DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Mechanicsville, VA 23111
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Vol. 29, No. 8 | Richmond Suburban Newspapers | June 27, 2012
STOPS AT EVERY HOME IN TOWN
Comprehensive Plan update underway By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local Carving out a Comprehensive Plan for Hanover’s future is a long and arduous process that began earlier this month with a joint meeting of the county’s Planning Commission,
Economic Development Authority and Board of Supervisors. With memories of the previous update fresh in some minds, officials said they hope this process will go smoother and result in less controversy than it produced in 2007. More than 900 citizens attended a public hearing
Ethan Cruikshank was the only student in Virginia to reach three perfect scores in the WordMasters vocabulary challenge. He was among 220,000 students participating.
Cruikshank among best in WordMasters Contributed Report news@mechlocal.com A Chickahominy Middle School student is among only eight eighth-graders in the United States to achieve a perfect score on all the challenges in the WordMasters vocabulary competition. In addition to his national achievement, Ethan Cruikshank was the only student in Virginia to reach three perfect scores. He was among 220,000 students participating. In the fall, Ethan will be attending the Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School in Richmond. Throughout the 2011-2012 school year, Chickahominy Middle students took part in WordMasters. They were challenged to solve complex analogies using sophisticated vocabulary.
on that plan, created with the aid of a consulting firm. This year’s process is an in-house operation. “I just got over the 2007 plan yesterday,” Beaverdam District supervisor Aubrey M. “Bucky” Stanley joked. “Sometimes, we left meetings not speaking to each other. It just wasn’t a
very good thing.” In spite of the less than harmonious process, Stanley said the plan worked, and hoped for a smoother experience this time around. “It’s an important process, one we take very seriously,” county administrator Cecil R. “Rhu” Harris Jr. said.
“We want to make sure it’s an inclusive process. We’re looking for the general thoughts of the three bodies represented here today.” Acting planning director David Maloney facilitated the recent meeting, see PLAN, pg. 4
Pageant brings out the cutest and funniest By Melody Kinser mkinser@mechlocal.com
C
ute was the word of the day on Saturday, June 23, with contestants ranging in age from 3 to 7 taking part in the Tiny Miss/Little Miss Hanover Tomato Festival Pageant at the East Hanover Volunteer Rescue Squad in Mechanicsville. As director Lynn Watson said, “Hanover grows the best tomatoes in the world and the cutest little girls.” A tradition of the annual Hanover Tomato Festival, the pageant has two
divisions: Tiny Miss for ages 3 and 4 and Little Miss, 5 to 7 years old. The winners will be announced at the 2012 Hanover Tomato Festival at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 14, at Pole Green Park at 8996 Pole Green Park Lane in Mechanicsville. In addition to serving as pageant director, Watson is emcee. Mary Catherine Piland is the assistant director. A Hanover County tradition, the Black Creek Volunteer Fire Department started the Tomato see PAGEANT, pg. 19
Melody Kinser/The Local
Hannah Grace Matthews listens as director Lynn Watson asks her a question during Saturday’s Tiny Miss and Little Miss Tomato Festival Pageant at the East Hanover Volunteer Fire Department. The winners will be announced at 11 a.m. on July 14 at the 2012 Hanover Tomato Festival at Pole Green Park.
Local dance student making Broadway debut in ‘Annie’ Contributed Report news@mechlocal.com A student at the Ann Catherine Cross School of Dance in Mechanicsville is making her Broadway debut in “Annie.” Taylor Richardson, the daughter of Tiffany Richardson and Scott Kennedy, is appearing as Duffy and is the under-
study for Annie. The Richmond resident has been dancing at the Ann Catherine Cross School of Dance since the age of 3. She has won multiple dance titles and awards across the region. She takes voice lessons from Cathy Motley-Fitch and plays piano and accor-
dion. Her most recent regional credit is as Susan Waverly in “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas.” Taylor said she loves to read and write stories. For more information on Taylor and “Annie,” visit http://www.anniethemusical.com/cast_and_creative.
RICHARDSON