SSentinel.com Serving Middlesex County and adjacent areas of the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck since 1896 Vol. 116, No. 23 Urbanna, Virginia 23175 • September 2, 2010 Two Sections • 75¢ AT A GLANCE School bells ring Tuesday by Tom Chillemi Middlesex football The faculty and staff of the opener is tonight Middlesex Public Schools have The Middlesex High School worked hard over the summer to home varsity football game improve instruction and offer new against Mathews has been programs to exceed the high stan- switched from this Friday to dards that were set during the last Thursday, September 2, at 7 p.m. school year, according to school offi - because of concern over Hurri- cials. Resources are ready to meet the cane Earl. challenges of the coming school year The hurricane is expected to that starts on Tuesday, September 7. affect the Mid-Atlantic region The three county schools will wel- between North Carolina and come a total of 16 new teachers (see New Jersey later this week. related story and photos, page B3) Chargers athletic director and expect a total of 1,300 students. Brad Norris said school offi cials At every school, parents and the are trying to get the game played public are invited and encouraged before the effects of the hurri- to get involved in education. For cane hit this area. example, the Parent-Teacher Orga- nization (PTO) returns to Middlesex High. “Lunch Pals” are needed at Prepare now for Middlesex Elementary School. A new “Grandparents Program” Hurricane Earl starts at MES this year to help those September is National Pre- who are raising their grandchildren. paredness Month—a time set Other instructional programs return aside every year for Americans as MES continues “Striving for to take simple steps to prepare Excellence,” said second-year princi- for emergencies and steps that pal Jeannie Duke. can save lives, property and A Student Council Association heartache. is also in the planning stages at St. Virginia residents have suf- Clare Walker Middle School. It will fered through many natural allow student input to improve the disasters such as flooding, learning experience for all students tropical systems, tornadoes at this “School to Watch,” indicated and severe winter weather. The fi rst-year principal Tracy Seitz. Commonwealth also experi- The look of Middlesex High enced a tragic human-caused School has changed with new front disaster in the terrorist attack doors, new carpet and outdoor on the Pentagon on September Summer vacation is winding down and school buses for the Middlesex County Public Schools are ready 11, 2001. (See Schools, page A12) to roll on Tuesday, September 7. See list of school bus routes on page A12. (Photo by Tom Chillemi) There is no better time to plan for emergencies than now— especially with the pending threat of Hurricane Earl. So what does it take to be ready? Not a lot of effort! Start Bolling tells local offi cials to fi nd ways by gathering these four essen- tials: • A family emergency plan. • Three-day food supply that to encourage economic development doesn’t need refrigeration. • Three-day water supply (one by Larry S. Chowning cials from the Middle Peninsula. to annoy Bolling. “You shouldn’t be Gloucester offi cials noted its gallon per person per day). Bolling wanted to know which waiting on Richmond to save you,” county was more in touch with the • Hand-cranked or battery- “Life is controlled by those who counties were represented at the he said. “If you are serious about Hampton Roads and Newport News powered radio, fl ashlights and show up.” meeting, which was held at the economic development in this area areas than the Middle Peninsula, extra batteries. Lt. Governor Bolling made this Cooks Corner Offi ce Complex in you need to come up with a regional and had partnered “successfully” Go to www.ReadyVirginia. statement on August 25 during a Middlesex. plan to attack it. If you keep doing the with those areas in meeting the chal- gov or www.ListoVirginia.gov meeting on economic development There were no government offi cials same thing all the time you are going lenges of economic development. for family plan worksheets and with a group of area government offi - from some counties, and this seemed to keep getting the same things.” Gloucester has successfully attracted a detailed list of emergency sup- a great deal of retail dollars from con- plies. Another helpful resource sumers in surrounding counties with is www.Ready.gov. businesses such as Walmart, Lowe’s For more information, call the and Home Depot, it was noted. Middlesex County Emergency Mathews offi cials said their county Management Offi ce at 758- needs more infrastructure, such as 4330. central water and sewer, to entice more economic development, and instead of promoting urban devel- MHS season opment they are encouraging such passes on sale things as eco-tourism. Janet Smith of Urbanna, chairman Season passes for home of the Middle Peninsula Business Middlesex High School athletic Partnership, a non-profi t organiza- events are now on sale at the tion that promotes business develop- school offi ce. ment in the Middle Peninsula, said The cost is $30 for a single Middlesex County citizens and offi - season (fall, winter or spring). cials want to keep the county rural, The cost for year-long passes and a rural atmosphere is not always is $75 for one, $150 for two, advantageous for certain types of $225 for three, and $240 for a economic development. family of four. Bolling said the state is making For more information, con- progress with economic development tact MHS athletic director Brad projects throughout the state, but it Norris at 758-3928. does not appear there is much hap- pening on the Middle Peninsula. “Is this because you want it that way?” MES preschool he asked. has openings Several government offi cials com- Hilliard’s Millpond dam at Remlik was destroyed in 2002, and it has taken eight long years to get the needed plained that because of the new Middlesex Elementary permits and construction completed to rebuild the dam. Above, Joe Longton (left), president of Hilliard’s Mill- School is still accepting regis- Ground Water Management Act, it pond Dam Association, and Charles Heater (right), one of the pond homeowners who spearheaded the drive will take the Department of Environ- trations for the expanded Curi- to restore the dam, turn the valve to release water at the new dam. (Photo by Larry Chowning) ous Colts preschool program. mental Quality (DEQ) even longer to The program is funded by Title process wastewater permits, which 1 and is open to children who may discourage economic develop- will be 4 years of age by Sep- New dam at Hilliard’s Millpond ment. tember 30, 2010. Registration is Bolling said he and others are open to residents of Middlesex trying to make it easier for businesses County only. to locate in Virginia. “We are telling The following information brings joy to adjacent homeowners government regulators, ‘We want to is needed to register a child: fi nd one way to make it happen rather original birth certifi cate with by Larry S. Chowning tion. “But fi nally, the fi nal construc- vided the other half of the funding. than 10 reasons it can’t happen.’ ” seal (photocopies will not be tion phases have been completed and Even though $40,000 in county and Mathews offi cials said they have accepted); immunization record; After a long and tedious struggle, approved by the state.” state funds were spent, the agreement lost some business opportunities and proof of residence (a lease the property owners around Hilliard’s The dam fi rst broke in April 2002. also stated that the state and county because of not having broadban or deed and a current utility bill, Millpond on Route 602 near Remlik, At that time, the Virginia Depart- would take no more responsibility internet services. all of which need to include the 4 miles outside of Urbanna, have suc- ment of Transportation (VDOT) and for any subsequent maintenance or Middlesex County administrator physical address). cessfully rebuilt the pond dam. Middlesex County came to the aid of replacement of the Hilliard’s Millpond Charlie Culley said he mistakenly A school entrance physical The water level is back up to normal the 20-some landowners who lived dam. went to the meeting an hour early. examination is required before and nature has rushed back to the pris- on Hilliard’s Millpond. Supervisors The new dam turned out to be faulty, Culley said he then returned to his any student is allowed to start tine pond that has been a part of Mid- authorized $40,000 of the state’s 6-year however, and homeowners were left offi ce and got tied up with county on the fi rst day. Call the ele- dlesex’s landscape since colonial days. secondary road plan funds earmarked on their own to basically re-start the business, keeping him from attend- mentary school at 758-2496 for “It’s been a long haul for homeown- for Middlesex to go toward repairing rebuilding project. “We were able to ing the meeting. more information. ers,” said Joe Longton, president of the dam. No elected Middlesex offi cial the Hilliard’s Millpond Dam Associa- The homeowners association pro- (See Hilliard’s, page A3) attended the meeting. 6 Arts & Leisure ....... A6 Classifieds ........... B6 61 05 Business Directory . B6 School ................. B4 Clinic Football Crab 51 52 Calendar .............. A4 Social.................. A5 Dedicated Opener 56 Feast Church ...............A10 Sports ................. B1 A8 B1 WWW.SSENTINEL.COM 6 PAGE PAGE In side In A2 • Southside Sentinel • Urbanna, Va.