Two VN writers win awards
0Danielle OzbatAmanda Creasey Two of the Village News’ freelance writers recently won awards for their work. Amanda Creasey won a first-place award from the Virginia Outdoor Writers Association for a story about Chester resident Andrea Sisson and her son Nick summering in Alaska several times and returning with a sled dog as a pet. Danielle Ozbat won a second-place award for education writing from the Virginia Press Association for a series of three stories about local teachers: Lori Brown, Matoaca Middle School, Latin; Debbie Bailey, Carver Middle School, social studies; and Chevette Waller, L.C. Bird High School, math. The first-place…
Moore’s Lake transformed: Emerson, Roper open The Jane apartments
0Jasmine Harris of Matrix Residential is pictured in front of the pool at The Jane apartments. The Moore’s Lake area has been transformed into some luxury apartments: The Jane at Moore’s Lake. The iconic vacation spot of Jefferson Davis Highway from years gone by can be viewed in photographs that line the walls of the first floor of The Jane’s first 100-unit apartment building at 12300 Moore’s Lake Road. During an April 10 open house, locals got a chance to view what county supervisor Dorothy Jaeckle last week called a $60 million investment in the Jefferson Davis Highway corridor. The…
Supervisors approve FY20 budget
0The Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a Fiscal Year 2020 budget last week that includes an additional $1.9 million in funding for Chesterfield Schools. Budget Director Meghan Coates noted that the $1.9 million deficit was created when the General Assembly’s budget did not match what Gov. Ralph Northam had proposed. The county made up the gap with contingency funds. Included as part of the budget was a real estate property tax rate of 95 cents per $100 of assessed value, which — although the same as last year — will result in a tax increase for most property…
Police get new black uniforms: New technology will help keep officers cooler, drier
0For 36 years, Chesterfield County Police have worn green and black uniforms. As of last week, patrol officers were given an alternative: a black uniform made of polyester and cotton infused with charcoal. The fabric stretches, and the charcoal wicks sweat away in order to reduce heat. It also has some water-repellant qualities. The new uniforms are considered a utility uniform, while the green and black will be used as a dress uniform and for administrators. Police Chief Jeffrey S. Katz said the department’s uniforms had not changed since 1983. The new uniforms are more durable and more breathable and…
Johnson enjoys counseling middle school students
0Even when school is over for the day, Maia Johnson feels like she never leaves Carver Middle because she still sees her students in the neighborhood. Johnson makes sure to keep an eye on her students. “Them knowing ‘Miss Johnson really cares about me and my well-being’… is the best part of my job,” she said. Johnson has been Carver Middle’s school counseling coordinator for two years. She was a counselor for seven years and has worked nine years in the education field. She was previously a special education teacher at an alternative school in Petersburg and an elementary school…
Lady Monarchs soccer program flourishing early
0Although Meadowbrook High School girls soccer has shown the spirit needed to win games, it’s been a process to build a winner for coach Joseph Farrell. This year, perhaps, is the one they make the jump. The Monarchs have gotten off to a blistering start, outscoring their opponents 31-8 in their first five games of the season. “We have already scored more goals this season than we did last year,” Farrell said. “We are also on track to concede substantially fewer goals than we did last year.” That improvement on offense and defense has resulted in a 4-1 record as…
Johnson, Williams to play pro football in Europe
0For most athletes, athletic careers start, and often end, in local youth sports organizations. For Gerard Johnson and Lionel Williams, their time together at Beulah Elementary School ended up being a springboard all the way to pro football. Johnson, a Meadowbrook High graduate, and Williams, a L.C. Bird High alum, are preparing to travel to Europe to play professionally in Finland’s Maple League. This will be Johnson’s second season in the league, while Williams will be entering his rookie year. Under coach Troy Taylor at Meadowbrook, Johnson was one of the area’s best quarterbacks, leading the Monarchs to a Central…
RoboHawks earn invitation to Detroit robotics competition
0Four Richmond-area high school robotics teams will face top competitors from around the world at the FIRST Championship presented by Qualcomm in Detroit from April 24-27. The teams won spots at the international tournament during the FIRST Chesapeake Championshp held April 10-13 at George Mason University’s EagleBank Arena. The best high school robotics teams from the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia faced off. Here are the local teams who qualified for the Detroit championship: •Robotics Team 346 – RoboHawks – Lloyd C. Bird H.S., Chesterfield •Robotics Team 384 – Sparky 384 – J.R. Tucker H.S., Henrico •Robotics Team 1086 – Blue Cheese –…