OPINION Take advantage of range of voting options PAGE
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COMMUNITY National DAR to observe Day of Service on Sunday PAGE
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Vol. 6 No. 5 | Richmond Suburban News | October 7, 2020
HCSB agrees on new names for L-DHS, SJMS By Jim Ridolphi for Ashland-Hanover Local ASHLAND— In an effort to conclude the renaming process and move forward, a press release from Hanover County Public Schools last week announced what may be the final chapter in the renaming saga. Following a workshop retreat session held by Hanover County School Board members last week, it appears the panel has decided on its two choices for the former Lee-Davis High School and Stonewall Jackson Middle School. The press release announced that Mechanicsville had been selected as the new name for Lee-Davis and Bell Creek will replace Stonewall Jackson at the middle school. Those names will be presented at this month’s school
Sentimental Journey
board meeting for consideration and approval. If the names are accepted, it will end a more than decades-old effort to change the names of the two schools that celebrate Confederate icons. In 2018, the latest attempts to change the names began in earnest, as citizens and stakeholders demanded the school board consider a change. Board members responded by distributing a citizens’ survey to gauge public opinion. Results indicated more than 80 percent of Hanover citizens wanted to maintain the current names. At that time, the board voted 5-2 to keep the names, but that didn’t deter those seeking a change who maintained the names were an insult to African American students and offensive to many who attended
ASHLAND – Living in a town that celebrates trains with a day designated in their honor, Bob and Carrie DeLille thought it was only natural to take a 9-foot oak stump and bring a bit of the rail life to their yard
see HCSB, pg. 4
see CARVER, pg. 2
Dave Lawrence/Ashland-Hanover Local
The World War II-era B-17 bomber “Sentimental Journey” draws visitors to the tarmac during a visit to the Hanover County Airport on Sunday, Sept. 20. Story and more photos on page 15.
All aboard! Tree carver creates train conductor By Melody Kinser Managing Editor
Joel Klein/Ashland-Hanover Local
Richard Hamilton, a wood carver from Altoona, Pennsylvania, created this train conductor from a 9-foot oak stump at the home of Bob and Carrie DeLille of Ashland.
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CARVER Continued from pg. 1
on South Center Street. Here’s where Richard Hamilton of RLH Wood Sculptures comes into the story. The DeLilles discovered this master with a chainsaw on the internet, and, according to Carrie, “loved the detail of his work.” Richard’s wife Brittany said he has been carving for 13 years. His base is in of Altoona, Pennsylvania, where he and Brittany reside with their five children. When asked whether they were fans of railroads, Carrie said, “We bought a house on it – LOL – and, at the time we
bought it, it was being advertised as ‘The Train House’.” So why did they decide to contract Richard to carve a train conductor? “Years ago, we had an oak at our old house that we had to take down and wanted to preserve, so we had it carved and even moved it to this present house.” “We were heartbroken by losing three very old and large trees this spring,” she said. They had been told that one was 300 years old and another was about 200. There also was a 100-foot spruce – which isn’t supposed to grow in Virginia – they “wanted to preserve it like we had done before.” As for the railroad theme, “We thought something relat-
PLUMBING, HEATING & COOLING
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Ashland-Hanover Local October 7, 2020
ed to the railroad would be most appropriate and landed on the idea of a conductor.” They found a photo “and Richard fine-tuned a sketch for us – and here we are!” she said enthusiastically. The final touch to the train conductor was the addition of the lantern placed in his hand. “The whole process of the train conductor was recorded live on our business Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ RLHWoodSculptures as well for anyone interested in a closer look as to what the entire process looks like,” Brittany said. She explained her husband’s talent, saying, “He was blessed with an artistic ability at a young age. After pursuing biology and realizing the possibility of working with genetic modification of animals was very slim, he decided art (specifically being a sculptor) was the route he wanted to go.” “At the very beginning of his career, he got to travel with some of the best carvers in the nation, which really propelled him forward and made his desire even stronger to continue carving,” she added. Brittany and Richard have been married for 10 years. He supports the family of seven through his art. Richard’s sculptures range in price from $150 to $7,500. The larger amount would involve “more intricate work,” Brittany noted. When he’s working, Richard said he doesn’t count the hours, he makes the hours count. It does vary, though, from one hour to 100 hours. Among his more involved work are Rocky Balboa, a Statue of David, Native American statues, the Fred Flintstone family, the Tinman from “Wizard of Oz,” multi-animal totems, an octopus and anchor bar tap pulls. To see more of his works, Brittany said go to www.GetChainsawArt.com. “Richard enjoys a challenge and carving new and exciting things that he has never carved
Joel Klein/Ashland-Hanover Local
Bob and Carrie DeLille of South Center Street in Ashland decided to continue with the town’s long-time relationship with railroads by having a 9-foot oak stump carved into a train conductor. Richard Hamilton of Altoona, Pennsylvania, who brought his expertise to “The Center of the Universe” to transform the massive stump into art, gives a thumbs-up as he takes a brief break to have a photo taken. The finished product is shown at right.
before,” Brittany said. “Richard travels all over Pennsylvania and surrounding states to create masterpieces from simple stumps left in homeowners lawns,” she continued. “This is one of our favorite parts of the job, the travel, meeting customers on a more personal level, and building memories. He also has a shop set-up alongside Pleasant Valley Blvd in Altoona, Pennsylvania, and travels for shows about five times a year.” For more information about RLH Wood Sculptures, call 814-215-6223 or email hamiltonsculpture@hotmail.com.
Railroad Park ‘postcards’
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Nov. 30 is the deadline for lovers of America’s railroad history to meet the $50,000 matching grant for the Mid-Atlantic Railroad Park project in Ashland. Otherwise, the entire grant will be withdrawn. Research shows that the Railroad Park will strengthen our region’s economy for years to come, and the $50,000 matching grant from the Mary Morton Parsons Foundation is the very best chance to make this exciting attraction a reality. Please watch an informative video at ashlandvirginia.com/railroad. Then donate securely online, or write your check to Downtown Ashland Association and mail it to P.O. Box 33, Ashland VA 23005 (write “Railroad Park” on the memo line). A permanent plaque will recognize donors of $5,000+ as Honored Founders and donors of $1,000+ as Honored Supporters. Any and all donations will be greatly appreciated. Thank you for joining in to make this happen!
SHERIFF’S REPORTS | Crime, Accidents, Fire & Rescue to law enforcement was reported in the 10200 block of Georgetown Road, Mechanicsville.
Sept. 11
Petit larceny from auto was reported in the 7100 block of Brandy Run Drive, Mechanicsville. Driver did not report an accident with damages, $250, in the 9000 block of Haversack Lane, Mechanicsville. Concealment, price altering merchandise, $500, was reported in the 7400 block of Bell Creek Road, Mechanicsville. Obtaining money or signature by false pretenses was reported in the 7300 block of Princess Anne Drive, Mechanicsville. Falsely identifying self
of Mantilo Creek Road, Mechanicsville.
Possession of marijuana, first offense, was reported in the 7100 block of Mechanicsville Turnpike/ Old Hickory Drive, Mechanicsville. Destruction of property, monument, value $1,000, was reported in the 7400 block of Stuart Drive, Mechanicsville.
Petit larceny building was reported in the 9200 block of Chamberlayne Road, Mechanicsville.
Destruction of property, monument, was reported in the 8400 block of New Ashcake Road, Mechanicsville.
Driver did not report an accident with damages, $250, in the 7000 block of Mechanicsville Turnpike, Mechanicsville.
Sept. 13
Sept. 12
Robbery of a residence was reported in the 5300 block
DWI: first offense was reported in the 10100 block of Lewistown Road, Ashland. Grand larceny, $500 or more not from a person,
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see SHERIFF’S, pg. 7
Ashland-Hanover Local October 7, 2020 3
HCSB Continued from pg. 1
the schools. Last year, the Hanover NAACP filed suit against the school board in an effort to force them to reconsider a change, but board members again resisted. The suit was dismissed earlier this year, but an appeal seemed imminent. In an effort to alleviate further legal action, board members began considering a possible change, and voted in July to change the names of the two schools. That began a renaming process that some say ignored the wishes of the public, with the school board appointing a renaming committee in August consisting of retired educators, students, parents and community stakeholders. Following a series of meetings, the panel selected Twin Rivers for the high school and Mechanicsville for the middle school. A public survey also was compiled to gauge community
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input. Those committee selections did not sit well with school board members, who decided to take more time to consider options and gather more public input. The committee was disbanded, and the name Twin Rivers was eliminated from consideration at a regular school board meeting last month. Last week’s announcement of the two new proposed names is perhaps the last step in a long and painful process, and reaction to the changes evoke strong emotions. Robert Barnette, president of Hanover’s NAACP Chapter, said the announcement is a step in the right direction. “Black students in Hanover County have endured a hostile school environment that derives directly from the naming of these schools after Confederate generals and the celebration of the Confederacy and its defense of slavery. With today’s name change, the Hanover County School
Ashland-Hanover Local October 7, 2020
Board has taken an important step toward providing an equal education for all students.” Barnette indicated the name change could propel additional changes for minority students in Hanover County. “In addition, the Hanover County School Board‘s decision to end the shameful, decades-long practice of forcing children who choose to participate in school sports and extracurricular activities to wear uniforms created for the express purpose of honoring the Confederacy and the leaders who fought to preserve slavery indicates that there is hope for a more inclusive educational experience for All Hanover County students,” Barnette said. “Although, there still remains much work to do.” The decision also left some committee members scratching their heads and wondering if their hours of effort in the renaming process was considered or valued. A student who served on that committee was vocal
regarding his experience on the panel, but asked that his comments be published anonymously. “I was kind of taken aback once I heard the name suggestions that the board came up with. We had eliminated the name ‘Bell Creek’ for the middle school around round 2 to stay consistent with previous rationale,” the committee member said. “We removed Bell Creek because there was a consensus in the committee that we should have a name that represents the whole school jurisdiction, not just part of it, as well as the Bell Creek neighborhood is completely in the Chickahominy middle school district, if I recall correctly.” Dr. Carol Cash headed the committee and told school board members earlier this month that students on the committee did not favor the name Mechanicsville for the high school rename. This committee member confirmed that interpretation. “Personally, I also did not want
the name Mechanicsville for the high school, because I’ve talked to numerous peers that were way more enthusiastic about a name like Twin Rivers rather than Mechanicsville,” he said. After hours of work and research, the student said it became apparent early that the final decision would lay with the board, and viewed the work of the committee as a type of lip service. “Toward the end of the process, it became apparent that the school board was going to get their way with the names they wanted, no matter what the committee chose,” he said. “At the third meeting, the committee made a choice to recommend Creek Run for the middle school, and Twin Rivers for the high school.” Those recommendations, according to the student, were nixed by school officials and committee members were told that administrations would not endorse those choices. In order to gain that
endorsement, the committee offered what was a compromise. “We proposed the idea to the group of Mechanicsville for the middle school (to hopefully appease the board and Dr. (Michael) Gill [superintendent of schools] and Twin Rivers for the high school (so we didn’t have identical names and we see HCSB, pg. 16
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Ashland-Hanover Local October 7, 2020 5
OPINION
CALENDAR
| The Local Views
| News, & Listings Wednesday, Oct. 14
From the managing editor
Take advantage of range of voting options By Melody Kinser Managing Editor
V
oting in the Nov. 3 General Election could not be any easier or convenient. I always sing the praises of General Registrar/Director of Elections Teresa F. “Teri” Smithson and her staff. They certainly make my job easier with every election. She is so cooperative whenever I check in to see how the day is going, if any hiccups have occurred at the polls -- you get the idea. On Thursday, Sept. 24, Mom and I headed to the Courthouse Complex to cast our ballots. For these two old girls (she’s almost 90 and I’m 64), it was ideal to go ahead and take advantage of the early voting processes. And, it could not have gone any smoother. Teri has a methodical
system in place that made the visit productive and brief. We accomplished what we planned to do. The folks working the grounds for Teri’s office were so kind and helpful -- despite a pesky intermittent band of rain showers. While some politicians are stomping around about the possible fraud and ineffective voting procedures, it certainly appeared to be foolproof in Hanover County. I’ve had family members and friends serving in the military who had to vote by mail, and others, due to employment responsibilities or health reasons, needed to vote absentee. Please -- let’s try for what may be the first time in the year of “What else can go wrong?!” to vote and put aside whatever you believe to be tearing this country apart. Is it possible that there are corrupt officials involved in dealing with the ballots? Of course.
I have heard how crooked some politicians can be when it comes to winning at all costs. Yes, it was in my native state -- and I’ll leave it at that. I believe Hanover County has a very trustworthy group of people handling our voting rights. Teri proves over and over how honest and honorable she is -- and she takes her role in county government very seriously. We are fortunate to have her and her staff. So, whether you choose to go to the courthouse, mail in your ballot, or head to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 3, the goal is to vote. It is a priority this year. Actually, it is with every election. My father instilled in me how valuable and sacred the responsibility we have with our right to vote. With every election, I can hear his voice: “Melody Shawn (that’s when I knew he was serious), whatever you do today, go to the polls.” And I always have -- albeit a bit early this year. But I did vote.
Political season has a definite grumpy overtone By Jim Ridolphi Contributing Columnist Given the current political climate in America, perhaps it’s better that we don’t interact as much as we did before the pandemic. I began voting in 1968. In some of those years, the person or party I favored won, but, often, I woke up the day after the election disappointed. I’m sure that’s not a unique experience,
and all of us have probably tapped our share of winners, and dabbled with a fair amount of losers. In all of those cases, life returned to normal shortly after the ballots were cast, and friends who differed greatly during the political season, resumed lifelong relationships that have been formed on more than politics. Fortunately, for most of my life political campaigns were seasonal, and,
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Ashland-Hanover Local October 7, 2020
once elections were concluded, most of us were either silently supportive or at worst silent, and recognized or respected our nation’s leader. I suppose it’s a case of you never know what you have until it’s gone because there’s no illusion regarding the state of our current political culture. I’ve heard numerous stories of friends who don’t speak anymore due to a division over politics, or, more spe-
cifically, the support of one candidate over another. Nerves and patience have been worn nearly raw in a heated or overinvestigated season of what amounts to political gotcha, and the normal of yesterday’s politics seem like only a memory. Through a barrage of social media and 24-hour cable news, even the see POLITICAL, pg. 8
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.
The New Virginians, a club for women new to the Richmond area, will resume its monthly meeting, which will be held at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens at 1800 Lakeside Ave. in Richmond. The event schedule includes: 10 to 10:30 a.m. check in gate in Parking Lot A (to the right facing the main entrance); 10 to 11:30 enjoy strolling the gardens (masks are required to enter the gardens); 11:45 a.m. box lunches will be available on the porch of the Bloemendaal House and tables are set up under the tents for use during lunch. Cost for the event is $30 and all reservations must be done and paid for in advance and there is a limit of 80 people. For reservations and more information, contact Debra Walker at 804-730-2311 or Joan Bowling at 804-363-7362.
Saturday, May 15, 2021 Rescheduled The Highland Springs High School Class of 1970 has had to postpone its 50th reunion again. The new date is Saturday, May 15, 2021. All other previous information is correct, including the location at the Hill Building at Sandston Pool at 501 Beulah Rd. in Sandston. Music will be presented 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. The cost is $45 per person. Those who may have recently paid $50 after March 1 have been refunded $5. No tickets will be sold at the door. For invitations or more information about the reunion, contact Bill Brooks at 1970HSHS@ gmail.com.
Day of Service set Sunday Hanover Tavern, Anton Paar (Editor’s note: The following was submitted by Lee Lythgoe of the Scotchtown Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.) ASHLAND -- Each year, the Daughters of the American Revolution observes Oct. 11 as the National DAR Day of Service. This year, the Scotchtown Chapter NSDAR is recogniz-
ing the staff of the Hanover County Public Schools Transportation Department whose unfailing efforts provide safe transit to and from school for our children. There are about 300 employees who ensure the daily safety of approximate 11,000 students. As our county continues to grow, the task of scheduling
bus and car routes continues to become more daunting. This year is no exception with all the challenges that COVID-19 has posed. We wish to express our appreciation to each and every one of these tireless workers for their devotion and dedication. Thank you for all you do every day to keep the students of Hanover County safe.
Enrollment open for Citizen Leadership Academy Contributed Report news@mechlocal.com ASHLAND – Enrollment is underway for Ashland’s Citizen Leadership Academy, which provides an in-depth look at how the town operates,
a chance to discuss local issues with town leaders, and getting to meet the staff. Sessions are held at 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month via Zoom from November through May.
was reported in the 17100 block of Pouncey Tract Road, Rockville.
Concealment, price altering, $500, third offense, was reported in the 7400 block of Bell Creek Road, Mechanicsville.
Stolen goods: buy/ receive, larceny, $200, was reported in the 7400 block of Bell Creek Road, Mechanicsville. Grand larceny auto theft was reported in the 6400 block of Creighton Road, Mechanicsville.
Traffic safety unit activation was reported in the 12300 block of Winston Road/
Possession of marijuana, first offense, was reported in the 8100 block of Atlee Road/Meadowbridge Road, Mechanicsville. Simple assault was reported in the 7000 block of Cornfield Lane, Mechanicsville. Petit larceny, $500 not from a person, was reported in the 8100 block of Mechanicsville Turnpike, Mechanicsville.
Petit larceny from auto was reported in the 13200 block of Mountain Road, Glen Allen.
Concealment, price altering merchandise, $500, was reported in the 7400 block of Bell Creek Road, Mechanicsville.
DWI: first offense was reported in the 15300 block of Hopeful Church Road, Bumpass. Petit larceny, $500 not from a person, was reported in the 10200 block of Brickerton Drive, Mechanicsville.
Mechanicsville Turnpike/ Bell Creek Road, Mechanicsville.
Blanton Road, Ashland.
SHERIFF’S Continued from pg. 3
For more information about the Academy, visit http:// ashlandva.gov/362/CitizenLeadership-Academy or contact Matt Reynal at 804-7989219 or mreynal@ashlandva. gov.
Driving after forfeiture of license was reported in the 7500 block of Cold Harbor Road/New Hunter Road, Mechanicsville.
Petit larceny, $500 not from a person, was reported in the 8100 block of Walnut Grove Road, Mechanicsville.
Grand larceny auto theft was reported in the 8100 block of Hickory Hill Road, Ashland. Driving after forfeiture of license was reported in the 7100 block of
Possession of a weapon on school property was reported in the 12400 block of West Patrick Henry Road, Ashland.
Sept. 15
Destruction of property, monument, was reported in the 8500 block of Shady Grove Road, Mechanicsville.
Destruction of property, monument, was reported in the 7400 block of Bell Creek Road, Mechanicsville. Computer invasion of privacy to examine information was reported in the 7100 block of Brook Way, Mechanicsville.
partner for 2020 AutumnFest Staff Report news@mechlocal.com
HANOVER – Hanover Tavern will be partnering with Anton Paar in presenting the 5th Annual Hanover AutumnFest at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 13181 Hanover Courthouse Rd. in Hanover. The Tavern and Paar are committed to keeping the community tradition. Under normal circumstances, the Historic Hanover Tavern would host thousands of guests for free family activities, live music, craft beer, Virginia wine, and great food during Hanover AutumnFest. However, for this year, there will not be an on-site event. The Tavern’s staff and volunteers have worked diligently to adapt to the new conditions, featuring a convenient, pre-order menu and drive-thru pick-up. The smokers will be packed with brisket, pork BBQ, turkey, beef brats, and burnt ends. Fall craft beers in souvenir growlers, a variety of seasonal sides, and a delicious selection of
homemade pies also will be offered. Each order will receive a free reusable swag bag with crafts and kids’ activities, coupons to local businesses, as well as information about historic sites in the area. To place an order online, go to https://hanovertavern.mobilebytes.com/menu. Orders must be placed by Wednesday, Oct. 14, with pick-up on Oct. 17. The Tavern and Paar will coordinate pick-up times. “Although this year will be different, AutumnFest will provide comfort foods to lift the spirits of the community and we are proud to be a sponsor of this effort”, Reinhard Eberl, director of the Americas for Anton Paar, said. “AutumnFest is such a special day for the community and brings so many happy people to the Tavern. Unfortunately, there will be no event but we will provide great food with a family-focused carryout menu and free swag bags,” said David Deal, executive director of Hanover Tavern Foundation, the nonprofit organization that owns and operates the Tavern.
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Hanover County residents appointed by governor Contributed Report news@mechlocal.com RICHMOND — A native of Montpelier has been appointed policy advisor by Governor Ralph Northam. Megan Field previously worked in the offices of United States Sen. Tim Kaine and Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates Eileen Filler-Corn. She also has litigated in areas including evictions, consumer protection, criminal justice, and
open government. Field earned a bachelor’s degree from St. John’s College and a Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School, where she completed over 900 hours of pro bono service. Other recent local appointees are: Lana Sargent, PhD, RN, FNP-C, GNP-BC, of Ashland, assistant professor, School of Nursing, Virginia Commonwealth University.
Reappointed to the Alzheimer’s Advisory Board. Gerald W. Simpson of Hanover, training director, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 147. Appointed to Apprenticeship Council. Timothy A. McDermott of Ashland, chief campaign officer, FeedMore. Reappointed to Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Authority Board of Directors.
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Ashland-Hanover Local October 7, 2020
Democratic 1st District candidate to appear in Ashland on Oct. 11 Staff Report news@mechlocal.com ASHLAND – Qasim Rashid, the Democratic candidate for the 1st District seat in the United States House of Representatives, will be at Ashland Town Hall at 101 Thompson St. in Ashland at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 11. State Sen. Jennifer McClellan and Attorney General Herring will be on hand to offer their support for Rashid. Musicians Jeanette and John Creager of the Premiere Band will perform top 40 songs in the Motown, Soul, Beach and Funk traditions. “We are thrilled that so many Democratic leaders are coming out to support Qasim Rashid for Congress. I am energized by the amazing leaders in our Commonwealth,” said Daniel McGraw, chair of the Hanover Democratic Committee. “We have wonderful candidates running this year: Qasim Rashid for Congress, Mark Warner for Senate, Joe Biden for President and Kamala Harris for Vice President. They are the future of our nation. In trying times like these, we need the best of the best. Our Democratic
POLITICAL Continued from pg. 6
youngest of our population are voicing political opinions on issues and the rest of us seem like we are wallowing in it at times. It’s not the political discussion that concerns me. It’s the personal nature of the attacks, and the judgment attached to political positions that seem destructive and non-productive. In all of those years and all of those elections, I have never judged friends or others who disagreed with me, or attached a certain set of values to someone based on their political opinions. For years, I have lived my life engaging friends and others with little regard for how they vote, and I learned long ago that a genuinely held position does
QASIM RASHID
leaders are showing up in force to make that happen.” Face masks and social distancing will be required.
not define an individual. With all this in mind, I recently met with two friends for a socially distanced beverage and a chance to catch up after months of pandemic-related restrictions. To my dismay, my two friends immediately engaged in a political discussion. Several minutes later, the conversation seemed less than friendly, and, to those who didn’t know these guys, may have seemed like an argument. I suggested we finish our drinks and adjourn the meeting, thinking cooler heads would prevail. My naiveté was unrewarded and my two friends left in separate cars, their political long-held differences unresolved and neither persuaded by the passionate argument presented by either. I spoke to one of the com-
batants later that evening, and he assured me that no real damage was done, and the friendship was much too strong to allow politics to interfere or dismantle years of trust, laughter and compassion. I hope he’s right and his assurances that life always returns to normal following a heated election, but, for the life of me, I can’t help but think it feels different this time. Let’s hope I’m wrong and all of this discontent is the product of more than an usually combative silly season. In any case, it can’t end soon enough for me, but I’m also enough of a realist to realize that today’s politics is full-time work, and the 2021 gubernatorial race is right around the corner. I’m not sure I’m ready to chew on that yet.
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
Cerebral palsy can’t keep Marr out of water By Dave Lawrence Sports Editor ASHLAND – Six years ago, Ashland resident Garrett Marr struggled to use the left side of his body. Cerebral palsy had rendered Garrett, who was 4 at the time, hemiplegic. But the Ashland resident loved being in the water. And, despite his young age, he was determined not to let his disability define or limit him. And he didn’t. Continuing with years of aggressive therapy that began when he was an infant, he worked to gain the mobility he needed on his left side to swim. Then he took swimming lessons. Eventually, he joined the Hanover Country Club’s Greater Richmond Aquatic League swim team. For him, just starting and finishing a race is a win – though, fierce competitor that he is, he’d rather have traditional wins. Nevertheless, his presence gives his teammates a boost. “He’s the best sport we have on the team,” said Shelby Nash, head coach of Hanover Country Club’s GRAL swim team. “He encourages everyone. He pushes himself. He doesn’t get upset.” Garrett, however, wasn’t Dave Lawrence/The Local always as eager to swim as he Garrett Marr earned his smiles in the pool at Hanover Country Club. The 10-year-old overcame cerebral palsy to learn to swim. is now. “He didn’t want to swim Years of therapy soon began Garrett was diagnosed with a baby. There’s no such thing we noticed was that he only in meets. He was embarrassed cerebral palsy as an infant. as being right-handed or left- used his right hand. That’s a red – and are still ongoing. One initially,” Nash said. “He pulled “There is no such thing handed,” said Garrett’s mother, flag for pediatricians that there’s through every single time.” as handedness when you’re Gretchen Marr. “The first thing something going on.” see MARR, pg. 10
NASCAR returns for two weekends in 2021 By Dave Lawrence Sports Editor The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series schedule will look a good bit different from the 2020 schedule— at least, how the 2020 schedule was supposed to be before the COVID19 pandemic—but after getting shorted one Cup Series race as a result of the pandemic lockdown, Richmond can look forward to two weekends of NASCAR races in the oncoming season. NASCAR adds three new tracks and new layouts to two existing Cup Series tracks. The Cup Series will visit Richmond Raceway on April 18 and Sept. 11. The 2021 Xfinity schedule has yet to be announced. see NASCAR, pg. 11
Ashland-Hanover Local October 7, 2020
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New England spoils Kickers’ home win streak By Dave Lawrence Sports Editor RICHMOND – The New England Revolution II came to City Stadium Saturday night on a roll, with two straight road wins in USL League One play. Their hosts, the Richmond Kickers, barely registered as a speed bump as New England rolled out of town with its third straight road win, a 4-0 shutout of the Kickers. It was only the second time Richmond could not muster a goal this season. The other time was a scoreless draw against South Georgia Tormenta FC on July 28. New England got a pair of goals in each half. The first goal in each half was recorded as an own goal – both bad ricochets off Richmond players in front of the net – and a third score came off a one-on-one penalty kick by Nicolas Firmino inside the box. New England’s final came from Damian Rivera off a pass from Mayele Malango. Richmond goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald got a hand on it but could not deflect it out of the net. “We laid an egg tonight. I take responsibility,” said Richmond head coach Darren Sawatzky. “We weren’t prepared as a team to compete against a team that’s in form. Kudos to New England for pumping some goals on us. That’s tough, man. That one stings a little bit.” Richmond had its share of chances, especially in the first half when a score could have changed the complexion of the match. But none of their shots could get through. Sawatzky said his team is trying to build a winning culture. “Good teams . . . and good cultures, they find ways to win games even when things don’t
10
MARR Continued from pg. 9
Dave Lawrence/The Local
Above, Richmond forward Emiliano Terzaghi (center) is taken down by a pair of New England defenders in the Kickers’ 4-0 loss to the visiting New England Revolution II Saturday. Left, Richmond’s Emiliano Terzaghi (32) breaks into the open.
necessarily bounce your way,” we could have shaken things up Sawatzky said. “I felt it was a a little bit.” The Kickers remain two little unfortunate. I thought that if we could have nicked a goal in points behind No. 2 Union
Ashland-Hanover Local October 7, 2020
Omaha in the USL League One standings, 22-20. The Greenville Triumph remain comfortably on top of the list with 31 points,
while the Chattanooga Red Wolves SC are just two back of Richmond with 18 points. Only the top two teams will make the league’s one-game playoff. Saturday’s game was the first of a stretch of three games in a eight days for the Kickers. Richmond hosts Orlando City B at City Stadium tonight at 6:30 p.m. They finish the run at North Texas SC Saturday at 8:30 p.m.
of the primary goals was to improve the flexibility and range of motion of his left arm and leg. “He’s been in therapy ever since he was 9 months old,” Gretchen Marr said. “What has happened over the last few years is that he has done a lot of work. The left side is not as coordinated as the right side, but with all of his hard work it has become more coordinated. With swimming, he doesn’t have to think about using his left side, whereas, when he first started, he really had to think and remember there was a left side. “Now that part is taken care of, so he can really focus on his coordination and mobility. He does a lot of stretches. He does physical therapy and occupational therapy. All of that is to increase mobility and coordination on the left side – and strength.” The fifth grader at the Carmel School in Ruther Glen claims he has no favorite classes, but he has three favorite sports: swimming, basketball, baseball and soccer – the season determines which of the three is at the top of the list. Basically, his favorite sport is the one he can play right NOW. Just as he has adapted in swimming, he has done the same in baseball. He’s a pitcher and both throws and catches right. One of his heroes is former Major League pitcher Jim Abbott, who had a successful 10-year-long career in the Major Leagues despite having been born without a right hand. Garrett shifts his glove off-andon like Abbott did when switching from throwing to fielding see MARR, pg. 11
Crytser wins Pole Green 5K
MARR Continued from pg. 10
and back. Garrett even has a fish named Abbott after his hero. He is a fierce competitor which can result in plenty of frustration, too. “He’s so competitive . . . swimming is a very difficult thing for him to do,” said Jeff Marr, Garrett’s father. “He thinks he should be beating all of his peers because he has to work harder.”
Garrett doesn’t expect, nor does he receive special treatment. He deals as much trash talk as he takes from his friends on the team. They look out for him, but they treat him just like any other teammate. Garrett, who is shy in front of a reporter, grins as his parents discuss the ribbing that goes on among his teammates. Gretchen Marr points out that Garrett’s competitive streak has benefits, too. “The competitiveness is an advantage, too,” she said.
“I know he gets frustrated in events and stuff like that, but … because he is that way, he works harder when there’s a goal that he wants to achieve – even in therapy.” But Garrett is not all work. He’s got a silly streak one should expect of a 10-year-old. When asked what he liked most about swimming, he said, “The Fridays, when we do games and eat donuts and get ribbons.” Dave Lawrence can be reached at dlawrence@mechlocal.com.
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Mechanicsville’s Alli Crytser comes in well ahead of the pack in the girls race of the Pole Green Park 5K Run/Walk Saturday. Riverbend’s Blake Fairbanks won the boy’s race.
NASCAR Continued from pg. 9
“We certainly looking forward to 2021,” said Dennis Bickmeier, president of Richmond Raceway. “We’re thrilled that the schedule’s out. It’s got a lot of changes to it. I’ve been in this for a little over 20 years, and it’s probably the most change I’ve seen, so I think that’s great. “I think that it’s added some energy, at least over the last 24 hours. The fans, I think they’ve been energized by the changes to the 2021 schedule. … We’re thankful that we have our two dates in April and September and we’re ready to get to work on those.” The three tracks NASCAR is adding to the Cup series sched-
ule are: • May 23: the Circuit of The Americas, a 3.426-mile road course in Austin, Texas, that has been host to Formula 1, IndyCar and IMSA competition; • June 20: Nashville Superspeedway, a 1.33-mile oval in Lebanon, Tennessee; • July 4: Road America, a historic 4.048-mile road circuit in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, that last hosted the Cup Series in 1956. The Cup Series returns to Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Aug. 15, but not to the 2.5mile oval. Instead, the race will be held on the speedway’s 2.439-mile road course to bring the total number of road courses on the circuit to six. The Cup Series will return to its roots on March 28 at
Bristol Motor Speedway when the track is converted to a dirttrack. This will mark the first time a NASCAR top-division race was held on dirt since Richard Petty won on Sept. 30, 1970 at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. “We developed the 2021 schedule with one primary goal: Continue to take steps to create the most dynamic schedule possible for our fans,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “Extensive collaboration between NASCAR, the race tracks, race teams and our broadcast partners allowed NASCAR to create what promises to be an exciting 2021 schedule of races.” Dave Lawrence can be reached at dlawrence@mechlocal.com.
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Ashland-Hanover Local October 7, 2020
LEGAL NOTICES Public Notice - Environmental Permit PURPOSE OF NOTICE: To seek public comment on a draft Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit from the Department of Environmental Quality that will allow the release of treated industrial wastewater into a waterbody in Hanover County, Virginia. PERMIT NO.: VA0025569 NAME AND ADDRESS OF FACILITY: Doswell Water Treatment Plant, 10076 Kings Dominion Boulevard, Doswell, VA 23047 DEQ CONTACT: Joseph Bryan, 804-527-5012, joseph.bryan@deq.virginia.gov, 4949a Cox Road, Glen Allen, VA 23060 The full public notice is available at www.deq. virginia.gov/Programs/Water/PermittingCom pliance/PollutionDischargeElimination/Public Notices.aspx .
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TOWN OF ASHLAND NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Please take notice that on the 14th day of October 2020, at 7:00 p.m. at the Ashland Town Hall, 101 Thompson Street, Ashland, VA, the Ashland Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing for the purpose of receiving input and may make a recommendation on the following items:
ORDINANCE NO. 2020-14 Transportation Impact Analysis Text Amendment Ordinance No. 2020-14 amends the Ashland Town Code by modifying Sec. 21-140.3, “Site Plan Required,” and Sec. 21185, “Specific Information” to revise and add a new threshold for the number of proposed vehicle trips per day that would require a transportation impact analysis. Ordinance No. 202014 is considered pursuant to the grants of authority contained in VA. Code §§ 15.2-2200, 15.2-2240, 15.2-2280, 15.2-2285, and 15.2-2286. Copies of the requests may be obtained by contacting Town Hall at (804) 798-1073. Written comments may be submitted to planning@ashlandva.gov or Town of Ashland, P.O. Box 1600, Ashland, VA 23005. 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. Citizens are encouraged to participate electronically; please contact Bernadette Cornelius, bcornelius@ashlandva.gov to make those arrangements. Any person with a disability requiring assistance in order to participate in this public hearing is asked to contact Town Hall in advance of the public hearing so that appropriate arrangements may be made.
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PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the Hanover County Planning Commission has set Thursday, October 15, 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: CHESAPEAKE BAY EXCEPTION CBE2020-00001, CARTER MACHINERY COMPANY, INC. Request(s) an exception from Chapter 10 - Environmental Management, Article II, Section 10-40 (a)(3) and Section 10-40(b) of the Hanover County Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance to permit development and redevelopment in the Resource Protection Area (RPA) on GPIN 7795-97-2356. The property is zoned M-2, Light Industrial District, consisting of approximately 40.73 acres, and located on the east line of Richfood Road (State Route 1250) approximately 1,700 feet south of its intersection with Old Richfood Road (State Route 1200). Permission is requested to allow an encroachment into the RPA for site entrance features and a parking lot expansion. (PUBLIC HEARING) Magisterial District: Chickahominy REZONINGS REZ2019-00019, HICKORY HILL II, L.L.C. Request(s) to rezone from A-1, Agricultural District, to MX(c), Mixed Use District with conditions, and B-2(c), Community Business District with conditions, on GPINs 7880-92-1335 and 7880-81-6802, consisting of approximately 51.5 acres, and located on the north line of East Patrick Henry Road (State Route 54) at its intersection with Providence Church Road (State Route 662). The subject property is designated on the General Land Use Plan Map as Planned Business and Commercial. The proposed zoning amendment would allow 42.33 acres to be rezoned to MX(c) for development of a mix of commercial (retail, office and restaurant) uses and residential uses (100 townhome units) at a density of 2.36 dwelling units per gross acre, and 9.17 acres to be rezoned to B-2(c) for a mix of commercial that may include a convenience store and a fast food restaurant with drive-through. (PUBLIC HEARING) Magisterial District: Beaverdam REZ2020-00024, ROXANNE S. AND LAZARO G. PERDOMO, ET AL. Request(s)torezonefromA-1,AgriculturalDistrict,toRS(c),SingleFamilyResidentialDistrictwithconditions,andM-2(c), Light Industrial District with conditions, on GPINs 7787-39-1265, 7788-40-0089, 7788-40-1355, 7788-40-0566, and 7788-40-0850, consisting of approximately 35.65 acres, and located on the north line of Old Keeton Road (State Route 719) at its intersection with Washington Highway (U.S. Route 1). The subject property is designated on the General Land Use Plan Map as Suburban General (1.5-3 Dwelling Units Per Acre) and Business-Industrial. The proposed zoning amendment would permit the creation 52 single-family lots and 45 townhome units for a total of 97 dwelling units for a gross density of 2.99 dwelling units per acre on 32.49 acres. It would also permit a selfstorage facility on the remaining 3.16-acre portion of the property that fronts on U.S. Route 1. (PUBLIC HEARING) Magisterial District: South Anna CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS
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TOWN OF ASHLAND NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Please take notice that on the 20th day of October 2020, at 7:00 p.m. at the Ashland Town Hall, 101 Thompson Street, Ashland, VA, the Ashland Town Council will conduct a public hearing for the purpose of receiving input and may take action on the following items:
CUP20-0729, 301 Caroline Street Paul Davies, the applicant on behalf of Randolph-Macon College (R-MC), is requesting approval of a conditional use permit (CUP) to change the use of the home at 301 Caroline Street (GPIN 7870-82-9155) from residential to an office use. Section 2140(l), Use Regulations, permits offices associated with a college or university in the R-2 district with a CUP. The property is zoned R-2, is 0.54 acres in size, and has a future land use designation of Traditional Neighborhood (1-4 units/acre).
ORD2020-13 Residential Monument Sign Text Amendment Town of Ashland is requesting to revise Sec. 21-207.1, General Provisions Definitions and Sec. 21-208 (a) (b) (c), and (d) Signs Permitted, to limit the number of monument and freestanding signs in residential districts. Copies of the requests may be obtained by contacting Town Hall at (804) 798-1073. Written comments may be submitted to planning@ashlandva.gov or Town of Ashland, P.O. Box 1600, Ashland, VA 23005. 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. Citizens are encouraged to participate electronically; please contact Bernadette Cornelius, bcornelius@ashlandva.gov to make those arrangements. Any person with a disability requiring assistance in order to participate in this public hearing is asked to contact Town Hall in advance of the public hearing so that appropriate arrangements may be made.
CUP2020-00002, HEIDI M. AND LAMERRO L. MASON Request(s) a Conditional Use Permit in accordance with Section 26-20.14 of the Hanover County Zoning Ordinance to permit a recreational facility/event venue on GPIN 7861-31-5506, consisting of approximately 11.86 acres, zoned A-1, Agricultural District, and located on the east line of Horseshoe Bridge Road (State Route 686) approximately 300 feet north of its intersection with West Patrick Henry Road (State Route 54). The subject property is designated on the General Land Use Plan Map as Agricultural. (PUBLIC HEARING) Magisterial District: Beaverdam CUP2020-00010, HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS (PUBLIC UTILITIES) Request(s) a Conditional Use Permit in accordance with Section 26-174.1 of the Hanover County Zoning Ordinance to permit a water storage tank and pump station on GPIN 7881-15-1901, consisting of approximately 7.6 acres, zoned M-2(c), Light Industrial District with conditions, and located on the northwest line of Hickory Hill Road (State Route 646) at its intersection with Ellett’s Crossing Road (State Route 641). The subject property is designated on the General Land Use Plan Map as Industrial. (PUBLIC HEARING) Magisterial District: Beaverdam CUP2020-00011, CAROLYN H. AND RICHARD E. BARRETT Request(s) a Conditional Use Permit in accordance with Section 26-20.14 of the Hanover County Zoning Ordinance to permit a recreational facility/event venue on GPINs 8719-65-5010 and 8719-65-2975(part), consisting of approximately 26.49 acres, zoned A-1, Agricultural District, and located on the south line of River Road (State Route 605) approximately 910 feet east of its intersection with Broad Neck Road (State Route 326). The subject property is designated on the General Land Use Plan Map as Agricultural. (PUBLIC HEARING) Magisterial District: Henry Copies of the above cases 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 October 7, 2020 13
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TOWN OF ASHLAND PUBLIC NOTICE Please take notice that on the 20th day of October, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. at the regular monthly meeting of the Ashland Town Council, at the Ashland Town Hall, 101 Thompson Street, Ashland, VA, 23005, the Town Council will conduct public hearings on the following:
November 3, 2020 General and Special Election Important Dates to Remember 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 November 3, 2020 General Election. Voter Registration Deadline to register to vote, or update an existing registration is Tuesday, October 13. You may go online to vote.virginia.gov and click ‘Registration’; request an application by calling/emailing our office or visit us in the office. Early Voting (In-Person Absentee) Virginia no longer requires an excuse to vote absentee. September 18, 2020 the Early Voting Center in the Wickham building opened for you to cast your ballot in-person by visiting our office. We will be open for in-person voting Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. in addition Saturday, October 24 and 31 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. October 31st is the last day to vote early. Vote By Mail (Absentee) You can visit ‘vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation’ to apply online or request an application by calling/emailing or visit us. We began to mail the ballots out on September 18. Friday, October 23 by 5:00 p.m.: the deadline to request a vote by mail ballot to be mailed to you. Monday, November 2 at 2 p.m.: the cut-off for voting an emergency-only ballot in the Voter Registration and Elections Office. Tuesday, November 3: Election Day. All Hanover County polls will be opens 6 a.m. – 7 p.m. Friday, November 6: • Mail ballots postmarked on or before Election Day must arrive at the Voter Registration office by noon in order to be counted. • Last day for Provisional No ID voter to provide a copy of an acceptable ID or submit an ID confirmation request via fax, email, mail or in person at the Voter Registration office by noon. The Hanover County Voter Registration and Elections Office is located in the Wickham Building, Room 119, of the Hanover County Government Complex. The phone number is (804) 365-6080. The e-mail address is hanovervoting@hanovercounty.gov. The website: www.hanovercounty.gov/365/Voting 14
Ashland-Hanover Local October 7, 2020
1. The proposed granting of an easement to William McElroy as follows: An exclusive easement for the purpose of pedestrian and equipment ingress and egress to 209 England Street in Ashland Virginia, said easement extending in part through the building located on 205 England Street and being more particularly described on a plat dated October 17, 2018, by Ronald L. Lang, entitled “Plat Showing a 3’ Private Pedestrian Ingress & Egress Easement and a 9’x18’ Private Parking Easement Across GPIN: 7870-71-9371” recorded herewith and made a part of this instrument, and the centerline of said easement being located on such plat as “C/L 3’ Private Pedestrian Ingress & Egress Easement,” and an exclusive parking easement, also being more particularly shown on said plat and designated “9x18 Private Parking Easement.” 2. A party wall deed of easement for the shared wall between 205 England Street and 209 England Street, Ashland, VA 23005. A copy of the proposed Deed of Easement and the Party Wall Deed of Easement may be obtained by contacting Town Hall at (804) 798-9219, Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Written comments may be submitted to Assistant Town Manager Matt Reynal via e-mail at mreynal@ashlandva.gov or through regular mail to Clerk of Council, Town of Ashland, PO Box 1600, Ashland, VA 23005. 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. Citizens are encouraged to participate electronically; please contact Matt Reynal at (804) 798-9219 to make those arrangements. Any person with a disability requiring assistance in order to participate in this public hearing is asked to contact Town Hall in advance of the public hearing so that appropriate arrangements may be made. By Order of the Town Council
B-17 Flying Fortress visits as reminder of sacrifice By Dave Lawrence Richmond Suburban News ASHLAND – The U.S. Army Air Forces suffered 115,382 battle casualties in World War II. Of those, 52,173 were killed – 44,785 were killed in action. As part of an effort to remind current and future generations of that sacrifice, a World War II-era B-17 Flying Fortress, the Sentimental Journey, paid a visit to Hanover County Airport three weeks ago. The bomber, a B-17G designed by Boeing but built by Douglas, is part of the Commemorative Air Force’s “Flying Legends of Victory Tour.” During its stop in Hanover, visitors could tour the bomber on the ground. Some were able to get a flight on it before mechanical issues grounded it on Sept. 19 and 20. There was no shortage of “Wow!” factor, whether one experienced the bomber in the air or on the ground. It is a flying museum – one with an important mission. “We’re here to educate, to inspire, and to honor,” said Ed Campbell, ground operations coordinator for the Commemorative Air Force Airbase Arizona B-17. “It’s a very short mission statement – we’ve revamped it over the years – but our job is to educate people about the roles of these airframes and what these air crews did. … “The folks in World War II performed a mission without being asked for the most part. They didn’t go screaming and dragging. They volunteered after Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor to go and fight for freedom.” Photos by Dave Lawrence Richmond Suburban News
Above, the left seat of a B-17's cockpit was filled by the pilot, an officer who commanded the rest of the crew. At right, the waist gunner’s compartment may look spacious enough for two, but the space could get quite claustrophobic in the heat of battle.
Above, its complement of 13 M2 Browning .50-caliber machine guns gave the B-17G plenty of bite when enemy fighters attacked. At right, the Sentimental Journey’s nose art includes a nod to a famous World War II pinup photo of Betty Grable.
Those who volunteered for flight duty in units such as the Eighth Air Force in England, fought for freedom thousands of feet above ground, in below zero temperatures and in an atmosphere where unconsciousness would result after a few seconds without supplemental oxygen. Their only protection from the elements – and enemy fire – was a flying aluminum can loaded with fuel and high explosives. American authorities trusted in daylight precision bombing in the belief that such an approach would allow maximum destruction of targets with minimum risk to air crews. Unfortunately, such an approach demanded straight-and-level flight toward
the target of the day – leaving the bombers, easily seen in the daylight, vulnerable to enemy fighters and antiaircraft fire. Seventy-five years later, it is almost impossible to appreciate what those flight crews experienced. “You think about what they had to do,” Campbell said. “Firing guns and so forth -being fired at -- it’s cold. The flight suits they were wearing were capable of being plugged into electricity to keep them warm – but they would often catch fire. The windows would frost up so that you couldn’t see the enemy coming your way – and you still had guys volunteering to go on these planes … “The things that they were
tasked with doing are virtually unimaginable. You can get a pretty good idea – Hollywood does a decent job but not a grand job. You’re going to be able to see the actors, but not how confining it is in the airplane.” Taking a tour of the B-17 helps drive home the notion of how cramped the space was – without the added stress of getting shot at. There is no shortage of spaces where one’s head can make unauthorized contact with metal objects. It takes a bit of a scramble just to get a glimpse into the nose compartment where the bombardier and navigator were based. The cockpit can, at best, be considered cozy, but when one adds a flight engineer monitoring the
condition of the aircraft – or firing the top turret in combat – any notion of coziness is quickly dispelled. A narrow catwalk through the bomb bay links the fore and aft compartments of the plane. Aft of the bomb bay is the radio compartment, but its sole occupant, the radioman/gunner, shares a space with radio communications and navigation equipment as well as one M2 Browning .50-caliber machine gun to protect the bomber from attacks from above. The only relatively spacious compartment follows – the side gunners’ compartment, but it contains the drive mechanisms for the ball turret in the belly of the aircraft and, when full of two waist gunners and flying casings
from the .50-caliber shells, gets cramped fairly fast. As for the ball turret, the gunner had to crawl into the turret through a narrow hatch, curl into a fetal position with barely enough room to activate the twin .50-caliber guns’ controls, much less breathe. To make matters worse, despite the diminutive size of the ball turret gunners, there wasn’t enough room in the turret for both them and their parachutes. One ball turret gunner, Alan Magee, was thrown free of his destroyed B-17 without a parachute. He fell four miles, crashing through the glass roof of the train station in St. Nazaire, France. He survived the fall and the war, but most airmen in a similar situation weren’t so lucky. Finally, there is a narrow crawl space leading to the tail gunner’s compartment. It might have been the least enviable position on a B-17 because it was a vulnerable position from which to attack the plane. While the Flying Fortress was designed by Boeing, other manufacturers were called upon to meet front-line demand. One of these other companies, Douglas, built the plane that see SACRIFICE, pg. 16
Ashland-Hanover Local October 7, 2020 15
HCPS Job Fair to be held Thursday, Oct. 8 Staff Report news@mechlocal.com ASHLAND -- Hanover County Public Schools Transportation and Custodial Services will hold a Job Fair for various positions from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, at the Atlee Public Library.
Openings include: bus attendants, bus drivers, car drivers, custodians, and traffic guards. For more information, call 365-4500 or visit www.schooljobs.com/careers/HCPS to view job descriptions and submit online applications.
Greener to give keynote speech at Republican Reagan Dinner Staff Report news@mechlocal.com ASHLAND – The Hanover Republican Committee Reagan Dinner will feature William Greener III as its special guest on Friday, Oct. 9. A political and communications consultant, Greener will be the keynote speaker for the event, which will be held at Oakdale at 13497 Ashland Rd. in Ashland. His program will be “Politics in 2020.” The dinner will begin with cocktails at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. The program and auction are scheduled to get underway at 7:30 p.m. Greener is a founding partner of Greener and Hook, LLC, a Republican consulting firm assisting individual candidates and Republican organizations as well individual corporations, associations and ad hoc groups.
He has served both Deputy Chief of Staff and Communications Director for the Republican National Committee. Greener has held senior communications posts in the White House and Cabinet departments. He has played a role in every GOP Convention since 1984, heading up the 1996 Convention and serving as program coordinator in 2008 and program director in 2016. He also was executive producer for public events and ceremonies for the 2017 Presidential Inauguration. The deadline for tickets is today (Wednesday, Sept. 30). To purchase online, go to hanovergop.com/reagandaydinner or send a check, made out to Hanover Republican Committee, to: Hanover Republican Committee, 6174 Fire Ln, Mechanicsville, VA 23116.
Upcoming Ashland meetings Staff Report news@mechlocal.com ASHLAND – The Ashland Parks and Recreation Committee will meet at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8, at Ashland Town Hall, located at 101 Thompson St. in Ashland. The Planning Commission
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is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at Town Hall. A meeting of the Economic Development Authority will get underway at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15. All meetings are held at Ashland Town Hall and are open to the public.
Ashland-Hanover Local October 7, 2020
Storytime @ Home continues HANOVER – Storytime @ Home started on Tuesday, Sept. 8, and continues through Saturday, Dec. 5. According to Librarian Carolyn Garner of the Pamunkey Regional Library, a daily online Storytime will be posted to the system’s website at https://tinyurl.com/prlstorytime at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday MondaySaturday and on the Facebook page (https://www.facebook. com/PamunkeyLibrary/) at 11 a.m. Each Storytime features stories, songs, and fun, age-appropriate learning activities. Check the calendar at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal. com/ to see more virtual programs for all ages this fall. For more information, call your local branch library or email ask@pamunkeylibrary. org.
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became the Sentimental Journey in November 1944. The bomber was set to Europe but arrived too late for combat in the European Theater of Operations. It was then sent to the Pacific Theater in the Philippines. “She did some military things here and there. She never dropped a bomb. She never got shot at, never fired a shot,” Campbell said of the ship. “She was a warbird that was never really in it – a bridesmaid instead of a bride kind of thing.” Just because it missed action in World War II doesn’t mean the Sentimental Journey had an uneventful career. After a brief stint at the “Boneyard” for retired and surplus aircraft at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, the B-17 was returned to service for tasks as varied as flying drones through radioactive clouds during atomic weapons tests, ferry
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had at least one of our suggestions used),” the student said. “Dr. Gill said he would endorse this compromise, and then the committee voted to approve this recommendation 18-2.” While the student said he was disappointed the work of the committee was discounted, he supports the board’s decision and their choice of names. “First off, I want to say that I support whatever decision the school board does land on, as I believe any name in the running to be selected will be exponentially better than the previous ones we had,” he said. “This being said, I am disappointed that multiple hours of hard work over video conferencing and research done outside of meetings was just thrown to the side as if it was nothing.” service, marine search-andrescue, and firefighting. The aircraft eventually made it back to the Boneyard, but didn’t stay there. “[The Commemorative Air Force] got her in 1978,” Campbell said. “It’s sort of an overused term, but it was a labor of love finding the parts and getting her back to what you see now. She is fully restored to World War II glory down to the Norden bombsight in the nose.” The B-17G, with its chin turret, was the definitive design of the bomber’s line. Carrying up to 8,000 pounds of bombs and armed with 13 .50-caliber machine guns for defense, the B-17 – like its counterpart, the B-24 Liberator – was a formidable weapon. But the air campaign that featured both bombers only partially fulfilled the promises of the most enthusiastic and vocal of pre-war theorists who argued that strategic bombing alone could bring an enemy to its knees by destroy-
He said his fellow members on the committee took the renaming task seriously. “We worked hard coming up with these recommendations. It was not easy narrowing it down from a list of over 3,000 to two final choices,” he said. “I personally am disappointed that the Hanover County School Board does not recognize this, and I am also disappointed that they will be moving forward with names they spent one weekend coming up with, when the committee spent multiple weeks working for our recommendations.” The student said he suspected from the start of the process that the final decision would be made by the school board. “In the end, I think it’s important to note that I had a feeling from the start of this process that it was going to turn out like this, because of what I’ve seen the board do in the past. I’m proud that they ing its production and defensive capability and undermine its morale – sapping its will to fight. Historian Stanley Weintraub argued that the thousands of Allied air crews did disrupt enemy industrial production – especially the production of new weapons – and did disrupt the disposition, movement and effectiveness of enemy forces. But, while seeing Allied aircraft above might have benefitted the morale of citizens in enemy-occupied countries, the bombing campaign had little if any adverse effect on enemy morale. The most valuable result of the bombing campaign came after the arrival of the P-51 Mustang fighter. The Mustang alone had the range to escort bombers from England to Berlin and back, and it could out-compete most German fighters in aerial combat. Historian Robert Leckie noted a shift in strategy occurred after the deployment of the P-51. Targets were cho-
have cleansed our schools of the names and symbols of racism, but it does seem that they want to use their power as much as possible.” He’s also not sure a stated goal to include students in the renaming process, in the final analysis, didn’t fall short of the mark. “When you serve on the school board, the students should come first, not the interests of yourself or your supervisor. I have friends that are telling me that they aren’t happy with the board’s decision. The board is making a choice based solely upon voices that don’t walk the halls of these buildings every day. To me, that’s a problem.” The school board will consider the names for approval at its Oct. 13 meeting. Mascots and colors will be chosen at the school level at a later date. sen to lure the Luftwaffe into combat. American aircraft and air crews could be replaced quickly. Enemy aircraft – and most important, air crews, could not. By sacrificing American lives, the air campaigns in Europe and the Pacific destroyed the enemy’s ability to defend itself in the air. The volunteer crew of the Sentimental Journey would like the public to remember that sacrifice long after their bomber has returned home to Arizona. Dave Lawrence is sports editor of The Mechanicsville Local and Ashland-Hanover Local. Both of his parents served in the U.S. Air Force. Dave was born at Westover Air Force Base in Massachusetts, which was headquarters of the Eighth Air Force at the time, and grew up near Barksdale Air Force Base, which is now headquarters of “The Mighty Eighth.” He can be reached at dlawrence@mechlocal.com.