DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Mechanicsville, VA 23111
Vol. 29, No. 45 | Richmond Suburban Newspapers | March 13, 2013
STOPS AT EVERY HOME IN TOWN
Habitat joins in Ruritan tradition
Students perk up motorists
By Jodi Deal jdeal@mechlocal.com The words “Don’t worry, be happy!” brought smiles, laughs and thanks from motorists traveling along Lee Davis Road one recent overcast morning. This welcome commotion was the brainchild of Jodi Deal/The Local Stonewall Jackson Middle Andrew Gayle, Cameron Taylor and Sam Auerbach hold up School teacher Andrea Fravel signs to passing traffic as part of a Random Act of Kindness see PERK, pg. 8
By Melody Kinser mkinser@mechlocal.com One of Hanover County’s most popular events has a new partner this year and both organizations are excited to join forces for good causes. The Mechanicsville Ruritan Club and Hanover Habitat for Humanity are coming together for the 33rd Annual Shuknpul
who chairs the annual event, said he approached Habitat for Humanity about the partnership last fall. “We’re always looking for somebody in the community that we can partner with and Tommy Thompson of Mechanicsville Drug [Store] suggested I get with Tim [Bowring, executive director of Habitat]. So that’s what I did and that’s how we got together.” Habitat, Sienko said, has “a much deeper draw from the
stunt organized by teacher Andrea Fravel.
Festival memories Patrick Dobbs/file photo
The call is out for memorabilia as the Hanover Tomato Festival prepares for its 35th anniversary. In addition to items from years past, photos of contestants and winners in the Tiny Miss and Little Miss Hanover Tomato Festival Pageant are wanted. To submit memorabilia or photos, e-mail hanovertomatofestival@co.hanover.va.us or call Hanover County Parks & Recreation at 804-365-7150. This 2009 photo shows Serenity Wright, 4 at the time, being crowned Tiny Miss Tomato Festival. The festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 13, at Pole Green Park in Mechanicsville.
Oyster Roast, which will be held from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 30, at the Courthouse Ruritan Park at 7232 Courtland Farm Road in Hanover. The meal is served from 1 to 3 p.m. Chester Sienko of the Mechanicsville Ruritan Club,
8057 Mechanicsville Turnpike (near the Windmill) Mechanicsville, VA
804.746.2590 www.colonialgroupltd.com
PRSRT. STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Mechanicsville, VA Permit No.141
Only 1 mile from I-295 Exit 37B/Rt. 360
W-i-n-n-e-r
YASHNA NAINANI
CMS student advances to national bee
community and the overall Central Virginia per se than we do. We’re just one little club in Mechanicsville and they have affiliations with other groups all over the place and we thought they had a deeper reach.” He said he considers Habitat’s involvement as bringing “a higher level of commit-
By Jodi Deal jdeal@mechlocal.com The fourth time was a charm for Yashna Nainani. On her fourth trip to the Richmond Times-Dispatch Regional Spelling Bee on Saturday, March 9, Nainani nabbed the title. Her win at the regional bee qualifies her to go on to represent Central Virginia at the Scripps
see PARTNER, pg. 15
see BEE, pg. 34
Customers are our GREATEST ASSET! Visit our Friendly Shops where you aren’t just a number. We fix wrecks &repair/install glass. – Paul L. Dorn, Owner Colonial Group Ltd.