Ashland-Hanover Local – 09/30/2021

EDUCATION

HISTORY

Supervisors receive backto-school update

Landmark decision subject of documentary PAGE

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Vol. 7 No. 5 | Richmond Suburban News | September 29, 2021

Ashland Town Council approves $8 million budget amendment

VOTE! ELECTION 2021

MEET YOUR

Approves spending plan for $5.6 million

55th District candidates address the issues Levy, Fowler bidding for local House seat

By Jim Ridolphi For Ashland-Hanover Local Virginia’s 55th House of Delegates District encompasses parts of Caroline, Hanover and Spotsylvania counties. All 100 Virginia House seats are up for election this November.

The Local sent questions to both candidates seeking the seat, incumbent Hyland “Buddy” Fowler and Ashland resident and educator Rachel Levy. Both received identical questionnaires and provided diligent and responsive answers to the questions.

Editor’s note: Challenger Levy’s responses will run in Part I of this story, and Del. Fowler’s responses will be published in the following week’s edition.

A few words about why you decided to seek or continue public service. What motivates you to serve and

why are you seeking election, re-election to the General Assembly?

Levy: First, the combination of my engagement in local and state government matters, volunteering with campaigns, and my life’s work in improving public education made me realize that public service is my passion and my calling. Even when I finished my PhD, my first choice of a job wasn’t to be an academic but to continue to be a public servant. I ended up back in the classroom, as a teacher, and it’s been immensely valuable to me as someone who spent years studying education policy, school governance, and school finance. Because what can happen to people who go into research, policy, and administration is that they can forget what it is to be on the receiving end of policies they recommend, create, and promote. But I know what it’s like on the ground—I experience it every day. And that perspective is sorely needed in the General Assembly.

LEVY

Second, an important lesson I’ve learned from being a teacher about being a good representative and legislator is that I keep in mind that every student of mine is someone’s child and worthy of respect and dignity. I care about my students and their learning unconditionally. I serve the public and that encapsulates my broader approach to public service: Every constituent deserves to be treated with respect and dignity, no matter who they are, what their background is, what the color of their skin is, who they love, what their see LEVY, pg. 4

By Jim Ridolphi For Ashland-Hanover Local Ashland Town Council unanimously approved a budget amendment that adds more than $8 million to the current 2021-2022 budget thanks to funding provided through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

The Council also endorsed an initial spending plan for the

FARRAR

money that includes a number of projects that qualified for the federal funding.

Earlier this month, Town Manager Josh Farrar presented

a three-tier spending plan for the ARPA funds. Earlier this week, he asked the Council to approve the Tier 1 spending plan portion of that proposal.

The list of projects approved by Town Council earlier this week represents about $5.6 million, most of the remainder of the funding slated for projects listed in the Tier 2 category. Those projects will be considered by Council at future meetings.

Included in that first see BUDGET, pg. 2

PHHS brick sales benefit HEF Contributed Report Ashland-Hanover Local Patrick Henry High School continues a fundraising effort for the Hanover Education Foundation by selling bricks that are placed in memory of deceased alumni and faculty. Forty bricks were placed in April with 85 friends and family attending. This year’s event is scheduled for Nov. 12 at 3 p.m. The last day to order bricks is Oct. 11.

The annual brick dedication program has contributed close to $20,000 to Hanover Education Foundation (HEF) since it was started in 2012. Please contact HEF: Phone: 804-365-4500; Address: 200 Berkley Street, Ashland, VA 23005 attention Beth Godbolt.

Contributed photo

Bricks can be placed at Patrick Henry High School in memory of deceased alumni and faculty.

Ashland Museum offers guided walking tours of Woodland Cemetery The Ashland Museum will offer two guided walking tours of historic Woodland Cemetery this fall. Susan Tucker, Woodland Cemetery Administrator, will lead a tour at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 30 and Thursday, Oct. 7.

Ashland did not have a cemetery prior to 1862. As soldiers were dying in makeshift hospitals around town, land was needed for a cemetery.

Citizens and Confederate

officers purchased land outside of town and established Woodland Cemetery.

With property purchased from Betsy Hogg Tinsley, a free Black woman, the small burial ground expanded, and, in 1876, the Virginia General Assembly granted a charter to Woodland Cemetery. Ground penetrating radar in 2015 established the site of the first graves.

Today, Woodland

BUDGET Continued from pg. 1

round of funding is the hiring of a Community Engagement Manager, the replacement of accounting systems, and an updated Ashland Police Department phone system for a combined cost of about $637,000.

Approximately $219,000 would be allocated for new HVAC systems at the Ashland Police Department and the Dominion Innovation Center.

Tier 1 approved spending also included a plan to provide a public Wi-Fi system in downtown Ashland and replenish funds cut from the previous budget for municipal broadband. That project would require $676,000 of ARPA funding.

Also included are major investments in stormwater management to meet Chesapeake Bay environmental requirements and replenish the previous year’s budget cuts in the area of capital improvements. Total cost of that item is $2.4 million.

That project would also bolster programs such as residential improvement, the Vaughan Road extension, drainage, vehicles, and strategic property acquisition.

Farrar suggested adding a police officer position in the APD’s five-year plan at a cost of $164,000.

Parks and Recreation is slated to receive about $600,000 of that approved funding to replenish all maintenance capital fund projects. It also includes money for Carter Pool additions connecting the Fall Line Trail to downtown Ashland, playground equipment replacement and

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The Ashland Museum

Woodland Cemetery is located at 11310 Hanover Avenue in Ashland, established in 1862.

property acquisitions for future parks.

Council also approved funding for economic development and business assistance. That $757,000 is targeted for streetscape improvement, downtown parking solutions, gateway signage, public art and to encourage redevelopment of blighted strutters in the town.

Finally, Tier I includes $165,000 of administrative funds that can be supplied by ARPA to offset the costs of organizing and running the ARPA funding programs.

Assistant Town Manager Matt Reynal is administering the program and a portion of his salary could be offset by ARPA funds.

Farrar also listed projects included in the Tier 2 recommendations. These suggestions required no immediate action from the Council but would be considered at a future meeting.

“We are not recommending making this decision tonight but we want to be transparent about what’s in there,” Farrar said. “Government operations is a focus and community programming starts to appear here (in Tier 2).”

There are additional investments in Parks and Recreation included in Tier 2 proposals and funding for economic development and affordable housing. Premium pay for government employees is also recommended in the second set of proposals.

“We are recommending unfreezing the other frozen public works maintenance position and then also covering potential increases in solid waste and recycling costs due to the pandemic,” Farrar said.

Ashland-Hanover Local September 29, 2021

Referring to those increased waste and recycling costs, Farrar said, “That market has gone haywire recently so we’re expecting substantial increases in the future.”

Funding the YMCA/CAHN program is also included in Tier 2. Those monies would be used to hire an outreach coordinator and fund its mobile health services.

Farrar said the Y and other organizations realize the funding is only for the first year and costs in additional years would be the sole responsibility of the agency.

Circles Ashland would receive a program coach if Tier 2 funding is approved who would assist Ashlanders who are struggling with poverty and provide transportation for mental health appointments.

Funding would also be provided for Parks and Recreation to purchase adjacent land to expand the Taylor Street Park and the construction of a heritage park focused on the history of Berkleytown.

There’s also $26,000 for economic and business assistance in the Tier 2 proposal to fund ongoing music in downtown.

“We have good data indicating that brings people in to downtown and those businesses have seen substantial increases in their revenues,” Farrar said.

There’s also funding for some level of business support in the form of some sort of premium pay.

Regarding affordable housing, Tier 2 establishes a home revitalization program that focuses on connecting homes to water and sewer.

Cemetery is the final resting place for over 6,000 individuals, all of whom have interesting stories.

Join us either night when Susan Tucker will share the stories of just a few of these people with ties to Ashland – our founders, RandolphMacon College professors and presidents, Secretariat’s owner, an Ashlander connected to the aftermath of abolitionist John Brown’s execution, and

“That would be a pot of money that we put out an RFP for a nonprofit to manage. They would work on the eligibility and managing the program to connect a certain number of houses that are within the budget to water and sewer as well as some weatherazation efforts,” Farrar said.

Total Tier 2 costs are estimated at $2.8 million that, when combined with the Tier 1 estimates, accounts for most of the $8.1 million in ARPA funding.

Farrar briefly outlined Tier 3 proposals that include an additional police officer position, community programming such as food pantries, a youth center, economic development for event venues and other projects like affordable housing.

“This is where the projects that weren’t funded fell in the grand scheme of things,” Farrar said. “You see some big numbers there.”

The total estimated cost of those unfunded projects was around $6 million.

Renee Robinson, executive director of Habitat for Humanity in King William and Hanover counties, thanked council members for their consideration of affordable housing in the proposed spending plan.

“I’d like to thank you for including affordable housing in your Tier 2 and Tier 3 options,” she said. “I think you are all aware with the rise of real estate costs that there is very little affordable housing available in the town.

Our mission is to be able to provide everybody with a decent place to live and appreciate any help the Council can provide.”

Vice Mayor John Hodges asked

Ashland’s connection to yellow fever research.

Both walking tours will last 75-90 minutes. Museum members and students are free, and non-members are $15.

Details and registration information can be found at ashlandmuseum.org or leave a voice message at 804-3687314.

Information submitted by the Ashland Museum.

Farrar to further explain how the ARPA funding of certain projects could actually save money for the Town and its budget.

“When it comes to savings, that’s kind of a generic term that encumbers a number of things,” Farrar said. “If you approved Tier 1 tonight, you’re going to put about $1.9 million in to your capital project fund. That is $1.9 million of non local dollars that you will be putting in there. You could call that savings.”

He said those savings are based on the premise that Council would have approved all of those projects in the future.

“It means that it’s not money that you are going to put in yourself but I can’t guarantee you would have put it in yourself,” he said.

Potential savings from the ARPA funding of the three proposed employee positions amounts to about $500,000.

“The federal money is covering those expenses instead of the Town,” Farrar said. “If you added all of those things up, you are at $2.7 million but I don’t think that there’s a real number because you wouldn’t have put all of that into future years’ budgets.”

Farrar said it all could add up to a 2023 budget process with more options for consideration.

“I’m actually looking forward to putting together the FY 2023 budget,” Farrar said. “We’re going to be in a better financial position. We have the savings from ARPA and I think we are going to be able to make some substantial progress. I’m just resonant to tell you a number right now.”

SHERIFF’S REPORTS | Crime, Accidents, Fire & Rescue with damage more than $1,000 was reported in the 9400th block of Charter Gate Drive, Mechanicsville.

Aug. 26

Failure to appear on a felony charge was reported in the 7500th block of County Complex Road, Hanover.

Larceny of bank notes, checks was reported in the 11500th block of Fox Cross Road, Ashland.

Grand larceny from auto was reported in the 10100th block of Suzanne Drive, Mechanicsville.

Unauthorized use of vehicle, boat or animal was reported in the 11400th block of W Patrick Henry Road, Ashland.

Destruction of property, monument was reported in the 6600th block of Cold Harbor Road, Mechanicsville.

DWI: Second offense in 10 years was reported in the 12300th block of Hanover Courthouse Road/Margel Drive, Hanover.

Petit larceny, building was reported in the 10000th block of Pollen Drive, Mechanicsville.

Use of marijuana while driving was reported in the 7100th block of Cold Harbor Road/Cold Cove, Mechanicsville.

Credit card fraud less than $200 In 6 Months was reported in the 7200th block of Elm Tree Terrace, Mechanicsville.

Damaging public buildings, library materials less than $1,000 was reported in the 7000th block of Mechanicsville Turnpike, Mechanicsville.

Entering property with intent to damage was reported in the 7100th block of Ann Cabell Court, Mechanicsville.

Identity theft with financial loss more than $200 was reported in the 15200th block of Indian Springs Lane, Montpelier.

DWI: Second offense in 5 to 10 years was reported in the 11000th block of Washington Highway, Ashland.

Concealment, price altering merchandise less than $500 was reported in the 7800th block of Compass Point Lane, Mechanicsville.

Aug. 27

Driver not reporting accident

than $250 was reported in the 7200th block of Bell Creek Road, Mechanicsville.

Violation of a protection order, family abuse was reported in the 7200th block of Cold Harbor Road, Mechanicsville.

Filing a false report to police or falsely summoning police was reported in the 13300th block of Rollingwood Lane, Montpelier.

Driving after forfeiture of license was reported in the 7500th block of Mechanicsville Bypass, Mechanicsville.

Exploiting a mentally disabled person for money, more than $200 was reported in the 10300th block of Colonial Estates Circle, Glen Allen.

Aug. 28

Concealment, price altering merchandise less than $500 was reported in the 8000th block of Mechanicsville Turnpike, Mechanicsville.

Brandishing a firearm was reported in the 7200th block of Garden Park Lane, Mechanicsville.

DWI: BAC .15 to .20, first offense was reported in the 7000th block of Pole Green Road, Mechanicsville.

Assault and battery on a family member was reported in the 14000th block of W Patrick Henry Road, Doswell.

Driver not reporting accident with damage up to $1,000 was reported in the 13200th block of Ashland Road/ Cedar Lane, Ashland.

Forging was reported in the 7500th block of Library Drive, Hanover.

Petit larceny, shoplifting was reported in the 10100th block of Lewistown Road, Ashland.

Driver not reporting accident with damage up to $1,000 was reported in the 10300th block of Sliding Hill Road, Ashland.

Obtaining money or signature by false pretenses was reported in the 6500th block of Mechanicsville Turnpike, Mechanicsville.

Failure to perform construction after advance was reported in the 15400th block of Beaver Den Lane, Beaverdam.

DWI: First offense was reported in the 17000th block of Washington Highway/Verdon Road, Doswell.

Petit larceny, shoplifting was reported in the 15100th block of Washington Highway, Doswell.

Possession of a Schedule III drug was reported in the 10300th block of Sliding Hill Road, Ashland.

Driver not reporting an accident with damage more

Assault on law enforcement, court, corrections, fire or medical personnel was reported in the 7500th block of Mechanicsville Turnpike, Mechanicsville.

Aug. 29

Driver not reporting accident with damage up to $1,000

was reported in the 8000th block of Mechanicsville Turnpike/Atlee Road, Mechanicsville.

Concealment, price altering merchandise less than $500 was reported in the 8300th block of Meadowbridge Road, Mechanicsville.

Petit larceny, less than $500, not from person was reported in the 10200th block of Lakeridge Parkway, Ashland.

Fatal car accident investigated On Wednesday, Sept. 22 at approximately 10:45 p.m., deputies responded to the 13000 block of East Patrick Henry Road near Cedon Road for a single-vehicle crash.

The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2006 Chevrolet sedan was traveling east on East Patrick Henry Road (Route 54) when it ran off the right shoulder of the roadway and collided

with a tree.

The driver of the 2006 Chevrolet sedan, Susan Janette Draper, 19, of Caroline County, was pronounced deceased at the scene. There were no other occupants in the vehicle.

Investigators are still collecting information at this time.

Information submitted

by Hanover County Sheriff’s Office.

Hanover County Public Schools ADULT EDUCATION 2021-2022 Fall Semester: September 13, 2021 – December 17, 2021 Spring Semester: January 3, 2022 – May 27, 2022

Year: $60.00 (includes textbooks) Fall Only: $35.00 (includes textbooks) Spring Only: $35.00 (includes textbooks)

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The Georgetown School T/Th 8:30-11:00 a.m.

The Georgetown School M/W 8:30-11:00 a.m.

The Georgetown School M/W 5:30-8:00 p.m.

Henry Clay Elementary School 310 South James Street Ashland, VA 23005 M/W 6:00-8:30 p.m.

Conversational English $20.00 per semester The Georgetown School Th 6:00-8:00 p.m. *Minimum scores required to participate

*Distance education options available; minimum scores required

Registration – Registration and testing begin promptly at the specified time. Students must bring a photo ID and class fees (cash or check).

GED® Preparation Registration The Georgetown School

August 30 @ 5:30 p.m.

September 8 @ 9:00 a.m.

English Class and Conversational English Registration The Georgetown School September 2 @ 9:00 a.m.

September 2 @ 5:30 p.m.

English Class Registration Henry Clay Elementary School September 1 @ 5:30 p.m.

September 8 @ 5:30 p.m.

The Georgetown School 10000 Learning Lane, Mechanicsville, VA 804-723-3471 | www.hcps.us/georgetown | adulted@hanover.k12.va.us

Ashland-Hanover Local September 29, 2021 3

Supervisors receive back-to-school update Slow mail service draws supervisors’ ire

By Jim Ridolphi Ashland-Hanover Local Superintendent of Hanover schools Michael Gill provided supervisors with a comprehensive report on the opening days of school and a vision of how the district plans to move forward to address learning gaps caused by the pandemic at last week’s regularly scheduled board meeting.

Gill told supervisors that around 17,000 students returned to Hanover schools during the first week, an increase from the anticipated number forecasted last year.

In an opening the superintendent described as smooth, there were the usual challenges that included late buses and long drop off lines for parents at several campuses. Many parents opted to provide transportation to and from school for their students once issues were reported regarding bus driver shortages.

Gill said Hanover began the year with 26 fewer drivers than the year before, a deficit much smaller than neighboring localities. During the past week, more than 1,000 additional requests for bus service have been received, most likely due to the long drop off lines and wait times for parents taking their children to school.

Gill said there is a decided difference in this year’s start of school versus last year.

While 62% of Hanover students returned to face-to-face instruction last year, that number is closer to 97% this year.

“The halls are much busier

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File photo by Joel Klein for The Local

Cold Harbor Assistant Principal Mary Douglas Roscoe welcomes students back on their first day of school earlier this month. Superintendent Michael Gill told supervisors last week the opening went well.

and livelier, and, as I make my rounds on the first day of school, ... the story was the same in each of those buildings,” Gill said. “There was an energy that has not been felt in a long, long time and we were happy to feel it again.”

Gill also highlighted key focus areas of this year’s return to learn plan. He told supervisors that Hanover’s path to a successful return was made easier by its previous experience. Out of 132 school divisions in the Commonwealth, Hanover was the only one that offered face-to-face instruction five days a week during the pandemic. “We have a playbook for this year because we’ve done this before,” Gill told the supervisors.

Regarding instruction, Gill said he recognizes that the focus this year cannot be “simply academic.”

“We know from talking to pediatricians that depression and anxiety diagnosis are up more than 300 percent.

Mental health, social emotional wellness …. are of paramount importance,” he said “We know we have to meet our students where they are,

Ashland-Hanover Local September 29, 2021

not only socially and emotionally but academically.”

Gill said HCPS has hired additional emotional support specialists and additional counselors to meet the ongoing mental health and emotional wellbeing needs of its students. Unlike last year, students in art and music classes will receive in-person instruction and return to art and band rooms for instruction.

For online students, synchronous learning is available this year, meaning students will interact with teachers in art, music and physical education, so “they are learning in real time, not pre-recorded lessons.”

Math and reading in middle schools is being emphasized through a split block system that allows additional time to study math and reading. “So they’re getting about 150% compared to other subjects.”

Middle school students will be offered two elective courses this year, and physical education classes return.

High school students see SUPERVISORS, pg. 15

LEVY Continued from pg. 1

gender identity is, how they worship or don’t, what their abilities are, how much money they have, or how they vote.

Every constituent deserves to be helped. My work is to help people, to make their lives better, and to make our community a better place to live for all of us.

Central Virginia, including Hanover, is experiencing a lack of broadband access. How can the General Assembly assist localities in solving these issues and how would you address the problem of underserved areas?

Levy: Voters across the board in the 55th, and especially in the rural areas, are disappointed with the lack of progress on broadband access.

For some people, it’s the issue they care the most about. I hear of so many broken promises and false starts—the situation with internet access is not only a technical problem, it’s undermining our faith in our governing bodies and elected officials. First, I operate under the premise that high-speed internet should be treated as a public utility, just like running water and electricity. Pandemic or no pandemic, access to highspeed internet is vital to the teaching and learning process, to sustaining small businesses and economic development, to supporting residents who telecommute, and to access to virtual healthcare options. I support increasing funding to the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative to defray costs of broadband access.

I also support compelling electric utility companies in the 55th to do their part to provide broadband access and subsidizing internet access costs.

Between the federal infrastructure bill, Governor Northam’s commitment to spending $700 million on a statewide initiative to bring high speed internet

across the Commonwealth, and localities’, including Hanover’s, new plans to address the lack of broadband access, it seems we have the will and the funding to make this happen. However, I pledge to go beyond pronouncements to tackle working out the logistics and building the infrastructure needed for high speed internet access.

One idea I am very interested in exploring further is that of a public broadband utility that would be a partnership between local governments, broadband authority entities, and electric cooperatives.

Private telecommunications companies have not deemed it profitable to install fiber optic cable to households in rural areas, nor are the services they provide affordable for residents, even for those who are willing to share costs. Hence, we need some sort of municipal-provided internet options that can work or compete with the private providers.

Although transportation funding has increased as regions search for alternative funding for new roads and infrastructure, it’s still the top priority in many areas. How would you increase state funds to address local transportation issues?

Levy: I am well aware that the state has slowly decreased funding for roads in recent years and has left localities holding the bag. That needs to be reversed as it not only impacts roads and transportation initiatives but ultimately has a negative impact on funding for other local services.

Otherwise, I support the establishment of the Central Virginia Transportation Authority that was created, how it’s funded, and other entities like it—it’s a step in the right direction and a great model. I also support greater state funding for expanding public transportation options such as rail, buses, and vans, and for expanding

infrastructure that supports walking and biking. Finally, we need to better fund the greatest public transportation system we have in the 55th District: our school buses! The state needs to support modernizing to an electric school bus fleet, which would be less polluting and healthier for our students, and to support compensating our school bus drivers fairly and competitively.

Federal infrastructure monies could and should be allocated towards such initiatives.

With a massive influx of federal money directed at towns and localities, some are saying this is the perfect time to address long-term issues like transportation, improved broadband, stormwater management. What are your priorities for the state and local funds headed our way from Washington?

Levy: Yes, I agree that federal funds coming our way should be used to provide access to high-speed internet to all residents and to bolster current transportation needs to expand public transportation options. As to stormwater management, as with transportation and in some cases education, there are well-intentioned state-issued mandates and requirements, but with inadequate funding to meet them. Unfortunately, SLAF (Stormwater Local Assistance Funds) are not sufficient to meet stormwater management goals and more funding is needed. I think that filling the gaps in stormwater management funding would be a great use of federal infrastructure funding. Funding stormwater management may be expensive, but as we’ve seen in the past few years, preventing flooding disasters is cheaper than recovering from them.

Is there an affordable housing issue in the 55th District? see LEVY, pg. 5

Changes in Rural America exhibition continues through Oct. 3 FISH DAY!

IT’S TIME TO STOCK YOUR POND!

The Ashland Museum and the Hanover Museum of History and Culture partnered to bring the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street traveling exhibition Crossroads: Change in Rural America to Hanover County, the only Central Virginia stop.

This special traveling exhibition will be on display at the museum through Oct. 3.

Crossroads explores what made for robust rural communities and how that is changing. Take a moment to reflect on how our community is changing as you walk through the six sections of the exhibition.

The exhibition is at the Hanover Museum of History and Culture, 7496 County Complex Rd., Hanover until Oct. 3.

Exhibition hours are Monday-Friday: 12 to 4 p.m., Saturday:10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday: 1 to 4 p.m.

The Ashland Museum

Don’t miss your opportunity to see Crossroads: Change in Rural America, the Smithsonian Museum exhibit currently featured at the Hanover Museum of History and Culture through Oct. 3.

Delivery will be:

Tuesday, October 12 Ashland 11:45-12:30 @Ashland Feed Store Montpelier 1:00-1:45 @Montpelier Feed & Seed LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!

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LEVY Continued from pg. 4

How would you address the lack of affordable housing and why do we hear so little about this subject?

Levy: Yes, there is an affordable housing issue in the 55th. It’s an issue throughout the Commonwealth. Too many people in the 55th are spending more than the recommended 30% of their income for housing. It’s a crisis. A few solutions I’m considering: 1. Tax code reform. Because of the way our tax code and financing for services such as public schools is structured, we are too reliant on property taxes and values. There’s disincentive on localities to have affordable housing. We need to fix that.

2. Expanded rent and mortgage assistance for those in need. We’re in the midst of an eviction crisis. But simply having a moratorium is not the answer; we need to provide direct assistance to those in need due to no fault of their own so that rent and mortgages are actually paid and not simply delayed.

3. More competitive compensation for working and middle class workers. It’s a chicken or the egg thing. Let me explain: Habitat for Humanity housing is now being offered

to public school teachers. I’m a public school teacher. I have a master’s degree (I have a doctorate, in fact)—I should not be eligible for Habitat housing! I should be compensated competitively in the first place so that I can afford housing at market rates.

4. Expand and diversify housing options by providing more housing options in already developed areas including repurposing un-occupied malls and strip malls.

As to your second question, I hear a TON about this subject and have since I can remember. But I am a public school teacher in the district, a local advocate for the past ten years who goes to community meetings, and a candidate (and volunteer for previous campaigns) who has knocked on hundreds of doors and made hundreds of phone calls. If people feel like they haven’t heard about this issue, I would suggest they consider who they are listening to because this issue affects many citizens in the 55th district.

List three pressing issues facing 55th District residents and localities and how you would address those issues.

Levy: 1. Broadband access!

We must treat high-speed internet like a public utility, just like we do running water and electricity.

2. Over-development and encroachment on rural communities and mitigation from the impact of climate change.

I plan to focus on protecting historic and vulnerable rural communities such as Brown Grove in the 55th District. I support facilitating more housing options in already developed areas including repurposing unoccupied malls and strip malls. I will explore different possibilities for establishing protective trusts for rural land.

I also support expanding public transportation options such as rail, buses, and vans, and expanding infrastructure that supports walking and biking.

And I will find ways to connect rural land owners with innovative ways of living off of their land such as production of bio-friendly products.

3. In majority rural communities, public democratic institutions like our public schools are popular and shared spaces. Everyone’s got a stake in them. Across the board in the 55th, I see the need for more state funding and resources for public services: public schools, public safety, the courts and legal services, social services, healthcare services, transportation, and parks and recreation. These are services that touch ALL of us, that we all use and share. When these institutions are stronger and better

resourced with public servants who are compensated fairly and competitively, then our communities will be stronger.

buildings.

One way to fund this is tax reform, so that the Commonwealth is access-

Do you think k-12 education in Virginia is adequately funded, and how can Virginia increase the state contribution to localities for education?

Levy: The state does not fulfill its funding obligations to our public schools. As a longtime teacher and educational leader with a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy, I have a rare combination of policy expertise and practical classroom experience. I will work to make our public education system stronger and more equitable for everyone. Investments in our educational institutions are investments in our students and investments in our future.

I support: Making sure the Commonwealth fully meets its educational funding obligations; raising the salaries of teachers and ALL other K-12 public school staffers including non-SOQ-funded positions; bringing the SOQs (Standards of Quality) in line with what it takes to properly educate our kids and fully funding any state-issued mandates; and. a state grant program for funding school infrastructure and facilities to modernize Virginia’s crumbling school

see LEVY, pg. 15

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Ashland-Hanover Local September 29, 2021 5

OPINION | The Local Views

Mammoth failure almost forgotten as new campus opens

By Jim Ridolphi For Ashland-Hanover Local

I

t was a cold damp day in 1963 when we all stood in amazement as truckload after truckload pulled up and dumped its load of concrete destined for the top of our new gymnasium.

As the first students at a new school, it didn’t take much to break the monotony of the school day. We should have felt lucky.

John Randolph Tucker was Henrico County’s newest high school, and it was barely completed when we began school a week late in on Sept. 14, 1970.

So, we stood on the still clay-stained sidewalks and watched tons of concrete as it was poured on to a triangular-shaped roof of our nouveau-designed showplace.

Throughout the years, we stomped, cheered, graduated and did everything else in that gym you can imagine. Famous drummer

Buddy Rich even played a concert in the old gym.

And when the place really got wound up, you could almost feel it shake during a heated basketball game or enthusiastic pep rally.

Turns out our observations were much closer to accurate than we thought at the time. Attending school at a small college in North Carolina, I rarely paid attention to the national news, but, as I passed a television set in the Student Union, I heard the name Tucker High School in Richmond.

On September, 1970, the beautiful, state of the art, nouveau design gym collapsed into a heap of tons of concrete shortly after students had gone home.

Not only did the collapse evoke fear in the many students and parents who had spent hours in the gym, it had far more serious consequences.

The same architect built two other gyms in the county with the

same design, and buildings at Varina and Henrico High Schools had to be demolished and rebuilt in more traditional box-style buildings.

Poor design, faulty concrete, and other factors were cited as reasons for the collapse.

As I heard the news, I couldn’t help but think back to that day when we stood between classes and watched concrete being poured on a roof.

“Do you think it’s a good idea to pour concrete on a roof?” one of my classmates joked that day.

Turned out, it wasn’t.

Tucker opened its new campus this year, and again lays claim to being the newest campus in the county. It’s a marvel of modern architecture that will serve the county well into the future, gymnasium hopefully included!

Legacy of denial, manipulation led to death of fallen officer

By Dave Lawrence Richmond Suburban News Trey Steven Copeland was dealt a bad hand in life. Somehow he managed to play it as well as anyone in his situation could have, but in the end the effort cost him his life.

None of you knew Trey. He was my cousin, and he lived in Louisiana and died there on Aug. 31 – in some ways without warning, but in others with warnings he failed to heed.

Why am I writing about him for people who otherwise have no reason to care about him?

Maybe because his life is both a cautionary tale, and, arguably, an inspirational one, too.

Trey began his life as an unplanned child of two

people not ready for the job. His mother was my dad’s sister. His father was a country boy whose only real ambition in life was to hunt and fish.

They got married before Trey’s imminent arrival, but their lack of maturity doomed their marriage from the start.

His father did his best to make it work, but he lacked the skills to do so. For that very human flaw, he was portrayed as a villain by the real villain in this story, my grandmother. As she was one of the most ruthless people I have ever known, her will – not my aunt’s, not Trey’s father’s, not Trey’s and certainly not God’s was done. She knew what she wanted and pursued her desires with a ruthlessness that rivaled Lady Macbeth.

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Ashland-Hanover Local September 29, 2021

Her rights were absolute. No one else mattered.

Like nearly everyone else in my grandmother’s life, Trey was a pawn in her power play. She enforced her “rights” – more accurately, her will – with ruthless efficiency. She was a purveyor of emotional and physical abuse. She was so insistent on control that she denied a sexual abuser in her household treatment that he actually desired.

As one might imagine, denial was a river that ran through the generations of my family.

The toxic atmosphere has propagated through several generations. My dad, his two brothers, and – of course – my aunt, were all damaged goods. I, too, am damaged goods.

My dad had a history of self-mutilation, one

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Send letters to: The Ashland-Hanover Local 8460 Times-Dispatch Blvd. Mechanicsville, Va. 23116 Fax: 344-8746 E-mail: editor@mechlocal.com © 2021 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.

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time spectacularly so. Yet he was the first to tell all that he didn’t have a problem. Whatever. People without problems don’t intentionally do something so drastic.

He had been badly damaged as a child and never found a way in himself to seek healing.

This rot at the heart of families like mine spreads like gangrene, affecting a wider net of members, eventually reaching those yet to be born. As an example, I made my first suicide attempt when I was just 6 years old. Given that I was 6, there were flaws in the planning and execution – for that, I am grateful, for it bought me time to decide I wanted to live.

Still, I was in my 50s before I decided I might need help with depression. There are areas in my life where the term “slow learner” applies.

As for Trey, he learned a lot from his – our – family. He learned many things he should never have had to learn. The one thing he did not learn was how to properly take care of himself, after all, he spent his early see LEGACY, pg. 8

MEMORIES ARE FOREVER

CALENDAR | News, Updates & Listings Fax 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 Ashland-Hanover Local.

Saturday, Oct. 2 Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown will hold its “300th Anniversary and Fall Festival” from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy live music, food trucks, a petting zoo, a selection of beverage options and continuous tours of Scotchtown.

And more! See preservationvirginia.org/historic-sites/ patrick-henrys/scotchtown/ or call (804) 227-3500 for more details.

Fall Event will be held from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at New Hanover Presbyterian Church, 10058 Chamberlayne Road. Free Petting Zoo with miniature horse and donkey, Kona Ice Truck on premises.

Also collecting for Caritas 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., mops, buckets, cleaning supplies. Free donuts and coffee at drive-thru collection site. No donation needed for petting zoo. Call 804-7309700 or 540-455-4186 for more information.

Local author Charles Tabb will be signing all five of his current novels, including Canaries’ Song, and his Detective Tony Pantera series at Books, Beads, and More at 8106 Mechanicsville Turnpike in Mechanicsville on from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information visit website, charlestabb.com.

Saturday, Oct. 9 The Lee-Davis High School Class of 1961 is planning to hold its 60th reunion at Anna’s Italian Restaurant, in Mechanicsville. Details will be included in the invitation/ registration forms that will be mailed soon. If you are a member of this class and need

to update your contact information, contact Helen Zagos Blackwell at 804-356-9351 or email: HelenZBlackwell@aol. com.

The Atlee High School Class of 2001 is planning its 20-year reunion celebration on Oct. 9. Entertainment will include live music from the Bart Chucker Band, catered BBQ with all the fixings, beer/ wine/liquor, a dunking booth, a caricature artist, prizes and more. The reunion is open to all AHS Class of 2001 alumni and a guest. Send pictures for the slideshow and seek additional information using AtleeRaiders2001@gmail.com or the group’s Facebook page.

The class would like to thank the following sponsors who are helping to make the reunion possible: Atkinson Insurance Company, CardoMax, Matbok, Salon 606, T&G Interior Home Improvement, King William Florist and Harvey & Driggs PLC. Please help spread the word to any classmates you may know.

Mechanicsville mystery author Lesley St. James will be signing copies of “The Sweet Scent of Death and Death of a Dolly Waggler” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Books, Beads, and More located at 8106 Mechanicsville Tpk. in Mechanicsville. For more information, visit the website at lesleystjames.com.

The Highland Springs High School Class of 1970 has had to postpone its 50th reunion again. This will be the last cancellation. “If we are unable

to have the event on the new date, we will cancel and the caterer has agreed to refund our deposit,” William Brooks said. “We will then either donate the remaining proceeds to the new school or refund the money to you after expenses.” The new date is Saturday, Oct. 9, 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 good night and cleanup at 10 p.m. The cost is still $45 per person. No tickets will be sold at the door. For invitations or more information, contact Bill Brooks at 1970HSHS@gmail. com.

Wednesday, Oct. 13 The New Virginians (a club for women new to the Richmond area) will hold their monthly luncheon/meeting at 11:15 a.m. at Meadowbrook Country Club, 3700 Cogbill Road, North Chesterfield, VA 23234. For more information, please visit www.newvaclub. org or to make a reservation, contact our membership chair, Kathy Roberson, (804) 7944398.

Thursday, Oct. 14 The Hanover County Historical Society will hold its first public meeting since COVID restrictions. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Program starts at 7 p.m. Society mem-

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see CALENDAR, pg. 14

Ashland-Hanover Local September 29, 2021 7

Landmark decision subject of documentary Historical Society will feature Hargrove film

By Jim Ridolphi For The Mechanicsville Local

I

n 1976, John Paul Stevenson was convicted of killing Lillian Keller at the Holly Court Motel in Ashland. Keller was found stabbed to death in her apartment at the motel where she worked as a manager on Dec. 2, 1975.

A year later, his conviction was overturned by the Virginia Supreme Court, citing the inadmissibility of a key piece of evidence introduced at the trial. When police visited Stevenson’s home in Maryland in the early days of the investigation, they asked his wife for the clothes he was wearing on the day of the murder. She retrieved a bloodstained shirt and gave it to investigators. The appellate court found that evidence to be hearsay. The case was remanded to Hanover County for retrial.

Following two additional mistrials, the Commonwealth tried the case for the fourth time. Defense attorney Willard Norwood asked Hanover Judge Richard Taylor to close the proceedings to the public. Commonwealth’s attorney Patrick Bynum did not object and Judge Taylor limited access to testifying witnesses only.

Two news reporters were present at the time of Taylor’s ruling and Richmond Newspapers requested a hearing to object to the public’s exclusion from the trial.

Taylor denied their request to open the trial.

Taylor later dismissed the jury and found Stevenson not guilty of the murder.

Hanover Clerk of the Court Frank Hargrove Jr., in collaboration with videogra-

8

pher Bob Sazbo, has produced a documentary outlining the cases and the subsequent landmark decision that ruled in favor of the newspaper and public access to trials.

Hargrove explained his motivation to delve deeper in to the case this way.

“I like to share Hanover County's history as documented by the clerk's office's extensive archives,” Hargrove said. “I knew that former Commonwealth's Attorney Pat Bynum was the only surviving participant in the 1970s trials of John Paul Stevenson that were the basis of the United States Supreme Court's decision in Richmond Newspapers, Inc. v. Virginia.”

Hargrove thought it was important to record Bynum’s thoughts on the case for posterity’s sake.

“In 2018 I decided to record Pat's recollections of his role in the trials and place the audio recording with the case file for use by future historians,” he said.

The project evolved from there. “My goal of a modest voice recording evolved into a beautifully filmed video after I met history enthusiast Robert Szabo, who is a professional sound engineer and skilled photographer and musician, and I enlisted the assistance of General District Court Judge David Caddell to interview Pat Bynum,” Hargrove said last week.

The original film will be revealed at the Oct. 14 meeting of the Hanover Historical Society. Hanover Judge David B. Cadell Jr. and Patrick Bynum are featured in the documentary and will be present for discussion.

“Bob Szabo created a high-quality video and Judge Caddell led Pat Bynum in a discussion of the prosecution of the case and the factors

Ashland-Hanover Local September 29, 2021

Contributed photo

Judge David Cadell (center) interviews Patrick Bynum, the Commonwealth’s Attorney at the time of the Stevenson case and only surviving participant from the trial, as Robert Szabo records the sound.

All three men donated their time to produce a documentary that will be aired at the Oct. 14 meeting of the Hanover Historical Society. that led to the press being excluded from the last retrial,” Hargrove said. “I helped edit the video and wrote the narrations using information gleaned from the case file and newspaper accounts.”

Hargrove said finding the information on the decades old case was not difficult. “The clerk's office has the paper files that include the record of the case. Since the criminal case was appealed to the Supreme Court of Virginia, the case file was organized with an index and trial transcripts,” Hargrove said. “The criminal trials and the appeals

by Richmond Newspapers, Inc. were covered by the press.

So, the facts where readily available to me.”

And the real goal of the project was to record the only surviving participant’s account and memories of the

case. “The important result of this is effort was to get Mr. Bynum's recollections and impressions, that are not reflected in the record, recorded for posterity.”

Stevenson was not convicted in that fourth trial, but the Virginia Supreme Court again intervened and determined the above referenced evidence could not be admitted because it qualified as non-verbal hearsay, a novel concept in Virginia law at the time.

Meanwhile, Richmond Newspapers continued its case regarding the closure of the trial, and it eventually was heard by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1980.

Famous constitutional lawyer Laurence Tribe argued the case for the plaintiff, while Virginia Attorney General J. Marshall Coleman presented

the Commonwealth’s defense.

In its ruling in favor of Richmond Newspapers, the Court referenced the inherent right of the press expressed in the First Amendment, but also cited Sixth Amendment guarantees of an open trial not only for defendants, but also the public.

Stevenson was eventually acquitted of the murder.

Judge Taylor wrote the case relied too heavily on circumstantial evidence.

Hargrove said the short documentary should be available for interested parties after the premiere. “It would be easy for the clerk's office to make copy of the video for anyone who wants one. My hope is the county government with its new museum and communications personnel will make use of it,” he said.

Hargrove said his interest in unique cases and documenting them for history is something he might pursue in the future.

“There are a couple of cases in our archives that would lend themselves to study, but the day to day demands of work in the clerk's office have kept me from pursuing them,” he said. “In the coming years I may pursue new projects, but in the coming months I will support others in their research.”

The Supreme Court decision established the media’s right to cover and attend public trials, but also established that proceedings should be open not only to the defendant, but also the public.

Seating at the October meeting is limited to 100 guests and will be held at the Coach House at Hanover Tavern beginning at 7 p.m.

Pre-registration is required.

Register at hanoverhistoricalsociety.org/events or call Art Taylor, 804-449-6702.

LEGACY Continued from pg. 6

life nothing more than a piece in someone else’s power play.

That failure to learn how to take care of himself cost him dearly. Trey, a corrections and police officer, had a history of heart trouble. He had another heart attack in July when he was on a call where his friend and fellow officer was shot and killed.

Six weeks later, Trey was back on both jobs, feeling compelled to meet everyone else’s demands and needs rather than his own. Seven weeks later, he was dead.

Twenty minutes of adrenalin chasing an idiot on a motorcycle who failed to heed a traffic stop proved too much for an already weakened heart.

So, what’s the point of all this airing of soiled linens?

I guess it’s a plea for parents – especially those who insist on enforcing their “rights” at the expense of anyone around them – to have more humility about their skills and wisdom.

We don’t always know what’s best for our children.

Sure, there are some areas, like don’t cross the street without looking both ways, where our knowledge base is usually pretty sound.

But a lot of the time, maybe most of the time, our foresight is limited. At some point, they will have to live their lives without us. We need to allow them opportunity to develop the skills to do so. And we need to give them freedom to pursue their dreams, not ours.

Ultimately, we have to give them space and autonomy to avoid making the mistakes that we ourselves have made.

It’s OK to have family traditions, but it’s not OK to make inflicting physical and emotional harm to ourselves or others one of them.

Dave Lawrence can be reached at dlawrence@mechlocal.com.

Sports

UPCOMING EVENTS

09

30 2021

Prep golf: Region 4B tourney: at the Hollows 11:00 a.m.

10

01 2021

Prep football: Patrick Henry at Henrico 7:00 p.m.

| Youth, High School, College, Recreational & Professional

Runners party on at Pole Green Park RVA Relays return with festive atmosphere

By Dave Lawrence Sports Editor MECHANICSVILLE – Saturday night, the party was on. The RVA Relays returned to Pole Green Park, and local runners held their own against teams from as far away as Delaware and Ohio.

The nearly annual nighttime cross country race, which was not held last year because of COVID-19 concerns, came back with a bang with enthusiastic crowds, music, dancing along the route of the race, and an excellent commentary performance by the race’s master of ceremonies, Atlee head cross country coach Neil Mathews.

“It’s the biggest meet that we’ve hosted for the RVA Relays. It’s the biggest that I’ve been part of,” Mathews said. “It keeps getting bigger. We’re getting more teams and a lot more talent. But in the end, it looks like the same teams are up front that are typically up front – the deeper teams. It’s fun for everyone, it has something for everyone – every type of team – but it definitely favors the deeper, larger teams.”

While the day featured several races, the main events were

Dave Lawrence/The Local

Hanover’s Ethan Coleman (1312) slips by Maggie Walker’s Ben Blanchard in the boys championship A race of the RVA Relays at Pole Green Park Saturday night. Coleman ran the fourth-fastest split in the race with a time of 7:19.

held under the lights: the boys and the girls championship A races. The A teams, each consisting of five runners running legs of 2.5 kilometers, put on quite a show. The crowd did its part to encourage the runners along the way.

The Grafton boys won the boys championship A race with a combined time of 38:02 on the 12.5-km course. Glen Allen was second, with Patrick Henry being the third-best finisher out of the 48-team field. A team from Ohio, Mentor, was fourth,

and a team from Delaware, Salesianum, finished fifth.

Atlee, Deep Run, James Wood, Riverbend and Colgan rounded out the top 10. Hanover finished 11th and Mechanicsville 20th.

While the Patriot boys fin-

ished third, the team filed the two fastest splits. Trevor Mason topped the field with a 7:06 finish, and Luke Taylor was just a smidgen behind with a 7:08 time. Hanover’s Ethan Coleman ran the fourth-fastest split in 7:19.

Mason said the party atmosphere helped spur the runners on.

“After COVID, we haven’t had a big meet like this in a while, and the atmosphere out here was crazy – super fun,” he said. “It gave me a ton of energy to run super-fast tonight.”

Mason ran the third leg for the Patriots. Taylor brought it all home, and he appreciated the encouragement of the crowd.

“It’s just so cool to have all these people out here on the course and cheering you on,” Taylor said. “There’s nothing quite like it. It’s a long, long difference from those COVID races we had.”

Mason said he was feeling a bit off before the start. But that changed.

“Honestly, going into the warmup I didn’t feel too good,” Mason said. “Passing people during the race gave me a ton of energy and I felt solid all the way to the finish.”

Taylor said he took it easy during his warmup. But that changed once he had the baton.

“On the warmup, I kind of focused up, took my time,” he said. “Then I got out there and started running people down. I wasn’t focused on running my time. I just focused on racing my race.”

Mason was pleased with the team’s finish overall.

“I’m super happy with it – third for the team, I wasn’t expecting that,” he said. “I’m ecstatic about that. It makes me excited about what we can do see PARTY, pg. 11

Ashland-Hanover Local September 29, 2021 9

Patrick Henry passing attack dooms Atlee had potential to do that. It just came out today, and I’m proud of that.”

Allen thought he was going to add an interception to his evening, but Mines got to it first and returned the pick 31 yards for a third-quarter TD. That sparked some kidding afterward from Allen.

“We got our seven, so that’s all I care about,” Allen said.

What the Patriots really care about is making the playoffs. Region 4B has 17 schools, including Patrick Henry and Atlee, and only eight teams make the postseason.

The Patriots’ victory gave them a leg up on the Raiders (3-2), who got a 34-yard field goal from Zach Tschantre, with both teams still facing tough games. Among Patrick Henry’s remaining games are Highland Springs, Hanover, Varina and Mechanicsville.

“Every game is so, so important,” Wakefield said.

Tim Pearrell can be reached at tpearrell@timesdispatch.com.

By Tim Pearrell Richmond Times-Dispatch MECHANICSVILLE – Patrick Henry High football coach Ken Wakefield thought his team was too one-dimensional in an overtime loss to Hermitage in the second game of the season.

So the Patriots went to work on adding a passing attack to the running game.

On Friday night, 2D looked pretty good.

With quarterback Jordan Allen completing 13 of 15 passes for 296 yards – 259 in the first half – and two touchdowns, visiting Patrick Henry beat Atlee 35-3 in a game that will have a bearing on the playoff race in Region 4B. No. 9 Patrick Henry (3-1) had 277 yards rushing in the 27-26 loss to Hermitage, with freshman Dashawn Green going for 225 and three TDs on 30 carries. Allen was 3 of 10 passing for 57 yards.

“When I looked at it I thought we were a little bit onedimensional, and we have a lot of guys who can hurt you,” Wakefield said. “When they’ve got to defend the entire field and they’ve got to worry about four or five guys instead of one, it makes it more challenging.”

The Patriots weren’t able to finish some drives against Hermitage, Allen said, and needed to change something.

With the work on the passing attack culminating, that wasn’t an issue against Atlee.

Patrick Henry scored on its four possessions in the first half.

The Patriots ran the ball only five times, with Allen scoring on short runs on two of them.

The rest of the time the senior lefty was finding Jayden Mines (3 catches, 81 yards), Christian Berry (3-97), Camden Byrd (2-62), Gracyn Ross, John

10

Patrick Henry 6 22 7 0 — 35 Atlee 0 0 0 3— 3 PH — Allen 3 run (kick failed) PH — Allen 4 run (Ross pass from Allen) PH — Mines 36 pass from Allen (Crabbe kick) PH — Byrd 25 pass from Allen (Crabbe kick) PH — Mines 31 interception return (Crabbe kick) ATL — Tschantre FG 34

Dave Lawrence/The Local

Patrick Henry’s Jayden Mines (2) finds plenty of running room in the Patriots’ 35-3 victory over host Atlee Friday night.

Kaczmarek and Green. Allen completed his first 10 passes.

His 11th completion went to Byrd for a 25-yard touchdown as time expired in the half, giving the Patriots a 28-0 lead.

He earlier had a 36-yard TD to Mines, a James Madison

Ashland-Hanover Local September 29, 2021

recruit who obviously likes the emphasis on throwing.

“Teams can’t pack the box on us anymore,” Mines said.

“When teams come out stacking the box thinking we’re just going to ground and pound the whole game, and then you have

mismatches on the outside with our athletes, it’s not going to work.”

Allen is a playmaker-type who Wakefield said has a really high football lQ. Friday, he threw from the pocket, or hit receivers after escaping pres-

sure, or checked down for shorter throws.

“I’ve been playing quarterback for my whole life virtually,” said Allen, who noted his yardage total was by far a career high. “Today was a great expression of that. I think I’ve always

RUSHING PH: Williams 2-40, Green 7-8, Mines 1-7, Allen 8-(minus-6); ATL: Green 12-28, Gilpin 4-23, Garr 9-17, Hollins 2-(minus-15).

PASSING PH: Allen 13-15-296-0; Johnson 0-4-0-0-0; ATL: Hollins 11-22-1022.

RECEIVING PH: Berry 3-97, Mines 3-81, Byrd 2-62, Green 3-34, Ross 1-15, Kaczmarek 1-7; ATL: Holmes 4-48, Oxford 1-19, Gilpin 2-16, Garr 1-6, Green 1-6, Sharp 1-5, Clark 1-2.

Blue Devils strike early in win over Mustangs

for the Blue Devils so far.

After scoring first on a Curtis Green 3-yard run midway through the first period, Varina scored twice in the final 1:21 of the quarter thanks to two Myles Derricott touchdown passes, 67 yards to Carlo Thompson and 20 yards to Kaveion Keys.

The Blue Devils scored two more times in 14 seconds in the second period, as Tae’mon Brown broke off a 64-yard

run, then, after recovering the ensuing kick, Derricott found Thompson again, this time for a 51-yard touchdown reception.

The Mustangs’ best drive of the first half came as time wound down, but a fumble by quarterback Jordan Callahan near the Varina 5-yard line was recovered by Jalen Spears to preserve the shutout for the time being.

Mechanicsville did find the

end zone twice in the fourth quarter, never showing any quit in any phase of the game.

Colby Messe scored on a 5-yard run with 11:09 remaining, and, after recovering an onside kick of their own, Callahan found Keshon Lewis for a 49-yard touchdown pass just over a minute later.

Callahan passed for 81 yards and rushed for 126, while Cole Varner had 57 yards rushing for the Mustangs.

Varina, trying to keep pace with defending Region 4B champion King George (3-0) and upstart Matoaca (4-0) at the top of the standings, now set its sights on Cole Elrod and the Hanover Hawks, whose game at Armstrong scheduled for last Friday was postponed due to COVID-19 issues within the Wildcat program.

Pending an approval to return to action, Varina is scheduled to host Armstrong Oct. 8.

“We’ve been preaching discipline, and I’m proud of what we showed (tonight),” Lewis said. “We didn’t jump offsides.

If we stayed disciplined, we can be fine against anybody.”

Mechanicsville now prepares for the battle of Eastern Hanover, as Atlee (3-2) comes to Route 360 Friday. It may be early in October, but for both teams, it is a must win. Still, the pressure will be squarely on the Mustangs, who will have a hard time finding a playoff berth if they enter the second half of the regular season at 1-4.

The Raiders, meanwhile, enter on a two-game losing streak after starting the year 3-0. Atlee has scored just nine points in their last two games.

There will be much at stake when the ball is kicked, short or deep, at 7 p.m.

Rob Witham can be reached at sports@mechlocal.com.

PARTY

and Midlothian. Forest Park finished ninth and Maggie Walker 10th. Patrick Henry finished 23rd, Atlee 28th, and Mechanicsville 40th.

Mentor’s Savannah Dennison ran the fastest split of the night in 8:10. Hanover’s Allie Crytser led local runners with the fourth-fastest split with a time of 8:23. Patrick Henry’s Logan Nuckols ran the 11thfastest split in 8:45.

Mathews was proud of how the race attracted strong competition from out-of-state, and of how local runners held their own against it.

“We’re starting to gain that reputation, so we’re picking up out-of-state teams that are pretty tough,” Mathews said. “We appreciate those North Carolina schools, Delaware, Ohio coming down to run. That’s pretty neat.

“We’re excited that it’s growing like that, but it also shows that, when you look at the results, that our Richmond-area schools, and – specifically right here that run their regional meet here – they know this area well.”

It was a long day for Mathews and crew putting on the race, but he had no doubts about how he felt.

“I had a blast,” he said.

By Rob Witham for The Local MECHANICSVILLE – Seeking their first victory over Varina in six years, and playing the Blue Devils for the first time since 2018, the Mechanicsville Mustangs took their home field Friday night with high hopes.

But reality set in quickly, as one of the newest members of Region 4B went on a scoring tear, putting 39 points on the scoreboard in a 13-minute stretch of the first half to cruise to a 52-13 victory. The Blue Devils, who saw their twicepostponed opening game with Hopewell canceled for good earlier in the week, improved to 3-0 as they look at a nine-game schedule now rather than 10.

Mechanicsville fell to 1-3, still in search of their first win since an opening night victory at Deep Run. They join Huguenot, Courtland, George Wythe and Henrico as teams in the 17-team region with three losses or more. Only the top eight teams make the playoffs, and 10 teams above the Mustangs are either unbeaten or have just one defeat.

The opportunistic Blue Devils utilized an unusual kicking style to capture two first-half kickoffs which looked more like free-for-alls rather than deliberate onside kick attempts, since anyone can

Dave Lawrence/ The Local

Patrick Henry’s Luke Taylor (1312) comes in to the finish line to bring the Patriots a thirdplace finish in the boys championship A race of the RVA Relays Saturday night.

Joel Klein for The Local

Mech wide receiver Logan Harris picks up extra yardage after breaking the tackle of Varina’s Jordan Edwards Friday night.

recover the football once it travels 10 yards.

“My special teams coach, I let him do his thing, to be honest with you,” said Varina head coach Marcus Lewis. “He called it again, and I said, ‘You called that right?’ He said, ‘Yes, sir.’ ” “Again” because a deliberate, and surprising, onside kick call aided Varina in their previous win over Hermitage the week before. It’s an aggressive style of play that has paid big dividends

Continued from pg. 9

for the rest of the season.”

In the girls championship A race, Hanover led the way among local teams with an eighth-place finish in the 42-team field. Deep Run won in 44:42, followed by Jefferson Forest, Western Albemarle, Mentor, Jamestown, Glen Allen

Ashland-Hanover Local September 29, 2021 11

Generals avenge last-second loss to R-MC

By Rob Witham for The Local ASHLAND – Washington and Lee remembered.

The Generals remembered having a key Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) victory in hand on the road at Day Field two seasons ago before the Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets scored 10 points in the final 39 seconds to steal a 36-35 victory.

Even though they found themselves at their own 1-yard line with 7:38 remaining, the Generals remembered, overcoming the loss of their starting quarterback midway through the perfect drive, traveling 99 yards, scoring with no time remaining, then converting a two-point try to stun the Yellow Jackets 25-24.

“Yeah, I’m disappointed, really disappointed. This one is going to hurt for awhile,” said Randolph-Macon head coach Pedro Arruza, seemingly still trying to process what happened over the previous half hour that saw Washington and Lee run 17 plays, milking every remaining second off the clock.

The defeat snaps a 10-game winning streak for the Yellow Jackets dating back to November 16, 2019, and seriously jeopardizes their hopes to win their third ODAC championship in four seasons. And while some fans may blame the defense for being unable to get one final stop, RandolphMacon has another, more pressing issue.

The Yellow Jacket offense was limited to 255 total yards in 60 plays. Their final touchdown, to take the lead just 16 seconds into the fourth quarter, was on a one-play, 1-yard drive set up by a major Generals mistake.

A snap well over the head

12

Joel Klein for The Local

Above, RandolphMacon running back Justin DeLeon dives to complete a 13-yard gain on the secondquarter carry as Washington and Lee defenders Dean Johnson and Ronny Williams make the tackle in the Generals’ 25-24 win Saturday. Left, Yellow Jacket quarterback Presley Egbers picks up his second touchdown of the game.

of punter Charlie Fleming sent the football into the end zone. Fleming, not wanting the Yellow Jackets to recover it for a touchdown, kicked it past the end line. Instead of a safety, Randolph-Macon accepted a penalty for illegal kicking to get the ball at the 1. The Justin DeLeon score made it 24-17.

Ashland-Hanover Local September 29, 2021

The defense quickly forced a three-and-out to give Randolph-Macon the ball back with 11:58 to play. But the Yellow Jackets earned just one first down and, after a Presley Egbers pass to DeLeon fell short of the line to gain, Chris Vidal launched a 53-yard punt to pin the Generals as deep in their

territory as possible.

Generals quarterback Jack Pollard found tailback Alex Wertz on a short pass that went for 15 yards to get breathing room. Seven plays later on third-and-one, Pollard found a 3-yard gain to the RandolphMacon 40 for another first down.

On the next play, Pollard was hit hard by linebacker Erik Harris after a 4-yard gain, but was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct. Pollard hurt his foot on the play, and with time winding down, Stephen Murrin entered the game at quarterback with the ball 21 yards from paydirt.

A 13-yard run from Josh Breece put the Generals at the 9-yard line with 1:51 left. They ran three plays, found themselves at the 1-yard line, and called their final timeout with one second remaining. Murrin called his own number on the do-or-die play, crossing the goal line after time expired.

There was no hesitation by the Generals. They had no interest in overtime. Murrin, with the poise of a four-year starter, ran the option left to Breece, pitching it to the tailback who cruised into the end zone to set off the celebration, and exact bitter payback on the Yellow Jackets.

Egbers finished 11-of-17 for just 88 yards and one interception, though he did both first half Randolph-Macon touchdowns on runs of 5 yards on the opening drive, and 4 yards in the second period. DeLeon finished with 89 rushing yards.

The defeat puts RandolphMacon (1-1 ODAC, 3-1) a game behind the Generals as well as Hampden-Sydney – which nipped Guilford 28-27 Saturday – who both improved to 2-0 in conference play. With only six conference games this season due to Emory & Henry’s pending move to Division II next year, opportunities will be few to surpass a team which already holds a tiebreaker against you head-to-head.

“I’ll have to look at the video,” Arruza replied when asked why the offense underperformed. “I’m very involved with the offense, I call the plays, so it starts with me, you know.

The second half was tough.

They did to us what we normally do to other teams.”

Randolph-Macon will look to find answers this week as they prepare to head to Ferrum for an ODAC contest Saturday at 1 p.m.

LEGAL DISPLAY ADS

LEGAL DISPLAY ADS

November 2, 2021 General Elections Important Dates to Remember

TOWN OF ASHLAND NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Please take notice that on the 13th day of October 2021 at 7:00 p.m. at the Ashland Town Hall, 121 Thompson Street, Ashland, VA, the Ashland Planning Commission will conduct two public hearings for the purpose of receiving input: REZ21-0907 & ORD2021-15, Corker - Virginia Street and New Street Ricky S. Corker Builder Inc. requests to rezone the property located at the southwest corner of the intersection of New Street and Virginia Street (GPIN 7779-79-3013) from R-1, Residential Restricted, to R-2, Residential Limited. The property is +/- .95 acres and is currently vacant. The applicant proposes singlefamily homes for sale. The R-2, Residential Limited, District allows a minimum lot area of 10,000 square feet for a buildable lot. The future land use designation is Traditional Neighborhood (1 - 4 units/acre).

CP21-0908 - R-MC Patrick Street Randolph-Macon College requests a Comprehensive Plan Amendment to the Future Land Use Map to change the Future Land Use Classification from Traditional Neighborhood (1-4 units/acre) to R-MC. The properties total +/- 1.89 acres and are located at 110 West Patrick Street or identified as GPIN 7870-74-3033, and 104 West Patrick Street or identified as 7870-73-5922. The existing use of the properties is singlefamily dwellings.

A copy of REZ21-0907, ORD2021-15, the Comprehensive Plan amendment request as well as the proposed amendment 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.

Any person with a disability requiring assistance in order to participate in this public hearing is asked to contact Town Hall in advance so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

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 2, 2021 General Election.

In-person Absentee and vote by mail ballots are available now. You may request your vote by mail ballot or visit the Voter Registration and Elections Office in the Wickham Building at Hanover Courthouse from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday - Friday in addition, Sunday, October 17th from 11a.m.-4p.m., Saturday, October 23rd and Saturday, October 30th from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. to cast an In-person absentee ballot.

Saturday, October 30th is the last day to vote an In-person absentee ballot.

Tuesday, October 12th is the deadline to register or make changes to your voter registration in time for the General Election. Please check your voter registration to make sure it is correct.

Friday, October 22nd is the final day you can request an absentee ballot by mail. Your request must be received by your General Registrar by 5:00 p.m.

Monday, November 1st at 2 p.m. is the cut-off for voting an emergency-only absentee ballot in the Voter Registration and Elections Office.

Tuesday, November 2nd Election Day polling locations will be open from 6:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, November 3rd at 1:00 p.m. the Electoral Board will hold the canvass meeting to ascertain the election results and to rule on Provisional ballots cast.

Friday, November 5th at 12:00 p.m. (noon) the deadline to cure your Absentee Ballot.

Friday, November 5th at 1:00 p.m. the Electoral Board will reconvene.

You can register to vote, update your information and request an Absentee Ballot online at www.vote.virginia.gov BALLOT DROP OFF STATIONS Opened Friday, September 17th – Tuesday, November 2nd until 7:00 p.m. located at the Wickham building of the Hanover County Government Complex and on Election Day in all polling locations.

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 Ashland-Hanover Local September 29, 2021 13

CALENDAR Continued from pg. 7

bers and the public are invited to attend. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.. Program starts at 7 p.m. Seating limited to 100 attendees. Pre-registration is required by Sept. 29. Register at Hanoverhistoricalsociety. org/Events or call Art Taylor at 804-449-6702. COVID Guidelines will be followed.

Check web site for announcement if seating is closed or cancellation becomes necessary.

Friday, Oct. 15 & Saturday, Oct. 16 Lee-Davis High School Class of 1971 50th Reunion will be holding several events.

The main event is being held October 16 with the Class of 1970 at Virginia Crossings in Glen Allen. Ticket sales end on Sept. 15 and information is on class website. http://www. leedavisreunions.com/71/ or email Billy Beasley Chairman of Lee-Davis Class of 1971 Reunion Committee billbeasley1@comcast.net.

Monday, Oct. 18 Ruby Invitational Golf Tournament will Tee-off at noon at Hanover Country Club. Play is Captain’s Choice - $100 Per Player/$400 Per 4-Person Team, or choose from our awesome sponsorships. The Tournament benefits the Chamber Foundation’s Scholarship Program and philanthropic mission.

Tournament Highlights: Putting, Driving Range, Longest Drive and Closest-toPin Contests; Texas Hold-em Golf Poker Mulligan Game; Food & Beverage Stations throughout the Course; “Stock Your Bar” Wagon Raffle; Awards presented to 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Place teams in two flights and more!

Saturday, Oct. 16 The Lee-Davis High School

14

Class of 1970 is planning a 50-year reunion and, due to COVID-19, Sandy Robbins said, “We are celebrating this reunion with the Class of 1971.”

If you are a 1970 graduate or know of a 1970 graduate, contact Sandy Robbins at 804221-2974 (sprobbins57@gmail. com) or on Facebook at LeeDavis Class of 1970. Leave a name, mailing address or email address and a planning committee member will follow up.

There also is a Lee-Davis Class of 1970 website you can access.

The Highland Springs High School classes of 1980 and 1981 will have a joint 40th class reunion. Dinner, cash bar and conversation will be held from from 6:30 to 11 p.m. at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel Richmond Airport.

Tickets are $60 per person.

Contact Connie Shingleton Miconi via email: camiconiauthor@gmail.com or text 239-281-4490. Join their Facebook page: Springer Class of 1981 Reunion and Alumni Activities for more details.

Saturday, Oct. 23 The Hanover Humane Society is holding the seventh annual Growl-O-Ween dog event at the Center of the Universe Brewing Company, 11293 Airpark Rd in the Ashland Airpark from 2 to 5 p.m. The event features numerous dog-related activities including canine costumes. Admission is free. For more information, contact COTU at info@cotubrewing. com, or the Hanover Humane Society, info@hanoverhumanesociety.org.

Thursday, Nov. 11 As part of Hanover County’s 300th Birthday celebration, Hanover County Parks & Recreation will observe Veterans Day with an in person ceremony at 11 am at the Hanover Veterans Memorial Wayside Park.

Ashland-Hanover Local September 29, 2021

Saturday, Nov. 20 Members of the Patrick Henry High School Class of 1971 will gather from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Depot at Cross Bros. on Railroad Avenue in Ashland for their 50th Reunion. According to Patricia Leonard Higgins, “Our Reunion Planning Committee is already working hard and we really need to hear from you so that you can get more information and updates! Please email either of the following classmates and we’ll get you on our group contact list and will be back in touch soon. Hoping to hear from you!” Contact: Anne Nelson Harris Morck at annenelsonmorck@gmail. com or Patricia Leonard Higgins at phiggins773@ gmail.com.

Friday, Nov. 26 H a n o v e r ’ C o u n t y ’s Birthday happens to be Black Friday this year and the day before Small Business Saturday. Be on the lookout for announcements!

GENERAL

Recruitment GENERAL The Richmond Times-Dispatch is seeking Full-Time Distribution Supervisors in the northside, southside and surrounding area. Job Responsibilities: To recruit, motivate and train carrier force to provide good service while increasing/ maintaining circulation volumes and meeting service goals. Assist in maintaining overall distribution center operations. All Distribution Supervisors are responsible for achieving consistent, proper and on-time delivery to subscribers.

Handle customer’s problems and service requests to the customer’s satisfaction. Work with carriers to meet retail collection goals and resolve problems with retail outlets.

Collect all open routes and collect payments from carriers. As a Distribution Supervisor, you are responsible for the successful overall performance of your assigned area within the distribution center. Starting salary is $40,000 plus commission. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Valid Drivers’ License and proof of insurance required, the ability to work well with others in a team environment and the ability to follow all Company policies and procedures including but not limited to attendance standards. Education and Experience: High School diploma or equivalent.

Must successfully pass Criminal Background Investigation and Drug Screen.

Please contact Teresa Brandon 804-8017653 or tbrandon@timesdispatch.com

Ongoing Mechanicsville Churches Emergency Functions One Stop Shop (MCEF OSS) is open for food, clothing and linens from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at 7235 Stonewall Parkway in Mechanicsville (rear parking lot). The shop is available for residents in the 23111 and 23116 zip codes with identification and proof of residency.

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 Rev. Dr. Roy Minnix For more information, visit www.trinityrichmond.net or call 804270-9626.

NEWSPAPER CARRIER WANTED in the Mineral/Louisa areas. Good supplemental income. Carriers are independent contractors and must have: dependable vehicle, valid driver’s license, and Virginia insurance. Hours of availability are 2:00 AM – 6:00 AM, seven days a week. For more information, please call Rita Stetson 804-229-4696.

TRANSPORTATION JOB SITE DELIVERY DRIVER Harris Heating & Plumbing Co., Inc. is looking for a Delivery Driver.

No CDL required. Competitive Pay and Benefits. Send resume to office@harrisheating.com or apply in person at 11020 Richardson Road, Ashland.

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LEVY Continued from pg. 5

ing every viable and reasonable source of revenue possible, while removing some of the burden on the working and middle classes.

Do you support free community college for all Virginians, and why?

Levy: Yes. We must reverse disinvestment in our institutions of higher and continuing education and take the financial burden of Virginia’s students and their families. I supported Governor Northam’s program to make community college free for students who pursue degrees in high-demand fields, and I think it should be expanded to be universal and not limited to certain degrees or income thresholds.

People say that community college shouldn’t be free for higher income individuals, but they pay taxes, too, and should get the same benefits the rest of the public does.

Do you support the continuation of Medicaid Expansion in Virginia? Why or why not?

Levy: Yes, Medicaid Expansion helped an unbelievable number

SUPERVISORS Continued from pg. 4

return to an eight-block system, four classes a day on a rotating basis. Specialty programs are again available and students can travel from their home campuses to access that instruction.

Regarding the online school, Gill said staff is much better prepared this year to meet the needs of those students as school begins this year.

“There is no substitute for faceto-face instruction, but there are some students who benefit from, and frankly need, the online platform, and we want to create as close to the faceto-face as we possibly can,” Gill told the board.

Gill also addressed lower

of Virginians. Providing healthcare lays such a solid foundation for everything else. I believe that healthcare is a human right and that no one should have to go into debt to preserve their or loved ones’ health or lives. Students in families with access to healthcare come to school ready to learn.

When young adults have healthcare, then they have freedom to be entrepreneurs or take on dream jobs. When middle aged people have healthcare, they can take better care of their children and their elders. I will work to ensure that we all have access to healthcare and that healthcare, treatments, and medications are affordable. As a mother of a child with Type 1 diabetes and a child with other disabilities, I know how important it is that ALL Virginians have access to the medications they need and access to health providers when they need them. I support broadening access to Medicaid by expanding eligibility. That being said, we must also expand provider capacity, especially for the provision of behavioral and mental health and medical disability services.

Having health insurance doesn’t help if there are not enough providers to meet healthcare needs.

Standards of Learning (SOL) test results recorded by Hanover students in the most recent battery of tests, a trend that has been noted statewide and even on a national level.

“We treated the SOL tests as a true kind of dip stick to see where you are at this moment,” Gill said. “There was no test prep whatsoever.”

It was also the first time students had been tested in two years. Although Hanover students ranked higher than the state average in all categories, the scores were down from 2019 results.

“While we dropped a little bit, our students did extremely well,” Gill said.

In other matters, Mechanicsville supervi-

Suicide prevention focus of CSB, BeWellVA Contributed Report Ashland-Hanover Local In acknowledgement of September as Suicide Prevention Month, the Hanover County Community Services Board (CSB) is partnering with the BeWellVA collaborative to offer community members opportunities to learn how to identify and respond to mental health challenges with the goal of decreasing stigma, promoting wellness and preventing suicide.

Martha Lambert, coordinator of Behavioral Health Wellness at Hanover’s CSB, emphasized that there are ways for everyone to get involved at bewellva. com/training-events/, where people can find over a dozen workshops, events and activities.

“We are hosting a book discussion of Oprah and Dr. Bruce Perry’s “What Happened to You?”, Mental Health First Aid classes, REVIVE trainings, workshops on the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences, virtual walks and others. There’s a way for everyone to get involved and raise awareness around this important issue,” she said.

In addition to taking a class or attending an event, Lambert encourages residents to take a mental health screening and know who to call if you or a loved one needs help.

“It’s important to check in with our-

sor Canova Peterson said he had received numerous calls from constituents regarding poor mail service in the Mechanicsville area. Peterson said some had not received bills ontime, resulting in late fees and other complications.

He urged his colleagues to instruct the county administrator to draft a letter to the county’s Congressional team outlining those complaints and demanding a resolution.

Some residents have complained that correspondence sometimes takes three weeks or more to arrive. Others have complained of no mail service on some days.

“If we are having this problem in just more than my district, then this board needs to

selves periodically and notice our own emotions and symptoms. The free, anonymous screening tests at screening.mhanational.org allow us to do that,” she said.

“Also, we want everyone in our community to know that the CSB offers same-day access service to assessment and other services. Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. you can walk through our door at our Ashland location at 12300

If you or a loved one is in crisis, call the Hanover Community Services Board crisis line at 804-365-4200.

Washington Highway if you need to access mental health services. You’ll see a clinician that day and, if you qualify for services, get a follow-up appointment within seven days. If you or another is in crisis our crisis clinicians can be reached at 804-365-4200.”

Securing medications and firearms is another effective way to prevent suicide.

stand up for our citizens and express our concerns to those who do have the authority to do something with the Postal Service to get it straightened out,” Peterson said.

Board chair Sean Davis said he had reached out to Rep. Rob Whitman seeking answers to the slow mail problem, and agreed that formal action to address the problem was necessary.

“This is not just a Mechanicsville issue,” Vice Chair Angela Kelly-Wiecek said.

“I think the time has come for us to formalize our concerns.”

Although Ashland supervisor Faye Prichard said the problem is not widespread in her district, she has heard concerns from other parts of the county. “I fully endorse our

“Most lethal suicide attempts happen with a firearm. Overdosing on medications is another common method a person may use to attempt suicide. By locking medications and locking firearms we can help prevent access to these lethal means and save lives,” Lambert said.

The Hanover CSB provides medication lock boxes and gun locks to residents as part of the Lock & Talk suicide prevention campaign. Residents can pick up a lock box or cable lock at the CSB or at one of the Pamunkey Regional Library branches located in Hanover County. More information about Lock & Talk, including a video demonstrating how to use a cable lock, can be found at https://www.hanovercounty. gov/985/Lock-and-Talk.

Lastly, Lambert encourages residents not to judge themselves or others for having suicidal thoughts. “Over 10 million people each year experience suicidal thoughts. Suicidal thoughts are a symptom of many different illnesses, but stigma still stands in the way of getting help. We encourage anyone who is having suicidal thoughts to reach out. Talk to their primary care doctors, talk to a therapist, call our CSB. Mental illness is highly treatable and suicide is preventable.”

If you or a loved one is in crisis, call the Hanover Community Services Board crisis line at 804-365-4200.

board taking a position about this. I think it’s risen to the level of ridiculousness,” Prichard concluded.

Cold Harbor representative Michael Herzberg said a post office in his district ran out of stamps for days recently and he also supported taking action.

“When it goes that long, something is clearly amiss.”

Peterson said he visited the Post Office on Chamberlayne Avenue and spoke with the postmaster. “She said they have 40 routes and they normally have 40 backups for the regular carriers…. and said they only seven (backups) at the present time.”

Peterson said she told him that hiring additional employees is difficult due to the com-

petition. “Amazon is paying the same thing they are and their trucks are air conditioned was the excuse I got on that,” Peterson said.

Peterson offered to send some viable candidates to her who might be interested in jobs, but she explained the hiring process is managed on a national basis, so she had no power to hire for her office.

“This has gotten to the point of being totally ridiculous,” Peterson said.

The board instructed County Administrator John Budesky to draft a letter to the county’s Congressional Delegation expressing the board’s concerns and copy that correspondence to the state delegation.

Ashland-Hanover Local September 29, 2021 15

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Ashland-Hanover Local September 29, 2021

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