Chesterfield company vies for Richmond Chamber award

RJ Smith Construction Company of Chesterfield is one the of five finalists for the19th Annual IMPACT award presented by the G r e a t e r Richmond Chamber of Commerce. The winner will be announced on Nov. 1. The IMPACT Award recognizes local for profit businesses that offer a quality work environment and have contributed to the greater Richmond community, grown their business in both gross sales and number of employees, and demonstrated innovation.

The Boathouse Restaurant has received an "Award of Excellence" from Wine Spectator. The restaurant was recognized for having one of the "most outstanding restaurant wine lists in the world." Wine Director Shannon Wilson and Wine Stewart Michael Avery have selected 105 world class wines to complement the menu at the Boathouse.

Jimmy Benson is opening a new office of Help-U-Sell in Chesterfield at 1256 Sycamore Square. For more information, call 858-0234.

Woodlake United Methodist Church will hold its groundbreaking ceremony for phase one of its new Hampton Park facility at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 17. The new location will include a worship center, a two-story education building for classes and meetings, and an art nursery/preschool building. Construction is estimated to take 16 months. Those attending are asked to park at Cosby High School and take the shuttle service to the site. For more information, go to www.woodlakeumc.org.

State Senator John Watkins introduced a resolution at the National Conference of State Legislators' Annual Meeting that called for the United States to achieve energy independence by 2030. The motion passed and is supported by the southern states through the Southern States Energy Board.

American General Financial Services has opened its newest location in the Breckenridge Shopping Center (12760 Jefferson Davis Highway) to provide loans, retail financing and other credit related products. The manager is Christie Hall.

Major Garland G. Stafford has retired after almost 16 years with the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office, completing his career by overseeing the Treatment Division of the new jail.

Douglas Jacob Simon has attained the rank of Eagle Scout.

Eight area residents won a variety of medals at the 10th Annual World Championships of Performing Arts in Hollywood last month. Known as the "Talent Olympics," the World Championships drew nearly 1,000 contestants from 40 countries to the weeklong event. Kelsey Weber, a junior at Thomas Dale High School, won a bronze medal in acting for her comedy monologue. Adam Lau Kunze, a senior at Thomas Dale, earned silver medals in classical acting, swimsuit modeling and original song self-accompaniment. He also earned bronze medals in photo modeling and open song self-accompaniment. He won an industry award as well and was the overall champion in classical acting.

Anthony Graham, a graduate of Thomas Dale now working at the Chester YMCA, won a gold medal in photo modeling, a silver in tap dancing and two bronze medals - one in spokes modeling and one in jazz dancing. Lynn Burton, a senior at Thomas Dale, won a bronze medal in dance. Caitlin McCutcheon, a sixth-grader at Swift Creek Middle School, won a silver medal in acting and a bronze medal in spokes modeling. Brandon Bowers of Chester won a gold medal in hip-hop dance, a gold medal in contemporary acting and a silver medal in the open dance category. He was awarded a scholarship to the School of Film & Television in New York City.

Wynter Chapman, who works at the Chester Fairfield Inn and Courtyard, won two bronze medals for her acting and three silver medals for petite modeling. Ashlie Luckett of Chester won a silver medal in original vocals, a bronze in pop vocals and an industry award.