Students in Chester are about to benefit from a national backpack giveaway! On Sunday, July 21, more than 850 participating TCC and Wireless Zone stores are teaming up to donate 187,000 backpacks full of school supplies to children through TCC’s annual School Rocks Backpack Giveaway. Between 1-4 p.m. on July 21, participating TCC stores are inviting local families to bring their children to the store to pick up a backpack filled with pencils, paper, a pencil box, folders, glue and more. The Chester store is located at 12101 Branders Creek Drive. For a list of other participating locations in Virginia,…
Browsing: Community
Twenty-one students recently completed a Chesterfield County Parks and Rec horse camp at Hunter’s Lane Stables at 3578 Hunter Lane, south of Kingsland Road, west of Chester Road. The students learned to care for, groom and ride “hunt seat” on a variety of horses last month. Hunter’s Lane is a family-owned boarding and lesson stable operated by Elaine Wilson that has been hosting horse camps since 1984. ABOVE: Lenaya Conyers gives her mount, Chessie, a bath after her ride. (Diane Merryman photo)
By David Thompson This story, my story, began one year ago. I had not had a heart attack or any serious symptoms that would indicate a heart condition. I had lost 23 pounds over six months and had walked over 400,000 steps in the five weeks preceding my diagnosis. My level of business travel had remained high. My only symptom was occasional shortness of breath when taking a short walk. There would also be other occasions of shortness of breath as I zipped around doing my usual activities. This I ignored. My diagnosis was nothing short of a miracle because…
A graphic posted on Waylin Ross’ Facebook page.Waylin K. Ross smokes during a photo shoot (Anthony ‘Ace’ Johnson photo). Social media posts seem to have taken on added importance for political candidates. This was signified by a couple of local state Senate candidates who were criticized last week for controversial posts. Sen. Amanda Chase, a Republican from Senate District 11, and independent Waylin K. Ross, who is challenging Democrat Joe Morrissey in Senate District 16, made posts on Facebook that resulted in criticism. Chase’s July 3 comments involved women using guns to protect themselves from rape – which came in…
Chris Accashian, Bon Secours St. Francis CEO It looks as if Chester may finally be getting an emergency room. Bon Secours St. Francis Medical Center received notice that a Certificate of Public Need application it filed with the state last October was approved May 21. “We’re absolutely thrilled this was approved,” Bon Secours CEO Chris Accashian said last week. He thanked the Chesterfield County Fire and EMS and members of the public who helped by submitting public comments in favor of the application. Thirty-nine people submitted letters in support of the application, according to Bon Secours spokeswoman Jenna Green. “We’re…
Henry B. Bishop drives a train that his grandfather made him for his birthday. James B. Bishop, on left, is pictured with a train that he built for his grandson, Henry B. Bishop. On right, Henry’s father, Jason F. Bishop, starts the train for his son. James B. Bishop likes building and fixing things. The 78-year-old native of Enon keeps busy helping his neighbors, children and grandchildren. Bishop demonstrated that skill recently by building a replica of “Thomas the Train” for his 4-year-old grandson, Henry B. Bishop.James used a 16-horsepower lawnmower engine to power the train, which includes a barrel…
Brittany Altadonna reads to her niece Hailey Luck, left, and daughter Bella Altadonna outside when the weather is nice (Diane Merryman photo). Educators know that children learn to read in grades one through three, but by fourth grade the reading emphasis changes. At that point, children read to learn. If a child is not proficient, he or she falls behind. If the child lives in poverty, statistics show that it is even harder to catch up. More than 20 years ago, Richmond school psychologist Gary Anderson noticed that boys were particularly impacted by the reading skills they developed by fourth…
On Thursday, July 25, Virginia State University will host its third annual Industrial Hemp Field Day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the university’s Gateway Conference Center, 2804 Martin Luther King Blvd., Colonial Heights. The event will provide a forum for potential growers, researchers, marketing experts and industrial hemp product users to discuss the future of the crop in Virginia and neighboring states. Attendees will receive an update on the legislation governing industrial hemp production in the state well as learn about the challenges and opportunities for cultivating this crop. Speakers will also discuss the wide variety of products…
Chesterfield County has named Kelly Fried as its new executive director of Mental Health Support Services and the Chesterfield Community Services Board. She has served as the department’s assistant director for the past decade. With more than 25 years of experience in healthcare administration, leadership and strategic planning, Fried succeeded previous executive director Debbie Burcham, who retired at the end of June. Fried has worked in Mental Health Support Services since 1996, serving in various capacities from quality assurance coordinator to acting executive director. Fried started July 1 at an annual salary of $140,000. In her new role as executive…
Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation is sponsoring the first-ever Festival de Musica from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 13, at Bensley Park, 2900 Drewrys Bluff Road. This free, Latin cultural event features musical entertainment from Kadencia Orchestra and DJ Peluche, demonstrations of bomba dancing and drumming by Semilla Cultural, and salsa dancing by the Salsa Guy. Numerous food options will be available for purchase. Attendees can bring lawn chairs. For more information, call (804) 768-7904.