Community

Safety town: Columbia Gas completes work on employee training area

By Caleb M Soptelean on May 1, 2018 Community

A village not for living but for working: that’s what Columbia Gas recently developed to train its employees. The village, which is located at 1812 Coyote Drive next to other Columbia Gas offices, will provide a place where the company’s 400-plus employees can train with “real life” situations. “You don’t see much traditional classroom setting,” company spokesman Karl Brack said. The village is officially known as the emergency response safety town and consists of a mock neighborhood of mini-homes and businesses with functioning pipelines, meters and other natural gas facilities. From a command center in the village, instructors can create…

‘Goliath project’ approval could come in weeks, county official says

By Caleb M Soptelean on May 1, 2018 Chesterfield Government, Planning & Zoning

A project that has been slated to help replace the Tranlin project in northeast Chesterfield County is on a fast-track approval process. Greg Allen, the county’s planning manager, said last week that site plan approval for the “Goliath project” could come in the next few weeks. According to a site plan filed March 20 for Reynolds Real Estate Ventures LLC of Midlothian by Arizona-based developer Bob Gargaro, the 40.59-acre site allows for warehouses and offices. It is zoned I-3, or heavy industrial. The plan calls for a 5,000-square-foot office and 431,200-square-foot warehouse with a future building expansion area of 174,720…

Couple honored for their community work

By Linda Fausz on May 1, 2018 Community

When the Rev. David Thomas Lowman, a retired Presbyterian minister, and his wife Jean became residents of Chester Village Senior Apartments, they felt a void in the community and saw an opportunity to serve. They went to work and helped organize devotional Sunday services in the community’s dining hall, worked with resident groups to create social recreational activities, administered through prayer and communion, and gave comfort when needed to the bereaved and sick. Their service did not go unnoticed and with their announcement that it was time for them to step back on their volunteer duties, an appreciation banquet was…

Mid-Cities honors first responders

By Press release on May 1, 2018 Community

BELLWOOD – Mid-Cities Civic Association, which represents the Bellwood Community of the Jefferson Davis Highway Corridor, recently honored the Falling Creek Police Station, which opened in July 2017, as recipients of their annual First Responders Appreciation Dinner. “Having a police station along the corridor is something many residents advocated in support of for many years,” said Nick Curry, president of the association. “Having a station close-by not only affords the department an opportunity to be more engaged with our residents, but also affords our residents the opportunity to feel safe in their own homes knowing an officer could be right…

Chester Garden Club stays busy in the community

By Press release on May 1, 2018 Community

CHESTER – The Chester Garden Club offered a horticultural display for viewing at the Chester Library last week to recognize Virginia Historic Garden Week. The members identified each plant and cutting with its botanical and common names. “This is one way that the club shares and educates the community about plants, flowers and floral designs,” club member Mary Musselwhite said. The club’s beautification projects include the “Pocket Park” at the corner of West Hundred and Harrowgate roads and the Chester entrance sign on West Hundred Road, which can be viwed when coming from the courthouse. The club plants and maintains…

Lions launch vision screening van

By Press release on May 1, 2018 Community

CHESTER – Chester Lions were excited to learn that the Mobile Health Unit, which has been in the plans for the past five years, is done. Calvin Easter, vice-district governor for the area and treasurer for the Mobile Health Unit, spoke to the Chester Lions at their recent semi-monthly meeting. The van is 27 1/2 feet long and will house five work stations inside. Currently, it holds the machines that are used for screening vision. One of the van’s best features is that it takes care of the need to use black tents for the darkness necessary for the machines to…

Boy Scouts build mini-bridge for Richmond Railroad Museum

By Press release on May 1, 2018 Community

CHESTERFIELD – Connor Brooks and his crew of helpers saw an important need and they knew they could help. Because they did, the Richmond Railroad Museum has a new mini-bridge and Brooks is a step closer to his Eagle rank. Brooks’ Eagle project greatly improved the access and safety for the museum’s former Seaboard Coast Line caboose No. 21019 – one of the most popular attractions there. Joining Brooks were fellow Chester Troop No. 2815 Scouts Alex Anderson and Seth Kindberg. The museum thanked Brooks and his team for what they called “their enduring contribution to the museum.” The Old…

Farmer’s market to open Saturday

By Caleb M Soptelean on April 24, 2018 Events

Lauren Smith grew up on a farm, but when asked to help manage this Chester Farmer’s Market, her response was, “Hell no!” She later changed her mind, explaining that it is because she was already going to be involved with the market. “I just want everybody to be happy,” she said. Smith, 27, has been a vendor or vendor’s helper since Nicole Jordan and the Chester Community Association opened the market in 2008. She and her sister, Kristen, have helped their dad, Jerry Smith, with his vegetable stand and later branched out to offer their own items. Smith began selling…

Medication take-back is April 28

By Press release on April 24, 2018 Calendar

The Chesterfield County Police Department will help community members safely dispose of expired and unneeded medications on Saturday. The police department will host a medication take-back from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Manchester High School, 12601 Bailey Bridge Road. Police, volunteers and federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents will collect unused or expired prescription, over-the- counter and veterinary medications. Residents should leave medications in their original containers. Needles, syringes and other “sharps” will not be accepted. Turning in expired and unused medications helps prevent medication abuse and protect the environment.

Union Bank & Trust slated to build; other developments planned

By Caleb M Soptelean on April 24, 2018 Planning & Zoning

Union Bank & Trust is planning to open an office at 10620 Iron Bridge Road in front of a Kroger grocery store. Chesterfield County senior planner Jeff Lamson said the developer is building a 2,400-square-foot facility for the bank, which is headquartered in Richmond. According to the county website, the developers are Partners Belmont LLC and D.H. Bottoms Bridge LLC, both of Richmond. The prominent design feature inside and out is the north-facing, two-story glass box paired with a large, elevated wall that will provide customer messaging, Union Bank spokeswoman Beth Shivak said. The branch will have three drive-up lanes,…

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