Local Mechanicsville-Ashland
COMMUNITY: Clerk’s office awarded grant PAGE 7
SPORTS: Hanover sophomores spoil Mechanicsville’s senior night PAGE 18
SERVING ALL HANOVER COUNTY COMMUNITIES
Volume 39, No. 22
•
Richmond Suburban News
•
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Boy buys vest for K9 officer Free dental clinic
brightens kids’ smiles
LAURA MCFARLAND
Managing Editor
MECHANICSVILLE – When Luca Marchelletta saw a news story about a K9 officer killed in the line of duty, the young boy couldn’t help being sad. The idea that these dogs were helping keep people like him safe but they weren’t all being fully protected with ballistics vests felt wrong to the young Hanover resident. “I just realized, hey I need to do something about this and I could help, everyone could help do their part in what the community needs,” he said. So he did, holding not one but several lemonade stands in his neighborhood last summer with the ultimate goal of raising $800 to purchase a ballistics vest for a Hanover County Sheriff’s Office K9 officer. Last week, 10-year-old Luca was thrilled that he got to present the vest he purchased to K9 Yoshi, a 3-year-old Dutch shepherd partnered with Hanover Deputy D. Hill. Luca and his family presented the vest to the partners on Tuesday, Jan. 31 at the sheriff’s office. Yoshi has been certified for two years and has served alongside Hill
LAURA MCFARLAND
Managing Editor
PHOTO COURTESY OF HANOVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Luca Marchelletta raised more than $800 running lemonade stands so he could purchase a K9 ballistics vest, which he presented Jan. 31 to K9 Yoshi and his partner, deputy D. Hill. the entire time, according to Lt. James Cooper, public information officer for the sheriff’s office. Hill has been with the sheriff’s office since 2013 and is currently assigned to the uniform patrol division on midnight shift with his K9 partner. “Prior to deputy Hill’s employment with HCSO, he served in the United States Army as a K9 handler
and is a combat veteran,” Cooper noted. Col. David R. Hines, sheriff, was at the presentation of the vest and thanked Luca for his efforts and even gave him a challenge coin, which the little boy already cherishes. Please see VEST, Page 16
MECHANICSVILLE – More than a dozen volunteers helped make 17 local youths’ smiles a little brighter this weekend. For the second straight year, Glowing Smiles Dentistry in Mechanicsville, which is owned by Dr. Nekki Soltanian, hosted a “Give Kids a Smile” event to offer free dental care for local youth in need. Held on Saturday, Feb. 4, Soltanian and her crew of volunteers made up of staff, family and friends fully embraced the whimsy of this year’s theme, “Under the Sea,” with sea creatures on the walls and hanging from the ceiling and matching balloons covering the entrance to make the office seem a less imposing to young visitors. The clinic was aimed at youth 14 and younger, offering them free comprehensive exams, dental cleanings, polish and floss, and applying topical fluoride and sealants to prevent cavities. “The No. 1 issue usually with kids is them getting cavities.
Nationally, the No. 1 reason why kids miss school is dental pain or dental visits,” Soltanian said. “It tends to happen more in lower income households because the types of food they eat are more processed and higher in sugar and it causes more cavities.” Halfway through the day, the free clinic had already surpassed its first year attendance of 12 children, and Soltanian was thrilled to see such interest and so many families helped. But even before the event happened, Soltanian was already impressed with the generosity the event seemed to inspire both last year and this time. Whether it was other tenants in her building or material sales representatives donating items or their time, it was wonderful to see people come together to help children in that way, she said. “It is just really amazing to see it all come together from something I started with from scratch on paper and I wasn’t sure how it was going to turn out. My hope Please see SMILES, Page 5
When you can be the son again, it’s Harmony. Being the caregiver for a loved one is a full-time job, and that’s our specialty. Call today to learn how our family can care for your family. ASSISTED LIVING | MEMORY CARE 804.212.2682
INDEPENDENT LIVING | ASSISTED LIVING 804.420.9798