Features

Chesterfield has new state trooper: Thacker previously was in the Marine Corps

By Becky Wright on March 26, 2019 Features, Police

Jaleel Thacker stands next to his patrol car. (Caleb M. Soptelean photo) Chester resident Jaleel Clayton Thacker is on patrol in Chesterfield County as a newly sworn Virginia State Trooper. On Feb. 15, Thacker graduated with 79 other new state troopers after completing 1,300 hours of classroom and field instruction in more than 100 subjects, including defensive tactics, crime scene investigation, ethics and leadership, survival Spanish, police professionalism, firearms, judicial procedures, officer survival, cultural diversity and crisis management. “The police academy wasn’t quite what I expected,” Thacker said. “It was far more challenging than I anticipated it to be, which…

Dear Abishag: Damon writes second book about Biblical women

By Ellie Browning on March 19, 2019 Community, Features

Roberta M. Damon, an 84-year-old Chester resident, recently debuted her second book in a series, “Dear Abishag: Letters to Little Known Women of the Bible.” The book, which was released in December, is a sequel to Damon’s first book: “Dear Mrs. Noah: Letters to Unnamed Women of the Bible.” Similar to her previous book, Dear Abishag is accompanied by the illustrations of her granddaughter, Melissa Damon. The book contains 30 chapters. Each is embodied with a descriptive letter to or from somewhat unknown women, such as Abishag, Jael, Keturah, Susanna and Zipporah. “So often we think of all things Biblical…

D’Elia creates ‘spark’ at Salem Church Middle

By Danielle Ozbat on March 20, 2018 Features

A typical day in Janine D’Elia’s science class starts off with a warmup to activate her students’ knowledge, segues into the lesson plan of the day, and wraps the day up with an activity. This allows her students to be actively engaged and always moving in the classroom, which she said she hopes is a fun place to be. “I teach through the lens of inquiry. My kids are scientists and they need to be able to figure things out, and I hope I develop those STEM skills. We do project-based learning and problem-based learning, so they have to figure…

Village News welcomes new editor/reporter

By VN Staff on March 8, 2018 Features

Chester by way of Montana. That’s the route of Caleb M. Soptelean, the Village News’s new editor/reporter. Soptelean comes to the newspaper with 20 years of experience as either a newspaper reporter or editor. He fills the position of founding editor Mark Fausz, who plans to enjoy his retirement years as much as possible. Soptelean, 47, grew up in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in rural eastern Ohio, about 65 miles of Pittsburgh. He is pleased to be back in the Old Dominion, closer to his daughters in Hampton Roads. He has covered a variety of beats over the…

Young students hold school supply drive for students on Barbuda

By Melissa Wilfong on September 18, 2017 Community, Features, Personal Finance

Barbuda is just a little island of approximately 1,600 villagers in the Caribbean. Hurricane Irma touched down in Barbuda on Sept. 5, ravaging the area with winds of 185 miles per hour. Barbuda is just a little island of approximately 1,600 villagers in the Caribbean. Hurricane Irma touched down in Barbuda on Sept. 5, ravaging the area with winds of 185 miles per hour. One teacher at Curtis Elementary School calls Barbuda home. Deborah Parker, early-learning specialist, started updating all her fellow teachers about the destruction in her home just around the time the storm came into the area. “Please pray for…

Obelisk, cross, no entry

By Mark Fausz on August 3, 2017 Community, Features, History

The Henricus bluff before the development of Henricus Historical Park. Circa 1980. The monument commemorates the first hospital in America and the Varina parish wish eventually became Saint john’s church. At Henricus Historical Park, the church famous for Patrick Henry’s “give me liberty or give me death” speech is commemorated with a cross. An obelisk near it commemorates the first university in the colonies that would become the United States. ” I came to work for Henrico County in 1977 and I was an assistant county manager. We reorganized in ‘78 and I became deputy county manager,” said George…

House of Lace, Labor of Love

By Linda Fausz on July 5, 2017 Community, Features

BY L. FAUSZ The “Lace House,” a legacy piece of the former owners of Meadowbrook, has returned to the gardens of its current owner, Meadowbrook Country Club. Known as a summer house, a replica now watches over the reflecting pool and the restored Charles Gillette gardens, thanks to the vision and seven-year effort that included lots of work, lots of hours, and lots of fundraising by the Women’s Club of Meadowbrook and committee members of the Gillette Gardens at Meadowbrook Inc., a public charity. Committee members, invited guests, and descendants of the original creators of the gardens dedicated the Lace…

THE LASHLEY'S STRAW BALE GARDEN

Mixing Bowl- Straw bale garden

By Press release on May 11, 2017 Commentary, Features, Mixing Bowl, Outdoors

Spring is in full swing, and along with allergies it brings us longer days, warmer temperatures, and the perfect time to plant for summer. The Lashley family has always been ambitious when it comes to gardening (notice I did not say successful). We plant at least 12 tomato plants every year, along with cucumbers, peppers, potatoes, herbs, cantaloupes, watermelons, and strawberries. We love the thought of growing our own food, and we are big on canning. Unfortunately, last year was a huge disappointment. Our tomatoes were scraggly at best, producing just enough for our family to eat. The cucumbers were…

Dolls on a Mission

By Linda Fausz on April 14, 2017 Features

After three years, a prayer has been answered for Ray Spivey. She wanted to use her basement for a Christian ministry, and it has grown in her words “like wildfire.” Four volunteers came together in 2014 to fulfill a request from a local church that wanted 300 dolls for a mission trip to Nicaragua. These dolls were just not any dolls; they were hand-made salvation dolls. After the 300 were made, they were told they did not need them anymore for the mission trip. Not letting the news disappoint them, they found an alternate. “The Lord had a different plan…

County continues to celebrate black history

By Becky Wright on February 15, 2017 Community, Features, Uncategorized

A mural of Howard L. Baugh in the Chesterfield County Airport, painted by Maggie O’Leary, is a token of honor for this member of the Tuskegee Airman, those who served bravely and boldly in World War II. Baugh passed away Aug. 23, 2008, but his legacy lives on. The decorated soldier was born in Petersburg, graduated from Virginia State College (now VSU), and later in his life resided in Chesterfield. Baugh earned many honors during his dedicated career including the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Outstanding…

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