Ashland-Hanover Local – 03/23/2022

COMMUNITY National recognition for Matthew and Daniel Barton Roller Hockey Rink renovation

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INSIDE Here’s your chance to give your favorite Hanover County/Ashland businesses the spotlight! - PAGE 9

Vol. 7 No. 29 | Richmond Suburban News | March 23, 2022

Rezoning paves way for new elementary school New facility will replace, combine Gandy, Clay campuses

Artists rendering/Crabtree, Rohrbaugh Associates

Shown is a standing view of the front entrance of the new John M. Gandy Elementary School.

By Jim Ridolphi For Ashland-Hanover Local

A

shland Town Council unanimously approved a conditional use permit (CUP) last week that clears the way for the construction of the new John Gandy Elementary School.

The 30-acre site has frontage along Archie Cannon Drive and the new facility that replaces both Gandy and Henry Clay Elementary schools will occupy the site where the current Gandy campus is currently located.

Project manager Sean Douty of Crabtree, Rohrbaugh and Associates Architects presented

R-MC CHAMPS

By Dave Lawrence Richmond Suburban News

Their dream has been deferred, but not denied.

Two years after RandolphMacon’s men’s basketball season ended when the erupting COVID-19 pandemic forced the NCAA to cancel the Division III tournament before the start of the Round of 16, the Yellow Jackets finished their campaign for a national championship with a 75-45 victory over Elmhurst Saturday night.

The winning margin over the Blue Jays — another team whose season was cut short when the tournament was canceled in 2019 — was the largest in NCAA Division III history and matched the largest margin in any division, equaled only by UNLV’s 10373 win over Duke in the 1990 Division I championship.

The national champion-

Frank Straus/Randolph-Macon

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — The confetti falls over the RandolphMacon men's basketball team after their 75-45 win over Elmhurst in the NCAA Division III Championship game at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. STORY ON PAGE 14.

ship is the first for RandolphMacon in any sport. The men’s basketball team had made two previous appearances in the Final Four. The Yellow

Jackets lost to University of Tennessee-Chattanooga in the 1977 Division II championship game. They reached the Division III Final Four in 2010.

see REZONING, pg. 5

Former delegate honored with House resolution

By Jim Ridolphi For Ashland-Hanover Local

PEACE

Former 97th District Delegate Chris Peace was honored earlier this month with a resolution passed by the House of Delegates recognizing his contributions during his 14-year career in the legislative body.

Peace represented Caroline, Spotsylvania, Hanover, King and Queen, King William, Henrico and New Kent counties in the 97th District from 2006 until 2020.

House Resolution No. 125, introduced by 98th District Del. Keith Hodges, notes several major pieces of legislation and other actions spon-

sored, endorsed or introduced by Peace, including legislation to ensure the welfare of children in foster care and preventing the financial exploitation of vulnerable adults. Peace was instrumental in bills or budget amendments that bolstered domestic violence response and increased penalties for drivers who violated the “Move Over”

law designed to protect law enforcement officers.

Peace also provided key support for legislation that enabled more than 400,000 Virginians to receive medical care through the Medicaid Expansion program. see PEACE, pg. 4

Parks and Rec earns national recognition for roller hockey rink renovation Contributed Report news@mechocal.com

H

anover County Parks and Recreation is proud to announce that they have been awarded a National Association of County Parks and Recreation Officials (NACPRO) National Facility Award the for the renovation of the Matthew and David Barton Roller Hockey Rink at Courthouse Park.

On Dec. 13, 2021, the Matthew and Daniel Barton Memorial Hockey Rink opened for self-directed play and use. The rink was built 20 years ago in honor of Matthew and Daniel Barton, the sons of Doug and Carol Barton, who tragically lost their lives to disease at a young age. In 2020, the rink was identified as being in need of repair and replacement, leading to a coordinated fundraising effort led by the Barton family and Hanover County Parks and

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National Facility Award

Photo courtesy of Hanover County Parks and Recreation

Hanover County received the National Association of County Parks and Recreation Officials (NACPRO) National Facility Award for the renovation of the Matthew and David Barton Roller Hockey Rink at Courthouse Park.

twice turned what many would have found to be an insurmountable family tragedy into a shining light of service for their community and a great example of partnership

between local government and private industry. Hanover County’s residents will benefit from this great facility for many years to come. A celebration of this facility is scheduled

for May 1, 2022.

If you have any questions, contact Hanover County Parks and Recreation at 804-3657150 or email parksandrec@ hanovercounty.gov.

Ashland Museum’s HistoryTalks presents Hanover County railroad history

Local Songwriters Night ft. Danny Kensy Mar. 24th at 7 pm An evening with local songwriters sharing their songs and the inspiration behind them.

USA vs Mexico World Cup Qualifier

Mar. 24th at 10 pm Join Ashland Theatre & Ashland Town FC to cheer Team USA in their World Cup Qualifying Match against Mexico live on the big screen!

Photo courtesy of Ashland Museum

Shown, Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad tracks headed north from England and Thompson streets.

The Lost City Mar. 25th & Mar. 26th at 7 pm Mar. 27th at 12 pm While promoting her new book, Loretta Sage gets kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire who hopes she can lead him to a lost treasure.

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Recreation. The Barton Family raised approximately $20,000; the Doswell Energy Center, located in northern Hanover County, donated an additional $25,000, and the Washington Capitals contributed approximately $100,000 worth of new rink boards, fencing and skate surfacing.

Hanover County Parks and Recreation staff removed the existing roller hockey infrastructure and prepared the site for the new materials, equipment and surfacing. The county also installed new signage, seating and a scoreboard for the rink.

All of the county’s associated costs were covered by donations. Additionally, Hanover County was able to identify savings totaling over $25,000 in design and installation costs. Ultimately, a project that cost nearly $200,000 was completed at no cost to Hanover County residents.

The Barton Family has

ashlandtheatre.org

Ashland-Hanover Local March 23, 2022

Join the Ashland Museum when Art Taylor, president of the Hanover County Historical Society and author, presents the Museum’s next HistoryTalks program on Thursday, March 31 at 7 p.m. at the Ashland Branch, Pamunkey Regional Library, 201 S. Railroad Ave., Ashland.

Taylor will talk about the early history of railroads in

Hanover County and will have some railroad artifacts on display. This talk is free and open to the public. If you have questions, leave a voice message at 804-368-7314 or email ashlandmuseum@comcast.net.

Submitted by Ashland Museum.

SHERIFF’S REPORTS | Crime, Accidents, Fire & Rescue accident with damage more than $250 was reported in the 15400th block of Robert Terrell Road, Montpelier.

March 2

Receiving stolen goods was reported in the 13000th block of Mountain Road/ Henrico County, Glen Allen.

Marijuana on school grounds was reported in the 12400th block of W Patrick Henry Road, Ashland.

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

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

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

Simple assault was reported in the 7500th block of County Complex Road, Hanover.

Driver not reporting accident with damage up to $1,000 was reported in the 12700th block of Mt Hermon Road, Ashland.

Possession of a Schedule I or II controlled substance was reported in the 16000th block of Mountain Road, Montpelier.

Trespassing after being forbidden to do so was reported in the 11300th block of Air Park Road, Ashland.

Identity theft with intention to defraud, up to $200 was reported in the 11500th block of Primrose Lane, Rockville.

Driver not reporting accident with damage more than $250 was reported in the 16600th block of Mountain Road, Montpelier.

Driver not reporting

March 4

Grand larceny, building was reported in the 11200th block of Elmont Crossing Lane, Ashland.

March 5

Petit larceny, parts was reported in the 10400th block of Atlee Station Road, Ashland.

Possession of a Schedule I or II controlled substance was reported in the 17100th block of Goshen Road/Old Ridge Road, Montpelier.

Obstructing justice with force was reported in the 17100th block of Goshen Road/Old Ridge Road, Montpelier.

Violation of protective order was reported in the 13000th block of Providence Trail Circle, Ashland.

Petit larceny, building was reported in the 16200th block of W Patrick Henry Road, Montpelier.

Assault and battery on a family member was reported in the 14200th block of Halls Haven Lane, Beaverdam.

Use of profane or threatening language over a public airway was reported in the 19100th block of Hollowing Creek Road, Beaverdam.

Destruction of property, monument was reported in the 13400th block of Mountain Road/Winns Church Road, Glen Allen.

Identity fraud, use of identifying information to defraud was reported in the

Theft of firearms, regardless of value, not from a person was reported in the 13400th block of Blunts Bridge Road, Ashland.

Destruction of property, monument was reported in the 19300th block of Beaver Dam Road, Beaverdam.

Identity theft with intention to defraud, up to $200 was reported in the 13500th block of Thomaswoods Lane, Ashland.

Simple assault was reported in the 300th block of S James Street, Ashland.

Petit larceny, less than $500, not from a person was reported in the 10200th block of Washington Highway, Glen Allen.

was reported in the 10100th block of Maple Leaf Court, Ashland.

Marijuana on school grounds was reported in the 12400th block of W Patrick Henry Road, Ashland.

Exploiting a mentally disabled person for money, more than $200 was reported in the 10300th block of Lewistown Road, Ashland.

Grand larceny, building was reported in the 7300th block of Bell Creek Road, Mechanicsville.

Public swearing or intoxication was reported in the 11600th block of Lakeridge Parkway, Ashland.

March 10

Theft of firearms, regardless of value, not from a person

Identity fraud, use of identifying information to defraud was reported in the 13200th block of Slayden Circle, Ashland.

Violation of a protective order (General) was reported in the 11200th block of Cobbs Road, Glen Allen.

Drugs: possession of a Schedule III controlled substance was reported in the 100th block of Haley Road, Ashland.

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March 11

Identity theft with intention to defraud, up to $200 was reported in the 9100th block of Ivy Banks Drive, Mechanicsville.

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

Reckless handling of a firearm was reported in the 10100th block of Lakeridge Parkway, Ashland.

Identity fraud, use of identifying information to defraud was reported in the 12400th block of Killigay Lane, Maidens.

Reckless handling of a firearm was reported in the 15200th block of Woodman Hall Road, Montpelier.

Destruction of property, monument was reported in the 13400th block of Deer Creek Road, Ashland.

Possession of a Schedule I or II controlled substance was reported in the 10100th block of Lewistown Road, Ashland.

Simple assault was reported in the 10100th block of Kings Dominion Boulevard Road, Doswell.

March 9

March 7

Unauthorized Use Of Vehicle, Boat Or Animal was reported in the 16400th block of Goshen Road, Beaverdam.

March 8

March 6

March 3

13300th block of Slayden Circle, Ashland.

see SHERIFF’S, pg. 19

the

Locals h ice

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VOTING STARTS March 23 and will run through April 8, 2022.

VOTE ONLINE! Go.Richmond.com/Locals-Choice Ashland-Hanover Local March 23, 2022 3

Upcoming April programs at Hanover area libraries Ashland Branch Library Say Goodnight to Insomnia Tuesday, April 5, 7 to 8 p.m.

Learn more about the possible causes of sleep problems, including how stress can affect men’s and women’s bodies; how hormone imbalances relate to sleep problems, fatigue, premature aging, weight gain, blood sugar, emotional fragility, loss of libido and more; how diet, rest, exercise, stress reduction and supplementation help maintain optimal sleep; and how sleep hygiene, hormones, melatonin and cortisol relate to sleep. Find out how to get your own comprehensive sleep and hormone assessment and the customized D.R.E.S.S. For Health Success Program, presented by Kimberly Boehm, FDN Practitioner.* 3 “Must Do” Steps for De-Cluttering at the Ashland Branch Library Thursday, April 7, 7 to 8 p.m.

Presented by Brenda Mason Parmelee, Founder/CEO of SmallerLivingHugeLife and Downsizing31. Find out how to get unstuck from the pressure of clutter and learn the ‘3 Must Do’ Foundational Steps in the journey to creating a clutter-free home. The library will show how and where to begin, how to have the confidence in decisions of what to keep or let go of and how to address the hard moments in the process. A master of tiny living, downsizing and decluttering, Brenda has

PEACE Continued from pg. 1

He also played a vital role in efforts to reopen Colonial Downs and establish it as one of the premiere horse racing facilities on the East Coast.

Peace said the legislative efforts that stand out in his mind are associated with legislation that personally affected the lives of the people he served.

“The legislative successes which mean the most to me are the ones that positively impact the lives of people I may never meet and concern health and social services, such as improving the opportunities for safe and permanent outcomes for children in foster care or curbing financial exploitation of senior citizens,” he said.

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taught thousands how to accomplish the hard work of decluttering/downsizing.* Call 804-798-4072 or visit the library at 201 S. Railroad Ave. for more information.

Instant Shakespeare at the Ashland Branch Library Saturday, April 9, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

A different way to approach Shakespeare: Join the library in a staged reading of a different Shakespeare play each month. April’s play is “Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Meet at 10 a.m. to review edited scripts, decide who is playing which part, go over any important action and talk about how to handle some of the trickier language. Bring a bag lunch for break. At 3 p.m., participants will begin reading the play out loud to each other, on foot, using supplied props, getting a feel for the story through the action. The plays run between one and two hours and will be done by 5 p.m. * Call 804-798-4072 or visit the library at 201 S. Railroad Ave. for more information.

Outdoor Family Storytimes at the Ashland Branch Library Tuesdays, April 12 and April 26, 11 to 11:30 a.m.

Join the library for an outdoor, all ages storytime at the Carter Park pavilion located see LIBRARY, pg. 7

He’s also proud of his commitment to the history of Hanover County and its historical legacy.

“For Hanover, I will always be proud of my many initiatives to preserve and promote our heritage and history, whether it be the Road to Revolution Trail or the establishment of the Civil War Battlefield Preservation Fund,” he said.

Peace is a native Hanoverian raised by his mother, Nina K. Peace, who served as a juvenile and domestic relations Judge in Hanover County and was the first woman to serve on the Hanover Board of Supervisors. He attended St. Christopher’s School, Hampden- Sydney College and the University of Richmond School of Law. “As a county native with a deep family commitment to the community, Hanover remains

Ashland-Hanover Local March 23, 2022

CALENDAR | News, Updates & Listings Thursday, March 24 Ashland Museum Trivia Night will be held at 6 p.m. at Origin Beer Lab, 106 S. Railroad Avenue, Ashland.

Free. For information, email ashlandmuseum@comcast.net.

Sunday, March 27 Visit the historic Hanover Courthouse on Sunday, March 27 at 2:30 p.m. to meet with Patrick Henry, portrayed by John Tucker of the Parsons’ Cause Foundation.

The Society’s Chief Docent, Gary Stauffer, will also give an overview of the Courthouse history and tour of the Old Jail.

The society has learned more about a 20th-century jail break that attendees will want to hear about. Don’t miss this opportunity to see the Old Jail and historic Hanover Courthouse located on Rt. 301 near its intersection with Rt. 54.

Wednesday, March 30 The Hanover NAACP will present an educational session to help everyone better understand the LGBTQ+ community and learn of ways to be supportive and empathetic. The session

will be held at the Atlee Branch Library, 9212 Rutlandshire Drive, Mechanicsville, from 6 to 8 p.m. on March 30.

Thursday, March 31 The Ashland Museum will present its “HistoryTalks” program at 7 p.m. at the Ashland Branch of Pamunkey Regional Library, 201 S. Railroad Avenue, Ashland. In a talk titled “Hanover’s Railroads, All Three of Them,” Art Taylor, the president of Hanover County Historical Society, will share some railroad artifacts and their stories. Free and open to the public. If you have questions, leave a voice message at 804368-7314 or email ashlandmuseum@comcast.net.

Saturday, April 2 Informative education program about dementia care Senior Helpers Home Care will be hosting this program from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Restoration Church located at 9161 Atlee Rd., Mechanicsville.

To RSVP, to this free event call Jeff Fiebelkorn at Senior Helpers at 804-277-2780 by Friday, April 1 with the number

part of my DNA,” Peace said last week. “Its history, people and traditions are part of America’s DNA too. There is no greater honor than serving in the Virginia legislature representing the birthplace of Patrick Henry.”

During his tenure in the General Assembly, Peace was also instrumental in recognizing the contributions of Virginia’s Native American population and helped establish a permanent memorial to them at the State Capitol.

“Honoring the past and ongoing contributions of Virginia Indians at the state Capitol is an immutable example of my commitment to the district and her people,” he said last week.

Peace added he was pleasantly surprised and humbled with the recognition passed by voice vote in the House Chamber earlier this month.

“The recognition was extremely meaning-

of people planning to attend.

Saturday, April 2 Mechanicsville Baptist Church will host an Easter Trunk Hunt from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at 8016 Atlee Road in Mechanicsville. Why hunt for eggs and candy when you can easily get them by visiting each car in their front lawn? Don’t forget your Easter Basket. For more information please call 804746-7253 or email us at office@ mechanicsvillebaptist.org.

The Doswell Ruritan Club is holding a Spaghetti Dinner on Saturday, April 2 from 5 to 7 p.m. located at 16433 N. Washington Highway. The dinner will feature homemade meat or traditional sauces, garlic bread, tossed salad, dessert and beverages. Take-outs are encouraged. It is $12 for adults and $4 for children aged 4 through 10.

Proceeds will help fund the local scholarship program.

Senior Helpers Home Care will host the program “Engaging Brain Change and How to Care for Loved Ones see CALENDAR, pg. 8

ful having served 14 years as a member of the House and with combined service at the General Assembly of two decades that include time as an aide to then-Del. Eric Cantor and as a lobbyist,” Peace said. “It was particularly thoughtful of Del. Hodges to sponsor the resolution after our joint service to the people of King William County.”

Since his departure from the General Assembly, Peace continues to fight for the issues he believes in through his work as an attorney.

Asked what he is doing now, Peace responded, “Serving as an advocate for children and families in the courtroom and being present more for my own family.” Peace and wife Ashley have two children.

Hodges’ bill was presented on March 7 and passed by a voice vote the following day.

REZONING Continued from pg. 1

council members with a comprehensive overview of the project on March 15 that included detailed drawings and renderings of the new school scheduled to open in fall 2024.

The property is currently zoned Rural Residential (RR-1) and Residential Limited (R-2), and the Town’s Comprehensive Plan envisions the property being used as a school and designated government on planning maps. Although the use is designated as a school, the project still required a CUP. “We are currently proposing a Main Street-style building where off of the main entrance there is a primary avenue that goes right down the middle of the building,” Douty said.

The classrooms will be located on one side of the main corridor and other school departments like administration, gymnasium and Media Center, would occupy the opposite side of the avenue.

“What was really important to us as we developed appearance of this building from the exterior is that it is completely contextual to the vernacular you see around town,” Douty said. Studies of the town’s architecture and building materials provided the base for the design efforts and used those as precedents for design of the new school.

Vice mayor John Hodges questioned the reduction of playground space in the proposed plan and said the new area should be available for neighborhood use when school is not in session.

The proposed plan outlines two separate playgrounds, one for kindergarten to second grades and one for third to fifth graders.

“We are really tight on the site space but we are trying to come up with creative solutions to still provide those abilities for those students to have those opportunities,” said Christina Berta, assistant superintendent for business and operations.

Berta said the division is considering creating a track around the bus parking area or utilizing a fire lane reserved for emergency use for some recreational activities for students. Basketball goals could be installed on either side of the fire lane allowing students to use the area.

Council member Daniel McGraw clarified exactly who would be attending the new school and that some students within the town limit would attend other schools.

“I know when this is built, it’s going to be so beautiful and some people may be moving into town and say, ‘my child is going to go to that school,’ but not everyone in this town goes to this school. Is that correct?” McGraw asked.

“No boundaries would be changed by this application. This is, as noted, a consolidation of the current Henry Clay Elementary School, which is K-2,…. to John M. Gandy which is 3-5,” superintendent Michael Gill said. He noted that Gandy and Clay are the only two elementary schools in the county that have a split feeder pattern.

The superintendent said he wasn’t sure of the exact boundary lines but conceded some Ashland students attend other elementary schools. “I don’t have the answer right off the top of my head, but I believe there are some portions of the town that actually may feed into Elmont Elementary.”

Gill also explained the naming of the school. “The school board had already voted some years back that the name John M. Gandy would be retained,” Gill said.

“You see that in the renderings that the name will stay with the site so it will be John M. Gandy.”

Henry Clay Elementary was opened in the 1930s, and Gill said that name also deserves recognition. “I will say as an American history major that we want to honor the legacy of Henry Clay Elementary School and what it has also meant to the town of Ashland, and I think there are several unique ways we can do that within the confines of the building.”

The current John M. Gandy Elementary School was opened in 1950 as an African American school during the “separate but equal” era. The facility replaced the Hanover County Training School that opened in 1915 and served the county’s minority students.

In other matters, the council approved a rezoning that allows the construction of a single family home on Jamestown Road.

The lot is currently zoned RR-1 but due to the configuration of the site is unbuildable under those zoning guidelines.

Applicant Greg Tuggle said he was requesting the rezoning because the lot could be utilized under R-2 zoning to allow him to build a small home for his own personal use.

Council members questioned the positioning of two roads on either side of Tuggle’s property that provide access to homes located further off the main road.

One of those roads is on Tuggle’s property,

but he maintained he had no intention of restricting access to that road.

Neighbors on the east side of Tuggle’s property said they do use that road for access to their home and that the lot in question was too small for a home.

Tuggle maintained the road issue should not delay a decision on his application to rezone and said he would build a separate driveway to Jamestown Road if that would alleviate concerns regarding use of the existing private roads.

“I want to be a good neighbor, I have no intention of disturbing their access,” he said. “This is intended as my place to retire.”

Town attorney Andrea Erard advised council members to delay a decision on the rezoning until those matters could be resolved, possibly averting confrontations among neighbors down the road.

“It does sound like perhaps there are some details that would be best if they were ironed out,” Erard said.

Hodges did not favor a delay in order to broker an agreement with neighbors and the applicant.

“Basically we are talking about private agreements and this is a public zoning case.

There’s nothing preventing us from acting tonight. We are not in a position to dictate a solution. It’s a private matter between the neighbors and Mr. Tuggle,” Hodges said.

Erard further explained her position.

“When I was suggesting perhaps ironing out details I was thinking that the property owner might want to identify where the driveway would go, the orientation of the house and maybe give some idea as to what it might look like,” Erard explained.

McGraw said he was not in favor of making the applicant feel unwanted and would “hate for a delay to make the applicant feel there was one more hurdle.”

Mayor Steve Trivett said he was in favor of a delay to make sure all details were clear to the applicant and the neighbors affected by the approval.

“It would be good for your neighbors to know in advance what is going to be allowed and what is not,” Trivett said.

“This might be the best time to answer the question because after this point we really don’t have anything to do with it.

This is the best time to fix it if we want to provide opportunities for the neighbors to come to an agreement on how it should be fixed.”

Council voted 4-1 to approve the rezoning with Trivett casting the dissenting vote.

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OPINION | The Local Views From the managing editor

Out of isolation came a greater connection

By Laura McFarland The Local taying connected with people is not just a choice, it’s a privilege.

When the COVID-19 pandemic saw us hunkering down mostly in the isolation of our own homes, a new breed of connectedness emerged. I went from having one form of video chat app on my cell phone – used mainly to connect to an overseas friend – to downloading no less than six new video chat apps just so I knew I had the major platforms people might suggest for a meeting or conversation.

I missed the personal touch; most of us did in some way or another. So to say that I was ecstatic when people began scheduling in-person events again would be a massive understatement, as I am sure many of you reading this have experienced in the last year or so.

And as I look ahead to community events being planned for the coming months that promise to bring us back together even more, there is a great deal of happy anticipation, both personally and for our community. We have options in the coming months like library programs, volunteer opportunities, club meetings and special events such as Ashland Train Day (April 30), Ashland Strawberry Faire (June 11), and Hanover Tomato Festival (July

S

15 and 16).

But as much as I missed the personal connection in my daily life here in Virginia, I did come to appreciate the advances that came out of the pandemic that help me stay connected to those farther away.

For instance, in the year or so before the shutdown, I had started becoming highly interested in playing board games and piqued the interest of several family members in Texas as well. Local board game events shut down pretty quickly, what with the close personal nature of playing a game together and touching all the pieces, but my mom, oldest sister Heather and I found a fantastic website where you can play board games reproduced in an online format. By playing the games on my computer and participating in a video chat on my phone, we could have a somewhat traditional game night together even though I was 1,300 miles away. It was the most connected I had felt with them in a while, short of the limited number of visits we manage each year.

I now look for those opportunities to be involved in – not just big special occasions like holidays you miss but the little things, like helping my middle sister Stefanie, who is a fellow quilter, decide on fabric, or letting my mom just see my face because she misses me.

Most recently, I organized a little surprise for Mom that was no hassle to me but meant the world

Another sleepy, dusty, Delta day?

By Jim Ridolphi Contributing Columnist Some mysteries are meant to remain unsolved for perpetuity. I’ve learned to live with the fact that we are never going to find Jimmy Hoffa’s body or identify Jack the Ripper;

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Ashland-Hanover Local March 23, 2022

to her. Mom is a lifelong John Wayne fan, and I learned that one of her favorite movies of all time, “The Quiet Man,” would be having 70th anniversary screenings at theaters across the country last week. I secretly called my sisters and said that if one of them would take her, I would pay for the movie tickets.

All they told her was that they were taking her out for dinner. After that, they drove to the theater and surprised her with the movie. As I couldn’t be there, the best part for me was when Heather called me in a video chat from their seats in the theater and I got to talk to them several minutes before the movie started, including listening to Mom answer some of the onscreen John Wayne trivia.

I’ve read different news accounts of how technology changed our society during the pandemic – the good, the bad and the practical – and how many relationships changed as a result. I saw plenty of pros and cons on both sides and think it is way too complicated a nut to crack here.

What I will say is that I value that it brought to my attention in a new way that I didn’t have to miss out on all the small moments in my loved ones’ lives – that the tools to be more connected were already there. We just needed to make the choices to not wait for the big moments but savor the small ones as well. but, I thought we would have, for sure, by now solved the mystery of what happened to Billie Joe McAllister up on Choctaw Ridge and what he and his girlfriend tossed off the Tallahatchie Bridge. see DELTA, pg. 19

WE WANT TO PUBLISH YOUR ISSUE-DRIVEN LETTERS The Local welcomes your signed letters to the editor on topics of interest to Hanover residents. Letters must include your address and a daytime telephone number. We reserve the right to edit letters. We do not guarantee that every letter received will be published. Letters reflect the opinions and positions of the writers and not The Ashland-Hanover Local.

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LETTERS | Reader Views

Reader condemns Putin’s leadership Dear Editor, Perhaps the most valuable lesson derived from the pandemic is that events anywhere in the world, no matter how remote, can impact all of us.

While most Americans aspire for a just world void of oppression and violence, evil exists and manifests its demonic presence quite often, sometimes on a massive scale.

Masked under a smokescreen of lies, witness Communist Vladmir Putin, who ordered Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a self-serving agenda of death and destruction motivated by greed and a lust for power, reminding us of other malevolent despots in world history.

If Russia can freely subjugate Ukraine, with repressive China standing on the sideline coveting Taiwan, what is next?

Putin’s aggressive affront to social justice demands that Americans unite with protesters throughout the world in actively condemning and resisting him, while advocating any and all national and international actions taken to isolate Russia and pressure its leader.

Even the staunchest of President Joe Biden’s critics must support every punitive economic sanction aimed at strangling Russia economically; any hardship endured in America pales in comparison to that in Ukraine; and hopefully, this situation will force Biden to recognize the folly of impeding domestic energy production.

As for Putin’s retaliatory threats, he must be treated like the schoolyard thug he is. Rather than standing-down and empowering him, we must increase retaliatory coercion and force Russia to depose him, withdraw its forces and make restitution for the lives and property it has destroyed.

Daniel Corso Mechanicsville

Residents reminded to keep dogs leashed unless on property Every year, beginning April 1 through June 30, it is unlawful for dogs anywhere in Hanover County to be running off their property without being leashed.

The county’s “leash law” applies throughout the year in the suburban area. Between April 1 and June 30, it is extended to the rural areas as well because the births of vulnerable livestock, such as baby lambs and calves, tend to take place during this period. Wildlife activity and rabies cases also generally increase in the April 1 through June 30 timeframe.

Any dogs caught running off their owner’s property will be impounded. Impoundment fees are $25 for the first violation and an additional $10 for each subsequent violation within a 12-month period including a $5 per day boarding fee. Violations also can result in uniform

LIBRARY Continued from pg. 4

in Ashland. Bring a blanket to enjoy some fun songs, rhymes and books. Carter Park is located at 1112 Maple Street, Ashland. Storytime will be held weather permitting. Register at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal. com/ to be notified prior to the program if it is canceled due to weather.* Must Love Words, Wednesday, April 13, 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Join the library for constructive feedback and discussion about the craft of writing.

Due to group resources, email and word processing are used to communicate outside of meetings. Access to email and familiarity with word processing is preferred.* Teens Save the World, Thursday, April 14, 6 to 7 p.m.

For ages 12 to 18. Teens have an enormous power to change the world. Learn some easy ways to make a difference every day and take something home that can easily be used. *

summons or a written warning being issued.

Each instance of a dog belonging to a particular owner running at-large is a separate violation, and an additional penalty will apply regardless of whether or not the same dog is involved.

If you see a dog running at large, call Hanover County Emergency Communications at 804365-6140. Any dangerous animal can be reported by dialing 911 for immediate assistance, 24/7.

For more information about Hanover County’s running at-large laws, call Animal Control at 804-365-6485.

Dogs cannot run off their owner’s property at any time of year without a current county license tag affixed to their collar.

Information submitted by Tom Harris, Hanover County Public Information Officer.

Morning Book Club, Friday, April 15, 10 to 11 a.m.

Read the book of the month and engage in a lively discussion about it. Share views about the book and author and share reading recommendations. * Afternoon Book Club, Monday, April 18, 1 to 2 p.m.

Read the book of the month and engage in a lively discussion about it. Share views about the book and author and share reading recommendations. * Evening Book Club, Tuesday, April 19, 7 to 8 p.m.

Read the book of the month and engage in a lively discussion about it. Share views about the book and author and share reading recommendations. * The African-American Experience on the Railroad, Wednesday, April 27, 7 to 8 p.m.

Join the library to hear and listen through song and true stories about the AfricanAmerican Experience on the

Railroad. Born into a hardworking lineage of family railroad workers (his Father and Grandfather), Donald Coles will demonstrate how the railroad and music impacted his life. Encounter and discover how he integrates and blends the stories of railroad days and music to convey this generational chronicle.* Minority Health Panel, Thursday, April 28, 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Learn from the library’s panel of experts about the special health needs and concerns of community members who are different from the majority.

The panel will be facilitated by Lauren Pagac, a Nurse from the Chickahominy Health District. * VIRTUAL PROGRAMS HomeFit Workshop, Wednesday, April 27, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

“Modify Your Home for Safety and Comfort” The AARP HomeFit Workshop provides information, ideas and inspiration to

Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown Museum programs March Focus Tour: “Sir, We are not Weak” Join the museum’s interpreters every Friday and Saturday in March at 10 a.m. for an hour-long focus tour that celebrates the many remarkable women in the Henry household, including mothers, sisters, daughters, both free and enslaved. Regular ticketing and pricing applies. For more information, visit the website:https://preservationvirginia.org/events/sir-we-are-notweak-focus-tour-at-scotchtown. To purchase tickets, visit:https://preservationvirginia.org/ tickets/patrick-henrys-scotchtown.

March 26 - A Historic Haunting: Scotchtown & Hanover Tavern Join Transcend Paranormal, Hanover Tavern Foundation and Preservation Virginia as they delve into the paranor-

help attendees decide what type of home modifications are needed to stay in their homes as they age. Find out about home updates to make it easier to go about daily activities while staying comfortable, independent and injury-free at home.

Registration is required at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/event/8944283. This program is hosted virtually through Zoom and the meeting link will be sent to the email registered one day before the event occurs. If a reminder email is not received, contact the library.* *Call 804-798-4072 or visit the library at 201 S. Railroad Ave. for more information.

mal once more at two beautiful historic locations. They are once again pairing up with Preservation Virginia, Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown and the Hanover Tavern to investigate Scotchtown and Hanover Tavern in one evening.

These locations are tied in history; from Patrick Henry’s family, the Shelton family and more. Many of those who visited the grounds of Scotchtown were also visitors of the Hanover Tavern and surrounding buildings. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore and investigate a total of 8 locations this evening spread across 2 sites.

Admission is $65 and reservations are required. For tickets, visit: https://app. gopassage.com/events/a-historic-haunting-scotchtown-hanover-tavern-new. To visit the Transcend Paranormal Facebook page, visit: https://www.facebook.com/ events/505226964543625.

communities with an informative take and make kit while supplies last.

Call 804-365-6210 or visit the library at 7527 Library Drive for more information.

Lois Wickham Jones/ Montpelier Branch Library IN-PERSON PROGRAMS

TAKE & MAKE PROGRAMS

Outdoor Family Story Time, Thursdays, April 7, 14 and 28, 4 to 4:30 p.m.

Join the library in the Rose Garden to sing songs, learn rhymes and listen to stories.

Each session will have an engaging craft to take home.

Feel free to bring a chair, towel and sunscreen. Storytime is held weather permitting.

Register at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/ to be notified prior to the program if it is canceled due to weather.*

Environmental Health, Pickup starts Tuesday, April 12 Find out the connection between the environment and the health of individuals and

Mystery Book Club, Monday, April 11, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Ages 18 and up. Join the library for a monthly discus-

Hanover Branch Library

sion on favorite mystery titles.

Call 804-883-7116 or visit the library at 17205 Sycamore Tavern Lane for more information.

The Upcycle Life: Tin Can Wind Chimes, Thursday, April 14, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Why make trash when you can make treasure? The library will give discarded tin cans new life as Cottage Core-friendly wind chimes using just a little paint, a little decoupage and a lot of fun.

Call 804-883-7116 or visit the library at 17205 Sycamore Tavern Lane for more information.

Monopoly Anyone?

Game Night, Thursday, April 21, 6:30 to 8 p.m.

For ages 12 to 18. Join the library for a fun and competitive night of playing board games. They have a variety of games to choose from, so grab a friend and visit the library.

Call 804-883-7116 or visit the library at 17205 Sycamore Tavern Lane for more information. see LIBRARY, pg. 8

Ashland-Hanover Local March 23, 2022 7

CALENDAR Continued from pg. 4

with Dementia” from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Restoration Church, located at 9161 Atlee Rd., Mechanicsville. Spend the morning gaining awareness, learning useful skills and getting resources to provide better care to a family member living with dementia. To RSVP, call Jeff Fiebelkorn at Senior Helpers at 804277-2780 by Friday, April 1 with the number of people planning to attend.

Saturday, April 9 Walnut Grove Baptist Church Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt plus other Fun Activities starting at 10 a.m. at WGBC 7046 Cold Harbor Road, Mechanicsville.

Sunday, April 10 The Ashland Church of God will hold its Spring Fest beginning at 10:30 a.m., located at 407 Myrtle Street, Ashland. There will be an Easter egg hunt, pig roast, hot dogs, bouncy house, games and hot air balloon rides (weather permitting).

Friday, April 29 & Saturday, April 30 The St. Paul Lutheran Church is holding an “Everything for $1 Yard Sale.” The yard sale will be held rain or shine, inside and outside from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. and will be located at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 8100 Shady Grove Road, Mechanicsville. The sale will feature linens, kitchenware, home décor, clothes, books, toys, lawn and gardening items, furniture and much more.

Hot dogs, drinks and baked goods will be for sale. Proceeds will benefit the church’s missionary family, MCEF, and other community ministries that the church supports. Call 804-427-7500.

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.

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Saturdays Trinity Lutheran Church, Ashland Campus, located at 11515 Ashcake Road in Ashland two miles west of U.S. 1, holds its church service at 5 p.m. with Pastor Rev. Dr. Roy Minnix For more information, visit www.trinityrichmond.net or call 804-270-9626.

Sundays All Souls Episcopal Church celebrates Holy Eucharist Rite II at 9:15 a.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church at 8154 Atlee Rd. in Mechanicsville. A nursery will be available for infants and toddlers. Katherine G. Dougherty is the Deacon in charge of All Souls. For more information, visit www.allsoulsva.org.

A Healing and Recovery SS Class meets at 9 a.m. at the Walnut Grove Baptist Church at 7046 Cold Harbor Rd. in Mechanicsville. The class is for adults 18 and over and is an extension of the NorthStar community that also meets at 6 p.m. Fridays at the church. The Christian 12 Steps and Biblical wisdom are the basis of study and discussion to learn about God’s place in our lives. All are welcome. For more information, call 804-746-5081 or contact Craig Simpson at craigwgbc@gmail.com.

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

The American Legion Post 175, located at 8700 Bell Creek Road in Mechanicsville, holds a “Meet and Greet, Coffee and Donut” event every Tuesday event for the Community and perspective members to meet members

Ashland-Hanover Local March 23, 2022

and learn about what they do for the community.

Wednesdays Walnut Grove Baptist Church is conducting English and Citizenship classes with open enrollment through May 2022. Classes will be held Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. For more information, contact the church office, located at 7046 Cold Harbor Road, Mechanicsville. Contact 804-746-5081 or at wgbcinfo@comcast.net or 804746-4696. The classes are free but the students will need to purchase the books required for their class.

Hanover Rotary meets from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Roma’s Restaurant at 7240 Bell Creek Rd. in Mechanicsville.

Due to the pandemic, contact President Penny at pennyguiles43@gmail.com for current meeting at Roma’s or Zoom connection information.

Thursdays The Ashland Rotary Club meets weekly at noon at the Iron Horse Restaurant at 100 S. Railroad Ave. in Ashland. For more information, contact Steve Dunham at 804-496-6093 or sandrdunham@yahoo.com.

Overcomers Outreach & Women’s Codependency is a Christ-centered anonymous support program offering hope and healing for recovering alcoholics, addicts and their families.

Meetings are held at 7 p.m. at Shalom Baptist Church at 8116 Walnut Grove Rd. in Mechanicsville. For more information, call 804-366-6524 or email mjfaith1@gmail.com.

New Highland Baptist Church hosts open basketball gym time for adults in the Christian Life Center (CLC) starting at 7:30 PM. The church is located at 9200 New Ashcake Road in Mechanicsville.

Use the side back entrance to enter.

Contact Jeff Fitzgerald at jkfitzgerald@ comcast.net with any questions.

Civil Air Patrol, Hanover Squadron, meets Thursdays, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Fairfield Presbyterian Church, 6930 Cold Harbor Rd, in Mechanicsville.

CAP is an awesome program for youth, ages 12- 21, as well as for adults who care about young people and want to help train America’s next generation

of Leaders. You’ll find cadet life exciting if you enjoy Flying, Leadership Training, Model Rocketry, Earning Rank & Awards, and much more. For more information, visit hanover.vawg. cap.gov. You can also call or email Capt. James Wright at 804-551-3354 or james.wright@vawg.cap.gov.

LIBRARY

Fridays

A Fulfilling Retirement: Living Your Purpose at the Cochrane Rockville Branch Library Tuesday, April 12, 6 to 7 p.m.

Ages 18 and up. Learn more about writing the next chapter and why purpose matters.

Call 804-749-3146 or visit the library at 16600 Pouncey Tract Road for more information.

The Building Bridges group of Narcotics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem. The group’s mission is to bring a message of hope and recovery to those suffering from addiction issues. They meet on Fridays from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Mechanicsville United Methodist Church, 7356 Atlee Road in Mechanicsville. For more information, visit rvana.org.

Continued from pg. 7

Cochrane Rockville Branch Library IN-PERSON PROGRAMS

TAKE & MAKE PROGRAMS

Second Mondays The WEB of Hope meets from 10 a. m. to noon at the Black Creek Baptist Church at 6289 McClellan Rd. in Mechanicsville. It is one of several groups in the Richmond area that crochets, knits, sews, and quilts gifts for the American Red Cross to distributed to those in need. Since its inception, the WEB has donated over 153,000 gifts locally, nationally and globally. If you can make it, the WEB can use it. There are so many organizations in need of help. For more information, call Laurie Wagner at 804-781-0338.

Third Mondays Alzheimer’s/Dementia support group for caregivers and others who want to help and encourage those who have loved ones with dementia illnesses meets at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of each month on Zoom. Contact Jennifer Bean at 804-559-2805 or the church office at 804-746-9073.

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

Fourth Mondays The FeedMore Mobile Food Pantry will be distributing food from 10 to 11 a.m. at the First Shiloh Baptist Church at 8150 Walnut Grove Rd. in Mechanicsville. For more information, contact Heather at hshaheen96@gmail. com.

Take & Make: Spring Carrot Magnet at the Cochrane Rockville Branch Library Pickup starts Friday, April 1 Ages 14 and up. Stop by the Rockville branch and pick up this cute springtime magnet kit while supplies last.

Call 804-749-3146 or visit the library at 16600 Pouncey Tract Road for more information.

Submitted by Carolyn Garner, Adult Public Services Coordinator.

Email: cgarner@pamunkeylibrary.org or call 804-569-0370 ext 1312.

OBITUARY SUBMISSIONS

Call 804-643-4414, ext. 3 Email: paidnotices @timesdispatch. com Deadline is noon Friday for the following week’s issue.

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Vote in our annual Local’s Choice contest to help us recognize the best of the best.

Just fill in your choice for the best business in each of the categories on the online ballot.

Hurry, voting ends on Friday, April 8, 2022.

Contest Rules You must be at least 18 years or older to enter.

No purchase necessary to vote. A purchase will not improve one’s chance of winning.

Online voting begins at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 8, 2022. Limit one vote per category per person per 24 hrs. – online voting only.

The 2021 Local’s Choice Contest includes Hanover County and the town of Ashland businesses only.

The 2021 Local’s Choice Contest winners will be determined by the highest number of votes from the entries received, by the contest deadline.

The 2021 Local’s Choice Contest results will be published in The Mechanicsville Local and Ashland-Hanover Local on Wednesday, May 16, 2022.

The contest results do not reflect the views of The Mechanicsville Local and Ashland-Hanover Local.

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Antiques Appliance Store Auto Dealership Bookstore Boutique Best Children’s Clothing Store Comic Book Store Fishing Supply Store Flowers/Gifts Furniture Store Grocery Store Hardware Store Hunting Supply Store Jewelry Store Thrift Store

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Ashland-Hanover Local March 23, 2022

Upcoming April programs at Hanover area libraries Ashland Branch Library Say Goodnight to Insomnia Tuesday, April 5, 7 to 8 p.m.

Learn more about the possible causes of sleep problems, including how stress can affect men’s and women’s bodies; how hormone imbalances relate to sleep problems, fatigue, premature aging, weight gain, blood sugar, emotional fragility, loss of libido and more; how diet, rest, exercise, stress reduction and supplementation help maintain optimal sleep; and how sleep hygiene, hormones, melatonin and cortisol relate to sleep. Find out how to get your own comprehensive sleep and hormone assessment and the customized D.R.E.S.S. For Health Success Program, presented by Kimberly Boehm, FDN Practitioner.*

A different way to approach Shakespeare: Join the library in a staged reading of a different Shakespeare play each month.

April’s play is “Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Meet at 10 a.m. to review edited scripts, decide who is playing which part, go over any important action and talk about how to handle some of the trickier language. Bring a bag lunch for break. At 3 p.m., participants will begin reading the play out loud to each other, on foot, using supplied props, getting a feel for the story through the action. The plays run between one and two hours and will be done by 5 p.m. * Outdoor Family Storytimes Tuesdays, April 12 and April 26, 11 to 11:30 a.m.

Join the library for an outdoor, all ages storytime at the Carter Park pavilion located in Ashland. Bring a blanket to enjoy some fun songs, rhymes and books. Carter Park is located at 1112 Maple Street, Ashland. Storytime will be held weather permitting. Register at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal. com/ to be notified prior to the program if it is canceled due to weather.*

3 “Must Do” Steps for De-Cluttering Thursday, April 7, 7 to 8 p.m.

Presented by Brenda Mason Parmelee, Founder/CEO of SmallerLivingHugeLife and Downsizing31. Find out how to get unstuck from the pressure of clutter and learn the ‘3 Must Do’ Foundational Steps in the journey to creating a clutter-free home. The library will show how and where to begin, how to have the confidence in decisions of what to keep or let go of and how to address the hard moments in the process. A master of tiny living, downsizing and decluttering, Brenda has taught thousands how to accomplish the hard work of decluttering/ downsizing.*

Must Love Words Wednesday, April 13, 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Join the library for constructive feedback and discussion about the craft of writing.

Due to group resources, email and word processing are used to communicate outside of meetings. Access to email and familiarity with word processing is preferred.*

Instant Shakespeare Saturday, April 9, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Teens Save the World Thursday, April 14, 6 to 7 p.m.

For ages 12 to 18. Teens have an enormous power to change the world. Learn some easy ways to make a difference every day and take something home that can easily be used.* Morning Book Club Friday, April 15, 10 to 11 a.m.

Read the book of the month and engage in a lively discussion about it. Share views about the book and author and share reading recommendations. * Afternoon Book Club Monday, April 18, 1 to 2 p.m.

Read the book of the month and engage in a lively discussion about it. Share views about the book and author and share reading recommendations. *

H G U O , N E RE! A BIG SERVTE C O TO GH

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Special Offer!

Evening Book Club Tuesday, April 19, 7 to 8 p.m.

Read the book of the month and engage in a lively discussion about it. Share views about the book and author and share reading recommendations. * The African-American Experience on the Railroad Wednesday, April 27, 7 to 8 p.m.

Join the library to hear and listen through song and true stories about the AfricanAmerican Experience on the Railroad. Born into a hardworking lineage of family railroad workers (his Father and Grandfather), Donald Coles will demonstrate how the railroad and music impacted his life. Encounter and discover how he integrates and blends

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Ashland-Hanover Local March 23, 2022 13

Sports

UPCOMING EVENTS

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Prep softball: Douglas Freeman at Patrick Henry 6:00 p.m.

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College softball: McDaniel at Randolph-Macon 2:30 p.m./4:30 p.m.

| Youth, High School, College, Recreational & Professional

Yellow Jackets run away with NCAA title R-MC’s 75-45 victory largest margin in a D-III championship

Winners grateful for those who built program

By Dave Lawrence Sports Editor Two years ago, RandolphMacon’s men’s basketball team reached the NCAA Division III Round of 16 before the rest of the tournament was canceled because of the growing COVID19 pandemic. Last year, the Yellow Jackets were undefeated and spent the season ranked No. 1 in the nation, but no tournament was held.

This year, the Yellow Jackets began the season ranked No. 1 in the nation. Other teams had been gunning for them all year but only one — Christopher Newport early in the season — got the better of them, and only did so by a point in overtime.

From that single loss on Nov. 28, Randolph-Macon has been undaunted, amassing victory after victory as the pressure mounted, and ended its season Sunday with a 75-45 victory over Elmhurst in the NCAA Division III championship game in Fort Wayne, Indiana, for its first NCAA national title in school history.

For Yellow Jacket head coach Josh Merkel, there is a touch of melancholy along with the

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By Mike Barber Richmond Times-Dispatch

Mary Franke/Randolph-Macon College

Randolph-Macon guard Josh Talbert (22) was one of four Yellow Jackets in double figures, leading R-MC with 15 points and 11 rebounds in a 75-45 rout of Elmhurst in the NCAA Division III championship game in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Saturday night.

ecstasy of winning the title.

“The end of the season is always like a grieving process because you’ve been with this group every day with the excep-

Ashland-Hanover Local March 23, 2022

tion of an off day for like five months and then it comes to a crashing halt,” he said when asked if the title felt real yet.

“So to end on a positive note …

being able to play for the cham- life, but it feels like our efforts pionship, to be able to play for it were rewarded and I’m feeling and to win the last game, it just very grateful.” feels good. I don’t I don’t know about it feeling real or not, real see TITLE, pg. 15

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — As Randolph-Macon closed out its NCAA Division III semifinal win on Friday night, the one that put it in position to win the national championship 24 hours later, Yellow Jackets star Buzz Anthony looked into the stands and locked eyes with a former teammate.

Korey Turner was one of a group of past Macon players who made the 10-plus hour drive to Indiana to watch this year’s team make history.

He was also a member of the 2020 team that had its chance to reach this moment snatched away when the tournament was canceled.

“All the work we put in see GRATEFUL, pg. 16

Mary Franke/Randolph-Macon College

Right, Randolph-Macon senior Daniel Funderburg, wears an interesting accesstory on his champion’s cap as he celebrates with the NCAA Division III National Championship trophy after the Yellow Jackets defeated Elmhurst 75-45 in the championship Saturday night. Above, Randolph-Macon’s Buzz Anthony, the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, can look back on a career well played. He capped that career by draining a 3-pointer before leaving the championship game.

TITLE Continued from pg. 14

When the postseason started and all room for error was gone, the Yellow Jackets went on a tear. In the closest postseason victory they had — against Virginia Wesleyan in the ODAC championship on Feb. 27 — they won by 15 points.

In their NCAA opener against Mitchell on March 4, which the Yellow Jackets won 99-57, the 99 points set a record for the most points in an NCAA tournament game and the 42-point winning margin was the largest winning margin in tournament history. They defeated Babson in the second round by 16 points, UMassDartmouth in the Sweet 16 by 23 points, and WPI in the sec-

tional final by 17 points.

When it came to the Final Four, the Yellow Jackets defeated familiar foe Marietta by 18 points. Then came the championship game. Their 30-point winning margin was the largest margin of victory in a Division III championship game and was equaled only by one other championship in any division: UNLV’s 103-73 victory over Duke in the 1990 Division I championship.

The players were still buzzing from excitement after arriving back home in Ashland Sunday.

“I’m doing fantastic, great, just super blessed, super grateful, just happy to be part of all the success and everything that we’ve had,” Talbert said. “I’m at a loss lost for words, honestly.

I want to say it’s been amazing

this past weekend with family, alumni, friends, teammates. I can’t ask for more. It’s been awesome.”

Talbert scored 18 points in the Yellow Jackets’ 81-63 semifinal win over Marietta Friday.

He had a double-double, 15 points and 11 rebounds, with four assists and three steals in the championship game.

Each night in the Final Four, Talbert was one of a quartet of double-figure scorers for Randolph-Macon. In the semifinal, Ian Robertson led the Yellow Jackets with 22 points. He also had seven rebounds. Miles Mallory scored 17 points with eight rebounds, and Buzz Anthony, the NCAA Division III Tournament’s Most

Outstanding Player, finished with 12 points and 11 assists.

Daniel Mbangue grabbed 10 rebounds.

In the championship game, Anthony finished with 14 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals. Mallory had 10 points, nine rebounds and three blocks, while Mbangue finished with 10 points.

While the team was feeling jubilant, another type of season was about to resume with a vengeance.

“Unfortunately, I have class tomorrow. So it’s right back in reality now,” Talbert said.

He was studying for a test.

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

Ashland-Hanover Local March 23, 2022 15

GRATEFUL Continued from pg. 14

together, it’s just awesome to see it all pay off right now,” Turner said at halftime of Saturday’s national championship blowout, with Macon well on its way to a 75-45 win over Elmhurst.

“It’s the Jacket family. They’re doing it for a lot of people that came before them.”

That was on the Macon players’ minds this past weekend as they brought to completion what their former teammates started but never got the chance to finish. It was especially prevalent in Anthony’s thoughts. The fifth-year senior even texted another ex-player from that team, Corey Bays, a happy birthday wish Saturday morning and joked that a national championship would be quite a gift.

Hours later, his 14 points helped deliver it.

“It means so much, so much,” said Anthony, who came back for a fifth season for this moment. “Those guys are awesome coming here to Fort Wayne and supporting us.

I love them.”

Seventh-year Macon coach Josh Merkel said he takes as much pride in helping build those bonds as he does in building a championship team.

“The relationships and being connected is more important to me than winning,” said Merkel after delivering the school its first-ever NCAA championship in any sport. “I tell guys in recruiting, if we don’t have a relationship when you leave, then this is meaningless.”

That’s why he made sure to credit Nebraska Wesleyan coach Dale Wellman, who he worked with at Eastern Kentucky, when asked about the success of Macon’s slant zone defense.

And it’s the type of relationship Merkel has maintained with his predecessors, Nathan Davis and Mike Rhoades, who are now Division I head coaches at Bucknell and VCU, respec-

16

Spring seasons begin for county high school teams Joel Klein for The Local

Many of the county’s high school track and field teams began their 2022 outdoor season at the Fred Hardy Invitational at the University of Richmond Friday. Far left, Patrick Henry’s Trevor Mason and Luke Taylor finished first and second, respectively, in the boys 1,600-meter run. Mason finished in 4:19.19. Left, Hanover’s Ellie Agustin won the girls 1,600 in 5:13.39.

Below, Mechanicsville’s Blake Moody smoked the field by 52 seconds with a victory in the boys 400 dash.

Moody finished in 50.13.

Courtesy of Alysia Maxie

Mechanicsville first baseman Aaron Maxie (12) stretches to get an out at first in the Mustangs’ 3-1 victory over Thomas Dale on March 14.

Maxie had two hits and two RBI.

Frank Straus/Randolph-Macon College

Kent Kilgroe (left), Korey Turner and Corey Bays were three seniors who saw their season end prematurely in 2020 when the NCAA ended the Division III tournament before the Round of 16 because of the coronavirus pandemic. The trio were among a legion of predecessors who help build the current team into the 2022 Division III national champion.

tively. He still considers both men mentors.

“This is a culmination of the guys who came before us,

Ashland-Hanover Local March 23, 2022

both players and coaches,” said Merkel. “I’ll be calling Coach Davis, Coach Rhoades this week to say thank you. Because

we don’t get here without the foundation they laid. To get this for them is a form of a thank you, I think.”

Davis and Rhoades are certainly deserving of that gratitude, taking over the program of Paul Webb and Hal Nunnally and building the Yellow Jackets up at the Division III level.

Rhoades got Macon to a Sweet 16 in 2003 and Davis took the program to its first Final Four in 2010.

But it was Merkel, a 2001 Salisbury graduate who left his job coaching his alma mater to work on Davis’s Yellow Jackets staff in 2016, tasked with finishing the climb and climbing the ladder to cut down the championship nets.

Merkel said the pressure to lead Macon across that finish line never felt too daunt-

ing, even in recent years when the team’s regular-season success made them the top-ranked team in the nation, even this weekend when the Yellow Jackets — who lost just once, by a single point in overtime at Christopher Newport this season — were the clear favorite to win it all.

“In life, to not have expectations is no place that me or my players want to be,” he said.

“And so we embraced it.”

Macon, of course, wasn’t the only program impacted by the two cancellations. In 2020, Elmhurst had won its first two games in the tournament — both by double digits — and was preparing to play PomonaPitzer in the Sweet 16 when things were shut down.

The Blue Jays’ road to redemption reached Fort

Wayne, too, and though they crashed just short of the finish line, their coach took a measure of solace in being able to finish the season playing on the final day.

“There was no closure back then,” Elmhurst coach John Baines said of the abrupt ending to 2020. “You kind of just said, ‘What could we have done?’ To get back to this spot, and get hot again, I’m glad these guys got that.”

Macon, of course, got the ultimate prize, represented Saturday night by the nylon net Anthony wore around his neck to post-game interviews.

“We had one goal — to win a national championship,” said Turner. “They’re doing this for a lot of guys.”

Mike Barber can be reached at mbarber@timesdispatch.com.

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PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS The Hanover County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on April 6, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. in the Board meeting room at the Hanover County Administration Building, 7516 County Complex Road, at Hanover Courthouse, Hanover, Virginia, on the following ordinance being proposed for adoption: ORDINANCE NO. 22-06 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE HANOVER COUNTY CODE, CHAPTER 22, TAXATION, ARTICLE II, DIVISION 3, SECTIONS 22-19, 22-21, AND 22-25, TO (1) INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF NET COMBINED FINANCIAL WORTH ELDERLY OR DISABLED TAXPAYERS OTHERWISE QUALIFYING FOR THE REAL ESTATE TAX EXEMPTION MAY HOLD, (2) INCREASE BY $2,500 EACH THE INCOME LEVELS TO WHICH THE TAX EXEMPTIONS APPLY, (3) INCREASE THE PERCENTAGES OF THE TAX EXEMPTION APPLICABLE TO A GIVEN INCOME LEVEL, AND (4) MAKE OTHER TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS. EXISTING PROPOSED Net Household Worth $200,000.00 $300,000.00 Income Levels Affected $0.00 – $22,500.00 $0.00 – $25,000.00 $22,501.00 – $32,500.00 $25,001.00 – $35,000.00 $32,501.00 – $42,500.00 $35,001.00 – $45,000.00 $42,501.00 – $52,500.00 $45,001.00 – $55,000.00 Percentage Taxes Exempted Range of Income $0.00 – $25,000.00 100% 100% Range of Income $25,001.00 – $35,000.00 75% 80% Range of Income $35,001.00 – $45,000.00 50% 55% Range of Income $45,001.00 – $55,000.00 25% 30% A complete copy of the proposed ordinance and related information is available at the office of the County Administrator on any regular working day between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

All persons wishing to comment on the proposal may appear at the stated time and place.

John A. Budesky, County Administrator

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PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS The Hanover County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on April 27, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. in the Board meeting room at the Hanover County Administration Building, 7516 County Complex Road, at Hanover Courthouse, Hanover, Virginia, on the following ordinance being proposed for adoption: ORDINANCE NO. 22-02 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 06-01 OF THE COUNTRY CLUB HILLS SANITARY DISTRICT TO ADJUSTTHEDEBTSERVICESURCHARGE AND THEN ABOLISH THE COUNTRY CLUB HILLS SANITARY DISTRICT, PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 2 OF TITLE 21 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION SECTIONS 21-117.1, 21-118, AND 21-118.4 Debt service surcharge – effective June 2022 billing Debt service surcharge – effective August 2022 billing

EXISTING

PROPOSED

$40.00

$30.00

$30.00

$0.00

A complete copy of the proposed ordinance and related information is available at the office of the County Administrator any regular working day between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

All persons wishing to comment on the proposal may appear at the stated time and place.

Ashland-Hanover Local March 23, 2022 17

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Public Notice NoticeisherebygiventhattheHanover County Board of Supervisors has set Wednesday,April 6, 2022 6:00 P.M., in the Board Room of the Hanover County Administration Building at Hanover Courthouse, 7516 County Complex Road, Hanover, Virginia, as the day, date, time, and place for a Special Board Meeting - Budget Public Hearing.

18

Ashland-Hanover Local March 23, 2022

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DELTA Continued from pg. 6

My interest was renewed when I heard the song “Ode to Billie Joe” on a local radio station last week and the mystery was awakened in my mind.

And, there’s something about the haunting tale that still leaves us wondering and conjuring up images of two teenage lovers with a secret, one that eventually leads to the young male’s suicide.

The song is a fictional version of a tale of two distraught lovers written by Bobbie Gentry, a native of Chickasaw County, Mississippi who shot to national fame with the mystical ballad and a sultry voice that perfectly matched the flavor of the song. From those humble beginnings of being raised in a house with no electricity where she wrote her first song at age 7, Gentry landed in California, where she expanded her musical talents and learned to play guitar, banjo and vibes.

She recorded “Ode” in July 1967 at Capitol Records in Los Angeles, nailing the initial seven-minute version in less than an hour. Executives cut it down to about four minutes, but had little confidence the song would attract attention,

placing it on the “B” side of a 45 rpm recording of Mississippi Delta.

But the haunting nature of the song coupled with Gentry’s exotic voice that evoked images of moss-covered cypress trees and the scream of emerging cicadas immediately gained air play and became a hit.

Gentry became a star, landing her own television show and capturing three Grammys. In numerous interviews regarding the song, Gentry said the message of the song was not the tragic suicide of a young boy, but the callous nature of society regarding such episodes.

The Tallahatchie Bridge still crosses a peaceful stretch of the Tallahatchie River near Greenwood, Mississippi. Years after the song was released, a historical marker was placed in Gentry’s honor on either side of the bridge acknowledging her accomplishments.

After the song was released, Gentry told numerous interviewers she didn’t understand the importance placed on what the youths were tossing off that bridge in the famous song. She never revealed what that might have been, but described the song as an example of the cruelty sometimes displayed by families

LIBRARY Continued from pg. 13

the stories of railroad days and music to convey this generational chronicle.* Minority Health Panel Thursday, April 28, 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Learn from the library’s panel of experts about the special health needs and concerns of community members who are different from the majority. The panel will be facilitated by Lauren Pagac, a Nurse from the Chickahominy Health District.* VIRTUAL PROGRAMS HomeFit Workshop, Wednesday, April 27, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

“Modify Your Home for Safety and Comfort” The AARP HomeFit Workshop provides information, ideas and inspiration to help attendees decide what type of home modifications are needed to stay in their homes as they age. Find out about home updates to make it easier to go about daily activities while staying comfortable, independent and injury-free at home.

Registration is required at https://pamun-

when faced with enormous personal catastrophes.

In 1975, Gentry provided music for the movie “Ode to Billie Joe.” It had been quite a run for the Delta-based singer. The remainder of Gentry’s life became as secretive as the song itself, as she removed herself from the business, declined all public appearances or interviews and faded from the spotlight.

As the years passed, numerous reporters have attempted to contact Gentry without success or confirm where she lives. Some contend she lives in Memphis while others say she settled in Los Angeles.

And the mystery of what or who Billie Joe McAllister tossed off the bridge remains unsolved, as clouded in mystery as the woman who created it.

But, there’s no doubt that more than four decades later, the first plucks of that mystical guitar opening of the song still capture innocent listeners and enthrall them in a mystery that will never be solved. And the image of two youths tossing something off the Tallahatchie Bridge as the last glimpse of sunlight disappears on the Mississippi Delta, still mystifies and puzzles.

keylibrary.libcal.com/event/8944283. This program is hosted virtually through Zoom and the meeting link will be sent to the email registered one day before the event occurs. If a reminder email is not received, contact the library. *Call 804-798-4072 or visit the library at 201 S. Railroad Ave. for more information.

Hanover Branch Library TAKE & MAKE PROGRAMS Environmental Health Pickup starts Tuesday, April 12 Find out the connection between the environment and the health of individuals and communities with an informative take and make kit while supplies last.

Call 804-365-6210 or visit the library at 7527 Library Drive for more information.

Lois Wickham Jones/Montpelier Branch Library IN-PERSON PROGRAMS Outdoor Family Story Time, Thursdays, April 7, 14 and 28, 4 to 4:30 p.m.

Square Court, Ashland.

SHERIFF’S Continued from pg. 3

March 12

Violation of a protective order with violence, second offense within 5 years was reported in the 11200th block of Cobbs Road, Glen Allen.

March 15

Obtaining money or signature by false pretenses was reported in the 15100th block of Locust Level Drive, Doswell.

Destruction of property, monument was reported in the 16700th block of Mountain Road, Montpelier.

Concealment of price-altered merchandise, less than $500 was reported in the 7400th block of Bell Creek Road, Mechanicsville.

Driver not reporting accident with damage less than $250 was reported in the 15400th block of Dunn Road, Montpelier.

Making threats to extort money was reported in the 8200th block of Scarecrow Road, Mechanicsville.

Trespassing after being forbidden to do so was reported in the 7500th block of Cold Harbor Road, Mechanicsville.

March 14

Assault and battery on a family member was reported in the 9400th block of Charter Creek Drive, Ashland.

DWI: Drugs, first offense was reported in the 17000th block of Washington Highway, Doswell.

Identity theft with intention to defraud, up to $200 was reported in the 10300th block of Slidingrock Drive, Ashland.

Simple assault was reported in the 10200th block of Lakeridge Square Court, Ashland.

Destruction of property, monument was reported in the 10200th block of Lakeridge

Join the library in the Rose Garden to sing songs, learn rhymes and listen to stories. Each session will have an engaging craft to take home.

Feel free to bring a chair, towel and sunscreen.

Storytime is held weather permitting. Register at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/ to be notified prior to the program if it is canceled due to weather.* Mystery Book Club, Monday, April 11, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Ages 18 and up. Join the library for a monthly discussion on favorite mystery titles.* The Upcycle Life: Tin Can Wind Chimes, Thursday, April 14, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Why make trash when you can make treasure? The library will give discarded tin cans new life as Cottage Core-friendly wind chimes using just a little paint, a little decoupage and a lot of fun.

Monopoly Anyone? Game Night, Thursday, April 21, 6:30 to 8 p.m.

For ages 12 to 18. Join the library for a fun and competitive night of playing board games.

They have a variety of games to choose from, so grab a friend and visit the library.

*Call 804-883-7116 or visit the library at 17205 Sycamore Tavern Lane for more information.

Cochrane Rockville Branch Library IN-PERSON PROGRAMS A Fulfilling Retirement: Living Your Purpose, Tuesday, April 12, 6 to 7 p.m.

Ages 18 and up. Learn more about writing the next chapter and why purpose matters.

Call 804-749-3146 or visit the library at 16600 Pouncey Tract Road for more information.

TAKE & MAKE PROGRAMS Take & Make: Spring Carrot Magnet. Pickup starts Friday, April 1 Ages 14 and up. Stop by the Rockville branch and pick up this cute springtime magnet kit while supplies last.

Call 804-749-3146 or visit the library at 16600 Pouncey Tract Road for more information.

Submitted by Carolyn Garner, Adult Public Services Coordinator. Email, cgarner@pamunkeylibrary.org or call 804-569-0370 ext 1312.

Ashland-Hanover Local March 23, 2022 19

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