County schools expand online presence

Announcements

Photo courtesy of Hal Greer The Huguenot Little League American league all-star team of 11 year olds won the District 5 championship, and will represent its district in the state championship. Team members include Sam Carr, Forrest Smith, Brad Barto, Ben Greer, Josh Barber, Carter Watson, Thomas Rysedorph, Korey Singh, Matt Franklin, Dalton Randall, Gavin McCool, Bryce Moore and coaches Hal Greer and Greg Carr.

Chesterfield County Public Schools (CCPS) has launched a redesigned Web site and established a presence on Facebook and Twitter. CCPS is the only school system in Central Virginia with an active Twitter account, and one of only four Virginia school systems that can "Tweet."

The sites will feature posts on school successes and events. Both Facebook and Twitter allow two-way communication between the school system and the public. By May 2009, the two social-networking sites had a combined total of more than 130 million visitors.

Superintendent Marcus Newsome will have his own Twitter account, separate from the schools' account. Connect with Chesterfield schools on Twitter at CCPSinfo and with Dr. Newsome at CCPSSuper. On Facebook, users can become a fan of CCPS. The schools' newly designed Web site is at www.chesterfield.k12.va.us.

Photo courtesy of Ellen Spiggle Ellen Spiggle recently caught a blue catfish weighing 26 pounds, 2 ounces, and measuring 35 and a half inches long, at Spring Lake off Harrowgate Road in Chester. It took 40 minutes to get the fish close enough to the shore to net it.

Both the social-networking sites and the redesigned CCPS Web site were created in-house at no additional cost to the school system. The school division will continue to communicate in traditional ways, including by telephone and through television and print media.

Business

Noodles & Company will open its third metro-area restaurant on Friday, July 31, at 11 a.m. at 15785 Westchester Commons. The company will host a pre-opening fundraiser on Thursday, July 30, from 5-8 p.m. One hundred percent of sales during that time will be donated to the Midlothian Family YMCA.

Photo courtesy of Richmond Sports Backers Chesterfield residents Ginger and Don Marsh will cover the 17-mile route in the Aug. 8 Sports Backers Anthem Moonlight Ride, a family bike ride that will also include an 8-mile route. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Virginia Commonwealth University Pauley Heart Center. For more information, visit www.sportsbackers.org.

Chesterfield Towne Center will host Denim Divas Doing Good as part of its series of "Get Together & Give" community events. The event will take place on Thursday, Aug. 13, from 6-8 p.m. in the community room next to JCPenney. Admission will be one pair of gently used or new jeans to be donated to the Salvation Army. Activities will include sorting and packaging jeans donated during the mall's Denim Drive, July 27-Aug. 13, a visit by a "fit expert" from the Gap, retailers showcasing fall denim looks, free food and drinks and entertainment. Those who volunteer to help will receive a gift. For more information, call Denise Smith at 794-4662.

Photo courtesy of Karen Long The 11U Virginia Breeze finished with a 7-3 record in the World Series Tournament in Charlotte, N.C., to come in second. Team players included Jacob Long, Austin Hurt, Austin Keesee, Cory Van Dyke, Ryan Traylor, Taylor Surma, Austin Sizemore, Kyle Creasey, Drew Edwards, Austin Carroll, Nick Jirinec, Payton Mawyer, Grant Splisgardt, Christian Hague and Patrick Solomita. The team was coached by Tommy Nuckols and Tommy Sizemore.

More than 3,000 youths and adults participated in financial education programs offered by Virginia Credit Union from April through June. Seminar topics included surviving in today's economy, building a better budget, strategies for eliminating debt, raising a money-smart kid, solving the mystery of credit reports and information for first-time homebuyers. The company is headquartered in Chesterfield and operates branches at 11030 Hull Street Road, 9961 Iron Bridge Road and 1200 Koger Center Blvd.

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) has honored the DuPont Spruance Plant in Chesterfield with its Responsible Care™ Energy Efficiency Award in the category of Plant Site Energy Efficiency Program. The award is given annually to recognize ACC member companies that demonstrate outstanding results in saving energy and reducing related greenhouse gas emissions. The Spruance site implemented energy-conservation initiatives and metrics and integrated a leak-management program to routinely inspect for leaks in the site's steam and air systems.

Photo courtesy of Thomas Cumiskey The RBI Inferno 13U Gold fast-pitch softball team finished third out of 42 teams in the National Softball Association 14U World Series held in Salem and ended its season with a 9-2 record. Members of the team include Mallory Knighton, Jessica McCabe, Rachel Cumiskey, Morgan Keifer, Ericka Spencer, Janna Williams, Elizabeth Marcello, Ellen Sweat, Ellen Davidson, Jesse Leroy, Alex Beyer and Jessica Ayscue.

Chesterfield-based www.Getloaded.com has added a tool for subscribers that will allow for creating a comprehensive route with multiple destinations, which will help simplify trip scheduling for truckers, carriers and brokers.

All American Insurers hosted a "Shop for the Cure" event, the kickoff for the 2009 Gala for the Celebration of Life Dance Team, to promote breast cancer awareness and raise funds for breast cancer research. The dance team consists of breast cancer survivors. The shopping event featured Silpada jewelry, Partylite candles, Avon, Pampered Chef and Tupperware products, and Sweetbriar designs.

The new Walmart store at 14501 Hancock Village St. will hold a grand opening on Aug. 19. Store officials are still conducting interviews for full- and part-time positions. Those interested may apply online at www.walmartstores.com/Careers/7745.aspx. Organizations

Stonehenge Golf and Country Club hosted the Richmond Chapter of Credit Unions' 15th Annual Golf Tournament, which raised $21,000 for Children's Miracle Network, an organization that supports children's hospitals.

Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia (CHSV) president Peter Lipowicz and six other CHSV members recently visited Defense Supply Center Richmond (DSCR) to take in Quarters One, a house built in 1802; the family plot of Richard Gregory Sr. who owned the DSCR-occupied land in the late 1700s; and the African-American cemetery.

The Leigh Wade chapter of the 169 Air Force Association (AFA) has awarded its first Community Partner plaque to Suzy Lias, financial advisor at Mutual of Omaha in Chester Village Green. As a community partner, Lias will support AFA's mission to educate, advocate and support Air Force families. The organization's next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 12, from noon-2 p.m., at the Fort Lee Officer's Club. Anyone in the community interested in supporting Air Force families is invited to attend. Call Gary Metzinger at 301-2301 for more information or to reserve a space for the meeting.

Salisbury Country Club hosted the Mid- Atlantic Clay Court Tennis Championships for the 10th year. The tennis tournament is the largest in Virginia, and attracts college and professional players and coaches from a dozen states.

Chesterfield residents elected to office in the James River Toastmasters Club include Joyce Puller, president; Corey M. Fauconier, vice president of public relations; Ellen Meloni, secretary; and Chantelle Skinner, treasurer.

The Amberleigh community will celebrate National Night Out on Aug. 4 with a concert and sing-along with the John Marshall Alumni Band. A voluntary collection will be made to support the band's scholarship fund. Residents may participate in a progressive patio/courtyard party by attaching a balloon to their patio gate. There will also be a visit from a police officer and McGruff the Crime Dog. For more information, contact Doris Pringle at 674-5818 or dlpringle1@verizon.net.

Education

Bryant & Stratton College, located at 8141 Hull Street Road, will hold a free "Meet & Eat" event for new high school graduates, working adults and job-seekers wanting more information about attending college. The event will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 5, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. For more information, call David Mayle, 745-2444. Several students' children recently graduated from the Children's College.

Virginia State University has appointed Dr. Mirta M. Martin as interim dean of the School of Business and professor of marketing. She holds a master's of business administration from the University of Richmond (UR) and a doctorate in business administration from Virginia Commonwealth University. She previously held positions at Averett University, UR's Robins School of Business, the John Tyler Community College Foundation and the Virginia Community College System.

Sharon Burnham, history instructor at John Tyler Community College, received the 2009-11 Chancellor's Commonwealth Professorship. The award will allow her to take graduate-level courses in world history and international politics, travel abroad to Africa to meet with instructors at Sunyani Polytechnic Institute in Ghana and study at the University of Ghana, develop a new course about 20th-century world history for the Virginia Community College System and other pursuits.

The state PTA recently held its annual Leadership Training Conference at James River High School. More than 600 attendees participated in over 100 workshops on topics that covered everything from fiscal management to volunteerism. Paula Otto, executive director of the Virginia Lottery, gave the keynote speech.

Chesterfield residents Matthew Brown and Joseph Bourne were recently inducted into the Virginia Tech chapter of Upsilon Pi Epsilon Honor Society, which recognizes academic achievement among computer science students. Brown is a senior majoring in computer science and applications, and Bourne is a master's student in computer science. Both majors are in the university's College of Engineering.

Individual achievements

The Public Relations Society of America Richmond chapter presented Midlothian resident Patricia C. Hassard with a Silver Certificate in the Marketing Business-to- Business category for the 2008-09 marketing campaign she developed and implemented for MercerTrigiana, a regional real estate law firm.

Betty S. Minton, business development executive for Main Street American Group in Midlothian, was honored by the Professional Insurance Agents Association of Virginia and the District of Columbia as the 2009 Outstandfrom ing Company Representative of the Year.

James Benton Maddox of Troop 489, sponsored by Redeemer Lutheran Church, and Steven Barrett Keeler, Troop 829, sponsored by Saint Matthias' Episcopal Church, have attained the rank of Eagle Scout.

Don Kappel, director of Chesterfield's Public Affairs Department, has been re-elected as vice chairman on the board of directors of the Central Virginia Film Institute.

Government

The board of supervisors has appointed Dr. J. Wayne Mancari to the Chesterfield/Colonial Heights Social Services Board as an at-large member.

Linda West is retiring from the county's information systems technology department after 32 years of service.

Defense Supply Center Richmond's telecommunications branch has installed videophones so that deaf employees may communicate with customers and co-workers using American Sign Language. The system allows a deaf user and a sign language interpreter to see each other and sign in real time. The interpreter may speak with hearing users on a standard phone line and relay the conversation to the deaf user. Two deaf users may communicate directly with each other as well.

Athletics

Chesterfield Baseball Clubs will host the 2009 PONY Bronco-11 World Series, July 29- Aug. 1, at Iron Bridge Park. Eight teams from across the country and as far away as Mexico and the Caribbean will participate. Players who will represent Chesterfield include Josh Barber, Chase Boettner, Nicholas Butts, Kameron Caldwell, Scott Carter, Tanner Fuller, Christian Hague, Ryan Irby, Jake Nagy, Vinnie Pasquantino, Tanner Ramsey, Ben Reid, Kyle Ryan, Cory Van- Dyke and Riley Walsh. Their coaches are Dennis Pasquantino, Robert Beottner and Danny Ramsey. Tickets are $25 and cover admission for up to six people. To purchase tickets, contact Tammy Ryan at 929-0553 or e-mail 1dolphinsfan13@comcast.net or Blake Eller at 357-6968 or president@cbc.org.

The Lady Patriots girls soccer team for homeschooled teens in grades 8-12 finished its season with an 8-2 record and placed second in league and tournament play. The team is part of the Central Virginia Homeschool Athletic Association (CVHAA), which provides highschool athletics in several sports for those who are homeschooled. For more information about CVHAA, visit www.cvhaa.org.

Midlothian resident Jimmy May competed in the 29th National Veterans Wheelchair Games, which took place in Spokane, Wash. The games are sponsored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Paralyzed Veterans of America.

Midlothian resident Alexander Petrie, 10, won the three-point shooting contest for 10U at the U.S. Basketball Association's youth basketball nationals in North Myrtle Beach. Petrie is a member of an AAU 10U team.

Caleb Brown, a Chesterfield resident and Virginia Tech student, won the National Guard FLW College Fishing Northern Division Tournament. With his tournament partner, Brown won $10,000. He is a graduate of L.C. Bird High School.

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