Features

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…

It’s an art: Kuper a super teacher, peers say

By Danielle Ozbat on December 4, 2018 Community, Features, Schools, Teachers

ABOVE: Amber Kuper holds a student’s art project, a hamburger made of clay. Amber Kuper believes art is a skill akin to learning to ride a bike or typing and that there is always something to show when finished with a project. In her art class at Salem Church Middle School, Kuper’s students explore this concept. “One of the things that I’m really proud of is: I try to give them some baby steps … I call it my three steps of drawing, so I try to break down this … complex idea of drawing into something more simple.” At the…

Donating a gift of life: Chester man recalls life of son, who was an organ donor

By Becky Wright on December 4, 2018 Charity, Community, Features

ABOVE: Michael Brigati, on right, and his son, Matthew. Matthew Brigati was a New Year’s Day baby, born in 1988. In 2010 he lost his life in a tragic motor vehicle crash, but left behind a chance of life for others. “Matt loved sports and was an avid fan of his teams and watched games when he could,’ his father, Michael Brigati, said. “He and his friends played them as well.” Matt enjoyed playing local hockey and games of pick-up basketball. He loved his job at a TGI Fridays restaurant and was a happy-go-lucky “people person,” Michael said. “As we lived…

Puzzle mania? Chester man builds puzzle magazine

By Amanda Creasey on November 27, 2018 Features

Having graduated with a degree in creative writing from St. Andrews Presbyterian College in North Carolina, Gregory Gray couldn’t have guessed his future vocation would lie in creating puzzles, not poetry. He finds, however, that the two disciplines share several parallels. “My preference is poetry that has limitations built into it, whether that is a rhyme scheme or syllable restraint. You have to tweak what you’re creating in order to fit the structure in question,” he said. “In that sense, creating a Sudoku puzzle and writing a sonnet is the same thing. Someone else came up with the skeleton, but you’re bringing…

Unlocking the key to his future: Bacon retires from law enforcement, starts a new career

By Caleb M Soptelean on November 20, 2018 Community, Features

After 27 years with Chesterfield County Police Department, Kevin Bacon called it quits. Bacon, 50, retired Oct. 1. “My knees are getting a little achy,” he said, explaining the reason for his retirement from law enforcement. The 1986 L.C. Bird High graduate has embarked on a new career as a locksmith and real estate agent. Bacon said his interest in law enforcement started as a teen when he liked James Bond movies. In addition, stories told by John Corrigan, who worked for the Petersburg Police Department, piqued his interest. After he earned a degree in administration of justice at…

Running helps woman cope with cancer

By Amanda Creasey on November 6, 2018 Community, Features

ABOVE: Lauran Johnson, left, and Sue Moss are pictured after completing a half marathon in Charleston, S.C. When she isn’t busy teaching math at a local community college, Lauran Johnson can usually be found pounding the pavement in Chester or Richmond. The math instructor has completed half marathons (13.1 miles) not only in Richmond, but also in Key West, Fla., and Charleston and Myrtle Beach, S.C. She started running about a decade ago when her cholesterol, sugar and blood pressure levels were creeping upward, and she wanted to improve her health. “My first race was the Monument Avenue 10K in Richmond.…

Allen enjoys teaching early grades

By Danielle Ozbat on October 30, 2018 Features, Schools, Teachers

As a teacher with 22 years in the field, Alycia Allen has taught kindergarten, second, third and fourth grades and multi-age classes. Her preference is K through 2 because they are interested in learning. “You can actually observe them growing and learning,” she said. “They’re just excited to learn new things, so I like the younger kids.” Allen has been teaching at O.B. Gates Elementary for 12 years. She taught kindergarten for two years and first grade for 10. However, her career could have been different. She loved computers, so she majored in computer information systems in college, however, her…

Myanmar natives get U.S. citizenship: Couple fled persecution in Southeast Asian country

By Caleb M Soptelean on October 2, 2018 Features

ABOVE: Janet Andrascik is pictured with Lydia, Dana and Gana Fish following the Sept. 26 citizenship ceremony. Andrascik taught Lydia piano and Gana English. A man and woman from Myanmar were among those who were naturalized as citizens of the United States last week at Henricus Historical Park. Gana and Lydia Fish took the oath of allegiance during an 11 a.m. ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 26. The Fishes brought their daughter Dana to the event, which was also attended by Janet Andrascik, a teacher from the Bottoms Bridge area. Andrascik said she taught Lydia to play piano and gave English…

Bradbury a man of many parts: County engineering employee also a chaplain, announcer at L.C. Bird

By Amanda Creasey on October 2, 2018 Features, Schools

ABOVE: Bradbury is pictured with a U.S. flag his daughter gave him after she served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is wearing football championship rings from Bird High School and a shirt from his daughter’s volleyball team. Dallas Bradbury is reluctant to talk about himself, but ask those who know him and they are eager to sing his praises. Bradbury performs duties as chaplain through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at L.C. Bird High School. “He has an especially soft heart toward kids [who] are having a rough time, and he helps them and their families however he can,” his daughter…

Feathery friends: Ampthill resident loves painting on feathers

By Caleb M Soptelean on September 11, 2018 Art, Features

ABOVE: Ron Navroski is pictured in his art studio. A love for art is blooming later in life for Ron Navroski. Although the northwest Massachusetts native painted when he was in high school, Navroski didn’t begin painting in earnest until seven years ago. The 58-year-old Ampthill resident said he got the idea to use acrylic paint on feathers from a woman he encountered while driving to Nags Head. The idea “flew,” he said, smiling. “It’s very symbolic,” Navroski said, adding that the woman learned about feather painting at a powwow in Minnesota. “A feather is precious to Native Americans. They…

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