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LOCAL LOCAL ATTRACTION

CCHASM Thanksgiving Meal program CHESTERFIELD — The Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Alliance for Social Ministry is asking for the community’s support for its Thanksgiving Meal Gift Package Program.

A donation of $15 - through a food store gift card, a bag of Thanksgiving food or cash donation toward gift card or gift package - is requested and greatly welcomed. The gift will provide an area family in need with a Thanksgiving Meal (and lot’s of leftovers).

Residents must preregister with CCHASM prior to receiving a Thanksgiving Meal Package.

Donations may be sent to CCHASM at PO Box 1741, Chesterfield, VA 23832. Or, you can make a secure donation through the CCHASM website, www.cchasm.org, or bring grocery items to the Chesterfield County Fairground Exhibition Center Monday Nov. 16, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Tuesday, Nov. 17, from noon to 7 p.m.

Halloween in the Park COLONIAL HEIGHTS — Halloween in the Park will be held from 6-8 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 31, at Flora Hill Park, 300 Richmond Ave. Children are invited to wear their costumes and bring a trick or treat bag. This free event will include food and drinks, face painting, children’s games and free candy.

For more information, call 804-520-9390.

Swift Creek Mill Theatre fundraiser COLONIAL HEIGHTS — Swift Creek Mill Theatre, 17401 Jefferson Davis Hwy., will hold the theater’s first special event for the 50th anniversary season — “A Floral Curtain Call with David Pippin”. This fund-raiser will be held on Thursday, Oct. 29 at 11 a.m. and will feature renowned floral designer David Pippin’s interpretation of five highlighted shows of Swift Creek Mill Theatre’s past through floral design.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the Historic Swift Creek Mill Revitalization Project. Tickets are $45 in advance only.

For tickets or more information about any of the shows at Swift Creek, call 804-748-5203 or visit www. swiftcreekmill.com .

Christmas Parade applications COLONIAL HEIGHTS — The 63rd Annual Christmas Parade — a longtime Colonial Heights tradition — will occur on Tuesday, Dec. 1, on the Boulevard. Originated in 1953, the nighttime parade is a unique event that draws people from all over the Tri-Cities area. This year’s Christmas Parade theme is “Christmas on the Boulevard.”

The deadline to submit an application for the Christmas Parade is Monday, Nov. 2. Applications may be submitted online. Visit www.colonialheightsva.gov/ christmasparade For more information, call 804-520-9390.

V2 ..................................................Opinion V3 .......................................... Things to do V6 .............................................Classifieds

Vol 13, No. 07

200 years old

The back of the 200-year-old Violent Bank house, located in Colonial Heights, is shown Saturday, Oct 17, during the anniversary celebration. SHELBY MERTENS/PROGRESS-INDEX PHOTOS

Anniversary celebration featured military re-enactors, period dance demonstrations and petting zoo

By Shelby Mertens Staff Writer

COLONIAL HEIGHTS — The Violet Bank house located on Royal Oak Avenue has served many purposes over the centuries — from the headquarters of Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Confederate Army to boarding Fort Lee soldiers to housing local government offices.

For the house’s 200th anniversary, the city decided to throw a celebration that incorporated the many uses of the property. The event, held on Oct. 17 and Oct. 18, featured a petting zoo, military re-enactors and period dance demonstrations.

“Today is kind of like a celebration for all the various uses of the house throughout the past 200 years. It has changed hands numerous times and was used for various things,” said Harvie Christie, director of programming for the Violet Bank Museum, on Saturday.

Ray Langston, a volunteer historical interpreter at Violet Bank Museum was at the bicentennial celebration on Saturday dressed as a Union officer immediately following the fall of Petersburg in April of 1865. Langston has volunteered at the museum for 10 years, but his living history career spans 25 years.

Period dancers performed at the 200th anniversary of the Violet Bank house on Saturday, Oct. 17 in Colonial Heights.

“Violet Bank is a good local attraction, a well-preserved place. The house has such great history. It’s been around for such a long time and has a lot of history on the grounds and in the house itself.”

—Ray Langston, a volunteer historical interpreter at Violet Bank Museum

“Violet Bank is a good local attraction, a well-preserved place,” Langston said. “The house has such great history.

It’s been around for such a long time and has a lot of history on the grounds and in the house itself.”

The original house was built in 1778 by the wealthy Thomas Shore, who owned most of the land that is modern day Colonial Heights, Christie said.

The house was once used by Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, a famous French

general, during the Battle of Petersburg of the American Revolutionary War in 1781.

According to Christie, the house caught on fire in 1810 and was rebuilt by 1815, which is the date the museum counts as the house’s founding.

“Surviving the fire are the two chimney stacks and all the foundation,” he said.

“They rebuilt based on the existing foundation.”

Also on the property is the gigantic Magnolia acuminata tree, which is often

referred to as a “cucumber tree”, which is believed to date back to the mid-1830s, Christie said. A descendant of Thomas Shore brought it to the property. The tree is indigenous to Virginia and can be found anywhere from Pennsylvania down to Georgia and it is nowhere west of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Christie said since 2001 it has been the largest cucumber tree in existence.

SEE VIOLET BANK, V3

COLONIAL HEIGHTS

City to consider shortening curfew change the city’s curfew for unchaperoned minors from midnight to 11 p.m. Col. Jeffrey COLONIAL HEIGHTS — Faries, chief of the Colonial The city is considering turning Heights Police Department, back the clock on curfew in an along with City Manager effort to keep youngsters from Thomas Mattis, made the hanging out around the South- request to Council. park Mall area.

Faries said the police departThe Colonial Heights City ment has received mounting Council has been asked to complaints from businesses

By Shelby Mertens Staff Writer

surrounding Southpark Mall about teenagers who hang out in parking lots after catching a movie at the Regal Cinemas theatre on the weekends.

“It appears when the juveniles get out of the movies, they congregate in parking lots, they keep us active out there and in turn they go to the outlining businesses and they’re turned

away from those businesses because it interrupts their customers,” Faries said at the Oct. 13, council meeting. “We started monitoring this and it is continuous. It slowed down for a little while in the past month or so but it has picked up again.”

The new curfew at 11 p.m.

SEE CURFEW, V3

Friday, Oct. 23, 2015 | The Colonial Voice, Petersburg, Va.

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OPINION

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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

Assuring the poor are not victims at hospitals

A

recent study published in the Health Affairs journal in July put Southside Regional Medical Center in Petersburg at number 38 on a list of 50 U.S hospitals with the highest price markup.

The study says that means that uninsured patients, those out of the hospital’s insurance network and auto and worker’s compensation insurers, could see bills up to 9.5 times the cost of actual care.

Community Health Systems, the corporation that operates Southside Regional, operates half of the hospitals on the list. Researchers also stated that Southside Regional Medical Center is the only hospital located in Virginia included on the list.

SRMC officials say that they give significant discounts for the uninsured patients and that those who qualify are offered charity care. SRMC also stated that it provides financial counseling to patients to navigate co-pays and deductibles, and to notify patients if they are eligible for Medicaid, Medicare or charity care.

Patients whose household income is at or below 100 percent of the Federal Poverty income Guidelines are eligible for charity care.

Of the 50 hospitals, 49 are for-profit and most are located in urban areas.

Findings also show that most U.S. hospitals charge 3.4 times the cost of patient care.

Officials also say that the hospital provided over $100 million in charity and uncompensated care.

Of the 50 hospitals, 49 are for-profit and most are located in urban areas.

Findings also show that most U.S. hospitals charge 3.4 times the cost of patient care.

While we applaud Southside Regional Medical Center for providing over $100 million in charity and uncompensated care, it’s unclear on whether that is enough to meet the need of patients in poverty. SRMC is a for-profit hospital and as such expects to make money for running its medical center. That is not an issue. But the medical center is located in one of the poorest communities in Virginia.

There is likely a significant portion of the population that may not be able to afford the medical services offered at SRMC. Researchers suggest that federal and state governments consider limitations on how much hospitals may charge. Currently, only two states — West Virginia and Maryland — have such limits. Should Virginia have such a limit? At minimum, state lawmakers should explore the issue and with medical providers determine the best way to help those in poverty to receive the medical care they need.

INSPIRATION Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments. You are good and do good; teach me your statutes. Let your steadfast love be ready to comfort me according to your promise to your servant. Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight. I will never forget your precepts; for by them you have given me life. I am yours, save me; for I have sought your precepts.

Psalm 119:66, 68, 76-77, 93-94 Source: www.dailyscripture.net

YOUR VIEW

Generational decisions Decisions are part of the fabric of our everyday lives.

Most that we make in a day won’t matter in the long run: whether to pack lunch or buy lunch; whether to mow the lawn tonight or wait until tomorrow. Some small decisions, though, hold greater weight. They create a wake that can ripple across decades. It’s the parent’s decision to have their children participate in household chores to teach the value of hard work. It’s the dad who chooses one Sunday to take his family to church, even when his life is falling apart.

It’s the student who becomes the first person in his family to walk across the high school graduation stage.

I call these generational decisions. Often they stem from a single choice -- the decision to make a chore chart, to drive to church, to study hard. Yet they set in motion a different course that will be realized two and three generations down the road.

The first high school graduate may set a precedent in his family for the value of education; three generations later, the same family sees a greatgranddaughter walk across the stage with a Ph.D. America makes generational decisions too, which, for better or worse, shape the course of our nation.

I think about when President John F. Kennedy presented the country with a historic challenge, daring us to put a man on the moon and return him safely to earth before the end of the 1960s.

That challenge transformed space discovery in America and unleashed an era of international leadership that has spanned decades. It shifted our perspective, allowing us to understand our place in the universe, and inspired a new generation of scientists, engineers, and technology.

It unified Americans after decades of division from the Vietnam War and Civil Rights movement. It brought a sense of pride back to our homeland that still stirs American hearts today when we hear that scratchy recording of Neil Armstrong’s famous words.

Generational Decisions work both ways: a poor decision can impact the trajectory of the nation just as much, if not more, than a positive decision. I think about how every time a Supreme Court Justice chooses to brush aside the rule of law, it sets a precedent that lingers across generations.

Landmark cases as far back as Marbury v. Madison expanded the power of the Court, setting a precedent for the role of the judiciary branch that we still see playing out to this day. The Court’s infamous decision in

Dred Scott v. Sanford in 1857 delayed the abolition of slavery, impacting countless lives.

The ripple effect of the Roe v.

Wade decision is still with us today. And when the president decides not to enforce U.S. immigration laws, it paves the way for future presidents’ to selectively enforce and unilaterally rewrite democratically passed laws. These are Generational Decisions.

I believe our country is once again at a crossroads.

The decisions we make today will dictate the opportunities, future, and freedom of Americans tomorrow.

That’s why I opposed the Administration’s nuclear deal with Iran. It’s a gamble that puts our children and grandchildren’s security at risk by economically empowering an already aggressive Iran. It’s a gamble we cannot afford to take.

That’s why I support bills to secure the border and remove any president’s ability to unilaterally shutdown immigration enforcement.

The rule of law matters.

Not just for today, but for tomorrow.

That’s why I’m fighting to constitutionally require Congress to balance the budget.

It’s time for Washington to recognize what the American people already know -- continuing the current cycle of temporary spending and last-minute deals is not only unacceptable, it’s unsustainable.

And that’s why one of my top priorities has always been supporting our men and women in uniform. National security is not a faucet you can switch off and on. We must continue to invest in research and development, and encourage the innovation that gives our servicemembers the technological advantage they need to accomplish their missions and return safely home. To ensure our children and grandchildren enjoy the freedom and security we have enjoyed, we must be looking beyond current challenges and crafting a national security strategy for two and three generations down the road.

It’s time we put away the short-sighted politics of now and start playing the long game. Our nation’s most influential leaders -- George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr, and others – all made tough decisions that pushed our nation forward because they had honed the ability to see past today and envision a freer, better tomorrow. They understood that the choices they made, the words they spoke, the challenges they presented would stretch far beyond a single podium or a single place and time The same is true today. As

Americans, we are stewards of this grand experiment in liberty and democracy we call the United States. We must not allow it to slip through our fingers. We must approach decision-making with the knowledge that the choices we make today are shaping the future for our children, our grandchildren, and generations we will never know.

Congressman Randy Forbes Virginia 4th District Chesapeake

Good businesses do exist People are struggling to make ends meet. The prices of everything are higher than any of us would have ever imagined and people everywhere are doing what they can to make ends meet.

It seems like every business is anxiously waiting for their payments and aren’t always willing to work with you. After all, your money is their money, right? Well, we can tell you that good, caring, and generous people and businesses do exist. It isn’t always about making money, as proven by the generosity of the Colonial Heights Home Depot.

They donated the materials needed to build a new porch and wheelchair ramp for a family in need; every board, nail and screw. Even when the building crew needed more supplies, the associate recognized them and made sure the additional supplies were also donated. Thanks to Home Depot, this family will have the peace of mind that their loved one can maneuver in and out of their home safely.

Thank you, Colonial Heights Home Depot.

J.F. Lamm Dinwiddie County

Remembering a departed friend I recently lost a dear friend.

Charlotte Jeff of Colonial Heights passed away Sept.

23, 2015, at Southside Regional Medical Center.

There was a memorial service held at Second Chance Baptist Church on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2015. I know a lot of her friends are not aware of her passing. I just wanted everyone to know that Charlotte’s life mattered.

Mary H. Poe Colonial Heights

Has Benghazi been forgotten?

Back when four brave

Americans were murdered in Benghazi on Hillary Clinton’s watch, she was subsequently asked by a House inquiry why this happened. She answered: “What difference does it make?”

Seriously? This happened on her watch and she seems to choose to ignore it.

It makes a great deal of difference to the parents of those Americans who have yet to have any answers.

Someone gave the “stand down” order to the rescue party for these four Americans, and probably came from someone higher up.

They obviously got thrown under the bus as a result!

The why and who questions about this have yet to be answered. But, it happened on Hillary’s watch!

Is it the policy of the Obama administration to ignore anything that would be embarrassing to the president or anyone else in his administration, so that it might eventually go away?

The Obama administration really wants this issue to go away.

Hillary was a lousy secretary of state and now she’s running for president? Has she no shame? This should be seriously taken into account if she is still on the ballot at the 2016 election.

Gary Allen Chesterfield County

Putin It To Obama President Putin just put it to President Obama concerning the situation in Syria.

They had a discussion about military involvement in Syria, and Putin convinced Obama the Russian air units in Syria would help with attacks on ISIL. However, Putin never considered attacking ISIL because his military forces are in Syria to bolster the Assad regime, and therefore they are bombing the U.S. backed anti-Assad rebels; and Russian ground forces are attacking the anti-Assad forces.

The U.S. supplies the moderate anti-Assad rebels with arms and then the Russians bomb them and their equipment. The arms suppliers in the U.S. and Russia have to be laughing all the way to the banks.

Once again, President Obama has placed the national security of the U.S. in jeopardy in order to placate another country.

This subservience syndrome will embolden our potential adversaries in the world to test our military posture.

Donald A. Moskowitz Londonderry, New Hampshire

The Colonial Voice, Petersburg, Va. | Friday, Oct. 23, 2015

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4 THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN THE REGION 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.progress-index.com

1. Elvis (tribute artist) in concert MIDLOTHIAN — On Sunday the Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Alliance for Social Ministry (CCHASM) will present award winning Elvis tribute

artist Keith Henderson in concert. The concert is open seating.

A “love offering” will be taken to benefit CCHASM in their efforts to support area residents with emergency needs.

The concert will begin at 3 p.m. (doors will open at 2 p.m.) at the Cosby High School auditorium, 14300 Fox Club Pkwy.

Second Helping” at Swift Creek Mill Theatre, 17401 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Colonial Heights. Shows begin at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For reservations, call 804-748-5203 or visit www.swiftcreekmill.com for online ticketing.

2. Swift Creek Mill Theatre show

Visitors to Sutherland’s Tavern in Dinwiddie County will be taken on a candlelit tour of the 212-year-old plantation house to hear about

This is the final weekend to catch “Church Basement Ladies – A

3. Ghost and spirit tour

unexplained sightings and paranormal activities at the fifth annual Sutherland’s Tavern Ghost and Spirit Tour on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, Oct. 23, 24, 25. Tours will be given every half hour from 6-9:30 p.m. and are by appointment only. Tickets are $7 and can be purchased at Sycamore Antiques, 248 North Sycamore St., Petersburg, anytime between 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Tues-Sat., and 1-4 p.m. on Sundays. Reservations can also be made by emailing circa1803@

hotmail.com or by calling 804-943-2283. The event includes a candlelit tour of the house and backyard family graveyard and concludes in the old cooking kitchen. Storyteller Jimmy Olgers will be telling ghost stories in the old kitchen. Sutherland’s Tavern is located at 19621 Namozine Road at the intersection of U.S. Route 460 West in Sutherland.

4. Haunting tales and tours Anyone up for a road trip may enjoy a unique tour of

Edgewood, Berkeley and Shirley plantations that will give an insight of the spirits and mysteries of these three historic homes in Charles City. Participants will hear the haunting tales of the paranormal activities at each site on a progressive tour offered on Oct. 24. The tours begin at 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. at Shirley Plantation, continue to Berkeley and end at Edgewood. The cost for the Haunting Tales and Tour is $36 per person and reservations are required. For reservations or additional information, call (804) 829-2962.

ABOVE LEFT: A historical interpreter explains how chocolate was made 200 years ago at the Violet Bank Museum’s bicentennial celebration of the house on Oct. 17.

ABOVE RIGHT: During Violet Bank Museum’s 200th anniversary celebration, guests tour the historic house filled with Civil War-era artifacts. SHELBY MERTENS/PROGRESS-INDEX PHOTOS

VIOLET BANK From Page V1

“The cucumber tree draws people from literally all over the world,” he said.

A Holly tree also on the property dates back even earlier, to 1790.

The federalist-style house remained in the Shore family until 1872. From June to November in 1864, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee used the house for five months during the Siege of Petersburg.

“Those are the very door frames that Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis — the who’s who in Southern history — walked in and out of those doors for almost five months,” he said.

Christie said the house was the ideal spot for Lee because of its clear view of Petersburg from the hillside.

“He had a wide open view right into downtown Petersburg,” he said. “Location is key.”

Although it was the Confederates who occupied the house for five months,

ABOVE: Since the Violet Bank property was once used as farmland, the bicentennial celebration held Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 17-18, included a petting zoo.

LEFT: Pictured is the front entrance of the 200-yearold Violet Bank house, which was built in 1815.

more Union artifacts were discovered.

“After Lee left here, two units of Union cavalry took over here for three days,” Christie said. “When we excavated, we found more Union stuff than we did Confederate … They left a lot of stuff, the Confederates left very little.”

After the war, the house passed hands to two

different private owners until 1905 when the property was purchased by the Greater Petersburg Realty Association. Christie said they turned the main house into a cattle barn, which was eventually torn down a decade later.

What’s left was then sold to Alice Pierpont, of the rich and famous Pierpont family out of New York. But

Christie said she described herself as “one of the Pierponts without money,” so she rented the rooms of the house out to soldiers at Fort Lee. She also held many community events at the house such as fairs, festivals and petting zoos, Christie said.

“It was a carnival atmosphere,” he said.

The property changed

hands again in 1948 when it was sold to American Legion Post 284 and served as its headquarters for 11 years. In 1959, the City of Colonial Heights acquired the property and used it as the city’s first Chamber of Commerce building and then housed the city’s first public library. Over the years it was home to several other early government offices such as the

Department of Youth and the building inspector.

The house became a fulltime museum in 1994. The museum interprets the time period from 1815 to 1873, with many Civil War artifacts and the only known gatling gun in Virginia.

Shelby Mertens may be reached at 804-722-5154 or smertens@progressindex.com

ABOVE: Military re-enactors set up camp and sing period songs under the “cucumber tree” at Violet Bank house for its 200th anniversary.

LEFT: A piglet in the petting zoo portion of the 200th anniversary celebration of the Violet Bank Museum in Colonial Heights checks out the many visitors that walked through the property Saturday, Oct. 17.

CURFEW From Page V1

would be in effect every day of the week and only apply to those under 18 years old who are not accompanied by an adult.

Faries said there will be some leeway.

“There are exceptions — if your parents know where you are, if you’re with an adult, or if you’re working,” he said.

Faries said officers get called out to the mall every weekend, which takes away

from their other duties.

“We end up being a bunch of babysitters out at the mall,” Faries said. “I’m not just talking about five or 10 kids, we’ve experienced hundreds of youth out there.”

“On a Friday or Saturday night, if you take one or two officers off the road you’re really diminishing our resources elsewhere,” he added.

The teens that swarm the area around Southpark Mall are from all over the Tri-Cities, according to Faries. Councilman

Kenneth B. Frenier asked if teenagers from surrounding localities are coming to Colonial Heights because of the longer curfew, to which the chief replied, “There’s no doubt that could be possible, but I couldn’t tell you that for a fact.”

Faries said the mall has a Youth Escort Policy, but said the staffing and resources are “not adequate.”

Faries said the movie theatre has said it will comply with city laws.

“They will not sell a ticket to anybody under age (unaccompanied by

a parent) … if the movie ends after 11 p.m. because they agree and abide by the curfew in that locality,” he said.

Regal Entertainment Group’s website states its admission policies “may vary by location due to state or local ordinances.”

The question arose whether a loitering ordinance would be more effective, but City Attorney Hugh P. Fischer III said setting a curfew would address the issue better.

“Loitering is very vague.

It’s really hard to enforce

it because the definition of loitering is very imprecise, it’s subject to be constitutionally challenged,” Fischer said. “The advantage of a curfew is specific time. It’s objective. If somebody’s out during those other times without the exception, you can cite them.”

Curfew violations may turn into trespassing, Faries said, which can lead to a slightly more serious charge.

All of the councilors said they would support changing the curfew.

“I’m not a big fan of

curfews, but under these circumstances if you want the mall to have a friendly, safe, family-oriented atmosphere, you need to take precautionary measures that are going to ensure that the police have the authority to manage it,” said Councilor John T. Wood.

The city’s staff will form recommendations to bring to council at a future meeting.

Shelby Mertens may be reached at 804-722-5154 or smertens@progressindex.com

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Friday, Oct. 23, 2015 | The Colonial Voice, Petersburg, Va.

Old Dominion Title and Escrow opens on the Boulevard

NEW TEAM MEMBER

Carl Arsenault joins Long & Foster’s TriCities Southpark From Contributed Report

The Colonial Heights Chamber of Commerce celebrated with Old Dominion Title & Escrow, located off the Boulevard in Colonial Heights, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 7. SHELBY MERTENS/PROGRESS-INDEX PHOTO

CASH 5

Colonial Heights woman wins $300K with three lottery tickets From Contributed Report

COLONIAL HEIGHTS — In addition to being lucky, Sang Han is a patient person. The Colonial Heights woman won $300,000 playing the Virginia Lottery’s Cash 5 game and waited more than three months to claim her prize.

She had three tickets in the June 25 day drawing that each matched all five numbers to win the $100,000 top prize, a total of $300,000. Those winning numbers were 2-7-9-12-17, which she selected using a combination of family birthdays.

She bought the winning

plans.

Cash 5 drawings are held daily at 1:59 p.m. and 11 p.m. The chances of winning the $100,000 top prize are 1 in 278,256.

When it comes to education, the Virginia Lottery is game. In fact, it’s the reason we play. We generate more than $1.4 million per day for Virginia’s K-12 public schools. Operating entirely on revenue from the sale of Lottery products, the Virginia Lottery Sang Han of Colonial Heights won $300,000 playing the Virginia Lottery’s Cash 5 game. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO generated nearly $534 million for Virginia’s tickets at the 7-Eleven at shortly after the drawing public schools in Fiscal 6131 Jeff Davis Highway that she’d won big, but Year 2015. For more inforshe waited until October mation, visit the website, in Richmond.

The small business to redeem her tickets so www.valottery.com owner said she discovered she could make financial

COLONIAL HEIGHTS

Trail expansion moving forward

By Shelby Mertens Staff Writer

COLONIAL HEIGHTS — Plans to expand the Appomattox River Greenway Trail, a part of the Colonial Heights Appomattox River Trail System, are moving along as the City Council approved the next phase of the project.

At the Oct. 13 meeting, the Colonial Heights City Council authorized City Manager Thomas Mattis to enter a standard project administration agreement with VDOT to begin planning the fifth phase.

The city has been accepted into the federal Transportation Alternatives Program, which requires the city to match 20 percent of the funds.

“It’s just the next step in the process,” Mattis said.

The walking and bike trail, along the Appomattox River from Roslyn Landing Park, will be 2 miles total.

The project is meant to attract residents to utilizing the river and the trails as a mode of “green” transportation and recreational activity.

Picnic tables, a Gazebo, fishing areas and boat and canoe launches can be found along the trail, not to mention a stunning

view of the region’s key waterway.

Phase four of the project is currently underway, which costs $760,000 with $659,000 of construction cost, and is expected to be completed soon. The cost includes a long-term easement from the Army Corps of Engineers.

The project totals about $1.5 million, with $1.2 million coming from grant funding. VDOT and the Cameron Foundation have provided funds for the trail system.

The city does not know what the cost will be for phase five until the initial planning is complete, Mattis stated in an email, “after which a decision will be made as to whether the project is viable.”

As of October 2014, the trail was reported to be 1 and ¾ miles long and 80 percent complete. There were some setbacks with soil conditions and other issues that delayed the process. The project was reported in 2008 to be completed by 2012.

The City Council lamented on the fact that so far the trail has been a hit with locals.

“The amount of traffic that’s on our present trail is really utilized by the citizens,” said Councilor

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Kenneth Frenier. “The longer we make it, the better it’ll be.”

Mayor Gregory Kochuba echoed Frenier’s comment saying, “I think it’s an exciting time that we’re not only getting ready to complete phase four, we’re already looking at phase five as

we continue. No matter where you go, it seems like the trails are becoming extremely popular for people walking and riding their bikes.”

Shelby Mertens may be reached at 804-722-5154 or smertens@progressindex.com

COLONIAL HEIGHTS — Long & Foster Real Estate welcomes Carl Arsenault as a sales associate in its Tri-Cities Southpark office at 601 Southpark Boulevard.

“We are excited to announce Carl Arsenault has joined our team of highly trained professionals,” said Gary Scott, president of Long & Foster Real Estate. “As the No. 1 brokerage in the Mid-Atlantic region, we operate with an agentfirst mentality. We look forward to the energetic partnership Carl has created by deciding to join the industry-leading TriCities Southpark office and our company.”

Arsenault, a professional in the real estate industry for the past five years, was a top producer with another local firm where he was awarded The Fred C. Morene Rookie of the Year. He was on the Southside Virginia Association of Realtors Education Committee for five years. In addition, he holds the prestigious Graduate, Realtor Institute designation of advanced real estate.

Arsenault lives with his wife, Diana, in Chester. Arsenault also has a bachelor’s degree in history from Framingham State University and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Bentley University.

“Long & Foster continues to lead the way with cutting-edge tools and technology, which attracts top real estate professionals such as Carl,” explained Nancy Steinke, manager of Long & Foster’s Tri-Cities Southpark office. “With the best-trained, bestequipped agents, Long & Foster continues to help Tri-Cities area buyers and sellers reach their homeownership goals.”

Carl Arsenault has joined Long & Foster Real Estate as a sales associate in the company’s Tri-Cities Southpark office at 601 Southpark Boulevard in Colonial Heights. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Long & Foster Real Estate Inc., is the largest family-owned residential real estate company in the United States. The company is part of The Long & Foster Companies, which also includes Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC, Long & Foster Insurance and Long & Foster Settlement Services. Long & Foster Real Estate is the exclusive affiliate for Christie’s International Real Estate throughout select parts of the MidAtlantic and Northeast, and it is a founding affiliate of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, a prestigious global network of real estate professionals that includes the Luxur y Portfolio International division.

Long & Foster Real Estate has over 200 offices, stretching from Raleigh, N.C., to Princeton, N. J., and from Charles Town, W.Va., to the Atlantic Ocean, and it represents more than 11,000 agents in seven Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states, plus the District of Columbia.

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They fought cancer & survived.

Read their stories of courage and perseverance.

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The Colonial Voice, Petersburg, Va. | Friday, Oct. 23, 2015

V5

CROSS COUNTRY MEET

DISTRICT D

Matoaca, Thomas Dale teams win Central District championships

Author addresses retired educators

In boys varsity 5000 meter run, Colonial Heights’ Natham Cabrera-Vasquez finished 11th From Staff Reports

CHESTERFIELD — Seven schools competed in the Central District Cross Country Championships at Pocahontas State Park on Thursday, Oct. 15. Coming out on top were Matoaca for the boys and Thomas Dale for the girls.

In the boys varsity 5000 meter run, Matoaca’s Tucker McKay led the charge as he sprinted home to capture first place with a time of 17:34.97. Powering to the finish behind him was Dinwiddie’s Andrew Avery, who finished second with a time of 17:38.73.

Lucas Daugherty of Thomas Dale took third with a time of 17:50.22.

Matoaca had four finishers in the top six with Nathan Arapoff finishing fourth, (17:52.21), Justin Blanks fifth (17:59.41) and Matthew Patterson sixth (18:11.77).

Rounding out the top ten from seventh to tenth were Hopewell’s Sean Hudson (18:14.95), Matoaca’s Cullen Hoover (18:20.66), Thomas Dale’s Michael Tres (18:27.98) and Prince George’s Tarik Samuel (18:34.08).

Colonial Heights’ Natham

Cabrera-Vasquez finished 11th with a time of 18:36.23.

Jamal and Aaron Evans of Petersburg finished 17th and 18th, respectively, with respective times of 19:21.05 and 19:22.48.

Matoaca won the varsity boys race with a total of 24 points, followed by Thomas Dale in 2nd (64), Prince George in 3rd (93), Dinwiddie in 4th (104), Hopewell in 5th (145), Colonial Heights in 6th (152) and Petersburg in 7th (154).

In the girls varsity 5000 meter run, Thomas Dale’s Morgan Waddill finished ahead of the rest of the field by nearly a full minute as she won first place with a time of 21:55.24. Matoaca’s Chloe Pedrick took second with a 22:53.96 and Prince George’s Milissa Harris finished third with a 23:00.86.

Rounding out the top ten from fourth to tenth were Tiara Blevins (Matoaca, 23:12.40), Madalyn Roseberry (Thomas Dale, 23:14.87), Jordyn Handka (Dinwiddie, 23:22.70), Anna Pope (Thomas Dale, 23:44.82), Kristen English (Hopewell, 23:46.53), Addison Winter (Matoaca, 23:49.56) and Kamille Green

(Prince George, 23:57.08).

Jesslyn McCartney of Colonial Heights had a time of 27:27.71 and Dominique Hill of Petersburg had a 31:08.45.

Thomas Dale won the varsity girls race with a total of 36, followed by Matoaca in 2nd (45), Prince George in 3rd (65), Dinwiddie in 4th (104) and Hopewell in 5th (109). Colonial Heights and Petersburg did not field enough runners to have team results.

With 25 runners in the boys subvarsity race, Matoaca swept the top seven spots and put 13 of their runners in the top 14. Michael Harkness (18:39.57), Jacorey Flood (19:23.81) and Derek Strayhorn (19:31.49) took first, second and third, respectively. With an 8th place finish and a time of 21:09.93, Dylan Nester of Thomas Dale prevented an all-Matoaca top 10.

Desi Jo Haworth of Prince George powered home to finish first in the girls sub-varsity race with a time of 23:41.96. Caroline Johnson (26:36.78) and Mikah Roseberry (28:35.87), both of Thomas Dale, finished second and third, respectively.

Colonial Heights Retired School Personnel Association hosts event From Contributed Report

Matoaca’s Michael Harkness takes on the final stretch before leading a sweep of the top seven with a first place finish in the boys subvarsity race in the Central District Cross Country Championships on Thursday, Oct. 15. NICHOLAS VANDELOECHT/ PROGRESS-INDEX PHOTO.

HOPEWELL 47, COLONIAL HEIGHTS 14

Blue Devils dominate visiting Colonials From Staff Reports

HOPEWELL — Homecoming crowds?

Check. A determined Colonial Heights team coming in to do battle?

Check.

A win? A great big check-plus.

The hosting Blue Devils shot out to a 19-0 lead in the first quarter en route to their 47-14 victory over the Colonials.

Hopewell piled up the scores early with a 29-yard missile of a pass from Cameren Hill to Ronnie Monroe and rushing scores by Nas Cooper (one yard), R o n n i e Wa l k e r ( 3 4 yards) and Anthony Crawford (18 yards) in that order.

And they still had most of the second quarter left to play.

Jacob Rockwell kept the scoring onslaught

his team on the board, 39-7, with two minutes remaining in the half.

But Hopewell wasn’t done scoring in the second quarter, as Jarey Allen took an interception to the endzone for the score, and Hopewell pulled off the two-point conversion pass.

The third quarter wrapped up without a score, and Devinne Edwards of Colonial Heights ran 50 yards to the house in the fourth for the lone TD of the second half.

Despite the loss, the Colonials’ Darien Canada had 20 carries for 107 yards and a touchdown.

Colonial Heights snaps the ball against Hopewell during the Blue Devil’s 48-14 win over the Colonials at Merner Field in Hopewell on Friday night, Oct. Jared Morgan had five receptions for 34 yards.

16. CHARVE BYNUM/PROGRESS-INDEX PHOTO Colonial Heights (3-4) coming with a six-yard had recovered a fumble — a lot of game still left. next hosts Dinwiddie And the Colonials took and Hopewell, now 5-2, touchdown run. Then, for Hopewell, to make it advantage with Darien will host Matoaca - both Reggie Jones ran into 39-0.

Eight minutes, or two- Canada tearing down games on the same night, the endzone for a touchdown of his own, not thirds of the second half the field for the 40-yard Friday, Oct. 23. long after Deliyon Drew remained at this point touchdown run to put

COLONIAL HEIGHTS — Debora Kerr, noted author and writing advocate, talks with members of District D of the Virginia Retired Teachers Association during the organization’s recent meeting at Highland United Methodist Church, 125 E. Westover Ave. The Colonial Heights Retired School Personnel Association hosted the event.

Kerr, whose books are published worldwide, encouraged those who wished to write in retirement to use the many resources of the Internet.

“The World Wide Web has made publishing easy for writers, and they should take advantage of it,” Kerr said.

District D comprises 13 counties of Southside Virginia and the independent cities of Colonial Heights, Emporia, Hopewell and Petersburg. The organization functions as an advocate for all retired school personnel, students, teachers and administrators. It uses the resources and experiences of its membership to help achieve excellence in education in the Commonwealth.

Author Debora Kerr talks with members of District D of the Virginia Retired Teachers Association during the organization’s recent meeting at Highland United Methodist Church in Colonial Heights. PHOTO COURTESY OF HERB GREENE

DISTRICT CHEERLEADING TOURNAMENT

Colonial Heights one of six cheer teams competing Dinwiddie wins tourney, with Thomas Dale taking second and Prince George finishing third From Staff Reports

Members of the Colonial Heights cheerleaders prepare to start their routine for the Central District Championships held Oct. 12 at Dinwiddie High School. NICHOLAS VANDELOECHT/PROGRESS-INDEX PHOTO.

THOMAS DALE 1, COLONIAL HEIGHTS 0

Knights field hockey earns first win of season From Staff Reports

CHESTER — The wait is over.

Thomas Dale has erased that goose egg from the wins column with a 1-0 victory over visiting Colonial Heights on Monday, Oct. 12.

“We did it!” Thomas Dale Field Hockey head coach Logan Mason said, adding of her team: “They deserve it. They worked hard, they kept their

spirits high all season from a no winning season to this.

“They deserve to feel something after we’ve gone this far,” Mason said.

“I’m proud of them.”

It was the Knights’ first win against the Colonials this season. Ironically, Colonial Heights had earned their first win of the year in an earlier matchup against Thomas Dale with goals by the Colonials’ Casey Ridpath (2), Madison Whitfield (1)

“They deserve to feel something after we’ve gone this far, I’m proud of them.”

—Thomas Dale Field Hockey head coach Logan Mason

and Allie Sarinana (1) with the Knights’ Brenna Crites having scored a goal.

But this time around, Abby Sloan knocked in the lone tally of the first half and the game as her Knights prevented the Colonials from scoring to win the second meeting between the two teams in 2015.

Sloan knocked in the goal with 17:03 left in the first half.

RIGHT: Thomas Dale’s Abby Sloan (left) takes on Colonial Heights’ Olivia Bitner in a close contest that the Knights would win over the Colonials 1-0 on Monday, Oct. 12. NICHOLAS VANDELOECHT/ PROGRESS-INDEX PHOTO.

DINWIDDIE — Young fans and the Dinwiddie Generals football team ran to the center of the Dinwiddie High School gym floor to celebrate the victor y of their cheerleaders, who won the 2015 Central D i s t r i c t Inv i t a t i o n a l

championship Monday evening, Oct. 12.

Dinwiddie took top honors out of six teams, performing last with a high-intensity routine. Taking second was Thomas Dale, with Prince George finishing third.

Also competing were Colonial Heights, Hopewell and Matoaca.

V6

Friday, Oct. 23, 2015 | The Colonial Voice, Petersburg, Va.

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