People

Gone to the dogs: Greyhounds reap benefit of Deane’s volunteer work

By Caleb M Soptelean on May 28, 2019 Community, People

Russell Deane is pictured with Haddie and Beau, greyhounds that he and his wife, Michele, adopted. (Caleb M. Soptelean photo) A Chester resident was recently honored for his volunteer efforts, and some greyhounds will reap the benefits. As one of six Dominion Energy Volunteers of the Year, Russell Deane chose the James River Greyhounds as his charity for a $5,000 donation. Deane, who works for Dominion Energy, and his wife, Michele, who is involved with the Chester Community Association at Goyne Park’s new dog park, adopted Haddie from James River Greyhounds 18 months ago, Russell said. “She wouldn’t let me…

Graceful entry: New pastor on board at Chester church

By Caleb M Soptelean on April 16, 2019 Features, People

The Rev. Jaim Gann recently was installed as pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Chester. He wasn’t planning on moving, but felt God leading him to Chester. Grace Lutheran Church recently installed a new pastor, the Rev. Jaim Gann. Gann, 44, came to Chester with his wife Janine and children, Sarah, 12, and David, 8. He replaces the interim pastor, Martin Teske, who had filled in following the retirement of longtime pastor Rich Finck in June 2017. Gann most recently pastored in Bowie, Md., for 13 years. Prior to that, he was in Carneys Point, N.J., for five years. Gann…

TDHS grad nets success: Blankenbecler makes name for himself at another Chesterfield school

By Amanda Creasey on February 5, 2019 People, Sports, Volleyball

Blankenbecler hoists a state championship trophy. Michael Blankenbecler, James River High School’s boys volleyball coach, never expected to become a coach, much less have three state championships tucked comfortably under his belt within the first five seasons of his career. In fact, Blankenbecler’s earliest athletic endeavors didn’t involve volleyball at all, but baseball and basketball, sports he began playing when he was about 9. “There aren’t many opportunities to play volleyball that young,” Blankenbecler explained. His first introduction to volleyball came through his parents and aunt, who played on a co-ed team their church formed. He recalls playing games with…

Chester woman overcomes oral cancer

By Press release on December 11, 2018 Features, People

When Diane Merryman had an oral surgeon give her the bad news – “it’s cancer” – she wasn’t entirely surprised. After all, she had been experiencing a mouth sore in her upper palate for nine months that should have healed in 30 days. “It really didn’t hurt much,” she said. “It just wouldn’t go away.” What was surprising was that she was one of the most unlikely candidates for the diagnosis. She never smoked, she only drank a glass of wine occasionally, and had regular checkups at the dentist. “Most of the doctors I saw that year (2014-15) relied on…

Art educator overcomes domestic abuse

By Amanda Creasey on August 28, 2018 Features, People

ABOVE: Ashley Unger is pictured with some of her pets. “Many men and women walk by us every day with scars from assault in their life,” said local artist and art teacher Ashley Unger. With her enthusiasm, positivity and passion, few would believe she is among them. “Many times, ‘I am going to kill you’ rang through my ears and into my mind, body and heart. I thought I would die more than once,” she said of an abusive relationship she survived. “This October will mark five years since I was reborn into the woman I am supposed to be.” After…

Gestwick takes over at Chester UMC

By Press release on July 10, 2018 People

CHESTER – Chester United Methodist Church has a new pastor, the Rev. Clara Price Gestwick. Gestwick earned a bachelor’s degree in Christian Education from Columbia College in 1987 and a master’s degree in divinity from Duke Divinity School in 1990. She was ordained a deacon in 1990 and an elder in 1992. Gestwick began serving in the church as director of Children and Youth while attending Columbia College. She has served at Centenary (Portsmouth), St. Mark’s (Petersburg), Bridgewater, and St. Luke’s (Yorktown). She also served as interim pastor at congregations in Clover Hill, Mt. Pisgah and Dayton. She is married to Douglas D. Gestwick,…

Jones is ‘Business Person of the Year’

By Caleb M Soptelean on June 26, 2018 Business, Community, People

Keith Jones has been named the Snead-Stebbins Business Person of the Year by the Chester Business Association. Jones was honored at the organization’s annual cookout, which was held June 21 at the home of Jim and Robin Daniels. The award was named in honor of Joseph Snead and Charles Stebbins, who founded Chester in 1856. Jones was chosen for the award based on his business success and charitable service, CBA board member Jim Daniels said. Jones co-founded Abilene Motor Express in Chester in 1986; it grew into a $100 million business and was recently sold. Daniels thanked Jones for his…

Retired judge Ernest P. Gates dead at 94

By Linda Fausz on June 26, 2018 Chesterfield Government, People

CHESTER – Ernest Pleasants Gates, a man of great respect and admiration with deep family roots in Chesterfield County, died Monday, June 18, at the age of 94. He will be remembered as a man who loved his community, and was a dedicated public servant who worked to make Chesterfield a better place. An advocate for preserving the county’s history, Gates was one of a small delegation of community members to walk a piece of land overlooking the James River over 30 years ago. The group went to work on the preservation, reconstruction, and interpretation of the Citie of Henricus,…

Naming the nameless from Scripture

By Linda Fausz on September 15, 2017 People

A collection of letters from a woman of the 21st century to 34 nameless women of Bible times is being released this week. “Dear Mrs. Noah: Letters to Unnamed Women of the Bible” by Chester resident Roberta M. Damon, gives appropriate names and new identities to women familiar to readers of Scripture in her latest published work. Some women whose stories are familiar, but were previously not known by name: Samson’s mother is named Salome (from the Hebrew “shalom,” meaning “peace”). Noah’s wife is named April (possibly from the Latin “Aprilis,” suggesting “open to the sun”). Job’s wife is named…

Jumpin’ johnny wilson today.

CHESTER’S HIGH ON JUMPIN’ JOHNNY WILSON

By Mark Fausz on June 10, 2017 Community, People, Sports

Johnny Wilson was a athletic star, succeeding in four sports and life over 90 years A bronze statue standing nine feet tall graces the front of Anderson High School in Anderson, Ind. The residents of the central Indiana burg have waited over 70 years for their hero’s life to be celebrated. Now their hero belongs to Chester. Triple-sport athlete “Jumpin’” Johnny Wilson watched the unveiling of his likeness on May 30, 2016 as over 500 local residents responded with cheers. According to local newspaper reports, Wilson responded from the podium with his typical humility. In 1927 Wilson was born into…

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