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ASHLAND Virginia State Parks remaining open for day-use activities PAGE
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Virus has significant impact on local budget, schools PAGE
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Vol. 5 No. 31 | Richmond Suburban News | April 15, 2020
Board postpones Wegmans’ hearing HCPS offers May 6 meeting set to hear amendments By Jim Ridolphi for Ashland-Hanover Local
A
midst growing concerns regarding the COVID 19 pandemic, Board of Supervisors chairman Bucky Stanley opened last week’s meeting with a motion to postpone a previously scheduled public hearing regarding the Wegmans project. Originally delayed from its March 25 meeting, Stanley said the public hearing on proffer amendments associated with the application should not be conducted on April 22, the revised date set by the board at its last meeting. That decision was met with a
public outcry with some suggesting county officials were presenting citizens with a dyer choice — either not voicing their opinions on the controversial project or risking their lives by showing up for the scheduled hearing. Stanley noted current projections predict the virus’ level in Virginia to be at peak levels close to that date, and suggested the board move the hearing to May 6, a delay of two weeks. “We’re in some difficult times right now and we are trying to do the very best we can,” Stanley said. “Based on the information from the University of Washington forecasting that the peak of this virus may be the week of April 22, I believe that deferring the public hearing from April 22 to Wednesday, May 6
WiFi locations Staff Report news@mechlocal.com
File Photo
Supervisor Sue Dibble was credited with bringing all of the Cedar Creek involved parties together to reach a compromise.
is the most prudent course of action,” he added. Ashland supervisor Faye Prichard, author of a failed motion at the board’s last meeting requesting the meeting be moved to May 26, voiced her appreciation for the thought prompting
the rescheduling but said she could not support the motion. “I certainly appreciate the recognition that April 22 is not going to be an amenable week. Hitting the peak of the curve on April 22 does not mean that we will be sigsee WEGMANS, pg. 15
Hanover Habitat for Humanity announces closures Staff Report news@mechlocal.com MECHANICSVILLE – Linda Tiller, executive director of Hanover Habitat for Humanity, has provided an update about the measures being taken to protect staff, volunteers and the people they serve during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. “We continue to follow guidelines issued by our local, state and federal authorities as well as directives from Habitat for
Humanity International,” she said. According to Tiller, the following steps are being followed by the local organization: Administrative office: Hanover Habitat for Humanity administrative offices will be closed to the public until further notice, and they are working with limited remote staff. For now, use the general email address, info@ hanoverhfh.org, and someone will be back in touch as soon as
possible. Volunteers: All volunteer opportunities will continue to be closed until further notice. Habitat ReStore: The ReStorewill be closed to the public until further notice. Program applications: They will not be taking any applications for its repair program until further notice. The homeowner application process remains closed. The ReStore has been forced
to close, resulting in the loss of significant income. Construction of six homes has stopped, causing costly delays. The community’s support is appreciated more than ever. If you are able to make a donation in support of Habitat’s mission and its families, go to www. hanoverhfh.org/champion and contribute whatever you feel led, and help them get through this time. For more information, contact info@hanoverhfh.org.
ASHLAND – Hanover County Public Schools has announced that there are 15 locations offering free internet/Wi-Fi access during the extended closure to help better serve students and families with limited or no access to high-speed internet. Chris R. Whitley, public information officer, said, “Although a stay-at-home order is in place, state and federal officials have indicated that travel to and from educational institutions is permitted to allow students and their families to access instructional materials and resources, such as internet/WiFi.” “Our team recently Metro Creative Connection completed work to increase the signal strength of the WiFi at our four high schools that will provide moderate WiFi access in designated areas outside of these locations.” Whitley also said that 11 other schools have been identified across the division where moderate WiFi access is possible. The signal strength varies by building and depends upon many factors. He also said to note the following important details:
General Information A list of approved locations is attached and can be viewed on our Learn-from-Home Google Drive folder. These are the locations with the strongest signal based upon our test results. Hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. No one will be permitted on school property outside of this time period. All guests are expected to adhere to all officialsosee WIFI, pg. 5
Ashland voters may cast absentee ballot on May 5 Risk is too high for COVID-19 exposure in General Election By Melody Kinser Managing Editor ASHLAND – The Town of Ashland has been granted permission to allow any registered voter to vote by absentee ballot in the May 5 Election. Three Ashland Town Council seats are open, with six candidates on the ballot.
Assistant Town Manager Matt Reynal said the decision came down from the Virginia Department of Elections, and is being administered by Hanover County General Registrar/ Director of Elections Teresa F. “Teri” Smithson. “The DoE (Department of Elections) is allowing any registered voter to vote by absentee ballot in this election to minimize the risk of exposure [to the coronavirus, known as COVIDsee VOTERS, pg. 11
PLUMBING, HEATING & COOLING
Ashland Strawberry Faire canceled Scholarships will be granted thanks to board members, Ashland Physical Therapy and Village Bank Contributed Report news@mechlocal.com ASHLAND – The Ashland Strawberry Faire responds to the pressing community health concerns related to the COVID-19 crisis. After months of behind-the-scenes planning, the board made the difficult decision to cancel the June 6 Faire. “Based on local information regarding C-19 and its possible impact on our ability to hold the Faire, we decided to cancel it. It was a hard decision,” President Sharon Chidsey said. The Faire is providing options to the vendors already committed to this year’s Faire, including rollover of fees, receiving a refund minus a nominal administrative fee, or a donation of all/part of the fee to be earmarked for the Hanover County Public Schools and Randolph-Macon College scholarship program. The financial impact of canceling the Faire will produce a shortfall of funds for this year. This situation has made it difficult to grant scholarships and keep
seed money in the bank to start next year’s Faire. The board’s solution: all board members will personally contribute to the scholarship fund to fill in the gaps. Seed money for next year’s Faire will stay intact, allowing for a healthy start to next year’s Faire. “We felt it was important to honor our commitment to the students who have been told that they were being awarded a scholarship,” said one board member. She shared that one of her daughters had been a recipient of a local scholarship. She wanted to ensure that the same opportunity was available this year by announcing that she would personally donate to the scholarship fund in order to reach the $6,000 target. The rest of the board members agreed to do the same, thus securing the scholarship fund for this year. As a result, nine seniors from Hanover County Public Schools and one student from Randolph-Macon College will receive scholarships. To top off the good karma, Ashland
Physical Therapy and Village Bank offered to roll 2019 sponsorship dollars directly to the scholarship fund. In this instance, “It takes a village” to offer scholarships in light of a canceled Faire, and the board truly appreciates the extra financial support from Ashland Physical Therapy and Village Bank. With all of the challenges our world is faced with, that’s a “berry” good thing. The Faire committee will miss our friends this year. Thank you to all the amazing volunteers, creative vendors, wonderful community sponsors, and hardworking non-profit workers that make it magically happen. The next Ashland Strawberry Faire is scheduled for June 12, 2021, on the campus of Randolph-Macon College. The Faire will continue to be made possible through a partnership with the Kiwanis Club of Ashland. For more information, visit www. AshlandStrawberryFaire.com. Both the Ashland Strawberry Faire and the Ashland Kiwanis Club are 501(c)(3) organizations.
Montpelier Branch Library announces plan for library use By Melody Kinser Managing Editor HANOVER -- Renee Sottong, the branch manager at the Montpelier Branch Library of the Pamunkey Regional Library, devised a plan for “using” the libraries in the system during the COVID-19 pandemic. Librarian Carolyn Garner said the public libraries have adapted quickly in finding new ways to serve their communities. She said these new services allow patrons to take part while they adhere to Gov. Ralph Northam’s stay-at-home order. “With coronavirus-related
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Ashland-Hanover Local April 15, 2020
disruption quickly becoming the new normal, librarians and staff members at the Pamunkey Regional Library have embraced innovation and discovered new ways to reach the community,” Garner said. “Our buildings may be closed to the public,” said Tom Shepley, library director, “but the library is still open for the public.” With six branches serving Hanover County, the Pamunkey Regional Library is responding to changes in the way people live, work, and learn. “Our staff members connect daily with patrons who
rely on us for a variety of reasons. We’ve been able to apply that experience to adapt rapidly to changing conditions,” said Shepley. In addition to curbside pickup, and expanded access to digital materials, Pamunkey Regional Library has added mobile hotspots to its lending library, enabling homebound students and remote employees to work from home. Library patrons also can be found working in their cars outside local branches. “Many of our patrons rely on the library for its high-speed Internet. When the buildings are closed, everyone can still
access our public Wi-Fi networks outside,” said Kate Eminhizer, branch manager of the Mechanicsville Branch Library. Eminhizer added that the library now offers on-demand printing. “Patrons can email their documents to ask@pamunsee MONTPELIER pg. 4
SHERIFF’S REPORTS | Crime, Accidents, Fire & Rescue
reported in the 6000 block of Michael Heather Court, Mechanicsville.
Mechanicsville.
Feb. 21 Petit larceny from auto was reported in the 13400 block of Mountain Road, Glen Allen. Credit card fraud, $200 in six months, was reported in the 9300 block of Atlee Road, Mechanicsville. Embezzlement, $200, was reported in the 200 block of Berkley Street, Ashland. Concealment, price altering merchandise, $500, was reported in the 7200 block of Bell Creek Road, Mechanicsville. Driver did not report an accident with damages, $250, in the 9700 block of Sliding Hill Road, Mechanicsville. Possession of marijuana, first offense, was reported in the 9200 block of Smallwood Court,
Profane and threatening language over a public airway was reported in the 7000 block of Marie Lane, Mechanicsville. DWI: first offense was reported on Mechanicsville Turnpike/Old Hickory Drive, Mechanicsville. Possession of Schedule I and II controlled substance was reported in the 5300 block of Mechanicsville Turnpike/Arnold Road, Mechanicsville. Larceny of bank notes and checks was reported in the 7000 block of Mechanicsville Turnpike, Mechanicsville. Failure to appear on felony charge was reported in the 7500 block of County Complex Road, Hanover. Simple assault was
Identity fraud use of identifying information to defraud was reported in the 19000 block of Double Cedar Road, Montpelier.
Feb. 22
Possession of Schedule I and II controlled substance was reported in the 17100 block of Dunns Chapel Road, Montpelier. Petit larceny, $500 not from a person, was reported in the 11000 block of Washington Highway, Ashland. DWI, second offense in 10 years, was reported in the 14200 block of Mountain Road/Ashland Road, Glen Allen. DWI, third offense in 10 years, was reported
in the 5500 block of Mechanicsville Turnpike/ Walnut Grove Road, Mechanicsville.
Possession of marijuana, first offense, was reported in the 86 block of Sliding Hill Road, Ashland.
Possession of marijuana, subsequent offense, was reported in the 86 block of Sliding Hill Road, Ashland.
Feb. 23
Possession of marijuana, first offense, was reported in the 86 block of Sliding Hill Road, Ashland.
Possession of marijuana, first offense, was reported in the 86 block of Sliding Hill Road, Ashland.
Simple assault was reported in the 16000 block of Coatesville Road, Ashland.
Driver did not report an accident with damages, $1,000, in the 11400 block of Howards Mill Road/ Abner Church Road, Glen Allen.
Grants to provide meals for older adults announced Contributed Report news@mechlocal.com
WASHINGTON -- The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is Profane and threatening announcing $250 million in language was reported over grants from the Administration a public airway in the 9000 for Community Living (ACL) block of Barbette Court, to help communities proMechanicsville. vide meals for older adults. Virginia received a grant for Driver did not report an $5,817,310. accident with damages, The Families First $250, in the 7200 block Coronavirus Response Act, of Autumn Ridge Lane, signed into law by President Mechanicsville. Donald Trump on March 18, Feb. 24 provided the additional funding for the nutrition services Simple assault was programs authorized by the reported in the 6000 block Older Americans Act (OAA) of Michael Heather Court, of 1965. Mechanicsville. These programs provide Petit larceny from auto was meals to more than 2.4 milreported in the 7400 block lion older adults each year, of Brandy Creek Drive, Mechanicsville.
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Ashland-Hanover Local April 15, 2020 3
When to call 9-1-1 during the COVID-19 outbreak
PCES employees show the love
Regional authorities urge use of 9-1-1 only in cases of life-threatening emergencies Contributed Report news@mechlocal.com CHESTERFIELD – The Central Virginia All Hazards Incident Management Team —Regional authorities are reminding citizens to call 9-1-1 only in the event of a life-threatening emergency. Because of the outbreak of COVID-19, emergency resources may become stretched thin, so citizens can help by calling 9-1-1 only for medical emergencies. Citizens who believe they have contracted COVID19 should call 9-1-1 only if they are experiencing either severe difficulty breathing or severe illness. Citizens also should continue to call 9-1-1 for nonCOVID-19 medical emergencies. For information about COVID-19, including testing, citizens are asked to call
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the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) at 877-ASKVDH3 (877-275-8343) and not 911. More information also is available at the VDH webpage, Testing for COVID-19. Callers may be asked additional questions to identify potential COVID-19 cases. These questions are to ensure that first responders arrive with appropriate personal protection equipment, not to diagnose COVID-19. Additional resources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): What to Do if You are Sick. CDC website VDH website COVID-19 Central Virginia Public Information webpage Chesterfield County | www.chesterfield.gov/coronavirus City of Richmond | www. richmondgov.com/covid19/ Goochland County | www.goochlandva.us Hanover County | www. hanovercounty.gov/1024/ COVID-19-Coronavirus Henrico County | www. henrico.us/coronavirus Powhatan County | www. powhatanva.gov/1687/ COVID---19-Information
Ashland-Hanover Local April 15, 2020
Sample of additional questions implemented by the Richmond Department of Emergency Communications For EMS-related calls for service (CFS): Does the patient have a fever and/or cough? Has anyone in the residence or establishment been in contact with someone with confirmed COVID-19 (the coronavirus) or traveled in the last 21 days? Has anyone in the residence or establishment tested positive for COVID-19 or have pending results for COVID-19 in the past two weeks? For Richmond Fire Department, Police Department and Animal Care and Control-related CFS: Is anyone on the premises complaining of a cough or short of breath with a fever? Has anyone in the residence or establishment been in contact with someone with confirmed COVID-19 (the coronavirus) or traveled in the last 21 days? Has anyone in the residence or establishment tested positive for COVID-19 or have pending results for COVID-19 in the past two weeks?
Photo submitted by Chris R. Whitley
Pearson’s Corner Elementary School administrators and staff wanted to let their students and families know that they “Love Their Panthers!” The message was posted on the school fence as a reminder of the relationships they share at PCES. Hanover County Public Schools will be closed through the remainder of the 2019-2020 year due to the coronavirus (COVID-19).
MONTPELIER Continued from pg. 2
keylibrary.org, then pick the printed materials up at their local branch.” This is an essential service for those who are suddenly working or studying at home and don’t have access to a printer. New services and expanded access to materials are only a part of the initiative. Shepley said that maintaining the personal connection between the library and its patrons is the foundation of everything the library does. Staff members use daily comfort calls to check on patrons’ well-being and remind them that the library continues to serve. Handmade signs bearing messages of hope and encouragement decorate library windows. At some branches, teddy bears peek out in honor of the
popular picture book, “We're Going on a Bear Hunt.” Bear-spotting has become a popular scavenger hunt activity for families weary of life inside. Cheer Packs are a popular new program that appeals to home-bound patrons of all ages. “It brings a happy little surprise to their day, and maybe exposes patrons to something they might not have discovered. One mom called and told us that her kids are now wild for ‘Origami Yoda’, which they’d never heard of before. That’s a real silver lining,” said Eminhizer. Community response to the changes has been positive. On Facebook, one patron posted a photo of items received in a Cheer Pack and wrote, “I was so worried we wouldn’t be able to take advantage of this . . . Thank you for being so kind and walking me through the process to register [for a library card] online . . . thank you for
this wonderful service during these scary times!” As the library continues to evolve, Shepley said that the health and safety of it patrons and staff remains the highest priority. “I’m proud of the way our staff has come together during this unprecedented crisis. As a library family, we’ve committed to serving our communities for as long, and in as many creative ways, as we possibly can.” No one knows what the coming days will bring. For now, at least, the Pamunkey Regional Library continues to serve. All branches of the Pamunkey Regional Library remain closed to the public until further notice. Operating hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. For more information, visit www.pamunkeylibrary.org.
WI-FI Continued from pg. 1
cial distancing guidance issued by Governor Ralph Northam, the Virginia Department of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control (e.g., maintain at least six feet between yourself and others, do not assemble in groups, etc.). You are encouraged to remain in your vehicle.
Access to and use of school property Access is available to HCPS students, families, and staff for educational purposes only, not leisure or entertainment. These locations are not open to the general public. Use is limited to the exterior of each location in the designated areas. The interior of the building is not available or permitted. Per the Hanover Fire Marshal’s Office, accessing the Wi-Fi while in a fire lane is permissible. A licensed driver must remain in the driver’s seat. Network and Other Requirements All HCPS policies apply, including the Acceptable Use Policy. Students may gain access through the HCPS Guest network, which is the same network students’ access inside our schools. For security reasons, the SSID and access codes for the network are not published. If your student requires this information, enter a request through our HCPS Student Support Portal. Prior to arriving onsite, certificates will need to be loaded to your device. Follow the directions
at http://hcps.us/certificates. Teachers wishing to access the Wi-Fi network will connect using the same HCPS network configuration they use within the buildings. In addition to the expanded Internet/WiFi service we are offering, please note the following third-party information that may be of further assistance to you:
HCPS WiFi Access Locations Parking Lot Access: High Schools
Range from building is approximately 300'
Corridor
Location
Signal/Strength
Comments / Notes:
Central
Atlee High School
1-Very Strong
Parking lot outside the 300s hall
Central
Hanover High School
1-Very Strong
Parking lot in front of the 300s hall
East
Lee David High School
1-Very Strong
Side parking lot near the gym
Comcast
West
Patrick Henry High School
1-Very Strong
Side parking lot near the gym
Comcast is now offering 60 days of free service to families with limited income. To sign up, call 855-846-8376 (English) or 855-765-6995 (Spanish). In addition, Xfinity WiFi hotspots across the country will now be free to anyone who needs them – including non-Xfinity subscribers. For a map of Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspots, visit www.xfinity.com/wifi. Once at a hotspot, just select the “xfinitywifi” network name in the list of available hotspots, and then launch any browser.
Parking Lot Access: other schools
Range from buildings vary by location
Corridor
Location
Signal/Strength
Central
Pearson's Corner
1-Very Strong
Strong signal from benches by library, signal in fire lane
East
Mechanicsville
2-Strong
Strong signal in front and near bus loop on sidewalks, strong signal in office parking lot and bus loop
East
Pole Green
2-Strong
Strong signal in bus loop and on sidewalk in front of office near benches
West
Beaverdam
3-Moderate
Strong signal in fire lane and sidewalk in front of school. Medium to weak signal in the parking lot on right side of building. No signal on left side of building
West
South Anna
3-Moderate
Strong signal in fire lane in front of building near gym and front doors. Medium signal on left side near gym. Weak signal in fire lane to right of front doors, no signal on right side of building parking lot/sidewalks
Verizon Verizon is automatically adding 15 GB of data across nearly all plans, to be used between March 25 and April 30. Visit https:// www.verizonwireless.com/support/covid-19-faqs/#hotspot. “We hope you will find this information helpful as we work to provide access to virtual learning to as many students and families as possible during this challenging time. Should a student need assistance with accessing the Wi-Fi at one of our 15 locations or a password reset, please visit our HCPS Student Support Portal,” Whitley added.
On Campus Wi-Fi Access: other schools Corridor Location Central
Chickahominy
Range from buildings vary by location
Signal/Strength 2-Strong
Comments / Notes: No parking lot access, signal near the benches by the front doors.
Central
Oak Knoll
2-Strong
Signal near benches by front entrance/office
East
Laurel Meadow
1-Very Strong
Front parking lot weak signal, strong signal in bus loop and sidewalk
East
Stonewall
1-Very Strong
Strong signal on sidewalk outside front of building, strong signal on sidewalks located on the side of building closest to Lee Davis
West
Elmont
1-Very Strong
Strong signal near benches outside the main office. Sidewalks outside of classrooms througout school have a good signal
West
Liberty
3-Moderate
Moderate signal in fire lane and benches near door A5 and A3. Modederate signal in court yard next to science building
OBITUARY SUBMISSIONS Call 804-643-4414, ext. 3 Email: paidnotices @timesdispatch.com Deadline is noon Friday for the following week’s issue.
Comments / Notes:
Ashland-Hanover Local April 15, 2020 5
OPINION
LETTERS
| The Local Views
| Reader Views
For EMTs, virus is an ever-present threat By Dave Lawrence Richmond Suburban News
T
homas Paine once wrote, “These are the times that try men’s souls.” For the nation’s front lines in this time of the coronavirus pandemic, it most certainly is. For the past few weeks, I have heard a lot about doctors and nurses and emergency rooms. And they deserve all the mention they get – except for accusations that they’re stealing badlyneeded equipment. They are the tip of the spear in the so-called “war” against the pandemic. But they aren’t the only component in the flint from which the point is made. The group we have heard less about in official statements and the news media are the nation’s fire and EMS responders – even law enforcement officers trained as emergency responders. This group makes up the tip of the tip of the spear. It is a group that means a lot to me, for I am part of it as an emergency medical technician and president of a volunteer rescue squad. My squad, Mattaponi Volunteer Rescue Squad, serves King and Queen County, which reported its first COVID-19 case on March 24. These days, we rely on our dispatchers to screen calls for potential coronavirus cases. There is a protocol, but it is not infallible. Any patient we see may be infected with the virus, yet show no symptoms. If we contract it, we or our families may not be so lucky. For example, I have asthma and diabetes – pre-existing conditions that place me at greater risk of severe complications from the coronavi-
rus. Other members of the squad, or their families, likewise have conditions that place them or someone they love at greater risk of severe complications, too. In that, we are just like most of the rest of the community. We have people in our lives that we must protect. To the extent we can, we do so by using personal protective equipment — the precious PPE that many of you have been hearing so much about lately. Instead of Kevlar, the body armor we don to face a potential COVID-19 patient includes nitrile or latex gloves, a surgical gown, an N95 respirator or surgical mask, and some kind of eye protection — surgical goggles or a face shield. Furthermore, the protocol is to put a surgical mask on the patient, too. That limits, but does not prevent, the spread of virus particles into the air around us, especially in the limited space of the box — the back of the ambulance where EMTs or paramedics care for and transport the patient. After each patient contact, all the PPE must be removed carefully so as not to accidentally infect ourselves. The PPE must then be disposed of properly. A fresh set of PPE should be used for each patient encounter. Given the pandemic and the surge of patients at many hospitals in coronavirus hot spots, that explains how you can go from, say, using a routine 10,000 surgical masks to 30,000 or 40,000 in a day. After we first responders drop a patient day off at the hospital and carefully remove and dispose of our PPE, we must clean and disinfect
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Ashland-Hanover Local April 15, 2020
ourselves, our ambulance — and, when back at the station, even our uniforms — thoroughly. We don’t want to leave possibly lethal gifts for our future patients, fellow squad members, or our families. When the tones drop, we first responders put ourselves at risk. We deal with clueless drivers or deer en route. On scene, we go into environments where patients or bystanders might be belligerent, where the air is foul with the aroma of animal and human excrement, where just a proffered “bed bug alert” sets your skin crawling, or where a patient might be bleeding out of an orifice we don’t care to put direct pressure on. And now, we face an invisible yet deadly threat, too. But we roll out anyway. It’s our job, our way of serving the community. One night a couple of weeks ago, I was on duty until midnight. When I left, I kept my radio on just in case. It had been a slow night — no calls — but, sure enough, while I was still close to the station on my route home through nearby King William County, I heard the tones. Breathing difficulty. The call was for a full-time crew, but no one responded right away. I pulled over, sending text messages to alert the person I had just been on duty with. I was ready to go if the full-time crew didn’t respond. It took a few minutes, but the full-time crew did get on the radio to say it was en route. I resumed my drive to Mechanicsville. Dave Lawrence can be reached at dlawrence@ mechlocal.com.
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: 344-8746 E-mail: editor@mechlocal.com © 2020 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.
Rezoning vote is not an emergency, budget is critical As of now, given the Hanover County Board of Supervisors’ unfortunate vote on April Fools’ Day, the public hearing for the Wegmans rezoning will be held April 22. A motion to move the hearing to May 27 failed on a 4-3 vote, setting up a situation that seems heedless of Gov. Northam’s executive orders regarding social distancing. Attorney General Herring on March 20 rendered an opinion regarding how and under which circumstances public bodies may govern and use electronic means to conduct business in unusual times. Emergency business is the controlling factor. The Wegmans’ public hearing is neither an emergency nor even a priority at this point. Hanover County’s FY21 budget in the face of the pandemic crisis is far more important, given the likelihood that county employees and programs will receive grim news. The Wegmans’ case needs to be put on the back burner, with not a penny of incentive dollars disbursed in this fiscal year or the next. Pattie Bland Beaverdam District
Board needs to move slow and steady I read the article in the Richmond Times-Dispatch pertaining to the Hanover County Board of Supervisors moving forward in voting the approval of the Wegmans’ distribution center. Now let me say that there are few citizens more pro-business than me. Knowing the need for local businesses to provide jobs and generate tax revenue to offset the cost of goods and services provided by the county is critical. see LETTERS pg. 10
Virginia State Parks remaining open for day-use activities Contributed Report news@mechlocal.com RICHMOND – Virginia’s State Parks are open for dayuse activities, while officials with the department continue to monitor the situation with COVID-19. People may visit a local state park to engage in outdoor activity. Strict social distancing requirements must be followed. As outlined in Executive Order Fifty-Five (PDF), all public beaches (i.e., sandy beach located on a tidal shoreline) as defined in § 10.1-705 of the Code of Virginia are closed except for exercising and fishing. The Virginia State Park beaches impacted by this order include the following parks: Belle Isle, Caledon, Chippokes Plantation, False Cape, First Landing, Kiptopeke, Leesylvania, Mason Neck, Westmoreland, Widewater and York River. In addition, the following parks’ inland beaches are closed: Bear Creek Lake, Claytor Lake, Douthat, Fairy
Stone, Holliday Lake, Hungry Mother, Lake Anna, Smith Mountain Lake and Twin Lakes state parks. This decision was made for the safety of park staff and visitors due to the difficulty in maintaining strict social distancing at these locations. Overnight facilities and restrooms are closed through June 10. The closure includes all cabins, campgrounds, camping cabins and yurts, as well as restrooms and bathhouses. Also, in adherence with federal guidance and the Governor’s executive order, all visitor centers and other indoor facilities are closed to the public. Park staff is available by phone if assistance is needed. Groups or gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited and these restrictions will be enforced by park staff. If you are sick, have been around someone who is sick and/or experiencing symptoms consistent with the COVID19 infection, you are asked to refrain from visiting.
It is very important that guests follow social distancing guidelines during all visits by keeping a distance of 6 feet or more between themselves and other guests. Guidelines for day-use visits: Stay close to home and keep visits short. Guests should bring their own soap and hand sanitizer to use during day-use visits. Groups and gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited and these restrictions will be enforced by park staff. Guests should keep a distance of at least 6 feet from others at all times. While on trails, alert others of your presence and step aside to let others pass at a safe distance. Parking fees remain in place. If entrance contact stations are not staffed, which is typical at this point in the season, self-pay is available, and we recommend you bring cash or check for the daily parking fees (PDF).
Rentals, programs, events
All in-person programs and events are canceled, as well as any event of 10 or more people that is scheduled through June 10. Virginia State Park staff will not provide shuttle service for recreation activities. If you intend to participate in activities that have different starting and ending locations, you will want to prepare to have transportation available at your start and end points. Boat rentals are suspended through June 10 at all parks that offer this service. Visitors are welcome to bring their own personal watercraft.
Camping, cabins and other accommodations All overnight facilities are currently closed through June 10. Anyone wishing to cancel their reservation through that date will receive a full refund. Reservations from May 1 to June 10 will be kept in the park system for now. If cancellation will be required, you will receive notice at least two weeks prior to the start of your stay.
Playgrounds, shelters and outdoor venues Effective through June 10, all playgrounds are closed. Additionally, picnic shelter, amphitheater and other outdoor facility rentals will be canceled and facilities closed.
Reservations If you have concerns or questions about future reservations, call the Customer Service Center at 800-933-7275 between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Any private event occurring between now and June 10, and estimating more than 10 people in attendance, must be canceled per the Governor’s guidance. A full refund will be provided.
What You Can Do Keep in mind that you are recreating in a public facility. While the park system is making increased efforts toward sanitation, each surface is only as clean as the last person who touched it. Therefore, you should take steps to protect
your health by following these guidelines provided by the Virginia Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control: Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds at a time. Avoid touching your face. If you’re sick with any ailment, stay home. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When in public, maintain a social distance of at least six feet. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw it away. If you don’t have a tissue, use your elbow. Clean surfaces you touch regularly.
Resources Looking for more information about the coronavirus? Here are a few resources to help: Gov. Northam's updates Centers for Disease Control Va. Department of Health
Hanover County spring events canceled or postponed Master Gardeners available as a resource (Editor’s note: The following was submitted by Laura MaxeyNay, ANR extension agent.) HANOVER -- Hanover Master Gardeners serve as a resource for horticultural education for the community. During these times of “social/physical distancing,” we are not able to support our usual roving help desk at community events and other public places. However, we are still available by voicemail (804-752-4310), and email (hanover.master.gardener@gmail. com) to answer your questions. In addition, our websites (hanovermastergardeners.org and ext.vt.edu) offer tips for those who might be interested in a home garden. With so many people out of work or on reduced pay we are encouraging all who have their own gardens to plant a little extra that can be donated to an area food bank (see list at our website). In addition, we have grant money available for organizations that might be willing to set up community garden areas for the public. See our website (hanovermastergardeners.org) for information.
The following Hanover County related events have been canceled or postponed due to the coronavirus health issue: The K9 Heroes event at Pole Green Park has been postponed from April 18 to Oct. 3. The household hazardous waste special recycling event at Verdi Lane that had been scheduled for April 18 is postponed. (There is expected to be another
opportunity in the fall.) The e-waste collection event at Verdi Lane on April 25 is postponed. (Plans are to provide another opportunity in the fall.) The prescription drug take-back event on April 25 is postponed. (Plans are to provide another opportunity in the fall.) The “Spirit of Volunteerism” event
that had been set for May 5 has been postponed until the fall. The “Business Appreciation Day” held by the Department of Economic Development has been postponed from May 7 until the fall. The “Finding Value in Your Prime” active aging event has been canceled. Information submitted by Tom Harris, Hanover County public information officer.
Sheehy Auto Stores offer discounts to health care workers FAIRFAX – Sheehy Auto Stores, with 29 dealerships, including Ashland, has announced a special program in support of all active health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional dealerships are located throughout Washington, D.C.; Baltimore, Annapolis, and Hagerstown, Maryland; and Richmond.
Each dealership will offer 50 percent off all vehicle and maintenance services (up to a maximum of $500 discount), for any make or model vehicle, throughout the month of April to active health care workers who show a valid medical ID. “We are committed to support our communities and show our appreciation
to those who are risking their lives every day to save lives and battle this virus,” said Vince Sheehy, president of Sheehy Auto Stores. “It is essential that these workers have reliable private transportation to get them to hospitals and medical facilities around our region.” Visit www.sheehy.com for details.
Ashland-Hanover Local April 15, 2020 7
WE NEED YOUR HELP With the pandemic-related cancellations and delays, we could use your story ideas.
Contact Dave Lawrence at dlawrence@mechlocal.com with your suggestions.
For more information go to www.mechlocal.com
| Youth, High School, College, Recreational & Professional
Remembering Yellow Jackets’ No. 1 fan Tommy Inge dies after brief illness By Dave Lawrence Sports Editor “The Bee mobile has gone home.” Randolph-Macon’s No. 1 fan, Thomas M. “Tommy” Inge of Ashland, took in his last game and passed away on March 26. He died of complications from COVID-19, according to his daughter, Robin Coleman of Chesterfield. Inge was a fixture on the Randolph-Macon Campus for decades. “He had told me it was either 1960 or 1961 that he came to his first Randolph-Macon basketball game and he got hooked and was accepted into the Yellow Jacket family,” said Randolph-Macon sports information director Phil Stanton. Inge, who grew up in a series of foster homes, connected with the Randolph-Macon community while working in Ashland. “Our family shopped, bought groceries at Cross Brothers grocery store,” said Eddie Webb, son of former Randolph-Macon head basketball coach Paul Webb and a player himself on the basket-
8
Courtesy of Randolph-Macon College
Randolph-Macon’s No. 1 fan, Tommy Inge (center) poses with the 2018-19 Yellow Jacket men’s basketball team.
ball team in the 1970s. “Tommy worked in there and that’s where I first met him.” Inge’s relationship with Randolph-Macon began through the store itself. “The owner, Mr. Cross, first introduced him to sports because he took him to a cou-
Ashland-Hanover Local April 15, 2020
ple of basketball games over at Randolph-Macon,” said Jimmy Price, another RandolphMacon basketball player from the 1970s. “He got bit by the bug.” With a little help from friends when he couldn’t afford tickets, Inge attended game
after game after game – and not just men’s basketball games. He began to attend other sports, too, and became some of the women’s sports biggest fans. He didn’t start out a big women’s sports fan. Recently retired women’s head basketball coach Carroll LaHaye said there
was a stretch early on where she does not remember seeing much of him. But that changed, and when it did, it was a big one. “All of a sudden he was back on campus, all feet in, all body in with all the sports,” LaHaye said. “He was just a super supporter of athletics. He just loved
his athletic teams, his Yellow Jackets.” In many ways, RandolphMacon became Inge’s home. “I think he found RandolphMacon to be kind of a place of refuge, and a place where his talents for connecting with people were welcome. Therefore, he just kind of threw himself into it,” said Rob Witham, WHAN broadcaster and freelance sports reporter for the Local. “When you have a life that you don’t feel accepted in many areas, when you find [acceptance], we as humans tend to latch onto that. “Credit to Randolph-Macon College for: a) allowing it to happen; and b) being so receptive to him. All that did was to fuel his passion for them and it ended up being a win-win relationship in the end.” Witham has covered Randolph-Macon as a broadcaster and print reporter since 2012 and has had ample time to observe how the Yellow Jacket community accepted Inge as one of their own. “You can tell if someone is appreciated when … they’re around and people want to be around them,” Witham said. “There are some people who would have been in Tommy’s position and people would have been cordial to him, but maybe kept an arm’s length distance – and that was never the case, see FAN, pg. 9
FAN Continued from pg. 8
especially with the student-athletes that I saw him talking to and supporting. He wasn’t there simply because he wanted to be there. He was softball’s No. 1 fan. He was field hockey’s No. 1 fan, soccer’s No. 1 – he had no delineation in terms of this sport’s more important than another.” Inge in many ways lived on campus. Once he retired, he spent a great deal of his day on campus, enjoying the campus when the weather was good, hanging out in the Commons and frequently dining with the students – taking time to make personal connections with them. “Tommy and I kind of got close really quickly. I would always see him in the gym and go up to talk to him,” said Randolph-Macon women’s basketball player Becca Arrington. “But even in Estes [Dining Hall] I would see him sitting and I’d wave him over or he’d wave me over and we would have lunch or dinner together and we would catch up. At softball games he would ride his little buggy over and we’d talk to him. He was always, like, a huge supporter of the sports teams. He was a good friend to a lot of people, too.” Randolph-Macon softball player Shelby Hill said they always expected to see him at home games. “We would always expect to see his face. He was so supportive, right up there on the fence cheering everyone on,” Hill said. “A lot of people felt as if he were our own grandfather almost – not by blood, but by being in the Randolph-Macon community.” Hill’s favorite memory of Inge was on one Valentine’s Day. “He came out to one of our practices in the springtime – I think it was on Valentine’s Day, if I remember right – and he
Courtesy of Randolph-Macon College
Above, Randolph-Macon’s Kelly Williams (left) gives Tommy Inge a high five after a game. Far left, the Yellow Jacket softball team shows off their Valentine’s gift from Inge. Left, Inge poses with the women’s basketball team after they won the Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship in 2018.
brought us all little boxes of heart chocolates and roses. I thought that was the sweetest thing.” He did that for other teams as well. LaHaye said he would call ahead to make sure he brought enough for all the members of the women’s basketball team, for example. Inge became such a fixture that his preferred seat was known as a no-go for anyone else. In recent years, as his health worsened, he would usually sit next to the stands by the men’s locker room in Crenshaw Gymnasium. When he was younger, he and a posse of other intense Randolph-Macon fans had their special spot to sit, and it could be a dangerous place –
if you wore stripes. “Tommy and two of his friends, Byrd Turner and Randolph Carter, the three of them when we were there went to all the games – home and away,” Eddie Webb said. “They always sat right at mid-court, opposite the benches. It was not a friendly place for you, if you were a referee, to go down that side of the court.” Webb said Inge could be tough on sports reporters who didn’t cover Randolph-Macon to the extent he felt the college deserved. The Yellow Jackets had a solid NCAA Division II team at the time, but one local television station took its time to take notice. “Tommy was really ticked
off with Channel 12 because they would never come out to Ashland to film stuff – now, Channel 12 is on the Southside. They had a sports announcer by the name of Jim Granger,” Price said. “Tommy got wind that Jim was coming out one night to cover the game. It was probably one of those nights there was nothing else going on. … I can remember before the game that Tommy was at the far end of the gym putting up this huge sign, a scroll sign. When Jim Granger came he looked at the other end and saw that huge sign that said, ‘R-MC basketball’s a stranger to Channel 12’s Jim Granger.’” Inge often rode to campus in a heavily decorated scooter decked out in Yellow Jacket
logos and colors. Sometimes, before basketball games, it would be parked in a place of honor in front of Crenshaw gymnasium. No one who saw it would forget it, although nearly everyone who saw is a bit unsure about what Inge called it – the Bee-mobile, Yellow Jacket mobile, Yellow Jacket bumblebee. Whatever it was called, it was nearly as memorable in its own right as Inge was. Inge caught most of the men’s and women’s basketball games this season, but he had a number of health issues and they began to catch up with him. He was undergoing rehab at Canterbury Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Henrico when the Yellow Jacket
men’s and women’s basketball teams were about to leave for Salem for the Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship tournament. He had one question for the doctor. “Do you think I’ll be able to go back home to my apartment and go to the games?” he asked. The answer was no, but the teams made sure Inge knew they were thinking of him. “Just prior to leaving for the ODAC tournament we got a basketball,” Carroll LaHaye said. “It came from the men’s team. They said you guys need to sign this basketball because we want to present it to Tommy. Who ‘we’ were, I don’t know. The basketball was going to be from men’s basketball and women’s basketball. The men’s team signed it, the women’s team signed it, and I think Jimmy Price or Paul Jez – or both of them – took it to him.” Inge was not happy he could not go to Salem – he and Price often rode together to the ODAC tournament the past few years. But Inge’s daughter was able to help him feel a part of the action from a distance. “I set up my laptop in his room and we pulled it up on the Randolph-Macon website,” Robin Coleman said. “We were able to watch some of the games.” In addition to his daughter, Inge is survived by a son, Mark Inge of Chesterfield, and three grandchildren. Coleman said they hope to hold a celebration of his life, preferably at Randolph-Macon. But plans for that are on hold as the virus that killed him spreads through the community. When they can celebrate his life, Randolph-Macon would be the perfect place to hold it, for, as Mark Webb said, “Most people knew him as a fan. The players knew him as a friend.” Dave Lawrence can be reached at dlawrence@mechlocal.com.
Ashland-Hanover Local April 15, 2020
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| News, Updates & Listings Saturday, May 16 The Highland Springs High School Class of 1970 will hold its 50th Reunion at the Hill Building at Sandston Pool, located at 501 Beulah Rd. in Sandston. Music will be by DJ Dalton Beagle. Dinner, drinks and dessert will be provided by Champagne Taste Catering. Bring your own mixers and alcohol. Small coolers are welcome. The doors will open at 4 p.m.; cocktails at 5 p.m.; dinner at 6 p.m.; and cleanup will be at 10 p.m. Cost is $45 per person until March 1, after which the cost is $50 per person. For invitations, contact Bill Brooks at 1970HSHS@gmail.com.
Ongoing Families Anonymous Support Group meets from 7 to 8:30 p.m. every Monday at the Episcopal Church of the Creator at 7159 Mechanicsville Turnpike in Mechanicsville. The group is a self-help fellowship for the friends
LETTERS Continued from pg. 6
and family members of addicts who are in need of understanding and healing themselves. For details, call Sandy at 804-730-4812 or email sandy.leigh@ verizon.net. Overcomers Outreach and Women’s Codependency, a Christcentered anonymous support program offering hope and healing for recovering alcoholics, addicts and their families meet every Monday at 7 p.m. at the Mechanicsville Christian Center at 8061 Shady Grove Road in Mechanicsville. For more information, call 804-366-9645 or email kjfaith1@ gmail.com.
Saturdays Trinity Lutheran Church, Ashland Campus, located at 11515 Ashcake Road in Ashland two miles west of U.S. 1, holds it church service at 5 p.m. with Pastor Roy Minnix, senior paswhen and wherever possible. This is a very emotional issue that I think needs to move forward “Slow and Steady”. To show an attitude of “Damn what the public thinks, full speed ahead” will be costly for the county and possibly for your political future. The coronaviris has altered all of our lives as well as the day-to-day operations of our businesses and governments. Dan Johnson Montpelier
I also know how critical it is for our governing body to be a sounding board for our citizens. We find ourselves in an odd situation due to the coronavirus (COVID19). Social distancing has become the norm and social gathering of no more than 10 is required. Because of this, public hearings seem to be impossible. Hanover County has been a shining example of “the right to petition the government.” From the article this morning, that no longer seems to be case. I know there have been many public hearings addressing this matter, and there are those whose standard is “No Wegmans in my backyard”, but to The COVID-19 pandemic catamove forward on this matter now I do lyzed the human instinct for survival not think is wise. I don’t think it is wise to be like with the hoarding of once common goods, the large-scale retreat the captain of the Titanic “Damn the consumer from otherwise sound financial investiceberg, full speed ahead.” We have been fortunate to have a ments in the stock market, and the BOS that has shown such fiscal respon- arrival of social distancing, which sibility that we are the envy of many abruptly deteriorated our quality of life. But not everything that emerged counties and cities; a BOS that welcomes the participation of its citizens was negative. The fast-paced world in
COVID-19: a cloud with silver linings
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Ashland-Hanover Local April 15, 2020
tor, and Nycholas Greig, associate pastor. For more information, visit www.trinityrichmond.net or call 804-270-9626.
Sundays Outside the Walls, a new Narcotics Anonymous group, has been organized and will meet from 6 to 7 p.m. in the lobby of the Pamunkey Regional Jail at 7240 Courtland Farm Rd. in Hanover. For more information, contact John Shinholser, McShin president, at 804249-1845. The website is http://www. mcshin.org.
Tuesdays A Commanders Coffee is held from 10 a.m. to about 11 a.m. at the Beaverdam Post at 17662 Beaver Dam Rd. in Beaverdam. Members discuss issues of interest/befits of the American Legion. There also will be donuts. Eugene Truitt is the Post commander. which we lived not long ago slowed and redirected everyone’s attention to life’s basics. We got in touch with our vulnerability, which humbled us a bit and more of us sought God. We also gained a sense of appreciation for what we have in America with the struggle for toilet paper, giving us a glimpse of places like Venezuela. And we witnessed altruistic people willing to sacrifice themselves to help others in need; some volunteered to get groceries for homebound neighbors, others worked local food banks and so forth. Perhaps the most significant positive outcome was recovering some of the lost sense of family togetherness that had eroded with the rise in egocentricity and prosperity. School and entertainment closings coupled with adults working from home bolstered family unity. When the COVID-19 episode ends, valuable lessons should be learned: (1) Whatever happens to one of us can affect all of us, reinforcing the need to be considerate of each other; (2) We have little to no control over many important things in our lives,
ax submissions to calendar to 344-8746, email to events@mechlocal. com, or mail to 8460 Times-Dispatch Blvd., Mechanicsville VA 23116. Deadline is 1 p.m. Thursday for the following week’s issue. Calendar announcements cannot be taken by phone. We reserve the right to edit all items submitted to The Ashland-Hanover Local. He can be contacted at 804-746-4734.
sandrdunham@yahoo.com.
The Hanover Concert Band rehearses from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. every Tuesday, mid-January through mid December, at the Hanover Arts and Activities Center at 500 S. Railroad Ave. in Ashland, just south of U.S. 54. Membership is open to anyone who can read music and play a non-string instrument. High school students are welcome with parents’ permission. For more information, visit www. hanoverconcertband.org or call 804789-0536.
Third Mondays
Thursdays The Rotary Club of Ashland meets at noon for lunch at the Iron Horse Restaurant at 100 S. Railroad Ave. in in Ashland. For more information, contact Steve Dunham at 804-496-6093 or including the certainty of our death and the circumstances surrounding it, reinforcing our dependence on God and each other; (3) Disease preventives such as hand washing to prevent germs from entering the nose, eyes, and mouth and avoiding others when either we or they are ill are vitally important, not just to deter the COVID-19 pandemic but also to impede communicable diseases like influenza. Daniel Corso Mechanicsville
Creating shortage of goods selfish America is a country of diverse places -- mountains, grasslands, shorelines and deserts. Its people also are diverse. There are many images and stories of citizens supporting and giving due to the coronavirus. Unfortunately, the flipside are the hoarders and profiteers. Buying an abundance of products
The Hanover County Community Services Board meets at 6:30 p.m. at 12300 Washington Hwy. in Ashland.
Second Tuesdays Hanover Family Support Group, a support group for family members of a loved one with a mental illness, meets from 7 to 8:30 p.m. the second Tuesday evening of each month at the Ashland office of Hanover Community Services located at 12300 Washington Highway in Ashland. Attendees support one another, share experiences, challenges and resources and to advocate for their loved ones. For more information, contact Kathy Redfearn, LCSW at 804675-4230. to create a shortage just to make oneself feel sated or buying an abundance of products to resale for profit is sickly selfish. Badger Game Mechanicsville
Calculating ‘Trump deaths’ in lack of plan Epidemiologists have a term, "excess deaths." This is the number of deaths above the usual, expected death rate in a city or region. It can be used to indicate an infectious disease spreading in the population, or an environmental carcinogen, for example. We have all now seen the graphs showing various numbers of infections and deaths under different containment strategies. I propose we now calculate "Trump deaths," for those "excess" deaths caused by Trump's confusing, contradictory and false statements, as well as a lack of a coherent federal plan. J.M. Thomas Mechanicsville
Virus has significant impact on local budget, schools By Jim Ridolphi for Ashland-Hanover Local Budget director Shelly Wright updated board of supervisors members last week on the financial impacts of the COVID-19 virus on the local budget, specifically a significant decline in revenue receipts. “It’s no surprise to any of you that the COVID-19 pandemic is having a devastating effect on both people and economies around the world,” Wright said at last week’s meeting. “In comparison to the loss of life and suffering this pandemic has caused, the financial impact is much less important, but my job today is to help the board appreciate the financial impact,” she added. With a statewide forecasted unemployment rate of 20 percent and businesses shuttered around the county, Wright said she has consulted with regional peers and county officials to revise and update impact projections.
Some estimates predict a rebound in the economy by late summer, while others foresee more lasting impacts. “We had to settle on a set of assumptions that we feel are reasonable and we have done that,” Wright said. “Given the life of the stay-at-home order and an appropriate amount of time for businesses and individuals to start to rebound, we assume that it will be close to the beginning of 2021 before people are financially back on their feet and retail sales have recovered.” That situation results, according to Wright, in a sales tax revenue shortfall for the final months of the 2020 budget and the first half of the 2021 proposed budget. In addition to late payments on personal property taxes, Wright said real property sales are also expected to decrease. “With the near closure of all hotels, we are expecting to lose almost of all
VOTERS Continued from pg. 2
19] for all participants,” Reynal said. For more information on absentee voting, go to the Hanover voter registrar’s website at: https://www.hanovercounty.gov/365/ Voting. Reynal may be contacted at 804-7989219 or mreynal@ashlandva.gov. As for her office, Smithson said, “The Office of Voter Registration and Elections is committed to helping all eligible registered voters maintain the ability to cast a ballot in the upcoming May 5, 2020, Town of Ashland General Election. For your safety and to minimize risk of exposure to COVID‐19, you are encouraged to request and vote an absentee ballot by mail.” To request an absentee ballot be sent to you by mail: 1) APPLY ONLINE: Using the Virginia Department of Elections secure Citizen Portal: www. vote.elections.virginia.gov. To complete the ballot request online, you will need your DMV ID (or SMITHSON driver’s license) and
of lodging tax that we have typically received now through the end of the summer,” Wright said. It all adds up to a $4.3 million shortfall in this year’s budget. “It’s a $4.3 million hole that has to be closed with three quarters of the year already gone,” Wright said. Hanover is fortunate in that revenues before the pandemic exceeded projections in many departments, with interest earned on investment income accounting for the largest chunk of that unexpected revenue. “But, that wasn’t enough, so we began looking at areas we could reduce expenditures,” Wright said. “Every department was able to cut at least 5 percent out of their operating budget.” In addition, the county has implemented a hiring freeze. Those measures resulted in a $350,000 savings, and schools have committed to contributing $750,000 to address the shortfall.
social security number. To begin, find your voter record by providing the information to log in. Then check the box “I want to apply for absentee voting.” Follow the prompts taking you to “Choose an Absentee REYNAL Option” you will check the circle beside “I have a reason or condition that prevents me from going to the polls on Election Day.” You will then select from a list of reasons for requesting a ballot. In the case of social separation due to COVID‐19, you will select, “My disability or illness.” Follow the prompts to complete the submission. 2) Paper Absentee Ballot Application request forms: Use code 2A for #3 “Reason for Absentee Ballot” Download from online and print the application request. Call 804‐365‐6080 or email hanovervoting@hanovercounty.gov to request an application to be mailed, emailed or faxed to you. Once the paper application is completed and signed, you can submit by way of: Mail: Hanover County Absentee
“When we put all these strategies together, we have a solid plan to finish out FY 20 in good financial standing.” The outlook for 2021 is less clear, and county officials are awaiting revised state budget numbers before adjustments are introduced; but it’s clear some revisions are in order. “The final FY 21 budget is going to look very different than the one that was proposed in February,” Wright said. “Until we know what the state budget is going to look like, especially as it relates to school funding, we really cannot finalize Hanover’s FY21 budget.” The General Assembly is expected to reconvene on April 22 and release revised budget figures that will provide county officials a clearer picture regarding revenues. Wright said she will continue to work with school superintendent Dr. Michael Gill to adjust numbers and projections and plans to submit adjusted figures to
Specialist P.O. Box 419 Hanover, VA 23069 Email: hanovervoting@hanovercounty.gov Fax: 804-365‐6078 As required by law, a ballot will be sent to you by mail within three days of receiving and approving your application. “Please ensure your application is complete,” Smithson said. “Applications missing required information may be denied.” Absentee voters also are reminded to allow sufficient time to receive and return your voted ballot, allowing for possible postal delays. Do not delay in requesting or submitting your ballot.
IMPORTANT DEADLINES: April 13, 2020: Last day for citizens to register to vote or update their address in order to vote in the May 5, 2020, Town of Ashland General Election. April 28, 2020, by 5 p.m.: Last day to request that an absentee ballot be mailed to you. If you have any questions while completing your application, contact the office by calling 804-365‐6080 or by emailing hanovervoting@hanovercounty.gov. For the latest information, visit www.hanovercounty.gov/365/voting.
the board at their May 6 meeting. County administrator Rhu Harris suggested adding an afternoon session to the special meeting scheduled for the evening of May 6 to address these financial concerns. In other coronavirus-related news, Gill provided board members with an update on school operations during the crisis. The superintendent addressed the current meals distribution project, a continuity of instruction plan, financial impacts on the school budget, hiring updates, and efforts regarding communication with students and teachers during the shutdown. Five locations are currently serving grab-and-go meals with curbside service for breakfast and lunch selections. At the time of Gill’s briefing, more than 13,000 meals at been served at those locations, and requests for those services continue see VIRUS pg. 15
Website offers resources for farmers, consumers, grocery retailers, and more Contributed Report news@mechlocal.com RICHMOND -- The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services recently added a COVID-19 section to its website with information and guidance on current issues for farmers, consumers, agribusinesses, convenience stores and more. Called the COVID-19 Emergency Information Center, it is available at www. vdacs.virginia.gov. The link is displayed prominently on the homepage. It is a comprehensive collection of state and federal resources. Its four sections include: Protecting farms, indus-
try or agribusiness operations. Federal and state resources pertaining to food, fiber, feed and other agriculture/forestry issues. Latest information about waivers and relevant changes to agriculture related services and regulations. Frequently asked questions. available for farmer’s markets, livestock and produce auctions, pick-your-own and stand-alone farm stands, with more to come soon on grocery stores and other food retailers. Those who have questions about the food supply, worker visas, feeding centers during school closings, and more will find answers and, in many cases, contact information.
Ashland-Hanover Local April 15, 2020 11
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PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
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The Hanover County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. in the Board meeting room at the Hanover County Administration Building, 7516 County Complex Road, at Hanover Courthouse, Hanover, Virginia, on the following ordinance being proposed for adoption: ORDINANCE 20-05 AN ORDINANCE REPEALING CHAPTER 10, ARTICLE III, LAND APPLICATION OF BIOSOLIDS
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A complete copy of the proposed ordinance and related information is available at the office of the County Administrator any regular working day between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. All persons wishing to comment on the proposal may appear at the stated time and place.
TREE SERVICE
Cecil R. Harris, Jr., County Administrator
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to hear about upcoming advertising opportunities!
Notice is hereby given that the Hanover County Board of Supervisors has cancelled its regular Board Meeting for Wednesday, April 22, 2020. This is a change from the previously published notice.
If you need further information, please call the County Administrator’s Office at 365-6005.
Cecil R. Harris, Jr., County Administrator
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Ashland-Hanover Local April 15, 2020
PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the Hanover County Board of Supervisors has set Wednesday, April 22, 2020, 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:
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SPECIAL EXCEPTION SE2020-00005, AIR PARK ASSOCIATES, L.P. Request(s)aSpecialExceptionPermitinaccordancewithSection26-336 of the Hanover County Zoning Ordinance to allow a building height taller than permitted on GPINs 7798-44-0937, 7798-44-0663, 7798-44-2350, 7798-33-3765, 7798-34-2121, 7798-24-8382, 7798-24-6569, 7798-24-4811, 7798-25-1001, 7798-35-3160, 7798-35-4750, 7798-35-0225, 7798-25-6471, 7798-45-3554, 7798-54-5903, 7798-33-9427, 7798-43-4904, 7798-43-4481, 7798-43-8505, 7798-53-1614, and 7798-35-1840, consisting of approximately 217.34 acres, zoned M-2(c), Light Industrial District with conditions, and located on the west line of Sliding Hill Road (State Route 656) approximately 1,000 feet south of its intersection with Ashcake Road (State Route 657) and on the south line of Ashcake Road (State Route 657) approximately 800 feet west of its intersection with Sliding Hill Road (State Route 656). (PUBLIC HEARING) Magisterial District: Ashland
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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ASHLAND TOWN COUNCIL Please take notice that on Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at 7:00 PM, the Ashland Town Council will conduct public hearings at Ashland Town Hall, 101 Thompson Street, Ashland, Virginia on the following:
PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF PROPOSED REAL PROPERTY TAX INCREASE
REZONING REZ2019-00037, AIR PARK ASSOCIATES, L.P. Request(s) an amendment to the proffers approved with rezoning request C-13-94(c), Air Park Associates, on GPINs 7798-44-0937, 7798-44-0663, 7798-44-2350, 7798-33-3765, 7798-34-2121, 7798-24-8382, 7798-24-6569, 7798-24-4811, 7798-25-1001, 7798-35-3160, 7798-35-4750, 7798-35-0225, 7798-25-6471, 7798-45-3554, 7798-54-5903, 7798-33-9427, 7798-43-4904, 7798-43-4481, 7798-43-8505, 7798-53-1614, and 7798-35-1840, consisting of approximately 217.34 acres, zoned M-2(c), Light Industrial District with conditions. The property is located on the west line of Sliding Hill Road (State Route 656) approximately 1000 feet south of its intersection with Ashcake Road (State Route 657) and on the south line of Ashcake Road (State Route 657) approximately 800 feet west of its intersection with Sliding Hill Road (State Route 656). The subject property is designated on the General Land Use Plan Map as Limited Industrial. The proposed zoning amendment would permit the development of a warehouse/ distribution facility. (PUBLIC HEARING) Magisterial District: Ashland
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The Town of Ashland, Virginia proposes to increase property tax levies. 1. Assessment Increase: Total assessed value of real property, excluding additional assessments due to new construction or improvements to property, exceeds last year’s total assessed value of real property by 8.09%. 2
Lowered Rate Necessary to Offset Increased Assessment: The tax rate which would levy the same amount of real estate tax as last year, when multiplied by the new total assessed value of real estate with the exclusions mentioned above, would be $0.093 per $100 of assessed value. This rate will be known as the “lowered tax rate.”
2. Effective Rate Increase: The Town of Ashland proposes to adopt a tax rate of $0.10 per $100 of assessed value. The difference between the lowered tax rate and the proposed rate would be $0.007 per $100, or 7.53 percent. This difference will be known as the “effective tax rate increase.” Individual property taxes may, however, increase at a percentage greater than or less than the above percentage. 4. Proposed Total Budget Decrease: Based on the proposed real property tax rate and changes in other revenues, the total budget of the Town of Ashland will decrease by 4.3 percent. The real estate tax rate is not changing. This public hearing is required by state law because the real estate assessments result in an effective tax rate increase. All interested persons may attend and express their views, however the number of people admitted to Town Hall is being limited in accordance with CDC Guidelines. Community members are encouraged to participate electronically. Written comments may be submitted to Matthew Reynal, Clerk of Council, via email at Mreynal@ashlandva.gov or through regular mail to Clerk of Council, Town of Ashland, P.O. Box 1600, Ashland, VA 23005. Any person with a disability requiring assistance in order to participate in the public hearings is asked to contact Town Hall in advance so that appropriate arrangements may be made.
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. Ashland-Hanover Local April 15, 2020 13
Church of the Redeemer raise funds for Haiti
Photos submitted by Paula Otto
Members of the Haiti and No Room at the Inn committees at Church of the Redeemer celebrate raising nearly $20,000 for their Haiti Ministry housing project. At right is one of the homes that was built in Lascahobas, Haiti, through the ministry. Madame Antoine Sonia was living in a shelter made of sheets and tarps before moving into her new home. The Haiti Housing ministry is one of three recipients from the church's annual No Room at the Inn event each December, which has raised $250,000 over the past 12 years. The other 2019 recipients are The Possibilities Project, which supports teens aging out of foster care, and the Mechanicsville Church Emergency Functions (MCEF) emergency housing assistance program.
GOP scholarship applications due April 30
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PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS The Hanover County Board of Supervisors has set April 22, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. in the Board meeting room at the Hanover County Administration Building, 7516 County Complex Road, at Hanover Courthouse, Hanover, Virginia, as the time, date and place for a public hearing concerning the disposal by quitclaim deed of the following real estate: All that certain tract of 0.346 acres of real property abutting Rt. 360, Bell Creek Rd and Sandy Ln located in the Mechanicsville District, Hanover County Virginia.
All persons desiring to be heard above may appear at the stated time and place. A plat of the subject property is available for inspection at the office of the County Administrator any regular working day between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Cecil R. Harris, Jr., County Administrator 14
Ashland-Hanover Local April 15, 2020
Contributed Report news@mechlocal.com The Hanover County Republican Committee Civic Leadership Scholarship is for high school seniors who demonstrate civic leadership and excellence as exemplified through volunteer work and community service that upholds conservative principles. Two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to high school seniors. To be eligible, applicants must be a high school senior with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 at the end of junior year and planning to pursue either a degree at an accredited U.S. postsecondary academic institution or accredited career and technical training institution. The recipient must be a U.S. citizen. Applicants must submit to scholarshiphrc@
gmail.com all required documents for consideration by the April 30 deadline. 1. HCRC Scholarship Application (worth 80 points) 2. High School Transcript Copy (worth 10 points) 3. One Letter of Recommendation (worth 10 points) For more information, contact Bernadette Cornelius at 804-306-0247. All application packets must be emailed by April 30. For the HCRC Scholarship Application, go to www.hanovergop.com. Email application materials to:scholarshiphrc@gmail.com. For more information and to link to the application, visit www.hanovergop.com.
Master Gardeners resources during social distancing Contributed Report news@mechlocal.com HANOVER -- Hanover Master Gardeners serve as a resource for horticultural education for the community. During these times of “Social/Physical Distancing,� we are not able to support our usual roving help desk at community events and other public places. However, we are still available by voicemail (804-752-4310), and email (hanover.master.gardener@gmail.com) to answer your questions. In addition, our websites (hanovermaster-
gardeners.org and ext.vt.edu) offer tips for those who might be interested in a home garden. With so many people out of work or on reduced pay we are encouraging all who have their own gardens to plant a little extra that can be donated to an area food bank (see list at our website). In addition, we have grant money available for organizations that might be willing to set up community garden areas for the public. See our website (hanovermastergardeners.org) for information.
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to increase. Beginning this week, multiple meals will be distributed on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and students are not required to be present to receive the food. “We expect that meal distribution will increase substantially,” Gill said. The county’s meal preparation staff will man those locations on a rotating basis beginning next week, replacing volunteers who have assisted in past weeks. Gill pointed out that food supplies are adequate, and the process for distribution is non-contact. “Our supplies are pretty robust at this point, but, again, this is all contingent upon how long this goes on,” Gill said. Gill credited teachers, principals and administrators with working long hours to ensure Hanover students continue to
receive quality instruction during the crisis. He said those efforts include a focus on providing academic support for all learners and making sure students are provided social and emotional support during the crisis, including counseling and other services. Gill noted the differences in broadband access affecting Hanover students and said paper packets have been delivered to students unable to access online learning efforts. Initial efforts to keep students engaged for two to three weeks have now transformed in to comprehensive instruction programs designed to ensure “there are not learning gaps when students return in September.” This phase of instruction offers teachers more ability to tailor plans for their specific classes and address individual instruc-
WEGMANS Continued from pg. 1
nificantly out of danger a mere week later on May 6,” Prichard said. “This is such an incendiary public hearing that the public needs to be able to come and fully voice themselves during the meeting, so I cannot support this motion,” she added. Chickahominy supervisor Anglea Kelly-Wiecek suggested amending the motion and setting the hearing for later toward the end of May. “We have to be conscious that we don’t want to continue to schedule and pull, and I am afraid that if by May 6 if we are still in similar situations as we are today or we might be on the 22nd that May 6 is just two weeks after what we hope is the curve,” she suggested as a friendly amendment to Stanley’s motion. That suggestion was rejected, and the motion to postpone to May 6 was approved by a 5-2 vote. That action was followed by a public comment period that featured a number of citizens expressing opinions regarding scheduling of the Wegmans’ hearing.
see VIRUS, pg. 16
State Fair of Virginia calls on crafters to help make face masks Contributed Report news@mechlocal.com DOSWELL—The State Fair of Virginia is inviting all crafters, quilters and others who create with textiles to help make face masks for health care professionals. As Virginia faces a rise in COVID-19 cases, health care workers and facilities across the state are grappling with the respirator and face mask shortage affecting the entire nation. Responding to local demand and the growing movement to make homemade face masks to support health care providers, fair organizers are asking its community of crafters to start sewing. “It’s an effort to connect our crafters to the current local need and give
“The opportunity for citizens to engage with you in this capacity is the only opportunity we have as citizens to address all seven of you in one situation at one meeting,” Chris French said. “I’m extremely disappointed in the board’s efforts to hold the hearing for Wegmans in the middle of a global pandemic,” he added. “This is not the best timing for this because you are going to be on the upward part of a downward slope of this curve,” French commented as he requested a further postponement of the hearing. Other speakers were more specific in their requests. “I am here today to respectfully request the postponement of the public hearing on the proposed Wegmans distribution center proffer amendment case until the governor’s stayat-home order has been lifted and the pandemic has subsided,” Ashland resident Weedon Cloe said. He noted the importance of faceto-face interaction with constituents. “Supplemental measures recently established by the county such as phone-in and email statements do provide citizen input on matters necessary to address immediate public
them an opportunity to help,” said Stuart Sanders, the fair’s assistant executive director. “Many of our annual competitors have the skills to create PPE [personal protective equipment], which is in high demand.” The local initiative began through a Facebook group called RVA Masks 4 Health, and Sanders was asked to join. “Once we saw the donation requests from specific health care facilities, we gathered and sent the information to our State Fair community,” Sanders said. Face masks are an essential part of health care workers’ PPE. Faced with not having a mask at all, many health care workers are resorting to other measures, such as reusing single-use masks or using them beyond the official shelf life.
health requirements and county business related to essential services in the face of this pandemic,” Cloe said. “However, the magnitude of resident engagement on the Wegmans project so far and the fact that it is not a case necessary to prevent immediate public harm, prescribe a postponement,” he added. Other speakers noted the governor’s guidelines allowed governments to function and perform necessary and immediate business, but claimed the Wegmans hearing does not qualify as urgent. In another agenda item on last week’s meeting, planning director David Maloney informed the board that an ongoing dispute pitting Cedar Lane residents against a planned industrial park has been resolved. After the board deferred action on a site plan appeal earlier this year, involved parties were asked to return to the table and seek common ground regarding the development of the Cardinal Commerce Center. Residents in neighboring Chickahominy Falls were joined by neighbors along Cedar Lane in opposing the site plan that outlined a single entrance and exit located on
And while the homemade masks aren’t medical-grade and don’t provide much protection when used on their own, they are known to help extend the life and use of surgical or N95 masks when worn on top. Many health care experts also agree that having any mask is better than no mask at all during extreme circumstances. Those wishing to contribute to the effort are asked to review instructions and guidelines for homemade masks, such as the proper patterns, specific fabrics that should be used and which facilities are accepting donations. For more information, instructions and links to video tutorials, visit StateFairVa.org, or the State Fair of Virginia’s Facebook page.
the narrow road and directly across the street from Chickahominy Falls. Opponents formed the Cedar Lane Coalition and filed for a site plan appeal. Residents maintained original plans for the project listed four entrances, two of them located off Route 1. Under the new agreement, Scannell Properties will construct a right-in, right-out entrance on Route 1 before the first building is opened, reducing truck traffic on Cedar Lane by about 60 percent. In addition, trucks will be directed to utilize the Route 1 entrance to exit the facility, and future plans include a master plan that would further control truck traffic on Cedar Lane. Rick Albee, president of the Cedar Lane Coalition, said he was pleased with the settlement that addressed residents’ main concern, traffic. “I am satisfied with this outcome and appreciate the tireless work of supervisor Sue Dibble, Roger Glover and the Scannell team to resolve this issue for our residents,” Albee said. “We were never opposed to the industrial park, but our main objection had always been 400 heavy trucks coming through Cedar Lane.”
South Anna supervisor Sue Dibble was instrumental in reaching the agreement, setting up numerous meetings with involved parties. Dibble said that cooperation yielded results. “I am very proud of the way all involved parties were able to work together in a professional and respectful manner to identify concerns and seek resolutions,” Dibble said. “There were compromises made on all sides, and I sincerely appreciate everyone’s hard work. This was a real community effort, and it is my privilege to serve our constituents in Hanover County.” Chickahominy Falls developer Roger Glover also credited all parties for working together and reaching a settlement. “I am very proud of what we have developed here in Hanover and what we all have been able to accomplish over these last seven months with the Hanover Board of Supervisors,” Glover said in a press release. “I do want to acknowledge the efforts of Supervisor Sue Dibble and Planning Director Dave Maloney who have worked diligently to improve the truck traffic patterns and meet our citizens’ concerns.”
Ashland-Hanover Local April 15, 2020 15
Pets of the Week Photos submitted by Andrew Hodnett
The Hanover County Pound, located at 12471 Taylor Complex Lane in Ashland, has wonderful pets available to a good home. Athena, Animal ID# 574002, is a 3-yearold female hound. She has had her first set of vaccines and is Heartworm test negative. Vixen also is a 3-year-old female hound. She has had her first set of vaccines and is Heartworm test negative, too. Athena and Vixen are both sweet girls who have been in the shelter for two months now. They are siblings who lived together before they arrived. Both dogs are sweet and playful. They do really well when they have the opportunity to run and play. Both dogs are social toward people. They will need to go to a residence with no poultry. Both dogs should be compatible in any living condition. For more information on these great pets, as well as the many more still in need of homes at the Hanover County Pound Facility, call 804-365-6485 during the day. The hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday. The facility is closed on Sunday and county holidays. You also can visit the website to see other animals available for adoption at http://hanovercounty.gov/Animals/ Adopt-a-Pet/.
GRANTS Continued from pg. 3
both through home delivery and in places like community centers. The need for these services, particularly home-delivered and packaged meals, has increased as community measures to slow transmission of COVID-19 have closed meal sites and have left many family caregivers unable to assist their older loved ones. “The Tr u m p Administration recognizes that the measures needed to protect older Americans from the serious threat of COVID19 have been disruptive for many of our most vulnerable,” said HHS Secretary Alex Azar. “Getting more funds to community organizations that deliver meals to older adults, such as Meals on Wheels, is another example of the Trump Administration’s whole-of-government, whole-of-America approach to combating the COVID-19 pandemic.”
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In addition to meals, Older Americans Act programs provide a wide range of services, such as help with bathing and dressing, rides to doctors’ offices, education on managing chronic illnesses, support for family caregivers, and much more. Provided by a network of community-based organizations, such as Area Agencies on Aging, local community and senior centers, faithbased organizations, and other non-profit service providers, these programs work together to help millions of older adults each year stay healthy and continue living independently. “The network of community-based organizations that provide Older Americans Act services has an exceptional capacity to coordinate services, bring together service providers, and adapt to overcome challenges, and they are employing innovative solutions to continue meal services,” said ACL Administrator
Ashland-Hanover Local April 15, 2020
Lance Robertson. “This additional funding will help communities across the country provide older adults, especially those at greatest risk, with the healthy meals they need.” Funding has been provided to states, territories, and tribes for subsequent allocation to local meal providers. Grant amounts are determined based on the population-based formulas defined in the Older Americans Act. Older adults who need assistance can contact the Eldercare Locator to find services available in their community. The Eldercare Locator can be reached at 1-800-677-1116 or https://eldercare.acl.gov/. For more information about COVID-19, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/ c oron av i r u s / 2 0 1 9 - n c ov / index.html. For more information about the Older Americans Act nutrition programs, visit ACL.gov.
Tips offered for safely buying take-out food and packages Contributed Report news@mechlocal.com BLACKSBURG -- The reliance on take-out and food delivery are increasing because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and, while the food supply is safe, there are ways to emphasize food safety from these sources. “The FDA has stated that the U.S. food supply remains safe for both people and animals. There is no evidence of human or animal food or food packaging being associated with the transmission of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19,” said Joell Eifert, director of the Food Innovations Program in the Virginia Tech Department of Food Science and Technology and Extension Specialist in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. However, there are some simple practices you can do to further emphasize food safety. Receiving and delivery practices should minimize human to human contact which can include: Pre-pay for your order before delivery to avoid sharing pens or payment equipment. Ask for your delivery to be left at the front door to avoid hand-to-hand contact. Ensure that you will be available or are notified of your delivery to ensure that perishable items don’t sit out of refrigeration too long. When bringing your delivery into the house, place the outer box or bag on a hard surface that can be cleaned and sanitized. Remove the food from the outer box or bag and then immediately discard the outer bag or box. Wash your hands before putting food
VIRUS Continued from pg. 15
tion. “It is in no way, shape, or form intended as a complete replacement for the six to seven hours a student would spend during the school day,” Gill said. “It is intended to keep our students involved and build that base or platform going into next year at a reasonable rate.” Students will not receive traditional grades for the final marking period and will be assessed for promotion by the
away. Clean and sanitize the surface that outer boxes or bags touched. Wash your hands before opening, preparing, or eating food. Washing hands before eating is always recommended. The food industry is dedicated to making sure food, food establishments, and food manufacturing facilities remain safe and do not contribute to the current outbreak. The most effective tools against the COVID-19 virus are already being used by these food producers and are basics for food safety, Eifert said. “Practices already in place include handwashing, ensuring that ill workers are sent home, following standard operating procedures for making a safe quality food product, avoiding situations that allow cross-contamination, and following sound cleaning and sanitation practices,” Eifert said. “These practices are not new to food establishments and are providing to be sound practices to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 to employees as well as customers.” Eifert said that measures taken by food manufacturers are: Practicing social distancing in the employee common areas like cafeterias, restrooms, and breakrooms. Increasing the cleaning and disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces or shared equipment used by employees (using CDCrecommended procedures). Wearing disposable gloves and gowns for cleaning and disinfecting. Use EPA-registered disinfectants safely.
teacher who considers a number of factors in that decision. Final grades for the year will be based on the previous three quarters of instruction. Gill noted that HCPS returned $3 million to the county in unused funds that was returned to the school’s CIP fund. “We know this closure is going to result in potentially a loss of millions in sales tax and other revenues, so in addition to the $3 million, it is our intent to try to do our part to close that
gap with an additional $750,000,” Gill said. Gill projected a $1.15 million loss in meal revenues during the closure due to the absence of lunch fees. He also noted that K-12 education in the Commonwealth is expecting a one-time stimulus package, but the amount or timing of those funds is unknown at this time. “We are hopeful to have those numbers sometime in the next two or three weeks,” Gill said. “What that final number will be, we do not know.”