Ashland-Hanover Local – 11/02/2022

Reception at Hanover Museum of History & Culture draws large crowd

MEET YOUR LOCAL CANDIDATES

By Christina Amano Dolan Editor

5th congressional district now includes portions of Hanover County following redistricting in 2021. It is currently represented by Congressman Bob Good, who was elected in 2020 and is seeking a second term. Good is opposed by challenger Josh Throneburg.

Virginia’s

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

you seeking election or re-election?

Good: I served four years on the Campbell County Board of Supervisors from 2015 to 2019. I was asked by

friends and neighbors to run for county supervisor in 2015 because we had a chance to flip our board to a conservative majority. And I answered that call essentially and served four years; I did not intend to run again, I thought I was finished with politics. And then in 2019, I again had friends and neighbors

Throneburg and Good seek 5th District seat ODHF honors local veterans with a D.C. trip to remember

By Christina Amano Dolan Editor

Local veterans were given the trip of a lifetime to Washington, D.C. last month, with the Old Dominion Honor Flight (ODHF) providing a meaningful day of police escorts, visiting war memorials and a heartfelt “welcome back” brigade in

Contributed photo Visitors and volunteers of the Old Dominion Honor Flight Mission 3 trip to Washington, D.C. stand at the Arlington National Cemetery in front of the Amphitheater. Veterans wear blue, Guardians wear gold, EMTs wear red, and Bus Captains along with the Mission Director wear grey.

Christina Amano Dolan/The Local Aralynn Sheehan gets her face painted for free at the PHHS face painting stand.

come and ask if I would be willing to run for Congress. We had a new Republican member of Congress who would train the trust of the voters in the 5th district and was not a conservative as he referred himself to be, and so I was asked to challenge him in a primary (and) decided to do so. These were prayerful decisions, both times by my wife and I, with a willingness to serve but certainly not pursuing it ambitiously or selfishly, but just more of a willingness to serve to make a difference for our community and for our country.

Throneburg: As a minister and a person who cares deeply about community, I have always been really driven by the desire to serve. But I have two young daughters, and as politics has gotten sharper and more divided and the climate prognosis has become increasingly pessimistic, I began to worry more about the world my girls are going to inherit. My main concern is the existential threat that climate change poses: I’m running in part to advocate for policy change that would put thousands of Virginians to work creating and manufacturing cutting-edge green energy technology, rebuilding

our infrastructure, and helping redress air and water pollution. Also, I’m part of a multi-racial family and a citizen of a town that is still grappling with the effects of the Unite the Right rally, and because of that, I am keenly aware of the challenges we still face in making sure our society is fair and just for all. And finally, because I grew up in a small town in a farming community, I’m very aware of the unique challenges that rural communities face and the unique solutions that will be required if we are all going to rise together.

What is your experience (What qualifies you for this position)?

Good: I’m the incumbent congressman and was first elected in 2020, and I’m running for reelection onto my second term. I ran in 2020 as a true conservative, and I have done what I said I would do. I have fought for the things that I said were the priorities, which was our border and immigration policies to rein in our federal spending and to fight against the reckless increase of our national debt. And then also, I wanted to be on the edlabor committee to battle in the education arena, K to 12, as well as college campuses. And

I have prioritized those three with legislation that I’ve sponsored in Washington. My team and I have provided outstanding constituent services where we’ve resolved over 3,000 cases in my first term. Constituents of the 5th District who needed help from their federal government reached out to our office, and we’ve recovered over $14 million for our constituents that was owed to them by agencies, the federal government that they weren’t able to resolve on their own. We had to intervene and help them. And we’ve conducted over 400 mobile office meetings, where we bring the congressional office to their current 23 cities and counties that I represent to make it convenient for them on a monthly basis. In addition, we responded to 55,000 inquiries to our office, contacts we’ve received from constituents. We responded in writing to over 55,000 constituents that have reached out to our office with concerns, questions, feedback that they’ve given us. Those would be what I would say are the qualifications for reelection.

Throneburg: I am an ordained minister and prior to entering public life, I was the lead minister at a church. This provided me with a unique window into the challenges that people face, the things that they often bear quietly in public life but which weigh them down in private. I also got to see people’s joys firsthand and was witness to the things that people really need to thrive: work that fulfills them and pays their bills, happiness and security for their family, a healthy and safe community to live in.

I’ve also been a small business owner, which gave me insight into our current economic conditions: the challenges we all face from rising inflation, the realities of the worker shortage, the childcare crisis and the continuing difficulties with access to

healthcare. It was also a lesson in the ways we overregulate and overtax small businesses while under-regulating and undertaxing multinational corporations.

What are some of the primary issues affecting your district and how do you intend to address them?

Good: Well, I think that the primary issues affecting our district are the issues that are affecting Americans all across the country. First and foremost, it’s economic issues, kitchen table issues, the decreased purchasing power for citizens of the 5th district as a result of Democrat policies in Washington and the massive spending that has caused record inflation that we haven’t experienced in 40 years to have groceries, housing, utilities, gas, essential things that everybody has to buy. Those prices that went up on average of 14% since Biden took office, but actually more than that for those essential items – gas, groceries, housing, car prices – are up even more. And that’s just crushing regular income, fixed income, seniors and college students and so forth. That along with the energy policies in general where this administration has declared war on American energy and fossil fuels and petroleum, which has caused gas prices to double. And I suspect they’re going to go up again significantly after the election. And in addition to the utility prices going up so much, which is going to make it really hard and people are very concerned about it as they’re already being squeezed. Real wage is going down, as they’re already being squeezed, they’re concerned about the utility prices that are forecast to go up 30-40% from last year. So I would say those along with the rise in crime as a result of the undermining of our police. We’ve got police shortages, law enforcement shortages all over the district

and all over Virginia.

Throneburg: Our district is one of the largest in Virginia, roughly the size of the state of New Jersey, and it’s incredibly diverse, containing some cities, some suburban areas and some very rural areas: as a consequence, different parts of the district have different challenges. However, as a whole, the district suffers from underinvestment: the current representative has brought $0 in federal spending back to the district and has voted against several much-needed bills to bring necessary funding to the area. Many of our district’s small towns are hollowing out, in part because they are supported by small and family farms that can’t make ends meet. We have significant infrastructure problems across the district, not just roads and bridges, but also things like broadband and crumbling school buildings. I have plans for that, which you can see here: https://joshforvirginia.com/protecting-ourrural-communities/ and here: https:// joshforvirginia.com/ agriculture-and-farming/. I’d also like to see a major investment in our schools: I’m a public school parent, and I know that our schools are not as wellresourced as we’d like to see. I’ve proposed a number of policies to address that: making sure that education is lifelong and includes universal pre-K and free community college, supporting our teachers and ensuring that our best minds can join the teaching profession, and creating a federal program to help rebuild and reconfigure our schools (explained in more detail here: https://joshforvirginia.com/ensuring-qualityeducation/).

We also face the same challenges as the rest of the country: rising costs, sticker shock at the pump and at the grocery store, wages that don’t cover our bills and the cost of housing. Overall, we need to manufac-

ture more in the U.S. and do more to ensure that our industries are competitive: outsourcing of everything has made us too dependent on the international supply chain, and loose regulation around conglomeration in the past two decades has meant that industries no longer compete like they used to, which means that everyone pays more and only a handful of shareholders benefit. Our district is particularly well-poised to be a hub for green technology, green manufacturing, and the production of renewable energy: we already see it happening across the area, it just needs to be scaled up. And finally, we have a worker shortage in almost every industry and also need to make sure that people can get back to work, which means making sure we have a family-friendly economy that allows people to work while parenting and in some cases, caring for elderly or disabled family members.

Are there any other pressing issues that the county is currently facing that you would like to address?

Good: The needs for Hanover County that are relative to the federal level are the same as they are for the other three. It will be 24 cities and counties in the new 5th district, with part of Hanover County being one of those. So, what I will focus on is what I’ve just talked about. And, by the way, interest rates have went from 2-3% on mortgages to 6-7%, with the prediction that the federal government is going to raise them another 75 basis points very soon. That’s crushing the ability of so many families, so many individuals to purchase homes. The average mortgage is going to be up 50-75% from a year ago. That is real economic inflation to Americans, to Virginians, to citizens of the

Ashland PD makes arrests in child neglect, abuse case

Contributed Report

The Ashland Police Department (APD) has arrested two individuals charged wtih child neglect and abuse.

On Saturday, Oct. 15, at approximately 12:10 a.m., APD officers were dispatched to a motel in the 800 block of England Street for a medical emergency involving a 2-year-old child. Upon arrival the child was discovered alone in the motel room in medical distress. APD officers began life saving measures until Hanover Fire/EMS personnel arrived on scene. The child was immediately transported to VCU Medical Center and listed in critical condition. On Thursday, Oct. 20, the child was pronounced deceased.

APD will continue to keep the family of the child in their thoughts during this difficult time. Investigators have been and will continue working closely with the Hanover

County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and Child Protective Services. This is an ongoing and active investigation.

Danielle Tulloss, age 21 of Fredericksburg, and Raequan Gilliens, age 24 of Ashland, were arrested without incident in relation to the case. Tulloss and Gilliens were charged with child neglect and abuse.

The Ashland Police Department would like to thank everyone involved thus far with this investigation; staff at VCU Medical Center, Hanover Commonwealth’s

Attorney’s Office, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia, Child Protective Services Unit of the Hanover Department of Social Services and the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office.

Anyone with information about this case should contact the Ashland Police Department at (804) 798-1227 or leave a tip at www.ashlandpolice.us. Anyone providing a tip can remain anonymous.

Information submitted by Chip Watts, public information officer for the Ashland Police Department.

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July 16

Use of profane, threatening language over public airway was reported in the 13000th block of Mountain Road, Glen Allen.

Identity theft with intention to defraud, up to $200 was reported in the 12800th block of Mount Hermon Road, Ashland.

Concealment of pricealtered merchandise, $500 or more was reported in the 11500th block of Lakeridge Parkway, Ashland.

Hit and run with attended property damage more than $1,000 was reported

in the 6500th block of Mechanicsville Turnpike/ Sujen Court, Mechanicsville.

July 17

Possession of a Schedule I or II controlled substance was reported in the 3400th block of I-295 S, Mechanicsville.

Use of profane, threatening language over public airway was reported in the 10100th block of Windy Knoll Drive, Mechanicsville.

Grand larceny from auto was reported in the 9000th block of Pole Green Park Lane, Mechanicsville.

Grand larceny from auto was reported in the 7200th block of Courtland Farm Road, Hanover.

Assault and battery on a family member was reported in the 7300th block of Brandy Creek Drive, Mechanicsville.

DWI: First offense was reported in the 7000th block of Mechanicsville Turnpike, Mechanicsville.

Petit larceny, less than $500, not from a person was reported in the 16000th block of Theme Park Way, Doswell.

Ashland-Hanover

Tulloss Gilliens

Family visitation room unveiled at Hanover Department of Social Services

Anew

family visitation room for families in crisis, children needing immediate placement, family visitations, intake interviews and more was unveiled on Monday, Oct. 24, at the Hanover Department of Social Services building.

The space creates a safe, age-appropriate and fun environment that elevates a challenging experience into one that is uplifting.

Children could be in this room for a few hours or overnight.

The new space was put together by a team of 17 community partners including New Community Church, which was responsible for

coordination and fundraising, and Shabby Shea Creations, which designed the room.

“If you have to go to Social Services and have an interview with us and that kind

of stuff, it’s kind of scary and intimidating,” Social Services administrative assistant Amy Taylor said. “So, having it be a place that’s a little bit more open and warm and fun

makes it less intimidating.”

“We cannot thank our community partners enough for their contributions of time, money, services and hard work,” said Sheila M. Crossen-

CANDIDATES

5th District, and that’s a direct result of federal policy. What’s crushing citizens right now is federal policy caused directly by the Biden-Pelosi policies in Washington. And that’s the same for the eight new cities and counties I’m picking up, as well as those I currently represent.

FISHDAY!

Throneburg: My opponent calls climate change “a hoax,” but it is having pronounced and serious effects on our district right now. Communities are faced with increasingly severe storms and can’t handle the rising maintenance costs from downed trees and power lines and damaged public property. Farmers are being hit with unseasonable heat and cold, drought, flooding, and changes in soil Ph. Landlords are trying to address a rise in mold and flooding and tenants are struggling with housing costs and unlivable conditions. We must move past the debate on whether or not climate change exists and get to work undoing the damage it’s already causing. Our dependence on fossil fuels has also made us vulnerable to overseas fossil fuel production controlled by enemies of the U.S. We need to make more of our energy here, and we need more of it to come from renewable sources. The 5th District

doesn’t sit on oilfields, but we could harness the power of sun, wind and geothermal energy to both provide for our energy needs and create great jobs right here in Virginia.

Our nation also faces significant challenges to our democratic institutions, and addressing those will be another principal priority for me. I’ve laid out those challenges and how I hope to address them here: https://joshforvirginia. com/issues/strengthening-ourdemocracy/.

Any other comments you would like to include for our readers?

Good: What I’ve really focused on is our border. In addition to the economic issues of particularly spending, inflation and the crime issues, but connected to that is the border issue. You’ve had 5 million illegals invading our country helped by the Biden administration in the first two years of his

term, bringing record amounts of fentanyl into the country –300 deaths a day now from fentanyl poisoning. That’s contributing to crime in the country as well as, again, illegal drugs, dangerous illegal drugs in the country. And these policies are making every town a border town, every state a border state, and Virginia is actually being impacted as well as the 5th District. So that’s another issue of great distinction between me and my opponent. My opponent favors the open border, he does not favor limiting the invasion at the border at all. He would be another vote for the Biden-Pelosi policies at the border.

Throneburg: I hope readers will take a look at our website at joshforvirginia.com to see where I stand on the issues that matter to them and to ask questions. I believe that you should campaign like you plan to govern and we try to be quick, responsive and transparent.

Photos courtesy of Hanover County Shown from left to right are Sheila Crossen-Powell, director of Social Services; Brandon Baldwin, co-lead pastor of New Community Church; Amy Taylor, administrative assistant for Hanover DSS; and Devon Parham, services program coordinator. Below is the new family visitation room recently unveiled at the Hanover Department of Social Services.

Powell, director of Hanover County Social Services. “They have provided some of our most vulnerable children and families with a safe and welcoming place to work on resolving issues and becoming

stronger individuals and families.”

Information submitted by Shelby Walker, multimedia communications specialist for Hanover County.

Hanover County offers free caregiver expo and resource event on Nov. 9

Contributed Report

The Local

In honor of National Family Caregivers month, Hanover County Department of Community Resources, Senior Connections (the Capital Area Agency on Aging), Hanover Council on Aging and Hanover County Parks & Recreation are partnering to host a free Caregiver Expo and Resource Event on Wednesday, Nov. 9, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Hanover Arts & Activity Center, located at 500 S. Center Street, Ashland, VA 23005.

The Expo will include presentations by the Social Security Administration; Senior

Connections: The Capital Area Agency on Aging, the Hanover Department of Social Services and Alzheimer’s Association of greater Richmond. In addition, there will be approximately 20 exhibitors, door prizes, giveaways, refreshments and more.

You will also be able to get your flu shot or COVID-19 vaccination.

For more information, contact Hanover County Department of Community Resources at volunteer@ hanovercounty.gov or 804365-4300.

Information submitted by Tom Harris, communications specialist for Hanover County.

Reception at Hanover Museum of History & Culture draws large crowd

A reception for the expanded “Leaders & Legacy: Women of Hanover” exhibit at the Hanover Museum of History & Culture drew a large and enthusiastic crowd on the evening of Oct. 13.

The exhibit recognizes women from all walks of life who made their mark on both the county’s and country’s history and culture from the 1600s to the present day.

Leaders & Legacy begins with the story of Cockacoeske, who was called “the Queen of the Pamunkey” by English leaders. She ruled that tribe for 30 years after the death of her husband, Totopotomoi, and in 1677 signed a treaty with Great Britain which united several tribes and made the Pamunkey Indians subjects of the King of England. That treaty gave the tribe hunting rights and permanent ownership of land including parts of what would become Hanover County.

Among the other women featured are Martha Ann Fields, who lived on what is now the County Complex

CRLC

property as an enslaved person with her children and escaped across the Chickahominy to freedom, as well as Lois Chenault and Nina Peace, who were the first women elected to office in Hanover. Plus, there are a number of entrepreneurs, educational leaders and women who profoundly impacted everyday life in Hanover through their innovation and service to others.

“We are so fortunate to

have this museum and visitor center, and we are excited about all of the great things to come in the future,” said county administrator John Budesky in welcoming the crowd. “I hope you will come back again in the future and help us to spread the word about it.”

“Leaders & Legacy is an important example of how we have begun to tell all the stories here in Hanover,” said Angela Kelly-Wiecek,

the chair of the Hanover County Board of Supervisors and the representative of the Chickahominy District. “We want to encourage more cultural experiences like this one because they create broader understanding, better community engagement and, ultimately, they help us form good public policy.”

“All these people togeth-

er tell the story of Hanover County,” said Anne G. Cross, curator of the exhibit. “I am honored to have been a part of this.”

The Hanover Museum of History & Culture is located at 7496 County Complex Road in the Hanover County Government Complex.

“Leaders & Legacy: Women of Hanover” is expected to

run at least through the end of this year. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and by special appointment. Call 804-3657150 or email museum@ hanovercounty.gov for more information. Information submitted by Tom Harris, communications specialist for Hanover County.

Henry District of Hanover County, which gracefully slopes down to Totopotomoy Creek, will forever remain undeveloped so that it continues to provide wildlife habitat and water quality protection for the creek and surrounding wetlands.

on the property protects water quality in this tributary to the Pamunkey River and provides a wide range of wildlife habitat for everything from salamanders, great blue herons and egrets to populations of deer and turkey.

Contributed Report

Ashland-Hanover Local

Two Hanover County residents are dedicated to leaving their land in better condition than when they found it. On Sept. 21, Capital Region Land Conservancy recorded a conservation easement on 12.65 acres owned by a couple who have been living in the Pine Slash community for 31 years. Their forested property in the

Totopotomoy Creek is an east-flowing tributary of the Pamunkey River. The Pamunkey River and its tributaries support extensive and diverse freshwater wetlands, marshes and forests, including globally rare plant species, making the protection of the property so important. The easement protects the wetland and creek areas by restricting harmful activities such as tree harvesting, building construction, and regrading. The forest community

Importantly, the property falls within the Watershed Impact Model, a scientific model developed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, to help establish priority locations for conservation, restoration or implementation of best management practices, where the goal is to maintain or improve water quality and/or aquatic ecological integrity. The model helps identify where

Contributed

Photos courtesy of Hanover County Museum officials reveal the new Ashland feature of the expanded “Leaders & Legacy: Women of Hanover” exhibit in the Hanover Museum of History & Culture.

Hanover County Board of Supervisors Chair Angela KellyWiecek offers remarks during the unveiling of the Hanover Museum of History & Culture’s “Leaders & Legacy: Women of Hanover” expanded exhibit.

Contributed photo

Shown is the forest property in the Henry District near the Totopotomoy Creek that will now remain undeveloped.

The immeasurable value of thanking our veterans

By Christina Amano Dolan Editor

outside of Washington, D.C., visiting its plethora of museums and memorials was a common occurrence throughout my childhood through school field trips and family visits.

But those visits to the national war memorials always carried their own significance, as even before truly learning of their nature as a child, seeing them through my relatives’ eyes gave me another snapshot of the past – the relatives who would pause at a name written on the wall and remember a fallen friend.

Before my grandfather passed away, my father and uncle took him to the World War II Memorial for the first time. This visit has been recounted by my father throughout my life, as he fondly remembers the array of strangers that approached his father, asked for his story and thanked him for his service.

Above all, he remembers the glint of excitement in his father’s eyes, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps throughout World War II. Even decades after his service in a vastly different

world, a simple “thank you” from a passing stranger lifted his spirits beyond recognition.

This memory came to mind when speaking with Steve Combs of Old Dominion Honor Flight (ODHF), one of the many Honor Flight Network “Hubs” across the country that honor the nation’s veterans with an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C. As Combs spoke of his passion for the nonprofit’s mission of saying “thank you” in powerful ways, I began to recall my parents’ teachings of “the why” behind these memorials’ existence.

Speaking with Ronnie Rust, a Vietnam War veteran and participant of the ODHF trip, offered an especially powerful snapshot of “the why.”

Rust’s enthusiasm for the day was apparent, as he affectionately recalled the warmth that enveloped the trip, with community members, the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, Hanover Fire-EMS and more offering a heartfelt “farewell” and “welcome back” display to the buses. The word “celebrity” even came to his mind, as showers of people saying “thank you” followed the veterans throughout their journey – whether in the form of a

Virginia State Police escort to their first destination or in the hand-baked cookies provided by Covenant Woods.

Rust had never seen anything like it – particularly after serving in a war that was widely condemned by the American public at the time. His return home was a period deprived of the welcome home parades and gratitude of previous generations.

But this day brought instances of appreciation in every shape and size. Upon boarding the bus for their journey back home, Rust was handed an envelope reminiscent of his days in the service when letters sent from back home were like a “pot of gold” to a homesick soldier.

Upon returning home after his trip, Rust opened the envelope to find handwritten thank you notes from children across the country for his service.

“I just couldn’t believe it,” Rust said, adding that even small tokens of appreciation hold an immeasurable value – one that brought the comforting reminder that the world has changed.

Above all, these tokens of gratitude and appreciation brought a sense of peace to Rust and his fellow veterans, and they spoke

Unintended consequences sometimes have the greatest impact

By Jim Ridolphi Contributing Columnist

You hear it all the time. It’s the little things that have the biggest influence on our lives. I’m not sure that works all the time, but one certainly can’t discount the impact of seemingly insignificant events in our lives.

Perhaps it’s that philosophy that prompted someone to say, “it’s the small stuff that counts . . . . and it’s all small stuff.”

One fictional example that comes to mind seems seasonally appropriate – a frightful broadcast that debuted on October 30, 1938, capturing a nation and evoking fears that sent some seeking professional

help.

Orson Welles’ radio dramatization of “War of the Worlds” relayed a tale of horror involving an attack of alien killer machines that seemed by all indications primed to destroy our planet. While the best and latest weaponry had no effect on the invading machines, the smallest detail eventually thwarted the invasion.

It seems the killer machines had an immunity to the smallest form of bacteria, and the invading microbes eventually destroyed the menace — the smallest of earth’s inhabitants destroying its largest enemy.

A recent story reminded me of just how important the things we take for granted are to our futures; and how events happening many

WE WANT TO PUBLISH YOUR ISSUE-DRIVEN LETTERS

miles away can impact all of us. Experts in Central Florida are scrambling to rescue or replace millions of honey bees destroyed or displaced by Hurricane Ida. One expert surmised thousands of hives were lost in the storm and resulting flooding, threatening many of the state’s crops. According to the University of Florida, more than 380,000 registered bee hives were destroyed either by hurricane strength winds or the floods that followed.

Surviving bees are now starving due to the lack of vegetation in the area, much of it blown away from the winds. Some groups in the state are providing containers of syrup for beekeepers to distribute to assist the displaced honey bees.

So, how does the lack of honey bees in Central Florida affect a semiretired columnist in Virginia? It’s no mystery that the lack of bees equates

JONES, Ann Elizabeth Diehrich, 85, of Mechanicsville, Virginia, went to be with our Lord Oct. 18, 2022, in her true home, peacefully. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest "Skip" Jones; brother, Jack Diehrich and grandson, Danny Brittle. She is survived by her brother, William Diehrich; sister-inlaw, Charlette Diehrich; her

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conservation easements such as this one are expected to have the greatest impact on water.

Equally important, this easement lies within the study area of the Totopotomoy Creek Battlefield as determined by the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission’s 1993 Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields. In May of 1864, after two days of fighting, over 2,300 soldiers had died Preserving this property adds to the overall ability to interpret

VETERANS

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of the trip with surely the same glint in their eyes as my grand father – a man who, toward the end of his life, smiled as he shared his story with eager listeners and found peace in their “thank you.”

So consider these snapshots of “the why” behind these memorials and why the Honor

OBITUARIES

two sons, Mark and Matthew Brittle; her grandchildren, Matthew Brittle Jr., Heather Brittle, Stephanie Brittle-Tyree; her great-grandchildren, Jacob Marshall and Danny Tyree. Ann was a member of several churches and volunteer groups over the many years of her life when living in Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama and Puerto Rico. She enjoyed arts, crafts, instruments, dancing, singing and mostly reading to the young children up until the age 83. Her love was boundless and freely given. She was never known to utter a single negative word about others; instead choosing to focus on other strengths and positive qualities. Ann's kindness was infectious, bringing joy to every-

the local battlefield landscape.

The property is a healthy mixed pine hardwood forest that slopes to the lower flat wetland area near the creek that is populated with species like loblolly pines and red maple. The owners want the property to remain forested which is part of the easement conditions.

“Our belief is that it is our duty to leave it better than we found it. We believe that long after we are gone, the forest that we have loved for so long will be in good care. All our relatives in nature will work

one that crossed her path. She was a passionate historian and artist, sharing her gifts with not only her kids, grandkids, but also children of any town she was in through reading programs and costume presentations. Her love for others truly changed lives, no matter how dire it looked, she always seemed to find the light where no others could. Ann had a faith of God like no other and truly looked forward to reaching the other side, the heavens and be with all her loved ones and friends that preceded her. She had a love for her family that was beyond reproach and was the glue that held everyone together. Her precious life and soul will be dearly missed by all.

together to provide the many benefits that we’ve enjoyed,” said the landowners.

“Through the process of recording conservation easements, I have worked with many landowners. The most rewarding of these experiences is when the people with whom I am working are dedicated conservationists whose primary goal is to have left the land in as good or better condition than they found it,” said CRLC land conservation manager Jane Myers. “This is certainly the case for these landowners.”

Flight Network has spent 17 years working toward their meaningful vision: “A nation where all of America’s veterans experience the honor, gratitude, and community of support they deserve,” as displayed on the national website.

Consider joining in this powerful initiative in any shape or size – whether by volunteering to assist a veteran in an Honor Flight trip, making

a donation to the nonprofit online or even by asking a veteran their story.

Because every “thank you” has the potential to hold immeasurable value to a veteran.

For more information on ODHF, visit https://olddominionhonorflight.org/. For more information on the Honor Flight Network, visit https:// www.honorflight.org/.

JONES

honor of their service.

The trip, which took place on Oct. 22, marked the third ODHF mission and offered veterans from the Richmond and Newport News areas a free, jam-packed day of site seeing and ceremonies with provided transportation and meals.

“It really is all about taking the vets to D.C. – at no charge to the veteran – to see the memorials that were built to honor their service and sacrifice, and to say thanks on behalf of the nation for their service,” said Steve Combs, ODHF vice president.

ODHF operates under the Honor Flight Network, which is a national network of independent “Hubs” working together to honor the nation’s veterans with an all-expenses paid trip to the nation’s memorials. With the first Honor Flight launched in 2005 with pilots flying World War II veterans to Washington, D.C., the idea quickly caught on and Hubs began to sprout up around the country, with this year marking the 250,000th veteran flown through the program.

The ODHF Hub was founded in 2019 and launched its first mission in November 2019. After several delayed trips due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they were able to conduct their second mission in April 2022.

ODHF Mission 3 had two departure points, with two buses travelling out of Newport News and two buses departing from the American Legion Post 175 in Mechanicsville. Out of the 84 passengers on the two Richmond-area buses, 18 were

from Hanover County, Combs said.

Combs said it was “really a community attraction,” as Hanoverians gathered in the morning to send off the veterans in style. The Hanover County Sheriff’s Office assisted with stopping traffic for the buses; the Mechanicsville High School NJROTC cadets lined flags on the route as veterans boarded the buses; community members stood along the road to wave farewell signs as the buses pulled out of Mechanicsville; and Virginia State Police offered a police escort all the way up to Quantico – their first destination of the day.

The four buses together visited the National Museum of the Marine Corps, the World War II Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial, and the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery before making a final stop for dinner at American Legion Post 320 in Spotsylvania.

Every veteran is paired with a volunteer Guardian who serves as their personal escort for the day. Photographers, EMTS and other ODHF team members are also on-hand throughout missions, with snacks and a boxed lunch provided on the bus throughout the day.

“The Changing of the Guard ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery is probably the highlight of everyone’s day,” Combs said.

Honor Flight Hubs are awarded a special privilege by Arlington National Cemetery for their buses to drive up to the amphitheater, which is in

front of where the ceremony is held, and for special seating to accommodate for veterans in wheelchairs.

Although the tomb guards are traditionally not allowed to speak during the ceremony, they always scuff their heels as a special salute to Honor Flight veterans, Combs said. Visitors during the trip were also able to speak with the guard that was on duty.

Jim Wright, a Mechanicsville resident who was a participant on the Mission 3 trip and served for 30 years in the military, said his first viewing of the ceremony was particularly memorable.

“I enjoyed it because I guess the solemnness of it and the precision in which they performed it – very professional, and it was kind of a heartwarming event,” Wright said.

“It can be a very emotional day for the veterans, and for the Guardians and for team members like me,” Combs said.

He said another moving visit was to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, as a majority of participants were Vietnam War veterans.

“We go to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and for some of the vets they’ve maybe never been, or they go and they’re finding the names of buddies that were lost in Vietnam,” Combs said.

ODHF Mission 3 participant and Vietnam War veteran Ronnie Rust, a Hanover County resident who had never before seen the memorial, placed a rose on the name of a fallen friend that was printed on the wall.

Rust’s most memorable experience of the day was their

IMPACT

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to a loss of harvest for farmers which leads to higher prices for all of us at the grocery store.

Farmers depend on the

arrival back home. Hanover Fire-EMS welcomed the veterans back with an American flag flying from a ladder truck as family members waved signs and cheered.

“It made you feel like you were actually appreciated because, at the time, the Vietnam War was not the most well-liked conflict that the United States has been involved in,” Rust said.

Combs said he has received a number of emails from veterans commenting on how much the return home meant to them.

“We of course make a big point to say thank you, and some of the vets will say, ‘No one’s ever said thank you for your service. No one has said welcome home.’ And that’s what we do,” Combs said.

Wright and Rust encourage interested community members and veterans to try applying for an upcoming ODHF Mission, as it offers a worthwhile and educational experience for all.

“It’s a very interesting tour because it kind of gives you an insight of why you are a veteran and, you know, what’s behind you being a veteran,” Wright said. “So it is a worthwhile trip for a veteran.”

Rust said it is an especially meaningful experience for younger generations to learn sides of history that they may never learn in school.

“You just got to talk about it – that’s how we remember,” Rust said.

Combs encourages any interested veteran who served in uniform from World War II to the Vietnam War along with interested community members to apply for the free trip as a veteran or a Guardian.

tiny creatures for the watermelons, peaches, nectarines, squash, plums and other fruits produced in the Sunshine State annually, and the impact of the lost bees could affect all of those harvests. Some beekeepers in the state have

Guardians are asked to make a $100 contribution to cover some of the trip’s expenses, which is additionally supplemented with community donations.

They are currently accepting veteran and Guardian applications for their Mission 4 trip scheduled for April 22, 2023, through the ODHF website, which provides both an easy online application and a printable PDF copy with mailing information. They operate on a first come, first served basis, with World War II veterans prioritized. They already have between 25 to 30 veterans who

have applied for Mission 4. Combs said while they have not yet run out of seats, the maximum number of veterans they can take per bus is around 24. If they run out of seats, applicants will be prioritized for the next mission. He offered final remarks on why he enjoys participating in ODHF as a team member.

“My reward… is the smiles, the tears, and just the chance to say, ‘Thank you,’” Combs said. For more information on ODHF, to apply for an upcoming mission, or to donate, visit the website: https://olddominionhonorflight.org/.

predicted a 30% loss in their hives. No one is sure how that translates in the form of lost productivity.

Now, admittedly, it’s not a War of the Worlds situation, and beekeepers have recovered from other hurricanes

with little effect on produce prices nationwide. But, the lack of bees does represent an example of just how interconnected our world is and how our survival often hinges on the the smallest portions of our universe.

Contributed photo Veteran Jim Wright of Mechanicsville (pictured in blue) stands with his Guardian Charles Johnson of Chesterfield at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Town of Ashland partners with Connected Solutions Group to launch free Wi-Fi

The Town of Ashland is thrilled to announce the launch of a free Wi-Fi network now available to residents, visitors and businesses in historic downtown Ashland.

The network, created in partnership with Connected Solutions Group LLC (CSG), officially launched on Monday, Oct. 24 with a ribbon cutting in front of Ashland Town Hall. Vice Mayor John Hodges, Council members Dan McGraw and Kathy Abbott, CSG’s CEO Michael Pittman, and town staff were present at the event.

CSG is a national leader in wireless hardware deployment and services. This exciting project was made possible thanks the Town’s ongoing relationship and involvement with the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC), a nonprofit created by the Commonwealth to support innovation, opportunity and job creation in Virginia.

“We’ve been discussing the deployment of free public Wi-Fi in our historic downtown for years,” said Matt Reynal, Ashland’s deputy town manager. “We recognize

that it will attract even more people to the Center of the Universe and help support our tourism economy.”

The downtown Wi-Fi network project was also undertaken to better support and meet the needs of business owners.

Reynal added, “Our downtown businesses, especially our restaurants and cafés,

have been telling us for some time that their existing internet service was not sufficient to run their point of sales systems while also providing free Wi-Fi to their customers. Our hope is that the Townsponsored free downtown Wi-Fi network will take some of the burden off those businesses and provide a valuable

Ashland Library hosts Tattoo 101 with Ashland Tattoo Company

The Ashland Branch Library hosted a Tattoo 101 program on Oct. 20 featuring Liz Mercer and Tommy Wiseman of the Ashland Tattoo Company, who offered attendees a fascinating presentation on the history, science and art of tattooing. From Otzi the Iceman 4,000 years ago to the present day, humans have chosen to mark their skin with tattoos for a number of reasons - to honor someone, to mark a significant milestone or achievement, or simply to enjoy the decoration of their skin with art. During the program, participants learned how the tools of the trade have evolved over the years; how early tattoo artists such as Sailor Jerry, Lyle Tuttle and Ed Hardy continue to influence the craft today; and how the Commonwealth of Virginia has some of the strictest certification requirements for both tattoo artists and tattoo shops in the country. Through sharing their knowledge, skill and passion for tattooing, Mercer and Wiseman showed that though the tools and the times have changed, they and other tattoo artists still respect and honor the tradition of tattooing and are proud to share it with others.

ships with Verizon, Aura, and Cradlepoint, the hubs were strategically built and positioned to help provide the most coverage across the historic district. Depending on network usage and performance, additional hubs may be added in the future.

“As a lifelong Richmond native and a huge fan of Ashland, I was truly honored that our organization was tapped to assist with something as exciting as providing a town-wide Wi-Fi network with Verizon wireless backhauled,” Michael Pittman, CSG’s CEO, said. “It’s such a wonderful town that I visit regularly with my family and helping to bring it forward with technology and provide this service is very rewarding.”

To log on to the Town’s free downtown Wi-Fi network, simply enter the coverage zone and select “Town of Ashland – Guest WIFI” to get started.

service to our visitors and this community.”

The network hubs are housed in four locations: Town Hall (121 Thompson St), Ashland/Hanover Visitor Center (112 N. Railroad Ave.), Ashland Theatre (205 England St.), and the Ashland Police Station (601 England St.).

Utilizing CSG’s partner-

November5

Free-playat11am,tournamentbeginsatnoon!

November19

ThanksgivingTheme:Forages1monthto6

7pm

SuggestingRhythmreturnstotheAshland

Ashland-Hanover

Google map image courtesy of the Town of Ashland

Shown is the coverage map for the Town of Ashland’s free Wi-Fi.

Photo courtesy of the Ashland Branch Library

Yellow Jackets stifle Generals’ options

By Rob Witham for The Local

LEXINGTON – The tapestry being woven by the 135th edition of Randolph-Macon College Football is beginning to come together. If the Yellow Jackets can continue on this road, it could turn out to be a Picasso.

Making on-the-fly defensive adjustments to Washington and Lee’s triple option offense, RandolphMacon kept the Generals out of the end zone for over 43 minutes, scoring 28 unanswered points to vanquish last year’s Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) champions 35-21 on Saturday, Oct. 29 at Wilson Field in Lexington.

With the victory, Randolph-Macon improved to 5-0 in ODAC play, and 8-0 overall for the second time in school history, matching the start of the historic 1968 team. Dating back to last October, the Yellow Jackets have won 14 consecutive games.

The first period unfolded as if a track meet was breaking out, as Washington and Lee (3-2, 5-3) marched 70 yards on just five plays, scoring on a 6-yard run by quarterback Stephen Murrin for a 7-0 edge.

The Yellow Jackets responded with a 79-yard drive, capped by a 23-yard touchdown pass from Drew Campanale to David Wallis, but the Generals answered with a classic triple option drive, taking 15 plays, going 80 yards, and chewing over eight minutes off the clock to

lead 14-7 early in the second period.

“They did a couple of things that we hadn’t seen, and obviously with an offense like that you can’t prepare for everything,” noted RandolphMacon head coach Pedro Arruza. “So, we had to make a couple of adjustments ingame. The players and our staff did a nice job adjusting.”

It doesn’t hurt to have offensive firepower. Ten seconds after the Generals’ second score, Campanale fired a missile downfield to Wallis, who raced 75 yards for the gametying touchdown.

“Man, we knew we’d have to be aggressive, we’d have to throw the ball…take our shots down the field, and we did that,” Arruza said.

The afternoon’s turning point came when the Yellow Jackets earned their first defensive stop on a Generals third down near midfield, forcing a punt. Washington and Lee had converted on their first five third down plays. The Yellow Jackets took 12 plays, a second shy of eight minutes and took advantage of a key pass interference penalty in the end zone to score on a 1-yard Campanale run for a 21-14 lead.

The Generals churned 175 yards of offense on their first three drives, but only 178 in the game’s final 43 minutes.

“It was a great performance by our kids, but I’m going to tell you right now, everybody in this program put a ton into this,” Arruza explained. “I said to our guys last week that when we win this game, everybody’s

got to realize that every single player played a part.”

Randolph-Macon seized control early in the third quarter, scoring on a 2-yard Campanale run set up by a 55-yard Wallis reception for a 28-14 lead. Campanale finished the day 11-of-12 for 213 yards and the two scoring throws to Wallis, who had seven catches for 195 yards in total.

Nick Hale, who rushed for 84 yards, scored on the first play of the fourth to extend the lead to 35-14. The Generals ended the scoring on another 6-yard run by Murrin with 27 seconds left.

Defensively, Cade Jones flew around the field, leading Randolph-Macon with 12 tackles, while Erik Harris added 11, Owen Arruza nine, and Ricky Thompson and

Daniel Eliasek six tackles each. There were no sacks of Murrin, but three timely tackles for loss from Jones, Jackson Deaver, and Jacob Hutchinson to help quell the Generals.

The Yellow Jackets control their own destiny with two ODAC games to go. The first assignment is to defeat Ferrum when the Panthers come to Ashland on Saturday, Nov. 5 for Senior Day.

With “The Game” against Hampden-Sydney looming on the horizon, fans may be buzzing about it, but be assured the players are only interested in the Panthers.

“We’ll be ready to go,” Arruza opined. “Once we got some of the kinks out at the beginning of the year, our kids have been pretty mature. We’ll be ready to go. I don’t doubt that for one minute.”

Frank Straus for The Local

Randolph-Macon wide receiver David Wallis hauled in seven catches for 195 yards and a touchdown against Washington and Lee on Oct. 29.

Patrick Henry nearly upsets Varina in overtime

By Billy Fellin for The Local

42 minutes of gameplay on Friday, Oct. 28 at Patrick Henry High School, the Patriots had an upset on their minds.

Through

Up by two scores and with a defense that was largely holding the visiting Varina offense in check, Patrick Henry needed to continue that trend to hand the Blue Devils their first loss of the season.

However, a score by Varina’s Myles Derricott with 6:53 left in the game started a 20-0 run for Varina that ended in a 27-21 overtime loss for the Patriots.

“It was a war,” Patrick Henry coach Ken Wakefield said. “Nobody probably expected it because we didn’t play well last week. But, the kids showed a lot of resiliency and a lot of heart coming out here and going toe-to-toe with those guys. We fell a little short tonight, but as a program, we got better.”

Offensively, Gracyn Ross set the tone for the Patriots’ (5-4) offense. Ross led all performers with 263 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns.

The first came two plays into the second quarter when Patrick Henry’s Grayson Johnson found Ross running open in the Blue Devils secondary and hit him in stride for a 53-yard touchdown connection and a 7-0 lead.

Ross found paydirt again on the first play of the second half, when he found a crease and went 74 yards for a quick 14-0 lead.

The Johnson-Ross connection was alive and well again in the fourth quarter when Ross beat his defender for a 79-yard catch-and-run for a 21-7 lead

at the time.

“What can you say?” Wakefield said about Ross’s performance. “Every week is gutty. Everyone knows he’s going to get the ball and he still makes plays. He left his heart out there tonight. Hats off to him and hats off to the offensive lineman up front.”

Patrick Henry also displayed stifling defensive play against a stout Blue Devils offense. Varina didn’t score in the entire first half, with drives ending in turnover on downs or punts.

Following Derricott’s touchdown and a three-and-out by the Patriots offense, the defense stepped up once again as they stopped a Derricott run on fourth-and-1 for another turnover on downs and handed the ball back to the offense on their own 27-yard-line with 3:55 left in the game and the Blue Devils with just one timeout.

While the offense did burn most of the clock, and Varina’s last timeout, it had to punt the ball back to Varina with 39 seconds remaining in the game. A good runback by the

Blue Devils set them up at the Patrick Henry 45 and on the first play, Derricott found his receiver for a 44-yard connection to the Patriots 1-yard-line.

Tae’mon Brown scored his second of three touchdowns with 21 seconds to go in the game to tie it at 21.

The Patriots were able to move the ball in the waning seconds of regulation, but no further scoring occurred and the game went to overtime.

In overtime, Patrick Henry began with the ball, but was unable to gain any ground

against Varina. A fumbled snap on third down set up a field goal attempt on fourth down that was no good.

The Blue Devils needed just two plays in overtime to win it, as Brown scored from 2 yards out for the win.

“Sometimes in losses, you get better,” Wakefield said. “We learned a lot about ourselves and I’m excited for next week. (Varina) just made one more play. They’re a good football team. We’re going to learn from this and we’re going to get better.”

Patrick Henry completes its regular season schedule on Nov. 4 at home in the Tomato Bowl against Mechanicsville. Wakefield said his team will have to put this tough loss behind them quickly to prepare for their cross-town rivals.

“We know they’re tough,” he said. “Records kind of go out the window at that point. Those guys are buying in and playing hard. We expect nothing less than a good football game. We just have to focus on us and everything will take care of itself.”

Billy Fellin for The Local

Gracyn Ross (2) hauls in a throw and would take it 52 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter of Patrick Henry’s 27-21 loss to Varina on Friday. Ross led all players with 263 all-purpose yards.

PUBLICNOTICE

NoticeisherebygiventhattheHanoverCountyBoardofSupervisorshasset Wednesday,November9,2022at6:00P.M., orassoonthereafterastheBoard’sconsiderationofthe administrativeagendapermits.IntheBoardRoomoftheHanoverCountyGovernmentBuildingatHanoverCourthouse,Hanover,Virginia,astheday,date,time,andplaceforapublic hearingtoconsiderthefollowingcases,atwhichpubliccommentswillbeaccepted:

SE2022-00021,RYANBAKER

Request(s)aSpecialExceptionPermitinaccordancewithSection26-21.25oftheHanoverCountyZoningOrdinancetopermitanaccessoryfamilyhousingunitonGPINs 8811-80-2849(part)and8811-81-2025(part),consistingofapproximately0.49acres,zonedA-1,AgriculturalDistrict,andlocatedonthewestlineofHanoverQuarterRoad (StateRoute728)approximatelyone(1)milenorthofitsintersectionwithNormansBridgeRoad(StateRoute614).(PUBLICHEARING) MagisterialDistrict:Beaverdam

REZ2022-00025,NORTHCROSSPROPERTIESGMLC(GREENTOPSPORTINGGOODS)

Request(s)anamendmenttotheproffersapprovedwithrezoningrequestC-2-04(c),CF Investments,L.P.,etal.,on GPIN7787-54-5339,consistingofapproximately5.69acres,zoned B-3(c),GeneralBusinessDistrictwithconditions,andlocatedonthenorthlineofKingsAcresRoad(StateRoute835)approximately350feeteastofitsintersectionwithLakeridge Parkway(StateRoute782).Theproposedzoningamendmentwouldamendtheprofferrelatedtosignage.(PUBLICHEARING) MagisterialDistrict:SouthAnna

SE2022-00019,NORTHCROSSPROPERTIESGMLC(GREENTOPSPORTINGGOODS)

Request(s)aSpecialExceptionPermitinaccordancewithSection26-338oftheHanoverCountyZoningOrdinancetopermitasigntallerthanpermittedonGPIN7787-54-5339, consistingofapproximately5.69acres,zonedB-3(c),GeneralBusinessDistrictwithconditions,andlocatedonthenorthlineofKingsAcresRoad(StateRoute835)approximately 350feeteastofitsintersectionwithLakeridgeParkway(StateRoute782).(PUBLICHEARING) MagisterialDistrict:SouthAnna

REZ2022-00009,ROSESTUBBSFLEMING,ETAL.

Request(s)torezonefromB-3,GeneralBusinessDistrict,andR-1,Single-FamilyResidentialDistrict,toRM(c),Multi-FamilyResidentialDistrictwithconditions,onGPINs8705-84-2275, 8705-84-4273,8705-84-6144,8705-84-3039,8705-83-4904,8705-83-4862,and8705-84-9046,consistingofapproximately8.46acres,andlocatedonthesoutheastquadrantof MeadowbridgeRoad(StateRoute627)andShadyGroveRoad(StateRoute640).ThesubjectpropertyisdesignatedontheGeneralLandUsePlanMapasMulti-Family.Theproposed zoningamendmentwouldpermitthecreationof120apartmentunitsforagrossdensityof14.2dwellingunitsperacre.(PUBLICHEARING) MagisterialDistrict:Chickahominy REZ2022-00010,7147MECHANICSVILLETURNPIKE,L.L.C.

Request(s)torezonefromB-1(c),NeighborhoodBusinessDistrictwithconditionstoRM(c),Multi-FamilyResidentialDistrictwithconditions,onGPIN8714-77-2332,consistingof approximately6.5acres,andlocatedonthesouthlineofMechanicsvilleTurnpike(U.S.Route360)approximately350feeteastofitsintersectionwithMeadowDrive(StateRoute 1120).ThesubjectpropertyisdesignatedontheGeneralLandUsePlanMapasMulti-Family(8to15dwellingunitsperacre).Theproposedzoningamendmentwouldpermitthe creationof144age-restrictedapartments.ThisdevelopmentwillshareaninternalroadthatprovidescrossaccesswiththeCambridgeSquareApartments(GPIN8714-87-1189).The totalnumberofdwellingunitsforbothdevelopmentswillbe351unitson26.2acresforagrossdensityof13.4unitsperacre.(PUBLICHEARING) MagisterialDistrict:Mechanicsville PLEASENOTETHATTHISCASEHASBEENREMANDEDBACKTOTHEPLANNINGCOMMISSION.THISPUBLICHEARINGWILLNOTBEHELD.

CUP2022-00016,HANOVERCOUNTYSCHOOLBOARD

Request(s)toamendCUP-5-06,inaccordancewithSection26-20.11oftheHanoverCountyZoningOrdinance,toreducetheareaoftheConditionalUsePermitfrom23.1acresto 19.6acresonGPIN8725-04-0233(part),zonedA-1,AgriculturalDistrict,andlocatedontheeastlineofLee-DavisRoad(StateRoute643)atitsintersectionwithLaurelMeadow SchoolRoad(StateRoute9239).ThesubjectpropertyisdesignatedontheGeneralLandUsePlanMapasSuburbanGeneral(1.5to3dwellingunitsperacre).(PUBLICHEARING) MagisterialDistrict:Henry

CUP2022-00017,HANOVERCOUNTYDEPARTMENTOFGENERALSERVICES

Request(s)aConditionalUsePermitinaccordancewithSection26-20.11oftheHanoverCountyZoningOrdinancetopermitafirestationonGPIN8715-84-9477,consistingof approximately3.49acres,zonedA-1,AgriculturalDistrict,andlocatedontheeastlineofLee-DavisRoad(StateRoute643)atitsintersectionwithLaurelMeadowSchoolRoad (StateRoute9239).ThesubjectpropertyisdesignatedontheGeneralLandUsePlanMapasSuburbanGeneral(1.5to3dwellingunitsperacre).(PUBLICHEARING) MagisterialDistrict:Henry

ORDINANCE22-08,BATTERYENERGYSTORAGESYSTEMS

AnOrdinancetoamendtheHanoverCountyCode,Chapter26,ZoningOrdinance,Article5,SiteDesignRegulations,Division8,RegulationsforSpecificUses,andArticle3,District Regulations,toaddprovisionsregulatingtheinstallationanduseofbatteryenergystoragesystems.(PUBLICHEARING)

CopiesoftheabovecasemaybereviewedinthePlanningOffice,MondaythroughFriday,betweenthehoursof8:30a.m.and5:00p.m.,pleasecontactthePlanningOfficeoryoumay alsogotohttps://www.hanovercounty.gov/697/Board-of-Supervisors-Upcoming-and-Archivformoreinformation.

Ashland-Hanover Local November 2, 2022

PUBLICNOTICE

NoticeisherebygiventhattheHanoverCountyPlanningCommissionhasset Thursday,November17,2022,at6:00P.M., intheBoardRoomoftheHanoverCounty GovernmentBuildingatHanoverCourthouse,Hanover,Virginia,astheday,date,time,and placeforapublichearingtoconsiderthefollowingcases,atwhichpubliccommentswill beaccepted:

REZ2022-00024,JUDSONT.VAUGHAN,IIIANDGREGORYW.VAUGHAN

Request(s)torezonefromA-1,AgriculturalDistrict,toAR-6(c),AgriculturalResidential Districtwithconditions,onGPIN7789-73-4998,consistingofapproximately25.4acres, andlocatedontheeastlineofCheroyRoad(StateRoute659)approximately250feet northofitsintersectionwithCheroyWoodsLane(StateRoute270).Thesubjectproperty isdesignatedontheGeneralLandUsePlanMapasAgricultural.Theproposedzoning amendmentwouldpermitthecreationoffour(4)buildinglotsforagrossdensityofone(1) dwellingunitper6.35acres.(PUBLICHEARING) MagisterialDistrict:Beaverdam

REZ2022-00029,HELLENIC,L.L.C.

Request(s)anamendmenttotheproffersapprovedwithrezoningrequest,C-39-02(c),Frank andAnnaVolo,onGPIN8724-49-0864,consistingofapproximately1.0acre,zonedB-2(c), CommunityBusinessDistrictwithconditions.Thepropertyislocatedonthesouthlineof MechanicsvilleTurnpike(U.S.Route360)westofitsintersectionwithBrashierBoulevard (privateroad).ThesubjectpropertyisdesignatedontheGeneralLandUsePlanMapas Commercial.(PUBLICHEARING) MagisterialDistrict:Mechanicsville

REZ2022-00007,HOPKINSPROPERTIESII,L.L.C.,ETAL.

Request(s)anamendmenttotheproffersandconceptualplanapprovedwithrezoning requestC-9-07(c),Am.1-09,HopkinsProperties,L.C.,etal.,onGPINs7787-35-4726, 7787-35-6891,7787-36-4155,7787-36-4548,and7787-36-1918,consistingof approximately22.6acres,zonedB-3(c),GeneralBusinessDistrictwithconditions. ThepropertyislocatedonthenortheastquadrantoftheintersectionofWashingtonHighway (U.S.Route1)andSlidingHillRoad(StateRoute656).Thesubjectpropertyisdesignated ontheGeneralLandUsePlanMapasCommercial.Theproposedzoningamendment wouldpermittwoadditionalentrancesandmodifytheroadwayimprovementsshownon theconceptualplan.(PUBLICHEARING) MagisterialDistrict:SouthAnna

CopiesoftheabovecasesmaybereviewedinthePlanningOffice,Mondaythrough Friday,betweenthehoursof8:30a.m.and5:00p.m.pleasecontactthePlanningOffice oryoumayalsogotohttps://www.hanovercounty.gov/696/Planning-CommissionUpcoming-and-Archiveformoreinformation.

PublicNotice

Noticeisherebygiventhat theHanoverCountyBoardof Supervisorshasset Wednesday, November9,2022at2:00P.M., intheBoardRoomoftheHanover CountyAdministrationBuildingat HanoverCourthouse,7516County ComplexRoad,Hanover,Virginia, astheday,date,time,andplacefora RegularBoardMeeting.

ofavailableapartments forrentinyourarea.

LAURELWOODS

TOWNOFASHLAND NOTICEOFPUBLICHEARING

Pleasetakenoticethatonthe9thdayofNovember2022,at6:00p.m.attheAshlandTown Hall,121ThompsonStreet,Ashland,VA,theAshlandPlanningCommissionwillconductpublic hearingspursuanttoVirginiaCodesection15.2-204forthepurposeofreceivinginput,andmay providerecommendationsonthefollowing:

CAPITALIMPROVEMENTSPROGRAMFY2023-2034THROUGH2027-2028

ReviewrecommendationsforamendmentsorrevisionstoTheCapitalImprovementsProgram (CIP).TheCIPisaprogramthatspansfive(5)budgetyears.Non-recurringprojectsthatare capitalintensiveareincludedintheCIP.Theidentifiedprojectsandassignedprioritiesare reviewedannuallybythePlanningCommissionandtheTownCouncil.

ORD2022-07GASCANOPYHEIGHT

KarlE.SchwartzofThePlanSource,Inc.,requestsaZoningOrdinanceTextAmendmentto Chapter21,ArticleXXV,Section21-269oftheAshlandTownCodetoallowforanincreaseofone andone-halffeetintheheightrestrictionongasstationcanopies.Theproposalwouldchange thecurrentmaximumheightoffourteen(14)feetandrevisethelanguagetoallowfifteenand one-halffeet(15.5)ofheightmeasuredfromgrade.

CopiesoftheproposedCIPandORD2022-07maybeobtainedbycontactingTownHallat (804)798-1073,MondaythroughThursday,7:30a.m.to6:00p.m.Writtencommentsmaybe submittedtoplanning@ashlandva.govormailedtoTownofAshland,POBox1600,Ashland,VA 23005.Allinterestedpersonsmayattendandexpresstheirviews.Anypersonwithadisability requiringassistanceinordertoparticipateinthispublichearingisaskedtocontactTownHallin advance,sothatappropriatearrangementscanbemade.

Covenant Woods celebrates opening of onsite dental clinic

By Christina Amano Dolan Editor

The floss was cut to the entrance of Covenant Woods’ first ever onsite dental clinic last month, marking the ceremonial opening of the longawaited space that will offer full-service dental care to residents and staff.

Named in honor of the clinic’s champion and primary donor, the Dr. Gordon Prior Dental Clinic announced its official opening at a “floss cutting” ceremony on Friday, Oct. 21. The ceremony was joined by Prior’s family, other financial donors, Covenant Woods’ staff, and representatives from the Hanover Chamber of Commerce.

Prior, who cut the floss alongside his family, said, “Where there’s a need, there’s a way. And God always finds a way.”

“Dr. Prior and his family have been instrumental in making this whole thing come

about, but also in just their support and their expertise,” said Laurie Ursiny, director of philanthropy at Covenant Woods.

Prior, who is a Covenant Woods resident and retired dentist, was the first to come forward and identify a crucial need for onsite dental services for residents – particularly those who have difficulty accessing dental services outside of campus.

“He is a strong proponent of dental health and takes opportunity to help share with others the benefits of dental health and is always willing to provide information and collaborate,” said Carrie Davis, Covenant Woods administrator.

Davis said Prior began working with staff around eight years ago to identify an available space onsite, which posed a challenge for several years prior to the campus’ eventual expansion. After delays posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, conversations surrounding the dental clinic ensued and an

available space was identified within the healthcare neighborhood.

This new addition expands upon a growing initiative within the Covenant Woods community to bring accessible, high-quality care to residents.

The Covenant Woods’ full-service clinic is now in its third month of operation after opening on Sept. 1. The health clinic offers appointments with local physicians who offer a personalized level of support, appointments with local specialists, urgent care services available 24/7 through EMC Medical Center, nurse practitioners who respond onsite when needed for residents, and full service medical evaluation, testing, lab work, and prescriptions through EMC Medical Center.

“We have not had the ability for such a turnkey operation onsite for our residents from a medical perspective, specifically for our independent residents,” said Davis, who com-

mented on how the full service medical clinic has been a great success since its inception.

The Dr. Gordon Prior Dental Clinic continues this model of providing highquality care to residents within the same area, which will offer greater comfort to residents who have trouble leaving campus for dentist appointments.

“From the comfort standpoint, there are individuals that, you know, whether it’s vision loss or maybe some cognitive loss, it is very difficult to go out into different buildings for medical treatment,” said Davis, adding that the clinic’s location on campus will offer greater comfort to residents who are already familiar with the area.

“It is an opportunity for residents to have any of their dental needs met literally on campus, which reduces the need to coordinate additional transportation for those that require wheelchair or other type of assistive devices,” Davis added. “But it also allows residents to have their support team of nurses and nursing assistants available to assist with that process and to be able to participate in receiving any ongoing recommendations from the dentist directly and help incorporate that into the resident’s plan of care.”

They will additionally open the dental clinic’s services to staff, as they oftentimes have difficulty scheduling appointments outside of work.

The new clinic will be led by Dr. Mimi Park, a Mechanicsville dentist, and her team.

“We're definitely excited about partnering with a dentist in the immediate area, because it's always great to be able to work with other local providers,” Davis said.

Despite a slight hiccup in accumulating needed dental equipment, Prior was able to accumulate enough needed funding from other residents to help push the project through its final stage.

“The residents came through and we were able to purchase the final equipment we needed because of

their support and generosity… Without them, it would still not be a reality,” Ursiny said.

Now, the space is supplied with all new equipment to provide any needed dental services, including digital X-Rays.

Ursiny and Davis said the new dental clinic will place dental health at the forefront for residents, as many may prioritize other health care needs due to finances, lack of accessibility or other barriers.

“Oral health is definitely a big component to overall health,” Davis said. “It does impact our overall ability not just for nutrition, but it has been found to impact our cognition as well. So it’s definitely a big wellness push.”

“As a life plan community, we strive to offer services for our residents at all levels of care, and this will just enhance that and be one extra service that we're able to provide for our community,” Ursiny said. “And like Carrie said, we're fortunate that also in the future, it will be able to provide service not only to our full campus of residents, but our staff as well.”

With residents excited for the new addition to the community, Davis said all appointments for this month and next are already fully-booked.

For more information on the Covenant Woods dental clinic, health clinic and other available services, visit the website, covenantwoods.com.

Photos courtesy of Covenant Woods

Dr. Gordon Prior, a retired dentist, resident of Covenant Woods and champion of the campus’ new dental clinic, cuts the “floss,” officially marking the opening of the Dr. Gordon Prior Dental Clinic. Above, Thom Wright, president/CEO of Covenant Woods; Harrison Prior; Patti Smith; Dr. Gordon Prior, DDS; Dr. Mimi Park, DDS; and Carrie Davis, administrator at Covenant Woods stand ready to “cut the floss” for the campus’ first ever dental clinic. Shown is the recently-unveiled onsite dental clinic at Covenant Woods, which is fully-stocked with brand new equipment to meet a variety of residents’ dental care needs.

PATRICK HENRY HSPATRICK ‘TRUNK OR TREAT’

EVENING BASH

Patrick Henry High School (PHHS) students, faculty and community members welcomed all ages to a Friday evening “PHamily Halloween Trunk or Treat” event. A large crowd of Hanoverians flocked to the PHHS parking lot to trick or treat while visiting an array of Halloween trunks, stands and activities organized by various PHHS students, faculty and other community participants.

CALENDAR

| News, Updates & Listings

Fax submissions to calendar to 344-8746, email to events@mechlocal. com, or mail to 8460 Times-Dispatch Blvd., Mechanicsville VA 23116. Deadline is 1 p.m. Thursday for the following week’s issue. Calendar announcements cannot be taken by phone. We reserve the right to edit all items submitted to Ashland-Hanover Local.

Saturday, Nov. 5

The Community Salt Fish Breakfast will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. at Enon UMC, 6156 Studley Road, Mechanicsville, VA 23116. The buffet includes: salt fish, corn cakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, grits, hash browns, sausage gravy, biscuits, waffles, apples, beverages and fellowship. Adults $10 and ages 6 and under free, with all profits going to Missions.

The Ashland Beekeepers Association will host a free seminar on Pollinators, Honey Bees & You from 10 to 11 a.m in Ellis Hall at First Baptist Church in Ashland. Anyone interested in learning how to help all pollinators and what it takes to start keeping honey bees is invited to attend. Visit www.ashlandvabeekeepers.org for more information.

The Pocahontas Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society is pleased to welcome Kaity Bevenour, an ecological horticulturalist and the owner/ operator of Parallel Nursery, a sustainable plant nursery in Richmond, specializing in growing species from the MidAtlantic and Southeast U.S. Bevenour will be discussing her entrepreneurial journey with Parallel and the exploding native plant industry. This hybrid meeting (live or via Zoom) is free and open to the public. The live meeting will be at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Kelly Center. The meet and greet starts at 6:30 p.m., followed by the presentation at 7 p.m. and a short busi-

ness meeting. The chapter serves several cities and counties, including Goochland, Hanover, King William and Powhatan. Membership in a chapter is available to anyone who joins the Virginia Native Plant Society. For more information, visit the state website: http://vnps.org/.

Barbara Johnson from Red Apron Pottery is hosting an event at Books and Beads and More, located at 8106 Mechanicsville Turnpike Mechanicsville, from 2 to 4 p.m. for Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes. Since November is National Juvenile Diabetes Month, this is the perfect time to support such a great cause. She will provide clay at the store for visitors to cut out and paint an ornament. Johnson is accepting $10 or a donation for each ornament, and all proceeds will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Sunday, Nov. 6

Black Creek Baptist Church, 6289 McClellan Road in Mechanicsville, will have a special Veterans Day Celebration at 10:15 a.m. during a morning worship service to honor all veterans. There will be a special speaker that day –guest speaker Col. John Miller will present Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pins; Pastor Stephen will give a brief sermon; and the Mechanicsville High School JROTC will provide the Color Guard. The church asks the community to pass the word to any veterans so they can be recognized and thanked for their service.

PHOTOS BY CHRISTINA AMANO DOLAN

Patrick Henry High School students Addison Six and Marissa Roth welcome trick-or-treaters with their decorated trunk. Maya Krodel poses as Dorothy with Marissa in the chicken costume.

The PHHS National Art Honor Society offered an impressive display and raffle tickets to raise money for National Honor Society student art scholarships.

Right, Brothers Owen and Wesley Reamer pose in their ninja costumes with Samantha Reamer.

PHHS choir teacher Mark Lawson hands out candy to visitors. Andrew Day has some fun in the PHHS “jail” display. The PHHS orchestra group decorated their trunk with a handmade “bow graveyard.”

Brothers Christopher Jr. and Cyncere Winston lit up the PHHS parking lot in their impressive costumes. The PHHS theater department invited visitors to play Quidditch in their Harry Potter-themed trunk in honor of their upcoming production, “Puffs.” Andrea Herndon, Mindy Muntean and Bob Staley dressed as Frozen characters and posed with their mini costume twins.

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