Over the President’s Day weekend, Feb. 13-14, a break-in occurred at the Lockwood Business Center at 9007 Atlee Station Road in Mechanicsville.

Lt. Glenn Schneider said the building “had an exterior door they (culprits) were able to get through and then they forced entry into several businesses inside.” Petty cash, digital cameras, “little small things you can carry out of there” were taken.

At the time of the break-in, officers with the Crime Prevention unit went to the scene where they addressed issues with the exterior door. “We haven’t had any problems down there since,” Schneider said.

Deputy Barry Bland, who serves as crime prevention specialist with the Sheriff’s Office, said they recommended restricting access during the weekend and implemented security measures.

As for entry to the Lockwood building, Investigator Matt Ratchford said there were no pry marks.

Officers did find prints, which were run through the Automated Fingerprinting Identification System (AFIS).

Investigator Kevin LaPlaga is working with Ratchford on the Lockwood Business Center case. Anyone with information pertaining to the burglary is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 365-6140. The website is http://www.hanoversheriff.com.

With the investigation into the Lockwood incident continuing, Bland offered several prevention tips for residents and businesses. He also explained a security assessment the Crime Prevention unit provides.

“What we’re trying to do is not make a home or a business look like a fortress but at the same time we’re trying to fortify or make recommendations on how to fortify your valuables and your property,” Bland said. “One of the things that we look at in a security assessment is doorways, because statistics show that more people will break in through a doorway.

We recommend that people have on their doorways at least a one-inch dead bolt lock and that they use a heavy strike plate on the door frame that includes at least a three- to three-and-a-half-inch long screw.”

He also said they recommend “a long screw that will reach into the stud in the wall adjacent to the frame so when someone tries to kick the door—especially if they have one in the standard lock plate and they have one in the dead bolt plate. Four heavy screws holding that in place reduce the opportunity for them to gain entry. Hopefully that will cause them enough frustration that they will feel it’s time to leave instead of making noise or possibly be seen.”

A solid metal or solid wooden door is recommended by Bland. With that comes the need for “a wide angle peephole so that they can make a decision as to whether or not they’re going to open the door for someone outside asking to enter.”

For doors with glass in them or around them, Bland said his unit recommends using a double cylinder key lock instead of a thumb latch lock, “which is very typical.” He also said a key should be placed “at least 40 inches away from the door lock lower to the floor, in case there’s a fire or another emergency where people have to escape.”

“For people that have sliding glass doors,” Bland recommended “that they place screws in the tracks. Not to obstruct movement of the door but to obstruct movement from the outside and removing the opportunity to gain entry.”

“Recess screws in the track groove,” he added, “and tighten them down tight enough so the door will continue to move and slide, but won’t lift up.”

To restrict the door from opening, he said use a piece of wood or a broom handle, “so that a person looking at the location will know that the door has been fortified.”

Bland said lighting is one of the most economical forms of security for home or business. “Lighting provides good surveillance of one’s property for them to see what’s going on. It also provides good surveillance for neighbors or passersby to see suspicious activity as well.

“We recommend timers for lights on the inside that are set to turn on and off during times they would normally be on or off when you are not on the property or at home. Dusk-to-dawn sensors for lights and motion sensor lights are also recommended for the exterior. They only come on when necessary and aid in detecting suspicious activity as well.”

Bushes are another issue. Bland said they should “be kept no higher than 24 inches in height and trimmed away from the building to reduce hiding places and increase surveillance.” Tree canopies should be kept no less than five to six feet “so people can see into a business and people from the business can see out.” “You want your privacy, but you want it to be fortified,” Schneider said.

Wooden frame windows should “be drilled and penned, which is drilling a hole between where the two windows come together in the center in the side of the glass.” He urged “drilling at a downward angle and putting a nail in the hole, not a screw, in order to keep that window from being lifted. If there is an emergency that you have to escape you don’t have to worry about finding a screw driver—you can just pull the nail out.”

Identification also is a key to security for businesses and homes. Bland said businesses and homes should “make sure that they identify all of their property.” Operation Identification through the Sheriff’s Office helps in marking or engraving valuables. Engravers are available, as well as permanent invisible ink markers.

Participating in a Neighborhood Watch organization is encouraged. “Statistics show that communities with Neighborhood Watch are less likely to have as much criminal activity and we have better prosecution. People are willing to stand up and do what we ask of a Neighborhood Watch, which is report suspicious or unusual activity and not to be a vigilante but eyes and ears for law enforcement. They know what belongs and what doesn’t belong (in a community).”

“Lock your vehicles and lock your garages and storage sheds when they’re not in use,” Bland said. Based on reports the Sheriff’s Office has taken, 85 percent of the larceny from vehicles are from those that are left unlocked.

Residents who are not going to be home for more than a day are urged to inform a neighbor or the Sheriff’s Office “so that their house can be watched.” Deputies will place the address on house watch to check during patrols. “If they find anything that looks out of place, they will notify the resident or whoever is designated to find out if in fact there is something wrong,” Bland said.

Security assessments are offered free of charge “to allow people to know what they should be doing to improve safety and security in their surroundings.”

More than 400 businesses, particularly banking and retail, take part in the Business Watch program. “We communicate current crime information and crime trends to them to let them know to be prepared,” Bland said. “We offer safety and security programs for businesses and residents upon request.”

“What we’re looking for is other eyes and ears that are able to see things out in the community because we can’t be at all the places at the same time,” Schneider said of the business/residential programs.

Bland agreed: “We depend heavily on good relationships with the citizens and business community, because it fosters open communication and valuable information – even small amounts.”

“What seems insignificant to them may be the piece we’re looking for to solve a crime,” Schneider said. “We’ve got the whole picture and that may be the one little piece that allows us to say this all makes sense now.”

In saying the Sheriff’s Office welcomes the calls, Schneider said, “Nothing is too trivial.”

The non-emergency number is 365-6140, but, Bland said, “If it is something that needs to be reported and you can’t remember the non-emergency number, use 911 – it won’t prevent another person from being able to use 911. We have more 911 lines and every call will be answered.”

Bland

Schneider

With a theme of “Great Gators Accomplish Great Things!,” the school noted several accomplishments last year, including receiving a 2010 Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence and the principal being recognized as a national Kagan scholarship recipient.

Rhonda Epling said her Kagan honor stemmed from the school’s use of the program’s cooperative learning strategies. She attended a week-long workshop this summer, which will enable her “to provide additional professional development to my teachers.”

She said the Kagan program is “about teaching children to work cooperatively, engaging students in their learning, and students working in teams and being independent learners.”

During training last year, a Kagan trainer urged Epling to apply for the scholarship, “based on what I could share, how Kagan was being implemented in my school, and I won.”

She was one of 25 nationally to receive the scholarship and the only one from Virginia. “I was very honored to represent Pole Green Elementary and Hanover County (Public) Schools,” Epling added.

As a Kagan scholarship recipient, she participated in a five-day learning institute. “Now I will continue with the training that we’ve already had to promote the Kagan strategies at the school.”

Through the institute, “I got to meet Dr. Spencer Kagan, who is the founder of Kagan learning,” Epling said. “It is a very special recognition to me to receive. I was very thrilled when I got the call that I was a recipient and really took advantage of the training.”

A Kagan trainer will be coming to Pole Green Elementary on Friday, Sept. 3, Epling said, “and she and I will then provide follow-up professional development to my staff and then I will continue with professional development throughout the year to monitor Kagan strategies in the classroom.”

She also said she would continue training and promoting strategies for the teachers. “There are so many strategies you can only focus on teaching them a couple at a time to implement with children; it will be a process throughout the year.”

“It’s very structured with the way you have cooperative learning to make sure every child is engaged and every child is participating to promote their own individual learning,” she said.

With Kagan, Epling said “You create a very safe, comfortable and inviting climate and we have multiple avenues here at Pole Green that we do that with.”

The school uses a campaign called “Fill Your Bucket” that encourages dropping a note in someone’s bucket when that person is seen doing something positive.

In its 10 years, Pole Green Elementary has enjoyed an academic success rate, Epling said. “Students work very hard, teachers work very hard, parents are a wonderful asset to Pole Green.” She called the support of parents, students and teachers “wonderful.”

Pole Green Elementary opened its doors in August 2000 and Epling arrived the following fall as assistant principal. She has been at the helm since Feb. 14, 2006.

The school’s first principal, Mark Allan, left to accept the position of director of standards, curriculum and instruction with the Virginia Department of Education. Epling said he is “a very dear friend. He’s the one who hired me as assistant principal here. He is a very good person to work with on the state department level.”

To mark its 10th anniversary, Pole Green Elementary will host either a late fall or early winter celebration. Epling said the guest list will include “everyone who opened the building, teachers and staff. Dr. Allan will be attending and we will just celebrate together.”

Today’s faculty includes “probably a dozen to 15 of the teachers who opened this building.” Epling said “We have a core group. We are all very excited to do this together.”

Pole Green also has been kind of a parent to Laurel Meadow Elementary School, which opened its doors in 2008. With about 1,100 students, Pole Green saw 500 go to the new school. “We supported that community in opening Laurel Meadow,” Epling said.

The change in districting brought 120 students from Rural Point Elementary School to Pole Green.

Before Laurel Meadow opened, Pole Green’s students were a 50/50 split in attending middle school at Stonewall Jackson and Oak Knoll. Now, Epling said, Oak Knoll is the only feeder school.

Epling said the bond continues between Pole Green and Laurel Meadow. “They’re so connected. We can always learn from each other.”

Today, Pole Green has about 630 students.

Accounting division director Craig Eastman said the county’s cost savings measures added an additional $13.7 million to the budget, offsetting the decreased revenues the county collected, about $6 million short of expectations.

Hanover County Public Schools saved more than $5 million in cost cuts, and the board voted to return $2 million to a reserve fund for the school system.

The Reserve for Revenue Stabilization received $2 million. The remaining $3.3 million was used to balance the 2011 budget.

South Anna District supervisor Gordon said the savings and final numbers were a result of hard work and dedication by the school system and the county.

“I congratulate Mr. Harris and the superintendent of schools (Stewart D. Roberson) for their efforts, and to the citizens of Hanover County for supporting those efforts,” Gordon said before the board moved to accept the positive year-end report.

The question of how to fill the vacancy left by retiring Col. V. Stuart Cook is not exactly clear. The board is required by statute to file for a writ of election in Circuit Court within 15 days of the sheriff’s departure. State guidelines also require the second in command – Lt. Col. David Hines — assume that position until a special election can be held.

A special election requires Justice Department (DOJ) approval and there are special time limitations regarding the process. There’s also a $40,000 price tag associated with the election.

County attorney Sterling Rives said the county could conceivably satisfy all the guidelines and requirements by scheduling an election for late February or March of 2011. Since there is a general election scheduled for November next year, the winner would only serve for seven months until a new sheriff is elected.

Hines will assume the sheriff’s position when Cook officially retires on Oct. 1.

“There are no shortcuts. You have to open all the polling places, you have to have absentee ballots, you have to do everything you do if you were having a general election,” Rives told the supervisors.

He suggested the county proceed and file the required paperwork, and ask the judge to rule if a special election is necessary to fill such a short period of time.

Rives said he believed the court has the discretion to determine if a special election is required.

“”I think it’s appropriate to advise the court of the circumstances, but I think that’s as far as we go,” Gordon said. “I think the judge is capable of weighing his or her responsibility and making a decision as to whether we have the election or not.”

The board moved to file the writ for election and advise the court of the legal restraints limiting the schedule for a special election.

According to one Hanover resident, the process to study the current group home situation in the county is in shambles.

During last Wednesday’s meeting of the Hanover County Board of Supervisors, Henry District resident Susan Chenault expressed concerns regarding a committee appointed in the spring to study the possibility of forming a public private venture to address the three group homes in the county.

Last year’s budget process included discussions regarding the three homes, and initial proposals about closing one of the homes to cut costs in a tough budget year.

The Community Services Board suggested the merger of two of the homes to reduce costs.

Several citizens affected by the closure spoke against the measure and the supervisors eventually approved the budget, leaving the three homes intact. They charged the CSB with establishing a committee to study the operation of the group homes in the county. Chenault said that process hasn’t gone well.

“Prior to the first committee meeting, the process had been determined, the outcome had been determined, staff had been notified that they would no longer be employed as of July 1, 2011, and a process began that can best be described as an exercise in futility,” Chenault said.

She said the committee is unable to do its job due to a lack of cooperation with the CSB. “There is a cancer in the Community Services Board department,” Chenault said. “This cancer is slowly and systematically eating away at the services that are provided for individuals with intellectual disabilities,” she added.

County administrator Cecil R. “Rhu” Harris Jr. said the CSB is scheduled to present an update at the Sept. 8 meeting.

Gordon said it was the intent of the board to study possible cost cutting measures, but not to cut available services.

“We had several objectives in this process and the degradation of services was not one of the objectives. Our object is to ensure the same level of service at a reduced cost,” Gordon said.

This year Hanover County Public Schools (HCPS) will serve approximately 19,400 students in preschool to grade 12 in four high schools, four middle schools, 15 elementary schools, The Georgetown School, and The Hanover Center for Trades and Technology. 

As a student-centered and community-driven school district, we are very proud to an-nounce that preliminary reports from the Virginia Depart-ment of Edu-cation indicate that, for the ninth consecutive year, 100 percent of Hanover schools will earn full accreditation based on the 2010 Virginia Standards of Learning assessments. 

Our entire community can join our celebration of this outstanding record of student achievement which reflects the Hanover Standard of Excellence.

We are confident that there will be many additional opportunities to celebrate our outstanding students, teachers and school leaders as we move into the new school year.

What has seemed like a very short summer has been filled with professional development, leadership training, and preparation of classrooms and facilities as our annual “grand opening” approaches. 

We eagerly anticipate the first day of school when our buildings will be filled with students and the exciting activities of teaching and learning!

As our teachers and school leaders welcome our students back to the classroom on Sept. 7, we renew our commitment to provide educational opportunities that will help every child succeed. 

We thank the Hanover County Board of Supervisors, the Hanover County School Board, our county administration, school leaders, teachers, support employees, parents, business partners, and community members who demonstrate unwavering commitment to Hanover students each and every year.

Please accept the invitations that will be offered throughout the year to be involved with your schools. 

Your presence and participation are encouraged and welcomed. 

On behalf of the Hanover County School Board, I thank you for your continuing support of Hanover County Public Schools. Welcome to the 2010-2011 school year!

Over the next five years, the county will save $830,000 by converting seven leases into owned space, all of which will be completed by next spring, said county spokesman Tom Harris.

The most recent move was for several programs of the Community Services Board, which relocated from Dow Gil Road to 9743 Atlee Commons Drive in late July.

The Intellectual Disabilities Case Management, Residential, Supported Employment, Hanover Industries and Hanover Recycling programs now share six adjoining office condominium units.

The 14,400 square feet has space for the 41 CSB employees who work in those programs plus the 21 clients who are employed on site by Hanover Recycling and Hanover Industries.

This year, the CSB Day Support program moved from rented space into the former Mechanicsville Library location.

The Department of Economic Development will move into the Rutland Center next month.

New office space on Bell Creek Road will be home to CSB programs for adolescents, mental-health services and a satellite office for social services next spring.

The first-year savings from CSB moves to Atlee and Mechanicsville will be more than $110,000, Harris said.

Over five years, with the other projects added in, the total savings will reach $830,000.

The Virginia House and Senate had to make some tough choices, something the federal government has been either unwilling or unable to do;  but in the end I believe we acted in the best interest of the citizens of Virginia by balancing our budget without placing an additional tax burden on the people. 

Critics of the state budget have implied that Gov. McDonnell and the Virginia General Assembly achieved the budget surplus by taking money from the Virginia Retirement System. That implication is simply not true.

The VRS is too important to our state and local employees for me to allow that assertion to go unchallenged.

Additionally, Virginia citizens deserve to know that their state representatives have not “robbed Peter, to pay Paul.” That is not the way Virginia operates.

It is important to understand that 2010 legislative actions related to the VRS were part of a comprehensive reform of VRS benefits. 

First, it is important to understand that these changes do not affect current employees hired prior to July 1, 2010.

House Bill 1189 fully recognized and addressed the need to “bend down the cost curve” of the Commonwealth’s VRS pension liabilities, which will help bring the state budget into more structural long-term balance going forward. 

The changes enacted by HB1189 will reduce the cost of providing benefits to new hires by 15 percent to 20 percent as compared to benefits currently provided to existing employees, and make Virginia’s public employee benefits more comparable with the private sector. These reforms are expected to reduce the employer costs by as much as $3.0 billion over the next 10 years, with even greater savings over time.

While this fiscally responsible change will lead to lower contribution rates in the future, it is important to understand what really drives the funding status, and the contribution rate for VRS. 

When rates are set by the actuary, they consist of two components.

The first component is called the “normal” rate, which is the rate needed to pay for the benefits for each government employee.The normal rate is around seven percent of payroll. 

The second component of the rate is the “unfunded liability,” which fluctuates every two years, and is primarily driven by market conditions or in other words, the value of the VRS assets.

When the VRS rates for the FY 2010-2012 state budget were set by the actuary in June 2009 (a full year before the start of the new budget), the VRS asset value was approximately $42 billion. 

At the close of the fiscal year on June 30, 2010, the VRS assets increased in value by 15% to about $48 billion. 

Therefore, the unfunded liability of the VRS is less today than when the rates where set in June 2009!

In other words, the contribution rate attributable to the unfunded liability would be less, based on the June 30, 2010, valuation. 

As such, when given the choice on what rates should be funded, the 2010 General Assembly and governor decided to fully fund the “normal” rate only, since the rate attributable to the unfunded liability is somewhat self-correcting with the current and improving markets.

Likewise, HB 1189 over the long-term will lower the unfunded liabilities of the system as well.

In closing, I want to emphasize that this action was not taken lightly but only after careful examination did the General Assembly and governor conclude that it was necessary. 

The General Assembly sought to make several difficult choices that would minimize reductions to our core functions of government: public education, public safety and health care. 
Of course service reductions in these areas were not spared the budget axe. 

The fact remains, however, that the Virginia General Assembly and governor (unlike other states) have addressed its long-term pension liabilities through comprehensive reform, and as a result has strengthened the entire government retirement system.

The event will provide an opportunity to enjoy good food, live music, fellowship and camaraderie, as well as help raise funds to benefit the company’s emergency service and firefighters.

The band Premiere will play from 5 to 6 p.m. and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The dinner menu includes a BBQ or hot dog platter with sides, beverage and dessert.

All ages are invited to attend.

For advance tickets, or for more information, call Scott Mallory at 449-9927 or Debbie Jones at 449-6586.

All proceeds will benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Association.

Donations will be appreciated as admission.

The day will include a cannonball contest, tug-of-war, relays, the limbo, hula hoops and swab the deck. Prizes will be be awarded.

A corn hole tournament will be held, with a $10 entry fee. The winner will receive $50 plus two surprise gift certificates.

Popcorn, cotton candy and Oreo Delight will be available at the concession stand.

The pool will be open until 8 p.m.

Principal Debbie L. Arco said the schedule is as follows:

—3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 31—rising eighth-graders only.
—3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1—rising seventh-graders only.
—3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 2—rising sixth-graders only.

Personnel from the Transportation Department will have information about bus routes in the cafeteria.

Cafeteria staff will be available to accept deposits to students’ lunch accounts.

Physical education teachers be in the gym to help students who need to purchase gym suits or who want to purchase CMS spirit wear.

Medications may be brought to the clinic all three evenings. Appropriate documentation (parental form authorizing medication to be administered and phyhsician’s orders) must be completed in order for medication to be administered at school.

“We encourage you to make every effort to attend Open House on your scheduled day,” Arco said. “However, if circumstances prevent this, a family member or friend may pick up the student’s schedule on the appropriate day, provided they have written permission from the parent or guardian.”

Arco also said that the “Charger Connection” that was mailed to homes the first week of August contains additional start of school information.

Back to School Night is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 16. Arco said students will bring home a flyer detaling the event the first week of school.

Chickahominy Middle School’s website address is http://www.hanover.k12.va.us/cmshome.htm.

The theme of his year’s program for youngsters ranging from 3 years old to rising first graders was Kids Give Back.

The Bible Club partnered with Reach Out and Read, Read Aloud Virginia and The Northside Reading Foundation.

During the club, held July 19-22, children donated books to be distributed among the three organizations.

“For the past two years we have focused more on incorporating an element of giving back to our community,” Bible Camp organizer Julie Best said.

This is Grace Church’s fifth year hosting Backyard Bible Camps.

In addition to book donations, the children also participated in other projects to benefit Reach Out and Read.

They participated in a read-a-thon and created finger-painted canvasses, which were being donated to Reach and Read and displayed in pediatricians’ offices.

1 Timothy 4:12 served as the camp’s memory verse and song for the week.

“Our children know the words to this song, even the 3-year-olds are singing each word and doing the hand motions,” Best said.

Campers also enjoyed songs, games, Bible stories and snacks.

At the end of the week each child received a journal full of pictures, stories and song lyrics so they could show their parents what they did at camp.

Grace Community Presbyterian Church also held another camp the week of July 26 for elementary age children.

Rebecca Cunningham, who served on the Steering Committee, is stepping into the role of principal, bringing with her 20 years of experience in education. She also has a vested interest as a mother: Her three children will be attending the Effinger School.

On Aug. 11, a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrated the upcoming opening of the school, which is located at the Walnut Grove Baptist Church on Cold Harbor Road in Mechanicsville.

Cunningham, who has been involved in the planning process from the beginning, said it has taken about a year to reach fruition. The school will operate under the umbrella of the Children’s Learning Center at the church.

“A small group of parents came together and really gave a lot of thought to how we could design a school that would meet the needs of academically talented children,” she said.

The benefit, she said, comes with smaller class sizes. “We’re looking for 10 to 15 [students in a classroom].”

With certified teachers, “We’re intertwining the Virginia SOLs (Standards of Learning) and a rigorous curriculum developed by the William and Mary Center for Gifted Education. That curriculum really focuses on higher order thinking skills and problem solving.”

Cunningham said the school is attracting students that have been homeschooled, as well as those from public and private schools. “It’s really a choice to see if this school meets the needs of the child,” she said.

“We’re pretty excited about what we’re doing,” she added. “We believe that these children are going to be the doctors, the lawyers, the solvers of economic problems – they’re going to be very influential people and so we’re beginning their education with that goal in mind, so all of our focus is on having them think, read, write, analyze and work cooperatively to solve problems.”

As for the students, she said “I believe that they are excited because the school allows them to accelerate their studies so if they master the SOL or the objective they can continue to move, so they have accelerated pacing and depth of learning.”

She said the school will provide students with the opportunity to pursue an independent research project focusing on their particular interests, hobbies and strengths.

“The independent research projects will result in a product or a demonstration that they can share with other people. An example of a project could be that he builds a Lego device that can navigate underwater, on land or in the air. Then he has to demonstrate his device at Parent Information Night and explain the benefits of owning his device. This is a good project for a future engineer,” Cunningham said.

Students at the Effinger School will study English, math, social studies, science, art, music, physical education and world languages. Those courses are in addition to the independent research project.

Cunningham said she is excited about the world languages course, which also will provide insight into other cultures.

“We’re offering a tailor-made educational plan for each child that will be developed between the parents, the teacher and the child,” she said.

With five teachers on staff, registration is now under way and, according to Cunningham, “People are very interested in what we’re doing.”

Cunningham’s experience includes serving as a high school principal and she holds a doctorate in education.

She said her children are “excited about the opportunity for independent research projects; they’re excited to learn another language. I think they’re very excited to be able to move at a pace that works for them, so if they need extra help, they can slow down; if they understand it, they can continue to move.”

“It has been unique to see education from a parent’s point of view,” she added.

As they continue to fill teaching positions, Cunningham said they are “looking for people who are very patient, who encourage children to question and think, and who can guide the children to think at upper levels and produce work, which will demonstrate that the children can think at a higher level.”

The Effinger School’s association with the Walnut Grove Baptist Church prompts praise from Cunningham. She said Michele Moore of the Children’s Learning Center had been especially cooperative in the school’s development. “She has been wonderful,” Cunningham said of Moore.

Cunningham also thanked the church pastor, the Rev. Drexel Rayford, and trustees Bob Jeter, Charlie Rasnick, Alan Fearnow and Jack Tuck for their help.

On the county level, Deborah B. Coats, who represents the Mechanicsville District on the Hanover County Board of Supervisors, “helped us make sure we have the proper paperwork,” Cunningham said.

An open house for interested parents and children will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1, at the Walnut Grove Baptist Church, 7046 Cold Harbor Road, Mechanicsville.

Tuition for the 2010-2011 school year is $350 per month ($4,600 per year), with a $400 acceptance fee upon enrollment.

For more information on the William and Mary Center for Gifted Education, visit http://cfge.wm.edu/.

For more information on the Effinger School for Academically Talented Children, visit http://www.EffingerSchool.com. The telephone number is 305-3667.

In July 2010, Hanover residents using the Drug Discount Card saved an average of $10.67 per prescription. That’s an average savings of 25.3 percent off the retail price.

The discounts apply to commonly prescribed drugs in cases when the prescriptions are not covered by insurance.

The discounts are immediate and there is no enrollment form, no membership fee and no restrictions on how often the card is used.

The cards are not insurance and do not replace insurance.

The cards are free and may be used by all county residents at participating pharmacies in Hanover County.

The cards are available at the Hanover County Departments of Community Resources, Community Services and Social Services and at all Hanover branches of the Pamunkey Regional Library.

The Prescription Drug Discount Card Program is sponsored by the National Association of Counties (NACo). About 1,300 counties and more than 60,000 pharmacies across the U.S. are now participating in the program.

For more information about this program, go to http://www.co.hanover.va.us and click Prescription Drug Discount Program under Special Notices. The website also includes a list of Hanover County pharmacies that are participating in this program.

The discount card program is administered by Caremark Rx, Inc. Go to http://www2.caremark.com/naco/ for more information. This page allows you to search for pharmacies in your area. County residents also can call 1-877-321-2652 toll-free.

The cardholder pays the negotiated discount price or the pharmacy’s retail price, whichever is lower. Actual savings depend on which medicines are purchased.

State-maintained sections of the following roads were improved: 
—Ancient Acres Road
—Ben Gayle Road
—Breedens Road
—Buckeye Road
—Burnham Davis Road
—Corker Road
—Darbys Road
—Dunn Road
—Hanover Quarter Road
—Hatch Thompson Road
—Kenwood Church Road
—Noel Road
—North Telegraph Road
—Old Country Road
—Quaker Church Road
—Richards Road
—Rosmarin Road
—Terry Road
—Union Church Road
—Verdi Lane
—Waldrop Lane

The improvements were the result of an innovative approach taken by the Hanover County Board of Supervisors last year. The board assigned staff to administer bidding and construction on the state-maintained roads and classified the gravel road sections as Rural Rustic Roads.

The Rural Rustic Road classification does not require improvements to the road alignment or roadside shoulders and ditches. Because this classification seeks only to preserve the rural character of the road, improvements to Rural Rustic Roads can be made at a fraction of the cost of regular road improvements. 

The board then voted to use about $1.2 million in state funding from completed projects, plus other funds, for improving the rural road sections. Bidding and construction were administered by Hanover County staff to enable the work to proceed on time and within budget.

In recognizing the 150th Anniversary of the American Civil War, Robert E.L. Krick will guide a bus tour from Hanover Tavern that focuses on the 1862 and 1864 Civil War battles in the Hanover Courthouse area.

The tour is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Krick, considered a leading authority on Civil War history in Hanover County, will use knowledge gleaned from letters, diaries and battle reports to provide a detailed account of individual units, camps and troop movements during the battles.

The guided tour includes stops at historic homes that played a role in the battles.

A light breakfast and lunch will be provided at Hanover Tavern at 13181 Hanover Courthouse Road (U.S. 301) in Hanover.

Tickets are $75 per person or $65 for members.

For reservations, contact David Deal at 537-5050 or ddeal@hanovertavern.org.

The website is http://www.hanovertavern.org.