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Vol. 3 No. 42 | Richmond Suburban News | June 13, 2018
Bennett and Helmick take top honors in leading AHS ’18 grads By Melody Kinser Managing Editor
M
ECHANICSVILLE -Carolyn Bennett will lead the Atlee High School Class of 2018 as valedictorian with a grade point average of 4.676. The salutatorian is Mason Helmick, who as a 4.64789 GPA. Bennett is the daughter
Atlee 8:30 a.m. Saturday, June 16 Stuart Siegel Center VCU 1200 W. Broad St. Richmond
of Josh and Susan Bennett of Mechanicsville.
CAROLYN BENNETT
MASON HELMICK
Valedictorian
Salutatorian
She served as drum major of the Atlee High School Marching Band her senior year and was a section leader during her junior year. She was president of the Student Council Association
(SCA) and president of the National Honor Society, and a member of the BETA Club, SODA, Atlee Indoor Drumline, National Honor Society, and National Latin Honor Society. Bennett was a percus-
sionist in the All-State Band and All-District Band percussionist, as well as a percussionist in the Atlee Jazz Band and Wind Ensemble. She has been a percussionist in the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra (RSYO) and a percussionist in the Central Virginia Wind Symphony (CVWS). She has volunteered with Read To Them in Richmond and VCU Medical Center. She also has been a volunteer percussion teacher for Music To My Ears. Bennett performs with 4G Youth Band at Shady Grove UMC, and has been an iTunes recording artist with Red Amp Studio. Bennett plans to attend the University of Virginia see ATLEE, pg. 4
$24.5 million budget OK’d by town council debt service payment that we have to make for two very large projects: the town hall ASHLAND -- Ashland project and the pool,” Farrar Town Council unanimous- said. ly approved a FY2018-2019 The budget contains a budget that includes funding $1.1 million transfer from the for two legacy projects, a new reserve fund, but $750,000 is Ashland Town Hall and the slated for a “one-time paypool at the Tuesday, down” on the newly June 5, regular acquired debt for meeting. construction costs The $24.5 milon those two projlion budget includes ects. a $10.5 million gen“Think of it as eral fund allocation if you were buying in addition to $14 a home or a car million in capital and putting more project funding. money down,” Town Manager Farrar said. FARRAR Joshua Farrar said The approved the more than budget also con8 percent increase is not so tains several tax rate increases, substantial when other por- a one-cent addition to the real tions of the spending plan are estate tax, a 1 percent increase examined. in the meals tax and a 1 per“That does seem like a sub- cent increase in lodging. stantial increase, but we must The new budget also conremember the majority of that increase is based on the new see BUDGET, pg. 7
By Jim Ridolphi for The Hanover Local
Rain or shine: It’s Strawberry Faire time in town By Lorie Foley Ashland Strawberry Faire
File photo/ Richmond-Times Dispatch
ASHLAND -- Ashland will be celebrating all things “strawberries” on Saturday with the Ashland Strawberry Faire, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 16 on the campus of Randolph-Macon College. There is some-
thing for everyone at the 37th annual Faire. Enjoy shopping for plants, jewelry, furniture, crafts, home décor, clothing, fine art, bath and body products, photographs, handmade soap, and of course, strawberries. Meet Hanover County businesses, local government services and nonprofit organizations and learn what they offer.
Plan to eat lunch at one of the many food vendors. From hamburgers to gyros, there will be plenty of options for the thousands anticipated to visit the Ashland Strawberry Faire this year. Don’t forget to have strawberry shortcake see FAIRE, pg. 5