University of Richmond linebacker Tyler Sullivan watches Patrick Weldon play and jokes that he is shielded from blocks by a force field. “He’s such a smart player,“ Sullivan said of his fellow Spiders linebacker.

As summer comes to an end and I sit at my computer nowhere near the beach, I yearn for the uncontrived, leisurely atmosphere I associate with beach bars. While I haven’t had sand between my toes in the past few weeks, I have experienced Sunset Grill.  Sunset Grill would make a great beach bar . . .  if beach bars were in Manakin-Sabot, sported white tablecloths and, most importantly, served some darn good steak.

Elementary,
Richmond
  Grade: Third
  Years teaching: 10
  School: Tomahawk Creek Middle,
Chesterfield County
  Subjects: Physical science and geometry
  Years teaching: six
  Subjects: 10th-grade English Pre-International Baccalaureate, 11th-grade English
  Collaborative and 11th-grade advanced English

Harvey Stone, George Herring, Carolyn Wilkerson and Frenishee B. Smith are the best of the best. These four individuals were chosen among their peers as Teachers-of-the-Year for Henrico, Hanover and Chesterfield counties and the city of Richmond. We picked these teachers’ brains on what kids and parents can do to have a successful school year. See what they said on Page A8. Tomorrow: Find out how teachers are getting ready for the school year.

Deeds McDonnell Trailing in the polls and seeking traction with voters, Democratic candidate for governor Creigh Deeds went on the offensive yesterday. He said Republican Bob McDonnell would mire Virginia in an “an ideological crusade” that “replaces mainstream goals with his social agenda” on issues such as abortion. Deeds’ campaign followed his speech at George Mason University in Fairfax County by launching his first television ad since his June 9 victory in the Democratic primary.

In a two-day street-cleaning operation that saw nearly 150 cars towed to Southside Plaza, Fan residents yet again learned a simple lesson that seems to last only until just before the next street cleaning.