Community

Marching Knights perform in Disney parade

By Press release on July 23, 2019 Activities, Community, Schools

The Thomas Dale High School Marching Knights traveled to Orlando during spring break in March. Students visited the Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Universal Studios. The highlight of the trip was marching in the evening parade at Disney’s Magic Kingdom on March 29. The band explored backstage and performed on a half-mile parade route traveling right past the castle at the center of the park. The group was led by their director, Sarah Klinger, and one of their associate directors, Madeline Barker. Front row, from left, Martha Tyler, Kimberly Diaz, Gavin Walker, Barker, back, Klinger, Wyatt Walker, Taylor Johnston and…

Letter writers defend Sen. Chase

By Public Comment on July 16, 2019 Letters, Politics

Sen. Chase is right to defend herself Editor: I wish to address an article from July 10 (“Guns, rape, and marijuana: Candidates criticized for FB posts”), specifically the portion attempting to shame Republican Sen. Amanda Chase for her views of women’s right to self-defense against rape or any crime, specifically through the use of firearms. Many issues surround elections, which are often decided by opinion, left or right, liberal or conservative. The right to bear arms is not one of those, but is a right (one of several) guaranteed by the Bill of Rights within the Constitution. These rights were…

Chester couple trains Rottweilers as therapy dogs

By Caleb M Soptelean on July 16, 2019 Community

Jayme Strawmyer and Bella (Radiant Snapshots) Anyone who passes Jim and Jayme Strawmyer’s house knows right away dogs live there. The couple’s three Rottweilers — Angus, Sprout and Bella — are quick to let passersby know that this is their home. While the dogs may seem intimidating, they are anything but. Angus, the couple’s 6-year-old male, is learning how to herd sheep and is in the process of earning his farm dog title. Sprout, their youngest dog at 19 months, just passed his therapy dog test. Nine-year-old Bella, Angus’s mother, is currently the couple’s only female and “is the alpha…

Facelift, remodel coming to Chester shopping center?

By Caleb M Soptelean on July 16, 2019 Economic Development

A sign says changes are coming to Chester Village Shopping Center. A facelift and remodel are coming soon to the Chester Village Shopping Center, a Williamsburg consultant says. On Thursday, July 11, Karl Johnson posted signs at the shopping center, which currently features only one open business: Triple Eight Chinese restaurant. Johnson said that a Virginia Beach company, Hillside Development LLC, is in the process of buying the property from Larry Parks LLC of Washington, D.C. The sale should close in 30 to 60 days, Johnson said. He noted that an extensive interior remodel is planned, along with a new…

Shelter dogs are on patrol for adoptions

By Becky Wright on July 16, 2019 Community

Sgt. James Kuzik and Hero made friends at Rockwood Park. (Courtesy Chesterfield Police) Chesterfield County shelter dogs aren’t waiting for potential dog owners to come to them, they are taking matters into their own paws and have hit the streets on PAWtrol. “As part of our Community PAWtrol program, shelter dogs who are available for adoption join our community policing officers on patrol,” police spokeswoman Elizabeth Caroon said. “The dogs wear yellow accessories that make it clear they’re available for adoption.” The program began in February, she said. “Hero, the first pup who went out with an officer as part…

Large canine run opens at Chester Dog Park

By Caleb M Soptelean on July 16, 2019 Community, Outdoors

Colonial Heights resident Becca Wilson took two dogs to the new large dog run at the Chester Dog Park at Goyne Park last week. Wilson – who recently relocated to the area from Florida – trains, walks and boards dogs through the ‘Rover’ app. An agility course at the dog park is scheduled to open this fall. (Caleb M. Soptelean photo) Dog lovers have more confined space in which to take their dogs after a large dog run opened at Chester Dog Park at Goyne Park last week. The park – which opened a small dog run in mid-April behind…

Dems, GOP respond to state’s No. 1 business ranking

By Press release on July 16, 2019 Business, Economic Development, Politics, State News

Filler-CornCox Northam Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam, House Speaker Kirk Cox, R-Colonial Heights, and House Democratic Leader Eileen Filler-Corn of Fairfax County, responded last week to the state’s recent No. 1 ranking by CNBC in its annual business rankings of the 50 states. The top ranking is determined following an extensive study of all 50 states based on 64 metrics in 10 categories of competitiveness. Virginia is tied with Texas for most years named top state for business by CNBC, with wins in 2007, 2009, 2011, and now 2019. Virginia ranked No. 1 in workforce and education. Its other rankings were:…

Little Free Library

By Press release on July 16, 2019 Clubs, Community

From left, Cathy Cheely, chapter vice regent and literacy chair for the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, county supervisor Dorothy Jaeckle and her granddaughters, and Stan Thorne, county chief of parks, are picured at R. Garland Dodd Park, which recently got a Little Free Library. The library was donated by the NSDAR. A dedication was held June 22. There are over 80,000 registered Little Free Libraries in more than 90 countries.

Chesterfield supervisor named chair of Greater Richmond Partnership

By Press release on July 16, 2019 Board of Supervisors, Chesterfield Government

The Board of Directors of the Greater Richmond Partnership, the lead regional economic development group serving the City of Richmond and counties of Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico, recently announced the appointment of Leslie T. Haley, chair of the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors, as chair of the organization. Haley takes the helm of the GRP following Capital One’s Buck Stinson. Sal Mancuso, senior vice president in charge of finance and procurement of Altria Group, Inc., was named vice chair. The GRP is a public-private non-profit that markets the Richmond Region as a business location and recruits new companies to the…

Crater District hiring new transportation director

By Press release on July 16, 2019 Community

The Crater Commission announced that Ron Svejkovsky will be its new director of transportation planning. Svejkovsky, a Chester resident, is replacing David Hyder, who transitioned to an engineering firm located in Raleigh, N.C., after three years of service to the Tri-Cities Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. Svejkovsky will be responsible for overseeing the management of the Tri-Cities Area MPO, which provides oversight of transportation funding, as well as the preparation of studies that integrate all aspects of transportation planning. Svejkovsky will work closely with the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation. The Tri-Cities MPO…

Browsing: Community