ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mike Bennett to run new golf course

Mike Bennett has been selected to oversee the construction, membership and operations of the new 18-hole championship Nicklaus Design golf course and club at Magnolia Green. The announcement was made last week by Ray Zimmerman, managing partner of Magnolia Green LLC. Previously, Bennett worked as director of operations for Williamsburg National Golf Club. While there, he served as president of the Williamsburg Area Golf Association, an executive committee member of the Williamsburg Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and board member for the Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce. Bennett has been a Class "A" Member of the PGA for 14 years and recently achieved a PGA certification for course ownership and leasing. Groundbreaking on the course will occur before year's end with an estimated opening date in the fall of 2009. The club's Web site is www.westhamgolfclub.com.

Thomas (Mack) Strickland Jr. of Strickland Realty & Appraisal Services in Chester is one of nine Virginia Realtors elected to the Virginia Association of Realtors (VAR) Policy Board, which is responsible for administering VAR's business affairs. He also serves as a director of the Virginia Real Estate Educational Foundation.

Dr. Kristine Smetana, associate professor of chemistry at John Tyler Community College and the Virginia Section of the American Chemical Society's coordinator for Chemists Celebrate Earth Day, has been recognized for raising community awareness about the importance of protecting the Earth. During the American Chemical Society's (ACS) national meeting in Boston, Smetana was presented with an award for Greatest Community Involvement in Chemists Celebrate Earth Day.

John Tyler Community College recently gave area high school teachers a lesson on the latest Autodesk software. On Oct. 16, drafting teachers from 10 high schools including those in Chesterfield gathered at the college's Chester campus for a workshop covering the new features of AutoCAD 2008 and AutoCAD Architecture 2008. Participants received a free copy of the AutoCAD Architecture 2008 software.

Judith A. Davis has retired as a senior eligibility worker after 20 years of service at the Chesterfield County Department of Social Services.

Marlene K. Pascarella has retired after 22 years with the Chesterfield County Treasurer's Office.

The Chesterfield Historical Society and Haley Toyota hosted a golf tournament earlier this month at the Country Club at the Highlands. Of the 67 golfers who participated, the winning foursome was John McNaney, Chris Willis, Bob Anderson and Len Hamilton. Closest to the pin award went to GT Hawkins, and Deb Kelo and Chris Splisgardt took the closest to the line awards for women and men respectively. Proceeds from the event will be used to incorporate Chesterfield history materials at county schools and with homeschooled families.

The Community Partner Award from Children's Hospital of Richmond has been presented to Pat & Erin Cuomo of Midlothian as part of the 4th Annual "Spirit of Advocacy" Awards. The couple started the Little Louie Foundation in memory of their son, Louis, who died from a brain tumor in 2006. The foundation assists families during a child's hospital stay by providing care packages and financial assistance that allow parents to focus on their family. It also provides monetary donations and support to researchers searching for a cure to pediatric brain cancer. Since May 2006, the Cuomos have raised approximately $80,000, supporting 30 families with care packages and seven families with financial assistance. More information is available at www. littlelouiefoundation.org.

Matthew Ryan Bukas of Troop 800 and Elliott Reuel Howell of Troop 806 have attained the rank of Eagle Scout.

Daniel Montrose, a graduate of Clover Hill High School and the son of Scott Montrose and Laura Montrose of Midlothian, recently participated in the Susquehanna University Get Into Volunteer Experiences Program. Sites visited as part of the program included the Susquehanna Children's Center, Danville State Hospital and others.

St. Michael's Episcopal School, the oldest independent school south of the James River, recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. The school is located in Bon Air and serves students in Chesterfield County and other nearby localities.

CJW Medical Center has been named the top rated hospital in Virginia for overall cardiac services for the second year in a row. Nationally, CJW ranks among the top 5 percent for overall cardiac services and heart surgery. The rankings are based on the 10th Annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America Study.

Comcast is helping to raise voters' awareness of the upcoming election by providing its customers with candidate interviews through its ON DEMAND service. The interviews with state senate, house of delegates and board of supervisors candidates can be accessed through the "Get Local" category on the ON DEMAND menu on Channel 1. Comcast Newsmakers hosts Tony Hill, Tom Howard and Jennifer Massey conducted the interviews.

Announcements should be e-mailed to news@chesterfieldob server.com, faxed to 744-3269 or mailed to Chesterfield Observer, Attn: Announcements, P.O. Box 1616, Midlothian, VA 23113.