November 5, 2021 Volume 6, Issue 46

Cooperative Extension 2

Bensley Recreation Center 3-4

History 5-6

Ettrick Recreation Center 6

Stonebridge Recreation Center

7

Therapeutic Recreation 7-8

50+ Active Lifestyles 9

Best New Special Event Award

9

Henricus Historical Park 10

Rockwood Nature Center 11

Parks and Recreation Representation

11

Park Operations 12

Parks Planning/Design and Construction

13

This issue

Chesterfield’s Master Gardener Bee-keeper Expert Rick McCormick, wel-comed visitors to the Extension Office hive several times this season. During each visit, guests had the op-portunity to don protective suits, watch, and learn as Rick cared for the home of 30,000+ honey bees. Visitors were universally enthusiastic and full of wonder at the industry and beauty of these insects. The goal of the visitors program, with its in-hive deep dive into the inner work-ings of these Caucuses-Russian hy-brids, is to develop advocates for our bee populations. Honeybees are the only bees that remain alive and ac-tive through the winter rather than hibernate. Chesterfield’s Master Gar-dener is grateful to be able to share their good work with the public. While our hive visits have ended for the year, please feel free to stop by Chesterfield’s Extension Office (co-located with the Central Library) and watch the bees from outside the fence as they ready the hive for win-ter.

HONEYBEE HIVE VISIT

Bee Keeper Expert Rick McCormick, Cooperative Extension Manager Betha-ny Eigel, Assistant Director of Recrea-

tion Marlie Creasey-Smith

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COOPERATIVE EXTENSION

New Memorial Garden Provides Healing Through Nature

Jennifer Cockram, clinical supervisor for Chesterfield County Mental Health Support Services, understands first-hand the need for a space to find solace and healing when faced with difficult life experiences. In 2016, her own journey with breast cancer inspired her to create a memorial garden in her yard as a place to remember friends that lost their lives to the disease, as well as place to celebrate hope in an array of blooming flowers. In 2018, her colleagues on the Substance Use Services Team and clients were impacted both directly and indirectly by the tragic nationwide opioid epidemic. Soon after, the COVID-19 pandemic caused even greater loss for her clients and team. Drawing on the concept of the memorial garden she created at her home, Jennifer envisioned creating a similar space at the Rogers Building honoring the lives lost and offering a place of solace for her colleagues. With a limited budget, Jennifer reached out to a vari-ety of resources, including Great Big Greenhouse, Master Gardener, Terry Watson, Thomas Tuttle, the County Building, the Grounds team and other MGs. Through this collaboration, a space that was over-grown and weed-eaten was transformed into a beautiful and healing space complete with relocated coun-ty benches, picnic tables, planters and a variety of plantings including bulbs, hydrangeas, rose of sharon, and hostas to name a few.

October 20 Memorial Event On Wednesday, Oct. 20, Jennifer's vision became reality. The memorial garden was unveiled as a space for practicing self-care, private reflection and a place for connection with co-workers and clients. The event also provided an opportunity for Chesterfield County Mental Health Support Services team members to share their personal stories and remembrances of family members, clients and colleagues that lost their lives due to addiction or COVID-19. Thanks to a collaborative county and community effort the garden will continue to provide rest and peace through nature.

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BENSLEY RECREATION CENTER

On Monday, Oct. 25, seniors came for a Spooktacular Halloween celebra-tion. There was a costume contest for the scariest costume. Lunch was provided by Boxed Lunch Bistro and musical performance by The Flying Sulsers. 50 people attended. Jen-Care, Diane Andrews and VACU hand-ed out information to participants. A raffle was held with Halloween-themed door prizes. The event was sponsored by Virginia Credit Union.

Halloween Luncheon and Social

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On Monday, Nov. 1, Pocahontas State Park Ranger Rebecca came out to talk about turkeys. She taught our participants about the lives of wild turkeys in Virginia. They learned about hens, toms, poults, carun-cles, wattles, and snoods, while performing the turkey strut and learning the turkey call. The whole family enjoyed talking turkey while going on a short hike and making a turkey craft. There were seven partici-pants registered.

BENSLEY RECREATION CENTER

Turkey Talk

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Ghosts of Chesterfield

On Tuesday, Oct. 26, a presentation on ghost sto-ries of Chesterfield was held at Ettrick Recreation Center. Participants learned about some of the more famous ghost stories surrounding some of the county’s historic sites, such as Bellgrade Plan-tation, Wrexam Hall, Clover Hill, and Magnolia Grange among others. Eight attended.

HISTORY

50th Anniversary Recreation Series: Bocce Ball

On Thursday, Oct. 28, the conclusion of a series of recreational activities designed to focus on the history of the Parks and Recreation department’s 50th anniversary was held at Stonebridge Recreation Center. Par-ticipants learned about the history of Bocce Ball, it’s evolution, popularity of the sport and how to play the game. Six attended.

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Cathy Chase, owner of the Chester quilt shop The Busy Bea LLC, presented “Quilting in Virginia” at the Ches-terfield County Museum on Tuesday, Nov. 2. She demonstrated the carding of cotton, discussed early sewing needles, described the three layers of a quilt and showed quilts from the 1800’s to the present. One of these beautiful quilts was made by Cathy’s mother Bea and another was made in honor of her mother. After the lecture, participants viewed the museum’s “Quilts of the Past” exhibit. 15 attended.

Chesterfield Museum Lecture

HISTORY

ETTRICK RECREATION CENTER

Halloween Pop-up

Ettrick offered a Halloween Pop-Up during the week lead-ing up to the holiday. Hallow-een themed goodie bags were available for kids to pick up. Fun items included: color-ing books, crayons, glow sticks, stickers, candy and more.

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Watercolor Note Cards

A new session of Watercolor Note Cards was held at Stone-bridge Recreation Center on Tuesday, Oct. 26. Participants are working on seasonal hand painted note cards. 13 enrolled in this class which is instructed by Carol Henderson. Carol also teaches Watercolor Basics and Watercolor Techniques II at Stonebridge.

STONEBRIDGE RECREATION CENTER

THERAPEUTIC RECREATION

Anything Goes Active Hour

Therapeutic Recreation start-ed a new session of Anything Goes Active Hour this week. Participants played exercise Jenga and pool noodle pick up.

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Therapeutic Recreation had an amazing time at their Halloween Dance this year. Partici-pants had a great time dancing, creating crafts, winning raffle prizes and socializing.

Halloween Dance

THERAPEUTIC RECREATION

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Drop-In Bridge Group

The Huguenot Road Baptist Church 50+ Drop-In Bridge Group is looking for more players to join them. They meet every Wednes-day from 1-3 p.m. A small group of four attends every week, but there is always room for more players. Please spread the word!

BEST NEW SPECIAL EVENT AWARD

Parks and Recreation was honored with a Best New Special Event Award from the Virginia Recreation and Park Society at their annual conference in October. The Classic Car Cruise ‘Round was a collabora-tive effort with Hanover County, Henrico County and the City of Colonial Heights. On Oct. 3, 2020, classic car owners made stops in each locality to receive swag bags and show off their classic cars.

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HENRICUS HISTORICAL PARK

This past week was busy at Henricus with it be-ing Halloween weekend. Our Education Staff Josh LeHuray, Rebecca Owens, and Chrystie Richards had their family-friendly Witching Hour Jr. event Saturday, Oct. 30. 35 people at-tended and the kids got the opportunity to dec-orate their own pumpkins, do arts and crafts, trick or treat around the site and show off their Halloween costumes during a parade. Lead Ed-ucator Chrystie Richards also held a Public Pow-hatan Indian School program and had three families attend. One family that had visited vir-tually with their elementary school and was so interested they wanted to come and visit in-person.

Things That Go Bump in the Night took place Friday, Oct. 29, and Satur-day night, Oct. 30. Credit must be given to Josh LeHuray, Rebecca Ow-ens, Terry Marr, Randall Benton, Dave Fournelle, and John Pagano for their wonderful acting and success-fully giving our visitors a spooky good time. Also, thanks to the rest of Henricus staff that handled guiding the tours and ticket sales to help the event go off smoothly.

Construction continues on the road out to Henricus. Part of the road is now paved and waiting for the other half. Hopefully by the end of November the project will be completed.

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The Rockwood Nature Center will be closed to general visitation beginning Friday, Nov. 15, 2021. Renovations are expected to be complete by spring of 2022. •Fall programs will run as scheduled through December. Registered participants will be contacted as soon as possible if there are any program changes. •Room reservations and birthday parties will resume after renovations are complete. •Nature Center staff will be available to conduct school and scout programs off-site. For scheduling information, contact Denise Flora at florad@chesterfield.gov or 804-717-6860. •Public restrooms are available in Rockwood Park near the pickleball courts and Field 2. •Rockwood Park and trail maps may be found on our website (https://www.chesterfield.gov/naturecenter.) Hard copies of trail maps are also available near the bulletin board kiosk (located to the right of classroom entrance of the nature center.) •General park and recreation questions may be directed to the Parks and Rec main line at 804-748-1623. For more information, contact Coline Hay at hayc@chesterfield.gov or 804-717-6858.

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ROCKWOOD NATURE CENTER

PARKS AND RECREATION REPRESENTATION

Newly retired Deputy County Administrator Scott Zaremba is still representing Parks and Recreation proudly.

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PARK OPERATIONS

Parks and Recreation trails crew member Dewey

Osborne repairing a Z-mower.

Parks and Recreation trails crew members Dewey

Osborne and Brandon Ellis working on trails at

Robious Landing Park.

A trail bridge at Radcliffe Conservation Area was

recently repaired.

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PARKS PLANNING/DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

Volume 6, Issue 46

www.facebook.com/chesterfieldvaparksrec

Page 14

www.twitter.com/CCPRVA

Chesterfield.gov/parks

www.instagram.com/chesterfieldvaparksrec

Saturday, Nov. 6, noon-6 p.m. Hops in the Park, Henricus Historical Park

Thursday, Nov. 11 Veterans Biker Rally, Chesterfield County Fairgrounds

Thursday, Nov. 11, 2 p.m. Veterans Day Ceremony, 1917 Courthouse grounds

Saturday, Nov. 27, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friendship, Trade & Feast, Henricus Historical Park

Thursday, Dec. 2 PRAC meeting

Fall Program Guide is available online and at county libraries and buildings.

www.chesterfield.gov/programguide

Details on events can be found at www.chesterfield.gov/parks in the Calendar.