Community

Paint Out Pollution event decorates storm sewers

By Caleb M Soptelean on April 2, 2019 Art, Chesterfield Government

Kevin Orlosky paints a monarch butterfly. They weren’t exactly painting the town red, but it was a colorful endeavor nonetheless. Chesterfield County joined with Art on Wheels and the James River Association for a “Paint Out Pollution” event last week, which involved painting storm drain covers. Kevin Orlosky, founder and program director of Art on Wheels, said he used a laser to cut out stencils based on renderings from artists in the Richmond region. Art included a monarch butterfly, beaver, mink, bald eagle, great blue heron, northern water snake, mallard and Prothonotary warbler. On Wednesday morning, March 27, eight people…

Photo of ‘Skitch’ presented to Coyner

By Press release on April 2, 2019 Clubs, Community

Chester Lions Club member Ralph Jones recently presented Carrie Coyner with a photograph of her mentor, “Skitch,” which was taken in 1977 at a Chester Lions Club Variety Show. Coyner, a Chesterfield School Board member since 2011 and House of Delegates candidate, spoke to the Lions Club recently. She grew up in the Enon area, and after college began a real estate law practice with her mentor and partner, Oliver D. Rudy, aka Skitch. Rudy was president of the Chester Lions in 1970 and director of the Lions Club Variety Show for many years.

County and school leaders criticized during budget hearing; Recycling options also discussed

By Caleb M Soptelean on April 2, 2019 Board of Supervisors, Chesterfield Government, School Board

County supervisors got an earful during last week’s public hearing on the proposed budget. Several speakers criticized the school district for not cutting enough, while others asked for more funding for teachers’ salaries in addition to the 3 percent included in the proposed Fiscal Year 2020 budget. Midlothian resident Ron Hayes said the board of supervisors has not underfunded schools, and schools have not scrubbed their budget. He criticized the school district for funding swimming, rowing and lacrosse sports programs instead of putting a nurse in every school. He railed against the district paying $60,000 a year for a hotel…

Spring music series has three more offerings

By Caleb M Soptelean on April 2, 2019 Entertainment

PHOTO: Chesterfield resident Ashley Wilda sang and played folk music on Saturday, March 30, at the Chester Library. The Chesterfield County Public Library is hosting a family-friendly concert series from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on select Saturdays at the Chester Library, 11800 Centre St. The series, which began March 9, includes the following dates: April 13, Kadencia; April 27, Bonefire featuring Antonio Garcia; and May 11, Richmond Jazz Band. The series is made possible in part by a donation by Ross Stores Foundation, celebrating the opening of the Ross Dress for Less store in Chester. For more information, visit library.chesterfield.gov…

VN goes to Costa Rica

By Press release on April 2, 2019 Community, Outdoors, Travel

The Strickland Family – Glenn, Dawn, Curtis, and Timothy – and Judy Alexis Yarbrough took the Village News to the Mirador San Gerardo overlook in Monteverde, Costa Rica, with an amazing view of Lake Arenal and the iconic active stratovolcano Arenal at about 5,800 feet in altitude. Just a few minutes before, Curtis had proposed to Judy!

Longtime Pocahontas employee says goodbye

By Caleb M Soptelean on March 26, 2019 Outdoors

Louise Woolard (Photo by Andrew Sporrer/PSP) Louise Woolard’s last day at Pocahontas State Park is Friday, March 29. The longtime state employee has been office manager at the park for 31 1/2 years. Woolard’s time at Virginia’s largest state park before that began when she started helping her parents, Charles and Lois Moore, run the park pool in 1981. She continued doing so after she became office manager in September 1987. “It’s been a family thing,” she said last week. “My three kids grew up in the park.” Woolard has noticed a lot of technology changes over the years. “I…

Revolutionary revelation: Chester man finds connection to the past

By Caleb M Soptelean on March 26, 2019 History

Daryle Hurt, center, is pictured wih his grandson, Christopher Blaine Hurt, and son, Timothy Blaine Hurt. Some genealogical research has given Daryle Hurt a little pride in his ancestors. He began digging into some records five years ago and found out that he’s related to Edward Pedigo, a man who fought for the colonists in the Revolutionary War. “I finally found a hero in my family,” Hurt said. Up until that time, he thought all of his ancestors were poor. “[Pedigo] owned a lot of property, owned slaves and was a fairly prosperous landowner in Kentucky,” Hurt said. “My great-great-great-grandfather,…

Law enforcement offers tips for seniors

By Caleb M Soptelean on March 26, 2019 Seniors

From left, Sheriff’s Lt. Matt Wilkerson, Fire Chief Loy Senter and Police Chief Jeffrey Katz speak at an event March 21. Law enforcement professionals had some advice for seniors at a “Be Safe, Smart and Secure” event at Southminster Presbyterian Church. Chesterfield Police Chief Jeffrey S. Katz said that the police department has connected with one-third of the households in the county through the Nextdoor app. “We’ll let you know about crime trends in your area, and you can communicate with us,” he said. County residents can also sign up for the EMS Passport program, which costs $49 a year…

Swift Creek Mill Theatre offers ‘Bright Star’ spring musical

By Press release on March 26, 2019 Community, Entertainment

(Photo by Robyn O’Neill) Swift Creek Mill Theatre’s spring musical has a Grammy-nominated bluegrass score inspired by real events set in the 1920s through 1940s. “Bright Star” tells a sweeping tale of love and redemption. Artistic director Tom Width explains, “On Aug. 14, 1902, William Helms was walking along the Big River … when he found a small valise containing a bruised and battered five-day-old baby in the riverbed, some 50 feet below the train trestle above.” The spring musical opened March 23 and runs through May 11 on Fridays, Saturdays, and select Thursdays at 8 p.m. with matinees at…

County offers information about backyard chickens

By Becky Wright on March 26, 2019 Chesterfield Government, Community, Outdoors

Have you ever imagined of having your own little flock of chickens or gathering fresh eggs from your backyard? Good news: Chesterfield County allows backyard chickens. The Central Library presented a program March 16 about backyard chickens. Mike Persia, Virginia Tech Associate Professor and Extension Specialist, talked about chicken nutrition, housing, breeds and much more. State poultry specialist Kymberly Coffman emphasized the importance of getting birds from reputable and healthy flocks. Those who live in a residential-zoned areas may have up to six chickens and no roosters. Areas zoned for agriculture with 3 or less acres may have up to…

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