Ashland-Hanover Local – 12/28/2022

Homecoming of celebrations top 2022 stories

CHRISTINA AMANO DOLAN Editor

Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic still lingering in the local community and beyond, the start of 2022 offered a hopeful glimpse at the Hanover County community returning to a more normal life after two years of halted in-person activity. With beloved traditions returning with even greater vivacity than years prior, these tokens of a community celebrating long-awaited fellowship take the lead in the Top 10 stories of 2022.

1Topping the list is a lively lineup of Hanover County’s most beloved traditions returning in their full glory and beyond after delays posed by

COMMUNITY Christmas Mother Clements' pancake feast with the community

Hanover honors veterans with Wreaths Across America event

CHRISTINA AMANO DOLAN Editor

As communities across the nation paused on the morning of Saturday, Dec. 17 to lay wreaths on the graves of countless veterans, the Hanover County community gathered to pay their own powerful tributes at the Cold Harbor National Cemetery in honor of Wreaths Across America Day.

Wreaths Across America, the nonprofit organization that championed what would become a national holiday held on the second or third Saturday of December, was born from the commitment of Morrill Worcester to lay wreaths on every grave of Arlington National Cemetery.

Hanover battles in community

CHRISTINA AMANO DOLAN , FILE PHOTO

Hundreds of community members line Ashland sidewalks and cheer for the impressive lineup of the Hanover Arts and Activities Center Fourth of July Parade.

PHOTO BY CHRISTINA AMANO DOLAN , THE LOCAL

Participants in the Wreaths Across America ceremony held at Cold Harbor National Cemetery lay a wreath for all branches of military services and those whose last known status was Prisoners of War or Missing in Action.

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the COVID-19 pandemic, with several attracting a record-number of attendees in 2022.

Ashland Train Day returned for its 18th year after a two-year pause with a “little extra excitement in the air,” said Maggie Longest, the executive director of the Downtown Ashland Association. The street festival for families and train enthusiasts was traditionally held in the fall prior to the COVID-19 pandemic but returned on April

30 to officially kick off a return to community unity and celebration, marking the signature Downtown Ashland event as a spring extravaganza for years to come. The daylong festival continues to grow in size, as this year featured a recordnumber 56 vendors from local businesses and nine food vendors along with a variety of impressive attractions for rail enthusiasts and children to enjoy.

The Ashland Strawberry Faire lit up the streets of Randolph-Macon College on June 11 in its 40th year after a two-year pause due to the pandemic. The beloved street fes-

tival drew a crowd of over 20,000 visitors and boasted countless attractions for the whole family to enjoy, including a first-ever “Strawberry Kids” Parade, live performances, a fundraising Dunk Tank with local public officials, and a record-number of almost 300 arts and crafts, food, nonprofit and business vendors. The day-long bash additionally raised funds to benefit the community in the form of nonprofit support and yearly scholarships provided to local students.

The Hanover Tomato Festival returned on July 15 and 16 with a

little extra flavor this year, as the signature summer festival came to life with a well-attended twoday bash of live music, pizza races, handcraft vendors, children’s games and a plethora of delicacies spotlighting the celebrated Hanover Tomato, including fried green po’boys, BLTs and Hanover Tomato sandwiches. The 500 cases of Hanover Vegetable Farm and Rosa’s Garden tomatoes flew off the shelves from the start of Friday’s jamboree, displaying how the celebrated community crop was once again the crowd favorite.

The lineup of community pa-

rades this year brought lively celebrations to the streets of Hanover in even greater vibrancy than recent years, exemplifying how the community’s love for parades did not dwindle during the past two years of social distancing. Among the street extravaganzas this year were the Hanover Arts and Activities Center’s Fourth of July Parade on the morning of July 4; the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office National Night Out parades on Aug. 2; the Ashland Hanover Olde Time Holiday Parade on Nov. 20; and the Mechanicsville Christmas Parade on Dec. 3.

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2 Remembrance of Bucky Stanley

The start of 2022 brought the solemn announcement of the passing of Aubrey M. “Bucky” Stanley, Hanover County’s longest serving Board of Supervisors member and Beaverdam District representative of 38 years.

3 School transgender policy

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Stanley, who passed away peacefully on Dec. 31, 2021, at the age of 75, was first elected to represent the Beaverdam District in 1983, was re-elected 10 times during his tenure, and served as board chairman six times.

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In honor of Stanley and his lasting legacy in the community, county administrator John Budesky ordered county flags to be flown at half-mast until sundown on the Sunday following funeral services held on Jan. 7. The board of supervisors paid tribute to Stanley during their Jan. 12 meeting with a black fabric draped over Stanley’s longtime seat on the panel, accompanying floral arrangement, and a 38-second moment of silence in memory of Stanley’s 38 years of service to the county.

County debate over the treatment of transgender and non-binary students sparked in 2021 when the Hanover County School Board voted to reject a proposal to amend the current policy to align with Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) guidelines. The school board’s March 8 meeting spurred a months-long debate throughout 2022 after the board’s 4-3 vote to engage Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a conservative Christian legal advocacy group, for legal review of the HCPS transgender bathroom policy.

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The issue was brought to the board of supervisors on March 23, with over 100 impassioned citizens filling the meeting room with colored signs and shirts in opposition to or support of the school board’s decision to engage ADF and the treatment of transgender students in Hanover County Public Schools (HCPS). Citizens continued to

4 School ground-

breaking HCPS made history in the final month of the year by breaking ground on the first new Hanover school since 2008. Students, school division and county officials, and other distinguished guests gathered on Dec. 12 to commemorate the consolidation of Henry Clay and John M. Gandy elementary schools, which will serve students in preK through fifth grades.

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speak in opposition or favor of adopting VDOE’s model policies surrounding the treatment of transgender students in the months following during both boards’ meetings.

Debate over the topic escalated af-

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Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates, a Charlottesville-based architectural firm, is leading the design

of the school and Southwood Builders, an Ashland-based construction company, has been awarded the contract as the general contractor for the project.

ter a proposed bathroom and locker room policy for transgender and nonbinary students was presented to the school board during its Aug. 9 meeting. The proposed policy, which was largely drafted by ADF, proposed the requirement of students who identify as transgender or non-binary to request access to the restroom or locker room that aligns with their gender identity by submitting written requests from the student and legal guardian and any other relevant information requested by school administration before the request is presented to the school board for review.

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The proposed policy received backlash from various citizen speakers who voiced concerns with the policy’s language during the school board’s Aug. 16 special meeting, which offered citizens the opportunity to address the board on the policy prior to their vote. The policy passed as written with a 5-2 vote.

Construction will be taking place over the next 18 months. The consolidated elementary school is set to open for the 2024-2025 school year.

For more information on

the ongoing project, visit the website, https://www.hcps. us/community/consolidated_elementary_school.

CHRISTINA AMANO DOLAN , FILE PHOTO

Over 100 impassioned citizens filled the board of supervisors’ meeting room on march 23 in opposition and support of the school board’s decision to engage alliance defending Freedom to review of the school district’s transgender bathroom policy.

Hanover’s baseball team forms a dogpile in the infield after the last out in the Hawks’ 11-0 win over James Wood in the Virginia High school League class 4 state baseball championship at riverbend High school on June 11.

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5 Champions x3

An exciting weekend in June crowned three HCPS high school teams district champions to cap off their 2022 seasons. After coming within reach of their respective state titles the previous year, the Hanover High School baseball and softball teams clinched victories in this year’s Class 4 state championships held at Riverbend High School on June 11. The soft-

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Connect Hanover

Project officials announced in August that the county’s universal broadband initiative is officially underway.

Connect Hanover intends to provide broadband and high-speed internet access to all unserved homes in Hanover County in the next three years through a fiber-to-the-home solution with the help of All Points Broadband, the project’s designated internet service provider.

The project made significant headway in December 2021 after Gov. Ralph Northam announced the approval of the county’s application for a Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI) grant of $13.97 million, delivering a total investment of over $55 million of new broadband infrastructure to serve Hanover County residents

ball team’s 1-0 win over Tuscarora and the baseball team’s 11-0 win over James Wood rendered a momentous celebration for the Hawks community, as both teams gathered on the field to pose for a combined championship photo.

The Atlee High School boy’s lacrosse team made Raider history the same day on the Massaponax High School field. After four previous trips to a Virginia High School League state championship game that ended in a one-point loss, the team won their first state championship this year after overwhelming Dominion-Loudoun County 16-4.

partment of Housing and Community Development and All Points on Aug. 4, officially kicking off the clock for the project’s twoyear deadline.

Jimmy carr, chief executive officer of all Points broadband, offers a

with the county’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) contribution of $14.84 million and investment from All Points Broadband, Dominion Energy and Rappahannock Electric Cooperative.

The county signed a contract with the Virginia De-

In December, project officials announced the next steps to be executed in the next 120 days, including working through the low level design phase of field checking poles, obtaining permits and arranging construction crews. Project officials continue to inventory unserved locations, work on solutions for all unserved residents, and encourage any residents who are unserved and have not registered yet to visit https:// fiber.allpointsbroadband. com.

For more information on Connect Hanover, visit the website, https://www.connecthanover.com/.

DAVID M. LAWRENCE , FILE PHOTO

CHRISTINA AMANO DOLAN ,

FILE PHOTO

thorough overview of the connect Hanover broadband initiative to the board of supervisors

7 School board appointment

The Mechanicsville District seat on the Hanover County School Board was up for grabs this spring and attracted nine nominees to fill the position, which was then-occupied by Mechanicsville representative Sterling Daniel.

The pool of nominees presented to Mechanicsville Supervisor Canova Peterson, who was tasked with appointing the school board representative by May 25, included Daniel, Jerry McCormick, Kim Thurston, John Redd, Ryan Hudson, Ryan Martin, Sarah Gragnani Butler, Paul Heizer and Chris Cray. The nominees, with the exception of Heizer and Cray, presented their case to Peterson during the board of supervisors’ April 27 meeting.

Peterson eventually selected former school board member John Redd to serve the four-year term beginning in July, which prompted backlash from various citizens and community groups in the months following, including a July 25 open letter by Hanover NAACP calling for a new direction on the school board following claims made by Redd in a Richmond Times-Dispatch interview that prompted concern from citizens. Redd offered an apology to The Local for the comments he made to The Times-Dispatch and expressed his commitment to serving the needs of all students and families, which was recognized by citizen speakers in various school board meetings that followed.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

convert solar installers, ashland volunteers, John suddarth of Habitat, aaron sutch of solar United neighbors and Jeff Heie of Givesolar smile during the affiliate’s first solar system installation in may.

9Chief Goodman retires

Longtime Ashland Police Department (APD) Chief Douglas Goodman announced his retirement from law enforcement in January and officially retired on Friday, April 22, after 29 years of service to the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) and APD.

8Habitat milestones

Hanover and King William Habitat for Humanity celebrated various milestones of the local affiliate this year while reaching a total of 75 homes built through its Homeownership program and performing 42 critical repairs through its Critical Repairs Program.

The local affiliate celebrated the year’s first milestone with the grand opening of the new and improved Habitat ReStore in March after over 100 volunteers assisted in the store’s relocation from Atlee to 7199 Stonewall Parkway in Mechanicsville. The new space provides approximately 3,000 additional square feet of retail space from its previous location,

allowing the organization to accommodate a much larger number of donations of new or gently-used items by residents and businesses. The new location has been thriving and actively funding Habitat’s community service programs.

Habitat celebrated the first installation of a solar system on an existing Habitat home in May at no cost to the affiliate, thanks to the fundraising efforts of GiveSolar. The first solar installation was performed on the home of Ashland resident Keisha Young and will last for 25 to 30 years with little to no maintenance while saving her thousands of dollars on her electric bill over time. Young’s home is the pilot

for Habitat’s exciting new solar installation initiative, as they continue to monitor its progress and search for alternative funding for future installations.

The affiliate made history in November with its latest project announcement of performing the second renovation project ever and the first in over a decade. Habitat officials are working to renovate an abandoned house on Dewey Street in Ashland and hope to turn the keys over to Ivy, the next Habitat homeowner, in the next few months. The milestone project was made possible with secured ARPA funding of $100,000 that was presented to Habitat by the Ashland Town Council on Sept. 20.

John redd

Goodman

After serving the HCSO for over 14 years and eventually reaching the rank of Lieutenant, Goodman transitioned to APD as captain in August 2007 and was officially appointed to chief on July 1, 2008. The agency achieved multiple accreditations under his leadership, including becoming one of 35 agencies in the Commonwealth to maintain Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) and the smallest municipal police department to do so.

The community gathered to bid farewell to Goodman in his last week of service during a reception held at Birdsong Hall at RandolphMacon College. Various speakers gave heartfelt farewell speeches and praise for Goodman’s community-centered policing, exceptional leadership and lasting legacy in the community.

10

Barton Rink reopens

The Washington Capitals and Hanover County Parks and Recreation celebrated the newly-renovated Matthew and Daniel Barton Memorial Rink on May 1 after combined fundraising efforts led by the Barton family and Parks and Recreation saved the beloved community rink of over 20 years.

The rededication ceremony invited a crowd of attendees to explore the revamped street hockey rink, which was built in memory of Daniel and Matthew Barton, who tragically

lost their lives due to disease at a young age. Inspired by the brothers’ shared passion for inline and ice hockey, the rink has honored their memory by serving as a hub for local hockey enthusiasts of all ages.

The Capitals Organization made a combined $100,000 investment in the rink’s refurbishing, which now stands at the 14th rink that the organization helped revive or build across Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The organization furnished, replaced and installed the street hockey rink as a donation to the county

and provided all rink boards, goal frames, fencing and new plastic skating tiles, a new scoreboard and The Capitals logo displayed throughout the rink. The Capitals additionally partnered with the county to provide all Hanover County public elementary and middle schools with new street hockey equipment and training.

Thanks to the united efforts of both the county and community, the Matthew and Daniel Barton Memorial Rink continues to honor the lives of the two boys by spreading joy of the sport they loved while serving the community.

chair of the Hanover board of supervisors angela Kelly-Wiecek drops a hockey puck while Trevor barton, shown left, and Peter robinson, right, “face off” in honor of the rink’s reopening.

CHRISTINA AMANO DOLAN , FILE PHOTO

JIM RIDOLPHI , FILE PHOTO

speaks with constituents during a may Hanover board of supervisors meeting prior to his appointment to the school board.

Wreaths

The ceremony, which first began in 1992, has expanded its reach to communities far beyond its origins. In 2014, over 700,000 memorial wreaths at 1,000 locations in the U.S. and beyond were simultaneously laid on veterans’ graves.

The Wreaths Across America mission is “to remember the men and women who served our country, honor our military and their families, and teach our children about our freedom and those who protect it,” according to the nonprofit’s website.

Hanover’s ceremony drew a large crowd of individuals, families and organizations to carry out the initiative’s mission at the Cold Harbor National Cemetery, located at 6038 Cold Harbor Road in Mechanicsville.

The ceremony was made possible by the generous support of community members, with over 1,618 wreaths sponsored by individuals and groups to adorn all 990 veteran graves, exceeding this year’s goal by 628 wreaths.

The ceremony was additionally supported by various community groups, including the American Legion Post 175, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Battlefield Post 9808, Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association (CVMA) Chapter 27-6, Scotchtown Chapter NDSAR, Ferguson, ABB, American Heritage Girls VA1736, Cub Scout Pack 703, Boy Scout Troop 553, Hanover Composite Squadron, Exchange Club of Henrico, Girl Scout Troop 444 and more.

Sean Davis, Henry District representative on the Hanover Board of Supervisors and American Legion Post 175 member, was the featured speaker of the morning ceremony, which additionally featured a prayer tribute; a 21-gun salute performed by Post 175 and VFW Post 9808 Color Guards; ceremonial

wreath laying honoring each branch of service; and remarks by Kelly Hinnant, the ceremony’s facilitator and CVMA Chapter 27-6 executive officer.

“I have yet to find another county in this nation that can parallel Hanover County for the reverence for the veteran and the American soldier,” Davis said after naming the ceremony a “solemn” but “joyous” occasion.

“The American soldier is the most unique of all individuals, fighting for reasons often determined by individuals that will never see a battlefield,” Davis added.

He called for the recognition of the cemetery’s historical significance, which was established in 1866 on the site of the Civil War Battle of Cold Harbor, where approximately 225 to 240 soldiers perished per minute, he said.

“It was often attributed to [Union General Ulysses S. Grant] that it was his greatest regret because of a strategic error, but he later said it wasn’t,” Davis said. “It was his regret that so many Americans died… on both sides of this battle.”

Davis called for attendees to remember the American veteran rather than the atrocities of battles fought throughout the nation’s history.

“The American veteran has seen the ravages of war and knows the true cost of freedom unlike any other, he said. “Today, we honor the veteran – those who are willing to service in harm’s way to protect and often secure a better way of life for those he or she will never meet.”

“We thank those who have come home and express our gratitude as a grateful nation. We also thank the families for our friends who did not come home, and for that reason we are here today,” Davis said in his final remarks to the crowd.

All paused for a moment of silence as local veterans, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and civilians laid a wreath for all branches of service, including those whose last known status was either Prisoner of War or Missing in Action.

Hinnant concluded the ceremony by inviting visitors to lay a wreath on a grave, read their names aloud and pause to remember and reflect on

their sacrifice. He added that each wreath honors those who served the nation, the families who “endure sacrifices each day on our behalf,” and the children of younger generations in learning to value their freedom and those who fought for it.

“Remember, you’re not here today to decorate graves – you’re here to remember not their death but their lives,” Hinnant said.

Families and individuals dispersed to lay wreaths on each grave and pay private tributes. All tomb stones were covered with wreaths shortly after the ceremony concluded, reviving the cemetery’s backdrop of white graves with colorful tokens of gratitude for those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

For more information on Wreaths Across America and the annual initiative, visit the website, https://www. wreathsacrossamerica.org.

From

PHOTO BY CHRISTINA AMANO DOLAN , THE LOCAL community members lay wreaths to cover all 990 veteran graves at cold Harbor national cemeter y.

OPINION

FROM THE EDITOR

Fromtheeditor

The wreaths of remembrance

The very first ‘marathon of mirth’ that brought holiday cheer to al l

By ChristinaAmano Dolan Editor

CHRISTINA AMANO DOLAN Editor

tanding at the entrance of the Cold Harbor National Cemetery after witnessing my first Wreaths Across America ceremony, I paused to take a final glimpse at the moving sight of families laying wreaths on each grave.

SOn the sunny morning of Nov. 27,1924, children of New YorkCitylined the sidewalks of Manhattan’s Herald Square to catch a glimpse of the once-in-alifetime “marathon of mirth,” asadvertised by the booming Macy’s department store.

Held to showcase the opening of the “World’s Largest Store,” with Macy’s flagship location in Herald Square expanding to cover an entire city block, and to garnerexcitement for the holiday shopping season, the “Macy’s Christmas Parade” delivered its promise of enveloping the cityin a mirthful morning of holiday spirit.

It was a spectacular sight, as just minutes after the conclusion of the official ceremony, the once-white speckled lawn of the 990 veteran graves stood vibrant with red bows and festive greenery.

Myrtle Starling, sergeant at arms for American Legion Post 175, marveled at the unrecognizable lawn with me.

“It’s incredible, isn’t it?” she said, adding that her favorite part of the annual tradition is watching the rows and rows of white stone graves come to life with color. She was right, as the cemetery seemed to change hues in the blink of an eye. What was once a somber blanket of white became a lovely display of colorful tributes.

“We didnot dare dream its successes would be so great,” stated the advertisement.

laying wreaths on graves already adorned with another’s tribute, and this image was perhaps the most powerful of the day – one that followed me on my drive home as I thought of the history behind the nationwide ceremony and the man who started it all.

Spanning6 miles, the parade route boasted nursery-rhyme themed floats of Mother Goose, the Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe, LittleRedRiding Hood, and otherfavorites. Macy’s employeesdressed as clowns, cowboys and sword-wielding knights as they strolledalong the streets; anarray of bears, elephants,camels,monkeys and other Central Park Zoo animals offereda circus-like atmosphere asparadebands blared festive music. And of course, the rear of the parade featured the guest of honor, Santa Claus, who sat atop a mountain of ice inhis reindeer-driven sleigh.

Ten thousandspectatorscheered asSanta descended from hissleigh asnoon rolled around, and the “once-in-a-lifetime” holiday paradecame to a close.

I watched as wreath-layers wandered around the cemetery in search of a grave untouched, but as the minutes passed, this seemed to become impossible as more visitors grabbed another wreath from the hefty pile. Some even began

Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine, was a 12-yearold paper boy for the Bangor Daily News when he won a trip to Washington, D.C. and visited the Arlington National Cemetery – a trip that he would never forget.

own beloved traditions with local floats, marching bands,balloons and, of course, the guest of honor– Santa Claus

Dreaming of a White Christmas

And its successes would of course continue toclimb, as the parade becameknown as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade– anannual occurrence that has become the beloved American tradition that we all know and love today.

Most powerfully, I thought of the importance of this goal to leave no grave untouched – to leave no name forgotten and no unnamed veteran in solitude.

Ofcourse, the parade would evolve overtime, as the parade route scaledback to a little over 2 milesinlength and helium-filled characterballoons replaced the zoo animals. But the spiritof the very first paradehas persisted for almost a century now, surviving even the most turbulent times to gift the American people what it had promisedfrom day one: “a marathonof mirth.”

Flashing forward in time to 1992, Worcester’s company found themselves with a surplus of wreaths nearing the end of the holiday season. Remembering his meaningful trip as a boy to Arlington National Cemetery, Worcester seized the opportunity to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Ofcourse, as we allknow, thisparade would become something much more than a one-time occurrence. Despite the minimalnewspaper coverage of the novel performance, the paradecaptured the hearts of the community and, eventually, the country.

Macy’s released a newspaper advertisement as quickly as the following morning declaring that the parade would arrive again the followingyear

By 2006, simultaneous wreathlaying ceremonies were held at over 150 locations around the country. By 2007, the Worcester family and other participants formed the Wreaths Across America nonprofit organization, and by 2008, the U.S. Congress named Wreaths Across America Day a national holiday, which has continued as an annual tradition held on the second or third Saturday of December.

Despite the stock marketcrash of 1929, the parade marched on without interruption throughout the 1930s. But itsfirst interruption would occur during World War II,as the paradewassuspended from 1942 to 1944 due to needed helium andrubber for the war effort.

Wreaths Across America reached their goal in 2014 of covering the entirety of Arlington National Cemetery with the placement of 226,525 wreaths, and participants in 1,000 locations in the country and beyond laid over 700,000 memorial wreaths.

In 1963, justsixdays after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Macy’s officials were facedwith a difficult decision. Despite somehesitation, they decided to host the parade that Thanksgiving morning inhopes that it would upliftthe dwindledAmerican spirit

There was something about the ceremony’s placement amid the holidays that seemed to drive this importance – the importance of pausing at a veteran’s grave left bare from families long gone or identities unsolved to say “Thank you” and “Merry Christmas.” To remember not just the names we carry close to our hearts but the countless names without families left to decorate their graves, say “Thank you” and “Merry Christmas,” or to remember.

One man’s idea soon became a communitywide effort, as individuals and organizations stepped up to help transport the wreaths to Virginia from Maine and organize a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington. The ceremony wouldn’t receive national attention until 2005, when a photo of the stones at Arlington, adorned with wreaths and snow, circulated the internet.

I thought about the single image and how the impact of the sight – once graves of white adorned in colorful tributes – was enough to spark a widespread movement to remember, honor and teach in communities across the nation and abroad.

Even the COVID-19pandemicfailed to dissuade the annualtradition,as Macy’s held an extravagant virtualcelebration following socialdistancing guidelines. With a return to its in-person festivitiesin2021, the beloved paradesurvived, proving that evenin the most turbulent times, its ability to bring holiday joy to the American masseshasdriven its unwavering popularity and, more importantly, necessity.

I thought of the nonprofit’s goal that was finally reached 22 years after the first wreath touched a veteran’s grave – one that the Hanover community powerfully exceeded on that sunny winter morning, bringing over 1,600 wreaths to lay on 990 graves.

But Hanover Countyis a vibrant community that brings “marathons of mirth” inallshapes and sizes throughout the year, as I have recently learned from attending the extravagant Ashland Fourth of July Parade that surprised mewith its grandeur As I have only attendeda handful of parades my whole life, or have watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade through our family’s television, learning of the beloved holiday traditions of the Ashland/HanoverOlde Time Holiday Parade and Mechanicsville Christmas Paradehasleft me waiting inexcited anticipation long before thisholiday season

JIM RIDOLPHI Contributing Columnist

Those of you who wished for a white Christmas didn’t get what they wanted this season; but, it did look close for a while. A recent cold snap heightened hopes for that segment of the population who envision a storybook scene each year – a wish that comes up short most years.

Justas the Macy’s parade returned to the streets of New YorkCityin2021, the beloved Hanover celebrations returned lastwinter during a time of its necessity–a time when the COVID-19pandemiccontinued to rampage through communities, the world began to emerge from a dispiriting isolation, and holiday cheerwassparse.

But evenin the most turbulent times, the Hanover spirit survived. Now in its 53rd year, the adored Ashland/Hanover Olde Time Holiday Paradeis only two weeks away, inviting the community to help kick off the Hanover holidays on Nov. 20 Followingclosely after will be the Mechanicsville Christmas Paradein its 24th year on Dec 4.

My own image of my first Wreaths Across America is one that will never be forgotten – the image of Hanoverians decorating graves already adorned with another’s “Thank you” and “Merry Christmas,” and the image of a once white-speckled cemetery brought to life once more in just minutes.

Ofcourse thisholiday paradeis just one of thousands that capture the hearts of communitiesacross the country– all who bringa “marathon of mirth” amid even the bleakest of times.There are parades that have uplifted their own communitiesinto a jolly celebration over the years,developing their

Perhaps this lingering image is a mirror of what this annual tribute achieves every year: ensuring the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice will never be lost as long as we commit to remember and honor every white stone grave left untouched.

Honestly, Richmond is not ground zero when it comes to holiday precipitation, and it has been noted in published reports there is only a 7% chance the metro area will experience snow on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

Justas the beloved Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has persisted for almost a century, Hanover’s own parades continue to thrive and uplift its own community when it is most needed, emulating theirtrue purpose ofbringinga “marathon of mirth” to all anda truecelebrationof a united community’s perseverance.

For more information on the Ashland/HanoverOlde Time Holiday Parade, visit the website, https://ashlandvakiwanis. org/Page/31094 For more informationon the Mechanicsville Christmas Parade, visit the website, https://www.mechanicsvillerotar y.org/mechanicsville-christmas-parade.

But, what exactly defines what qualifies as a White Christmas? Does snow left on the ground from a previous snowfall count? What if it snows but none sticks? According to Google, a White Christmas is defined as at least 1 inch of snow on the ground at 7 a.m. on Christmas Day.

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Hanover battles in community classic

ROBBY FLETCHER Sports Editor

Hanover boys and girls basketball had an opportunity for a couple more games before they took a break for the holidays, with both teams playing twice at the 804 Coaches for Change Community Classic hosted by Henrico High School.

The boys team went 1-1 in its tournament schedule, first losing a close matchup to Benedictine on the first day 65-53 before ending the tournament in winning fashion with a 61-53 victory over Cristo Rey on Dec. 21.

The girls team lost both of its games, with the first being a down-to-the-wire finish with the St. Gertrude Gators that ended in a 77-68 final on Dec. 19 and the second being a 50-39 defeat at the hands of the John Marshall Justices.

Hanover stars Isabella Murphy and Will Hopkins Jr. were named to the All-Tournament teams for their performances in the two games. Against the Gators, Murphy was lights out from beyond the arc, finishing threeof-five on her 3-point attempts and finishing with 13 points in the game. The Hawks and Gators were neck-and-neck throughout the game, with both teams shooting efficiently, but a strong fourth quarter defensively gave the Gators the edge late as they outscored the Hawks 19-8 in the final eight minutes. The Gators were led by a 43-point performance from senior Erin Woodson, who shot 15-of-30 from the field to lead her team in the game. Their next game would prove to be a defensive-heavy one, with the Justices of John Marshall defending Hanover players like Murphy, Ava Olson and Kayce Doughty well enough to keep the Hawks to their lowest scoring output of the season.

They now move to 4-4 on the season with their next game coming at home against New Kent on Jan. 2, 2023.

For the boys team, the Benedictine matchup saw guards Beau

Sahnow and Hopkins Jr. accounting for 35 of the team’s 53 points, with Hopkins also dishing out five assists and Sahnow shooting three-of-six from three.

The Hawks led 16-13 entering the second quarter and later 3230 at the end of the first half, with the first two quarters both ending in buzzer-beating buckets. The first saw Sahnow drop a deep three from atop the arc while the second found Sahnow showcase his playmaking with a full-court heave to Hopkins, who laid it in

just as the buzzer sounded.

The Cadets came out strong in the second half though, beating the Hawks zone with crisp ball movement and skip passes that forced the Hawks into late rotations on the defensive end. Hanover trailed 51-45 entering the fourth quarter, and after an early scoring drought from both teams led to a timeout with just under six minutes to play, the Cadets ran away with it with just enough scoring power to take the victory and advance to the tournament

championship.

The Hawks still ended things on a positive note the next game, taking on the Cristo Rey Royals, who fell to Banner Christian in their opening matchup. Though Cristo Rey gave Hanover a good fight, and even led by 12 at halftime, the Hawks again relied on good communication on the defensive end and the offensive output of guys like Hopkins, who cemented his All-Tournament bid with another good performance, to pull away with the

eight-point victory that pushes the Hawks to 5-2 on the season.

Hopkins had a monster stat line, adding 18 points, eight steals, five boards and two blocks.

Sahnow finished with 11 points, five assists and two steals.

The boys team plays again on Dec. 28 when it takes on Dinwiddie at 6 p.m. The Generals are 3-2 to start their season.

robby Fletcher can be reached at rfletcher@powhatantoday.com.

PHOTO BY ROBBY FLETCHER

Will Hopkins Jr. drives to the hoop in Hanover’s matchup against benedictine in the 804 coaches for change community classic on dec. 20.

PHOTO BY JOEL KLEIN

Hanover ranked ninth in final football rankings

STAFF REPORT

The Richmond TimesDispatch released its final football rankings for the 2022-23 season, and the Hanover Hawks came in at No. 9 to end a thrilling season with some welldeserved respect.

Listed as one of a handful of expectation-defying schools by the Times-Dispatch, the Hawks finished with a 9-3 record and a perfect 4-0 regional record in a season that ended with them making an appearance in the Region 4B semifinals against even -

tual Class 4 state champion Dinwiddie.

Head coach Sam Rogers, in his third year with the Hawks, has quickly built up a program that’s defined by his tenacity as much as its winning, with the team’s lockdown defense allowing 20.75 points per game.

The team will look to replace the contributions of seniors like Cole Elrod, Beau Sahnow and Grady Fahed, all of whom played a major impact on Hanover’s success, though no one’s doubting what the

Hawks can do after a solid season in 2022.

Elrod and Fahed both were able to represent their school one last time on Dec. 17 at the Big River Rivalry held at RandolphMacon’s Day Field, with Elrod earning game MVP honors after throwing for 74 yards and a touchdown along with 74 more yards on the ground.

Highland Springs (15-0) was at the top of the top-10 ranking, with Dinwiddie, Trinity Episcopal, Manchester and Thomas Dale rounding out the top-5.

Atlee track impresses at Norfolk Academy

ROBBY FLETCHER Sports Editor

Atlee’s indoor track and field season is off to a hot start, and that impressive display continued further when the Raiders traveled to the Boo Williams Sportsplex at Norfolk Academy to compete in a Lampert Timing Indoor Track Meet.

Ten events saw the Raiders atop the standings with first place finishes. On the girls side, freshman Mackenzie Gathers won in the JV 55 meter dash, beating Appomattox County’s Courtnee Holland by 0.02 seconds with a time of 7.65 seconds.

In the JV 300 meter dash, freshman Emily Sengthongkham, who placed third in the 55 meter run, also came away victorious with a 46.25-second finish that also was just ahead of Holland in second place.

In another JV event, freshman Zoe Curtis also took home the best result in the high jump competition, winning with a leap of 4 feet, 10 inches.

Other impressive performances on the girls

side of the team include freshman Teagan Gilhooly finishing second in the varsity 1600 meter run with a time of 5:37.29, sophomore Jenna Robinson finishing in third in the JV shot put finals with a throw of 2402.50 and the 4x200 relay JV team finishing in second with a result of 1:56.98.

On the boys side of the team, sophomore Jack Halferty had a fantastic showing in the varsity 1000 meter run, winning it with a time of 2:46.09.

His teammate James Mulcahy, a freshman, finished very close behind in second place with a time of 2:47.00.

In the varsity 3200 run, sophomore Mason Lahrman and junior Braden Silveria competed for the Raiders, with Lahrman winning the race with a time of 11:13.26, while Silveria finished at 11:30.67.

The JV 4x200 team also won its race, finishing first with a time of 3:53.41 that was ahead of both Northampton and Perquimans County.

Freshman Shamar Heyward also had himself a

victory for the Raiders, placing first in the JV high jump ahead of Bethel’s Emmanual Parker and Atlee teammate Isaac Bishop with a jump of 5-10.00.

Atlee won the JV boys long jump as well thanks to the efforts of freshman Nicholas Gaines, who leapt to a 17-10.00 finish.

The other first place victory for the Raiders came in the varsity shot put competition, with junior Brock Taylor standing out with a dominant showing of 4204.00 that was far ahead of the competition, with the next closest result coming at 39-01.00 from his teammate Grant Andriliunas.

Other notable finishes include a second place finish in the varsity 1600 run from Justin Patterson, a second place run from Luke Taylor in the varsity 500 meter dash and a third place finish in the varsity 55 meter dash from William Harvey with a final time of 6.95 seconds.

The Raiders will compete again at the East Coast Elite competition held in Lexington, Virginia on Jan. 7.

Hanover senior cole elrod celebrates his 42-yard touchdown reception from beau sahnow in the Hawks' 41-13 victory over county rival Patrick Henry.

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TOWNOF ASHLAND NOTICEOFPUBLICHEARING

Please take noticethatonthe 17thdayofJanuar y, 2023,at7:00 p.m.attheAshland TownHall, 121ThompsonStreet,Ashland, VA,theAshland Town Councilwillconductpublichearings forthepurpose of receivinginput,andmayprovide recommendationsonthe following:

REZ22-1102&ORD2022-11HANASH,LLC Kerr yHutcherson,onbehalfoftheproper ty owner, Hanash,LLC,requests arezoningfromRR-1 Residential RuraltoM-1LightIndustrial fort wo parcels, GPIN7789-23-1532andGPIN7789-13-5953,alsoknownas 12156WashingtonHighway and 12178WashingtonHighway,respectively. Thepropertiesarelocatedontheeastsideof Route1,acrossthe intersectionwithMapleStreetandapproximately.35milessouthfromtheintersectionwithDowGilRd. Theproposed rezoningincludes atotalof46.87acresacrossthe twoparcels.Thefuturelandusecategory forthepropertiesisIndustrialandOpenSpace.Thereisnospecificuse,tenantsnorconceptplanproposed fortheproper ty atthistime.

CUP22-1026 LEVEL UP DOG SPORTS

AaronSpeagle,ofSpeagle Real Estate Holdings,requestsapprovalof aConditionalUse Permit(CUP) for theproper ty identifiedasGPIN#7789-16-4934, to allowfor temporar yovernightparkingandlodgingof recreational vehiclesattheproposedLevelUpDogSports business.Theproposedsite, whichencompasses 6.80acresofthe22.04-acreparcel,iswithintheB-2Highway Commercialdistrict.Thefuturelanduse designation fortheparcelisLimitedIndustrial.This requestispursuant to Section 21-101(az)whichpermits temporar yusesthroughtheissuanceof aCUP.

CopiesofREZ22-1102,ORD2022-11,andCUP22-1026maybeobtained by contacting TownHallat (804)798-1073,MondaythroughThursday, 7:30a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Wr ittencommentsmaybesubmittedto planning@ashlandva.govormailed to Town of Ashland, PO Box1600, Ashland, VA 23005. All interested personsmayattendand expresstheirviews.Any personwith adisabilit yrequiringassistanceinorder to participateinthispublichearingisasked to contact TownHallinadvance,sothatappropriatearrangements canbemade.

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TOWNOF ASHLAND NOTICEOFPUBLICHEARING

Please take noticethatonthe 11thdayofJanuar y2023,attheAshland TownHall, 121 Thompson Street, Ashland, VA,the Ashland Planning Commission will conduct public hearingspursuant to Virginia Codesection 15.2-2204 forthepurposeof receivinginput,and mayprovide arecommendationonthe following:

CPA2022-06IRONHORSE BUSINESS PARK

Proper ty owner,Tradepor tAshlandLandLLC,byletterfromattorneyAndrew M. Condlin, requests acomprehensiveplanamendment to thefuturelandusemap to changethefuture landuseclassificationsfromInterstateCommercial, TraditionalNeighborhood, TownEdge, andOpenSpace to InterstateCommercialandIndustrial.Theproper ty iscommonlyknown as“EastAshland”andislocatedalongthesouther nlineofEast PatrickHenr yRoad(State Route54),approximately700 feeteastofitsintersectionwith WoodsideLane(GPINparcels 7880-61-7681,7880-61-4768,7880-60-4701,7880-61-6987,7880-72-0523,7880-60-1053, and7880-60-4343).Theproper ty includes existing zoningofPlannedUnitDevelopment (PUD),PlanningShopping Center(PSC),Highway Commercial(B-2)and RuralResidential (RR-1).The existinguseoftheproper ty issingle-familyresidential, farmland,andopen space.

CopiesofCPA2022-06maybeobtained by contacting TownHallat(804)798-1073. Wr itten commentsmaybesubmittedtoplanning@ashlandva.govorTownofAshland, P.O. Box 1600,Ashland, VA 23005.Allinterestedpersonsmayattendand expresstheirviews.Any personwith adisabilit yrequiringassistance to participateinthispublichearingisasked to contact TownHallin advancesothatappropriatearrangementscanbemade.

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Signup period for tax relief opens Jan. 3

CONTRIBUTED REPORT

Hanover County makes real estate tax relief available for residents who are elderly or permanently disabled and who have a net worth of $300,000 or less, and combined household gross income of $52,500 or less. The application period for the upcoming year begins Jan. 3, 2023. The deadline is March 1, 2023 for the relief to be applied to the tax bills due (first half) on June 5, 2023.

The Hanover Board of Supervisors this year substantially increased the tax relief available for eligible elderly and disabled residents. These additional enhancements not only expanded the number of residents who may be eligible for the program but also increase the amount of relief for participants.

Hanover County:

COURTESY OF HANOVER COUNTY

shown is a comparison of the previous program with the new thresholds and amounts (existing program’s net household worth: $200,000; new program’s net household worth: $300,000).

elderly or disabled residents from $200,000 to $300,000;

„ Increased the maximum income levels within each program tier by $2,500; and

extended care facility, he or she may still qualify as long as the house is not rented or leased.

About 1,280 households currently participate in Hanover County’s tax relief for the elderly and disabled program. The average tax savings is about $1,433 for those households; about 37% of the participating households pay no county real estate tax at all as a result of the program.

following two years, unless there is a significant change in income or net worth. A new application is necessary only every third year. All information on the application is confidential and is not open to public inspection.

„ Increased the net combined financial worth, excluding the value of the home, that may be held by

County offers Christmas tree recycling

CONTRIBUTED REPORT

Hanover County residents can recycle Christmas trees free of charge at the Mechanicsville Trash and Recycling Convenience Center during normal operating hours (7 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day except on holidays). All decorations and tree stands must be removed prior to recycling. The Mechanicsville Trash and Recycling Center is located at 7427 Verdi Lane, Mechanicsville VA 23111. All Hanover County trash and recycling centers are closed on New Year’s Day; and Monday, Jan. 16, 2023, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Christmas trees can be recycled in the brush area at Verdi all year and at Elmont and Montpelier through Jan. 31.

„ Increased the percentage of relief by 5% in each program tier.

Because of this program, qualifying Hanover County residents had their real estate taxes reduced by about $1.8 million last year.

News tip, story idea, community events, photos, birth announcements, 40th anniversaries & above or 80 year-old submissions can be e-mailed to cdolan@mechlocal.com or call 804-212-6266.

The estimated amount of tax relief for eligible participants continues to be based on a sliding scale but with an increase in the total income limits and an increase in the percentage of relief for each program tier. Qualified residents with

income of less than $25,000 will pay no tax; those with an income of $25,001-$35,000 would receive 80% tax relief; those with an income of $35,001-$45,000 would receive 55% tax relief; and those with an income of $45,001-$55,000 would receive a 30% reduction in their real estate tax bill.

News tip, story idea, community events, photos, birth announcements, 40th anniversaries & above or 80 year-old birthday & above announcement submissions can be e-mailed to cdolan@mechlocal.com or call 804-212-6266.

Applicants must be 65 years or older or permanently disabled and must own or partially own the property and have lived in it on Dec. 31. If the applicant is in a hospital or

events, photos, birth announcements, 40th anniversaries & above or 80 year-old birthday & above announcements submissions can be e-mailed to cdolan@mechlocal.com or call 804-212-6266.

Like & follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ashland-hanover local

Disabled applicants must provide certification of disability. This can be a statement from the Social Security Administration, a statement from the Veterans Administration, a statement from the Railroad Retirement Board or a sworn affidavit from two medical doctors.

Once an application is on file, only an affidavit is needed for the

“This is a great program designed to help those taxpayers who most need the help,” said Hanover’s Commissioner of the Revenue Scott Harris. “The increases in tax relief now available are very welcome to a large segment of our population, and we invite all residents who think they might qualify to call our office.”

Residents can call the commissioner of the revenue at 365-6128.

If you have computer access, application forms can also be downloaded from www.hanovercounty. gov.

News tip, story idea, community 40th anniversaries & above or submissions can be e-mailed to

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

News tip, story idea, community events, photos, birth announcements, 40th anniversaries & above or 80 year-old birthday & above announcements submissions can be e-mailed to cdolan@mechlocal.com or call 804-212-6266.

Enrollment for land use program begins Jan. 1

CONTRIBUTED REPORT

Like & follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ashland-hanover local

Hanover County offers a Land Use Taxation Program under which qualified landowners can have their property assessed at “use value,” which may be lower than market value and reduce taxes owed.

The application period for this program begins Jan. 1, 2023, and extends through Feb. 1, 2023.

Landowners who have kept their property in agricultural or horticultural use for at least five years can qualify for the land use program. The property kept in agricultural or horticultural use must be at least 5 acres in size.

Property that has been zoned Rural Conservation (RC) also can qualify for the Land Use program.

OBITUARY SUBMISSIONS

If the land use is changed, the tax reduction must be repaid with simple interest for the current tax year and potentially up to the previous five tax years.

About 3,642 parcels and 148,362 acres are currently enrolled in Hanover County’s Land Use Taxation program. This represents about 50% of the county’s total acreage. The

total tax deferral realized by these property owners is about $5.884 million.

Call 804-643-4414, Email: paidnotices@timesdispatch.com Deadline is noon Friday for the following

For more information about the Land Use Program or other tax relief programs offered by Hanover County, call the Commissioner of the Revenue at 365-6125 or visit the Land Use page for the Commissioner of the Revenue at www.hanovercounty.gov.

Advertise in Ashland-Hanover Call 746-1235 for details.

Got a news tip? email cdolan@ mechlocal.com

STAFF REPORT

Do you have a news tip, story idea or photo to submit?

The 2022 Hanover Christmas Mother Michele Clements enjoyed the “most delicious fundraiser so far” with the Mechanicsville Ruritan Club at the Mechanicsville Drug Store last Monday evening.

E-mail Christina Amano Dolan at cdolan@mechlocal.com

and chef, provided ingredients while hungry folks packed the pharmacy to eat huge pancakes and enjoy a live performance by The Little Church Band.

Christmas Mother program, with the “largest donation ever collected,” Clements said, adding that the evening was “so much fun!”

If it’s important to you, it’s important to us!

including their October Golf Tournament, concessions sold during their annual Rotary Ruritan Christmas Parade, and raffle tickets sales.

Tommy Thompson, owner

The Mechanicsville Ruritans served the crowd.

All proceeds were donated to the

The pancake feast was one of several events the Mechanicsville Ruritan Club participates in to raise money for community organizations,

The club meets the first Friday every month for breakfast at the Cold Harbor Restaurant and welcomes new members.

WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED! With over 44,000 newspapers circulated every week throughout Hanover County, The Mechanicsville Local and Ashland-Hanover Local are your sources for your news & sports.

WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED! With over 44,000 newspapers circulated every week throughout The Mechanicsville Local & Ashland-Hanover Local are your sources for your news

RICHARD S. GILLIS, JR./ ASHLAND BRANCH LIBRARY

call 804-798-4072 or visit the library at 201 s. railroad ave. for more information.

mad about mahjong! at the ashland branch Library. Fridays, Jan. 6 and 20, 10 a .m. to 12:30 p.m. Join other m ahjong enthusiasts in playing the cultural tile game at the ashland Library.

mother Goose stor ytime at the a shland b ranch Library. m ondays, Jan. 9, 16, 23 and 30, 10:30 to 11 a.m. mother Goose is a storytime for children age 6 to 24 months and their caregivers. Have fun with nursery rhymes, singing and reading.

Toddler/Preschool stor ytime at the ashland branch Library. Tuesdays, Jan. 10, 17, 24 and 31, 10:30 to 11 a.m. enjoy a storytime of books, music, and fun for toddlers ages

2-3 and their caregivers.

Family storytime at the ashland branch Library. Tuesdays, Jan. 10, 17, 24 and 31, 11:30 a.m. to noon.

enjoy a fun time with books, signing, rhymes and more. Family storytime is for children ages 0-5 and their caregivers.

The 3 r ivers Livestock c lub will be at the ashland branch Library. Tuesday, Jan. 10, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. ages 5-18. Learn how to get involved in community and public affairs, how to be a good role model, how to give back to your community and how to use time management skills to enjoy every part of life.

Hanover Quilting circle at the ashland branch Library. Wednesday, Jan. 11, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Grab a sewing machine, supplies and a current project. This group meets the second Wednesday of every

Dreaming

From 6

Richmond’s last qualifier came in 2009 when around a couple of inches remained on the ground from a previous snowfall on Christmas morning.

In more recent years, snow has fallen on Christmas Day, but not at the correct time to satisfy the sticky requirements. In 2010, the city experienced what most of us would consider a White Christmas. Snow began falling in the afternoon and continued through the night resulting in a major winter storm for the area.

That episode provided snow whisperers a realistic glance to what a snowstorm can actually do to disrupt holiday plans, delay family visits or cancel some of those favorite holiday activities. That path to Grandma’s house could be covered, and ice covered roads are not conducive to those seeking that special after Christmas shopping special.

But, for those who still

insist that snow and Christmas have an unbreakable connection, there are places where snow during the holidays is almost a regular occurrence.

The answer is almost nostalgic. Montpelier, the capital of Vermont, is a good bet for a White Christmas with an 80% chance of the snow on Dec. 25. The state is the setting for one of the season’s iconic movies, White Christmas.

Unfortunately, the storm heading for town days before Christmas is expected to be more wet than white, and another year passes without the illusive White Christmas coming to Richmond. In a lifetime, one would be considered lucky if they awoke to one Christmas with windows fogged and blocked with snow.

We often spent the holidays with my grandmother in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Now a thriving suburban hub, the town was then small town America to a tee at that time. That part of Maryland is located in a well chronicled snow belt, and the area often experienced heavy snowfalls throughout

month to share ideas, fabric, skills and stories. b e ginners, experienced quilters and those curious about the hobby are all welcome to drop in.

m ust Love Words at the a shland branch Library. Wednesday, Jan. 11, 7 to 8:30 p.m. ages 18 and up. Join the group for constructive feedback and discussion about the craft of writing this month. 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.

reading Olympics bingo at the ashland branch Library. Thursday, Jan. 12, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Practice your knowledge of “J d and the Great b arber b attle” with a fun game of b ingo. This program is for participants in Hanover county Public schools reading Olympics.

the winter season.

But the storm that hit one eventful Christmas morning was unexpected; or maybe we just didn’t enjoy the benefits of the Weather Channel.

It snowed more than a foot that evening, and Christmas morning arrived with an eerie stillness as a frigid sleet continued to fall. Nothing moved on the street.

My grandmother led us on a death defying walk though deep snow for the traditional trip to church. As a child, I only remember the hall leading to the sanctuary lined with boots, each surrounded by a puddle of water.

The weather didn’t hamper my grandmother’s ability to cook a giant meal; or my uncle’s ability to pull out an old accordion and perform a collection of Christmas songs.

That Christmas many decades ago provided me with that one special White Christmas, and the memory has left me hoping for another.

There’s always next year. Think snow!!