see TOMATO

CALENDAR | News, Updates & Listings

Wednesday, July 13

Enon UMC, located at 6156 Studley Road, 23116 will hold VBS for all kids ages fourth through fifth grade from 6 to 8 p.m. Children’s dinner will be served at 6 followed by Bible story, music, crafts and games. The theme is “Discovery on Adventure Island.” Registration is required and available on the website: enonumc.org or by calling (804) 746-4719, (804) 571-2990 (804) 730-1792 or (804) 723-5971.

Friday, July 15 and Saturday, July 16

The Hanover Tomato Festival returns to Pole Green Park, located at 8996 Pole Green Park Lane, Mechanicsville, on Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Th ursday, July 21

Join the Ashland Museum for a night of questions and answers at the monthly Trivia Night at 6 p.m., located at Origin Beer Lab, 106 S. Railroad Avenue, Ashland. No reservations are needed. For more information, email ashlandmuseum@comcast.net or call 804-368-7314.

Saturday, July 30

Local author Sara Condrey will be holding a book signing at Books Beads and More, located at 8106 Mechanicsville Turnpike, Mechanicsville, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Condrey is the author of 16 books in various genres including children’s books, thriller, horror and light romance.

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 2 miles west of U.S. 1, holds its church service at 5 p.m. with Pastor Rev. Dr. Roy Minnix. 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. 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. Contact 804-7465081 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. Contact John Shinholser, McShin president, at 804-249-1845. The website is http://www.mcshin. org.

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.

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 from 9-11 a.m. every Tuesday for the community and perspective members to meet members and learn about what they do for the community. Visit http://www. post175.org/.

Wednesdays

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.

Th ursdays

The Ashland Rotary Club

see CALENDAR pg. 5

TOMATO

Continued from pg. 1 decades, offering nostalgic and upbeat entertainment for all festivalgoers.

Unlike previous years, Friday will feature beer sales provided by the Hanover CREW Foundation, with all proceeds supporting the foundation. Ticket sales end at 8:15 p.m. and the final pour will be at 8:45 p.m. Event attendees, over the age of 21 with ID, are encouraged to drink responsibly. Outside alcohol and coolers will not be permitted.

The beloved pizza race is returning with a giant inflatable obstacle course for adult entertainment. Participants will compete in a fun course reminiscent of “Wipe Out” and “Ninja Warrior” for a prize. “We want folks to come grab dinner, grab a drink… stay for the music, visit the vendors, get a tasting plate of tomatoes, grab a bag of tomatoes on the way out,” Durrer said. “By adding in beer sales and by bringing in great entertainment, quality vendors, super fun obstacle pizza race, I think we’re enhancing all that fun of Friday night.”

She encourages all attendees to bring cash for both days, as the tomato tastings and all tomato purchases are cash only and there will be no ATM on site.

“Friday night can be so amazing because it’s not under the heat of the sun, and it’s just fun,” she said.

Durrer said they hope the two days will provide “the best of both worlds” to attendees, with Friday night focused on adult fun and live entertainment while Saturday kicks off as a day for the family.

Saturday’s event will span from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to provide a more comfortable experience for attendees and beat the steamy afternoon sun.

The day will be jam-packed with free children’s activities, such as tomato decorating, face painting, arts and crafts games for prizes or fun, a rock wall, Giant Jenga and Connect Four, basketball, a game truck, tomato eating contests and more. Dogs are also welcome, with a “Bow Wow Beach” providing a cooling station and game area.

“It’s about bringing community together,” Durrer said. “It is the Hanover Tomato Festival, so we’re focusing on Hanover and we’re focusing on tomatoes, and we’re going to have fun at our festival.”

For more information about this year’s festival, visit the website: www.hanovertomatofestival.com.

Hanover comprehensive plan update continues with upcoming public workshops

Contributed Report Ashland-Hanover Local

Hanover County is currently working with residents, businesses, landowners, and other community members to update the Comprehensive Plan, which is the County’s long-range vision for the future. The plan addresses a variety of topics, including land use, housing, economic development and natural resources. It identifies objectives and strategies that can be implemented to realize the community’s vision for the future, serving as a guide for growth, development and preservation.

As part of the Comprehensive Plan update, two interactive workshops are scheduled for late July and early August. At these interactive workshops, citizens will work together as a group to discuss future land uses throughout Hanover County. Both workshops will include the same interactive activities, so interested participants can attend the date/location that works best for their schedule. Pre-registration is encouraged. Visit www. envisionhanover.com or call (804) 365-6171 for registration and more information.

Thursday, July 28 (5:30. to 7 p.m.) Montpelier Center for Arts and Education 17205 Mountain Road Montpelier, VA 23192

Wednesday, August 3 (5:30 to 7 p.m.) Atlee Branch Library 9212 Rutlandshire Drive Mechanicsville, VA 23116

Updating the Comprehensive Plan will be a multi-year effort. There will be significant opportunities for public engagement as the updated plan continues to be developed. It is anticipated that the final document will be reviewed and adopted by the Board of Supervisors in the summer of 2023. For more information, visit www.envisionhanover. com.

Information submitted by Tom Harris, Hanover County public information officer.