Chesterfield Observer wins best-business award

County residents Debbie Plowman (left) and Sue Vaughan traveled to Oregon’s Crater Lake last month, taking the latest issue of the Chesterfield Observer with them. Photo courtesy of Debbie Plowman The Chesterfield Observer is the winner of the first 2010 Chesterfield Business of the Year award given by Chesterfield Business Council, a division of the Greater Richmond Chamber.

The award, offered in recognition of the newspaper’s innovation, growth and impact on the community, was presented at the chamber’s 143rd Annual Dinner last week. Awards for 2010 Business of the Year were also given to businesses in Hanover and Henrico counties and Richmond as chosen by the business councils in each of those localities.

Despite the past three years of recession, the Observer has increased its circulation by 12 percent and projects 2010 will be its best year ever in total advertising sales.

David Wyman (center), school board chairman, enjoys a health snack with students during Family Fitness Night at Hopkins Elementary School. Photo courtesy of Lisa Hill Two other Chesterfield businesses also won awards.

The Pediatric Connection, a children’s home-health-care company, won the chamber’s 23rd Annual IMPACT Award, which recognizes local for-profit businesses that have had a positive effect on the region’s economy, community and each company’s employees through innovation within their industry.

The Third Annual HYPE (Helping Young Professionals Engage) YP Workplace Award in the large business category was given to Bon Secours Richmond Health System, which includes St. Francis Medical Center in Midlothian. This award recognizes companies that best attract, retain and develop young professionals in their industry.

Organizations

In recognition of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, Bryant & Stratton College donated $1,000 to the Chesterfield County Domestic Violence Task Force. The donation will enable the task force to reprint 40,000 emergency information and referral cards for distribution to potential victims of domestic violence throughout the region. Beth Murphy (second from left), Bryant & Stratton College’s Virginia campuses director, presented the donation to Chesterfield Domestic Violence Task Force members (from left) Courtney O’Hara, Jackie Dean and Fannie Higginbotham-Joost. Photo courtesy of Doug Blue Chesterfield-based LINC and the Massey Cancer Center will present a free legal and financial-planning seminar for cancer patients, survivors, their families, caregivers and social services and medical personnel on Monday, Nov. 15, from noon-4 p.m., in the Jackson Ward room at the Larrick Student Center (VCU Medical Center area), 900 Turpin St., Richmond. Topics will include “Dealing With Your Insurance Company and the Health Care Law Changes,” “Employment Law – What Are Your Rights?” and “Life Coaching for Cancer Patients – Live Through This: Managing the Cancer Change.” Parking is free. Lunch will be provided. RSVP is requested by calling 562-0592 or e-mailing education@cancerlinc.org. Call for parking information.

Business

The Chesterfield Business Council, an arm of the Greater Richmond Chamber, will hold a networking breakfast on Tuesday, Nov. 16, from 7:15-9 a.m., at Johnston-Willis Medical Center cafeteria, 1401 Johnston-Willis Drive. Panelists Kevin Longenback of TransUrban/ Pocahontas 895, Renee Chapline of Gateway Region and Kim Hynes of Central Virginia Waste Management Authority will discuss public-private partnerships. The event is free. Register online at www.GRCC.com or by calling 783-9330.

Athletics

Led by Richmond Braves National Baseball founders Jeff Roberts and Tommy Mayers, SportsQuest Baseball plans to increase the number of its high-performance travel teams and expand the reach of its sport-development programs, with a goal of increasing scholarship opportunities for their players.

The River City Crew team, which includes students from schools throughout the metro, recently rowed in the Head of the James Regatta at Robious Landing Park. Chesterfield students taking part in the regatta included Grace Kimball, Midlothian High School; Anastasia Stodolski, Manchester High; Sherry Bell, Meagan Tate and Colby Chafin, Cosby High; and Nicholas Tomlinson, Tomahawk Creek Middle School. Kimball placed second as a member of the Women’s Jr. 4+ team, Bell came in second with the Women’s Jr. 2X team and Tate was coxswain for the Men’s Jr. Novice 8+ team that included Chafin and took first place.

Education

Students at Riverside School, a school for children in kindergarten through eighth grades with dyslexia and specific language-based learning disabilities, attended a breakfast and luncheon at the Jefferson Hotel with author Tommy Spaulding. After struggling with dyslexia throughout his school years, Spaulding went on to become CEO of Up With People, then founded his own firm. His message was about leading through the power of relationships.

Millwood School’s fifth-grade class, taught by Annette Bansbach, presented a skit on the importance of sleep at a meeting of the Virginia Academy of Sleep Medicine. The conference hosted 150 sleep medicine professionals from around the commonwealth. The skit was written by Bansbach. Eighth-grade drama teacher Annie Spillane coached the students on stage presence, voice quality and body language.

Diana Bryan, fourth-grade teacher at Falling Creek Elementary School, was named “Teacher of the Day” by Office Max, which showered her with $1,000 worth of school supplies, including an executive chair and digital camera. The company also provided school supplies to the students in her class and tokens of appreciation to the rest of the Falling Creek Elementary staff.

John Tyler Community College’s (JTCC) nursing program is getting a valuable new resource thanks to a $63,000 grant from the Jenkins Foundation. The grant, awarded to the JTCC Foundation, will be used to create a nursing counselor position at the college. The position’s responsibilities will include improving retention rates and making sure prospective students are prepared for the rigors of the curriculum.

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.