Outdoors

Local women train for marathon: Murphy, Moody aim to raise funds for cures

By Ellie Browning on September 10, 2019 Health, Outdoors

Amanda Moody and Frances Murphy are training for the Chicago Marathon. (Ellie Browning photo) Accumulating miles on foot around Chester is just one small task for two friends who have decided to prepare for the Chicago Marathon. Chesterfield resident Frances Murphy is running to raise funds for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. Murphy’s friend Amanda Moody will be running to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society because her husband, Art, suffers from Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Murphy originally found her passion for running over 25 years ago from a friend, but she recently began showing her support as a marathoner for the…

County gets update on FOLAR trail progress

By Caleb M Soptelean on September 10, 2019 Outdoors

Heather Barrar An overlook at Virginia State University opened in the spring. Little by little, the Friends of the Lower Appomattox River are making progress. FOLAR representative Heather Barrar updated county officials about trails in the area during the Aug. 28 Board of Supervisors work session. “We brought $2.5 million of improvements to the region over 20 years,” Barrar said. This has resulted in 20-plus miles of trails in an area that includes parts of Chesterfield, Dinwiddie and Prince George counties and the cities of Colonial Heights, Hopewell and Petersburg. Two trails have been built in Chesterfield and another is…

New at Crater Community Hospice

By Press release on September 10, 2019 Community, Health

Tabatha F. Mitchell is the new admissions nurse at Crater Community Hospice. The Chesterfield resident is a graduate of the Bon Secours Memorial School of Nursing. (Courtesy photo)

Agreement reached for new access to Henricus, Dutch Gap, boat ramp

By Caleb M Soptelean on September 2, 2019 Chesterfield Government, Outdoors

James Beazley and Scott Zaremba spoke at a board of supervisors work session Aug. 28. A memorandum of understanding between Dominion Energy and Chesterfield County regarding access to Henricus Historical Park, Dutch Gap Conservation area and boat ramp was unanimously approved Aug. 28 by the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors as part of the consent agenda. Dominion had already signed off on the deal, which calls on the utility to reimburse the county up to $1.1 million for engineering services it provides to bring the plan into fruition. Dominion representative James Beazley and deputy county administrator for community operations Scott…

‘Tell me more’ Chester businesswoman helps divert would-be suicide victims

By Diane Merryman on August 27, 2019 Events, Health

Alicia Amsler Models are pictured during a previous Runway 2 Life event. (Instagram) Alicia Amsler knows far more about mental illness and depression than she ever thought she would need to know. She knows the statistics like the back of her hand, but the real gem in a conversation with her is her passion for helping people who have thoughts about suicide. In 2012, Amsler, owner of Alicia’s Salon and Day Spa at 6241 Centralia Road in the Chesterfield Meadows Shopping Center, lost one of her employees to suicide. A year later she lost a dear friend to suicide. At…

Chesterfield Cooperative Extension offers well water testing

By Press release on August 13, 2019 Chesterfield Government, Health

Private water sources like wells and springs are unregulated in Virginia, but Chesterfield County is offering homeowners an affordable opportunity to find out what’s in their water. Chesterfield’s Cooperative Extension Office is offering confidential water testing and education through the Virginia Household Water Quality Program. Water sample kits are available to residents of Chesterfield and surrounding counties at a cost of $60 per kit. Samples are collected by homeowners and analyzed for 14 parameters including bacteria, metals, nitrate and hardness. Testing results are kept strictly confidential and are reported only to the homeowner. Recommendations for water system care and maintenance…

County utilizing mobile playground unit

By Press release on August 13, 2019 Chesterfield Government, Outdoors

Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation recently used a $30,000 grant to purchase a mobile playground unit. The unit was delivered Aug. 5 and was used the next day during National Night Out at Bensley Park. The play space grant was provided by the National Recreation and Park Association and The Walt Disney Co. This investment supports NRPA’s and Disney’s combined goal of providing one million kids and families with greater access to play. Agencies with the most innovative and impactful project ideas were chosen to receive grants to build their projects. “We are very excited to receive this funding,” Chesterfield…

Legionella bacteria discovered in Chesterfield County

By Becky Wright on August 13, 2019 Chesterfield Government, Health

The Chesterfield Health District is investigating an increase in the number of cases of Legionnaires’ disease. Since May 1, there have been 11 confirmed cases among older adults and persons with medical conditions. Legionella bacteria has been found at the U.S. Defense Supply Center, Falling Creek Middle School, Reynolds Metal Co., Johnston-Willis Hospital, Ice Zone and two schools in the Midlothian area, Midlothian Middle and Greenfield Elementary, according to the Chesterfield County Department of Health. Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia (lung infection) caused by Legionella bacteria, which naturally occurs in lakes and streams. Legionella can become a health…

Shelter dogs head out on high adventures

By Becky Wright on August 6, 2019 Community, Outdoors

It’s a team effort for the success of shelter dogs, and the pooches are loving it. Chesterfield Animal Services has teamed up with Ring Dog Rescue and Canine Adventure to give shelter dogs better lives and better chances of being adopted. All breeds of dogs are included in the program. “Ring Dog reached out to us and wanted to provide help and assistance to the animal shelter,” Chesterfield County Animal Services manager Carrie Jones said. “One of their ideas was to partner with Canine Adventure to provide an exercise program for the shelter dogs. The collaboration began, and the program…

Repurposing Beulah Elementary: Parks and Rec to get new admin offices

By Caleb M Soptelean on July 30, 2019 Chesterfield Government, Outdoors

A new office for Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation staff is in the works. On July 16, the county Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval for a conditional use permit to convert the old Beulah Elementary School at 4216 Beulah Road into government offices. County parks official Stuart Connock said the department is excited to have the opportunity to reuse the school, which became vacant when a new Beulah Elementary opened at 5441 Beulah Road last fall. Connock said the county plans to convert part of the old school into offices for 35 Parks and Rec employees and increase the available…

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