Chesterfield Government

County opens second dog park

By Caleb M Soptelean on April 23, 2019 Chesterfield Government, Outdoors

Michele Deane brought greyhounds Beau and Haddie to Goyne Park last week for the opening of a dog park. Dog lovers now have another place to take their pets since a small dog area opened last week at Goyne Park behind Ecoff Elementary School, 5200 Ecoff Ave. Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation officials held a grand opening at the park Thursday afternoon, April 18. An agility course and large dog area are scheduled to open at the park in mid-July, Parks and Recreation planning and construction services chief Stuart Connock Jr. said. Until then, he said all dogs can use…

County officials address ‘food deserts’

By Caleb M Soptelean on April 23, 2019 Chesterfield Government, Planning & Zoning

Federal and state lawmakers recently called for legislation to help people in low-income neighborhoods get better access to fresh vegetables and other healthy foods. Four so-called “food deserts” exist within Chesterfield County, according to a 2017 map from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service. Although county officials say that food deserts exist in the county, they believe the issue has been exaggerated. Deputy county administrator Bill Dupler said that, although Chesterfield has some rural and urban areas, much of the county is suburban, so the rural and urban designations that the USDA used to create the map don’t…

New Harrowgate Elementary School coming

By Caleb M Soptelean on April 23, 2019 School Board, Schools

A new Harrowgate Elementary School is on the way after Chesterfield County officials broke ground at 4000 Cougar Trail last week. The new 782-student school will replace the current 760-student school located at 15501 Harrowgate Road, which was built in 1960. The new school will be built next to Carver Middle School, and local officials touted that as a benefit for students. School board member Carrie Coyner said the new Harrowgate School will be identical to the new Enon Elementary School. Harrowgate was originally supposed to be renovated, but because of a planned road (the East-West Corridor), county officials decided…

Subdivision going up near Jeff Davis Hwy/Route 288

By Caleb M Soptelean on April 23, 2019 Chesterfield Government, Development, Planning & Zoning

A Boyd Homes employee looks at site plans. Logging trucks were busy last week clearing for a new subdivision. An 84-home subdivision is in the works on the southeast corner of Jefferson Davis Highway and Route 288. A Boyd Homes spokesman said the plan is for the subdivision – which is north of Rio Vista Street with an access point behind the Bensley Bermuda Rescue Squad building – to be complete by Jan. 1, 2020. The community will be accessed from Elokomin and Arcadia avenues. Last week, workers were busy removing trees from the property. A site plan for the…

Supervisors approve FY20 budget

By Caleb M Soptelean on April 16, 2019 Board of Supervisors, Chesterfield Government

The Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a Fiscal Year 2020 budget last week that includes an additional $1.9 million in funding for Chesterfield Schools. Budget Director Meghan Coates noted that the $1.9 million deficit was created when the General Assembly’s budget did not match what Gov. Ralph Northam had proposed. The county made up the gap with contingency funds. Included as part of the budget was a real estate property tax rate of 95 cents per $100 of assessed value, which — although the same as last year — will result in a tax increase for most property…

Candidates file for primary, general elections

By Caleb M Soptelean on April 9, 2019 Politics

Former attorney and state legislator Joe Morrissey hugs a supporter during a April 3 campaign event at 4000 Jefferson Davis Highway. Morrissey – who started a radio talk show late last year that broadcasts from a studio in Chester – is challenging District 16 state Sen. Rosalyn Dance in the Democratic primary. Morrissey said Dance has taken over $32,000 from Dominion Energy, and he pledged to not accept any money from Dominion or any other corporation. (Courtesy photo) The candidates who have filed to run who represent the Village News’ coverage area are listed below. The primary election is June…

Paint Out Pollution event decorates storm sewers

By Caleb M Soptelean on April 2, 2019 Art, Chesterfield Government

Kevin Orlosky paints a monarch butterfly. They weren’t exactly painting the town red, but it was a colorful endeavor nonetheless. Chesterfield County joined with Art on Wheels and the James River Association for a “Paint Out Pollution” event last week, which involved painting storm drain covers. Kevin Orlosky, founder and program director of Art on Wheels, said he used a laser to cut out stencils based on renderings from artists in the Richmond region. Art included a monarch butterfly, beaver, mink, bald eagle, great blue heron, northern water snake, mallard and Prothonotary warbler. On Wednesday morning, March 27, eight people…

County and school leaders criticized during budget hearing; Recycling options also discussed

By Caleb M Soptelean on April 2, 2019 Board of Supervisors, Chesterfield Government, School Board

County supervisors got an earful during last week’s public hearing on the proposed budget. Several speakers criticized the school district for not cutting enough, while others asked for more funding for teachers’ salaries in addition to the 3 percent included in the proposed Fiscal Year 2020 budget. Midlothian resident Ron Hayes said the board of supervisors has not underfunded schools, and schools have not scrubbed their budget. He criticized the school district for funding swimming, rowing and lacrosse sports programs instead of putting a nurse in every school. He railed against the district paying $60,000 a year for a hotel…

County offers information about backyard chickens

By Becky Wright on March 26, 2019 Chesterfield Government, Community, Outdoors

Have you ever imagined of having your own little flock of chickens or gathering fresh eggs from your backyard? Good news: Chesterfield County allows backyard chickens. The Central Library presented a program March 16 about backyard chickens. Mike Persia, Virginia Tech Associate Professor and Extension Specialist, talked about chicken nutrition, housing, breeds and much more. State poultry specialist Kymberly Coffman emphasized the importance of getting birds from reputable and healthy flocks. Those who live in a residential-zoned areas may have up to six chickens and no roosters. Areas zoned for agriculture with 3 or less acres may have up to…

GTO cadets

By Press release on March 26, 2019 Chesterfield Government, Community

Brandon Garcia, Conner Ackerman, Christopher Brennan and C.J. Gallagher made up the first graduating class of Chesterfield’s Growth Through Opportunity Academy. Not pictured is Dakaree Mitchell. The academy teaches job skills and social experience to those with unique challenges. (Teresa Bonifas photo)

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