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Vol. 2 No. 20 | Richmond Suburban News | December 20, 2017
What’s in a name? 2 schools at issue By Jim Ridolphi for The Hanover Local ASHLAND -- What’s in a name? To some, it’s a recognition of a long history of pride and a recognition of the men who fought those battles and preserved that heritage. For others, it’s a racially insensitive insult and a reminder and celebration of an outdated philosophy, racism and white supremacy — values no longer accepted or recognized as virtuous. The debate regarding Confederate-themed memorials and monuments was highlighted in events that transpired
Jim Ridolphi for The Hanover Local
Pointseittas displayed at the Hanover County Scool Board meeting were provided by students at the Hanover Center for Trades and Technology. Shown are, from left, Ola Hawkins, Roger Bourassa and Sue Dibble.
in Charlottesville earlier this year, but the ramifications have
sounded across a nation, and, more specifically, to Hanover
County schools. A number of speakers took advantage of a public comment period at the Dec. 12 Hanover County School Board meeting to express their opposition to the names of two county schools, Lee-Davis High School and Stonewall Jackson Middle School. One speaker acknowledged the sitting board had no influence on the naming of those schools, but said the responsibility to right those wrongs clearly rests in their corner. Others said the school names and mascots is a sad see NAME, pg. 12
Sober housing search prompts questions By Jim Ridolphi for The Hanover Local HANOVER -- An ongoing feud pitting county building officials against a local safe house designed to assist recovering addicts took center stage at last week’s regular meeting of the Hanover County Board of Supervisors. Hanover Home for Sober Living is a residential recovery facility for women who are rehabbing from drug addiction and is operated by a group called the McShin Foundation headed by John Shinholser.
Last week, Hanover code officials served a search warrant on the property searching for violations related to a number of residents housed in the facility. During a public comment period at the Dec. 13 meeting, a number of former patients and current residents expressed their support for the program. And its founder was not pleased with the county’s latest efforts to manage the facility and expressed that displeasure see HOUSING, pg. 7
Holland-Axselle site offers town opportunities for ‘prosperous’ development By Logan Barry for The Hanover Local ASHLAND -- A prosperous economic development opportunity recently coming to light in the Town of Ashland, known to the local government’s managing the process as the “Holland-Axselle site” or the “Holland tract,” is in a shovel-ready state, as officials plan for how to develop it. It recently received one of the highest designations in terms of site-readiness for a greenfield site in Virginia. Over the summer, Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced phase two of the Virginia Business Ready Sites Program (VBRSP), which awarded eight development grants for the most eligible properties throughout the commonwealth. McAuliffe’s VBRSP granted Ashland $29,500 that the town can use for site assessment and development. This includes: environmental assessments, wetland delineation, boundary survey, infrastructure design and development as well as other costs associated with improving the site.
VBRSP declared the Holland-Axselle site as being eligible for a “tier four” classification. A news release on governor.virginia.gov described a tier four classification level as meaning that all infrastructure is either already in place on the site, or will be deliverable within one year, as well as the property’s permit issues having already been identified or quantified. “The Virginia Business Ready Sites Program is a valuable tool that helps to identify and improve marketable sites for prospective businesses,” McAuliffe was quoted as saying in the July 19 news release. Tier four and tier five sites are designated as being more pad ready, and allow for the town and Hanover County to better promote these types of properties more effectively in terms of competition, as corporations and businesses want to move quickly when looking to expand operations. Background “The background on this property is that it’s been farmland, and still is actually,” said Joe Topham, business see HOLLAND, pg. 4
Contributed photo
Joe Topham, business retention and expansion manager for the Town of Ashland, recently provided a tour of the Holland-Asxelle site.