Updates from Henrico Citizen

Henrico High School's Leadership and Ethics Society will host an Ethics and Leadership Conference and Workshop Saturday, May 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be group discussions, guest speakers and a keynote address from Col. Gerald Massengill, the former superintendent of the Virginia State Police. Massengill served as the chair of the governor's review panel for the Virginia Tech mass shooting and led the Commonwealth's law enforcement response to the September 11th attacks as well as the 2002 sniper shootings.

UPDATED: 12:45 P.M. – It was, perhaps, only a formality, but today's announcement that Southwest Airlines will begin serving Richmond International Airport Nov. 3 with daily flights to Orlando still was cause for celebration at the airport. "It's been a long time coming," airport spokesman Troy Bell told the Citizen. "We, of course, are thrilled. We're very happy for the community. It's great news and one more important step." Southwest, which acquired AirTran Airways in 2011 and finalized that transaction early last year, had announced in January 2012 that it would eventually enter the Richmond market as part of that acquisition. (AirTran has served Richmond since 2005.)

The Virginia Lottery was created after a statewide vote in 1987, making the Old Dominion the 29th state to establish a government-operated lottery. Today, 44 states have lotteries – including Wyoming, which joined the club in March. Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands also have lotteries.

Lottery winners aren’t the only ones with any luck: The Virginia Lottery saw record ticket sales in the past year, as the economy continued its recovery and several big-name retailers started selling tickets. During the 2012 fiscal year, which ended June 30, the Virginia Lottery’s ticket sales totaled $1.6 billion. That was an increase of $136 million, or 9 percent, from 2011.

Business leaders from the Henrico Business Council’s Education Committee and Greater Richmond Chamber's Community Affairs Committee were treated to a tour of the Hermitage High School Technical Center April 19 – a treat that included lunch prepared by students in the culinary program. From left, Christy Templeton, Kyra Creek, and Kelley Brown display the dessert that topped off their lunchtime repast.

Local tourism representatives hosted by Richmond Region Tourism (formerly the Richmond Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau or RMCVB) gathered April 26 at the Westin Richmond to celebrate their new identity, mark the upcoming National Travel and Tourism Week (May 4-12), and recognize individuals and companies that have made outstanding contributions to tourism in the region. The Chairman’s Award was given to Virgil Hazelett, Henrico County's former county manager, for his efforts on such regional initiatives as the building and operation of the Greater Richmond Convention Center.

Henrico County unveiled two new Lakeside Avenue signs last month – one near Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden and the other near the city-county line near Spring Park. The signs, which are designed to welcome visitors to the Lakeside corridor, were funded through Community Development Block Grant money and designed with input from the Lakeside Business Association.

Members of the Sandston Founders’ Club gathered last month to honor the “Barton House” on Casey Street in Sandston – one of the original homes built in the community in 1920 that still has original shingles.

Wendy Hendrick, clinical coordinator for infusion and pain management at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital, is the recipient of the 2013 Excellence in Patient/Public Education Award by the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS). The award recognizes Hendrick’s contributions in offering creative and innovative educational programming for her patients, their families and the surrounding community. This is the third time that Hendrick has been honored by the ONS. Her previous awards include recognition in the areas of oncology certification and nurse leadership career development.

Henrico resident Larry Gidley (pictured with his wife, Susan) started volunteering with FeedMore’s Meals on Wheels in the mid-1990s after seeing first-hand the benefits the program had for his sister, who at the time lived in St. Louis and had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. “I realized my sister was no longer capable of preparing nourishing meals, so I started Meals on Wheels for her.”

Four students from Deep Run High School participated in the 38th annual Model Supreme Court program April 19 in Richmond. The students are all members of a leadership class led by Deborah A. Carroll (pictured, far left). They argued an appellate matter before a four member “bench” that included Virginia Supreme Court Justices S. Bernard Goodwyn and William C. Mims as part of the Model Judiciary Program sponsored by the Virginia YMCA and the Young Lawyers Division of the Virginia State Bar Association.

Douglas Freeman H.S. students (from left) Evelyn Harper, Selmira Avdic, Liza Shands, and Alaina Murphy (pictured with Nicholas LaGanke) served as volunteer buddies at the annual Little Feet Meet, held April 19 at DSF. A collaborative sports play program organized by Special Olympics Virginia and Henrico County Public Schools, Little Feet Meet is designed to bring together children with and without disabilities and promote more inclusive school environments.

Two teams from Shady Grove Elementary School, one from Echo Lake Elementary School and the Freeman/Deep Run High joint team, “The Rats,” each placed first in the state in their Destination Imagination competitions. Destination Imagination (DI) is an educational program where student teams solve open-ended “Challenges” and present their solutions at tournaments.

Feel like getting active this weekend? Or do you feel like eating your way through a tasty sampler of foods from local farms, restaurants and chefs? Thanks to a new community event, you can do both.

The Children's Museum of Richmond presented its inaugural Central Virginia Preschool and Kindergarten Teachers of the Year Awards to Christine Gay, a preschool teacher at New Bridge Learning Center, and Terry Hill, a kindergarten teacher at Harvie Elementary School, at a luncheon last week. The awards were developed to highlight the important role early education plays in children's development, and to recognize outstanding teachers who work with preschool and kindergarten students.

Thousands of visitors attended the three-day Southern Women’s Show at the Richmond Raceway Complex April 19-21. The annual event included fashion shows, food samples and demonstrations and a number of vendors selling unique products. Catherine Giudici, the fiancee of ABC’s “The Bachelor” Sean Lowe, made an appearance during the final day of the show, signing autographs and speaking to attendees.

Among the Henrico County projects winning recognition at the 12th Annual Commercial Real Estate Awards ceremony were Colonial Shooting Academy for Best Adaptive Reuse Project in the entertainment category (pictured, from left: Fred Thompson, Ed Coleman and John Dunlap), Parham Place III for Best New Office Building and West Broad Village for Best Sale/Acquisition Transaction.

On May 5, 1963, at 3 p.m., officials of Varina High School dedicated their brand new school on Messer Road. Exactly 50 years later, on May 5, 2013, at 3 p.m., VHS officials and community members will again congregate on Messer Road to dedicate the school and celebrate their sparkling new surroundings – courtesy of a three-year, $30-million renovation project of the facility and grounds.

The fourth annual CASA Superhero 5K Race and Kids’ Run April 27 at St. Joseph’s Villa event raised money for the Henrico County and Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Court Appointed Special Advocates.

The Henrico Citizen claimed 18 awards for news content and design in two industry competitions last month. At the Virginia Press Association's annual conference in Norfolk April 20, the Citizen won seven awards in the VPA's annual News and Editorial Contest. Earlier last month, Citizen Managing Editor Patty Kruszewski won 11 awards in the Virginia Press Women's annual contest and tied for the overall sweepstakes award as the most-decorated recipient in the competition.