HANOVER
INSIDE
Take a fresh look at DeJarnette Park
Hanover Tomato Festival guide PAGE
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Vol. 7 No. 45 | Richmond Suburban News | July 13, 2022
HAAC’s Fourth of July bash returns in full color By Christina Amano Dolan Editor
T
he Hanover Arts and Activities Center (HAAC) returned to the streets of Ashland this year to bring the community’s beloved Fourth of July Parade to life. With thousands of residents gathering on the sidewalks on the morning of July 4 to watch the colorful spectacle and enjoy live music, old fashioned games, apple pie and adorable pets on the lawn, this year’s event returned in its full glory after two years of anticipation. Sara Wright-Holloway, executive director of HAAC, said while they were able to host a virtual parade in 2019 and an in-person event last year with the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s event was more successful than ever before. “The last few years have been really difficult for Hanover Arts as an organization because our entire
Christina Amano Dolan/The Local
Community members cheer and clap for the impressive Fourth of July Parade lineup featuring We are Hanover LGBTQ+ allies, Parade Grand Marshall and Randolph-Macon College Coach Josh Merkel, the Kiwanis Club of Ashland, Ashland Town Council members, Patrick Henry and more. MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 15.
mission is based on gathering as a community,” Wright-Holloway said. “We’re still very cognizant of trying to keep people as safe as possible in
Scotchtown presents summer programs
these times, but we are really happy to be back in the business of being together as a community because
Staff Report The Mechanicsville Local Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown is offering a packed calendar of fun summer programs for history enthusiasts and the family to enjoy. Located at, 16120 Chiswell Lane in Beaverdam, Scotchtown stands as the only original standing home of Patrick Henry open to the public. Known as the “orator of the American
see BASH pg. 8
Hanover Tomato Festival is fasting approaching By Christina Amano Dolan Editor After long anticipation, the 2022 Hanover Tomato Festival is just around the corner. With the doubleday festivities kicking off this Friday night, here is what to expect from the staple community this year – returning bigger and better than before while staying true to tradition. Marcy Durrer, the recreation program director of Hanover County Parks and Recreation, said this year’s festival will look and feel very different than recent Tomato Festivals. While still situated at Pole Green Park, located at 8996 Pole Green Park Lane, Mechanicsville, this year’s tomato extravaganza will be held on a different field area to offer a more casual stroll through the event field. Durrer said she is most excited for the renewed sense of community, “bringing together the most of the previous Tomato Festivals but in a brand new evolved communityfocused event.” “I kind of want to focus on what
is this year rather than what was,” Durrer said. In an effort to emphasize community, this year will feature over 50 vendors on Friday and over 70 on Saturday that are all hand craft artisan vendors or agricultural vendors, with most located in Hanover. Friday night is returning with a bang this year from 5 to 9 p.m. and will showcase lively entertainment and music like never before. Rather than offering background music like previous years, Friday’s band will be spotlighted as the main entertainment for the night. The InsideOut Band is a high-energy party band that will play all of the best genres of dance music over the see TOMATO pg. 4
Revolution,” Henry lived in the residence from 1771 to 1778. Preservation Virginia acquired Scotchtown in 1958 and restored the historic building to its original appearance during Henry’s life. “Scotchtown’s buzzing with activity including great summer programming, gardens blooming and the new roof in the final stages of going up,” Contributed photo said Dawn Burnett, Scotchtown’s site Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown is located at 16120 Chiswell Lane in see SCOTCHTOWN, pg. 5
Beaverdam.
