When: Gates open at 8 a.m. today and tomorrow; most exhibits close at 6 p.m.
  Cost: $10 for general admission; $8 for guests ages 55 and older; free for those 12 or younger.
  For more info: Call (804) 741-8468 or visit http://www.fielddayofthepast.net.

About 30,000 people are expected to venture to eastern Goochland County this weekend for the 18th Field Day of the Past, an event known for its unique presentation of the region’s rural heritage. The three-day celebration, which started yesterday, offers typical county fair offerings: funnel cakes, thrill rides and carnival games. But most of the 50 acres dedicated to Field Day have been transformed into a setting where volunteers re-create turn-of-the-century agricultural and industrial workplaces.

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.

120 had no critical violations during inspections conducted during the 2008-09 school year; and
93 had two or fewer total
critical violations for the year
Here are some examples of critical violations inspectors found at area schools. These
violations were corrected:
Oct. 30, 2008: Employees were observed handling ready-to-eat food with bare hands at

Goochland: $6 million to widen
U.S. 250 (Broad Street Road).
  Hanover: $4.8 million to replace the bridge over Interstate 95 at Lewistown Road.

The Richmond Area Metropolitan Planning Organization has allocated $20.8 million of federal stimulus money to three priority transportation projects in Chesterfield, Goochland and Hanover counties. “We wanted to get them the money as soon as possible,“ said Chuck Gates, a spokesman for the 28-member planning organization. The group, representing nine local jurisdictions, serves as the federally designated agency responsible for developing regional transportation plans and programs.

The Richmond Area Metropolitan Planning Organization will allocate $20.8 million of federal stimulus money to three transportation projects in Chesterfield, Goochland and Hanover counties. The vote on Thursday designates:

• $10 million to widen VA-10 (West Hundred Road) in Chesterfield County.

• $6 million to widen US-250 (West Broad Street) in Goochland County.

Goochland County authorities are looking for the people responsible for vandalizing a local church and the historic black school on its property but are having little luck so far. Second Union Baptist Church and its one-story schoolhouse off Hadensville-Fife Road in the rural western end of the county sustained $12,000 to $18,000 in damage last weekend.

The controversy over President Barack Obama’s plan to address the nation’s schoolchildren Tuesday—during a noon broadcast from an Arlington County high school—picked up steam yesterday. Chesterfield County school officials joined those in neighboring Powhatan County in deciding not to broadcast the speech.

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.

The Goochland County Board of Supervisors has pushed back indefinitely a vote to increase public-utility rates and connection fees. The proposal would pay for operation of the Tuckahoe Creek Service District, which provides water and sewer services to eastern Goochland. The supervisors agreed yesterday that more analysis is needed.

A birthday party, a credit-card purchase and gang rivalry have doomed the leadership of a gang operating in the Richmond area. In brief hearings yesterday in Henrico County Circuit Court, key members of the Tiny Rascals Gang pleaded guilty to multiple gang participation and recruitment charges as well as robbery and firearms violations.

The public will have its say tomorrow night on a Goochland County proposal to raise utility rates and connection fees to pay for the struggling Tuckahoe Creek Service District, which provides water and sewer service to the eastern end of the county. The county’s Board of Supervisors has suggested raising utility rates by 13 percent in the district and 5 percent for the general county system. Connection fees in the district could be raised $1,000 for water and $2,000 for sewer.

Longtime Richmond lawyer and former substitute circuit court judge Andrew Russell Beazley Jr. was a man of many colors. “He really liked boating—actually fishing, golfing and getting in his car and driving. He could give directions to anywhere and drove to Alaska and back on his honeymoon,“ said a daughter, Janet Fosque of Onancock.