Community enhancer: Cohen wants to work with land trust, improve access to trails
0Dan Cohen has plenty of ideas on how to enhance the community. Cohen, the director of the county’s year-old Community Enhancement Department, comes to Chesterfield with a wide range of experience from Orange County, Calif., Atlanta, Hampton Roads and Richmond. He noted that the county has a contract pending with the Maggie Walker Community Land Trust, an organization that plans to buy properties and build, rehabilitate and sell housing while keeping title to the land. Such a concept has unique opportunities for low-to-moderate income families, Cohen said, noting that the buyer would only have to pay for the home, which…
State budget may result in more teachers
0ABOVE: School board chair John Erbach speaks at the dedication of the new Buelah Elementary School last week. Chesterfield County schools could be getting an additional 27.5 teacher positions as a result of increased funding due to the state budget that was passed in May and signed into law in June. At its regular meeting on Aug. 14, the school board unanimously requested that the Board of Supervisors approve $1.5 million in funding for additional teachers and $977,250 for operational needs. The operational funds would be targeted for emergency repairs to equipment and infrastructure, such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning…
Trees in the Dogpound
0Hello and welcome back to the wonderful world of the Dogpound. Many a week I have sat here at the computer, wondering what I should write about. Then life comes and kicks me in the caboose. Like, ta-da! Here you go! As I have said many times, I am not mechanically inclined. I can mutter through, but I could not make a living at mechanics for sure. Anyway, I have a tree that is growing by my house, and it is nice to have a bit of shade from the morning sun. However, the branches are continually growing out and…
New coach, youth to lead the way at Meadowbrook
0Meadowbrook High posted another worthy performance in 2017. Despite a 4-6 regular season record, they qualified for the postseason for the fifth time in the past six seasons. While they ultimately fell to Hermitage 35-6, the Monarchs scored an impressive late season victory over Hopewell that propelled them into the playoffs. A coaching change headlined the offseason for Meadowbrook; Adam Tiller vacated the post, and is, now coaching at Colonial Heights. A graduate of L.C. Bird and former assistant for the Skyhawks under David Bedwell, Chamont Thompson takes the reins. “As a head coach, I’ll try to use the game…
Familiar face to lead Warriors gridiron squad
0ABOVE: Manny Hickman Matoaca struggled at times in 2017, playing to a 4-6 record and missing the postseason in a competitive region. Coach Derrick “D.L.” Johnson departed and will now lead one of the area’s top programs at Hermitage. Taking over the post is a familiar and capable hand in Jay Parker, who has served as an assistant and special teams coach for the Warriors and played his college football at Virginia State. “Coaching is simple to me,” Parker said. “If you get the kids to take on the mindset of the coach, you can be successful. Our guys already…
National Night Out
0ABOVE: Fred Martinez got his face painted by Hannah Daniels at the Mid-Cities Civic Association’s National Night Out festivities Tuesday, Aug. 7. Daniels, a member of the Beach Community Grange, volunteered to help at the annual event, which is designed to heighten awareness of crime and drug prevention efforts and strengthen neighborhood spirit and police‐community partnerships.
Buffalo Soldiers the topic at local banquet
0ABOVE: From left: Trooper John Nicholas, student hostess Tierra Wilcox, interim youth advisor Shawntell Greene, Trooper George Grady Sr., and student host Reginal Trent are pictured at a recent NAACP banquet. CHESTER – Dressed in uniform and surrounded by historic posters and documents, several Buffalo Soldier re-enactors were guests at the Chesterfield County’s Branch NAACP’s annual Freedom Fund Banquet Saturday, Aug. 4. Entertaining first with praise dancers and songs, Trooper George Grady Sr. gave a historic presentation of the Buffalo Soldiers. Grady spoke on the 9th and 10th Horse Cavalry, which were the last Buffalo Soldier divisions; Brig. Gen. Benjamin Davis…
Ettrick Park building dedicated to local doctor
0ABOVE: Matoaca district supervisor Steve Elswick is pictured with Dr. Samuel E. Busch, his wife, Dr. Joyce Busch, and daughter, Susan B. Bell, at the dedication of the Ettrick Park concession building. CHESTERFIELD — The concession building at Ettrick Park has been dedicated in honor of Dr. Samuel Busch, a local physician who has worked in the community for more than 40 years. The Samuel E. Busch Concession Building was recently renovated, and the dedication on Aug. 7 during the park’s annual National Night Out celebration came as a surprise to Busch. Busch has assisted in the birth of more than…