to based on that book. We will have Lego videos. … They are basically free to build what they want, use their imaginations and create something fun and engaging,” she said.

Elsewhere in the building, a group of students was dancing Friday to Bobby Pickett’s “Monster Mash” during the Just Dance/TikTok Mashup Club. Sponsor Debbie Packard, who is running the club with Brooke Phinney, said she wanted to give the students a “brain break” and a “sensory break” that will get them moving since so much of the school day is usually spent sitting.

“Today we were focusing on some Halloween songs like ‘Monster Mash’ and ‘Thriller’ just because the theme of the week is Halloween,” she said Friday. “We let the kids pick the different weeks and activities we do. They are just dancing. We are going to, as the club progresses, maybe get choreography going and be able to present it to the school at the end of the year.”

Even though the students pick which club they sign up for, there will be transitions in some. Packard noted that some students who didn’t want to dance the first week were up and moving the second, and she hopes as they get to know each other and warm up to the experience, they will become more comfortable.

“It is always good for them to have familiar faces and friends at all different age levels, so when they are in the cafeteria or in the gym or at a football game, they

can always find that familiar face to connect with,” she said.

Teacher Justin Stocker loved playing Monopoly as a child and thought there would be some good interest in the middle school, so he signed up to sponsor the Monopoly Club. Students in the club were divided up into groups of four or five to play Monopoly and will pick up those same games from week to week. The students are storing the board game pieces using plastic bags and recording positions to help keep the flow from week to week.

“Hopefully, halfway through the year we are going to have winners and all the winners are going to combine to have a new winner’s table for the second half of the year, and we are going to shuffle everybody else to another table for the second half of the year,” he said.

While the club has only met twice, Stocker said it has gone well and the students seem to be looking forward to coming and playing the game together.

Math teacher Phil Nusbaum said he was taught by students to do Rubik’s Cubes about four years ago and he continued to learn similar puzzles of different sizes and shapes. The club has students with varying degrees of knowledge of how to do these puzzles.

“My goal for everybody is to either learn one cube they have never done or learn a way to do one they already know how to do but faster,” he said.

Going into the second club meeting, Nusbaum said he was surprised how much they retained from the previous week.

“I thought if they did them and then hadn’t touched them for a week they would come back and not remember anything. But a lot of them were really excited to come in today and remembered the few steps they did, so I think they are really going to be good at it by the time we finish this year,” he said Friday.

This kind of club is going to bring together children

who may not be friends otherwise but can share this interest in the puzzles, Nusbaum said. “Middle school is hard,” he added, so he hopes the students make some new friends and find the club to be a place they can come and feel at ease.

PHOTOS BY LAURA McFARLAND

Powhatan Middle School

school clubs on Oct. 21 that will

every Friday throughout the school year during Indian

Monopoly Club (clockwise from top left), Lego Club, Just Dance/TikTok Mashup Club and Sewing Club.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF YMCA

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

County to explore hiring a consultant to fix pay, class plan

By Laura McFarland Managing Editor

POWHATAN – The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors is looking at the need to bring in consultants to address an issue in county administration that has been a significant topic of contention in recent months.

During the board’s meeting on Monday, Oct. 24, the supervisors addressed the issues of the highly debated employee classification and compensation plan and what should be the next steps moving forward, ultimately deciding to have staff explore ways they might hire a consultant to help update and fix it.

The classification and compensation plan has been a bone of contention in board meetings for months as David Williams, who represents District 1, and Bill Cox, District 4, laid much of the problems with the plan’s current state at the feet of former county administrator Ned Smither, who resigned earlier this month at the board’s request.

Supporting that assertion was a 14page report completed by county attorney Tom Lacheney at the board’s request in September that detailed actions he said Smither took that damaged the fairness and equity of the plan, including raises, job grade changes and promotions outside of the plan. Lacheney recommended in the report that the county “immediately initiate a new pay and class study with a neutral outside consultant to help us create a new plan that the BOS and the County Administrator are willing to operate under.”

During last week’s meeting, interim county administrator Bret Schardein recommended hiring a firm to help staff members with updating the classification and compensation plan. If the board liked that proposal, he said the county could either do a request for proposal (RFP) to get

VETERANS

Continued from pg. 1

11 at 11 a.m. All veterans will be recognized at the event. Dr. Harold F. Young, former Vietnam MASH hospital surgeon and a renown neurosurgeon at the VCU Hospital, will be the guest speaker. For more information about Young, visit https://neurosurgery.vcu.edu/ about/our-team/harold-f-young-md. html.

The annual Huguenot Springs Cemetery Veterans Day Candlelight Service will be held at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11 at 907 Old Confederate Ceme-

bids or see if any other localities have open procurement contracts Powhatan might use if it fits what the county needs.

Schardein recommended looking at updating the plan based on the current market, especially since it was last updated in 2018 and is generally agreed among board members to be out of date. Schardein also recommended an update that would look to make sure there is parity and integrity across all positions.

Discussion followed, starting with the cost of hiring an outside consultant as Karin Carmack, District 5, raised concerns that the consultant route could be expensive. Schardein said there are things county staff could do to reduce costs, but the final bill would depend on the full scope of what the board decides to do to the plan.

Cox pointed out that the new plan will need to address not only pay and job grade changes but also the question of who has the authority to make changes.

“We have a whole lot of things that need to be addressed. They aren’t necessarily hard but need to be addressed and kind of pulled in,” he said.

Steve McClung, District 2, immediately supported the idea of an outside consultant, saying he wants to “move forward and get this thing done.”

Williams said the “money to fix this” is not in the consultant fee but the salary changes that will need to be made, saying it will take quite a lot of money to do that. He agreed the board wants a comprehensive fix but added they want to know all of the options available.

Chair Mike Byerly, District 3, also agreed an outside consultant looks like it is necessary but said he doesn’t want to lose sight of the fact that the county had failed to update the plan annually as a part of the annual budget since 2018, which needs to be addressed moving forward.

“Since 2018 it hasn’t happened annu-

tery Road, Midlothian, 23113 (northeastern Powhatan County). The memorial service is sponsored by the J.E.B. Stuart Camp #1343 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the Huguenot Springs Cemetery Foundation. The service will be honoring all American veterans. There will be bagpipe music by David W. Hinton of the Virginia Scots Guards, a wreath laying ceremony and artillery salute by Knibb’s Battery. The speaker, Ken Wiseman, will represent the VFW and speak on “Service after Enlistment.” The event is free and open to the public. Call 804-690-0268 if you

Arrests

CRIME REPORT

One female was charged on Oct. 21 with petty larceny (Misdemeanor). One male was charged on Oct. 23

with dogs running at large. One male was charged on Oct. 23 with assault and battery of a family member (M).

Incident report for Oct. 17 to 23 - Incident type & total calls

Advice 23 Animal calls 26

Assault 6 Assist 21 Attempt to locate 6 BOL 1 Civil 1

Damaged property 2 Death investigation 1 Disabled vehicle 18 Disorder/disturbance 3 Domestic 6 Drunk in public 1 Follow-up 1

Found property 2 Fraud 3 Gunshot noise 2 Hit and run 2 Investigation 10 Larceny 3 Lockout 7 Loud music 2 Missing person 1 MVAs 24 Overdose 1 Panic alarm 1 Pd alarm 6 Phone threat 2

ally in Powhatan County. It needs to happen. We are not a perfect place – nobody is – but we’ve got to pay attention to this and we’ve got to figure out, when we move forward and we get back to that fair and equitable place that we all want to be with the compensation and pay plan for our em-

CALENDAR

County Public Library. Tentative dates are Jan. 21 or 28, 2023. If you are an author interested in participating, contact Charles Joynes at cjoynes@ powhatanlibrary.net.

Ongoing

The Coalition of Powhatan Churches has available resources to help people who would like assistance in learning to manage their finances. If you know of anyone who needs or would like to have this service, or to get more information, call Robin Cupka at 804-801-9851.

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

have any questions.

Powhatan County Branch NAACP will hold a Veterans Day Program at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12 at the Powhatan African American Cultural Arts Museum, Pocahontas Landmark Center, 4290 Anderson Hwy, Powhatan. Guest Speaker will be the Rev. Dr. Vera Rhyne with music by Brother Edward Foster. All are welcome.

A Veterans Day service will be held at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 13. Join us as we honor all American veterans, living and deceased, who served this country

Reckless driver 16 School threat assessment 1 Shoplifting 1 Suspicious 13 Traffic hazard 11 Traffic stop 62 Transport 3 Trespass 4 Underage possession 1 Unknown emergency 14 Vandalism 2 Warrant service 3 Welfare check 2

ployees, we’ve got to look at this going forward every year,” Byerly said.

The board decided with unanimous head nods to allow county staff to explore the options available to Powhatan and bring back the choices to the board of supervisors.

donations of single serve raviolis, spaghettios, apple sauce, cereal, cookies, crackers and more. Contact Kevin Hardy at 804-350-1127 for more information.

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 804372-9526 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 Gym Walking, 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; Open Gym Adult Volleyball, Tuesdays, 7-9 p.m. until Nov. 15; Paid Momentum Volleyball, Tuesdays and Thursdays starting Dec. 1 (contact Cindy Bryant by email

honorably during wartime and peacetime. We will pray for our veterans, sing beloved hymns, read from the Bible and enjoy beautiful music played on the harp by organist Betsy Brandt. St. Luke’s cemetery has over 40 service men and women interred, who served. During the service, we will honor each by reciting their names. If you have a family member who served in the military and would like their name to be mentioned, contact the Church Office at 804-794-6953 or secretary@stlukespowhatan.org by noon, Thursday, Nov. 10.

SundaySchool10AM WorshipService11AM

PastorJohnEngle 603-933-0141

3540OldBuckinghamRd. www.pmchurch.net

1801Huguenot Trail SundayWorship10am BryanM.Holt, Pastor 804-378-3607

www.EmmausChristianChurch.org https://www.facebook.com/2emmaus/

MountCalvary BaptistChurch 2020RedLaneRoad Powhatan,VA23139

Pastor,LarryB.Collins SundaySchool9:45a.m. SundayWorship11:00a.m. WednesdayBibleStudy 7:30p.m. Office804-598-2398

2253RossonRd. JustoffRt.13intheVillage 598-4438

WeekdayPreschool(ages2-5) 598-6090

Many residents could meet Christmas Mother program eligibility

Contributed Report

The Powhatan Christmas Mother program wants to be sure no eligible senior nor child goes without at Christmas.

Coordinators want to make sure Powhatan residents are informed of the criteria and method used to accept applicants to see if they are eligible.

The program uses 250% Federal Poverty Income Guidelines. These are based on the Federal Poverty Guidelines as provided by the Federal Office

of management and Budget for the previous calendar year.

The guidelines allow families that fall within those amounts to apply for assistance for their children, for seniors (60 and older) and for people with disabilities. Proof of income, of disability and of residency are required with the submission of the application. The program serves only Powhatan County residents.

If you are a single senior with monthly gross income of $2,831 or less

living in Powhatan, you qualify for the Powhatan Christmas Mother program.

If you are a family of three living in Powhatan and your monthly gross income is $4,798 or less, your children qualify for Powhatan Christmas Mother.

For further information you may contact the program through the website, powhatanchristmasmother.org; by email at powhatancec@verizon.net; or phone at 804-337-1346. The program will be accepting applications through

mid-November. You can also download an application from the website.

You may also check your eligibility at www.povertylevelcalculator.com/ virginia.

Organizers realize the economy is challenging and that many people are facing tougher economic decisions. They hope that no one fails to ask for help at Christmas when we are blessed with a generous county and warm hearts wanting to bring everyone a season of hope this Christmas.

PHOTOS BY LAURA McFARLAND

Alice Sheridan picked the top five to receive prizes. The top 10 were put on display at two of the hospital’s therapy centers in Glen Allen and Bon Air. The rest of the pumpkins were also put to good use as they were taken to other area hospitals and senior living facilities to be displayed.

Sheridan joked that she was feeling a bit of pressure because the entries were so amazing and creative.

“It was challenging because all of the top 10 were awesome,” she said.

Nunnally said the Sesame Street display won both because of how appropriate it is for the children’s hospital and because of the obvious hard work that was put into creating it. “It stood out.”

Kenmore Envelope’s Sesame Street won first place in this year’s competition, which ITM project administrator Mary Landrum said employees back in the office would be thrilled to hear. This is the company’s third year participating in the competition and third time finishing either first or second.

A team made up of representatives

from several departments in the company pick the theme and start building the entry in early October, she said. The Sesame Street entry was chosen because it would be a great fit to bring joy to the children who will see it, and there was a nod to the company’s mission with Grover the mailman carrying letters.

“There is a lot of competitiveness,” Landrum said with a laugh after the winners were announced. “I have already received like 20 text messages from work: ‘Did we win? Did we win? Did we win?’ So they are expecting a firstplace win when we come back.”

Having so many businesses willing to come out to support the foundation and its patients in such fun and imaginative ways is wonderful, said Sarah Deis, manager of foundation relations for the Children’s Hospital Foundation. She has been coming to the event for nine years and looks forward to the quality of entries.

Having the top pumpkins in the waiting rooms of the two therapy centers, where outpatients come for physical, speech and occupational therapy, means parents and children can see them as

they come in for appointments, she said.

“I think it just brings a lot of joy and excitement to our patients and their families perhaps coming in for a little bit of a scary appointment or not something they are particularly looking forward to and it just brings a lot of joy to them as they enter the building,” Deis said.

She added that being one of the judges to narrow down the winners to the top 10 was challenging because all of the pumpkins are so wonderful.

One of the companies representing Powhatan in the competition was KGC, which offers access and mobility solutions such as stair lifts, wheelchair lifts and home elevators. Owner Kevin Knable said his son Jacob and Massengill’s son Carter, decorated a Master’s Tee-themed pumpkin, making it the first time the company participated.

Knable said he has worked a great deal with the children’s hospital through the years because his company works with people with disabilities so it was important to him, too.

Knable complemented the event and the other competitors’ entries and joked “we need to step up our game next year.”

In addition to Kenmore Envelope, other top finishers were: second place, Venus Fly Trap – VACU; third place, Venus Fly Trap – Paycor/NFP; fourth place, Free Hedge Hugs – VACU; and fifth place, Ice Cream Dream – Gumenick Properties (Malvern Manor).

Laura McFarland may be reached at Lmcfarland@powhatantoday.com.

1/2mileoffRt.60onRedLaneRoad

Loving,Investing,Fulfilling,Empowering

CreekShoppingCenter!

The winner of the Pumpkins for Kids decorating contest, held Oct. 28 at Independence Golf Club in Powhatan, was Kenmore Envelope’s Sesame Street scene featuring a pumpkin Oscar the Grouch. Clockwise from top center are: some of the top 10 winners of the contest and pumpkins decorated like a dancing Groot, a Venus fly trap (second place) and Winnie the Pooh, and the Sanderson sisters from “Hocus Pocus.” Right is a QR code to donate to the children’s hospital.

Powhatan Elementary enjoys Fall Game Night

CALENDAR

Siblings collaborate for state fair

In addition to previously published results from the Virginia State Fair, two additional awards were not listed. Charles Maine received third place for Lego non-moving parts and Thomas, Charles, Everett and Magdalena Maine

received first place in Lego group project, shown above.

plication.

Some of the comments from the opposing public revolved around the importance of keeping the current parcel in line with its residential and rural neighbors – although it also has a commercial neighbor –and stopping “commercial creep” up Page Road.

More comments revolved around transportation issues, including Page Road already being in bad condition and having dangerous shoulders; the greater need for a focus on public safety; the impact of traffic already on Page Road from existing businesses; not having a good feed onto Anderson Highway from the rural collector road; and the danger of having the company’s four large trucks sharing – or not sharing, as many people argued – the road.

The one person who spoke in favor of the project said she had worked next to Stroud’s existing business for years without incident for her or others on the road and she felt his limited number of vehicles would have a minimal impact on Page Road. She also pointed out the buffers owner Kevin Stroud had prof-

4

at momentumvolleyballclub@gmail.com); Paid Pulse Basketball, Wednesdays and Fridays and 2 Saturdays starting Wednesday, Nov. 30 (contact Brian Griffen by email at vicepresident@ powhatanpulse.com); On-going Senior Basketball on Monday nights, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Adult Open Gym Basketball on Wednesday nights until Nov. 16; Free Pickleball Clinic coming in December on a Saturday, stay tuned for more details. 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 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

fered to install and said she trusted him to live up to his promises.

Kevin Stroud was given a chance to address the board about his case following the public hearing and was obviously upset by many of the comments, which he said were untrue and amounted to calling him “a piece of crap.” He talked about organized efforts to disrupt his family business.

Stroud staunchly defended the quality and consideration he would bring to the project, which would include an office portion of the building that would be 1,600 square feet and a storage portion proposed at 8,000 square feet. He talked about the limited traffic his employees would add to Page Road, usually only twice a day; the building façade and landscaping he was proffering to not be an eyesore to his neighbors; the right turn exit only from his parcel that he proffered and the subsequent short stretch from his driveway to Anderson Highway; being shut down for much of the winter and early spring months as a seasonal operation; and his previous history operating his business in Powhatan with the same kinds of trucks without incident.

While the traffic impact did come up during board discussion, the fact that the property is so close to Anderson Highway and that Stroud proffered to install a right turn exit only from the parcel and dedicate right of way for any future road improvements seemed to go a long way in the supervisors’ considerations.

One major issue for the board was that Stroud’s parcel is designated on the 2021 Long-Range Comprehensive Plan’s Future Land Use Map as Rural Areas and Protected Lands. Stroud bought the property before the new plan was passed, when the 2019 Comprehensive Plan was still in place, at which point the

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.

Habitat for Humanity-Powhatan always is looking for donations of gently used appliances, cabinets, and furniture such as dining room and bedroom sets (no mattresses or upholstered furniture). Call to drop off at 804-594-7009, ext. 1. Or email store@habitatpowhatan.org. Habitat also does pick-ups for a $20 donation to our Critical Repair program. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Check out our website at habitatpowhatan.org

Volunteer transportation program - free service to Powhatan seniors age 60+ who are unable to drive for basic needs. Drivers receive all information from program coordinator on rides that are requested by registered riders, and accept only rides they are available to fulfill. Call 804-698-0438 or email RAServices.PVA@gmail. com to register as a rider or apply as a volunteer driver.

property was designated on the map as Commerce Center.

Carmack insisted the fact that Stroud’s property was changed on the map was a mistake and that his property, which was already being considered in a case at the time, was never meant to be changed. She also argued the comprehensive plan is a “guide” and as such is not set in stone, which has been a point of disagreement among board members at times and continued to be as Cox argued it needs to be adhered to or it serves no purpose.

Williams pointed out if a mistake happened and wasn’t corrected, it is part of an ongoing problem regarding communication, both internal and with prospective businesses owners and developers.

Stroud had originally intended to do a large RV and boat storage business but, due to neighborhood concerns, has scaled back his project to be a contractor’s office. The timeline of events was discussed in detail, especially what conversations Stroud may have had with staff and what intentions or advice may have been conveyed to him and how the public meetings and filing of Stroud’s first and second rezoning attempts were handled.

Another aspect of the case discussed was the allowed uses under the rezoning application, which had been reduced significantly but still had types of businesses listed that concerned Williams should Stroud ever decide to close his current business or sell the property.

After Williams raised a concern, Stroud offered to add an additional proffer that his finished buildings would be substantially similar to the conceptual plans in the board’s budget packet. The board then took the split vote.

ILLUSTRATION METRO CREATIVE/ PHOTOS BY LAURA MCFARLAND

Powhatan Elementary’s Fall Game Night on Oct. 27 saw children playing games, visiting a haunted maze, trick or treating, delighting in sweet treat won at a cupcake walk, and showing off their costumes.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

How did you celebrate Halloween?

E-mail answers to editor@powhatantoday.com or share them on the Powhatan Today’s Facebook page.

Elementary schools shine at fall festivals

By Laura McFarland Managing Editor

Gleeful

and organized pandemonium is the best way to describe attending all three Powhatan County Public Schools’ elementary fall festivals.

It was a first for me to attend any of the fall festivals, and being an overachiever, I decided to do all three, including two in one night.

Before going any further, I need to give a huge kudos to all of the three schools’ staff members and parent volunteers who made these events possible. The three schoolwide events were incredibly well organized and seemed to be a blast for children and even some younger and older siblings. There was a great deal of stimulation and sugar compressed into each event – too much to truly do justice here, really – but isn’t that what people love about these types of happenings?

The fun started on Oct. 20, when Pocahontas Elementary School had its Fall Festival with seemingly every corner of the building filled with decorations, games and treats. Children had the opportunity to snack on popcorn, candy apple bowls and ice cream and decorate cupcakes, cookies and rice crispy treats. There were games of every kind and prizes galore –even live fish, which I could see several parents carrying with a hilariously put-upon looks on their faces.

Reader doesn’t agree with all but still chooses Good

Dear Editor,

As one of many new constituents in the 5th Congressional District, I admit that I didn’t know much about Bob Good’s stances or record as we approached the next election. Mr. Robert Kelly’s well-crafted opinion from the October 26th edition spurred me to do some research. I humbly offer a counter opinion. Personally, I need only read that Bob Good’s opponent is endorsed by Mark Warner, Tim Kaine and Abigail Spanberger to know in what box my mark will be struck. For the open-minded, here is some information pulled from official congressional voting records and ratings agencies to consider.

Along with cosponsors to include patriots Paul Gosar, Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Greene, Bob Good has introduced legislation such as the Empowering Parents Act and the Defending Student’s Civil Liberties Act. Both are crafted to help parents fight against racial discrimination in schools and protect children from the evils of Critical Race Theory. He sponsored the Close Biden’s Open Border bill to help stem a flood of dangerous narcotics and put an end to human trafficking. He also introduced the One Citizen One Vote bill in an effort to make sure every valid vote, from every eligible voter, is accurately and fairly counted.

Good voted no to the Trump impeachment. He voted no to the Build Back Better plan. Consider the damage done to our economy from reckless government spending. He voted no to Pelosi’s Presidential Election Reform. Good voted yes for End Human Trafficking legislation. He voted yes for Access to Baby Formula to remove restrictive tariffs and controls.

Bob Good is rated highly rated by the likes of Freedom Works, Gun Owners of America and the NRA, and the Susan B Anthony Pro-Life organization. He is very poorly rated by the ACLU, the NEA and Planned Parenthood. The latter two give him a whopping 0%. We should all be so recognized.

I do not agree with the entirety of his voting record. For instance, I believe we need to concentrate on problems here and not meddle in Ukrainian entanglements. But, I know that we are in desperate need of a massive red wave of newer leaders this cycle to help pull our country back from the brink of collapse. Bob Good is the clear choice. We need to remain a shiny beacon of hope to the world against the dark tide of Marxism and Progressivism. For me, and for Virginia’s remapped 5th district, I say Good is Best.

Bill Castleton Powhatan

All of the people running the rooms – which embraced a variety of themes – were incredibly welcoming and excited for the kids, whether it was a glow party, a bean bag toss or picking up pieces of candy with chopsticks. The creativity was amazing, as I would see at all three schools. A special shout out to the room that let me play a round of skeeball during a lull in young visitors. I have not talent for the game, but it still brings back good memories.

Attending two fall festivals in one night would be tricky but not impossible, so I said “why not?” Flat Rock Elementary School’s Fall Festival began an hour earlier Oct. 27, so I started the evening there.

On a special note, as someone who does not have children or spend an inordinate amount of time in large groups of them save for special events like this, having a great deal of energy and noise coming at you all at once from hundreds of children can be a little overwhelming. So I appreciated especially how spread out Flat Rock’s festivities were, including utilizing the playground, which was hugely popular and surely helped work out some of the evening’s excess sugar, and the first responders in the bus loop.

Back inside, whether it was the awesomely decorated class pumpkins, the games, taking the risk of putting your hand through a mysterious door with secret panels, spinning a prize wheel, bouncing in a giant bounce house or getting a balloon animal, there was an incredible amount of activities and decora-

TO THE EDITOR

Hurt supports building a foundation for children

Dear Editor,

How can someone running as a “write in” candidate for an elected office profess to be “a voice for all” and not expect to be compromised?

Does this mean Michael Edwards will be a voice for those who want transgender sports? Transgender bathroom facilities? CRT curriculum? Will Mr. Edwards be a voice for the boy who wants to enter the girls bathroom or a voice for the little girl who resents sharing the bathroom with a little boy? Where does it end? Abraham Lincoln had a quote which ended “you can never please all of the people all of the time.”

Mr. Edwards’ slogan concerns me because as a taxpayer I don’t support the aforementioned and I certainly don’t think he should be “my voice.”

Vicki Hurt believes in a good foundation for your child embracing the basic fundamentals for a good, sound education.

I fully intend to cast my vote on November 8 for Vicki and hope the citizens of District 1 will also maker her your choice.

Sincerely, Maria Picchi Powhatan

Timeline shows reasons for firing county administrator

Dear Editor,

After reading a disparaging letter regarding the Board of Supervisors about Cox, Williams and McClung, I felt perhaps a timeline of the Smither-driven events might help people understand the cause and effect of the need to fire County Administrator Ned Smither.

March 2021- Mr. Smither’s proposal for an ERP system for efficient, transparent and responsive services to our citizens to be used by the financial arm of the county, by the Treasurer and by the Commissioner of Revenue. The vendor is known as Keystone. Keystone conversion and operation starts in fall of 2021. It has been a disaster from day 1!

April 2021- Mr. Smither’s proposal of an assessor change moving in-house (from Commissioner of Revenue which cost $300,000 over 2 years and was biannual) to an annual assessment with an estimated cost between $780,000 spread over 2 years.

March 22, 2022- Tax rate fiasco where Mr. Smither assured BOS that the tax increase did not require a public hearing. The rate was set at .79 with the

tions for the children to enjoy.

Rushing over to Powhatan Elementary School, I found more happy madness with a huge concentration of the Game Night focused in the combined cafeteria and gym. Just a few of the activities in that room included a football toss, bingo games, utilizing the rock climbing wall, a cupcake walk, a huge bounce house, and other games. My personal favorite to observe was a station where children ate doughnuts dangling from a string without the benefit of using their hands, which was hilarious regardless of whether you knew the youngsters trying to chomp down on their wily moving targets. Outside of the gym were other activities such as a haunted house, glow party, more games and plenty of trick or treating.

One last observation. All three events were fundraisers for their respective schools, and aside from selling tickets/wristbands, the raffle prizes put together by staff and volunteers were epic and another prime example of how hard the men and women of this community worked to pull off these massive endeavors.

To that point, I reiterate my kudos to all three schools. As far as covering events for our local community go, events like these are some of the more entertaining and highly likely to just leave you with a smile at the end of the day.

Laura McFarland may be reached at Lmcfarland@ powhatantoday.com.

usual Byerly, Carmack and McClung voting Yes and Cox and Williams No.

March 31, 2022- Mr. Smither admits he was wrong and that the reassessment produced a + 0.4 tax increase.

April 22, 2022 - The BOS voted 3-2 (Cox, McClung, Williams) to return the Assessor’s job back to the Commissioner of Revenue. Byerly and Carnmack voted No.

May 2, 2022 - Mr. Smither admits the tax rate was advertised incorrectly. The hearing was rescheduled for May 18.

May 18, 2022 - Mr. Smither was not supportive of the motion by Williams to allow the Commissioner of Revenue, the Treasurer and the County Administrator to reduce the Personal Property Bubble created by inflation and supply system issues in the auto market. The motion was voted down by Byerly, Carmack and McClung. As a result of the inflated vehicle prices the vehicle tax went through the roof for most taxpayers while the county reaped $2.5 million dollars off of the taxpayers. As a result of delays created by Smither the tax bills were not mailed until June 10 with penalty and interest not due until August 1. It was very confusing for mortgage companies as well as taxpayers.

July 25, 2022 - Williams motioned to have Mr. Smither fired over 32 unauthorized employee salary changes. It was defeated by Byerly, Carmack, McClung. Then Byerly made a motion to do the following with Mr. Smither’s contract: First, to eliminate the requirement of relocation. Second, to change the severance package to be paid as follows; five votes (the package would be 6 months), four votes (7 months), three votes (8 months). Lastly, to change the salary of the County Administrator from $173,250 to $190,000.

August 23, 2022- Powhatan County BOS adopted a motion instructing the HR Manager and the County Attorney to make specific assessments to the Pay Compensation Plan. The motion was passed unanimously.

September 26, 2022- County Attorney, Mr. Tom Lacheney, reads his report, Integrity of Pay and Class Plan. The report confirms 16 unauthorized actions taken by County Administrator, Mr. Smither which begin or end with the following words, “the BOS did not approve or none of the actions complied with the Plan or HR manual and were not approved by BOS.” Yet when a motion was made to fire Mr. Smither, it was defeated by Byerly, Carmack, McClung and the County Attorney quit.

Oct 11, 2022- McClung moved to ask for Mr. Smither’s resignation. Vote was 4 to 1. Williams voted No as a protest because he wanted Smither to be fired with cause to prevent the enacting of that July 25 severance package. Smither received $136,342 as his

WANT TO PUBLISH YOUR ISSUE-DRIVEN

lmcfarland@powhatantoday.com

Robby Fletcher rfletcher@powhatantoday.com

thaynie@mechlocal.com

Cindy Adams cadams@mechlocal.com

Flat Rock Elementary embraces Fall Festival fun

severance.

Oct 24, 2022 - Although Mr. Smither is gone the effects of his tenure still haunt the taxpayers. It was motioned that we drop Keystone because it isn’t working for the taxpayers and our citizens. Do you think good sense would now prevail? You would be wrong because we are continuing with Keystone until December as if they can improve their services! And

of course Byerly, Carmack, McClung voted to continue while Cox and Williams voted to drop it sooner than later. There are 1,571 credits (as in money) due Powhatan tax payers and good luck waiting for that!

A Vehicle tax bill came to my house and it was wrong. So I called to see if I could get a corrected tax bill sent out so I could pay it. “No, I can’t because Keystone is backed up,” said the nice lady. She gave me a formula and helped me figure out my bill. It was to divide the tax bill by 6 and multiply by 2. And she hoped that

was correct. I am going to overpay by a few dollars so as not to incur interest and penalties. Please Powhatan folks please do not blame the county employees who have to deal with this on a daily basis. It is not their fault. The fault belongs to the BOS who have supported and advanced Mr. Smither’s plans even when cautioned. November 2023 elections are coming. Remember it’s your government and your money!

Fran Carleton Powhatan

ILLUSTRATION METRO CREATIVE/ PHOTOS BY LAURA MCFARLAND

Flat Rock Elementary’s Fall Festival saw hundreds of adults and children packing the school and its grounds on Oct. 27 to enjoy snacks, play games, win prizes, meet first responders and show off their wonderful costumes.

Knights close out regular season with win

By Robby Fletcher Sports Editor

Inwhat would be the senior class’ final regular season game on its home field, the Knights went out in style with yet another display of high quality football as they finished off an impressive 2022-23 regular season.

The Knights (6-3) won their fifth game by double digits when they hosted the Broadwater Academy Vikings (5-4) on Friday, Oct. 28 with a 44-12 final. The Knights defeated the Vikings with a balanced diet of runs and passes from head coach Gary Brock’s offense, while the defensive line controlled the trenches, effectively shutting down the Vikings’ attempts at generating points and momentum.

Seven Knights were honored for senior night, with Justin Johnson, Jeb Hatfield, Jackson Hawkins, Tanner Wood, Kendrick Sheffield, Nathan Barras and David Mann earning recognition.

“They’ve made a tremendous impact on our program,” Brock said.

Though not every Knight has been a part of the program the entire time, Brock notes transfers like Wood and Sheffield as key parts of the senior class’ leadership ability, saying they embraced the culture and their respective roles seamlessly.

Guys like Barras, a two-year starter on the line,

Powhatan’s senior night gets spoiled by Midlo

By Tim Pearrell Richmond Times-Dispatch

The Midlothian High football team won a playoff game for the first time last season, part of an incremental trend of achieving new standards the past few years.

The Trojans have another step in mind this year.

“Thanksgiving practice,” Midlothian coach Matt Hutchings said.

That would put the Trojans in the Region 5C championship game. They continued to make headway on that goal on Friday night, using Ashby Berry’s 146 yards rushing and three touchdowns, plus four interceptions from the defense, to beat homestanding Powhatan 23-6.

No. 7 Midlothian accomplished a few more things in the process: It improved to 8-1, the first time the program has had eight wins since 1986, and it broke a Powhatan hex.

With records through 1956, Midlothian has never won more than nine games (1965, 1975). Of its four playoff appearances, three have come since 2017. The Trojans lost in the first round in 2017 and 2018, then got over the hump last year by beating Mills Godwin 42-13. They fell to Hermitage 24-14 in the region

Titans outlast a tough Indians team

By Robby Fletcher Sports Editor

ThePowhatan volleyball team closed out an eventful regular season with a tight contest against Dominion competition.

The Indians (13-7), ranked third in the district, took on the Cosby Titans (13-5), who are just ahead of them in the standings at the second spot. The home finale on Thursday, Oct. 27 saw the Titans take a 3-1 victory, though that score is no

proper indication of just how close the two sides were in every set, matching each other point for point for the majority of the night.

The Indians opened up the game with a win in the first set, taking that opening frame with a 2517 victory, but the Titans would come back strong to take the next three. The first Titans win was a flipped result from the first set, winning it 25-17, while the next two sets were true battles that went down to the wire. The third set took some

extra time to finish, as the Titans were only able to get the two-point advantage necessary to win once they reached 27 points to the Indians’ 25.

In the final set, the Indians again played hard and looked like a threat to win to extend the game to a fifth tiebreaker set, the Titans were able to just get ahead at the end to take a 25-22 win that ended their regular season on a high note.

Leading the charge was a brilliant performance from freshman Mazie Harmon, who dis-

played advanced defensive expertise that helped keep Powhatan alive. Harmon’s 30 digs led the team, while her passing ability helped set up teammates in the score column.

Senior Sydney Wade, coming off an impressive 17-assist outing in her senior night, once again recorded a double-double with 30 assists and 10 digs. Senior Chesed Russell led the team in kills with 14, while senior Sam Flippo pitched in 11 kills and three blocks.

PHOTO BY ANJIE KAY

Senior Kendrick Sheffield (23) leads his BSH teammates with a tackle on a Broadwater Academy player on Oct. 28. The Knights won the regular season finale with a score of 44-12.

PHOTO BY ROBBY FLETCHER

Quarterback Dylan Trevillian scrambles with Landon Hutchinson blocking in the team’s matchup against George Wythe on Sept. 23.

FOOTBALL, pg. 2

PHOTO BY ROBBY FLETCHER

Powhatan senior Sophie Payne (6) prepares to serve in the team’s senior night matchup against Clover Hill on Oct. 20.

Middle School volleyball team are Southside Champs

Contributed Report Powhatan Today

Huge congratulations to the Powhatan Middle School Lady Indians Volleyball Team as they have been named the 2022-2023 Southside Middle School Champions.

The girls headed into their tournament on Saturday, Oct. 22 in Mecklenburg.

They came in as the No. 1 seed and played against Lunenburg, defeating them in a 3-1 finish before beating Mecklenburg in five sets to bring home the cup.

The Indians concluded their season with a 15-1 record.

Head coach Sean Bates says he liked the determination and resiliency he saw in the Lady Indians as it came down to set five to bring the championship trophy home.

It was a win that was important to the team as it could have truly gone either way. The volleyball team worked hard against great competition and showed that team work and communication is what you need to be successful.

Continued from pg. 1

and Mann, one of the team’s most talented allaround athletes, have been part of the team’s winning culture headlined by last year’s state title and countless hours spent on the practice field that have paved the way for the team’s on-field success.

While it was a great night for all seniors, it was a particularly special night for Hatfield, who shattered last year’s record for most tackles in a season for a Knight with a fantastic defensive performance that generated praise from the coaching staff and his teammates.

The record was set by Harrison Lee at 67.5 tackles last year, while

FOOTBALL semifinals.

Continued from

“[Getting to the championship game has] been the goal,” said Hutchings, whose team went into the weekend second in the region ratings behind Highland Springs. “It’s been a process of teaching how to win. … There’s been so many guys [20 seniors] who have learned how to do this over a period of four years. It’s been amazing.”

Hutchings said Powhatan has “had our number in really weird ways.” The Indians beat the Trojans 14-7 in 2018; 2-0 in 2019; 20-13 in the delayed COVID-19 season in 2021; and ruined a 5-0 start by Midlothian last season with a 42-7 victory.

“We talked about [last

Hatfield left the field with 73.5 with a potential for more in the postseason.

Against Broadwater, Hatfield was all over the field, bringing in 11.5 tackles and two tackles for loss.

Hatfield, who has been with the program for five years, has made a tremendous impact on the field for the Knights and Brock says the praise he’s received has been wellearned.

“Jeb’s been a solid defender in pass defense, and he’s also been a clutch offensive threat and receiver,” Brock said.

Leading the offense was a do-it-all evening for junior Will Fichter, who was a true jack of all trades on the field with highlights as a passer, runner and receiver.

year] a little bit,” Berry said. “They came in on our senior night, and we all know how that went. Coming in on their senior night, we kind of wanted to get them back and do the same thing.”

What Berry does for the Trojans is multifaceted. As a linebacker, the 5-foot-9, 185-pound senior had several tackles and a sack Friday. As a running back, he got chunks of yardage after following blockers until spotting an open area.

Shifty in the open field, he had carries Friday of 11, 34, 10, 12 and 21 yards. The 21-yard run came on second-and-20 from the Midlothian 4. He averaged 8.1 yards on 18 carries.

His ability to find holes, he said, comes partly from being a fullback in youth league and learning to run

The star Knight tossed a touchdown through the air and completed both his passes for 92 yards, caught another touchdown to finish with two receptions for 47 yards and rushed for a touchdown while picking up 112 yards on the ground on just five carries.

While Fichter led the team in rushing yards, he wasn’t alone in the ground game barrage, being joined by running back Hunter Case and Afton Harrow with strong games of their own that had the Vikings crowding the box regardless of who was in the backfield.

The running triumvirate accounted for 233 total yards, while both Case and Harrow joined Fichter with touchdowns.

Harrow tossed five

hard on dive plays up the middle. Hutchings said Ashby’s athleticism as a state champion wrestler also helps.

“He knows how to use his body really well,” Hutchings said. “And he’s put on 15 pounds since last year, so he’s got that thickness to break tackles. If he can get 7 yards a carry, we’re making money.”

The Trojans have made bank off their defense this season. They have allowed more than 7 points once, that coming in a 31-30 double-overtime loss to Manchester.

Powhatan (6-3) hit some big pass plays and kept the ball away from Midlothian at times, but it wasn’t able to sustain drives. Quarterback Dylan Trevillian threw for 208 yards (17 of 33).

He was picked off by

passes in the win as well, completing four of them for 55 yards and a touchdown that went to Mann, who caught two passes for 92 yards.

The defense had just as many highlight plays coming from multiple players. Defensive coordinator Patrick Winterrowd aptly described the unit’s performance as “outstanding,” with the line swarming the pocket all night long.

The senior trio of Mann, Wood and Sheffield combined for 13 quarterback pressures, constantly finding themselves in the backfield.

Sheffield was named the team’s defensive player of the game for his performance, finishing the night with six tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack

Zachary Wirt, Makhi Jackson, Conor Harrington and Ethan Shelor. Wirt’s interception, on the first possession of the game, gave the Trojans the ball at the Indians’ 37 and led to Berry’s 1-yard TD run.

Trevillian’s 50-yard TD strike to freshman Ben Whitver (four catches, 113 yards) cut Midlothian’s lead to 13-6 1:39 before halftime. The Trojans responded by executing an NFL-style 2-minute drill, using short passes, runs and timeouts to travel 47 yards and get Avery Heleniak’s 35-yard field goal as time expired.

“We work on that a lot in practice for that exact reason,” Berry said. “Scoring that field goal at the end of the half and then coming out [on the first drive] after halftime and putting a touchdown on

and a forced fumble.

When Case wasn’t picking up yards at running back, he was occupying a spot at linebacker and also making plays across the field, finishing his night on the defensive end with 7.5 tackles and one tackle for loss.

Out of the secondary, Harrow stepped up with a six-tackle outing while breaking up two passes down the field.

With the regular season in the books and the No. 2 seed entering the playoffs, the quest to defend their state title starts with an immediate rematch versus the Vikings, who will likely use their tape against the Knights to adjust and come in with an underdog’s mindset.

“I think it’s going to

VOLLEYBALL

Continued from pg. 1

The Indians also took on L.C. Bird earlier in the week, which was a result that went in their favor in just three sets. That one featured set wins of 2511, 25-11 and 25-15.

The Indians saw Sophie Payne serve seven aces, Grace Hayden add three more aces and Avah Etheridge contribute four kills.

With an exciting regular season that featured more five-set matches than Bryant has seen in a

the board, that was pretty much where we felt we were a good position for the rest of the game.”

Trevillian was one of 21 seniors honored at Powhatan’s senior night on their home field.

be a tougher ballgame. The familiarity of our teams is going to play a role in that,” Brock said. “I’m sure they’re going to tweak a few things or things that didn’t work. We’re going to be in the same boat, too.”

Though the lopsided score indicates the defending champion Knights as the clearcut favorite, the Vikings are capable of giving them a worthy fight to get to the next round. Before BSH dominated on their home field, the Vikings were winners of four straight contests.

That playoff rematch will be on BSH’s home turf, and will kickoff at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 4.

Robby Fletcher can be reached at rfletcher@ powhatantoday.com.

single season at Powhatan, the Indians can now look ahead to the upcoming Region 4B tournament.

Considering that the Indians boast a resilient, veteran group that’s been able to match up well with some of the best teams within both the district and the region, the Indians will pose a threat to win the tournament and set up a chance at a state tournament appearance in the process.

Robby Fletcher can be reached at rfletcher@ powhatantoday.com.

Though it wasn’t the result the Indians were looking for, they still hold a respectable 6-3 record with a season finale on the horizon against a Cosby Titans team that enters the matchup with a 4-5 record.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Powhatan Middle School’s volleyball team defeated Mecklenburg in five sets to take the Southside championship.

BSH

PHOTOS BY ANJIE KAY

Left, Blessed Sacrament-Huguenot tight end David Mann hauls in an over-the-shoulder reception into Broadwater territory. Top right, quarterback Afton Harrow hands off to his running back Hunter Case in the red zone. Bottom right, freshman Grant Gilliam runs with the ball in a foot race with a Broadwater defender.

Moose Family Center celebrates Oktoberfest

Chesterfield Health District encourages flu vaccinations

Report

In preparation for the 2022-23 flu season, the Chesterfield Health District encourages everyone 6 months and older who lives, works or plays in Chesterfield County, Powhatan County, and the City of Colonial Heights to receive their annual influenza (flu) vaccine.

“With the flu season quickly approaching, please be sure to continue to do your part to protect yourself and loved ones,” said Chesterfield Health District Direct Alexander Samuel, MD, MPH.

Flu season, the period of highest influenza activity, normally begins in early October and ends in late May. While seasonal influenza outbreaks can happen as early as October, during most seasons, cases often peak in January or February.

A flu vaccine is needed every season for two reasons. First, the body’s immune response from vaccination declines over time, so an annual vaccine is needed for optimal protection. Second, because flu viruses are constantly changing, the formulation of the flu vaccine is reviewed each year and updated to keep up with changing flu viruses.

You should get the influenza vaccine as soon as it becomes available. However, as long as flu viruses are circulating, it’s not too late to get your flu vaccine.

Influenza, commonly called “the flu,” is a serious disease caused by the influenza virus that affects the respiratory tract. It is highly contagious and generally spreads from person-toperson when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can be transmitted even before flu-like symptoms appear. A person usually becomes sick one to three days following exposure to the virus. Typical flu symptoms include fever, dry cough, sore

throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache, muscle aches and extreme fatigue.

For the 2021-22 flu season, Virginia spent 11 weeks at widespread. During that season, Virginia reported 4,977 influ-

enza infections, 24 outbreaks, one influenza-associated pediatric death and 3,895 pneumonia, influenza and/or COVID-19 associated deaths.

To minimize your risk

of contracting or transmitting the flu, follow these simple steps: Get vaccinated; Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, for at least 20 seconds; Cover your cough,

either by using a disposable tissue or coughing into your sleeve, not your hand; and Stay at home when you are sick.

Visit www.vaccines. gov/find-vaccines/ to find

a location near you to get the flu vaccine. It is safe to get both the flu and COVID-19 vaccine at the same time. For more information, call the Chesterfield Health Department at (804)-748-1691.

The eighth annual Powhatan Moose Family Center’s Oktoberfest was held Oct. 8, with people enjoying food, a bonfire, regular and adult beverages, a cornhole tournament and music provided by Delaine Healy, Way Down South Band.

VIRGINIA:INTHECIRCUITCOURTOFTHE COUNTYOFPOWHATAN COUNTYOFPOWHATAN,VIRGINIA, aPoliticalSubdivisionoftheCommonwealth ofVirginia, Complainant, v CaseNo.CL22-786

FLORENCEGERTRUDEPATRICK,

ORDEROFPUBLICATION

Theobjectofthissuitistoenforcethelienof theComplainant,CountyofPowhatan,Virginia,fordelinquentrealestatetaxesagainstcertainrealpropertylocatedintheCountyof Powhatan,Virginia,describedasfollows: TaxMapNo.049-10 AccountNo.8401

ALLofonecertaintractorparceloflandlying andbeinginMaconDistrict,PowhatanCounty, Va.,containing12acresbeitthesamemoreor less,andboundedasfollows:Beginningata forkedelmtreeonthenorthbankoftheAppomattoxRiverthenceanewlineN5°40’E10.70 chainstoastone;N69°W49/100chtoapine stumpandstone;N21°E2.70ch.toacrooked appletree;S73°30’E1.02ch.toastone;N11° 50’E7.75ch.toastone;N84°W1.25ch.toa pineN½°W7.60ch.toaroad;thencewith saidroadS60°E5.55ch.toastone;thence leavingroadS4°50’W18ch.totheheadofa ditch;S1°30’W3.75ch.toawillowoak;S15E 4.23ch.tothemouthofaditch;thenceupthe AppomattoxRiverN87°W7.10ch.totheplace ofbeginning.

AndbeingthepropertyconveyedtoFlorence GertrudePatrickfromEuniceHarrisPatrick, widow;EvelynPatrickEllisandIdellEllis,her husband;MildredPatrickPayneandSeymore Payne,herhusband;VirginiaPatrickWilson andHarryWilson,herhusband;AllenSidney ikildddikilb

Patr ck,s ngle;and Edward Patrick,sing e, by DeeddatedJuly13,1963,andrecordedFebruary25,1966,inthePowhatanCountyCircuit CourtClerk’sOfficeinDeedBook83atPage 193.

Thisdescriptionismadesubjecttoalleasements,conditions,agreements,restrictions, andreservationsofrecordwhichaffectthe propertyhereindescribed.

ITAPPEARING thatanAffidavithasbeenmade andfiledstatingthatduediligencehasbeen used,withouteffect,toascertaintheidentity andlocationofcertainpartiestobeserved, andthatanyofficers,heirs,devisees,successorsintitleoftheRespondentsnamedherein oranylienholdersofanynamedRespondents oragainsttheaforementionedpropertyare madepartiesRespondenttothisactionindividuallyand/orbythegeneraldescriptionof PartiesUnknown,itishereby

ORDERED thatthepartieshereinandallPartiesUnknownand/orwhoselocationcannot beascertainedappearonorbefore November 21,2022 intheClerk’sOfficeoftheCircuit CourtoftheCountyofPowhatan,Virginia,and dowhatmaybenecessarytoprotecttheirinterestsinthiscause.

Entered:17thdayofOctober,2022. TeresaHashDobbins, Clerk IAskForThis: JohnA.Rife,Esq.(VSBNo.45805) JeffreyA.Scharf,Esq.(VSBNo.30591) MarkK.Ames,Esq.(VSBNo.27409) AndrewM.Neville,Esq.(VSBNo.86372) PaulL.LaBarr,Esq.(VSBNo.91609) GregoryL.Haynes,Esq.(VSBNo.37158) SethR.Konopasek,Esq.(VSBNo.97065) TaxingAuthorityConsultingServices,PC P.O.Box31800 Henrico,Virginia23294-1800 Phone:(804)545-2500 Facsimile:(804)545-2378 TACSNo.:754701