At a May 18 groundbreaking ceremony at John Tyler Community College, college president Edward “Ted” Raspiller announced the college’s new workforce center will be named the William H. Talley III Center for Workforce Development. Petersburg resident Talley is a longtime advocate of the college. The project, which will renovate the Nicholas Center and Bird Hall, will begin this summer and is slated to last 14 months.
CHESTERFIELD — Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Families First, a program of Chesterfield County’s Department of Mental Health Support Services, will host a month-long book and puzzle drive in June. Four donation centers will be set up across the county at select fire stations. Those stations are: Station 11 – Dale, 5811 Iron Bridge Road, North Chesterfield; Station 14 – Dutch Gap, 2711 W. Hundred Road, Chester; Station 20 – Courthouse Road, 201 Courthouse Road, North Chesterfield; and Station 7 – Clover Hill, 13810 Hull Street Road, Midlothian. Donations will be collected from 8 a.m to 7 p.m. Boxes will be set up…
CHESTERFIELD – Chesterfield County’s Cooperative Extension office was recently recognized statewide for its school garden program, which works with area partners to help kids grow gardens and learn about healthy eating habits. The school garden program won Virginia Cooperative Extension’s 2017 Program Excellence Award at the Virginia Extension Service Association’s annual conference. Chesterfield won in its district and the state category, winning $1,000 to go directly back into the gardening program. “The demand for hands-on school enrichment through 4-H gardens and horticulture has steadily increased,” 4-H extension agent Bethany Eigel said. “This award will help Chesterfield Extension to expand into…
William T. “Billy” Stubbs has an exceptional memory. His life story documenting nearly 95 years, encompasses childhood, school, friends, career and marriage. His wartime memories seem the most vivid as he shares his experiences as a Marine Corp veteran of the “War in the Pacific” and the loss of four friends. “Bensley was a very small community prior to World War II,” he said. “There were about 20 young men from the community that were drafted. All served overseas and four were killed in defense of our great country. We all went to Chester High School together. “Bruce Graham was…
ETTRICK – Train Day was moving right along until the conductor started singing. Then everything stopped, if but only for a moment. The second annual event was held Saturday at the Ettrick-Matoaca Library and drew quite a crowd in spite of the rain, library manager Angela Bennett said. She noted that 303 people attended this year’s event compared with 400 who attended last year. The event – a collaboration of community members and Chesterfield police – featured three miniature train displays, historical train paraphernalia, a story time for children with police officer Joey Kierson, singing by conductor Roger Reynolds, a…
Chief Steve Silverheels, son of Jay Silverheels (who played Tonto on the Lone Ranger TV show), will be the featured speaker at a June 3 revival service at Woodlawn Presbyterian Church, 1201 Blackstone Ave. in Hopewell. At the 11 a.m. service, Silverheels will be preaching and sharing about his life. According to Indian Life Newspaper, Steve’s parents separated when he was young, and he was an alcoholic and drug addict when he got out of the Army. Steve recounted an experience from April 18, 1974, when Jesus Christ delivered him from the addictions. A special music program will also be…
The Chesterfield Economic Development Authority approved two business expansion incentive grants last week. The $50,000 grants will require the recipients to complete construction and comply with performance goals before the funds are disbursed, assistant director Karen Aylward said. She noted that recipients have three years to satisfy the grant requirements. New Bell Trucklines of 13101 N. Enon Church Road plans to relocate to a site on Jefferson Davis Highway and build a $1.5 million facility, she said. The project will include a 950-square-foot truck terminal that would be used for truck repair and warehouse space. EDA director Garrett Hart said…
Three options are on the table for extending Nash Road from Beach Road to Route 10. The Chesterfield County Transportation Department is considering the options to relieve congestion, specifically left turns, from Beach Road onto Route 10 from 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. weekdays. County transportation director Jesse W. Smith said the county looked at widening Beach Road and concluded that would not remedy the problem. An informal community session was held Monday at the county’s Community Development Building. The county will be taking public comment on the three options. All of them are located west…
A two-story building with retail, restaurant and office space may be coming to Lori Road and Frith Lane. Myers Family Partnership of Chesterfield is planning a 4,585-square-foot building on 3.38 acres at 9800 Lori Road. Plans include a two-story building that would feature an 1,875-square-foot fast food restaurant and a 2,700-square-foot retail space on the first floor. A 2,400-square-foot second-floor office is planned for a later date. Forty-five parking spaces would be provided. The project includes a landscape plan on the 29.92-acre property, which is zoned commercial. Site plan approval is pending. •A Valvoline oil change business may be coming…
CHESTER – J. Richard “Dick” and Jeannine Commander recently received the 13th annual Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy, honoring their work with John Tyler Community College. Nominated for the award by the John Tyler Community College Foundation, the Commanders were recognized during a luncheon ceremony April 17. For more than 20 years, the Commanders have invested their time, talent and treasure to help Tyler students succeed. One example of their dedication is the Commander Family Scholarship, which was established in honor of the Commanders’ daughters. “Jeannine and Dick Commander embody a commitment to community,” said Edward “Ted” Raspiller, president…