Local Mechanicsville-Ashland
SERVING ALL HANOVER COUNTY COMMUNITIES
Volume 39, No. 23
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Richmond Suburban News
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Wednesday, February 15, 2023
COMMUNITY: Hanover's last dairy farm to diversify operation with new creamery PAGE 14
SPORTS: Regional wrestling tournament sees multiple standouts PAGE 17
Principal honored for support Ashland Town Council LAURA MCFARLAND
Managing Editor
POWHATAN – Cold Harbor Elementary School recently got to see a familiar face who is far from home but doing good works. Master Sgt. Tony Relyea, a fifth grade teacher at Cold Harbor who is currently deployed overseas with the U.S. Army, video conferenced into the school on Jan. 26 to both say hello to his students and thank Cold Harbor for its support. Relyea has taught for 12 years total and this is his second at Cold Harbor teaching fifth grade. Relyea said he was thrilled to video conference with his students. He has tried to check in on them through their new teacher and they did a quick video conference before he left Texas, “but this was good because I was able to spend some time talking with them and they could all see me at once because Mr. Lawhorn had me up on a big screen.” Chief among the supporters Relyea recognized was principal Allison Mullens, who Relyea PHOTO COURTESY OF HANOVER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS nominated for the Patriot Award from the U.S. Department of De- Allison Mullens, principal of Cold Harbor Elementary School, stands fense for her extensive support of with Master Sgt. Tony Relyea, a fifth grade teacher at Cold Harbor who is currently deployed overseas with the U.S. Army Reserve, after she Please see PRINCIPAL, Page 5 received a Patriot Award for her support of Relyea.
approves Black History Month proclamation ROSLYN RYAN
Richmond Suburban News
Shortly after unanimously approving a proclamation in honor of Black History Month on Feb. 7, the Ashland Town Council welcomed Hanover NAACP president Pat Hunter-Jordan to the podium for a presentation. And while Hunter-Jordan was there to deliver a report on her organization’s recent activities, one thing was immediately clear: The relationship between the Hanover NAACP and the town of Ashland remains as strong as ever. Outlining the role that the local NAACP continues to play in the local community, HunterJordan added that the group appreciates and values its relationship with town leadership. “We feel this all the time with Ashland—being here is something that feels like home to us,” Hunter-Jordan said. “We don’t have to ask for you to recognize our programs, you do so auto-
matically. And we are grateful for that.” As part of the group’s own celebration of Black History Month, Hanover NAACP member Peggy Lavinder has spearheaded a film series to be shown through the Pamunkey Regional Library. Upcoming showings include Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing,” at 6 p.m. on Feb. 20 at the Atlee Library, and the documentary “King: A Filmed Record,” which will be screened from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25 at the Ashland Branch. The organization has also maintained a strong focus on community outreach and recently earned an award from the national NAACP office for its programming. Above all, Hunter-Jordan said, the group wants to make sure the community sees the branch as a key resource for all residents. “Our intent for the past year Please see BLACK HISTORY, Page 16
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