May 16, 2013

I hope all you Moms out there had a very happy day. The weather was beautiful, wasn’t it?

It cannot be the middle of May. Soon pools will be open and Memorial Weekend will be upon us. Students will be graduating. Please take a minute and send me news of your student; we’d like to congratulate as many as possible in this column.

Boy Scouts of Troop 533 are having a big backyard sale May 18 at Post 9808, of the VFW from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 7165 Flag Lane in Mechanicsville, across from Walnut Grove Road. Courtesy of Post 9808 there will be a shredder on hand, where the public can shred personal or business items at no cost.

I heard of the great work Cindy Burns, talented and gifted resource teacher at Oak Knoll and Stonewall, is doing with her students. I called and asked Cindy to tell me about the recent trip she describes below. We are fortunate to have good teachers in our Hanover schools. Wish I could have been on this trip.

From Cindy Burns: “Recently, the gifted seminar classes from Oak Knoll Middle School visited the United States District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, and the chambers of Magistrate Judge M. Hannah Lauck. This event was the culmination of a unit on social justice and the government’s balance between national security and personal liberties. The basis for this study was the Japanese Internment Camps following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. In particular, students examined the case of Fred Korematsu vs. United States. In visiting the federal courthouse, students witnessed firsthand the working of the judicial system. A U.S. Marshal explained processing defendants and showed students the holding cells. Judge Lauck’s clerk showed students the grand jury room and explained the responsibility of grand jury members. Probation officers talked about working with people to set new goals and following through to make sure those goals are met so people return to productive, law-abiding lives. After watching three preliminary hearings, students met with Judge Lauck where she explained her role and process of the federal court system. Students were most impressed with the respect she demonstrated when dealing with the people brought before her court and her comments that only in America do we find the unique priority to give everyone the opportunity to be treated with dignity even in the presence of a courtroom. Students left saying they will remember this day and the importance of upholding our constitution and the rights of all citizens.”

Lynn Saunders of MCEF wants to thank the youth group from Shalom Baptist for helping put food contributions on the shelves. She says they tackled a mammoth job with a small group of people. Mechanicsville is proud of all the wonderful youth volunteers we have.

It’s time to sign up now for MCEF’s annual Golf Tournament, which takes place June l at the Hollows Golf Course with an 8 a.m. shotgun start. It is $100 per player with lunch and prizes at l p.m. Go to www.mcef.com for more information.

Please call me with your Mechanicsville news at (804) 746-9142 or email shdtalley@msn.com.