Community

Sen. Joe Morrissey

Morrissey touts passage of sentencing bill

By Caleb M Soptelean on November 11, 2020 Community, State News

Special session recesses after 60 days A bill waiting to be signed by Gov. Ralph Northam, (D) would be “literally transformational in Virginia,” according to its chief sponsor, Sen. Joe Morrissey (D-Richmond). SB 5007 would give defendants the option of a judge sentencing them if convicted following a trial by jury. The vast majority of states currently allow sentencing by a judge. “[Sen.] Creigh Deeds said it’s the most important criminal justice legislation we’ve done in 20 years,” Morrissey said Oct. 17, the day after the General Assembly finished most of its work in a special session. Morrissey said he…

Third group of students back in school buildings Oct. 26

By Caleb M Soptelean on November 11, 2020 School Board

During a school board meeting Oct. 13, Chesterfield County Public Schools superintendent Merv Daugherty announced that Cohort 3 will begin returning to classrooms two days a week on Oct. 26. That group of students, which includes grades 4 and 5, along with career and technical education high school students, will continue to have virtual online instruction two days a week. Daugherty noted that the district’s health panel made the recommendation based on health data related to COVID-19. During public comment, Bermuda resident Carrie Watko encouraged the district to bring all students back to school with a distance of three feet…

Point of Rocks: A place of history

By Linda Fausz on October 15, 2020 Community, History

Chesterfield County has so much history, more than what most might learn during their school years, unless one takes an interest during the college years. We celebrated Christopher Columbus this week with a federal holiday, remembering his voyages and discovery of the Americas in October, 1492. A little more than a hundred years later, colonists settled in the Citie of Henricus, or as many may call the area, Dutch Gap. We are well aware of the Civil War history all around us. For those who want to learn more of that Civil War history the Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia…

Chester Library welcomes visitors starting Monday

By Press release on October 15, 2020 Community

The Chesterfield County Public Library’s Chester Library will reopen to the public Monday, Oct. 19. Chester Library is the fourth library to reinstate public hours since the start of the lockdown. Hours at the open locations are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. All CCPL locations closed to the public Monday, March 16, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Central, Meadowdale, and North Courthouse Road reopened in June. All locations continue to offer “virtual learning pods.” These are spaces that allow students, teachers and teleworkers access to spaces…

Chesterfield County Complex Saturday Ride

By Press release on October 15, 2020 Community

A fun and social bicycle group ride around the County Complex will take place each Saturday, the first being scheduled Oct. 3 at 8:30 a.m. and will continue each Saturday. The hours may change in November when the weather gets a little cooler. The ride starts at the Central Library, 7051 Lucy Corr Blvd. Parking is allowed on the Lori Road side of the Library. The route is 5.5 miles, with one outer loop and two inner loops. It also includes two fun and relaxing roundabouts. The terrain is “5” and mainly flat. This ride is at a “B/C” pace…

Chesterfield Government Citizens Academy goes virtual

By Press release on October 15, 2020 Chesterfield Government

Registration now open for fall session, to begin next week After postponing the spring Government Citizens Academy due to COVID-19, the Department of Citizen Information and Resources is excited to announce that the fall Government Citizens Academy session will be offered online on Tuesdays and Thursdays from Oct. 22 to Dec. 19. The sessions will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. The Government Citizens Academy offers for citizens the opportunity to learn about their local government, participate in interactive sessions, provide feedback about the county’s work, and opportunities to meet local government leaders. Learn more and apply for…

Cinema Cafe scheduled to open next month

By VN Staff on October 15, 2020 Community

It’s been over 13 years since Chester residents have been able to see a movie at their own theater, but that will soon change with the opening of Cinema Cafe in November. Last week, social media was abuzz when a picture of the old Chester Cinemas made its rounds on Facebook and Twitter. Chester Cinemas operated for approximately 20 years before it was demolished to make way for the CVS that stands on the property today, located at what is today the corner of Weir Road and Jefferson Davis Highway. Other developments in the works include the ground breaking of…

Broken Leg Theater

Local Show Business

By Linda Fausz on October 15, 2020 Community

The show must go on for local theater group It’s in our genetics to perform. It’s just a matter of finding the right venue. Two Chesterfield residents, Heather Miles and Kristin Koontz, each found love for the theater arts at a young age. It continued to be the right venue for them as adults, but they found the resources limited around their home base. While working together on a few productions they formed an instant friendship. They met for coffee one day in 2014 and shared their dreams of starting a theater for all people in the area. Broken Leg…

Second cohort of students to return to classrooms Oct. 12

By Caleb M Soptelean on October 15, 2020 School Board

Chesterfield students in pre-K through third grade will be allowed to return to in-person instruction beginning Monday, Oct. 12. The announcement was made at the school board’s Sept. 29 meeting. The board followed the recommendation of the district’s health panel based on data related to COVID-19. In addition, the school board voted unanimously to add third-grade students to Cohort 2 and to add career technical education students to Cohort 3, which includes fourth and fifth grades. Deputy superintendent Thomas Taylor said the changes were being made to bring the district’s “hybrid education” model — which features in-person classes two days…

Bob Smet

New parks director starts at his post

By Press release on October 15, 2020 Chesterfield Government

Following a nationwide recruitment, Chesterfield County announced Robert Smet as its new director of Parks and Recreation. Smet, who served as the county’s assistant director of Parks and Recreation, began new role effective Oct. 1. He will replace James Worsley, who in August was appointed deputy county administrator for Human Services by the Board of Supervisors. With more than 25 years of management experience across various industries, Smet joined the Department of Parks and Recreation in 2012. As manager of the Rockwood Nature Center, he increased the center’s revenues by nearly 300 percent while greatly expanding the range of programs offered…

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