Cultural competency is one of the buzzwords that teachers, principals and school superintendents will become familiar with in Virginia, if they aren’t already. The General Assembly recently passed and Gov. Ralph Northam (D) signed legislation that requires educational staff to complete instruction in cultural competency for initial licensure or renewal. HB 1904 and SB 1196 passed the Legislature with mostly Democratic votes. Among eastern Chesterfield legislators, Dels. Delores McQuinn (D-Richmond) and Carrie Coyner (R-Chesterfield) and Sen. Joe Morrissey (D-Richmond) voted yes, while Del. Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights) and Sen. Amanda Chase (R-Chesterfield) voted no. The bills were among 117 tracked…
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A one-day “veto session” April 7 resulted in approval of amendments to legislation requested by Gov. Ralph Northam (D), specifically marijuana legalization for up to 1 ounce effective July 1 and approval of $250,000 for a private law firm to investigate and report on the state parole board and the inspector general’s office. The former was legislation co-sponsored by Sen. Joe Morrissey (D-Richmond). The latter was in response to blowback after an inspector in the state IG’s office, Jennifer Moschetti, was fired after she sought whistleblower protection related to the release of information about the parole board not notifying the…
During the Chesterfield supervisors’ March 24 meeting, county administrator Joe Casey noted the county was nearing 50 percent of its goal to vaccinate 75 percent of the population above age 18. Casey credited a new vaccination site at Virginia State University with helping the county progress toward its goal. He noted that VSU’s site was vaccinating 2,800 people a day on average. Casey said the county is ranked third amongst localities in the state for COVID-19 vaccinations. In addition, jail inmates are now being vaccinated, he said, referring to a comment from Sheriff Karl Leonard. Casey reminded the public of…
Those seeking a COVID-19 vaccine in the Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Health District may get either the Moderna, Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Dr. Alexander Samuel, the county’s health director, updated the county supervisors during their March 10 meeting. Although hopeful the district would be able to start vaccinating those in Phase 1C soon, Samuel said that Phase 1B was still the focus. Almost 70 percent of vaccines in the county have gone to those 65 and older, with the rest going to essential workers, including fire, police and hazardous materials workers, childcare and preK-12 staff, and food/agriculture, manufacturing and grocery…
During the March 9 Chesterfield County Public Schools board meeting, the board approved up to $7.7 million to purchase “mega trailers” for three schools. The mega trailers, which have restrooms and cafeteria units, include three for Falling Creek Middle School and one each for Hening and Chalkley elementary schools. Josh Davis, chief operations officer, noted that the school district had approved a lease of the five mega trailers almost two years ago for use at Crestwood and Reams elementary schools. “Those buildings have served those schools very, very well,” Davis said. “We’ve come up with a great plan for those…
The Chesterfield Health District recently announced that second doses of COVID-19 vaccines can be received within 42 days of the first one. Dr. Alexander Samuel, health district director, noted that during the Feb. 24 supervisors’ meeting. Samuel said that due to a glitch in the state’s scheduling website, people were sharing appointments for second doses with those who needed a first dose and that caused health department staff to send people away when they showed up for vaccinations. Staff would then have to call and email people to fill the slots, Samuel said. He was hopeful the glitch would be…
On Feb. 9, the Chesterfield County Public Schools board unanimously approved a return to in-person learning five days a week for students in grades six through 12 on Tuesday, March 9. Students can still choose to learn 100 percent virtually through the end of the school year. On Feb. 5, Gov. Ralph Northam (D) requested that all public schools offer some form of in-person learning by March 15. Deputy Superintendent Thomas Taylor said that the “overwhelming majority” of teachers will have received two COVID-19 vaccinations by March 9. In spite of that, Taylor said, “We have heard from the [Centers…
A number of bills have passed both houses of the General Assembly and await final passage after clearing a conference committee. State Sen. Joe Morrissey (D-Richmond) highlighted several of the bills on Sunday, Feb. 21. Legalization of marijuana — HB2312 and SB1406 — are under discussion. Some of the details yet to be ironed out between the two bills include licensing and distribution, Morrissey said. HB2047 would make a defendant’s mental health condition available at trial. Currently, state law only allows for an insanity declaration, which Morrissey described as an all-or-nothing approach. Other bills that could be signed by Gov.…
The Historic First Baptist Church Centralia, located off Centralia Road on a hill overlooking Chester Road, was destroyed by fire in 1996 and rebuilt to resemble the original church of 1926. (Photo courtesy of First Baptist Church Centralia).
In 1927, The Rev. J. H. Binford led the remodeling of the first structure of what is known today as Historic First Baptist Church Centralia. Two years following the close of the Civil War, the First Baptist Church Centralia was organized under the name of the Salem African Baptist Church. The small group of members forming this church had previously worshiped with the Salem Baptist Church (white), which is located on Centralia Road, two miles south of Centralia. Nineteen years ago, around 250 members of the 800-member First Baptist Church Centralia met at their historic church to celebrate their forebears.…
Virginia State University and Chesterfield County presents the 32nd Black History Month Celebration. Each February, Chesterfield County and Virginia State University celebrate the month with a variety of programs designed to explore the rich, diverse heritage of African Americans and their contributions to our community and nation. Virtual programs and events remaining throughout the month follows. Let it Shine! Saturday, Feb. 20, 2-3 p.m. Bright Star Theatre introduces children to significant events and notable names of the Civil Rights Movement. For kids and families. Registration begins Feb. 6. Available for 7 days after premiere date. Take a Tour of the…