COMMUNITY
OPINION
HCSO observes 36th annual National Night Out
Campaigning is in full swing for Nov. 5; registrar lists deadlines for the election
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Vol. 4 No. 48 | Richmond Suburban News | August 14, 2019
Requirements for Arrests pending in July 25 shooting residency reminder issued by HCPS ASHLAND – Parents and guardians of students in Hanover County Public Schools must report any recent change of address. Chris R. Whitley, public information officer, said, “Hanover County Public Schools
Two of the following, which must reflect the resident’s name, physical mailing address, and service address: a current bill for land-line telephone, cable, internet, satellite, water, gas/oil, or electricity service; a voter registration card;
Staff Report news@mechlocal.com SHLAND – The individuals involved in the July 25 shooting of a teenage male in the South Taylor Street Park area have been identified and criminal charges are pending. Officer Chip Watts, Public Information and Community Policing for the Ashland Police Department, said the victim contin-
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ues to recover. “Due to this incident being an ongoing investigation and the suspects’ ages, no information regarding suspect identity will be released,” Watts said. “Although there is certainly evidence of criminal activity that led up to the meeting of these teenagers, to address some community speculation, there appears to be no links to gang activity whatsoever,” said Chief Doug Goodman. “We appreciate
our partnership with the Hanover County Commonwealth’s Attorney as we continue this investigation and pursue criminal charges.” Watts also said, “The Ashland PD would like to express our gratitude to the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office and our community for their assistance in this case.” APD officers responded around 11:46
New name, same mission for Downtown Ashland group
“If a change in the bona fide legal residence occurs, it is the responsibility of the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) to notify the school immediately .” CHRIS R. WHITLEY HCPS public information officer
would like to remind you of our residency requirements and policy. If a change in the bona fide legal residence occurs, it is the responsibility of the parent(s)/ legal guardian(s) to notify the school immediately.” Parents/legal guardians should provide the schools in which their children attend three proofs of residency upon a change of address. Proof of residence includes: One of the following, which must reflect the resident’s name and physical address: a sales contract for the purchase of the residence (signed by seller and purchaser), a deed, a current mortgage statement from the lender, or a signed, current lease; and
a current automobile registration card; a W-2 tax document for the most recent tax year; a combined bill and receipt for personal property taxes paid within the current year; bank statements, medical bills, or official correspondence from a governmental agency dated within the last two months. The school division will accept only original documents for proof of residence. Copies of all documents presented for proof of residence will be retained in the student’s cumulative file as part of the student’s enrollment documentation. “Should you have any questions, please contact your school registrar,” Whitley added.
see ARRESTS, pg. 3
By Jim Ridolphi for Ashland-Hanover Local
COTU to hold cookoff to benefit Circles Ashland Contributed Report news@mechlocal.com ASHLAND -- Round up your friends, family, and neighbors for the third annual Circle Contributed photos the Wagons BBQ Cook-off Food and entertainment and Concert benefiting Circles will take center stage Ashland. on Aug. 24 when Center Six BBQ vendors, two of the Universe Brewing Company once again bands, celebrity judges, and sponsors a fundraiser for one great cause equals the BBQ Circles Ashland. The Circle the Wagons BBQ Cookoff throwdown of the Summer. This year, Circle the Wagons is moving to Green Top to accommodate the crowd. has been moved to Green Top
Hunt and Fish to accommodate the overwhelming amount of attendance of last year. Green Top is conveniently located across Interstate 95 from Center of the Universe Brewing Company and has plenty of parking and space. The event will take place outside and attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs, pop-up tents, tables, etc., to relax and enjoy see CIRCLES, pg. 12
ASHLAND -- With a new name and improved website, Downtown Ashland Association is continuing its efforts to attract and maintain customers in Ashland’s downtown district through special events and marketing projects. Maggie Longest, Downtown Ashland Association executive director, presented town council with an update last week on the organization’s recent activities. “We are very proud of the work we’ve been able to do in 2019, and this year really tells a lot about the trajectory of our organization going forward,” Longest said as she presented fourth quarter updates for 2019. see ASHLAND, pg. 2
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CALEA assessors join sheriff, staff for 36th annual National Night Out Staff Report news@mechlocal.com HANOVER – Two assessors with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. (CALEA) accompanied Col. David R. Hines, sheriff of Hanover County, on Tuesday, Aug. 6, for the 36th annual National Night Out. Maj. Tracy Estep, from the Lee County Sheriff ’s Office in Florida, and Capt. Warren Hedrick, who is retired from
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The Hanover County Sheriff’s Office was joined by representatives of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. (CALEA) and Commonwealth’s Attorney R.E. “Trip” Chalkley III on Tuesday, Aug. 6, for National Night Out. Shown are, above, from left, Capt. Ricky Dandridge, HCSO; Maj. Tracy Estep, CALEA assessor from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office in Florida; McGruff the Crime Dog, HCSO; Capt. Warren Hedrick, CALEA assessor, retired from the Blounty County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee; Col. David R. Hines, sheriff, HCSO; and Chalkley.
the Blounty County Sheriff ’s Office in Tennessee joined in the observance, which is designed to strengthen communities by encouraging neighborhoods to engage in stronger relationships with one another and their local law
enforcement partners. Sgt. Steve DiLoreto said, “The goal of the program is to heighten crime prevention awareness, build support and participation in local anticrime programs, and most importantly, send a message
ASHLAND
is a lot of demand and support for our downtown businesses, which is not the case across the country especially for historic small towns.” “We saw that people like our downtown and all of the other indicators show that there is demand for business growth here,” Longest said. A common response in those surveys was the need for store variety in the downtown area. The business responses to the survey also indicated that the customer base for downtown Ashland is comprised of both local and regional shoppers, and
Continued from pg. 1
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Ashland-Hanover Local August 14, 2019
Last year, the organization conducted surveys with all downtown businesses and customers in Ashland. “We were trying to get that base market data and see the role we play as economic developers,” Longest said. “We had over 90 responses to a survey that we sent to about 140 businesses,” she said. More than 300 responses were received from downtown customers. “Those surveys were very telling,” Longest said. “The customer surveys show that there
that our neighborhoods are organized and fighting back. It’s also the perfect opportunity to get to know your neighbors even better.” As for the accreditation program, agencies are required to comply with state-of-the-art standards in four basic areas: policy and procedures, administration, operations, and support services. A public information session was held Monday, Aug. 5, to allow members of the community and HCSO employees to provide comments.
the historic town is a destination for regional residents. Longest said that customer base is located within one-half hour driving distance from the town. “That’s our potential customer base for Ashland,” Longest said. “Those are the customers downtown businesses said they needed and those are the customers they are making the most revenue from.” Many of those customers are of the repeat variety and are aged 35 to 55 years. see ASHLAND, pg. 12
SHERIFF’S REPORTS | Crime, Accidents, Fire & Rescue
Destruction of property, monument value, $1,000, was reported in the 12000 block of North Lakeridge Parkway, Ashland. Firearms, regardless of value, not from a person were reported in the 8100 block of Woodbridge Road, Mechanicsville.
Identity fraud use of identifying information to defraud was reported in the 9200 block of Rappahannock Trail, Ashland.
Non-criminal report was reported in the 14500 block of Stillmeadows Road, Montpelier. Computer fraud to obtain services, $500, was reported in the 9000 block of Gold Ridge Lane, Mechanicsville. Simple assault was reported in the 7000 block of Mechanicsville.
Credit card fraud, $200 in six months, was reported at 16000 Theme Park Way, Doswell. ID theft to obtain ID to avoid arrest was reported in the 7100 block of Mechanicsville Turnpike/Wynbrook Lane, Mechanicsville.
ARRESTS Continued from pg. 1
p.m. to the 700 block of South Taylor Street for reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, they found the teen suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment by Hanover County Fire-EMS. At the time of the shooting,
Petit larceny shoplifting was reported in the 7000 block of Mechanicsville Turnpike, Mechanicsville.
July 24
Identity fraud, financial loss, $200, was reported in the 7200 block of Battle Hill Drive, Mechanicsville.
July 23
Possession of marijuana, first offense, was reported in the 3000 block of Mechanicsville Turnpike/ King William County, Mechanicsville. Petit larceny from auto was reported in the 10200 block of Lakeridge Square Court, Ashland. Possession of marijuana, first offense, was reported in the 7400 block of Colts Neck Road/Walnut Grove Road, Mechanicsville.
ID theft to obtain ID to avoid arrest was reported in the 810 block of Mechanicsville Turnpike/Elm Drive, Mechanicsville.
Grand larceny, $500 or more not from a person, was reported in the 7600 block of Autumn Park Way, Mechanicsville.
Possession of marijuana, first offense, was reported in the 9400 block of Charter Creek Drive, Ashland.
Possession of marijuana, first offense, was reported in the 37 block of Mechanicsville Turnpike, Mechanicsville.
Possession of marijuana, subsequent offense, was reported in the 7200 block of Bell Creek Road, Mechanicsville.
Simple assault was reported in the 6300 block of Tammy Lane, Mechanicsville.
Mechanicsville.
July 25
Operating a vehicle without an ignition interlock system was reported in the 8000 block of Mechanicsville Turnpike/Cold Harbor Road, Mechanicsville.
Simple assault was reported in the 14300 block of Orchard Vista Road Lane, Glen Allen.
Embezzlement, $200, was reported in the 200 block of Berkley Street in Ashland.
block of Mechanicsville Turnpike/Elm Drive, Mechanicsville.
Possession of Schedule I and II controlled substance was reported in the 37 block of Mechanicsville Turnpike, Mechanicsville. Possession of Schedule I and II controlled substance was reported in the 9200 block of Shady Grove Road, Mechanicsville. Driver did not report an accident with damages, $500, in the 8800 block of Seaycroft Drive, Mechanicsville.
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Obtaining money or signature by false pretenses was reported in the 12400 block of Mountain Road, Glen Allen.
Driver did not report an accident with damages, $500, in the 5900 block of Homehills Road, Mechanicsville.
Issuing bad checks, $200, was reported in the 8100 block of Atlee Road, Mechanicsville.
Simple assault was reported in the 10400 block of Chamberlayne Road, Mechanicsville.
Driver did not report an accident with damages, $1,000, in the 8000 block of Pole Green Road/Interstate 295, Mechanicsville.
Operating a vehicle without ignition interlock system was reported in the 8100
Possession of marijuana, subsequent offense, was reported in the 7200 block of Garden Park Lane,
Goodman released this statement: “Although we always want our community to be vigilant about their personal safety, this incident appears to be limited to the individuals in South Taylor Street Park last night. As we develop further information pertinent to this case and community safety, we
will share as we are able.� Watts reminds residents that anyone with information about any crime is urged to call the Ashland Police Department at 804-365-6140 or Crime Stoppers at 804-7801000. Residents also can submit crime tips anonymously at www.ashlandpolice.us.
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Hanover area library programs listed PLUMBING, HEATING & COOLING
Contributed Report news@mechlocal.com HANOVER – Librarian Carolyn Garner has announced the upcoming programs at Ashland-Hanover area libraries.
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Ashland-Hanover Local August 14, 2019
Richard S. Gillis Jr./Ashland Branch Library Ashland Chess Academy – 3 to 5 p.m. Thursdays, Aug. 15 and 22, for frades K-12. Get a sound foundation in chess and have opportunities to practice and play games with your peers each week. Refreshments will be provided by the Ashland Friends of the Library. For more information, call 804-798-4072 or visit the library at 201 S. Railroad Ave. for more information. Stitchin’ Time! – 7 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays, Aug. 19 and 26. Grab your needles, yarn, and patterns and join us for fun conversation and stitching at our drop-in fiber crafts group. From knitters to cross-stitchers, crocheters to handsewers, all are welcome! For more information, call 804-798-4072 or visit the library at 201 S. Railroad Ave. for more information. Must Love Words – 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27. Writers, are you looking for inspiration? Need readers with a discerning eye? Join us for constructive feedback and discussion about the craft of writing. For more information, call 804-798-4072 or visit the library at 201 S. Railroad Ave. End of Summer BINGO Party! – 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, for all ages. Do you like to party and play Bingo? Let's celebrate the end of summer with some real fun! Refreshments will be provided by the Friends of the Ashland Library. For more information, call 804-798-4072 or visit the library at 201 S. Railroad Ave. Morning Book Club – 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 16. Read our book of the month and engage in a lively discussion about it. Share views about the book and author and share reading recommendations. Refreshments will be provided by the Friends of the Ashland Library. For more information, call 804798-4072 or visit the library at 201 S. Railroad Ave.
Afternoon Book Club – 1 to 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 19. Read our book of the month and engage in a lively discussion about it. Share views about the book and author and share reading recommendations. Refreshments will be provided by the Friends of the Ashland Library. For more information, call 804-798-4072 or visit the library at 201 S. Railroad Ave. for more information. Evening Book Club – 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 20. Read our book of the month and engage in a lively discussion about it. Share views about the book and author and share reading recommendations. Refreshments will be provided by the Friends of the Ashland Library. For more information, call 804-798-4072 or visit the library at 201 S. Railroad Ave. for more information. Explore 3D Printing – 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, for ages 8 and up. Explore 3D printing at the library! Learn to use Tinkercad to create your own design and submit your "thing" to the library to be printed. Computer mouse skills are needed for this class. Children 12 or younger must be accompanied by an adult. All participants must be registered for the class. For more information, call 804-798-4072 or visit the library at 201 S. Railroad Ave. for more information. How to Build a Healthy Lunchbox – 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29. Tired of making the same boring lunch? Join us to learn how to pack fun, healthy meals on the go. We will make kid friendly lunches and some adult ones too! Healthy lunch ideas and recipes will be provided. For more information, call 804-798-4072 or visit the library at 201 S. Railroad Ave.
Hanover Branch Library Genealogy Class – 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15. Learn how to search for information to build your family tree using Ancestry Library Edition and HeritageQuest. (Basic computer experience is preferred.) Register online or call or visit the library to sign up for this class. For more information, call 804-365-6210 or visit the library at
7527 Library Drive.
Lois Wickham Jones/Montpelier Branch Library Paws to READ – 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14. Is your child a reluctant reader? Sign them up for a 20-minute session reading to Chrissie, a Paws to READ reading education assistance dog. Call or visit the branch to sign up. For more information, call 804-883-7116 or visit the library at 17205 Sycamore Tavern Lane.
Cochrane Rockville Branch Library Metal Stamping Fun – 1 to 2:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16, for ages 11 to 18. Join us for some metal stamping fun. Make a nametag, piece of jewelry, dog tag or come up with your own creation. Call or visit the Library to sign up. Snacks will be provided by the Friends of Rockville Library. For more information, call 804-749-3146 or visit the library at 16600 Pouncey Tract Rd. Summer Send Off-Ice Cream Social – 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug.17. Cool off at the library with an Ice Cream Sundae to celebrate the end of summer and reaching your reading goals. Check out books, get fall activity and Storytime schedules, discover new resources, and play games. Refreshments will be provided by the Friends of the Rockville Library. For more information, call 804749-3146 or visit the library at 16600 Pouncey Tract Rd. Read 2 Rover – 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 19. Read 2 Rover provides comfort and motivation for beginning readers as they read aloud to therapy dogs. For more information, call 804-749-3146 or visit the library at 16600 Pouncey Tract Rd. LEGOs! – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug, 24, for ages 5 to 12. Use your engineering skills to create a LEGO design all your own. Snacks will be provided by the Friends of the Rockville Library. For more information, call 804-749-3146 or visit the library at 16600 Pouncey Tract Rd. Librarian Carolyn Garner may be contacted at 804-746-3176 or cgarner@ pamunkeylibrary.org.
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Ashland-Hanover Local August 14, 2019 5
OPINION | The Local Views From the managing editor
Campaigning is in full swing for Nov. 5 By Melody Kinser Managing Editor
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few weeks ago, a friend from Huntington, West Virginia, and his wife were on their way to the Outer Banks so he checked to see if I could meet them for lunch as they approached Richmond. It was a busy day, so, sadly, we didn’t get together, but we did have several texts as they continued on Interstate 64. I always keep an eye on emails when I’m working and, sure enough, one came through that I knew would impact their journey. The Virginia Department of Transportation reported an accident on 64 that rerouted traffic.
Brian has a great sense of humor, so I enjoyed a good laugh when he talked about seeing so many signs for a candidate in a neighboring county. In typical West Virginia fashion, he said, “I think we’ll vote for him!!!” Then the memory flooded in of an old saying on Election Day of “Vote and vote often.” Seriously, though, we are preparing for what is likely to be a doozy of an election on Nov. 5. We’ve already had what could be a made-for-TV movie determining the Republican candidate for the 97th District seat in the House of Delegates. Voter Registrar Teri Smithson and her staff are the best at keeping the wheels running smoothly for Hanover County elections. To prepare for Nov. 5, the deadline to register to vote or
update an existing registration is Tuesday, Oct. 15. The deadline to request an absentee ballot to be mailed to you is Tuesday, Oct. 29. Your request must be received by Smithson’s office by 5 p.m. The deadline to vote in-person absentee is Saturday, Nov. 2. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 5. More information may be obtained online at https://www.elections. virginia.gov/. Smithson’s office is located in the Wickham Building at 7497 County Complex Rd. in Hanover. The phone number is 804-365-6080. We’ll continue to encourage you to vote, but, despite the West Virginia stories, you can only vote once here. Be sure to do so on Nov. 5.
LETTERS | Reader Views
Resident defends support of memory of Confederates Abraham Lincoln said, “If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves, I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would also do that.” So those who say that the Civil War was “all about slavery” are igno-
rant of what the “Great Emancipator” himself said. The Civil War was fought to determine if a state had the right to break away from the country as a whole. It was “states are the ultimate law” vs. “the country is the ultimate law”. In antebellum America, citizens were far more apt to consider themselves “Virginians” than they were to consider themselves Americans. We are not able to appreciate that in the 21st Century. Then there are those who are of the opinion that Robert E. Lee and
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Ashland-Hanover Local August 14, 2019
Stonewall Jackson were (and are still, even long dead, apparently) their enemies, merely because they were Confederates. Once again, this is mere ignorance. Both men were fighting to protect their home state of Virginia, which, as already pointed out, they considered their “country”. Their involvement in the war had absolutely nothing to do with slavery. Shall we take George Washington’s name off every public building? Because the reality is that if that great Virginian had lived in the 1800s,
he would have been a Confederate. Alternately, if his great-grandson-inlaw (that’s Robert E. Lee) had lived in the 1700s, he would have been a Founding Father, as were his Lee family ancestors. Arlington House is the “National Robert E. Lee Memorial”. So America has a memorial in honor of this man in our federal capital, but he is too evil to have a public school named after him? That’s absurd. Let’s move on to Jackson. He began and taught, for years, a Sunday School class for all the black people, slave or
WE WANT TO PUBLISH YOUR ISSUE-DRIVEN LETTERS The Local welcomes your signed letters to the editor on topics of interest to Hanover residents. Letters must include your address and a daytime telephone number. We reserve the right to edit letters. We do not guarantee that every letter received will be published. Letters reflect the opinions and positions of the writers and not The Ashland-Hanover Local. Send letters to: The Ashland-Hanover Local 8460 Times-Dispatch Blvd. Mechanicsville, Va. 23116 Fax: 730-0476 E-mail: editor@mechlocal.com © 2019 by Richmond Suburban Newspapers. All advertising and editorial matter is fully protected and may not be reproduced in any manner without the permission of the publisher. CAC Audited Circulation: 13,776.
free, at the Lexington Presbyterian Church. He taught them to read (which was against the law) because he believed that it was every child of God’s right to read His word for his or herself, not via an interpreter only. He purchased two black teens he didn’t need because their mother asked him to buy them. He brought them to sit in church, in the pew with him, and was reprimanded by others who said they needed to sit in the balcony with the other black members of the congregation. His response? “My children sit with me.” No one ever dared to question him about it again. When he was away at war, he would stop to send a letter with money in it back to the church as his “tithe to the Black Sunday School” and ask how his students were doing. There is a church in Roanoke with a stained glass window dedicated to Jackson, placed there by the founding pastor, who had been first led to Christ in Jackson’s Sunday School class. Does this sound like a hate-filled racist whose name needs to be erased from buildings? There is no sensible, educated see LETTERS, pg. 12
UPCOMING EVENTS
08
15 2019
Prep golf: Atlee quad at The Crossings TBD
08
20 2019
Prep golf: Hanover County Quad at Queenfield G.C. Noon
| Youth, High School, College, Recreational & Professional
Life-saving test is not new, but is little used By Rob Witham and Dave Lawrence Ashland-Hanover Local ASHLAND – While athletic programs closely monitor players during the dog days of summer, looking to prevent an exertional heat health emergency, is it possible that a test whose roots date back almost a century could be key to discovering which players most susceptible to such an event, and, more important, give coaches a system to not only test studentathletes, but then improve their ability to perform? What is known as “VO2max testing” – a test of the maximum amount of oxygen a person can use during intense exercise – would not be possible without the work of Archibald Vivian Hill and Otto Fritz Meyerhof, who shared the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1922. Hill was honored “for his discovery relating to the production of heat in the muscle,” while Meyerhof shared the prize “for his discovery of the fixed relationship between the consumption of oxygen and the metabolism of lactic acid in the muscle,” according to the Nobel Foundation. Their work laid the groundwork for our current understanding of how muscles do work: Energy for the work is generated by a chemical process that requires oxygen; as the
Taking the test By Dave Lawrence Sports Editor
Rob Witham for The Local
Patrick Henry’s new head football coach Ken Wakefield knew of the benefits of VO2max testing and wasted no time implementing it in the Patriots’ program when he took over last spring. Wakefield said the use of the test helps players in practice and in games. DEADLY PRACTICE Third installment in a series
muscles use that energy, they generate heat. As one may remember from high school or college biology, when the oxygen supply is exhausted, muscles switch to lactic acid metabolism, which is not as efficient in producing energy, helping lead to fatigue
and creating the sensation of soreness in the muscles. Oxygen is also needed to clear the lactic acid buildup from muscles. The more fit a person is, the more efficient his or her cardiovascular system is in delivering oxygen to the muscles and the more efficient muscles are in using oxygen. It takes longer for the oxygen to be depleted, thus reducing lactic acid build-
up, and any buildup of lactic acid that occurs is cleared more quickly. Thus, the notion that VO2max testing can reveal an athletes’ ability to cope with and maintain performance in hot weather is not new: Hill and Hartley Lupton first published on it in 1923 and studies for several decades now have been showing VO2max testing to be
one of the more important (and easily obtained) indicators of cardiovascular capacity and, in turn, heat tolerance. More recently, a 2014 study by Peter Lisman and others in the journal Military Medicine found that the higher one’s VO2max, the lower one’s maximum core body temperature
MECHANICSVILLE – What is a maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) test like? I decided to find out with the help of Mike Craven, owner of Mike’s Olympic Gym. A number of ways to test VO2max have been developed over many years, but all follow a basic plan: to force the person being tested to exert maximum physical effort while monitoring oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide output, and both at aspects of how well the body responds to the test. I arranged to meet Mike one day along with Rob Witham – who was assigned to document my physical insufficiencies with photos and video. To get an idea of what Mike had to work with, see THE TEST, pg. 9
see LITTLE USED, pg. 9
Ashland-Hanover Local August 14, 2019
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County golf teams get in the swing of the season By Dave Lawrence Sports Editor HENRICO – Hanover County’s high school golf season got started with the first matches Thursday and three of the four county teams out on local courses. County teams won each of the two matches in which they were active. Hanover, led by Andrew Wilkinson, defeated Highland Springs 169-199 on the Springers’ home course at Glenwood Golf Club in Richmond; while Patrick Henry, led by Jessica Rathbone, defeated a trio of teams including Lee-Davis and Henrico on the Warriors home course at Belmont Golf Course in Henrico. Wilkinson, a junior returning as the Hawks’ No. 1 from last year, shot a 1-over par 37 on the front nine at Glenwood Thursday. “His game is developing. He’s a strong player,” said Hanover head golf coach Philip Hein, who is in his first year at the helm of the Hawks’ golf team. “He’s a very smart golfer. … If he gets in trouble, he doesn’t try to hit a miracle shot. He’s smart enough to take his poison and move on.” Wilkinson finished with three bogeys, two birdies, and four pars. All four Hawks that scored outshot Highland Springs’ players. Connor Bond finished with a 43, followed with Adam Kelly with a 44 and Tanner Yager with a 45. The Springers’ best score came from Bryan McDonough, who shot a 46. The Hawks’ team is young, with three juniors, two seniors and a freshman in the starting rotation. Of the seniors, only one had a start prior to this on the football team the last Hein said. “He’s a pretty strong played some pretty strong golf.” season. Another is new to golf. three years, so he’s making the golfer. He had some first-tee jitRathbone returns as Patrick “Adam Kelly was the center transition from football to golf,” ters today, but outside of that Henry’s No. 1. She has left a
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Ashland-Hanover Local August 14, 2019
“She had a strong start,” said Patrick Henry head coach Dave Hudak. “Before, we relied heavily upon her last year, and then on Miles [Krishnamurthy] to come through and then hoped we’d get some decent scores [from the others].” Hudak said this years Patriots have more depth. “This is more like the year before when we had Rory [Ailor] and then Lance [LaFontaine] in there and Miles fourth,” Hudak said. “I’m hoping it keeps up.” The next three Patrick Henry players at Belmont finished in a tight circle: Dillan Baskind (41), Dan Ailor (42) and Keaton Winston (43). The Patriot foursome outscored all other competitors on the day. Hermitage’s Max Kates-Tate was the closed to the four with a 45. Michael Major followed with a 48, Tim Mallory with a 49 and Sam Nill with a 50. Max Burrows led Lee-Davis with a 49. Trey Baker finished with a 54, followed by Austin Testerman (60) and Chase Hudes (61). Dave Lawrence/The Local Host Henrico was led by Above, Patrick Henry’s Jessica Rathbone chips up onto Rod Dickerson (50), followed the ninth green in a match by Mitchell Markus (53), Kyla against Lee-Davis, Hermitage Mack (59) and Lauren Robinson and Henrico at Belmont Golf (68). Course Thursday. Rathbone Dave Lawrence can be led a tight pack of Patriot players with a 1-over-par 38 to reached at dlawrence@mechloclaim medalist honors. Patrick cal.com. Henry carried the day with a 164, followed by Hermitage (192), Lee-Davis (224) and Henrico (230). Left, Hanover No. 1 Andrew Wilkinson tees off on the eighth hole in the Hawks’ match against Highland Springs at Glenwood Golf Club Thursday. Wilkinson was the medalist with a 1-over par 37 in the match, which the Hanover won 169-199.
Hanover 169, Highland Springs 199 (Thursday at Glenwood G.C.) Hanover (169): Wilkinson 37, Bond 43, Kelly 44, Yager 45 Highland Springs (199): B. McDonough 46, W. McDonough 47, Cooper 51, Cheatham 55
Patrick Henry 164, Hermitage 192, Lee-Davis 224, Henrico 230 (Thursday at Belmont G.C.) Patrick Henry (164): Rathbone pretty strong legacy with the 28, Baskind 41, Ailor 42, Winston 43 Hermitage (192): Kates-Tate 45, three years she has already completed, and showed no sign of Major 48, Mallory 49, Nill 50 Lee-Davis (224): Burrows 49, letting up as she led the Patriots Baker 54, Testerman 60, Hudes 61 to victory at Belmont. She shot a Henrico (230): Dickerson 50, Markus 53, Mack 59, Robinson 68 1-over-par 38.
important.” Varina High School also utilizes VO2max testing, but it is not mandated by the Virginia High School League, and most schools do not utilize it. The question now may be, if the long-term results of VO2max testing are student-athletes playing under safer conditions, with both them and their coaches understanding their true physical capacities while working safely to improve them, why hasn’t it become the norm? Rob Witham can be reached at sports@mechlocal.com. Dave Lawrence – a former college biology professor who remembers what he taught (even if some of his students couldn’t) – can be reached at dlawrence@ mechlocal.com.
LITTLE USED Continued from pg. 7
and the lower one’s maximum heart rate, and vice versa. In other words, a person with a high VO2max is at lower risk of exertional heat illness. To understand why this is so, think of the similarities in the cooling system in humans and in the liquid-based cooling system in most automobiles. Our blood is the coolant: It picks up heat from our muscles (engine) and transports it to the skin (radiator), where the excess heat can be dissipated into the environment. If anything impedes the flow of the blood (coolant) to the skin (radiator) – such as a weak heart (water pump) – heat builds up in the muscles (engine) until a breakdown occurs. While VO2max testing may not be the only way to get at a measure of heat tolerance, the simplicity of the test and the statistics it generates makes it a handy tool for devising individualized conditioning programs that yield maximum benefit for both athletes and their coaches. When Ken Wakefield was hired to become the new head football coach at Patrick Henry High School this spring, he brought his experience with VO2max testing with him to Ashland, implementing a testing program in May with his players, and discussing its benefits and the reasoning behind its usage to their parents. “We test all the kids initially, just to give us a base line of where are they right now,” Wakefield said, explaining how he began the program in May. “From that, that gives us a red flag of, are they prone to a heat condition right now given what their score is?” During summer conditioning, Wakefield and his staff use heart monitors on players, taking away he says, any guesswork on the actual ability of any of his student-athletes.
THE TEST Continued from pg. 7
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
A number of factors contribute to a person’s risk of heat-related illness. Many sports sanctioning bodies like the Virgnia High School League have policies that address those factors relevant to an athlete’s risk, such as weather, direct sun exposure, limited air movement, hydration, personal protective equipment (PPE) and clothing, and physical exertion. Some health problems, such as sickle-cell trait, are likewise addressed in a number of policies. But few mandate tests of the physical condition of athletes — such as VO2 max tests — to determine the athlete’s fitness prior to the start of a conditioning program.
“There’s no guess on my part on ‘Can Johnny run so hard?” Wakefield explained. “I already know how hard, we’ve tested that theory, so we understand how to push each kid. We can’t push certain guys as hard because they’re physically not ready yet.” Some Patriot linemen have been able to improve their VO2max scores from readings in the twenties, which signifies a high risk for heat issues,
into the forties, both signifying progress in conditioning overall, but, more importantly, the lowering of their risk factor for exertional heat emergencies. Besides the most important benefit of working to prevent a medical emergency, Wakefield appreciates other advantages that he believes come with using VO2max testing. “Some of our linemen have been running in the summer for thirty minutes on a consecu-
tive basis within their zones,” Wakefield said. “On Friday night, when we step on the field, that kid is going to play faster than what he could prior to [testing].” The biggest sell for Wakefield, already dealing with being the new guy in Ashland, was convincing his players that implementing this program was important, both for their health, and for the growth of the team. As it turned out, asking them to
buy in wasn’t difficult. “The kids really took to it. Some of these guys are twoway kids and I look out and see some of them have to be out of the second series [of the game] because they don’t have the wind to do it,” Wakefield explained. “If I know that, part of my job is to get them in shape to get to that point. The big picture is, we’re looking out for that kid’s best interest, their safety, and that’s really, really
here is a brief resume of my condition: I am in the back half of my sixth decade on this planet. I have both asthma and diabetes, and (according to my body mass index) am slightly overweight. I get miserable quickly with an inadequate daily dose of coffee, and I’ve been driving a desk for a long time – so I am usually lacking in the recommended exercise department. I think that just about covers it. I was mentally prepared to be embarrassed the day I met Rob and Mike at Mike’s gym. I arrived looking as shabby as usual, and Mike briefed me for what to expect. Then we began setting up for the test. First, I had to attach a heart monitor – not one of those fitness watches, but an actual monitor that I had to strap across my chest. First, I splashed some water across my midriff to improve the monitor’s connection with my skin, then attached the strap and see THE TEST, pg. 10
Ashland-Hanover Local August 14, 2019
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Rockville makes 2nd run at Cal Ripkin World Series
skills to good use while waiting for more weather to clear the area. When the game finally began, their bats were red hot. Three Rockville pitchers hurled two innings each and quelled a late New England comeback.
On Sunday, Aug. 4, the opponents were the California champions, and again, Rockville started strong on offense with three runs in the second inning. But California answered with five of their own in the bottom
of the frame, then added four in the third and three in the fourth inning for a 12-5 win. The defeat placed Rockville into the “Iron Man Bracket” for their final two games. The first game in that bracket was against a familiar foe: the host team from Phenix City on Aug. 5. The previous year, Phenix City ended the Rockville run in the World Series. After the hosts took a 1-0 lead in the first, Rockville’s bats came alive in the third inning, scoring five runs. Two Rockville pitchers scattered just five hits and earned four strikeouts as they pulled away for an 8-2 victory, earning them a date with the Idaho state champions the next day for what would be their World Series finale. What a finale it was, a testimony to a never say die attitude which led Rockville head coach Dave Frei to coin the phrase, “Cardiac Kids,” to describe his team. Idaho took an early 2-0 lead, erased when Rockville plated a pair in the top of the second inning. Idaho responded with four runs in the third, three
THE TEST
to a climber, a machine that seems to me like it would have worked well as a medieval torture device. It has two steps and two handles. The goal is to keep moving as if I am doing a handhold scramble up a cliff. While the machine required no special coordination, it did require my thighs to do a lot more work than they were used to. That fact I noticed quickly as Mike got me slowly moving into the peak part of the test. While I moved, Mike had me pay attention to my heart rate on the monitor. I was too busy paying attention to the pain in my thighs, especially where the quads attach to my knees. They started
burning quickly. After a minute of warmup, Mike had me pick up the pace. The burning increased. After another minute, Mike had me increase the pace again. The burning was getting serious. After the second minute, Mike had me increase the pace yet again. My assessment of the burning is unprintable. My heart rate was hitting something in the neighborhood of 160. Finally, Mike asked me to go all out, as fast as I could manage. I could not manage much. It was all over – start to finish – in about 3½ minutes. My
By Rob Witham for Ashland-Hanover Local It’s tough enough when you’re facing the best competition the nation has to offer. Then, throw in a persnickety Mother Nature in Phenix City, Alabama, last week, and it made for a stormy ride for the Rockville 10U All-Stars, who were playing in their second consecutive Cal Ripken World Series. It also didn’t help when the brackets placed Rockville against the Alabama state champions, Mobile, in the first game of pool play. That loss, played over two days – Aug. 1-2 – due to rain delays, placed Rockville in an early hole. (Mobile would go on to an unbeaten record in both pool and elimination play, losing in the championship game to Raleigh, North Carolina.) In their second game on Aug. 2, Rockville faced Idaho, which came out with bats swinging and defeated Rockville 15-5. The team, however, recovered well, scoring all seven of its runs in the first two innings of a
Contributed by Melissa Johnson
Rockville’s 10-under baseball team reached the Cal Ripken World Series for the second year in a row. The team’s run ended at the hands of the Idaho state champions on Aug. 6.
7-5 triumph over New England to pick up Rockville’s first pool play victory on Aug. 3. The key to that victory may have been in how the team shook off another rain delay, deciding to use their dance
Continued from pg. 9
Rob Witham for The Local
Mike Craven (left), of Mike’s Olympic Gym in Mechanicsville, talks The Local sports editor Dave Lawrence through a VO2max test in July.
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Ashland-Hanover Local August 14, 2019
Mike adjusted it all to get the monitor just below my sternum. The monitor does come with a watch that serves as a receiver, and we made sure the wireless connection between the two worked. Next, Mike fitted me with a mask that had two ports – an intake, for the oxygen, and an outflow, for the carbon dioxide. We tested the seal (not always easy to get with the fur on my face), and then Mike hooked up the respective hoses. This is where the hard part began. Mike introduced me
more in the fourth. Going into the sixth and final inning, things seemed bleak for the Virginia and Southeast Region champions, down 9-2. But in the sixth, Rockville rallied for seven runs to tie the game at nine apiece. A squeeze bunt attempting to take the lead fell short, and Idaho was able to push across the winning run to survive 10-9. While the 2-4 record was not what the team had envisioned en route to Alabama, as Frei noted, to be among the final 12 teams playing in the 10U division of Cal Ripken Baseball, a division that hosts some 200,000 players on teams across the nation annually, is a feat for which the Rockville players can be very proud. What’s even more impressive is the success of Rockville baseball, now sending teams to World Series play in two consecutive seasons. There’s no doubt that the expectations have been raised on Pouncey Tract Road to make a trip to a World Series an annual event, and, one day, bringing a championship home.
breathing and heart rate recovered reasonably quickly, but my legs felt like warmed rubber for hours. Mike calculated my VO2max to be 27.6 (milligrams per kilogram body weight per minute, if you must know the units). My number was slightly below average for a male in my age group (56-65), which should range between 30 and 31. I shouldn’t be too disappointed. There are plenty of teenage males scoring below me, but that’s not much consolation. I asked Mike how to improve my fitness level. I’ll reveal that answer next week.
CALENDAR | News, & Listings Wednesday, Aug. 14 PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that the Hanover County Board of Supervisors has set Wednesday, August 28, 2019, at 7:00 P.M., in the Board Room of the Hanover County Government Building at Hanover Courthouse, Hanover, Virginia, as the day, date, time, and place for a public hearing to consider the following cases, at which public comments will be accepted:
Ashland Planning Commission will meet at 7 p.m. at Ashland Town Hall at 101 Thompson St. in Ashland.
REZONINGS
Thursday, Aug. 15
C-24-17(c), MARCHETTI PROPERTIES, III, L.L.C., ET AL. Request(s) to rezone from A-1, Agricultural District, and B-3, General Business District, to MX(c), Mixed Use District with conditions, on GPINs 7767-17-2423, 7767-08-0569, 7757-98-4106, 7757-96-1157, 7757-96-5577 and 7757-86-7936, consisting of approximately 323.29 acres, and located on the east line of Mountain Road (U.S. Route 33) at the Henrico County Line. The subject property is designated on the General Land Use Plan Map as Commercial and Planned Business. The proposed zoning amendment would permit a mixed use development, which includes the creation of 1,787 residential units for a gross density of 5.5 units per acre, 313,140 square feet of retail and office space, and an additional 87.48 acres designated for future commercial and light industrial development. The residential units include 970 multi-family units and 817 townhouses. (PUBLIC HEARING) Magisterial District: South Anna
Ashland Board of Zoning Appeals will meet at 6 p.m. at Ashland Town Hall at 101 Thompson St. in Ashland.
C-8-19(c), SUSAN K. OMER Request(s) to rezone from A-1, Agricultural District, to RS(c), Single Family Residential District with conditions, on GPIN 8706-90-1466, consisting of approximately 3.37 acres, and located on the east line of Triple Trail (private road) at its intersection with Academy Drive (State Route 701). The subject property is designated on the General Land Use Plan Map as Suburban General (1.5-3.0 units per acre). The proposed zoning amendment would permit the creation of one additional building lot for a family member for a gross density of one (1) dwelling unit per 1.69 acres. (PUBLIC HEARING) Magisterial District: Chickahominy C-9-19(c), HANOVER LAND, L.L.C. Request(s) to rezone from A-1, Agricultural District to AR6(c), Agricultural Residential District with conditions on GPIN 8756-41-5098, consisting of approximately 4.91 acres, and located at the terminus of an access easement on the north line of Old Church Road (State Route 606) approximately 1,200 feet east of its intersection with McClellan Road (State Route 628). The subject property is designated on the General Land Use Plan Map as Agricultural. The proposed zoning amendment would permit the creation of one (1) additional building lot for a gross density of one (1) dwelling unit per 2.46 acres. (PUBLIC HEARING) Magisterial District: Henry CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS CUP-3-95, AM. 1-18, GLEN ALLEN POST, VFW #10657 Request(s) an amendment to its Conditional Use Permit in accordance with Section 26-20.10 of the Hanover County Zoning Ordinance to amend the approved sketch plan and conditions for GPIN 7778-14-3311, consisting of approximately 7.4 acres, currently zoned A-1, Agricultural District, located on the north line of Cedar Lane (State Route 623), approximately 1,150 feet east of Karen Drive (State Route 772). The subject property is designated on the General Land Use Plan Map as Suburban General (1.5-3 dwelling units per acre). The proposed zoning amendment would allow the addition of a garage/storage structure and recreational vehicle trails. (PUBLIC HEARING) Magisterial District: South Anna ORDINANCES OF VACATION OV-6-19, GIBSON WRIGHT (NORTHLAKE, SECTION 5, BLOCK B AMENDMENT) Request(s) an Ordinance of Vacation in accordance with Section 15.2-2272, Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, in order to vacate a note stating “Variable width right-of-way dedicated to Hanover County,” on GPIN 7788-29-5157, located on the south line of North Lakeridge Parkway (State Route 782) approximately 675 feet east of its intersection with Washington Highway (U.S. Route 1), as shown on the plat titled, “Northlake, Section 5, Block B Amendment,” prepared by Jennings Stephenson P.C., recorded November 3, 2010, in Plat Book 40, Page 150 in the Office of the Clerk of the Hanover County Circuit Court. Magisterial District: Ashland SPECIAL EXCEPTION SE-6-18, MARCHETTI PROPERTIES III, L.L.C., ET AL. Request(s) a Special Exception Permit in accordance with Section 26-336 of the Hanover County Zoning Ordinance to permit light poles taller than permitted on GPINs 7767-17-2423, 7767-08-0569, 7757-98-4106, 7757-96-1157, 7757-96-5577 and 7757-86-7936, consisting of approximately 323.29 acres, zoned A-1, Agricultural District, and B-3, General Business District (rezoning to MX(c), Mixed Use District with conditions pending), and located on the east line of Mountain Road (U.S. Route 33) at the Henrico County Line. (PUBLIC HEARING) Magisterial District: South Anna Copies of the above case may be reviewed in the Planning Office, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Hanover County Planning Commission will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the Administration Building at 7516 County Complex Rd. in Hanover.
Thursday and Friday, Aug. 22-23 The Sheltering Arms Circle will host its annual fund raiser, a Masquerade $5 Jewelry and Accessories Sale, from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday on the second floor of the hospital at 8254 Atlee Rd. in Mechanicsville. Proceeds will benefit the hospital's patients and other circle projects.
Wednesday, Aug. 28 Hanover County Board of Supervisors will meet at 3 p.m. in the County Administration Building at 7516 County Complex Rd. in Hanover. .
LETTERS Continued from pg. 6
Christian, black or white, who has cause to see Jackson as anything but a loyal friend. I challenge any Hanoverian, black or white, who is racist against all dead Confederates, with no distinction between them as individual beings, to educate themselves about the lives, words and deeds of these men, whose mere names they find so threatening. Jennifer Horstmann Mechanicsville
Ashland-Hanover Local August 14, 2019 11
ASHLAND Continued from pg. 2
“Our customers are looking for value and an experience,” she said. The average family income of that prospective customer is around $75,000 annually. They also are tech savvy and use the internet to search for options.
“That data is encouraging. It gives us a clear target market for our economic development work,” Longest said. She said her organization plans local events that complement that customer base and provide positive branding for the downtown area. She cited last year’s Train Day
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as an example. The event drew about 10,000 people from across the region to the area. “Not only was that a great day but a great branding opportunity for us as a downtown,” Longest said. “We did the same thing with Light Up the Tracks this year and really leveraged that this year in a way that hadn’t been,” she said. The holiday effort included a new website that allowed businesses the opportunity to promote their events and link with other community events during the holidays. “We’re using the lights and track and this beautiful historic setting as a reason for people to come downtown. We tried to focus that as a branding opportunity,” Longest said. Also in 2019, the organization extended that broadening effort with a name change for the group. Formerly known as Ashland Main
Ashland-Hanover Local August 14, 2019
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Street Association, the organization is now the Downtown Ashland Association. “When you see anything from us, we want the headline to be ‘Come to downtown Ashland’ so Downtown Ashland is now our name and our brand,” Longest told council members. “The group also has a new website tagged downtownashland.com. It’s a great showcase for our town,” Longest said. The organization has partnered with the town in a communication campaign in an attempt to attract potential customers and promote the town’s downtown and other attractions like the recently renovated Ashland Theatre. Longest said the past year’s
efforts are focused and specifically targeted to increase downtown customers and promote Ashland’s business district, “driving sustained growth for Ashland.” “That’s what you have seen from us over the year,” Longest said. “I think it shows that we’re not only doing what we said but more and we are proud of the work we’ve done.” Longest said the organization is seeking donations to fund a project that would enhance pedestrian traffic along England Street. Planters with lighted evergreens are planned for both sides of the street. James River Nurseries has agreed to donate the plants and provide initial
care. Longest said the group is seeking $30,000 to fund the project, and donors can reserve planters in a loved one’s name or any person worthy of recognition for $1,500, but all donations will be accepted. Longest said the project will encourage pedestrian traffic and make the area more aesthetically pleasing in advance of the town’s currently under development England Street Master Plan. “We wanted to do something immediately with the opening of the Ashland Theatre and seeing a desire to make our town as pedestrian-friendly and inviting and aesthetically pleasing as possible to support our local businesses,” Longest said.
CIRCLES
Band will perform from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., with Undercover Bandwagon following from 4 to 7 p.m. “Circle the Wagons has shattered attendance records each year we’ve held the event. The amazing BBQ, family atmosphere, and impactful work Circles Ashland does really resonates with the community. We cannot wait to see what this year brings,” Chris Ray, Co-founder, Center of the Universe Brewing Company,” said. Barbeque vendors this year include Saucy's BBQ, The Salty Pig Smokehouse, Grandpa
Eddie's Alabama Ribs & BBQ, Love-N-Smoke BBQ, Jake's Place, Virginia BBQ Ashland, and The UFO Truck. Each vendor will be competing to take home one of three trophies: Best Meat, Best Side, and Peoples Choice. In addition to the Pro BBQ Competition, there will be an amateur Corn Bread Competition. The brewery will accept entries from Saturday, Aug. 17, until Wednesday, Aug. 21. The winner will be announced at 4 p.m. at the Aug. 24. festival. This event is free to attend.
Continued from pg. 1
the day. Coolers and outside food/beverage are not permitted. In addition to a lineup of excellent BBQ vendors, there will be 50/50 raffles and an expanded Kid Zone, including a 40 ft inflatable obstacle course. As an added bonus, Center of the Universe is brewing up a batch of Watermelon Crystal COTU, an ultra-light, fruity hard seltzer water perfect to beat the heat. Commonwealth Bluegrass
WINNERS COMING SOON Aug. 21st the
Locals h ice
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About Circles Ashland Circles Ashland is a local nonprofit that offers relationship-based, community-driven initiatives that inspire, inform, and equip individuals, families, and community to resolve poverty and thrive. The organization connects community “allies” with motivated people in the community who are experiencing poverty for a twoyear, in-depth, and intentional relationship that provides the person in poverty with support, education, networks, and resources. For more information, go to https://circlesashland-va.org/.