Eat your greens

 

Tired of wondering where your lettuce comes from? Fret no more, Greenswell Growers greens come from a state-of-the-art indoor growing facility in Goochland are now available at both county Food Lion stores. These tasty leafy greens are untouched by human hands until they get to your kitchen.

Now available at both Goochland County Food Lion stores

Greenswell Growers (https://greenswellgrowers.com/) business model nourishes the community as well as people. The company partnered with the Career and Technical Education Department of Goochland Public Schools to help students see real world applications of what they learn in class. Even before it opened, Greenswell met with school leaders to discuss ways to support “curriculum areas including culinary arts, agricultural education, trade and industrial education, mechatronics, environmental sciences, and energy.” Other companies looking to locate in Goochland would do well to follow this strategy.

Greenswell Growers was recently honored for this partnership with county schools by  being named Region 1 winners in the Virginia Department of Education Secondary CTE Awards program.

“Our CTE programs and students benefit daily because of the strong partnerships we have with local businesses,” Goochland Director of Career and Technical Education Bruce Watson said. “We are honored to have our partnerships recognized by the Virginia Department of Education, and we thank all of our partners for their efforts to help our students be career-ready.”

The Greenswell “farm” on Hockett Road uses 95 percent less water than conventional agriculture. Being closer to Central Virginia markets means that Greenswell products are fresher than those trucked long distances. Their “peel and reseal” packaging uses minimal materials and is engineered to keep the greens fresher longer.

In addition to helping our schools make students job ready, Greenswell Gowers donates five percent of its product to local non-profits, including FeedMore and Goochland Cares to fight food insecurity.

 

 

 

 

 

River time

 

After a Covid induced hiatus, the James River Batteau Festival returned for its 37^th running in 2022. The event started at Percival’s Island in Lynchburg on June 18. It concluded 120 river miles and eight days later at the Maidens Boat Landing near the south end of the Rt. 522 bridge. The event was created by the Virginia Canals and Navigation Society https://www.vacanals.org/, whose purpose is to “preserve, enhance, and explore Virginia’s Historic Waterways.”

A batteau  pulling into Maidens Landing

The Batteau Festival was born after remains of batteaux were unearthed during excavation of the turning basin in downtown Richmond in the 1980s sparking interest in this mode of transport.  Before canals, railroads, and interstates, the James River was the major thoroughfare for moving agricultural products, including perhaps whiskey—a value-added use of grain—downstream to market. Goods that could not be made on farms, were carried upstream on the return trip. The James River Batteau festival, which attracts people from all over the world, is believed to be the only reenactment exploring this period in history.

Batteux are flat-bottomed shallow-draft boats capable of navigating widely varying depths of the river and negotiating rapids and rocks. According to a knowledgeable source, who generously shared river lore while awaiting arrival of the batteaux, they traveled down river in flotillas that included well-made boats and some more cheaply built. Upon reaching Richmond, the simpler ones were disassembled and sold for lumber. The crews were consolidated on the sturdier boats for the arduous journey—polling all the way—upriver. Homes built with batteau lumber may still be standing in Richmond.

Each batteau—there were 15 in this year’s festival—is a labor of love. For part of the year, they are submerged in ponds or streams to swell the wood. Cracks are filled with oakum, tarred fiber, to prepare them for river use. Trailers built from modified undercarriages of mobile homes transport the batteaux to the river.

Loading a batteau onto its trailer is a delicate task and must be done right to ensure a safe trip.

After a rousing send off in Lynchburg, the batteaux wended their way down stream stopping at various points along the way to rest and celebrate. Along the way folks in canoes, kayaks, and on paddle boards joined the batteaux, all having a great time on the river.

On Wednesday, June 22, the batteaux spent the night at Scottville, which celebrates the batteaux with its own festival that includes music, crafts, and food.

Go to the James River Batteau Festival page on FB for exquisite photos of the event and details about each stage the trip. Visit its website at https://vacanals.org/batteau/.

 

 

Village people the next chapter

 

            Earlier this year, Goochland County kicked off small area plan studies for the Centerville and Courthouse Villages. Initial meetings were followed by focus group meetings, and surveys to gather feedback about needs, wants, and general perceptions of both villages.

            Sections of the Goochland Comprehensive Land Use Plan (https://www.goochlandva.us/250/2035-Comprehensive-Plan) dealing with these villages have not been updated to reflect recent growth. These small area studies will suggest ways that development could happen. Most of the land in question is in the hands of private owners, who may or may not follow these concepts as they develop their property. New businesses open when entrepreneurs risk their own money in the hopes of creating a profitable enterprise. The county’s role is business creation is to create an environment that is attractive to investment.

            On June 8 a “midway” meeting was held for Courthouse Village to share results of the survey and concepts drafted by Hill Studios of Roanoke, the consulting firm retained by the county to perform the study, and its partners. A look at what is here, and what could be, by fresh eyes with no preconceived notions, could be a useful tool for future land use decisions.

            Go to https://www.goochlandva.us/1212/Courthouse-Village-Plan to view a video of this meeting and accompanying slides.

The Courthouse and green on Memorial Day

            David Hill, principal with Hill Studios, said that the public engagement on the project is the best he has ever experienced, particularly comments on “what is a village, and how do you keep it that way?” The survey garnered 240 responses, out of almost 25k county residents.

            The presentation contained interesting statistical information. The 2022 population of Courthouse Village is 1,799 and that 10,407 people live within a 15-minute driving distance. The local retail trade information indicates that $146 million is “leaking” outside the area, which is no surprise to Goochlanders who regularly shop in Short Pump or Zion Crossroads. Although the Courthouse Village “leakage” translates into half a grocery store, the current population, contended Hill, is not large enough to support a second store. Hill contended that Courthouse Village could capture lots of retail sales with more stores.

Twice as many people commute into Goochland to work as those who commute out to jobs elsewhere. Again, this is no surprise. Employees of businesses in West Creek as well as county and school employees tend to live outside Goochland and travel here for work.

            Branding, how to exploit the community character, was discussed. Color pallets and fonts that create unique identities for different parts of the county and supporting logos designed to create an “iconic sense of place” were displayed. The goal of branding seems to be attracting people to Courthouse Village. Where these folks would come from and what they would do once there was a bit vague.

            Absorbing growth and providing needed services without losing the identity of the village was addressed next. A village, unlike towns or cities, Hill contended, has an extraordinary connection to the land outside. “All great villages are well-connected,” Hill said. He suggested greenways for hiking and biking that connect Tucker and Hidden Rock parks. Hill also talked about keeping open fields along roadways while hiding residential development from view. This is the goal of the county’s rural preservation zoning district, exemplified by Breeze Hill on Fairground Road.

            Hill suggested putting the “very wide” River Road West on a “road diet”. This would extend the sidewalks and add on-street parking between the library and roughly Parrish Ford. This might work where buildings are set well back from the roadway, in other parts, not so much. Near the Courthouse Complex, where buildings are close to the street, large trucks and tractor trailers fill a good portion of the travel lane between the double yellow line and the curb, making passing a very delicate operation. Unless a bypass to move through traffic around the village is built, narrowing the roadway is a recipe for disaster. The amount of general traffic and number of very large vehicles that travel River Road West daily, would seem to make on street parking and narrow travel lanes a safety hazard.

            Hill characterized the delightful River Road Cottage, at 2905 River Road West, (see its Facebook page for details) which transformed a home into an amazing market for all things made locally, as quintessential a “village” business. Existing homes nearby, Hill contended, also have potential for transformation to commercial use.

            Infill buildings should reflect those already there. Hill observed that the single-story structures along River Road West enhance the village feel.

             Aligning the new courthouse with the historic courthouse would provide space for a new “green” that could be used to host celebratory activities.

  Hill suggested that the Reynolds Community College campus could partner with private sector entities to create space for innovative uses like business incubators. “Cottage” housing on some of the RCC property could add attainable housing options to Courthouse Village. It was unclear if the consultants conferred with RCC leadership. Future use of the 90-acre campus, which was allegedly going to be the subject of “community conversations,” remains obscure.

            At the end of the presentation, the audience indicated, via smartphone poll, what they wanted to see in Courthouse Village. Answers included coffee shop, 24-hour pharmacy, medical facility, dry cleaners, laundromat, evening activities, gathering spaces, sidewalks, and concerts.

            The consultants will use feedback from the June 8 meeting to refine their initial concepts. The product of that work will be presented to the public later this year before final recommendations are made to the supervisors. If approved, the results of the study will become part of the county’s comprehensive land use plan.

            A similar meeting was scheduled on June 9 for the Centerville Village study but was cancelled when one of the presenters tested positive for Covid.

           

           

           

           

 

 

           

 

Storm recovery for farmers

 

Goochland County, VA

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Agricultural producers whose farming operations suffered damage in the storm on Thursday, June 16 are asked to notify Virginia Cooperative Extension Agent Nicole Shuman of damages at their earliest convenience. Damage assessments help the Commonwealth of Virginia and other agencies determine whether relief funding needs to be made available.

Nicole can be notified via email at nks49@vt.edu, call/voicemail at 804-556-5872, and text message at 301-633-0652. She will be available Tuesday the 21st through Friday the 24th for site visits if producers prefer.

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Road work

            It seems like we complain a lot about Goochland roads. Resistance to almost every rezoning application is headed by concerns about traffic and the inability of existing roads to handle more vehicles. Indeed, at some times of the day in many places, road capacity can be likened to trying to put ten pounds of manure in a five-pound bag.

            Road maintenance and construction in Goochland is handled by the Virginia Department of Transportation, VDOT with some input from the county.

            Few people ever bother to attend the annual public hearing on the secondary system six-year plan, used by the supervisors to prioritize road funding for county projects. This tends to be a multi-year proposition as a certain amount of funding is designated for spending on a project to be completed in the future. Inflation only complicates the process.

            Before its June 7 meeting, the Goochland Board of Supervisors met for the first of what are planned to be regular workshops to discuss transportation issues.

            Deputy County Administrator Jo Ann Hunter said that funding transportation projects ahs become more complicated, but happily, for the first time ever, Goochland has some money to use for this purpose. Communication with the board is needed to ensure that these funds are put to the best use. Another new initiative is quarterly meetings with VDOT and its willingness to share information and receive feedback from the county.

            Board Chair Neil Spoonhower, District 2, said that the county has many funding avenues, but things can change fast. “Staff is sitting around working at its usual 150 percent capacity when Rep. Spanberger calls and says, ‘hey I need a list of projects’ or another agency says ‘oh, by the way VDOT just found all this money we really want to bless you with this project’ at it gets things moving.” He said that it is really important that the board and staff be aligned as to what priorities are, so they respond appropriately when these opportunities arise. “Let’s hope for the best and prepare for the worst.”

            Transportation Manager Austin Goyne gave an overview of the many transportation- related agencies that Goochland deals with. Regular emails summarizing their periodic meetings will go to the supervisors to keep them apprised of all transportation related matters. Quarterly VDOT executive meetings between Goochland staff and VDOT engineers have begun again, and summaries of those sessions will go to the supervisors.  Both Hunter and Goyne said that VDOT has been very responsive to county concerns and Goochland has a good relationship with the Ashland Residency.

             The first topic of discussion was applications submitted by the county for “Smart Scale” transportation projects. Goochland submitted five pre-applications, but only four can proceed through the final process to be considered for state funding. The final application deadline is August 1, the county may only submit four of the five chosen for pre-application.

            These are:

·       A “diverging diamond” on the Ashland Road bridge over Interstate 64. This would improve traffic flow in that very congested area without building a new bridge. The current cost estimate is $16.9 million, which equals the funding to be provided by the Central Viginia Transportation Authority (CVTA). The application would identify and fund shortfalls.

·       A roundabout at the Oilville Road/I64 westbound ramp, for the full amount of current $5.5 million estimate. This project is also in the FY23 Federal Appropriations bull.

·       Relocation of Hockett/Broad Street Road intersection. The current estimate of this project, which will keep the north end of Hockett open for through traffic and use a three-pronged roundabout that will be on Hockett north of Hickory Haven, is $15.5 million currently awarded full funding. The Smart Scale application is to fund gaps caused by inflation.

A roundabout will keep local access and ease through traffic flow.

·       Widening Broad Street Road west of Rt. 288. The application is for the full estimated amount of $17.6 million. This is mostly in Henrico, which gives it regional status.

·       Reconnection of Three Chopt Road under Rt. 288 behind the Audi Dealership. This is an economic development project. The application is for the full current estimated cost of $20 million. Staff is also pursuing funding through the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program.

Hunter pointed out that even if the county is not awarded Smart Scale funding the final application identifies funding shortfalls and more refined sketches to get a clear picture of cost. Scoring of the final applications comes out in January. She said that project awards are based on the amount of the “ask” versus the total cost of a project, the lower the ask, the higher the score.

The Three Chopt reconnection was dropped.

Goyne then reported on projects underway:

·       First phase of the East End trail system plans were last reviewd in January. Staff is working with VDOT to progress as quickly as possible. This project is currently slated for February 2023 advertisement with a July 2023-Augsut 2024 construction timeline.

·       Construction on the Fairground/Sandy Hook Road roundabout is scheduled to begin on July 25, 2022, with completion expected in October 2023. There will be two 30-day complete closures of the intersection to deal with utility work. Staff will coordinate with schools and businesses in the area to mitigate disruption as much as possible.

·       Widening Rt. 288 from Broad Street Road to Tuckahoe Creek Parkway will add a new lane with completion in the FY23-26 time frame at an estimated $16.8 million cost.

·       A badly needed Fairground Road corridor study with a rough cost estimate of $200k could be part of another funding cycle this fall.

The Central Virginia Transportation Authority allocates 50 percent of gas and sales tax back to localities. Goochland’s current account from CVTA is approximately $3.1 million. These funds must be spent on transportation related items. Staff recommend CVTA funds be used to cover the cost of the preliminary engineering and studies for future funding applications; cover the cost of small projects like the median reconstruction on River Road West to improve access to the Manakin Company 1 Fire-Rescue station; and cover any funding gaps in the Fairground Road roundabout.

A video of the workshop is available on the county website https://www.goochlandva.us/ on the board of supervisors’ archive under the “watch county meetings” tab.

 

 

 

 

 

           

 

             

           

June Board Meeting Highlights

 

Important stuff first. Fireworks will be held on July 4 at 9 p.m. at the sports complex behind the county administration building in Courthouse Village. Parking opens at 7. Rain date is July 5, same time, same place.

The July supervisors’ meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 6 to avoid possible conflict with fireworks. This action should guarantee good weather on the Fourth.

 

The June 7 meeting of the Goochland Board of Supervisors was the last at which the Hon. Manuel Alvarez, Jr. participated as interim county administrator. Since last August, Alvarez has worked with the county government team to conduct a successful bond referendum, complete electoral redistricting, secure the county’s third AAA bond rating, and craft the budget for FY’23, which begins on July 1.

Those who whined that the county was without leadership following the sudden departure of the previous county administrator could not be more mistaken. Alvarez brought decades of managerial experience at Phillp Morris and eight years’ of insight about county operations as a supervisor to the task. His respect for others and upbeat personality made sure that Goochland was well-served during this time.

Manny Alvarez

Board Chair Neil Spoonhower, District 2, thanked Alvarez for stepping in and filling the gap. He was already respect by the community and county staff, who he in turn held in high esteem for their hard work and commitment to serve the citizens, especially during the high weird challenges of Covid.

“You helped us emerge from Covid and put smiles back on the faces of those in this building,” Spoonhower told Alvarez. He said it was an absolute honor to work alongside Alvarez as board chair.

When he first ran for supervisor in 2011, among Alvarez’s goals were universal broadband and a District 2 Fire-Rescue station. He helped put the final pieces of the broadband puzzle into place and executed the agreement for the county to buy land for the fire-rescue station on Whitehall Road in the past ten months. Goochland is blessed to have citizens like Alvarez who step up to work for the betterment of the community.

Victor “Vic” Carpenter will become county administrator on June 20.

District 4 Supervisor Don Sharpe was absent.

Redistricting

Pamela Cook Johnson, chair of the Goochland Electoral Board reported that cards recently received by all registered voters in the county were sent by the state board of elections. The information used by the SBOE, said Johnson, do not reflect local changes for voting district, precinct, and polling places as a result of redistricting. The SBOE “locked” the Goochland registrar out of its computerized system, preventing an update of local voter information, because we had no primaries this spring.

Johnson said that General Registrar Ryan Mulligan will send each registered voter in Goochland a card with updated voting information well in advance of this year’s election. Information on the county website is correct. She suggested that voters go to the county website goochlandva.us to check their status.

New voting locations, Johnson said, including Randolph School, the animal shelter, and Chief Cornerstone Baptist Church, are much safer in terms of access and traffic.

Registrar

Mulligan reported that there are currently 20,507 active and 487 inactive voters in Goochland County. This represents a gain of 777 voters, 670 of which are active.

New legislation kicks in on October 1 preregistering 16-year-olds, so that they are automatically registered when they turn 18.

Lists of decedents, to purge the voter rolls, are now received weekly instead of monthly.

In last year’s gubernatorial elections, Goochland had a 73 percent turnout, the highest in the Commonwealth. Permanent absentee voting has been established to enable people to register for an absentee ballot one time instead of before every election.

 

VDOT

Marshall Winn, Director of the Ashland Residency, which oversees roads in Goochland, reported that debris removal of 278,289 cubic yards, or 6.500 truckloads, from the January storm has been completed. Road damage caused by heavy equipment engaged in this activity will be repaired soon.

Fire-Rescue

Chyna Tyler of Oilville was recognized by fire-rescue officials for her quick thinking and application of fire safety skills learned at Randolph Elementary School to prevent injury to her siblings and limit damage to her home. When a fire erupted in her kitchen, Tyler extinguished the fire, removed all people and pets from the home, and dial 911 to await assistance. Damage was limited to flooring and cabinetry.

Chyna Tyler wit Fire-Rescue and School Officials (Goochland County photo)

Fire-Rescue Chief D. E. “Eddie” Ferguson Jr. was joined by other fire officials and Andy Armstrong from Goochland Schools to present a certificate. He said that Tyler’s action underscores the importance of the partnership between fire-rescue and our schools.

Summer means that people are headed to the James River for fun. Ferguson reported that on Memorial Day weekend, when the river was running high and fast, Goochland Fire-Rescue’s well-trained water rescue teams plucked eight people and one pet “who got in trouble” from the water. A Goochland water rescue team also provided mutual aid assistance in the rescue and recovery operations for the people who went over the Bosher Dam in Richmond.

Goochland water rescue teams pluck people from the James River (photo Goochland Fire-Rescue)

He reminded people to be aware of river conditions and stay out of the water when the river runs high and fast and to wear a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device AKA life jacket. Ferguson issued his annual reminder that float times on the James can be quite long.

Ferguson reported that there have been a few recent fires caused by hot lawnmowers placed in attached garages before they cooled down causing significant damage to homes.

Volunteers are needed, call 804-556-5304 or visit you local fire-rescue station for more information.

Utilities

Director of Public Utilities Matt Longshore P.E. gave his annual report to the board. His department provides public water and sewer services to more than 2,200 residential and commercial customers each day.

The county operates and maintains nine sewer pump stations; two water booster stations; one chloramine booster station; three water tanks, and 166 miles of pipeline, a 14-mile increase over last year. The customer base, reported Longshore, is growing at about 12 percent annually.

A waterline was recently installed in the Jenkins trailer park in Courthouse Village, which was funded by the Virginia Department of Health Safe Drinking Water Revolving Fund. Installation of the long-awaited sewer lines in the Hickory Haven and Sammary Forest communities is well underway.

Upcoming projects include replacement of approximately 11,000 feet of 48-inch force main pipe between the eastern pump station located on the north side of Rt. 6 just west of the Henrico County line. Ductile iron pipe will replace fiber-reinforced pipe that was poorly installed during construction of the Tuckahoe Creek Service District almost 20 years ago. The most recent” failure” of this line occurred about a year ago when a rupture dumped approximately 300,000 of raw sewage into Tuckahoe Creek and closed the James River downstream to recreational activities for a few weeks due to high bacterial count in the water.

Longshore said that “we put every project through the ringer. Every stick of pipe, every valve, if it’s going to be included in a public system, we want to watch it as its built and make sure it’s a good product. We want to sign off it at the end of the day and make sure it’s built to our county standards and specifications.”

He bragged on his “small but mighty” staff, which Longshore credits for the success of the department. They achieved all of the requirements to maintain professional certification while keeping very busy with department operation. The staff includes six licensed waterworks operators; two licensed professional engineers; a NASSCO professional who assesses and documents gravity sewer lines; a Virginia Certified backflow prevention device worker; and three notaries. “Without their hard work and commitment to excellence, our department wouldn’t run,” said Longshore.

Utilities' Staff (Goochland County photo)

Public Hearings

·        An ordinance amendment to change the Real Estate tax relief affidavit submission from March 31 to April 30 was approved unanimously.

·        A renewal of a conditional use permit (CUP) for Bandit’s Ridge was approved unanimously.

·        A rezoning application for property on the southwest corner of Rt. 6 and Rt. 288 from Residential General to Business General with proffered conditions for use by a landscaping company was unanimously approved.

·        Rezoning and CUP applications filed by Extra Attic for property on Pouncey Tract Road surrounded by the Parkside Village community to allow a self-store facility; an office building; and another building whose has not been determined, was approved 3-1 with Susan Lascolette, District 1 in dissent.

To listen to these hearings in their entirety, go to the county website goochlandva.us and check on “watch county meetings”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They've only just begun

 

Under the purple dusk of a perfect June evening, Jeremy Raley, Ed. D., Superintendent of Goochland Schools, gave the long-awaited signal for members of the Goochland High School Class of 2022 to turn their tassels as he officially pronounced them graduates.

Graduates celebrate (photo Goochland Schools)

Held on June 4 in the football stadium, graduation was normal, a rarity for this class whose high school years were upended by a pandemic. Lessons learned outside the classroom about working through unprecedented change will help these fine young people face whatever challenges life throws at them.

The 210 souls that GHS sent out into the world are a varied bunch. Perhaps the most notable achievement was that of De’Andre Malik Robinson, who had perfect attendance for each day of 13 years in Goochland Schools. This reflects a deep family commitment to the importance and value of education, perhaps the “secret sauce” in success.

Interests and talents, reflecting differing gifts of the graduates, will take the class of ’22 in many directions. Many will go on to higher education—159 earned advanced diplomas. Some will go directly into the workforce, others to serve our country in military service. Each student has been prepared for the next stage of their lives thanks to the dedication of family, teachers, coaches, and a community that realizes they are our future.

School Board Chair Mike Newman, District 4, who, in another life, was GHS principal, lauded the graduates for persevering and said the school board is very proud of them.

In their speeches, valedictorian Grace Becraft, and salutatorian Lorena Maier reflected on their time at GHS and the experiences that broadened their horizons shaped them and their classmates.

GHS principal Chris Collier reminded the graduates to respect themselves and value the differences of others.

The ceremony ended with fireworks!

Fireworks to end a beautiful commencement 

Congratulations class of ’22. Go forth and better yourselves to enrich the community. May good fortune follow wherever life takes you.