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Bike Walk Hanover receives Volunteer of the Year award

Contributed photos

Local community advocacy organization Bike Walk Hanover received the Volunteer of the Year award at the Sports Backers annual recognition event. Shown are images from Cool Spring Elementary School’s Walk and Bike to School days. Bike Walk Hanover has assisted the school with the event since 2019.

Contributed Report Ashland-Hanover Local

Local community advocacy organization Bike Walk Hanover received the Volunteer of the Year award at the Sports Backers annual recognition event. This is the second year in a row that Bike Walk Hanover has been acknowledged for its efforts in the community.

Since 2019, Bike Walk Hanover has worked with school principals, teachers, students and parents at Cool Spring Elementary School (CSES) to assist with their Walk and Bike to School days as part of the Safe Routes to School Program. This year's Walk to School Day had almost 200 students participate, almost double from the previous year. The program has expanded to Chickahominy Middle School (CMS) as well, and the bike racks at both schools are overflowing on a daily basis this school year.

CSES and CMS have Safe Routes to School Program committees and both have received grants from the Virginia Department of Transportation to expand bike racks. Other organizations have also come together to make this event a successful one, including Hanover County Sheriff's Office, Ride Finders, Chick-filLa Atlee Station, Bike Walk RVA and the Atlee High School Cheer Team.

Last year's Bike Walk RVA Volunteer of the Year Award recipient was presented to Hanover advocate, Kelley Carlsen, who said “It was an honor to be recognized by Sports Backers for the work that we have been doing in Hanover to encourage safer biking and walking.”

This year's award was presented to Heather Dolan Allen. “We've been so fortunate to have a supportive community. The actions that we are doing today will shape the future not only for our community but also for our children. This is one of the many reasons why we started Bike Walk Hanover.”

“In a time when being physically together has been challenging, this year’s Bike Walk RVA Volunteer of the Year has been doing the above and beyond work of bringing people together to improve biking and walking in their community,” said Megan Schultz, Sports Backers’ Chief Operating Officer. “This person has demonstrated leadership in fostering a group of biking/ walking activists and developing relationships with county supervisors and school officials to support safe routes to schools and across Hanover County.”

Bike Walk Hanover is an advocacy group made up of local citizens who are passionate about biking, running, walking and active transport in Hanover County. The mission of Bike Walk Hanover is to create a safer, inclusive, connected community, and support active lifestyles across Hanover. Bike Walk Hanover is currently in need of volunteers for more programs across the county. They are also working with local county leaders and Sports Backers on the Fall Line Trail, which is a multi-use trail that will run from Ashland to Petersburg. More information can be found on their Facebook @ bikewalkhanover.

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Sundays

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Outside the Walls, a Narcotics Anonymous group, meets from 6 to 7 p.m. in the lobby of the Pamunkey Regional Jail at 7240 Courtland Farm Rd. in Hanover. For more information, contact John Shinholser, McShin president, at 804-249-1845. The website is http://www.mcshin. org.

Tuesdays

A Commanders coffee is held from 10 to 11 a.m. at American Legion Post 90 at 17662 Beaver Dam Rd. in Beaverdam to discuss issues of interest/befits of the American Legion. There also will be donuts. Call Post Commander Eugene Truitt at 804-746-4734.

The Hanover Concert Band rehearses from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. every Tuesday, mid-January through midDecember, at the Hanover Arts and Activities Center at 500 S. Railroad Ave. in Ashland, just south of U.S. 54. Membership is open to anyone who can read music and play a non-string instrument. High school students are welcome with parents’ permission. Visit www.hanoverconcertband.org or call 804-789-0536.

Th ursdays

The Ashland Rotary Club meets weekly at noon at the Iron Horse Restaurant at 100 S. Railroad Ave. in in Ashland. For more information, contact Steve Dunham at 804-4966093 or sandrdunham@yahoo.com.

Th ird Mondays

The Hanover County Community Services Board meets at 6:30 p.m. at 12300 Washington Hwy. in Ashland.