With all 140 seats in the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate up for election this November and an unusual amount of turnover due to redistricting and retirements, the Mercury is profiling some of the season’s most closely contested races. Are you interested in a particular race? Let us know at [email protected] As Election Day approaches in Virginia, Democratic incumbent Rodney Willett and Republican challenger Riley Shaia are facing off in Henrico’s 58th House District. The district has narrowly voted for Democratic candidates in recent state and federal elections, except in 2017, when it favored Republicans John Adams and state Sen....Article Link

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PGA Tour Superstore will open a store in early 2024 in Henrico’s Far West End, at the corner of Cox Road and West Broad Street in the Colonnades West shopping center. The store currently has 64 locations in the U.S., including one in Fairfax. *** Certified public accounting firm Keiter recently announced that Brett Sinsabaugh, CPA, CCA and Ryan Beethoven-Wilson, CPA have been promoted to partner, effective Oct. 1. Sinsabaugh joined Keiter in 2011 as an audit associate with prior construction experience. Over his tenure, he established his expertise in the construction and employee benefit audit plan space. He participates...Article Link

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After two community meetings with residents and nearby property owners, the owners of Willow Lawn have resubmitted, with additional details, to the Henrico Planning Commission their proposal to remake the shopping center, and commission staff members now are recommending approval. The owner of the site, Maryland-based Federal Realty Trust, wants to rezone the site's 37-plus acres from R-5 (residential) district and B-2 (business) district uses to UMU-PD (Urban Mixed-Use Planned Development District) usage. The company is proposing to create 11 distinctive areas at the site, with a mixture of residential and commercial uses as well as a central courtyard. Development...Article Link

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Terms like volley llamas, flabjacks and dillballs sound like a bad joke, but are actually terms used in pickleball, a sport that's a smash hit in Virginia. In fact, there are three upcoming pickleball tournaments in October alone and new facilities opening. Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport across the nation as of 2022, according to the national governing authority, USA Pickleball. The sport has taken hold in the South Atlantic region, which includes Virginia. Virginia ranks No. 10 in the nation for pickleball courts, as determined by the Pickleheads website. The site reports 428 pickleball courts in Virginia. The website...Article Link

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The elevators go up and down all 15 levels in a jiffy. There’s light and windows everywhere. The committee rooms can seat hundreds. The upsized cafeteria has ample seating and a pizza oven. And there’s new technology throughout designed to help the people of Virginia see and influence what their elected representatives are doing in Richmond. The ribbon won’t officially be cut on the new Virginia General Assembly Building until next Wednesday, but the state officials who have overseen the nearly 0 million project for the last six years are proudly preparing to reveal the almost-finished product. “I feel like...Article Link

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Henrico Area Mental Health & Developmental Services will host a free community event Wednesday, Oct. 11 to offer support, access to resources and a sense of belonging among the LGBTQIA+ community. The Visible Video Series, Panel Discussion & Vendor Fair will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Henrico Theatre, 305 East Nine Mile Road, in conjunction with National Coming Out Day. The vendor fair will open and close the event and will give youth and families access to inclusive and affirming resources and connect them with safe spaces and opportunities for community building. A showing of Visible:...Article Link

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West Broad Village will host its annual Halloween Fest Sunday, Oct. 29 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on The Pad at 2250 Old Brick Road in Glen Allen.  The free, outdoor holiday celebration will feature live music, Halloween-themed games for all ages, a kids' craft corner, a family fun zone, photo opportunities, haunted hayrides, and food and beverages prepared by on-site restaurants. Attendees are encouraged to dress in their favorite Halloween costumes for a chance to win prizes. For details, visit https://fb.me/e/30zEQ4pxd.Article Link

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Sheltering Arms Institute, a collaboration with VCU Health, has received approval from the Virginia Department of Health to expand its inpatient rehabilitation hospital following a certificate of public need application process. The facility, located just west of Short Pump in West Creek, provides care for individuals recovering from a variety of illnesses or injuries, including strokes, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries, as well as those in need of general rehabilitation for various neurological diseases and disorders. The 30 additional beds, which will also be used to provide rehabilitative care, will bring the hospital’s total number of beds to...Article Link

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Two Henrico County public schools gained full accreditation status this year but one other was downgraded to “accredited with conditions” status, according to recently released school accreditation data from the Virginia Department of Education. The VDOE finalized the new data for the 2023-2024 school year Sept. 28. While both Elko Middle and Montrose Elementary were rated as accredited with conditions for the 2022-2023 school year, both schools were relabeled as accredited this year. Conversely, Varina High (which was rated as accredited last year) now is accredited with conditions. Among the 68 Henrico schools that were rated, 10 other schools also...Article Link

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7900 block of West Broad Street – Police arrested and charged a citizen with brandishing a firearm at a gas station Sept. 29 at 1:03 a.m. 6900 block of Forest Avenue – Police arrested and charged a citizen with shoplifting at a retail store Sept. 29 at 7:03 p.m. 1300 block of Freshet Court – Police arrested and charged a citizen with non-aggravated assault and kidnapping Sept. 29 at 11:01 p.m. 7700 block of East Parham Road – Police arrested and charged a citizen with trespassing and being drunk in a public place at a medical facility Sept. 30 at...Article Link

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