News Near You for Nov. 9

This daily column features short news items from some of the 20 localities that make up the greater Richmond area. If you have a news item, call 649-6990 or e-mail us at

NEWS NEAR YOU

Caroline The Caroline County Board of Supervisors will meet Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Community Services Center, 17202 Richmond Turnpike, Milford. Items on the agenda include a public hearing for the Caroline County Habitat for Humanity and consideration of ordinances related to private roads.

Charles City The Charles City County Planning Commission will meet Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the County Administration building, 10900 Courthouse Road.

Chesterfield A new meeting has been added to the schedule of community discussions about Chesterfield County's fiscal 2011 budget deficit. The meeting will be held Nov. 23 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the James River High School library. Chesterfield County's government and school system are projecting a $55 million to $60 million budget deficit for fiscal 2011. County and schools decision-makers want to hear your thoughts and ideas about spending priorities and budget development. The next meeting is next Monday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Clover Hill High School.

Colonial Heights The regular meeting of the Colonial Heights City Council has been changed from tomorrow to Nov. 18 at 7 p.m.

Dinwiddie The Dinwiddie County School Board will meet in regular session tomorrow at 4 p.m. for a budget work session in the School Board Office conference room on the lower level of the Pamplin Administration Building, 14016 Boydton Plank Road. The board will immediately go into closed session at the conclusion of the work session for a discussion of applicants for employment and student disciplinary matters.

Goochland On Nov. 18 Partnership for Smarter Growth and the Goochland County Department of Community Development will host a seminar on creating viable villages in the county and their importance in fostering intelligent growth. Keynote speakers will be Carlton Abbott, an award-winning architect from Williamsburg, and Ralph Higgins, an award-winning landscape architect from Richmond. The seminar will start at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Meeting Room at the County's Administration Building, 1800 Sandy Hook Road. The public is invited to listen and participate.

Hanover The Hanover County Board of Supervisors and the School Board will hold a joint workshop on the county's financial situation tomorrow. The board's regular meeting will begin at 2 p.m. at Hanover Courthouse. The board is scheduled to adjourn to the School Board office at 4 p.m. and reconvene to meet with the School Board at 4:15 p.m. The School Board office is at 200 Berkley St. in Ashland. For details about the meeting, call the county administrator's office at 365-6005.

Henrico University of Richmond football coach Mike London will speak Sunday at Pocahontas Middle School in Henrico County to highlight plans for improvements and upgrades in the school's athletic program. The luncheon at noon costs $20 for adults and $10 for children. Outback Steakhouse is providing the meal. Proceeds benefit Pocahontas Athletics. Tickets are on sale at the school. For details, call (804) 364-0830.

King and Queen The regular meeting of the King and Queen County Board of Supervisors has been changed from tonight to next Monday at 7 p.m.

New Kent The New Kent County Board of Supervisors will meet Thursday at 6 p.m. in the boardroom of the County Administration building, 12007 Courthouse Road. Among the public hearings on the agenda is a request to rezone about 131 acres from agricultural to residential for the construction of a 113-lot subdivision east of Tunstall Road between the Deer Lake and Kenwood Farms subdivisions.

Petersburg The Petersburg Citywide PTA is holding its fourth annual College Night on Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Petersburg High School. This event is open to all, with more than 32 schools in attendance. There will also be a college workshop being held in the library. For details, call John Hart at (804) 943-1745.

Prince George The Prince George Board of Supervisors will hold its regular meeting Thursday from 7 to 11 p.m. at the County Administration Building, third-floor boardroom, 6602 Courts Drive.

Richmond Colonial Williamsburg, Mount Vernon and Montpelier are among the Virginia destinations offering free admission to former and active-duty service members to honor them on Veterans Day. Virginia tourism officials said the former Colonial capital as well as the estates of Presidents George Washington and James Madison are among prominent sites and museums offering free admission to veterans and members of the armed forces. Hotels and other lodging businesses, as well as restaurants, are offering discounts.

AROUND THE STATE

Waynesboro Where no local burger has gone before, the Chubby Melt went this week: straight to the tip of David Letterman's tongue. The late-night TV host didn't actually taste the Mossy Creek Cafe burger -- served with grilled onions and mushrooms between two grilled cheese sandwiches in the Fishersville restaurant -- but his delight about the burger is boosting its sales, co-owner Benny Higgs said Friday. During an interview last week with Food Network star Guy Fieri, Letterman asked about some of the guest's discoveries during road trips to produce his book, "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives: An All-American Road Trip . . . with Recipes!" Talk circled to the rumored burger between two grilled cheese sandwiches, which neither star could pin down. After a commercial, Letterman got it: "It might be the Chubby Melt at the Mossy Creek Cafe in Fishersville, Virginia," he told viewers. "Check it out."

Fairfax A 41-year-old Annandale man has died after being hit by two cars in quick succession, one of which drove away. Fairfax County police said the man, whose name was being withheld until his family is notified, died Saturday night. Police said the man was hit Friday night about 9 p.m. by a vehicle whose driver left the scene. The pedestrian was then hit by a second car, whose driver stayed. The victim was taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital.

Hampton The body of a 12-foot-long whale has washed ashore on Buckroe Beach in Hampton. The Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Team said a motorist driving by the beach yesterday saw the body and called authorities. It took about 14 people to lift the whale's body onto a truck. It was being taken to the Virginia Aquarium in Virginia Beach, where examiners were to attempt to determine the cause of death. Members of the response team said the whale may have died as recently as Saturday based on the condition of its body.