Community

School teacher supports Coyner

By Public Comment on October 22, 2019 Community, For the Record, Letters

I am ready for this election to be o-v-e-r as I have just about decided that, collectively, we have lost our minds. This occurred to me recently during a conversation with a friend about the Virginia House of Delegates race, during which my friend unapologetically said, “It’s party over people – it doesn’t matter what Carrie Coyner stands for or what she has done. You have to take that stand if you want the blue wave to have the impact we want.” First, and beyond the assuming pronoun “we,” I was completely taken aback that someone I consider to be…

Trade agreement the focus of roundtable

By Caleb M Soptelean on October 15, 2019 Economic Development, Politics

U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger talks last week while Billy Johnston listens. (Caleb M. Soptelean) U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger came to town Friday, Oct. 11, to talk about the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, which is commonly known as USMCA. The first-term congresswoman met for a roundtable of about 18 citizens and businesspeople at BizWorks, 2545 Bellwood Road. Spanberger is generally supportive of the agreement, and is focused on how it would impact prescription drugs. She noted that the Mexican government has approved it and thinks that Canada is basically waiting on U.S. approval. However, Canada has elections later this month, which could…

Q&A: What is the biggest issue facing Chesterfield?

By Caleb M Soptelean on October 15, 2019 Board of Supervisors, Chesterfield Government, Politics

Running each week through Oct. 30, the Village News will run an answer from a question posed to six Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors candidates. *incumbent Kevin Carroll, Matoaca (R) Managing growth and timely infrastructure improvements are always a challenge for any community. Chesterfield County’s population is estimated to be over 348,000. This is a 10-percent growth increase since the 2010 census. In the last 30 years, the area west of 360 and Old Hundred Road has continued to grow. The situation with traffic congestion during the morning and afternoon commutes is only going to deteriorate as more houses are…

Fall fashion show to benefit the James House

By Press release on October 15, 2019 Community, Events

A “brunch at Tiffany’s” fall fashion show and champagne luncheon will be held Nov. 13 to benefit The James House, which provides no-charge, confidential help to those affected by sexual or domestic violence and stalking. The Southside Virginia Association of Realtors will host the second-annual event at 11 a.m. at American Legion Post 284, 505 Springdale Ave., Colonial Heights. The event will begin at 11:30 a.m. Clothing will be modeled by SVAR members and provided by Dillard’s at Stony Point. Last year’s show featured multiple clothing categories, from sleepwear to slinky gowns, casual to cozy, holiday styles to picture-perfect professional.…

‘Unsung women of the civil rights movement’ coming Oct. 26

By Press release on October 15, 2019 Community, Events, History, Libraries

Theresa Ann Walker The Friends of Chesterfield County Public Library will host a fundraising event, featuring an interactive panel discussion called “The Role of Women in the Civil Rights Movement: The Chesterfield and Petersburg Experience.” The program – which will include Theresa Ann Walker, civil rights activist and widow of the Rev. Wyatt Tee Walker – will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at the Central Library, 7051 Lucy Corr Blvd, Chesterfield. The event is free, but registration is required. A networking reception is scheduled at 6 p.m. and has a $10 admission fee. The program…

Sturtevant an ‘independent voice,’ Hashmi on the left

By Caleb M Soptelean on October 15, 2019 Politics, State News

SturtevantHashmi In the race for state Senate District 10, which includes a northern section of the Dale District, incumbent Glen Sturtevant, R-Midlothian, labeled himself an “independent voice” while Democrat challenger Ghazala Hashmi, also of Midlothian, laid out a liberal agenda during a VPM forum Oct. 9. Sturtevant is an attorney who is nearing the end of a four-year term after defeating Dan Gecker by 2.66 percentage points in a 2015 race to succeed longtime state Sen. John Watkins. Sturtevant criticized Hashmi several times throughout the forum for calling on Gov. Ralph Northam to resign in lieu of his college blackface…

‘Totally … opposite ends of the spectrum’

By Caleb M Soptelean on October 15, 2019 Politics, State News

Bynum-Coleman Cox House Speaker Kirk Cox, R-Colonial Heights, and Democratic challenger Sheila Bynum-Coleman squared off during a candidate forum hosted Oct. 9 by VPM. The District 66 race could decide control of the House of Delegates, which the Republican Party has held since 1999. Cox said it was important that Republicans remain in control because of its pro-business credentials, citing an average Chamber of Commerce grade of “A” for Republicans and “D” for Democrats. In contrast, Bynum-Coleman said Democratic control would bring teacher pay raises to the national average, result in a minimum wage increase, protection for discrimination for lesbians,…

B-17 bomber crashes

By Press release on October 15, 2019 Community, For the Record, Military

The Nine-0-Nine – a U.S. Army B-17G Flying Fortress bomber that was built in 1944 and had visited the Chesterfield airport several times – crashed Oct. 2 at Bradley International Airport near Hartford, Conn. The aircraft was destroyed by fire, with only a portion of a wing and the tail remaining. In the wake of accident, the Collings Foundation suspended its flight operations and the Wings of Freedom Tour for the remainder of the 2019 season.

Legionella redux: Two board members grill Health Dept. officials, Coyner apologizes for it

By Caleb M Soptelean on October 15, 2019 Chesterfield Government, School Board

Legionella was a hot topic during last week’s Chesterfield school board meeting, with board members Rob Thompson and Javaid Siddiqi asking pointed questions of two state Department of Health officials. Thirteen county residents have been diagnosed with a disease caused by Legionella bacteria this year, a state Health Department official said, and bacteria was found in cooling towers at five area schools and a number of non-school locations, including Defense Supply Center Richmond, Ice Zone, Johnston-Willis Hospital and Reynolds Metal Co., over the summer. State epidemiologist Lillian Peake and Dr. Alexander Samuel, the county’s acting health director, spoke before the…

DAR helps at food bank

By Press release on October 15, 2019 Clubs, Community

Members of the Chesterfield chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution recently donated to the Chesterfield Food Bank. Since adopting the food bank as a service project last year, members have volunteered twice a month. Pictured from left are Betty Waltman, Peggy Lawrie, Shelby Chandler, Linda King, Janet DeOrio, Cathy Cheely and Enid Henderson, who volunteered Oct. 10 as part of the organization’s National Day of Service celebrating the organization’s founding on Oct. 11, 1890.

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