News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | April 8, 2020
Editorial: Dealing with COVID-19 and preparing for the new “normal”
First of all, I hope everybody is doing well during this most difficult time. A lot of things remain unknown with the outbreak of COVID-19. There is information continuing to circulate with speculation of when the pandemic will peak not only in Virginia, but the United States as well. However, there remains a lot of unknowns with the situation and it has caused a lot of unknowns in the outside world. Unfortunately, this virus is a deadly one that has claimed the lives of 12,000 people as of this editorial. But people are starting to adhere to the social distancing…
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Rosie’s Gaming Emporium donating 20,000 meals to essential personnel
With the ongoing pandemic of Coronavirus continuing to sweep through Virginia, emergency workers and healthcare personnel are on the front lines of the action in attempts to contain the spread and help those who have been affected by it. As those people make an effort to help those in need, one New Kent business is providing food to the most essential workers. Rosie’s Gaming Emporium at Colonial Downs has pledged to provide 20,000 “Grab-and-Go” meals to public safety, health care professionals, and all essential personnel. Locations for the pick-up include New Kent, Vinton, Hampton, and Richmond. “We said that we…
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Heritage Public Library offering virtual services
Heritage Public Library is continuing to offer services despite their physical locations being closed. The library has ebooks, e-magazines, and e-audiobooks to checkout through RBDigital. To access them, go to https://heritageva.rbdigital.com/ with your library card information. If you need to update the card or need one issued, visit https://heritage.evergreenva.org/eg/opac/register?qtype=keyword;locg=113. Wifi access is also available at the library by remaining in your vehicle in the parking lot. Access to the Wifi is all-day long. For patrons with books, CDs, and DVDs checked out, library staff advises to keep those items until the buildings reopened. There will be no fines incurred while…
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New Kent Jr. Woman’s Club offering scholarships
New Kent Junior Women’s Club is offering two scholarships to New Kent High School graduates. To be eligible for the $1,250 scholarship, a high school senior must reside in New Kent County. The scholarship will be awarded on service, community service, and academic performance. Scholarships are due on May 15 and can be submitted by mail to New Kent Jr. Woman’s Club, P.O. Box 83, Providence Forge, VA 23140, or via email to sscottanddeb@aol.com. For more information about the scholarship, visit New Kent High School’s counseling page at http://nkhs.newkentschools.org/students/school_counseling/scholarship_information.
Charles City school board approves FY2020-21 budget
Charles City School Board members approved its FY2020-21 budget at an April 1 special call meeting. In order to meet the state mandated deadline, school board representative gathered with essential personal in the high school media center. Superintendent of schools David Gaston recapped the $11,826,693 operation budget that included the addition of 18 positions. He also highlighted the changes to the $1,400,301 in the proposed Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) that school board members asked for at the March 3 public hearing. Despite school board members passing both proposals unanimously to send to the board of supervisors, changes are expected to…
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JRF grants to assist non-profit organizations
The John Randolph Foundation (JRF), that serves local non-profit organizations in surrounding localities that include Charles City, has crated a Disaster Respond Fund to address needs of non-profit orgaizations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “The impact of this global emergency has not yet been fully realized, and we want to do all we can to support our community partners now and in the months to come,” said JRF Executive Director Lisa Sharpe. The $500,000 fund is designed to meet the immediate needs of and address the long-term effects on non-profit organizations in the John Randolph Foundation’s service area. Priority will…
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