INDEPENDENCE DAY
ASTRONMY The Universe from the Center: Reader asks about star formation
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Vol. 6 No. 44 | Richmond Suburban News | June 30, 2021
Public hearing to determine ASF Scholarship county use of ARPA funds drive a success By Jim Ridolphi for Ashland-Hanover Local HANOVER – The Hanover County Board of Supervisors scheduled a public hearing next month to consider the allocation of almost $30 million headed the county’s way thanks to funding provided through the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Finance Director Jacob Sumner provided an outline of a proposed plan to spend the money, with the bulk slated for broadband development in the county and a third of the money planned for county schools. The U.S. Congress passed the relief bill in March, and the package includes funding for states and localities recovering from the COVID0-19 pandemic, infrastructure assistance, emergency rental assistance, education stabilization
and stimulus checks sent to Americans earlier this year. “Hanover County was allocated $20.9 million as a direct allocation from the U.S. Treasury as a part of this local and state fiscal recovery fund items,” Sumner said. “The main uses for this fund are to address the public health emergency and its response or its negative economic impact on its citizens.” The funding also could cover the county’s government services losses during the pandemic and provide money for infrastructure improvements, including broadband and water and sewer projects. Those funds must be spent by Dec. 31, 2024, but infrastructure projects with contracts in place are allowed an additional 24 months for completion. Sumner presented a list of recommendations for the allo-
cation at last Wednesday’s board meeting, and supervisors subsequently unanimously approved his request to schedule a public hearing. Approximately $2 million of that funding is slated for pandemic response. “We know there are some variants of the disease out there and we don’t know what the fall is going to look like,” Sumner said. “We’re proposing setting aside $2 million for future response and mitigation efforts.” An equal amount could fund efforts to assist citizens and small businesses affected by the pandemic. “This is to help our local citizens and small businesses . . . and some of our more vulnerable populations,” Sumner said. Some of those local services could include food, housing or utility assissee ARPA, pg. 4
Tomato Month in full swing: 4K Pizza Race & Relay slated
Photos submitted by Lorie Foley
Flat Stella is lifting weights in the photo at left; middle, a little girl takes time to pose with a strawberry.
(Editor’s note: The following was submitted by Lorie Foley on behalf of the officers and board of the Ashland Strawberry Faire.) ASHLAND -- Despite the cancellation of the Ashland Strawberry Faire for the second year, enough money
was raised to distribute our scholarships. Every year, the Ashland Strawberry Faire offers scholarships to Hanover County public high school students and one RandolphMacon College student. The Faire Committee was see SCHOLARSHIP, pg. 15
(Editor’s note: The following was submitted by Marcy G. Durrer, recreation program director for Hanover County Parks and Recreation.) MECHANICSVILLE – The 4K Pizza Race & Relay is, well, all about pizza! With Tomato Month officially kicking off tomorrow (Thursday, July 1), the pizza event will get underway at 6:30 p.m. with an individual Pizza Race, followed by a team Pizza Relay at 7:15 p.m. on Friday, July 9, at Pole Green Park at see 4K pg. 6
Superintendent explains ‘Why’ in his address to Class of 2021
Joel Klein/Ashland-Hanover LLocal
Dr. Michael Gill, superintendent, addresses one of Hanover County Public Schools’ graduating classes.
(Editor’s note: Our apologies to Dr. Michael gill, superintendent of Hanover County Public Schools, for inadvertently publishing his end of year comments to parents and guardians in last week’s edition rather than his speech to members of the Class of 2021. Today, we share his speech.) Why? That single three-letter word is one we hear often, typically without
giving it a second thought -- from a curious preschooler learning about the world, bombarding a tired parent with questions like “Why do dogs have tails?” or “Why can’t I have cookies before dinner?” to questioning all of the events that have unfolded since last March and throughout your senior year. It is the first word of unlimited questions, yet by itself seemingly nondescript. I can recall
that the theme for one of my middle school yearbooks was “Why Ask Why?” The question seemed to indicate that we should not try to make sense of the world’s many mysteries, but rather accept them as the so-called spice of life. I think it is okay to ask why, though. It is by being inquisitive that true growth and learning takes place. Without someone being inquisitive, think of all the
many inventions or discoveries that never would have occurred. One of the most difficult “why” questions to answer, though, is not one that leads to the discovery of new worldly knowledge, but rather one that is introspective and calls for self-analysis. That complicated question is: What is my why? Or, to put it another way, what is the thing that drives see GILL, pg. 4