Two Justins with Henrico connections – one a future Hall of Fame pitcher and another whose possible path to baseball stardom was cut short by injury – were featured in an article and videos on MLB.com this week. The piece spotlights the relationship between Justin Verlander, a Goochland native who played at Tuckahoe Little League as a youngster and later at Old Dominion University before being drafted by No. 2 in the 2004 Major League Baseball draft by the Detroit Tigers; and Justin Orenduff, a Chesapeake native who eventually starred at VCU before being drafted in the first round...Article Link

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As part of the statewide "Rev Your Bev Week," students from 13 school divisions in Virginia, including Henrico, are participating in various events and lessons to promote healthy hydration in schools as a measure to prevent obesity. The statewide week of action is sponsored by the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth's Rev your Bev campaign and part of a statewide effort to promote healthy habits and choices that can improve overall health and well-being. The Rev Your Bev campaign's goal is to make healthy hydration a part of students' everyday lives by engaging schools and students in fun and interactive...Article Link

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The Virginia Board of Education has concluded a series of statewide listening sessions on a proposed framework for school performance and support, during which attendees expressed strong support for several key focal points. The sessions provided an opportunity for more than 800 parents, educators, and community members to comment on the development of the standards. The key takeaways from the sessions include strong support for the mastery index, a desire to use narrative, descriptive categories for school performance and identification, and a focus on growth and readiness for elementary, middle, and high school. The feedback gathered from these sessions (eight...Article Link

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Earlier this week, officials from Hanover, Henrico, and the Town of Ashland held a groundbreaking ceremony in Ashland to celebrate the start of construction on a 4.8-mile portion of the 43-mile Fall Line Trail. The section, currently called Design-Build Phase 1, will extend the northernmost existing completed section of the Ashland section of the trail to Woodman Road in Henrico. It is the first major construction phase of the Fall Line to be administered by Virginia Department of Transportation. The Fall Line ultimately will run from Ashland to Petersburg, traveling through a portion of northern Henrico in the process. It...Article Link

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A University of Richmond graduate has been named the chief executive officers of Virginia ABC. Dale Farino, who has served in various roles at Breakthru Beverage Virginia, will assume the position immediately. Farino has served as Vice Chair of the Virginia ABC Board of Directors and previously worked as vice president of operations, chief financial officer, chief operating officer, and EVP/president at Breakthru Beverage Virginia. “I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as CEO at this pivotal time in Virginia ABC’s history," Farino said in a statement. "I know that by working in partnership across the authority, state...Article Link

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The social services directors of Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover and Richmond will discuss the state of foster care during a May 15 event in Henrico hosted by the nonprofit For Richmond. The "State of Foster Care" event, scheduled from noon to 1:30 p.m. at The Commons, 2101 Maywill Street, will highlight current foster care trends and challenges, as well as emerging needs and ways for community members to help. Henrico Social Services Director Gretchen Brown will join her counterparts from Chesterfield (Kiva Rogers), Hanover (Daricka Jones) and Richmond (Shunda Giles) for a panel discussion. The event is free and open to...Article Link

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MARCH 29 Popeye’s, 8044 West Broad Street – The following violations were reported during a routine inspection: wire racks in walk-in cooler are rusty; observed flour and food debris buildup on surfaces of biscuit oven, walk-in cooler wire racks and fan grates, reach-in cooler interior and bread rack; observed heavy buildup of grease and water pooling under fryers; floor behind ice machine is grimy; floor tiles are missing under fryers closest to hand sink; paint is chipping on walls in back dish/mop area. APRIL 1 Papa John’s Pizza, 9038 West Broad Street – The following violations were reported during a...Article Link

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The last message Tucker High softball player Kendall Shockley received from her coach James “Pat” McGuire read, “Kendall, I can’t wait to get back coaching and watching you play!” McGuire, the longtime head softball coach for J.R. Tucker High School, died Dec. 17 at age 73, but Shockley still wears his name on her visor as a memento to how much McGuire meant to her as a coach and a mentor. “Coach McGuire meant so much to me, so many words can’t even describe it,” she wrote in a letter to Tucker Principal Art Raymond. “Losing Coach Pat really hurt and...Article Link

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Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is getting a major face-lift for its 40th anniversary, announcing a two-year, million expansion project called "Thrive." The project will nearly double the size of the Garden's Conservatory and will add about 7.5 acres of new gardens and another lake on the property. However, what may be most important, is the planned expansion of the Garden's "Kroger Community Kitchen Garden," which produces fresh produce for Feed More in Richmond. "We'll have peaches, apples, and fruit trees that we don't currently have. We'll also have small fruits like blueberries and brambles that we'll be able to grow...Article Link

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The word ‘gold’ represents the pinnacle or the best. Couples celebrate their golden wedding anniversary after 50 years of marriage. You arrive at your golden years when you have lived the majority of your life. When you are in the sweet spot of a situation, people say, ‘You are golden.’ How many folks know about the golden birthday? It is a term for when we turn the same age as the day of our birthday. For example, my birthday is on the 26th, so my 26th birthday would have been my golden birthday. This year happened to be the golden...Article Link

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