Chester-based Southside Oil LLC has bought 172 Exxon retail gasoline stations, mainly in Maryland, more than doubling the company’s retail operations. The privately held company did not disclose the terms of the sale. Southside Oil is a wholesale gasoline distribution company owned by Steven and Linda Uphoff. The Uphoffs also operate 42 Uppy’s Convenience Stores Inc. locations in Virginia. They own the property where 67 other BP and ExxonMobil gas stations are, but they don’t operate those stations.

Ashland Farmers’
  Market, 101 Thompson St., Ashland, 798-9219. 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays through November.
  Byrd House Market, behind William Byrd Community House, South Linden Street and Idlewood Avenue, 643-2717. 3:30-7 p.m. Tuesdays through October. A Harvest End Celebration will be held at the final market on Oct. 27, with free food, dance and music.

Shamin Hotels has opened its 10th hotel in a year’s time. Metropolitan Richmond’s largest hotel firm, Shamin opened the Residence Inn by Marriott at 800 Bermuda Road in Chester on Thursday. “This new hotel was designed to be a home away from home and provides a residential atmosphere and spacious accommodations for guest comfort,“ said Tim Sheldon, Marriott International’s executive vice president for extended-stay brand management.

Ashland Farmers’ Market, 101 Thompson St., Ashland, 798-9219. 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays through November. Byrd House Market, behind William Byrd Community House, South Linden Street and Idlewood Avenue, 643-2717. 3:30-7 p.m. Tuesdays through October. Chester Farmers’ Market, Chester Village Green, Village Green Drive and Centre Street, 748-9650. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through October.

Area farmers markets Ashland Farmers’ Market, 101 Thompson St., Ashland, (804) 798-9219. 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays through November. Byrd House Market, behind William Byrd Community House, South Linden Street and Idlewood Avenue, (804) 643-2717. 3:30-7 p.m. Tuesdays through October. Chester Farmers’ Market, Chester Village Green, Village Green Drive and Centre Street, (804) 748-9650. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through October. Goochland Farmers’ Market, 2955 River Road West, Goochland, (804) 332-3144. 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays through October. Huguenot-Robious Farmers’ Market, Great Big Greenhouse, 2051 Huguenot Road, (804) 320-1317. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursdays through Nov. 19. Lakeside Market, 6110 Lakeside Ave., (804) 262-6593. 8 a.m.-noon and 3-7 p.m. Wednesdays and 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays through November. Market Emporium at Bryan Park, Hermitage Road between Bryan Park and Bellevue avenues, (804) 513-3100. 3-7 p.m. Tuesdays through November. St. Stephen’s Farmers’ Market, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 6000 Grove Ave. (804) 288-2867. 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays through October. 17th Street Farmers’ Market, 17th and East Main streets, http://www.17thstreet farmersmarket.com or (804) 646-0477. 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursdays and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through mid-December (except as noted). South of the James Market, Forest Hill Park, Forest Hill Avenue and 42nd Street, (804) 513-3100. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through December. West End Farmers’ Market, Gayton Road and Ridgefield Parkway, http://www.westendfarmersmarket.com or (804) 564-9989. 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays and Wednesdays through mid-December. Whole Foods Market Farmers’ Market, in front of the store, 11173 W. Broad St., (804) 364-4050. 4-7 p.m. Wednesdays through October.

Ashland Farmers’ Market, 101 Thompson St., Ashland, 798-9219. 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays through November.
  Byrd House Market, behind William Byrd Community House, South Linden Street and Idlewood Avenue, 643-2717. 3:30-7 p.m. Tuesdays through October.
  Chester Farmers’ Market, Chester Village Green, Village Green Drive and Centre Street, 748-9650. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through October.

Area farmers markets Ashland Farmers’ Market, 101 Thompson St., Ashland, (804) 798-9219. 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays through November. Byrd House Market, behind William Byrd Community House, South Linden Street and Idlewood Avenue, (804) 643-2717. 3:30-7 p.m. Tuesdays through October. Chester Farmers’ Market, Chester Village Green, Village Green Drive and Centre Street, (804) 748-9650. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through October. Goochland Farmers’ Market, 2955 River Road West, Goochland, (804) 332-3144. 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays through October. Huguenot-Robious Farmers’ Market, Great Big Greenhouse, 2051 Huguenot Road, (804) 320-1317. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursdays through October. Lakeside Market, 6110 Lakeside Ave., (804) 262-6593. 8 a.m.-noon and 3-7 p.m. Wednesdays and 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays through November. Market Emporium at Bryan Park, Hermitage Road between Bryan Park and Bellevue avenues, (804) 513-3100. 3-7 p.m. Tuesdays through November. St. Stephen’s Farmers’ Market, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 6000 Grove Ave. (804) 288-2867. 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays through October. 17th Street Farmers’ Market, 17th and East Main streets, http://www.17thstreet farmersmarket.com or (804) 646-0477. 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursdays, 4-8 p.m. Fridays (through Sept. 4) and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through mid-December (except as noted). South of the James Market, Forest Hill Park, Forest Hill Avenue and 42nd Street, (804) 513-3100. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through December. West End Farmers’ Market, Gayton Road and Ridgefield Parkway, http://www.westendfarmersmarket.com or (804) 564-9989. 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays and Wednesdays through mid-December. Whole Foods Market Farmers’ Market, in front of the store, 11173 W. Broad St., (804) 364-4050. 4-7 p.m. Wednesdays through October.

Chesterfield County’s vision for the arts is coming into focus. After more than a decade in the planning stages, the Chesterfield Center for the Arts took a big step forward as architectural design concepts and a model were presented last week. More than 200 people attended the event at Howlett’s Restaurant and Tavern in Chester to introduce plans for the arts center in the Chester Village Green complex, attached to the Chester Library.

Ashland Farmers’ Market, 101 Thompson St., Ashland, 798-9219. 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays through November.
  Byrd House Market, behind William Byrd Community House, South Linden Street and Idlewood Avenue, 643-2717. 3:30-7 p.m. Tuesdays through October.
  Chester Farmers’ Market, Chester Village Green, Village Green Drive and Centre Street, 748-9650. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through October.

Area farmers markets Ashland Farmers’ Market, 101 Thompson St., Ashland, (804) 798-9219. 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays through November. Byrd House Market, behind William Byrd Community House, South Linden Street and Idlewood Avenue, (804) 643-2717. 3:30-7 p.m. Tuesdays through October. Chester Farmers’ Market, Chester Village Green, Village Green Drive and Centre Street, (804) 748-9650. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through October. Goochland Farmers’ Market, 2955 River Road West, Goochland, (804) 332-3144. 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays through October. Huguenot-Robious Farmers’ Market, Great Big Greenhouse, 2051 Huguenot Road, (804) 320-1317. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursdays through October. Lakeside Market, 6110 Lakeside Ave., (804) 262-6593. 8 a.m.-noon and 3-7 p.m. Wednesdays and 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays through November. Market Emporium at Bryan Park, Hermitage Road between Bryan Park and Bellevue avenues, (804) 513-3100. 3-7 p.m. Tuesdays through November. St. Stephen’s Farmers’ Market, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 6000 Grove Ave. (804) 288-2867. 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays through October. 17th Street Farmers’ Market, 17th and East Main streets, http://www.17thstreet farmersmarket.com or (804) 646-0477. 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursdays, 4-8 p.m. Fridays (through Sept. 4) and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through mid-December (except as noted). South of the James Market, Forest Hill Park, Forest Hill Avenue and 42nd Street, (804) 513-3100. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through December. West End Farmers’ Market, Gayton Road and Ridgefield Parkway, http://www.westendfarmersmarket.com or (804) 564-9989. 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays and Wednesdays through mid-December. Whole Foods Market Farmers’ Market, in front of the store, 11173 W. Broad St., (804) 364-4050. 4-7 p.m. Wednesdays through October.

Hannah Keeley, a Chester wife and mother of seven, kicks off a new facet to her burgeoning mom-pire this weekend—a TV show. “Hannah Help Me!“ has been picked up by PBS stations nationwide. Beginning tomorrow, it will air Saturdays at 7 a.m. on Richmond affiliate WCVE. The reality show features Keeley helping America’s overwhelmed mothers manage their households, declutter their homes, get in shape and try to take control of their personal lives and careers.

Tomorrow’s the biggest picnic day of the year—and you have nothing patriotic to jazz up your Fourth of July table. Not to worry. Chris Nease can help you dazzle your guests. Not the pricey, impossibly obscure-materials kind of help. The quick, dollar-store kind of help. Nease, a Chester wife and mother of two, can take a few sheets of paper, some twine, a couple of pillar candles, plain white cups and a shower caddy and turn it into a party table worthy of an upscale home magazine.

Area farmers markets For produce and other products fresh from the farm, visit these area markets:  Ashland Farmers’ Market, 101 Thompson St., Ashland, (804) 798-9219. 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays through November. Byrd House Market, behind William Byrd Community House, South Linden Street and Idlewood Avenue, (804) 643-2717. 3:30-7 p.m. Tuesdays through October. Chester Farmers’ Market, Chester Village Green, Village Green Drive and Centre Street, (804) 748-9650. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through October. Goochland Farmers’ Market, 2955 River Road West, Goochland, (804) 332-3144. 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays through October. Huguenot-Robious Farmers’ Market, Great Big Greenhouse, 2051 Huguenot Road, (804) 320-1317. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursdays through October. Lakeside Market, 6110 Lakeside Ave., (804) 262-6593. 8 a.m.-noon and 3-7 p.m. Wednesdays and 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays through November. Market Emporium at Bryan Park, Hermitage Road between Bryan Park and Bellevue avenues, (804) 513-3100. 3-7 p.m. Tuesdays through November. St. Stephen’s Farmers’ Market, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 6000 Grove Ave. (804) 288-2867. 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays through October. 17th Street Farmers’ Market, 17th and East Main streets, http://www.17thstreetfarmersmarket.com or (804) 646-0477. 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursdays, 4-8 p.m. Fridays (through Sept. 4) and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through mid-December (except as noted). South of the James Market, Forest Hill Park, Forest Hill Avenue and 42nd Street, (804) 513-3100. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through December. West End Farmers’ Market, Gayton Road and Ridgefield Parkway, http://www.westendfarmersmarket.com or (804) 564-9989. 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays and Wednesdays through mid-December. Whole Foods Market Farmers’ Market, in front of the store, 11173 W. Broad St., (804) 364-4050. 4-7 p.m. Wednesdays through October.

Ashland Farmers Market, 101 Thompson St., Ashland, 798-9219. 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays through November.
  Byrd House Market, behind William Byrd Community House, South Linden Street and Idlewood Avenue, 643-2717. 3:30-7 p.m. Tuesdays through October.
  Chester Farmers Market, Chester Village Green, Village Green Drive and Centre Street, 748-9650. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through October.

Ashland Farmers Market, 101 Thompson St., Ashland, 798-9219. 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays through November.
  Byrd House Market, behind William Byrd Community House, South Linden Street and Idlewood Avenue, 643-2717. 3:30-7 p.m. Tuesdays through October.
  Chester Farmers Market, Chester Village Green, Village Green Drive and Centre Street, 748-9650. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through October.