CCPS adjust 3 elementary zones, Thompson targets ‘watchdogs’ as board members say goodbye
0The Chesterfield County Public Schools board approved revised attendance zones for students at Ettrick, Gates and Matoaca elementaries last week. The changes will take effect in the fall of 2020 with the opening of a new Matoaca Elementary School. The “spot redistricting” will affect about 10 percent of the students in those areas, according to a school board document. Matoaca Elementary’s capacity will increase from less than 400 students to 750 when the new school opens. The school is slated to add 97 students from Ettrick and 71 from Gates. Per school district policy, rising fifth-graders will be allowed to…
County approves performance grant for Carvana
0On Dec. 10, the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a performance agreement for Carvana LLC. The agreement, which was submitted by Chesterfield Economic Development Authority Director Garrett Hart, was not included in board documents. However, another document that was included notes that the Tempe, Ariz., company was approved for a $360,000 Commonwealth Opportunity Grant that will be matched by the county. The county’s portion would be paid for with technology zone incentives and a Chesterfield County Opportunity Grant equal to the amount of real estate taxes paid by Carvana annually, following the first year of operations, not to…
Christmas cheer
0Huge light display brings neighbors together This time of year, Chester residents driving down Route 10 might be surprised to notice a large, white cross glowing above the tree line behind Thomas Dale High School. As the wise men of old are said to have followed the star to the manger, an inquisitive motorist might follow the cross in the sky to the home of Gary and Deanna Smith, where it perches 100 feet up in the boughs of a pine tree in the family’s front yard. Said motorist would be well rewarded for the detour: The location glows with…
Pete the Ramp Guy
0Local handyman builds wheelchair ramps to improve neighbors’ lives In the summer of 2005, Pete Adler attended a meeting of the Chester Rotary Club. A guest speaker from Project:HOMES attended to explain the group’s program and to recruit volunteers to build wheelchair ramps. The mission of Project:HOMES, as Adler explains it, is to “help keep people in their home as long as possible by providing accessibility through wheelchair ramps and other home improvements.” The Rotary Club in Chester “embraced the idea as an avenue of community support,” Adler said. In the beginning, the group volunteered “at the ElderHomes facility to…
Chesterfield County Public Schools launches Hall of Fame
0Over the course of more than 150 years, Chesterfield County Public Schools has been served by outstanding people. Whether it’s teachers, administrators, support staff or community volunteers, the nationally recognized school division has been supported by individuals who have given their time and talents to impact students’ education in a meaningful way. In recognition of this exceptional work, Chesterfield County Public Schools and the Chesterfield Education Foundation will be honoring up to 13 individuals for their superior contributions to the education of Chesterfield County students. The creation of a Chesterfield County Public Schools Hall of Fame will recognize individuals for…
Four hundred new jobs in Chesterfield County announced
0Carvana plans to invest $25 million to establish vehicle inspection and reconditioning center Governor Ralph Northam announced that Carvana Co., a leading e-commerce platform for buying and selling used cars, plans to invest $25 million to establish a new vehicle inspection and reconditioning facility in Chesterfield County. Virginia successfully competed with North Carolina, Ohio, and Tennessee for the project, which will create an estimated 400 new jobs. “Carvana is a fast-growing national company, and we are proud that it has chosen to locate and create new jobs in Chesterfield County,” said Northam. “This is an exciting win for the region…
Deux Amis, She Chester celebrate new locations
0The Chester Business Association held a ribbon cutting and social at the new locations of Deux Amis Med Spa and She Chester Boutique. Pictured above are Tammy Mormando (Deux Amis) cutting the ribbon with Paul Schindel (She Chester) with members of the Chester Business Association, friends and customers. Duex Amis and She Chester are located in the Chester Village Green at 4181 and 4157 Celebration Ave.
After a few twists and turns, Sthreshley inspired to teach
0Shawn Sthreshley is a Title I instructional coach at Hening Elementary, but the road he took to get there was anything but straightforward. When he was younger, Sthreshley wanted to be a preacher, and he gave sermons on the back porch. During high school, his dreams shifted to being a doctor (he shadowed a cardiologist), and he thought about getting into a pre-med plan. Once at college, however, he became passionate about math, so he pursued a math degree. A few semesters later, he realized he’d been reading a lot of religious and philosophy texts, and knew he wanted to…