Spring events in Goochland

There are lots of things to do in Goochland in the next few days.

On Saturday, April 28, the Master Gardeners are holding their Spring Fest at the Goochland campus of J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College in Courthouse Village. The plant sale starts at 8 a.m. Come early for the best selection of great plants for your garden. With luck, you can get them in the ground between raindrops!

Also on the 28th the new West Creek Emergency Center is holding a community open house from 9-1. This is the first phase of the hospital project we all supported a few years back. Be sure to visit the new ER and welcome this fine facility to Goochland. Go to westcreekER.com for details.

As the presidential campaign heats up both sides are claiming attitudinal connection to the Founding Fathers, especially in the area of religion. On Sunday, April 29, the Goochland Historical Society will host Dr. John Fea, chairman of the history department at Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania. Fea will deliver a talk titled “Religion and the Founding Fathers: A historical perspective.” Fea has written extensively on the role of religion in American History. The meeting will be held at Goochland Baptist Church 2454 Manakin Road, which is located north of Broad Street Road.

The annual Kates Day celebration at the Virginia Correctional Center for Women AKA “The Women’s Farm” will take place on Wednesday May 2.

Founded to honor Elizabeth Kates, the first warden of the VCCW, the Kates Foundation works to help offenders turn their lives around and enable them to return to society as productive citizens.

Sales of crafts and baked goods run from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Guided tours of the facility are also offered at this time. The annual plant sale runs from 3 to 6 p.m. Grown by the offenders onsite, these plants, like those from the Master Gardeners, are beautiful and reasonable in cost. A shuttle is available to transport plants from the greenhouse area to your vehicle.

Dinner will be served at 6 P.M. following the annual meeting of the Kates Foundation at 4:30. Reservations for the dinner, which costs $6.00 per person paid at the door, must be made by April27. Call Reba Myers (804)784-3582 ext. 3656 to save your place. A picture ID is required at the security station sign in. Lock valuables in your car. No cell phones allowed. Clear plastic bags will be provided to hold your keys and checkbook.

Come out and support these local activities.