Guardian angel in the Dogpound
0Hello and welcome back to the wonderful world of the Dogpound. I hope you have been taking care of yourself, and as for myself, I have been struggling a bit with that issue. Nothing major mind you. No need to call 911 or anything like that; I have just had a few near-misses where I have been pushing my guardian angel to work overtime. For instance….the other day I got the “hungries” for some good old french fries. I like my fries extra crispy, while being soft and hot in the center. So happens my local grocery store was advertising…
New Beulah Elementary readies for opening day
0ABOVE: A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Tuesday, Aug. 14, at the new Beulah Elementary School at 5441 Beulah Road. From left are: county supervisors chair Dorothy Jaeckle, interim school superintendent Rusty Fairheart, school board member Carrie Coyner, school board member Dianne Smith, former school board member David Wyman, school board chair John Erbach, Beulah Elementary principal Christina Allen-Roach, former Beulah principal Mary Jean Hunt, county supervisor James Holland, state Rep. Riley Ingram, school board vice chair Rob Thompson, and county administrator Joe Casey.
July Jingle Run
0The Horn family participated in the July Jingle Run on July 28 at Pocahontas State Park. From left are Daniel Horn, Braydan Horn and Heather Horn, with “Little Horn” on her back. More than $9,000 was raised from the second annual event to benefit the Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Christmas Mother program. The funds collected will help more than 4,500 individuals with food, clothes, toys and books this December. The event featured a 5K Run/Walk and a 1K Kids Run that drew 176 runners and walkers.
EDA approves bond sale resolution, looks to sell land
0Last week, the Chesterfield Economic Development Authority unanimously approved a resolution of support for raising some $5.1 million for the Chesterfield Center for the Arts through a bond sale. EDA board chair John O’Neill said the Virginia Resources Authority wanted the EDA to approve the resolution by Sept. 21 so that bonds can be sold in mid-November. The county supervisors approved the $5.1 million allocation on June 27 by a 3-2 vote. The EDA previously issued $6.89 million in bonds and the county $2.67 million in bonds for the 22,000-square-foot arts center in Chester, which would include a 350-seat theater.…
Bright Beginnings: New clothes for a new school year
0ABOVE: A girl is about to enter Target last week as part of the Bright Beginnings’ shopping experience. Excitement was evident in the fluorescent-lit aisles of the Chester Target Aug. 13 as 24 children eagerly shopped for new back-to-school clothes with their designated shopping buddies. Students arrived by bus and were paired with their volunteers from the YMCA and various other charities as part of the Bright Beginnings program, a three-day event held before the start of school each year. Once paired, half of the group enjoyed a dinner of sandwiches and chips, while the other half shopped for new outfits.…
Summer theater campers produce Doctor Dolittle Jr.
0ABOVE: Some of the youngsters who participated in a 12-day-long summer theater camp at Swift Creek Mill Theatre are pictured above. CHESTERFIELD – Swift Creek Mill Theatre’s annual performance camp ran July 30 through Aug. 10. Thirty-four students learned hands-on 21st century skills by producing and starring in their own show. The Mill held public performances showcasing the students’ work on a classic tale of kindness to animals, Doctor Dolittle Jr., for packed houses on Friday and Saturday evenings. Over the two-week summer day camp, area kids ages 10 to 15 learned how to stage a professional play, auditioned for all…
Man gets 58 years for three Thanksgiving Day murders
0It looks as if a Chester man will spend the rest of his life in prison for killing his wife and two others on Thanksgiving night 2017. Chesterfield Circuit Court Judge T.J. Hauler last week sentenced Christopher Gattis, 59, to 100 years in prison with 45 suspended for each of three murder convictions that will run concurrently. Gattis also received three years for one conviction of using a firearm to commit a felony, which when added to the 55 from the murder convictions, results in a 58-year sentence. Two other firearms charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.…
Local architectural engineer is an artist and writer
1ABOVE: An example of Nikki Foreman’s paintings. Nikki Foreman isn’t particularly forward about her creative side. In fact, the architectural engineer is reluctant to even call herself an artist or writer, despite having completed countless works of art and written rough drafts for two novels. “I feel like such a fraud saying I am a writer, since I have never been published. I will never consider myself a writer until I actually finish something,” she explained. As far as her identity as an artist goes, Foreman experiences a lot of “insecurity at wondering if I am actually good at what…