GOV. SIGNS BILL
THE HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER OF THE COLONIAL HEIGHTS AREA
PAGE V5 Friday, May 8, 2015
BIBLE STUDY HOSTED PAGE V6 FREE
THE MODERN DAY TINY TIM CRATCHIT
LOCAL Fort Clifton Festival COLONIAL HEIGHTS — The 40th annual Fort Clifton Festival will be held Saturday and Sunday at Fort Clifton Park from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day. The festival will feature over 100 exhibitors, concessions, live entertainment, Civil War re-enactors and encampment, inflatable games, pony rides, a petting zoo and more. Admission and parking are free. Fort Clifton Park is located at 100 Brockwell Lane. For more information, please visit the Fort Clifton Festival Website below or call the Colonial Heights Recreation and Parks Department at (804) 520-9390.
Resource fair planned COLONIAL HEIGHTS — The Arc South of the James is hosting a resource fair on the evening of May 26, featuring 20-plus tables on a variety of topics for children and adults with disabilities. The event will be held Tuesday, May 26, from 5 – 7 p.m. at Tussing Elementary School, 5501 Conduit Road. For more information, contact Shareen YoungChavez at schavez.thearcsoj@ gmail.com
Matoaca presents ‘High School Musical’ this week CHESTERFIELD — The Matoaca High School Fine and Performing Arts Department presents “High School Musical” May 7, 8 and 9 at 7 p.m. in the school auditorium. Tickets are $5 at the door. Directed by drama instructor Jana Farrell, the show cast includes many outstanding student performers and Matoaca’s marching band. Set design and construction provided by Jeff Cole and drama tech students.
Fourth of July fireworks display
COLONIAL HEIGHTS — The City will sponsor a fireworks display on Saturday, July 4, in the vicinity of Charles Dimmock Parkway. This display is free and open to the public. Fireworks will start at approximately 9:15 p.m. Viewing for the fireworks will be off Interstate 95, Exit 53 or 54 in the Southgate Square/Wal-Mart Area. Bring blankets and/or lawn chairs. Rain date will be Sunday, July 5. For more information, please contact the Colonial Heights Recreation & Parks Department at (804) 520-9390.
Dive-in movie COLONIAL HEIGHTS — Colonial Heights Swim and Yacht Club, 1225 Duke of Gloucester St., will host a dive-in movie on July 18. Gates open at 8:30 p.m.; Movie begins at 8:45 p.m. Members are invited to bring a float and relax in the pool while watching “Despicable Me 2” or bring a lawn chair and sit on the pool deck. Lifeguards will be on duty. Free admission, concessions available on-site; no outside food or drink is allowed. For more information, call (804) 520-9390.
INDEX Opinion ..............V2 Calendar ............V3
Police Log ..........V4 Classifieds ......... V7
Vol. 12, No. 33
Keith Granderson developed cerebral palsy due to a premature birth and was unable to walk until he was 6 years old. His perseverance has led him to become an active member of the community and voice of those with disabilities. SHELBY MERTENS / PROGRESS-INDEX PHOTO
Still moving forward 15 years later By Shelby Mertens Staff Writer
ETTRICK — Fifteen years ago, on Christmas Eve of 2000, The Progress-Index told the tale of an 8-year-old boy who was dubbed a “modern day Tiny Tim Cratchit.” Today, a certified minister and student at Virginia State University, Keith Granderson Jr. still lives up to that name. “There’s somebody out there who’s going through something worse than you are’” is the 23-year-old’s life mantra. As a result of being born three months premature, Granderson battles cerebral palsy and did not learn to walk until he was 6 years old. “I’ve had many challenges in my life that I’ve overcome dealing with being the only one that a lot of people was
around with cerebral palsy and not being able to walk till I was 6,” Granderson said. “I got out of the wheelchair due to an aide that I had, that really pushed me to get me out of the wheelchair to start walking when I was at Ettrick Elementary School, they really showed me what independence was really about.” Granderson has had 12 medical operations in his life, starting at the age of 5. In an essay he wrote as a child, Granderson describes his surgeries, “In the past four years, I’ve had two operations, one in the year of 1997 and the other in the year of 2000. Before my operations, my muscles were tight, my left foot was turning inward and I was tripping over my left foot. Also, before my operation, I couldn’t walk at all.”
As a child Granderson had surgeries on his legs, ankles and groin. He had to wear a cast on both of his legs. “I had surgery on these body parts to stretch my muscles in order to improve my flexibility,” his 8-year-old self wrote. A bone was removed from Granderson’s left ankle to his right ankle. He also had a screw put in his left ankle. “After my operations, my legs were more flexible. I began to walk with a walker and I started to walk on my own, a couple of steps at a time,” he wrote. Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder caused by brain damage during a child’s development that results in a loss of motor function, muscle coordination and body movement. According to http:// cerebralpalsy.org, two or three
children out of every 1,000 have the disorder. There is no cure for cerebral palsy, but it can be managed with proper treatment. Despite undergoing numerous surgeries at such a young age, Granderson, also known to friends and family as “K.J.,” trudged on and didn’t let his mobility disability get to him. With the help of his assistant teacher, Granderson progressed from a four-legged walker to a two-legged, two wheeled walker. Once he was able to walk two weeks later in February of 1999, Granderson received a tricycle for his birthday. On March 20, 1999, he competed in the Rainbow Games at the Arthur Ashe Center in Richmond where he won four first-place medals in
SEE GRANDERSON, V3
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Cox named to education subcommittees From Contributed Report
RICHMOND — Delegate Kirk Cox, R-Colonial Heights, has been named to two newly established Joint Subcommittees that will focus on key education decision points for the commonwealth’s students, according to a statement from his office. Cox will join the newly created Joint Subcommittees on the Future Competitiveness of Virginia Higher Education and the Virginia Preschool Initiative. “Both of these joint subcommittees will address a critical
time for education in a person’s life. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and Senate to improve educational opportunities in Virginia,” Cox said in a statement. The Joint Subcommittee on the Future Competitiveness of Virginia Higher Education will review ways to maintain and improve the quality of higher education, while providing for broad access and affordability. Additional areas the Subcommittee will focus on include: identifying best practices to SEE COX, V3
Del. Kirk Cox, R-Colonial Heights, speaks at a Grow By Degrees press conference. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
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Friday, May 8, 2015 | The Colonial Voice, Petersburg, Va.
OPINION
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ANOTHER VIEW
15 Franklin St., Petersburg, VA 23803
Cindy Morgan .............................. Publisher Brian J. Couturier ........... Managing Editor Bob Seals .................... Circulation Director Jamila Khalil .............. Advertising Director Travis Wolfrey ............Operations Manager Ron Shifflett ..............Pressroom Manager Peggy Simon................. Business Manager
OUR VIEW
Park returning as jewel of Petersburg
L
ee Memorial Park is quickly returning to its status as Petersburg’s place for recreation and nature. The park was a Depressionera project that included over 10 miles of trails and bridges, seating areas, a bird sanctuary and a wildflower preserve. More than 37,000 shrubs, 8,000 trees and over one million roots of honeysuckle, which prevents erosion, were planted. Over the last few years, the Willcox Lake Conservancy has added major improvements to the 331-acre park. While the city owns the park and performs regular maintenance, the conservancy provides in in-kind services, volunteer work, secured grants and materials. One of the biggest contributions the conservancy has made in partnership with the city is to reopen Willcox Lake after it had been closed for decades - a victim of racial politics of the 1950s. The chain link fence that blocked access to the lake has been removed. The 18 acre body of water that sits near the middle of the park is now open for boating and fishing. Reopening the lake comes decades after a lawsuit was filed by a group of local African-Americans in 1950 against the city for denying them use of the lake and bathhouse. Rather than integrate, city officials closed the lake in 1954. Now, people fish in the lake and kayakers are paddling across the water. However, the lake isn’t open to swimming - in its heyday a beach and bath house made it a popular swimming spot. Lee Memorial Park has amenities such as tennis courts and baseball fields, and natural features such as 330-million-year old granite formation and a 4.5 million year old marine deposit filled with fossils. Its human history touches the Civil War with military earthworks. The conservancy has put together a master plan for improvement and many of the items have been completed. Two items yet to be done are to construct a nature center near the main parking lot and to restore the 2.5 acre wildflower and bird sanctuary developed by the Works Progress Administration. Among the improvements to the park have been reopening five trails, that total about 3.5 miles, of the original 10 miles of trails. Only seven miles of the Depression-era trails exist after erosion around Willcox Lake. A board walk now skirts the lake and the bottom of Azalea Hill. Two playgrounds have also been added, one financed by the city and the other by a $10,000 grant donated by area rotary clubs. Restrooms have also been added and the parking lot paved. The road back to prominence for Lee Memorial Park has taken decades and is scarred by an ugly racial past. But progress is now moving fast and Petersburg residents and visitors can take pride of a jewel in its midst.
YOUR VIEW
What Washington can learn from our quiet citizens There is a myth we as a nation sometimes believe. It is, the loudest, the angriest, or snarkiest voices are the only ones that are heard, or worth listening to. Pollsters will advise elected officials on this – they say one of the most important things lawmakers can do when confronted with tough issues is to express outrage. And so when addressing a tough or polarizing issue, you’ll often see lawmakers take to the House floor or cable news talk shows to pound his or her fists on a desk and say, “this is an outrage!” In these moments, there is no real conversation about what went wrong or how we can get to work on changing the culture of polarization. It’s just a bunch of angry politicians and pundits fueling their own fire, as if expressing outrage is the end solution, while the actual problem gets swept under the rug. I believe in passionate discourse. But sometimes those in government cross the line from passionate discourse into pointless, partisan din. I don’t think that this is what many Americans want to hear. In fact, I believe what many Americans want is for Washington to stop talking, and start listening. This is where our government could take a cue from a group of Americans that I would describe as quiet citizens, or the “silent America.” You may not hear them speak up as often as the more vocal citizens who play such an important and active role in our democracy, but the voices of quiet citizens can be just as critical to the national conversation about America’s future. This week, as I was sitting down reading through the numerous letters and emails I get from these citizens every day, I was struck by what a valuable example they set for Washington on how to approach the challenges we face. Here’s what I mean: Silent Americans are observers. They read or listen to the news – sometimes CNN, sometimes Fox News, sometimes NPR, or the Richmond Times-Dispatch or The Virginian-Pilot. They like to stay informed, so they absorb conversations on current events with coworkers or friends. These Americans do participate in democracy. They stand in line to vote. They often attend city council meetings. They volunteer at their children’s school or serve at their church. They pay their taxes and they are active in their community groups. Their quietness doesn’t mean indifference. They want government to work – and they may even have strong opinions about how it should work. But they’re not interested in hearing shouting for shouting’s sake. They want substantive conversation instead of talking points. They want to know why decisions are made, instead of simply being told that a decision was made. They want their elected leaders to be thoughtful, rather than scripted. They want to know government leaders are thinking about the future, while staying grounded on a strong foundation of the past. They don't want government to be loud. They just want government to work. In thinking of these Americans, I am reminded of an important truth that has echoed throughout our nation’s history
that would help in busting the myth that Washington should be loud: sometimes the most important conversations don’t happen on a podium. Loud, angry bickering – like we’ve heard from Washington for years – can be paralyzing. In many ways, it has been for our nation. This is not to say our nation’s challenges don’t warrant frustration and loud voices from its citizens. Passion and activism and the power of the people’s voice is what makes the American experiment unique. It’s what makes it work. We need Washington to match the energy, dedication, and passion for solutions that we see in these citizens. But the quiet citizens are a reminder of another important ingredient in our nation’s representative process. That is, to fully participate in a representative democracy, we need a robust marketplace of ideas, and we need to use those ideas to create conversation, dialogue, and debate. Maybe you are one of the quieter citizens, the silent America. Maybe you find yourself listening and observing, or maybe you find yourself frustrated at all of the angry noise in Washington. Remember that you are an important part of our democratic process, and your voice has value. I want to hear from you: http://forbes.house.gov/contact/. The ideas, insights, and innovative solutions that I get from reading your emails and letters are invaluable. The truth is, we need the quiet thinkers as well as the passionate and the active. But most importantly, we need government to stop shouting and start listening – to all Americans. We need thoughtfulness, not just talking points. We need discussion, new ideas, discovery, and the knowledge of our history. We need all of this to continue building a nation that continues to provide hope to the world. Congressman Randy Forbes R-4th District Chesapeake, Va.
Entitlement reform is needed The greatest drain on our economy is entitlements. This is compensation to persons on welfare and/or Social Security that constitutes an astounding amount that is 47 percent of the population, and growing. The original purpose of the welfare system was to provide "temporary assistance" to those who had lost their jobs and are looking for work or those who are unable to work at all. Today, this system is completely out of control and has resulted in an administration that actually pays people not to work. This is having a devastating result on our economy. One of the items on the GOP "to do" list for 2016 is entitlement reform. Social Security is also an entitlement, but it is an earned entitlement and shouldn't be touched. It's true that a welfare system audit would be costly, but if numerous cases of fraud are detected, it could be money well spent. The GOP is vague - at best - to their solution to this problem. The Democrats are - of course - running away from this issue, since they created it in the first place. Some kind of entitlement reform must be passed or this situation will be getting worse and worse. Push your respective congressman and senator as to what they
plan to do about this. Your children and your children's children future is at stake. Gary Allen Chesterfield County
Who benefits from political parties
I’m currently reading “Madison and Jefferson” by Burstein and Isenberg (available at the Colonial Heights Public Library, if I ever return it) and as always I am fascinated by the early years of American history and the formative period of our government structure. If anything, the deception, pretense and posturing of American politicians was even more ruthless then that it is now. Strangely, it is a far more fascinating study to me now than its current version in the 21st century. And I am once again struck at how everything old is new again, or perhaps the other way around. Although not formally named, organized or recognized as they are today, political parties were even in the 1770’s viewed as an obstacle to fully-functioning government and a threat to liberty. In a pamphlet published by William Wyche in 1772, he actually cited an earlier warning against political parties which was written by Joseph Addison and published in London in 1711. Perhaps this scenario will be familiar to the American reader today: “There cannot a greater judgement befall a country than such a dreadful spirit a division as rends a government into two distinct people, and makes them greater strangers and more averse to one another, than if they were actually two different nations. The effects of such a division are pernicious to the last degree …, fatal both to men’s morals and their understandings; it sinks the virtue of a nation, and not only so, but destroys even common sense.” “A furious party-spirit, when it rages in its full violence, exerts itself in civil war and bloodshed; and when it is under its greatest restraints, naturally breaks out in falsehood, detraction, calumny (slander), and a partial administration of justice. In a word, it fills a nation with spleen and rancor, and extinguishes all the seeds of good-nature, compassion and humanity.” Spectator no. 125, July 24, 1711, in Crissy and Markely edition (Philadelphia, 1851), 3:30-94. Who benefits from political parties and party affiliation? Politicians, of course, and the highest level of management within the parties. Billions of dollars are spent every year, and many of those are taxpayer dollars, to persuade Americans that “our guy” is better than “their guy”. And yet working Americans still suffer in silent servitude as our hopes and dreams and the welfare of our families diminish while the days and months pass by. I’ll follow Dylan’s advice in the song “Trust Yourself”: Well, you’re on your own, you always were – In a land of wolves and thieves – Don’t put your hope in ungodly man – Or be a slave to what somebody else believes. Another election year is approaching. God help us. Please. Rick Venema Colonial Heights
The Colonial Voice, Petersburg, Va. | Friday, May 8, 2015
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YOUR NEWS
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR HOW TO SUBMIT: Send event and contact info to newsroom@ progress-index.com or The Progress-Index, 15 Franklin St., Petersburg, VA 23803 LOOKING FOR MORE: If you can’t find what you’re looking for, find it online at www.progress-index.com
WEEKEND FRIDAY ■ Petersburg will host
its Friday for the Arts! celebration Friday evening in the city's historic Old Towne area. This monthly event has become a comprehensive celebration of the arts, with 20 or more venues spreading the arts across many blocks. Galleries, museums, restaurants and shops feature changing exhibits each month. Many other shops and restaurants are open throughout the evening, and music ranges from classical concerts to the blues to rollicking rock evenings. Among the many exhibits this month, the Petersburg Area Art League will feature a wide variety of art works. “Aesthetic Odyssey,” an exhibit of vivid and intense colors by Risegun BennettOlomidun opens Friday at PAAL. Bennett-Olomidun’s “Aesthetic Odyssey” exhibit features a collection of two-dimensional and three-dimensional works in retrospect and new works. The exhibit includes about 30 pieces, ranging from acrylic on canvas paintings to mixed media art to Sekere beaded musical instruments. In the Virginia Linen Service’s Members’ Gallery, Petersburg native, Jasmine Mills, will exhibit her works, and the Education Gallery will feature a student exhibit from North Elementary School in Prince George County. The Friday for the Arts! gallery shows start at 6 p.m. with light refreshments. Call 804-861-4611 for more information or visit www.paalart.org.
SATURDAY ■ The 40th annual Fort
Clifton Festival will be held Saturday and Sunday at Fort Clifton Park in Colonial Heights from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day. The festival will feature over 100 exhibitors, concessions, live entertainment, Civil War re-enactors and encampment, inflatable games, pony rides, a petting zoo and more. Admission and parking are free. Fort Clifton Park is located at 100 Brockwell Lane. For more information, please visit the Fort Clifton Festival Website below or call the Colonial Heights Recreation and Parks Department at (804) 520-9390.
■ The ChesterfieldColonial Heights Alliance
COX From Page V1
make Virginia’s higher education system more efficient, reviewing current need-based financial aid programs, and studying the effectiveness and value of transfer students. As chairman of the Higher Education Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, Cox has worked for the last several years to maintain a world-class system of higher education in Virginia. The Joint Subcommittee will continue to focus on making college more affordable and accessible and giving our institutions the flexibility they need to innovate and improve.
for Social Ministry will sponsor a benefit "Mother's Day Concert" Saturday, presented by The Virginians at 7 p.m. inside the Chester United Methodist Church Sanctuary, 12132 Percival St., Chester. Doors will open at 6 p.m. The concert is open seating and A “love offering” will be taken to support area residents with emergency needs. This concert is part of the “Generous Hearts Concerts” series sponsored by CCHASM. ■ May Day at Henricus
will be celebrated on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Henricus Historical Park, located at 251 Henricus Park Road, Chester. The event will feature period-dressed historical interpreters from Henricus in the merry old English traditions of the spring season. Demonstrations include dancing around the Maypole along with other songs, dances, games, and meals that celebrated the arrival of spring. May Day is a family-friendly event and all ages are welcome. The community is invited to make a day out of it by packing a picnic and walking the Dutch Gap trail while appreciating the outstanding views of the James River. The cost is $8 for adults, $6 children aged 3-12. Henricus patrons free. Visit www. Henricus.org to learn more. ■ A Cinco de Mayo
Festival will take place at Poplar Lawn in Petersburg on Saturday from 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. A shuttle bus will run between parking near Union Station, Old Towne, the park and other stops. More information is available at http:// www.tricityfestivals.com/ cinco-de-mayo ■ The Miles B. Carpenter
Museum Inc., located on U.S. Route 460 East in Waverly will celebrate Miles B. Carpenter Day, and the Museum's 30th birthday on Saturday, with a "spring festival" from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A full day of fun and festivities will include a local DJ, a bluegrass band, praise and mime teams, raffles and door prizes, petting zoo, venders with crafts, jewelry, fashion, etc., hot food concessions and more. The public is invited to bring lawn chairs. For more information, call Shirley Eley at 804-721-5328.
T h e V i r g i n i a Pr e school Initiative will be tasked with increasing accountability, flexibility, innovation, clarification of the state's role and policy relating to providing a preschool for economically disadvantaged children. It will also work to further develop the facilitation of partnerships between school divisions and private providers for the Virginia Preschool Initiative. Cox is a recentlyretired high school government teacher with 30 years in-classroom teaching experience. He has served for more than a decade on the House Appropriations Subcommittees on Higher Education and Secondary & Elementary Education.
FRIDAY, May 8 DINWIDDIE — Al-Anon Family Groups for family and friends of alcoholics meets from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. each Friday at Kenwood United Methodist Church, 25200 Ritchie Ave., Petersburg. For more information, call 733-7395. COLONIAL HEIGHTS — American Legion Post 284, 505 Springdale Road, holds bingo every Friday. Doors open at 5 p.m., and games start at 7. Food is available for a nominal fee. For directions, or information about membership requirements or activities of the American Legion, visit the Post 284 website, http://mysite.verizon. net/legion284 or call 526-5656. COLONIAL HEIGHTS — The National Alliance on Mental Illness Connection Recovery Support program meets 1 to 2:30 p.m. each Friday in the conference room at the Colonial Heights Library, 1000 Yacht Basin Drive. Groups meet for 90 minutes and offer a structured group process designed to encourage, support and empower. All diagnosis welcome. For more information, contact Gina at 804-605-5010 or towritegina@yahoo.com. PETERSBURG — Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are held each Friday at 10 a.m. at: Second Presbyterian Church, 419 W. Washington St. (round the back come upstairs). Meetings are also also held at 5:30 p.m. each Monday-Friday at the Tri-City Club, located at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in the rear of the building, (access through North Market Street in the large parking lot. The doors are at the top of the ramp). Call 24/7 for the AA hot line and more information, 452-1959. COLONIAL HEIGHTS — Oldies But Goodies Classic Cruizers Car Club is hosting its weekly "CruiseIn" from 6 to 9 p.m. each Friday through September, in the Lonestar Steakhouse parking lot, next to Southpark Mall in Colonial Heights. This event is free and is open to all car and truck enthusiasts that enjoy reminiscing about their antiques, muscle and custom cars, classics, and hot rods. Music is included: Oldies and Rock
GRANDERSON From Page V1
the four events he competed in. Granderson said at the time he was the only student at Ettrick Elementary School who was handicapped, which created many challenges for him. “They had to do a lot of accommodations just for him,” said Granderson’s mother Lisa Gil. “Some of his classrooms were upstairs so they had to bring the class downstairs. They weren’t wheelchair accessible.” However, as awareness of those with disabilities has increased, accommodations have improved, Gill said. “I think it has gotten better, more places are handicap accessible than when he was growing up because when he was growing up there wasn’t a lot of room for wheelchairs and stuff,” she said. “Now, especially at VSU, he stayed on campus last summer and that was a really good experience for him, he got a chance to be on his own, be independent for a while and that was great.” Granderson graduated from Matoaca High School in 2010. During
& Roll. For more information visit the website at www.obgcc.com. DINWIDDIE — The Dinwiddie Diamonds hosts a gospel singing event, featuring the Glory Bound Singers, from 7 to 10 p.m. on the second Friday of the month at the Eastside Community Enhancement Center, 7301 Boydton Plank Road. This is an open mic event. COLONIAL HEIGHTS — The local chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) will meet from noon to 2:30 p.m. Friday at the Community Building. COLONIAL HEIGHTS — The monthly Seniors Dance with music by The Antiques will be held from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday at the Community Building. This dance is held on the second Friday of each month. The cost is $6 per person. Refreshments are sold for an additional fee.
SATURDAY, May 9 CHESTERFIELD — The Tri-City Virginia Chapter of Newborns In Need meets from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. the second Saturday of the month at Chester Christian Church, located at 4330 Curtis St., Chester. For more information, call 804- 681-0131. CHESTER — The Southern Knights Cruisers Inc. car club is hosting its weekly "Cruise-In" now through Oct. 31, from 5 to 9 p.m., weather permitting, at Hardee’s on Route 10 and Old Stage Road. Over 100 antique cars, street rods, classics, muscle cars, and custom cars can be seen. Music from the 1950s and ‘60s from Wolfman John can be heard. Fun for the entire family and it is free to see. For more information, call Ricky Williams at 804526-8865 or visit www. southernknightscruisers. com. COLONIAL HEIGHTS — Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2239, 14705 Jefferson Davis Highway, holds bingo each Saturday. Doors open at 5 p.m. and games begin at 7. There are six to eight chances to win $500 or more. Food is available. For directions or questions about this event, call 748-4896 and ask for Tom Gore. For information
his teenage years, Granderson was the boy’s basketball manager, outdoor track manager and worked with Warrior Broadcast News, the school’s student-run news program. Granderson has been active in the NAACP and served as the Torch Club’s president in middle school, which is part of the Boys & Girls Club. He has been a licensed associate minister at Union Branch Baptist Church in Chesterfield for three and a half years. He also serves as a substitute Sunday school teacher and a college ministry servant leader. Granderson started his higher education at John Tyler Community College before taking a year off to work. He then enrolled into VSU and plans to graduate with a criminal justice degree in May of 2016. While attending VSU, Granderson has played an active role in campus ministries. He participated in the Men of Troy mentoring program through the VSU United Campus Ministries and was the Trojan Introductory Program Leader for incoming freshman starting in his second year. He had his latest surgery in November.
about VFW membership or other activities, call Tom Ferguson, 748-4896.
SUNDAY, May 10 PETERSBURG — Tri-City Outreach will be holding bingo every Sunday at the Petersburg Eagles Club #882, 235 Franklin St. Doors open at 2 p.m. and games starts at 4 p.m. Admission pack is $25. Guaranteed $1,000 jackpot nightly along with three progressive bingos always in progress. Food and refreshments are available. For more information, call 804-731-6366. COLONIAL HEIGHTS — Colonial Heights Moose Lodge 1783, 170 Moose Ave., holds bingo every Sunday. Doors open at 4 p.m. Bingo starts at 6 p.m. Food is available for a nominal fee. For directions, visit the website at www.chmoose.com or call 526-1537. PETERSBURG — Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are held each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. at the Tri-City Club, located at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in the rear of the building, (access through North Market Street in the large parking lot. The doors are at the top of the ramp). Call 24/7 for the AA hot line and more information, 452-1959.
MONDAY, May 11
Monday at 10 a.m at Second Presbyterian Church, 419 W. Washington St. (round the back come upstairs). Meetings are also held at 5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday at the Tri-City Club, located at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in the rear of the building, (access through North Market Street in the large parking lot. The doors are at the top of the ramp). Call 24/7 for the AA hot line and more information, 452-1959. COLONIAL HEIGHTS — The Transatlantic Brides and Parents Association, a British Heritage Society, will meet at 2 p.m. Monday at the Colonial Heights Public Library, 1000 Yacht Basin Drive. For information, call Valerie Jones at 804-526-1731. This group meets the second Monday of each month. COLONIAL HEIGHTS — The Tri-City Coin Club will meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the Colonial Heights Public Library, 1000 Yacht Basin Drive. This club meets the second Monday of each month. MATOACA — The Retired Teachers Club of Petersburg and Vicinity will meet at 1 p.m. Monday at the Baptist Children’s Home, Ritchie MultiPurpose Building and Learning Center, 6900 Hickory Road. For information, call Filmore Martin, Membership chairman, at 804-732-3048. This club meets the second Monday of the month.
COLONIAL HEIGHTS — The "Colonial Square Dancers," a nonprofit organization, meets from 7-9 p.m. each Monday at the Colonial Heights High School cafeteria on Conduit Road. Square dancers and visitors are welcome. For more information, call 804-720-2340. COLONIAL HEIGHTS — American Legion Post 284, 505 Springdale Road, holds bingo every Monday. Doors open at 5 p.m., and games start at 7. Food is available for a nominal fee. For directions, or information about membership requirements or activities of the American Legion, visit http://mysite.verizon. net/legion284 or call 526-5656. PETERSBURG — Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are held each
TUESDAY, May 12
Felicia Bishop, Granderson’s academic counselor through VSU’s Students with Disabilities Program, said she has witnessed Granderson’s personal growth in the three years she has known him. “Despite his everyday challenges, Keith fights through to get the job done — this is what I admire most about him,” Bishop said. “He has faced bumps in the road, but he is able to dust himself off and give it another try, and another and another — he’s a fighter.” Granderson’s perseverance stems from his family pushing him to move forward and the support from his church. “I’ve been there all my life and they really rallied behind me where they really pushed me,” he said. “Even some of the elders will come up to me and say ‘K.J. you encourage me by your spirit, by your smile, your gracefulness and you just keep going’ … I’ve heard it often.” Granderson’s mother said her son has been an inspiration for her. She said doctors repeatedly said her son would not make it and that he’d never learn to walk. “Actually, it has made me a stronger person,”
Gill said. “For me to see him push, it makes me push.” Granderson now uses his large social media audience to offer encouragement to others. “He’s been very instrumental in helping a lot of other people. He gives great advice to people that’s struggling and he’s been an advocate,” Gill said. “He has two thousand Facebook friends that he reaches out to and responds to.” Granderson’s passion is helping others. He said he believes his story can relate to other young people who are going through tough times. “That’s my goal and my plan one day is to be able to tell others about the struggles that I’ve been through and what I’ve been faced with, to overcome and so they can see that I still achieved the goals that I have set for myself,” he said. He said he hopes to someday work with juvenile defendants as a counselor or work at the Virginia Department of Corrections. “Keith is off to do big things in his future,” Bishop said.
PETERSBURG — Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are held at 5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday at: the Tri-City Club, located at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in the rear of the building, (access through North Market Street in the large parking lot. The doors are at the top of the ramp). Call 24/7 for the AA hot line and more information, 452-1959. COLONIAL HEIGHTS — The Tri-Cities Hokie Club and Alumni Association meets at 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at the Colonial Heights Vocational School on Conduit Road. HOPEWELL — The
SEE CALENDAR, V4
—Shelby Mertens may be reached at 804-722-5154 or smertens@progressindex.com.
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Friday, May 8, 2015 | The Colonial Voice, Petersburg, Va.
TRAGEDY ON FLORAL AVENUE
Neighbors shocked by murder-suicide By Leah Small Staff Writer
COLONIAL HEIGHTS — Neighbors said that Elizabeth and Steven Rogers, whose bodies were found when a deputy came to evict the couple from their Floral Avenue home on Tuesday, April 28, were much quieter than the dramatic murder-suicide that claimed their lives. Elizabeth F. Rogers, 45, died from homicide and sustained a gunshot wound to the head, according the the office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Steven R. Rogers, 54, committed suicide with a gunshot wound to the head. Brianna Streeter, who lives close to the couple’s 1002 Floral Ave. residence, said that they mostly kept to themselves. Streeter wasn’t home at the time of incident, but was surprised when her mother shared the news. “You mean the people who never come outside?” she said to her
Colonial Heights and Virginia State Police responded to this home on Floral Avenue in Colonial Heights after two bodies were found inside the residence on April 28. PATRICK KANE / PROGRESS-INDEX PHOTO
mother. “The couple who never talks and keeps to themselves?” Streeter said that in the four years that she has resided on Floral Avenue, she had only spoken to Elizabeth Rogers once and has never spoken to Steven Rogers. Streeter found that she and Rogers shared a love for dogs when the couple’s three dogs came running up to her, which started a short conversation with Elizabeth Rogers. Streeter said that she
rarely saw Elizabeth Rogers leave the house and that Steven Rogers was the only one who appeared to leave on a regular basis. S g t . D o n a l d Ha n nuksela, of the Colonial Heights Sheriff ’s Department, arrived with the property manager to the home a few minutes after 10 a.m. on April 28 to serve the eviction. Sheriff Todd Wilson said that the deputy knocked on the door several times but no one answered, even
Colonial Heights and Virginia State Police investigate a murder-suicide on Floral Avenue in Colonial Heights April 28. PATRICK KANE / PROGRESS-INDEX PHOTO
The following information was provided by the Colonial Heights Police Department. ■ Earl Wayne Barner, 42, of the 2500 block of Merriewood Ridge Court, N. Chesterfield was charged with fail to appear on April 2. ■ Derek Shawn Belcher, 22, of the 10800 block of Blake Lane, Bealton was charged with larceny:grand; larceny w/ intent to sell; fraud:false pretense on April 2. ■ John Bernard Blaha, 65, of the 1200 block of Pleasant Dale Avenue, Colonial Heights was charged with assault:simple on April 2. ■ Kory Anthony Gray, 23, of the 11300 block of
Celtic Road, Chesterfield was charged with violate conditions of release on April 2. ■ Christina Adrienne Hamilton, 23, of the 4400 block of Samara Drive, Henrico was charged with fail to appear on April 2. ■ David Emmanuel Harris, 29, of the 19100 block of Turkey Egg Road, Dinwiddie was charged with driving under the influence on April 2. ■ Jeffrey Bryon Lewis, 37, of the 100 block of S. 4th Avenue, Hopewell was charged with fail to appear on April 2. ■ Sara Rose PerreaultPenna, 33, of the 300 block of Lafayette Avenue, Colonial Heights was charged with giving false
reports to police on April 2. ■ Robert Kenneth Sheffield, 30, of the 700 block of N. 8th Street, Hopewell was charged with probation:violation on April 2. ■ Destiny Rae StruttPuls, 19, of the 130 block of S. 12th Avenue, Hopewell was charged with probation:violation on April 2. ■ Ashley Lynn Wright, 19, of the 6000 block of Grinton Road, N. Chesterfield was charged with capias on April 2. ■ James Anthony Born, 43, of the 30 block of Davis Avenue, Newport News was charged with fail to appear on April 3. ■ Shacary Marie Fasion,
24, of the 1500 block of Piper Square Drive, Hopewell was charged with fail to pay fines on April 3. ■ Jeffrey Lyn Fink Jr., 33, of the 1400 block of Branders Bridge Road, Colonial Heights was charged with defraud innkeeper on April 3. ■ Johnny Paul Giles Jr., 21, of the 25 block of Ivy Lane, Petersburg was charged with fail to appear on April 3. ■ Cody Alan Guy, 20, of the 100 block of New Street, was charged with probation violation on April 3. ■ Robert Alex Hawkins, 18, of the 17300 block of Elko Road, S. Chesterfield was charged with
CALENDAR
— The Colonial Heights Retired School Personnel will meet at the Colonial Heights High School Technical Center for the annual banquet and the awarding of the CHRSP Scholarship on Tuesday, 11:30 a.m. For more information, contact Kathy Thompson at 520-2302. COLONIAL HEIGHTS — The Colonial Heights Public Library is offering its 2015 winter/spring story time sessions on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 11 a.m. Each session includes stories, music, lots of movement and a craft. Story hours are designed to help children gain important prereading skills, learn to socialize with other children, and to begin a lifelong love of books and reading. This is a family story hour, and all ages are welcome. No registration is necessary. A parent or caregiver must attend with the child. For more information, call Chantal Emerson at 804-520-9384.
meets the second Wednesday of the month. COLONIAL HEIGHTS — Colonial Heights Post 284 Auxiliary meets Wednesday at the Post Home, 505 Springdale Ave. The Executive Committee meets at 6 p.m., followed by a social at 7. The general meeting begins at 7:30. For membership information, contact Rita Feasenmyer at 804-3370905. The Auxiliary meets the second Wednesday of the month. COLONIAL HEIGHTS — TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) No. 485 meets each Wednesday morning at Colonial Heights Library, 1000 Yacht Basin Drive. Weighins begin at 8:15 a.m. and the meetings start at 9. For more information, call Evelyn at 748-2607. COLONIAL HEIGHTS — The Optimist Club of Colonial Heights, 916 Meridan Ave., holds bingo every Wednesday evening. Doors open at 5 p.m. and early bird games start at 6:45 and regular games start at 7. Food is available for a nominal fee. For directions or details, call 526-0689. Money raised supports youth projects in the community. PETERSBURG — Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are held each Wednesday at 10 a.m. at: Second Presbyterian Church, 419 W. Washington
St. (round the back come upstairs). Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are also held at 5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday at: the TriCity Club, located at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in the rear of the building, (access through North Market Street in the large parking lot. The doors are at the top of the ramp). Call 24/7 for the AA hot line and more information, 452-1959. COLONIAL HEIGHTS — The Colonial Heights Public Library is offering its 2015 winter/spring story time sessions on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 11 a.m. Each session includes stories, music, lots of movement and a craft. Story hours are designed to help children gain important prereading skills, learn to socialize with other children, and to begin a lifelong love of books and reading. This is a family story hour, and all ages are welcome. No registration is necessary. A parent or caregiver must attend with the child. For more information, call Chantal Emerson at 804-520-9384.
Heights Health Care and Rehabilitation will sponsor a free health program, "Own the Bone 7 steps to Better Bone Health" on May 28. The program will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the rehabilitation gymnasium of the health care facility, located at 831 Ellerslie Ave. Attendees will learn
how to manage an injury and recover quickly. The program presenter will discuss prevention of injury and bone loss. There will also be a question and answer portion of the program and refreshments will be provided. To register, call 804-526-6851 or email
though there was one car parked in the front of the house and another in the back. The deputy then called for police back-up and a locksmith was called to the property. The locksmith removed a window air conditioning unit to gain access to the house and let the deputy and an officer in through the front door. Wilson said that when
the deputy and the officer did a search of the home, they found both bodies in a back bedroom. Virginia State Police were then called in to investigate the incident because Colonial Heights Police detectives were tied up in court on Tuesday. After processing the scene that afternoon, VSP determined that the couple had died in a murder-suicide. A weapon was also found
in the home but investigators wouldn’t say what type. Wilson said that animal control took the couple’s dogs into custody and came back the next afternoon to retrieve a cat that couldn’t be found inside the home on April 28.
larceny:grand on April 3. 31, of the 10700 block of Quaker Road, Dinwiddie was charged with fail to appear on April 3. ■ Andrew R. Lowe, 25, of the 3600 block of Forest Lane, Disputanta was charged with violation of court order on April 3. ■ Treasure Teara Luckett, 24, of the 40 block of Pine Street, Petersburg was charges with violation of court order on April 3. ■ Cory Michael Turner, 41, of the 1400 block of Meridian Avenue, Colonial Heights was charged with assault & battery:family member; assault:simple on April 3. ■ Keturah Elise-Ruth Barrow, 24, of the 3900
block of Chamberlayne Avenue, Richmond was charged with driving under the influence on April 4. ■ Khalil Coleman, 19, of the 1700 block of Oakland Street, Petersburg was charged with violation of court order on April 4. ■ James Richard Connaughton, 46, of the 400 block of Highland Avenue, Colonial Heights was charged with drunk in public on April 4. ■ Joey L. Granderson, 33, of the 1800 block of Walton Street, Petersburg was charged with driving under influence on April 4. ■ Kristin R. Hardie, 21, of the 1200 block of Savage Street, Petersburg was charged with larceny:petit on April 4.
Thursday of each month from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at the Defense Commissary Agency in Multipurpose Room 6. The club is open to the public. For more information, visit the website at 8662. toastmastersclub.org. COLONIAL HEIGHTS — The Colonial Heights Lions Club will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Dante’s Pizzeria. For more information, call Ralph Dunn, secretary, at 748-4810. This club meets the second and fourth Thursday of each month. HOPEWELL — A monthly multiple sclerosis support group meets from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday at Riverview on the Appomattox Rehab Center, 201 Eppes St. For more information, call 541-1445. This group meets the second Thursday of the month. COLONIAL HEIGHTS — The Rotary Club of Colonial Heights meets at the Hilton Garden Inn, Southpark Boulevard, each Thursday at 7 a.m. COLONIAL HEIGHTS — Colonial Heights Moose Lodge 1783, 170 Moose Ave., holds bingo every Thursday. Doors open 4 p.m. Bingo starts at 7 p.m. Food is available for nominal fee. For directions, visit the website at www.chmoose.com or call 804-526-1537. COLONIAL HEIGHTS — Southside Regional
Medical Center sponsors a free bereavement support group at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursday of each month at Southside Rehabilitation Services, 430 Clairmont Court, Suite 120. For more information, call Chaplain Don Phelps at 765-5593. PETERSBURG — Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are held at 5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday at: the Tri-City Club, located at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in the rear of the building, (access through North Market Street in the large parking lot. The doors are at the top of the ramp). Call 24/7 for the AA hot line and more information, 452-1959. COLONIAL HEIGHTS — The Colonial Heights Senior Citizens Club meets each Thursday. On the first three Thursdays of the month, and any fifth Thursday, the club meets at 1:15 p.m. at the community building, 157 Roanoke Avenue. The fourth Thursday is a monthly luncheon by reservation with Joan Light at 526-5884. The Colonial Heights Senior Citizens Club is sponsored by the City of Colonial Heights Department of Recreation and Parks. Any resident of Colonial Heights, 50 years of age or older, is invited to join meetings. For more information, call Mildred Morrison at 526-3497.
Ethomas2@care-one. com.
May 20, at Dunlop House, 235 Dunlop Farms Boulevard. The concert is being sponsored by Dunlop House Assisted Living and Specialized Memory Care; the event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 804-520-0050.
—Leah Small may be reached at 722-5172 or lsmall@progress-index. com.
POLICE LOG
From Page V3
Brain Injury Association of Virginia facilitates a free monthly support group for adults living with brain injury, as well as family, friends and other concerned people in the lives of those living with injury. This group meets from 6:157:45 p.m. Tuesday at the Hopewell branch of the Appomattox Regional Library System, 209 E. Cawson St. For more information about this group, contact Mary Wallace at 355-5748 or email mary@ biav.net. This group meets the second Tuesday of each month. CHESTERFIELD — Chesterfield County Domestic and Sexual Violence Resource Center is facilitating an anonymous community support group for victims of domestic and sexual violence on the second and fourth Tuesdays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. If you are interested in attending, call 804-318- 8265 for more information. This support group is confidential. Anything you say is kept in strict confidence, as is the location. You do not need to use your name unless you choose to do so. The group’s goal is to support, encourage and provide resources to participants. COLONIAL HEIGHTS
WEDNESDAY, May 13 HOPEWELL — The Multiple Sclerosis Self-Help Group meets at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Riverview on the Appomattox Rehab Center. For more information, call Melanie at 526-9129. This group
THURSDAY, May 14 FORT LEE — The Tri-City Toastmasters Club meets the second
■ Jennifer Nicole Jones,
BRIEFLY
All educational office professionals who would like to attend PETERSBURG — The and bring your boss or come alone, please call Tri-City Association of Educational Office Pro- 804-733-1772 before fessionals will celebrate Saturday, May 16. their annual Bosses’ Night on Thursday, May Bone health 28, at the Tabernacle Community Life Center, seminar in May located at 418 Halifax COLONIAL Street at 6 p.m. HEIGHTS — Colonial
Annual Bosses’ Night
Army band to perform at Dunlop House COLONIAL HEIGHTS — The Fort Lee Army Band will present a concert from 2-3 p.m. Wednesday,
The Colonial Voice, Petersburg, Va. | Friday, May 8, 2015
V5
FORT LEE
McAuliffe signs military family legislation By Shelby Mertens Staff Writer
FORT LEE — Children of those serving in uniform may attend as many as six high schools before graduation. On top of the challenge of having to make new friends all over again, military children may also experience emotional stress if a parent is deployed. To make sure these children receive the proper services from school officials, Gov. Terry McAuliffe signed into law a piece of bipartisan legislation at Fort Lee on Thursday, April 30, that will require schools across Virginia to identify children of active duty service members. “The legislation that I am about to sign will instruct the Virginia Department of Education to establish a process for local school divisions to identify newly enrolled students with a parent or parents who are in uniform service,” McAuliffe said. Senate Bill 1354, introduced by Sen. Bryce Reeves, R-Spotsylvania and co-patroned by Sen. John Miller, D-Newport News, and House Bill 2373, introduced by Del. David Ramadan, R-South Riding, includes children of parents serving in the five military branches, the Commission Corp of the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration and the Commission Corp of the U.S. Public Health Services. “This will help our school administrators and our
teachers meet the needs of the children and it will raise the awareness of school teachers, guidance counselors, coaches and administrators so they can ease the frequent transitions experienced by these students,” McAuliffe said. First lady Dorothy McAuliffe spearheaded the legislation. “She embraced this legislation,” Miller said. “She was a strong articulate advocate for it. That’s why it passed in the General Assembly and that’s why we’re standing here today.” Also in attendance at the bill signing was Sen. Rosalyn Dance, D-Petersburg, and Del. Joseph Preston, D-Petersburg, and Del. Riley Ingram, R-Hopewell. April has been designated as the Month of the Military Child. “It’s an incredible way to culminate the month,” said Bill Moore, deputy to the commanding general of Fort Lee’s Combined Arms Support Command. Dr. Steve Staples, superintendent of public instruction for the Virginia Department of Education, said military children face obstacles that other students do not encounter. Those students must learn to navigate each locality’s academic curriculums as each state has its own standards. What is taught in one grade may be taught in another grade at a different state, he said. This also means they may face challenges with meeting
graduation requirements. The obstacles can get even simpler; some that most civilians wouldn't think of. “The challenge could be something about learning the new context of their school, new traditions, new procedures, new expectations,” Stapes said. “Sometimes it’s the simplest of things like the cafeteria protocol on where we sit or how we get in line to eat.” Staples said currently most military children are not made aware of the counseling and services they may be eligible for. “All too often military children go unnoticed as they face these dilemmas and sometimes assistance or help that is available isn’t connected to them,” he said. Reeves, a veteran himself and self-described military brat, said the community needs to be more aware of its military population and the children who attend the public schools. “We live everywhere now. We don’t just live on post or on base. We live in these communities and oftentimes your neighbors don’t even know you're active duty or that you’re in the military so it’s important that we do that, especially for those children because it is tough and it helps to let those teachers know when a family member’s deployed and what it means to that child.” The U.S. Department of Defense has labeled the struggles faced by military
Gov. Terry McAuliffe prepares to sign a House and a Senate bill that would require schools in Virginia to identify children of active duty service members so that they may receive services and counseling. SHELBY MERTENS / PROGRESS-INDEX PHOTO
children as one of the top quality of life issues among military families. McAuliffe said Virginia is only one of 13 states that have put forth legislation to address the issue. He also said it would help bring down federal impact aid. Virginia is in the top three states with the largest active duty military population. “With this, we are one step closer to making Virginia the most military-friendly state in the United States of America,” McAuliffe said. —Shelby Mertens may be reached at 804-722-5154 or smertens@progressindex.com.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe signs a House and a Senate bill that would require schools in Virginia to identify children of active duty service members so that they may receive services and counseling. SHELBY MERTENS / PROGRESS-INDEX PHOTO
COLONIAL HEIGHTS
Man convicted of shooting and armed robbery conspiracy to commit robbery, use of a firearm in COLONIAL HEIGHTS robbery and use of a firearm — A Colonial Heights jury in malicious wounding. Wilconvicted a Petersburg man liam Bray, Colonial Heights on April 28 for shooting commonwealth’s attorney, and robbing a man walk- said that charges of aggraing home from the Wawa vated malicious wounding on the Boulevard in June. were dropped even though The jury recommended he was charged with using a a sentence of 31 years for firearm in the incident. Bray said that Jackson Wayne Jackson, 22, and found him guilty of robbery, has committed similar From Staff Reports
offenses in Petersburg and Prince George and that he will serve a combined sentence of 50 years. Jackson approached Johnny Seymour, 52, near Maple and Franklin avenues behind the Goodwill store after he left the Wawa. According to evidence, Jackson was accompanied by two co-defendants. Seymour was hit in the head
with a gun and shot in the abdomen. He was then robbed of money and other items. Michael A. Walker, 26, a co-defendant, will stand trial on May 19. Martavius Massenburg, 19, another co-defendant, is scheduled to stand trial on May 18. Jackson is also set to be tried on June 9 in an unrelated attempted robbery
on June 21 on Wakefield Avenue when a woman was fired at as she drove away, but the woman wasn’t hit. Jackson is one of several men who participated in a number of armed robberies that occurred in Colonial Heights last summer. Nicholas ColburneGarrett was convicted on April 22, for the shooting and attempted robbery of
an elderly man, and the robbery of a 93-year old woman. Colburne-Garrett, of Petersburg, was 18 at the time of the crime, and was sentenced to 30 years in prison for both incidents. The incidents occurred separately. He will also serve 24 years of supervised probation following his release.
changing ministries and activities go to www.visitlifechurch.org, or e-mail wanda@visitlifechurch.org or call 526-7000. Lifeline Fellowship Church Services are held at Salem Church Elementary School, 9600 Salem Church Road, in Chesterfield. For more information, call 804-839-3136. Lyons Avenue Bible Church Address: 516 Lyons Avenue. For more information, call 520-7813. Lutheran Church of our Redeemer Address: 1769 S. Sycamore St., Petersburg. For more information, call 732-8567 between 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Mount Calvary Baptist Church Address: 19600 Halloway
Avenue, Matoaca. For more information, call 590-2094. Mount Pleasant Baptist Address: 3110 Greenwood Avenue. For more information, call 526-0816. Oaklawn Baptist Address: 7925 Hickory Road, Chesterfield. For more information, call 804-526-5649. Power Over Power Deliverance Ministries Address: Meets at Comfort Suites hotel, Colonial Heights (near Southpark shopping mall). For more information, call 757-968-6532. Prayer Vigil Ministry The Tri-Cities Prayer Vigil Ministry has a prayer line open for prayer requests seven days a week including holidays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The number to call is 804-895-6910.
Prince of Peace Outreach Center Address: 107 Pickwick Avenue. For more information or transportation, call Overseer Walter J. Mason at 834-2356. St. Ann Catholic Church Address: 17111 Jefferson Davis Highway. For more information, call 526-2548. St. Michael’s Episcopal Church Address: The corner of Ellerslie Avenue and Old Town Drive. For more information, call 526-1790. Swift Creek Baptist Church Address: 18510 Branders
Bridge Road. For more information, call 520-1211. The Lord's Church Baptist Address: 20905 Third Ave., Ettrick. For more information, call 520-5133. Walthall Baptist Church Address: 14001 Woods Edge Road. For more information, call 530-8011. Wesley Methodist Address: 3701 Conduit Road. For more information, call 526-3700 or visit www. wesley.col-hts.org. Woodlawn Baptist Church Address: 3116 Woodlawn Avenue. For more information, call 526-2179 or 541-3514.
CHURCH NEWS DIRECTORY
Calvary Baptist Church Address: 17001 Jefferson Davis Highway. For more information, call 526-0981. Christ Community Church Address: Meets at Lakeview Elementary School, 401 Taswell Ave. For more information or directions, call 520-6200, or www. christcommunitychurchva. org. Cameron Avenue Church of Christ Address: 601 Cameron Avenue. For more information, call 526-5286. Celebration of Life Church Celebration of Life Church of God meets at 123 Pickwick Ave. in Colonial Heights. For more information please call 221-2915. Chesterfield Community Church Address: Meets at Greenwood Presbyterian Church, 7110 Woodpecker Road. For more information, call 7961040 or visitccc4jc2007@ aol.com. Colonial Christian Address: 295 Dunlop Farms Blvd. For more information, call 520-4988 or visit www. colonialchristianchurch. com. Colonial Heights Baptist Address: 17201 Jeff Davis Highway. For more information, call 526-0424 or visit www.chbaptist.com. CH Nazarene Church Address: 601 East Ellerslie Avenue. For more information, call 526-6920. Colonial Heights Presbyterian
Address: 211 Lynchburg Avenue. For more information, call 526-0929 or visit http://www.colonialheightspres.org. Community Christian Fellowship Address: Meets at Matoaca Middle School, West campus. For more information, call 526-8260 or visit www.ccfnet1.org. Covenant Christian Address: 542 South Park Blvd. For more information, call 526-0634. Faith Baptist Address: 1226 W. Roslyn Road. For more information call 526-8189 or visit mysite.verizon.net/ FBC316/. Faith and Hope Outreach Center Address: 101 Highland Avenue. For more information, call 526-3667. Fellowship Baptist Church Address: 21000 Chesterfield Avenue, Ettrick. For more information call 5266184 or 590-2277. Highland Methodist Address: 125 E. Westover Avenue. For more information, call 526-3870. Immanuel Baptist Address: 620 Lafayette Avenue. For more information, call 526-3276 or www. ibc4family.com. Ivey Memorial U.M. Church Address: 17120 Jefferson Davis Highway. For more information, call 526-1350. Life Church Address: 16801 Harrowgate Road. For info on Sunday services and other Life
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Friday, May 8, 2015 | The Colonial Voice, Petersburg, Va.
‘ACTION HERO’
Program on Commodore Stephen Decatur From Contributed Report
COLONIAL HEIGHTS — The Colonial Heights Historical Society lecture series will continue on Wednesday, May 13, when Bert Duckwall will present a program on Commodore
Stephen Decatur at 7 p.m., at the Colonial Heights Public Library. Born in 1779, Decatur became one of the youngest naval officers to attain the rank of captain. He was successful in dealing with the Barbary pirates
that raided commercial shipping off of the North African coast. In 1803, Decatur became one of America’s first “Action Hero’s” after leading a daring night raid on the harbor at Tripoli, in present-day Libya.
Decatur Street in South Richmond is named after Stephen Decatur, as well as several cities across the country. The library is located at 1000 Yacht Basin Drive. The presentation is free to the public.
RIGHT: The Colonial Heights Historical Society will continue its lecture series on Wednesday, May 13, with a program on Commodore Stephen Decatur, pictured. PORTRAIT COURTESY OF NAVAL DEPARTMENT LIBRARY
WOODLAWN BAPTIST CHURCH
‘Made To Crave’ Bible study program Presented by the ‘Ladies Empowered by God’s Grace & Spirit’ COLONIAL HEIGHTS — The “Ladies Empowered by God’s Grace & Spirit” (LEGGS) of Woodlawn Baptist Church presented “Made To Crave” by Lysa TerKeurst, on Saturday, Feb. 14. The focus of the Bible study program was “nothing tastes as good as peace feels”. According to a
statement released by the “Ladies”, the program, fellowship and refreshments were enjoyed by all. For information about future programs, contact the church at 526-2179. All programs are open to the public. Wo o d l a w n B a p t i s t Church is located at 3120 Woodlawn Ave.
RIGHT: The “Ladies Empowered by God’s Grace & Spirit” (LEGGS) of Woodlawn Baptist Church in Colonial Heights presented the “Made To Crave” Bible study program in February. Members of the group are pictured. Front row, Patti Loy, Levy Suda, Jettie Redd, Jean Vinson; Middle row, Donna Elder, Jewel Moore, Diane Embry, Betty Smith, Nellie Newman, Patsy Goudreault; and Back row, Terry Vinson, Pam Gavin, Nancy Kirsh, Geneva Flexon, Rev. Terri Mason. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
AMERICAN PRIDE
COLONIAL HEIGHTS
‘Flags for First Graders’ program continues
Local student wins national award From Contributed Report
Veterans teach children in 41 local schools flag respect and etiquette From Contributed Report
COLONIAL HEIGHTS — In 1920, the WWI veterans started an organization known as the Forty and Eight. They envisioned a new and different level of elite membership and camaraderie for leaders of The American Legion. The box car of the French Railways, so familiar to American ground troops of the First World War, was chosen as the symbolic heart of the new organization. The French/Railroad theme was applied to officer titles and organizational functions. The Forty and Eight has many different programs for veterans, t h e c o m m u n i ty, a n d youth. Voiture Locale 1530 of Colonial Heights started its Flags for First Graders program in 1992, and has conducted the program
each year in 41 local schools. Forty and Eight members are primarily responsible for teaching over 91,000 first-graders in Chesterfield County and Colonial Heights about the love and respect for the American Flag. In addition to teaching flag respect and etiquette, each student receives an American Flag to take home. Along with the American Flag, the y receive a trifold that gives them more information about flag respect and etiquette. According to a statement released by the organization, Chef de Gare John Ronkartz, who is the Americanism directeur for Voiture Locale 1530, leads a group of dedicated Forty and Eight veterans who wants to make a difference in these young upcoming citizens. These volunteers have devoted over 6,000 hours, and traveled over
Forty and Eight members teach first-graders about having love and respect for the American Flag. Through the “Flags for First-Graders” annual program, the veterans reach children in 41 local schools in Colonial Heights and Chesterfield County. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
88,000 miles over the last 23 years. “For some students this may be their only opportunity to learn about the history of the Pledge of Allegiance, Flag Day, Star Spangle Banner origin, and see and learn about six different American Flags that played a part in our American history,” the statement reads. The American Legion Post 284 Ladies Auxiliary assists in the Flag
Program by covering key points of Flag respect and etiquette during the 30-minute presentation. They also provide each student with a certificate for attending the program. “Our 40⁄8 veterans stand ready to continue this very important program for years to come so that our youth never lose sight of our national symbol, and what it stands for,” the statement reads.
COLONIAL HEIGHTS — City resident Gianna Lucia Capelli has been awarded the Benjamin Whitten Collegiate Member of the Year Award by the Music Teachers National Association. She was presented the award at the National MTNA Music Convention in Las Vegas on March 27. Capelli is a graduate of Colonial Heights High School and is pursuing her B.M.E. from Virginia Commonwealth University with a double concentration in Vocal and Organ studies. Born into a military family, Capelli has lived in North Carolina, Virginia and Marsure, Italy. She is currently employed at Chester Performing Arts Studio and at the School of Rock in Shortpump, where she is involved in the music education of many students in the community. Drawing from her musical background and experiences visiting classrooms and interning at 43 schools in the Greensboro, N.C. and Richmond, Va., area, Capelli based her research on “Language Based Model of Instructing Music in the Primary Setting”, which was presented
Gianna Lucia Capelli
at the national convention. She was the recipient of the Richmond Music Teacher National Association Schlorship Program and was nominated by the Virginia Music Teacher National Association for the national award. In addition to dedicating her time to research in the music education field, Capelli is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota, National Association for Music Educators, Virginia Commonwealth University’s Music Teacher National Association, an honorary member of the Organist Guild of Greensboro, N.C., and is a member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Steven Salvatore Capelli of Colonial Heights.
COMPETITION
Tickets now on sale for ‘Senior Idol’ competition of age and older, competing for cash prizes of $300, $200 and $100 respectively, on Friday, May 15, at 7 p.m. at Victory Tabernacle Church From Contributed Report located at 11700 Genito Road in Midlothian. CHESTERFIELD — The competition is Tickets are now on sale sponsored in part by The for the 2015 Senior Idol Shepherd’s Center of competition, featuring 12 Chesterfield, Chesterfield talented seniors, 50 years
Colonial Heights woman among the 12 finalists
County Senior Advocate, Victory Tabernacle Church, Lucy Corr Village, and Buford Road Pharmacy. Proceeds will help benefit the senior services provided by The Shepherd’s Center of Chesterfield. More than 25 seniors auditioned for the competition. Each
performance was judged on talent, stage presence and style. Among the 12 performers chosen to advance to the final competition is Penny Elizabeth Humphries of Colonial Heights. As part of The Sheph e r d ’s C e n t e r ’s o f Chesterfield’s “Senior
Idol” final competition, each of the 12 finalists will have the opportunity to impress the judges and audience by performing one song. The judges will then select the top three contestants and one winner of the 2015 Senior Idol. Tickets for The 2015 “Senior Idol” are $10 in
advance and $15 at the door the night of the show. The tickets can be purchased at The Shepherd’s Center of Chesterfield’s office located at 6800 Lucy Corr Blvd or their website at www.shepctrchesterfield.org , by calling 804-706-9198 or at the door the night of the event.
The Colonial Voice, Petersburg, Va. | Friday, May 8, 2015
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The Colonial Voice, Petersburg, Va. | Friday, May 8, 2015