DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Mechanicsville, VA 23111
PRSRT. STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Mechanicsville, VA Permit No.141
Vol. 29, No. 49 | Richmond Suburban Newspapers | April 10, 2013
STOPS AT EVERY HOME IN TOWN
Budget public hearing draws few remarks By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local Less than a dozen speakers took advantage of an opportunity to voice their views regarding Hanover County’s proposed 2013-2014 budget at a public hearing last Wednesday.
Festival of Arts and Sciences set
Most who did speak expressed support for the plan as presented by county administrator Cecil R. “Rhu” Harris Jr. last month. And more than one commended supervisors and county officials for holding the line on taxes and balancing a budget that pre-
sented mounting challenges to vital county services like the Hanover County Sheriff ’s Office, Hanover County Public Schools and public utilities. No one spoke in opposition of the increased water and sewer fees, the only increase directly affecting county taxpayers.
Larnie Allgood spoke against increasing revenue for Hanover schools, and said students had been used as pawns for teacher unions. “I was a union member for 30 years, and I know union tactics when I see them,” Allgood said. “The use of school chil-
Local braves the cold
Hanover County Public Schools will present the 39th Annual Festival of the Arts and Sciences on Saturday, April 13, at Hanover High School at 10307 Chamberlayne Rd. in Mechanicsville. The community is invited to see performances and curriculum exhibits, including music, theater, fine arts and physical education, as well as individual school exhibits including language arts, math, science, social studies and career and technical education. The opening ceremony will
Submitted photo
Bill and Mary Frost of Mechanicsville enjoyed “a wonderful Christmas vacation” with their son Master Sgt. William Travis Frost, a 1994 graduate of Lee-Davis High School, his wife Katie and their two daughters at Eielson Air Force base near Fairbanks, Alaska. They took The Mechanicsville Local along for their holiday.
see FESTIVAL, pg. 4
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dren to push a political agenda is a union tactic.” “Each year we spend more money on our public schools, and get less in return,” he added. Allgood said a 10 percent decrease in the school budget could be affected with “no det-
rimental effects.” Beaverdam District citizen Patty Davis did not agree. She congratulated Hanover school administrators for their foresight in seeing and planning for financial shortfalls. She said see HEARING, pg. 26
Deadline fo early bird vendors nears Contributed Report news@mechlocal.com The Hanover Tomato Festival is in search of vendors. This year’s early bird discount fee of $125 will end on Wednesday, May 1. Completed vendor booth applications with payment postmarked May 2 or later will be $150 per space. The fun-filled event highlights the Hanover Tomato and features children’s activities, crafters, artisans and live enter-
tainment. Hanover County’s most popular event attracts about 40,000 attendees, enabling businesses to reach thousands. The Hanover Tomato Festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 13, see VENDORS, pg. 4