071715 colonial voice

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THE HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER OF THE COLONIAL HEIGHTS AREA

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Friday, July 17, 2015

LOCAL Barbecue fundraiser COLONIAL HEIGHTS — Dunlop House Assisted Living & Specialized Dementia Care is partnering with Texas Roadhouse to sponsor a barbecue fundraiser to benefit the Colonial Heights Fire and EMS. The fundraiser will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, July 23, at Dunlop House.

Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 the day of the event.

Dinner will be provided by Texas Roadhouse — pulled pork, baked beans, pasta salad, drinks, dessert — and live bluegrass music will be provided by Partners and Friends. This outdoor event will be held rain or shine. Tickets may be purchased in advance at Dunlop House Assisted Living, located at 235 Dunlop Farms Boulevard; or call Colonial Heights Fire and EMS at 804-520-9387.

FREE

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

Boulevard project hits another bump

Farmers’ Market COLONIAL HEIGHTS — The Farmers’ Market at Dunlop House, 235 Dunlop Farms Boulevard, is open on the first and third Tuesday, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., July through October. There will be fresh food, fun and activities for the whole family. It is being sponsored in part by Dunlop House, the City of Colonial Heights, the Colonial Heights Chamber of Commerce, VSU, and Colonial Christian Church.

Side Street Gallery monthly art party COLONIAL HEIGHTS — Side Street Gallery, located at 127 & 129 Pickwick Ave., is hosting its monthly art opening and reception on Saturday, from 5-8 p.m. This month, there’s a “Members Show” and music

by Iris Schwartz. Art lovers are invited to come and meet the artists and view their work.

For more information about the gallery or this month’s art opening and reception, call 804-536-0011 or visit www. sidestreetgallery127.com .

Dive-in movie COLONIAL HEIGHTS — Colonial Heights Swim and Yacht Club, 1225 Duke of Gloucester St., will host a dive-in movie on July 18. Gates open at 8:30 p.m.; Movie begins at 8:45 p.m. This event is open to the public. Bring a float and relax in the pool while watching “Despicable Me 2” or bring a lawn chair and sit on the pool deck. Lifeguards will be on duty. Admission is free, concessions available on-site.

No outside food or drink is allowed. For more information, call (804) 520-9390.

Back to School Festival COLONIAL HEIGHTS — A Back to School Festival is scheduled to be held from 6-8 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 18, at the Soccer Complex, 1000 Yacht Basin Drive. This event is free and for Colonial Heights residents only.

Rain date is Aug. 25. Activities and prizes will include: School supplies, raffles, face painting, inflatables, pony rides & carnival games, free Back-to-School T-shirts to the first 100 students to attend. Participants can register in advance or at the event. Extra items can be purchased for a nominal fee.

For more information, call (804) 520-9390.

INDEX OPINION ......................................................V2 THINGS TO DO ............................................V3 CLASSIFIEDS ............................................. V6

Vol. 12, No. 43

Traffic flows near the intersection of Boulevard and Dupuy avenues in Colonial Heights on Tuesday, July 7.

SCOTT P. YATES/PROGRESS-INDEX PHOTO

From Staff Reports

COLONIAL HEIGHTS — The Boulevard Modernization Project is inching its way to completion, and is now estimated to be completed this fall.

Completion has been delayed twice this year. Mainly landscaping improvements remain for the project.

City Manager Thomas Mattis announced the fall deadline in a statement released from his office on June 25.

Originally, completion of the $12.7 million, 22-month long project, was scheduled for November 2014, but private companies dragged their feet in moving their utility lines and poles out of the way of construction. Weather delays were also an issue.

Mattis acknowledged the lengthy project has worn on the nerves of motorists suffering from “construction fatigue.”

“Infrastructure improvements can only be achieved through construction; and

construction cannot happen without disruption.” Mattis said in a statement. “We appreciate the patience and support of all Colonial Heights residents in our completion of this historic quality-of-life upgrade for our community.”

The large-scale movement of utilities was required to get through the project’s biggest construction challenge of widening the roadway and adding sidewalks.

Chuck Henley, director of public works and city engineer, announced at a recent Council meeting that the project would be completed by July 4.

But Henley said that a delay in the arrival of construction materials for brick, architectural crosswalks planned at the intersections of Dupuy and Lee avenues slowed efforts.

The city must also plant about $200,000 worth of trees and shrubs along the roadway. But the administration is waiting until the fall for planting due to the risk of the summer heat destroying the greenery.

Construction crewmen work on a crosswalk at the intersection of Boulevard and Dupuy avenues in Colonial Heights on July 7.

SCOTT P. YATES/PROGRESS-INDEX PHOTO

MR CHAIRMAN

Wood re-elected commission chair John Wood has represented Colonial Heights on Crater Planning District Commission since 2002 Commission for 2015-2016 at the Commission’s meeting on John T. Wood, Colonial June 25. Wood was first elected Heights City Council member, chairman in June 2014. He has was re-elected chairman of represented Colonial Heights the Crater Planning District on the Commission since July From Contributed Report

Dr. Mark E. Moore, left, and John T. Wood are pictured. Wood, Colonial Heights City Council member, was re-elected chairman of the Crater Planning District Commission for 2015-2016 at the Commission’s meeting on June 25. Moore, a member of the Dinwiddie County Board of Supervisors, was elected vice chairman. Zach Trogdon, county administrator of Charles City County, not pictured, was elected the Commission’s treasurer.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

2002, and served previously as treasurer and vice chairman. He is also a member of the Tri-Cities Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), which is the Commission’s policy board responsible for transportation planning and fund allocations in the District’s urbanized area.

Dr. Mark E. Moore, a member of the Dinwiddie County Board of Supervisors, was elected vice chairman. Having served previously as treasurer, Dr. Moore has represented Dinwiddie on the Commission since January 2008.

Zach Trogdon, county administrator of Charles City County, was elected the Commission’s treasurer. He has been a member of the Commission since June 2012.

The Crater Planning District Commission, one of 21 in the commonwealth, was established in May 1970. It serves the cities of Colonial Heights, Emporia, Hopewell and Petersburg, and the counties of Charles

City, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Greensville, Prince George, Surry and Sussex.

At its June meeting, the Commission also adopted its 2015-2016 budget and work program. In the coming year, efforts will continue to be focused upon capitalizing on logistics as an economic driver through continued growth of the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Logistics Systems (CCALS), collaborating with the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CCAM) on its workforce development initiatives, monitoring Army and congressional actions relative to the size of the Army and the Commissary System and how these might impact upon Fort Lee, assisting member localities to plan for transportation improvements as VDOT re-vamps the transportation funding process, and growing tourism throughout SEE COMMISSION, V3

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Friday, July 17, 2015 | The Colonial Voice, Petersburg, Va.

OPINION

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Letters should be no longer than 400 words. We reserve the right to edit for length, clarity, brevity, accuracy, legality, spelling and grammar. Include your name, address and a daytime phone number.

Anonymous letters will not be published. Send letters to lettertoeditor@progress-index.com.

ANOTHER VIEW

15 Franklin St., Petersburg, VA 23803

Brian J. Couturier ........... Managing Editor Bob Seals .................... Circulation Director Jamila Khalil .............. Advertising Director Travis Wolfrey ............Operations Manager Ron Shifflett ..............Pressroom Manager Peggy Simon................. Business Manager

OUR VIEW

Cameras on school buses could save a life

I

f it saves just one life, it will be worth the effort.

Last month, Petersburg City Council voted unanimously to install cameras on all Petersburg City Public Schools buses to catch offenders.

The external cameras, to be maintained and installed by Redflex Traffic Systems, record the license plates of drivers who pass school bus stop signs. Before the vote, Redflex Traffic Systems placed trial cameras on two buses for 60 days. During the pilot program, 268 infractions were reported.

The company would profit by receiving $184 for every $250 fine for running the stop signs. Redflex will also be in charge of serving the tickets in the mail after they are reviewed by a Petersburg police officer.

RedFlex currently works with the city on its red light enforcement program. The Arizona-based company also works nationally to prevent drivers from crossing railroad tracks when the alarm is activated, speeding and running stop signs.

Locally, Petersburg joins Hopewell and Prince George in adopting the bus cameras.

During a five-month pilot program two years ago in Prince George, in which cameras were installed on three buses, 25 violations were recorded. Of the 25, 17 legible license plates were read. One of those violations involved a bus from another locality illegally passing a Prince George bus while it was stopped at an intersection.

In Hopewell, over the course of a month in its 2013 pilot program, 69 violations were recorded.

The safety issue occurs in states across the country.

A 2012 survey conducted by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services monitored stop-arm passing incidents in 26 states. The survey found that nearly 78,000 vehicles illegally passed 100,000 school buses in a given day.

We do have some hesitation in having a private firm be the enforcer of traffic rules, much as we are uncomfortable with a private firm operating traffic cameras at red lights.

Enforcing traffic laws should not be a for-profit operation. But in the case of school buses, the safety of school children is the key concern. Most school districts would not spend the money on the equipment due to tight budgets.

While we do not like the idea of private firms doing this kind of work, just as we are fundamentally opposed to privately operated prisons, in this case an exception may be acceptable.

It’s difficult to have a police officer on the scene to catch a motorist illegally pass a public school bus. It’s dangerous, especially if the students are getting off the bus. Having motorists become aware that there are cameras on the bus, could save a young life. And that makes the effort worthwhile.

INSPIRATION

At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath; his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, "Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath." He said to them ... `I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.'

— Matthew 12: 1-2, 3a, 7 SOURCE: WWW.DAILYSCRIPTURE.NET

YOUR VIEW

Ending human trafficking will require a multi-pronged effort, one Globally, the average cost of a trafthat includes building public educaficked person is $90, according to tion and awareness, protecting victims, some estimates. bringing traffickers to justice, and The U.S. Department of Homeland cutting trafficking at the source.H.R. Security estimates human trafficking 357 is just one example which aims at generates $32 billion in illegal profits the latter – cutting human trafficking per year around the globe, second only off at its source by giving our frontline to drug trafficking. public servants the tools they need to According to the Congressional spot potential victims and take action.

Research Service, approximately As a senior member of the House 17,000 people may be trafficked into Judiciary Committee – the Congressiothe United States every year, and nal Committee with direct jurisdiction roughly 100,000 U.S. citizens may be over trafficking related issues – I was a victims of trafficking within the United part of the recent successful approval States. of four bills to combat human traffickThe average age a child is trafficked ing in the U.S., including The Human into the commercial sex trade industry Trafficking Prevention, Intervention, is between 11 and 14 years old. and Recovery Act (H.R. 350), The Human trafficking is one of the Stop Exploitation Through Trafficking fastest growing criminal enterprises in Act (H.R. 159), The Stop Advertising the world. It fuels organized crime. It Victims of Exploitation (SAVE) Act distorts markets. It endangers public (H.R. 285), and The Justice for Vichealth. It facilitates the movement of tims of Trafficking Act (H.R. 181). The immigrants across borders. And it does eradication of human trafficking is an all of this at the expense of something area where Democrats and Republifar more valuable than any money or cans are finding common ground. I am power it produces – human life. encouraged by the Committee’s efforts Human trafficking is a crime that in the 114th Congress so far, and will takes many forms, so it can be difficontinue to work to ensure Congress cult to quantify or track. Women and and the American people are partnerchildren are forced into prostitution, ing to do more to put an end to this young boys are forced to be soldiers, abhorrent business and protect our and migrant workers are exploited and precious children. abused. Victims are “hidden” and so Human trafficking is an affront to much is still unknown about the crime. human dignity and it has to stop. If For all its elusiveness, one thing is our nation stands for freedom, then we crystal clear: Human trafficking is have a responsibility to act boldly, with a crime that debases humanity. It’s courage and firm resolve to fight this a human issue – one that our entire injustice and end human trafficking nation should be concerned with. once and for all.

As it stands, our federal government has a zero tolerance policy on human Congressman Randy Forbes trafficking. This means government R-4th District Chesapeake, Va. employees and contractors cannot engage in any form with this criminal behavior, and that the federal governLeave my Confederate ment has a responsibility to ensure license plate alone taxpayer dollars never contribute to human trafficking. Even still, until we I am one of the approximately 1,600 can end human trafficking for good, Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) there are ways we can strengthen VA license plate holders, to whom the our zero tolerance policy as we fight current, non-native born, Virginia govagainst this injustice. ernor is attempting to take away my One way is to equip our foreign organization’s federally trademarked service officers serving abroad to better logo from said plate. recognize incidents of human traffickI could live with a ban on any future ing. Many of our U.S. officers overseas plates with the logo, though I wouldn’t interact on the front lines with vicsupport it, but leave the members' tims of trafficking (often through visa existing plates alone as most other requests), yet the officers undergo very southern states are doing. SCV license little training to recognize signs of plate holders make up 0.02 percent of human trafficking. An Inspector Genall registered vehicle plates in Virginia. eral report assessing the strengths and In other words, 99.98 percent of all weaknesses of the U.S. State Departother Virginia license plate holders ment recommended that U.S. embassy will not be discriminated against like employees receive human trafficking we in the SCV are being threatened. prevention training.

I don’t know Dylan Roof but I know Earlier this year, the House of that Dylan Roof is/was not a member Representatives unanimously passed of the SCV. Yet I and other SCV mema bill to achieve just that. The Human bers are being penalized as if there is Trafficking Prevention Act, H.R. 357, a correlation/connection between the authorizes the creation of a training SCV and Dylan Roof. Dylan Roof disprogram for Foreign Service Officers played a Confederate battle flag on his working overseas at U.S. Embassies to car; not a state valid SCV license plate stem the demand for trafficking and and he did not display the SCV logo in spot victims before they are trafficked any way that I have found. The SCV into the United States. The legislalogo is not the Confederate battle flag, tion also requires briefings within the but simply incorporates the Army of United States before officers depart for Northern Virginia’s battle flag within their posts overseas. In addition, the its federally trademarked logo.

State Department would be required Particularly among liberal white to send an annual reminder to embas- Americans, and for some, of what I sies and consulates around the world call "angry blacks," tolerance and on human trafficking threats. diversity are the undisputed "end

The cost of human trafficking

all-be all" for American culture, as they want to make it ... Where though is tolerance and diversity in recalling a license plate, representing a state which requested my great-greatgrandfather to leave his meager farm in Sussex County, Virginia, to defend his land, against invaders who were preventing the southern states from simply leaving the US? My ancestors did not want US land; they did not "mass kill" slaves in crematoriums, Virginia and the Confederate States of America simply wanted to be our own country and the Virginia governor and legislators supported that end outcome and the south was invaded for it.

Now, to have a 51 percent non-Virginia born electorate try to "cleanse" all things Confederate from Virginia’s auspice (through their election support of non-Virginia-dare I say- "carpetbag" governors and legislators) is exactly like what the Taliban and Stalin did — they removed all native cultural icons from the public view.

To minorities and liberal whites; you have no right to not be offended by something I say, do, or support (as long as not libelous or slanderous). In fact, it is only through your personal human weaknesses that you allow yourself to be offended.

Your offense is not my problem; it is yours; learn to be a stronger individual. I, and the hundreds of thousands of southerners, like me, have no interest in your culture, so leave my culture alone. I ask that you not align yourselves with the political philosophies of the Taliban and Josef Stalin.

Jesse L. Harrup Jr. Colonial Heights

A plan to help students at VSU I was a student at Virginia State College back in 1945. I completed a two-year education program and worked many years as a paraprofessional aide with the Southside Program for Adult Continuing Education in Petersburg, Virginia. I was recently named a “Golden Trojan,”by the Virginia State University Alumni Association, Petersburg Chapter. What a proud and exciting day that was for me!

Since receiving that honor, I have been agonizing over a way that I can give back to the university that has been so instrumental in making my life so fruitful and wholesome. After talking with many VSU alums and community friends, I have come up with a plan that all of us can participate in, and at the same time, assist students currently studying at VSU. My plan will involve alums, community persons/leaders, churches, local banks, credit unions, Eastern Stars, Masons, sororities, fraternities ... all facets of the Tri-Cities area and beyond. Just think, if all these organizations came together and participated in giving back, we would witness/realize a grand financial lift for the students attending VSU! After all, VSU has been the school of choice for most teachers, businessmen, and other professionals in this area! Has anyone ever thought of the economic

SEE LETTERS, V3

The Colonial Voice, Petersburg, Va. | Friday, July 17, 2015

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YOUR NEWS

6

THINGS TO DO THIS

WEEKEND HOW TO SUBMIT: Send event and contact info to newsroom@ progress-index.com or The Progress-Index, 15 Franklin St., Petersburg, VA 23803 LOOKING FOR MORE: If you can’t find what you’re looking for, find it online at www.progressindex.com ■ For music lovers, Ashley

Monroe will perform in concert at 6:30 p.m. Friday at The Beacon Theatre, 401 N. Main St., Hopewell. Tickets: $16.50 per person. For more information, call.804 446-3457, or visit http:// thebeacontheatreva.com/ schedule-2/

■ For theater buffs, This is the final weekend to catch “You Know I Can’t Hear You When The Water’s Running” by Robert Anderson.

Currently playing at Swift Creek Mill Theatre, 17401 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Colonial Heights, the show ends Saturday.

Swift Creek Mill Theatre describes the show as: “Four stories comprising one of the most successful comedies in Broadway history. The topic is human relationships, in all their mysterious and fascinating manifestations.

Captivating, touching and explosively funny!” This week performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets are available for the show only or bufffet and show. Call 804-7485203 for reservations or visit www.swiftcreekmill. com for online ticketing.

■ For art lovers, Side Street

Gallery’s monthly art opening and reception will be held from 5-8 p.m. Saturday at the gallery, located at 127 & 129 Pickwick Ave. Colonial Heights. Enjoy food, art and music. For more information, call 804-536-0011 ■ For music fans, the

Prince George Parks & Recreation Department continues its Rockin’ Family Summer Concert Series on Saturday with One Way Ryde at the JEJ Moore Sports Complex, located at 11455 Prince George Drive in Disputanta.

Gates open at 5:30 p.m., pre-show at 6 p.m. and show at 7 p.m. Tickets sold at the gate: $5/person, under 4 admitted free.

■ For adventure fans, the

10th annual Bike Bash is happening at Virginia Motorsports Park, 8018 Boydton Plank Road, North Dinwiddie on Saturday.

There is a fee. For more information, call 804 862-3174 or visit www.

VirginiaMotorsports.com . Bike competitions, bikini contest, and music by Be’la Dona, an all female band.

■ For history buffs,

Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier, 6125 Boydton Plank Road, Petersburg (Dinwiddie County) is hosting its Summer Tour Series, with this week’s program, “Expanding the Breakthrough: Medals of Honor”, at 10:30 a.m. at The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier. Participants will learn about soldiers who demonstrated extreme bravery and earned the Congressional Medal of Honor for their actions during the Sixth Corps attack on April 2, 1865. Free to members or with park admission.

For more information, call 1-877-PAMPLIN or 804-861-2408.

COMMISSION From Page V1

the District.

The 2015 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Annual Update buttresses the initiatives outlined in the work program. It has four major focus areas: workforce, technology, infrastructure and small business development. It seeks to build upon the District’s

assets: transportation network and proximity to the Port of Virginia, educational resources at CCAM and CCALS, mega industrial sites along I-95 and Route 460, and the military assets at Fort Lee, Defense Supply Center Richmond and Fort Picket.

The Commission provides an array of services to small business owners and would-be entrepreneurs. It has a revolving loan fund administered

in concert with area banks. The Crater Small Business Development Center of Longwood University offers oneon-one counseling, along with classes and seminars on a wide range of topics related to starting, owning and operating a small business. The C r a t e r Pr o c u r e m e n t Technical Assistance Center provides information, individual counseling and a wide variety of classes about

all aspects of government contracting.

Pe t e r s b u r g A r e a R e g i o n a l To u r i s m (PART) is administered by the Commission.

PART markets Chesterfield, Colonial Heights, Dinwiddie, Hopewell, Petersburg and Prince George through its website, www.petersburgarea.org, an annual visitor guide, collaboration with Virginia Tourism Corporation and a variety of other

media. The website has a calendar of events, an extensive dining section and an overview of all of the historic, cultural and recreational assets.

For more information, visit www.craterpdc.org or call Dennis Morris, executive director, at (804) 861-1666. The Crater Planning District Commission office is located in the Monument Professional Building, 1964 Wakefield Ave., Petersburg.

PETERSBURG

Progress-Index gets key to the city Mayor, council commemorate 150th anniversary of newspaper From Staff Reports

PETERSBURG — Petersburg officials have bestowed the key to the city to The ProgressIndex in recognition of 150 years of community service.

Mayor W. Howard Myers presented the key and a resolution July 7 in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of The Progress-Index. The newspaper trace its origins to the Daily Index, first published on July 4, 1865.

“The City of Petersburg recognized the 150 years of community service performed by The Progress-Index in providing citizens news and information,” Myers said during a ceremony at the Petersburg City Council meeting. “The ProgressIndex has played a vital role in the welfare of the community and its citizens during its long and illustrious history.”

The City Council also voted to approve a resolution that says: “The Progress-Index plays a unique role in our community by informing citizens of the issues of the day.” The resolution also said “The ProgressIndex has been a force for progress and enlightenment in our community.”

Managing Editor Brian J. Couturier accepted the honors on behalf of The Progress-Index. Couturier, in addressing the City Council, noted the long history of The Progress-Index serving the citizens and vowed that the media company plans on continuing to provide the best news and information to the community.

“The Progress-Index has been proud to serve the community and its citizens for 150 years by providing news and information so that we have an informed and progressive citizenry so that our democracy can be stronger every day,” Couturier said. “And we are planning on being here for the next 150 years as Petersburg continues to grow and prosper.”

The Progress-Index traces its roots to the end of the Civil War and the fall of Petersburg to the Union Army. Soon after the fall of Petersburg in April 1865, two local newspapers including The News were suppressed

LETTERS From Page V2

impact that VSU has on the commonwealth of Virginia, as well as the Tri-Cities area? Well, read my plan below... a plan that will keep these areas thriving!

Here is my plan:

Petersurg Mayor W. Howard Myers, center, presents a key to the city to The Progress-Index newspaper’s managing editor Brian Couturier, right, during a council meeting on Tuesday, July 7, in recognition of the newspaper’s 150 years of community service. The Colonial Voice is produced by The Progress-Index. SCOTT P. YATES/PROGRESS-INDEX PHOTO

Petersburg Mayor W. Howard Myers, fifth from right, and vice mayor Samuel Parham, fourth from right, present several of the staff members of The Progress-Index newspaper with a key to the city during a council meeting on Tuesday, July 7. SCOTT P. YATES/PROGRESS-INDEX PHOTO

by the Union Army.

The News was edited by Anthony M. Keiley.

Keiley not only had his newspaper closed, but he was imprisoned for three days in Richmond for his criticism of the Union cause.

After his release, Keiley soon started The Daily

Index, which began publication on July 4, 1865.

The newspaper, which acknowledged not Keiley but W.L. Williams as publisher, had a more conciliatory tone toward the city’s occupation army.

A series of mergers and acquisitions led to two remaining newspapers

in 1921: the Index-Appeal (1873) and the Evening Progress (1888). The papers moved from the old plant on Tabb Street into new offices at 15 Franklin St., our current location. In 1922, The Evening Progress merged with the morning newspaper The

Index-Appeal to become a daily e vening and Sunday morning newspaper. On Sunday, Sept.

16, 1923, The Evening Progress and The IndexAppeal was renamed The Progress-Index.

The Colonial Voice is a produc t of The Progress-Index.

by Dec. 31, 2015, I challenge all organizations (as mentioned above) to donate at least $1,000 to the Tuition Assistance Program at VSU! By donating, you will help many students stay in school and complete this current school year. Funding, such

as student loans and grants, have decreased tremendously over the last few years and many students just cannot find funds to continue/complete their studies. Please find it in your hearts to help!

Funds can be sent to: Office of Institutional

Advancement, Tuition Assistance Program, Virginia State University, PO Box 9027, Virginia State University, VA 23806-0001.

Come on community ... Let’s do this! Our students are depending on us to help them out!

Thanks in advance for all that we will do!

In closing, Luke 12:48 teaches the faithful servant that “Much is required from the person to whom much is given; much more is required from the person to whom much more is given.” GNT Bessie C. Moorer Chesterfield County

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Friday, July 17, 2015 | The Colonial Voice, Petersburg, Va.

POLITICS

Colonial Heights Republicans support Chase From Contributed Report

COLONIAL HEIGHTS — Amanda Chase, Republican candidate for the 11th Virginia Senate seat, was the main speaker at the Colonial Heights Republican Committee’s June meeting. Chase was the winner in a three-way June 9th primary for the nomination.

More than 40 attendees were at the meeting to show their support for Chase.

Committee Chairman John Wood presented checks to Chase from the committee and members as a show of their strong support for Chase for the November election.

C hase thanked the committee for their support. She made a point of saying her “campaign team will be working hard to win but we will need your continuing support to achieve a decisive win in November. We won the primary with a very strong grassroots effort and we want to continue this effort right up to Election Day.” In his opening remarks,

John Wood, chairman of the Colonial Heights Republican Committee, presents a check to Amanda Chase, center, while Delegate Kirk Cox, R-66th, left, and other attendees of the June 29 committee meeting join the presentation. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Chairman Wood congratulated and commended Chase for her "great efforts" leading up to a win in the June 9th primary.

He stated, “Politics is a team sport. Our committee will be working hard to support your campaign in this very important election. We need Amanda in the Virginia Senate to ensure we have a

Republican led General Assembly that will focus on our common values, economic development and good paying jobs for all Virginians.” Wood is also a serving member on the Colonial Heights City Council.

Del. Kirk Cox, R-66th, was also at the meeting and congratulated Chase on her primary win.

HEALTH

“I look for ward to working with Amanda in the Virginia Senate. We share common conservative values and will focus on making government work for all Virginians.”

The 11th Senate district includes all the precincts in the 66th House District.

Chase also brought several of her staff members

to the meeting. They came early to join committee members for a pizza social. During the meeting Chase outlined the role her staff members will fill during the campaign to include volunteer coordination, grass roots — door-to-door coordination, and fundraising. She closed her presentation stating her “goal was to

unify like-minded people in our community.”

Committee member Marlene Wood was very impressed with Chase.

“Amanda will be a great senator. She has proven she can manage a business, run campaigns and raise four school age children. That’s a very hard job! If she can do that, then she will make a great senator.” Wood backed up her comments by giving Chase a campaign contribution.

Amanda Chase grew up in Bon Air and is a graduate of Virginia Tech. She has been married for 22 years and has four children who were homeschooled but now attend C h e s t e r fi e l d C o u n t y Public Schools. She is a small business owner and has also worked in both the private and public sectors.

The 11th Senate District includes all of Colonial Heights, Amelia and 40 precincts in Chesterfield County. For more information visit Chase’s website at http://www. chase4senate.com/.

SAFE DRIVING

Why nursing school was moved Summer Leadership Retreat Some say relocation of 120-year-old school to Colonial Heights is a loss to Petersburg

By LEAH SMALL Staff Writer

PETERSBURG — Some people in the community are complaining that Petersburg has lost its 120-yearold nursing school to Colonial Heights. The school moved from the old hospital location on Sycamore Street, but did not follow the new medical center to a location in the city.

The move from the 737 S. Sycamore St. location to office space at 430 Clairmont Court, Colonial Heights, had a lot to do with cost, and a need for a more modern building, said Terry Tysinger, a spokesperson for Southside Regional Medical Center.

A ribbon cutting for the new facility, which is the new home for the SRMC Professional Schools, was held on May 22.

Delegate Joseph Preston, D-Petersburg, spoke about the move during two debates for the June Democratic Primar y for the 16th Senate District. He said that it was a shame that the school was moved to Colonial Heights after its long history in Petersburg, and that Sen. Rosalyn Dance, D-Petersburg, should have done more to prevent the move.

In an interview on July 2, Carolyn Rawlings, who graduated in 1965 from the former Petersburg General Hospital’s School of Nursing, said that the school should remain in Petersburg, closer to the hospital.

Tysinger said that

moving the SRMC Professional Schools to the Colonial Heights location was less expensive than building a new facility closer to the hospital.

She also said that there wasn’ t enough space at SRMC’s two-story, 32,500 square foot Medical Arts Pavilion, located adjacent to the hospital.

A ribbon cutting for that facility was held in January 2014 and it currently houses a cancer treatment center and other medical offices.

Tysinger also estimated that any new construction of a building for the schools would cost several million dollars and would cut into the hospital’s annual capital funding, which is also in the several million dollar range.

“We have a defined amount of capital we can spend on an annual basis that we can budget for. We choose to spend it on the latest medical technology, and to put money back into direct resources, equipment and services that will benefit our patients,” she said.

Tysinger said that the hospital’s new open heart surgery program, which launched recently, is an example of this careful capital spending.

She said that it is the only nearby facility for open heart surgery, and that before it opened, local residents often had to drive as far as Duke University for care. A ribbon cutting for the facility will be set in the next few weeks.

The hospital currently rents the two medical

office buildings located in Colonial Heights that serve as the location of its schools, from the Cameron Foundation. SRMC has eight years left on a 20-year lease before it receives ownership of the property. Tysinger said that the hospital pays Cameron $350,000 annually.

But the School of Nursing’s former location will still be used to benefit public health.

Council voted unanimously June 2 to lease the 737 S. Sycamore St. property to Youth, Excel and Advancement LLC, a for-profit organization specializing in caring for children with special needs.

A letter to the city from Mario Haskett, CEO of Youth, Excel and Advancement, states that the organization provides “therapeutic after-school services and an outof-school suspension program.”

The company has agreed to a four-year lease with the city, with rent of $2,000 a month. Youth, Excel and Advancement is responsible for all routine repairs to the building. The company has budgeted $68,000 to repair the HVAC system and roof.

— Leah Small may be reached at 722-5172 or lsmall@progress-index. com

CHHS students join other Virginia teens for a week of education and training in safe driving practices From Contributed Report

HARRISONBURG — Students from Colonial Heights High School were among more than 120 teens representing 31 high schools from across the commonwealth of Virginia who arrived at James Madison University (JMU) Sunday, June 21, for a week of educational and hands-on activities that focused on safe driving practices and the importance of making responsible decisions while driving. The 2015 Summer Leadership Retreat is sponsored by Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety (YOVASO) and the Virginia State Police (VSP), and funded by a grant from the Virginia DMV Highway Safety Office.

The annual leadership retreat was held on the JMU campus from June 22 through June 25. Over 165 high school students and their YOVASO club advisors spent the time

learning safe driving practices, studying negative consequences of poor driving behaviors, and training to serve as youth traffic safety advocates.

Students also learned about YOVASO and how they can become involved in peer-to-peer programs to promote safe teen driving and prevent motor vehicle crashes among teens in their school and community.

There was also plenty of fun, team-building events for attendees, to include a talent show and Memorial Glow 5K Run. The fourday retreat concluded with an awards banquet to recognize students, schools, administrators and law enforcement for their dedicated and outstanding efforts in 2014 and 2015 to prevent teenrelated traffic crashes and fatalities on Virginia highways.

“What many don’t realize is that the number one killer of teenagers is motor vehicle crashes, and peer-to-peer

communication is a very effective way to combat this nationwide problem,” said Sarah Westphal, Y O VA S O m a r k e t i n g and training specialist.

“The YOVASO Summer Leadership Retreat offers youth an opportunity to help build their knowledge about traffic safety, prepare them to work in their peer-topeer clubs to promote safe driving behaviors, collaborate with other students across the state, and further enhance their leadership skills to contribute to their schools and communities.”

YOVASO is Virginia’s peer-to-peer education and prevention program for teen driver safety.

The program is part of the Virginia State Police and is funded by a grant from the Virginia DMV Highway Safety Office.

YOVASO has existed since 2001 and works with high and middle schools across the commonwealth to improve teen driver safety.

The Colonial Voice, Petersburg, Va. | Friday, July 17, 2015

V5

ACTION

Local residents respond to casting call for ‘Loving’

Around 2,000 people responded to the casting call for a new movie scheduled to be filmed in Central Virginia this fall. The casting call for “Loving” was held June 28 at The Black Swan on Old Street in downtown Petersburg. KARL CHRISTMAN/PROGRESS-INDEX PHOTOS From Staff Reports

PETERSBURG — Academy Award nominated filmmakers held three casting calls recently in the search for talented actors for the feature film “Loving”. One of those casting calls was held in downtown Petersburg.

As many as 2,000 residents from the Tri-Cities and beyond showed up at The Black Swan, 9 W. Old St., on Sunday, June 28, to see if they had what it took to land themselves a movie role. The casting call was held from 12-6 p.m.

"Loving" will portray a story of landmark civil rights legislation. The film centers around Richard and Mildred Loving, an interracial couple who lived in Virginia in the 1950s, who successfully changed Virginia’s laws on interracial marriage through the 1967 Supreme Court case Loving v. Virginia. The feature film, by award-winning actor and director Jeff Nichols, will be filmed in Central Virginia starting in September.

Producers were looking for residents of all

ages and ethnicities, especially older adults, children and families of African-American, Native-American, Caucasian and mixed heritage.

African American and mixed ethnicity children ages 0-6, expectant mothers of all ethnicities and African-American grandparents were encouraged to attend. The casting team was also seeking experienced bricklayers, blue-collar constructionworker types, politicians and business types, teachers, drag race hobbyists and period car mechanics.

Marcia Wimberly from Colonial Heights waited four hours to attend the casting call for “Loving” on Sunday, June 28, in Old Towne Petersburg. The casting call was held from 12-6 p.m. at The Black Swan, 9 W. Old St.

They were also looking for people of all ethnicities with interesting, expressive faces.

Acting experience was not a requirement, and if selected for a speaking or a non-speaking role, compensation will be in line with that of other professional productions.

Andy Edmunds, director of the Virginia Film Office, said the filmmakers, which are from multiple production companies, are scouting locations throughout Central Virginia for the filming.

Two organizers for the Petersburg casting call event, Kendall and Brandon Carpenter, pose for a photo during the event on June 28 at The Black Swan.

Marcia Wimberly from Colonial Height, right, is one of the first people in the door after waiting four hours outside The Black Swan to participate in the casting call for “Loving,” held June 28 in Petersburg.

Michael Derricott, an event organizer, is seen directing Wimberly where to go.

Kendall Carpenter, an organizer for the casting call event, left, speaks with a member of the casting crew outside The Black Swan in Petersburg on June 28.

COLONIAL HEIGHTS

FORT LEE

Local Realtors earn certifications

Historical marker highlights Women’s Army Corp

From Contributed Report

COLONIAL HEIGHTS — 1st Choice Realty Group would like to recognize the following Realtors for earning their National Association of Realtors (NAR) Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource certifications: Kathie Braswell, Cindy Eanes, Susan Figuieras and Rhonda Canada Partin.

The NAR offers the SFR certification to Realtors who want to help both buyers and sellers navigate these complicated transactions, as demand for professional expertise with distressed sales grows.

According to a NAR survey, nearly one-third of all existing homes sold recently were either short sales or foreclosures. For many real estate professionals, short sales and foreclosures are the new

‘traditional’ transaction.

Realtors who have earned the SFR certification know how to help sellers maneuver the complexities of short sales, as well as help buyers pursue short sale and foreclosure opportunities.

The certification program includes training on how to qualify sellers for short sales, negotiate with lenders, protect buyers, limit risk and provides resources to help Realtors stay current on national and state-specific information as the market for these distressed properties evolves. To earn the SFR certification, Realtors are required to take one core course and three Webinars.

For more information about the SFR certification, visit www.REALTORSFR. org.

1st Choice Realty Group is located at 2306 Boulevard, Suite E, and can be reached at 804-520-9755.

From Staff Reports

FORT LEE — T he Women’s Army Corps Training Center at Fort Lee, which dates back to 1948, will be honored with a historical highway marker approved by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources as a way to commemorate women’s history in the military.

The women’s training facility at Fort Lee was “Run entirely by women, the center offered basic training, specialty training, and officer courses,” the text of the historical marker reads.

The marker will be placed on Oaklawn Boulevard, 100 yards southwest of the intersection with Lee Avenue. The highway marker is sponsored

by Friends of the Army Wo m e n’s M u s e u m Association.

T h e WA C h i s t o r i cal marker is one of 11 new historical highway markers designated by the state. Some of the other markers cover two historic African American schools in Orange County — Isabella Lightfoot Training School and Shady Grove School — Appalachian Power Company at Smith Mountain Lake, New Jerusalem Lutheran Church in Loudoun County, Cedar Grove Cemetery in Portsmouth, and a Civil War-era dental innovator in Lynchburg.

The Women’s Army Corps Training Center traces back to 1948 when the modern-day Fort Lee was known as Camp Lee. The corps gained “Regular

Army status” after much debate in Congress. In July of 1948, President Harry Truman issued an executive order to integrate the military.

“The first staff members transformed overgrown fields and dilapidated buildings into usable facilities,” the historical marker reads.

An integrated unit of women from Fort Lee marched in Truman’s inaugural parade in January 1949.

African American troops still had quotas in place until May of 1950.

While the road to integration was long for the Army, women were generally more accepting of desegregation at Fort Lee. "Women have said that regardless of black or white, as a woman

you were a minority in a man's world," Tracy Bradford, education and training specialist at the U.S. Army Women's Museum at Fort Lee, said previously. "There was some willingness to bond simply because they were such a small percentage of the whole."

The women’s training facility was moved from Fort Lee to Fort McClellan, Ala., in 1954.

The corps eventually disbanded in 1978. The facility trained approximately 30,000 women during its 30 years of existence.

V i r g i n i a ’s h i g h w ay marker program started in 1927 and is one of the oldest of its kind in the U.S. There are currently more than 2,500 official state markers.

CHESTERFIELD

First ‘Hops in the Park’ Harvest Festival at Henricus Historical Park with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and CHESTER — Henri- Forestry and Consumer cus Historical Park has Service’s Virginia Grown officially unveiled details Program, MeadWestvaco, of the inaugural “Hops in the Old Dominion Hops the Park” Harvest Festival Cooperative and Chesterthat will take place on Nov. field County Economic 14, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Development, the Henriat the Park. In cooperation cus Foundation will host From Contributed Report

the inaugural Hops in the Park Harvest Festival.

This special event will feature breweries from around the state that use Virginia-grown products in their beers. Live music will be played throughout the day. Additionally, this event will have a speaker

series discussing Virginia craft brewing, hops production and other aspects of Virginia’s growing craft beer supply chain. A variety of vendors offering Virginia-grown items and specialty products will also be on hand.

To d d P. Hay m o r e ,

Virginia’s Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, visited Henricus Historical Park recently to announce the Hops in the Park Harvest Festival and highlight the Virginia Grown Prog r a m’s s p o n s o r s h i p , showcasing the growing link between Virginia

agriculture and Virginia craft beer.

A statement released by the Park reads, "Henricus Historical Park is proud to be part of this inaugural festival that aims to highlight an industry that began in Virginia over 400 years ago."

V6

Friday, July 17, 2015 | The Colonial Voice, Petersburg, Va.

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FILE - In this July 25, 2013 file photo, a United Airlines plane, top left, takes off from Newark Liberty International Airport, in Newark, N.J. Over the past decade, mega-mergers reduced nine large U.S. airlines to four _ American, United, Delta and Southwest _ with the result that travelers are increasingly finding their home airport dominated by just one or two players. United controls 68 percent of the seats at Newark.

(AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

DALLAS (AP) — The wave of consolidation that swept the U.S. DIVORCE – Uncontested, $350 + $88 court cost. No court appearance. airline industry has markedly reduced Estimated completion time twenty-one competition at many of the nation’s major days. Telephone inquiries welcome - no MEDICAL BILLING TRAINEES NEEDED! obligation. Hilton Oliver, Attorney. 757- airports, and passengers appear to be ATTENTION AUCTIONEERS: Advertise Train to become a Medical Office 490-0126. Se Habla Espaùol. paying the price in higher fares and fees, your upcoming auctions in Virginia Assistant! NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED! an Associated Press analysis has found.

Over the past decade, mega-mergers reduced nine large U.S. airlines to four — American, United, Delta and Southwest — with the result that travelers are increasingly finding their home airport dominated by just one or two players.

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Continental, Southwest and AirTran, and American and US Airways.

Justice Department antitrust regulators let the deals go through but forced airlines in a few cases to give up some of their spots at key airports to try to encourage competition.

Still, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the airline industry is less competitive now than it used to be,â&#x20AC;? said Seth Kaplan, managing partner of industry newsletter Airline Weekly. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Some of us used to have eight or nine airlines to choose from. Now we have maybe four or five, just as we have four or five cellphone companies to choose from.â&#x20AC;?

The mergers have altered the competitive landscape at airports big and small. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; In Indianapolis, the two leading airlines controlled just 37 percent of the seats a decade ago, and domestic fares were 9 percent below the national average.

Then the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main airline, ATA, went bankrupt and was bought by Southwest, and its No. 2 carrier, Northwest, was absorbed by Delta. Now two airlines control 56 percent of the seats, and airfares are 6 percent above the national average. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The Dayton, Ohio, airport was served by 10 airlines in 2005, and fares were 5 percent below average. Today, just four airlines fly there and prices are almost 10 percent above average. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Big hub airports arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t immune.

In 2005, US Airways controlled nearly 66 percent of the seats in Philadelphia.

Now that US Airways has merged with American, the combined airline has 77 percent of the seats. Airfare has gone from 4 percent below average to 10 percent above it. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Deltaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hold on Atlanta, the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s busiest airport, increased during that same period from 78 percent of seats to just over 80 percent. At the same time, lowcost AirTran merged into Southwest and reduced flights there. Domestic airfares at the airport went from nearly 6 percent below average to 11 percent above. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Some cities are actually seeing lower fares than they did a decade ago. Prices in Denver were once 5.6 percent higher than the national average. Now that Unitedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s market share there has dropped to 41 percent from 56 percent, fares are almost 15 percent lower than the rest of the country.

Recent deals indicate the big airlines intend to stick to a strategy of dominating one airport and forgoing marginal service elsewhere.

For instance, United announced in June that it will abandon Kennedy Airport and move its dwindling number of JFK flights to New Jerseyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Newark airport, where it already controls 68 percent of the seats.

At the same time, if regulators go along, Delta will further shrink its small presence at Newark and take over Unitedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s share at JFK, where Delta is already top dog.

One of the few competitive battles is taking place in Seattle, where Delta is mounting a fierce challenge to longtime No. 1 Alaska Airlines. Delta is building Seattle into a gateway to Asia and adding flights on domestic routes long dominated

by Alaska. Seattle-based Alaska has responded by adding service.

The average fare at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport was $377 in the third quarter of 2014, $18 below the national average.