VSU to host Industrial Hemp Field Day
0On Thursday, July 25, Virginia State University will host its third annual Industrial Hemp Field Day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the university’s Gateway Conference Center, 2804 Martin Luther King Blvd., Colonial Heights. The event will provide a forum for potential growers, researchers, marketing experts and industrial hemp product users to discuss the future of the crop in Virginia and neighboring states. Attendees will receive an update on the legislation governing industrial hemp production in the state well as learn about the challenges and opportunities for cultivating this crop. Speakers will also discuss the wide variety of products…
MARJORY “PEACH” GOYNE JANSSEN
0Marjory “Peach” Goyne Janssen, 94, passed away with family by her side on June 8, 2019, in Denton, Texas. She was born April 8, 1925, in Cincinnati, Ohio. She grew up in Chester, Va., where she graduated from Chester High School, now Thomas Dale High School, in 1942. She was married to Carl Andrew Janssen for 58 years. He served as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force and passed away in 2003. Peach dedicated her life to her family. She will always be remembered and appreciated for the care and support she provided as an Air Force wife, mother,…
Fried directing Mental Health Support Services
0Chesterfield County has named Kelly Fried as its new executive director of Mental Health Support Services and the Chesterfield Community Services Board. She has served as the department’s assistant director for the past decade. With more than 25 years of experience in healthcare administration, leadership and strategic planning, Fried succeeded previous executive director Debbie Burcham, who retired at the end of June. Fried has worked in Mental Health Support Services since 1996, serving in various capacities from quality assurance coordinator to acting executive director. Fried started July 1 at an annual salary of $140,000. In her new role as executive…
Festival de Musica
0Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation is sponsoring the first-ever Festival de Musica from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 13, at Bensley Park, 2900 Drewrys Bluff Road. This free, Latin cultural event features musical entertainment from Kadencia Orchestra and DJ Peluche, demonstrations of bomba dancing and drumming by Semilla Cultural, and salsa dancing by the Salsa Guy. Numerous food options will be available for purchase. Attendees can bring lawn chairs. For more information, call (804) 768-7904.
Pilot injured in crash
0A Chesterfield man was injured last week while crashing a plane at the Chesterfield County Airport. State police responded at 8:42 p.m. July 2 to 7511 Airfield Drive. A preliminary investigation reveals that a small, single-engine homemade plane was taxiing on the runway when it inadvertently left the ground, came back down and skidded off the runway. The plane then overturned, entrapping the pilot. The pilot, Jake F. Labello, 69, of Midlothian, was transported to a hospital for treatment of serious injuries. The crash remains under investigation.
Recently deceased
0Bassard, Knowlton H., 86, of Chesterfield, an Army veteran, widower of Bettye Bassard. Buzzo, James Ronald, 78, of Chesterfield, an Army Reserve veteran, husband of Serena Farmer Buzzo. Coffey, Frances, 84, of Chester, wife of James E. Coffey. Coppridge, Kenneth, 73, of North Chesterfield, husband of Sheila Coppridge. Crostic, William Seldon Sr., 89, of Chesterfield, widower of Hazel Inez Crostic. Dunker, Joseph Donald, 83, of Mechanicsville, an Army veteran, widower of Anna Atwell Dunker. Gill, Olive Stewart, 98, of Matoaca, widow of Herbert C. Gill Sr. Johnson, Emanuel Sr., 89, of North Chesterfield, an Army veteran, Kelley, Alexa Nichole, 27, of Chester. Mc Mahon, Diane Marie, 74, of Chesterfield, widow…
What’s the alternative?
0For the last 40 years, I have been attempting to educate people about the need to have a proper number of properly located and functioning smoke alarms in their homes. A couple of smoke alarms with a residential sprinkler system and the chance of survival in a residential fire is as close to 100 percent as one can get. Smoke alarms are the most inexpensive piece of the puzzle. The cost goes up a little when you purchase electric alarms with battery backup. For what is being protected, the costs are minimal. In regard to smoke alarms, building codes base…
Kim is VN Player of the Year (boys tennis)
0Matoaca High School senior Chewon Kim was a big part of the Warriors’ dominance in tennis south of the river over the past few years. In 2019, Kim had a near-perfect 12-1 record and a 4.1 grade point average. For those performances, he has been named Village News boys tennis Player of the Year. “Chewon was by far the best player on our team,” coach Matt Ramirez said. “He’s potentially the best player Matoaca has ever had.” A captain his junior and senior seasons, Kim’s cool and calm attitude served him well on and off the tennis court. “Chewon has…