Bertram Ashe talks with Matoaca High junior Zion Porer on Feb. 19 in the high school library. Ashe read from his memoir, ‘Twisted: My Dread Chronicles,’ which explores black male identity, black vernacular and black hair. Ashe is an English professor at the University of Richmond. He spoke at the school as part of Black History Month activities.
Kristen Warthan and Nicholas Blair rehearse a scene. The Phantom Players will perform “Beauty and the Beast” at Elizabeth Davis Middle School, 601 Corvus Court at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, March 9 and at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 10. The musical follows the classic cartoon movie, but was adapted for the Broadway stage and new songs have been added. The show is directed by Tracey Lynn Frame and stars Kristen Warthan as Belle, Kameron Carter as Beast, Nicholas Blair as Gaston, and 30 additional professional and beginner performers. Tickets can be purchased online at www.showtix4u.com by using the keyword:…
Chesterfield County is proposing a slight increase in water and wastewater utility fees. Director of Utilities George B. Hayes said the proposal would increase the water commodity charge from $2.07 to $2.15 per 100 cubic feet (ccf). The wastewater commodity charge would increase from $2.24 to $2.25 per 100 cubic feet. The customer charge of $5.08 a month would not change, and the water and wastewater capacity charges would not change. “Since there are three components to our bills, the most transparent way to explain the proposed increase would be to use an average residential customer’s usage, which is 7…
By Caitlin Morris RICHMOND – The Virginia General Assembly passed a bill to expand “revenge porn” laws to include realistic fake images. In 2014, Virginia outlawed the dissemination of explicit photos or videos without the consent of the person seen in the images. The images may have been originally shared in agreement between both parties, but in cases of revenge porn, get posted online by people seeking to embarrass the victim. “They put them on a website with the intent to coerce, harass or maliciously hurt those folks,” said Del. Marcus B. Simon, D-Fairfax. Simon introduced HB 2678 to protect…
Tracey McReynolds speaks to the Chester Lions Club. By Carelynn Sheppard The Chester Lions Club recently heard about a new ministry from Regenesis Life Ministries. Pastor Gary McReynolds and his wife, “Miss Tracey” McReynolds, spoke to the Chester Lions Club on Feb. 26. Regenesis is dedicated to helping individuals who have the drive to succeed in their battles with drug and alcohol addiction and poor decisions or life choices. It is a Christian-based residential program which has homes for men, women, and families, as well as a food pantry and two thrift stores. Donations to and purchases to their thrift…
Chester resident LauraBrooke McCarney was recently crowned America’s Classic Miss, Mega Grand Supreme, for 2019.
Chesapeake Bank presented a check for $10,000 to BizWorks Enterprise Center on Feb. 26. Funds will be used to renovate the center’s multi-purpose room. From left, David Neale, Fable Marketing; Richard Swed, Risk Management Group; LaTisha Jenkins, Chesterfield Economic Development; Tommy Adams, Chesapeake Bank; Kiva Duff, BizWorks; Shane Young, Workspace 101; Frank Bell, Chesapeake Bank; Doug Carleton, board chairman, BizWorks; David Younce, Chesapeake Bank; Tanner Collins, BizWorks; and Sam Poole, Chesapeake Bank.
The Chesterfield County Public Schools Board voted 4-0 last week to approve its Fiscal Year 2020 budget. Midlothian District board member Javaid Siddiqi was absent for the Feb. 26 meeting. Superintendent Merv Daugherty had proposed the $672.2 million budget, which is $17.5 million more than the FY2019 budget. “I think overall we’ve done a great job as a board trying to figure out what our needs are … in regard to sending over a balanced budget,” Bermuda District board member Carrie Coyner said. “We probably should do some long hard looking at how we run our school division,” she said,…
Craig StarihaRob ThompsonKevin Carroll The recent announcement that two-term county supervisor Steve Elswick is not running again has resulted in three declared Republican candidates thus far. Kevin Carroll had already announced, but shortly after Elswick’s decision, current Matoaca District school board member Rob Thompson and Matoaca District planning commissioner Craig Stariha also came forward. The three men will square off for the Grand Old Party’s nomination in the June 11 primary. Carroll, 55, a Rhode Island native, worked for the Chesterfield County Police Department for 32 years after moving to Chesterfield in 1986 and retiring Oct. 1, 2018. As a…
Storyteller and performer Charmaine Crowell-White entertained students during three lunch events at Carver Middle School Feb. 8. Students enjoyed a first-person performance by Crowell-White as Sukey, Dolley Madison’s personal maid. She described how Sukey and other house servants saved the portrait of George Washington and many other historical documents and items when the White House was set on fire by the British soldiers in 1812.