Sherry Hamilton

Eleven sustainable, convenient water access sites for commercial watermen to offload their catch could be coming soon to the Middle Peninsula. Developing such sites was the topic of a public engagement meeting held last Wednesday at Rappahannock Community College at Glenns. Six of the potential access sites that were discussed are in Gloucester and Mathews.

Buz and Tamara Rollins were surprised when told they’d been selected to be grand marshals of this year’s Mathews Christmas Parade, which will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday. “There are so many deserving people in this community,” said Buz. “I was stunned.”

Lilliana Fogler, Lily Presnell and Layla Fogler, from left, entertained guests with the song “Deck the Halls” during the annual Deck the Halls celebration held on Saturday at Mathews Memorial Library. They were accompanied on the guitar by Carol McCormack, head of youth services for the library. Volunteers decorated the library from front door to back door, creating a stunningly festive atmosphere.

For more than 30 years, Classic Cruisers of York County has been putting on classic car shows and cruise-ins to raise money for charitable causes. Founded in 1993 to support the Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, Classic Cruisers has raised nearly three-quarters of a million dollars for the hospital over the years with its Fall Classic Car Show, held in October every year at Newport News Park. This year’s show raised $11,000, said club member Paul James of North.

The Mathews County Planning Commission resoundingly rejected two applications for conditional use permits for solar farms during Tuesday night’s meeting, held in the historic courthouse. The first application, located on 52.6 acres belonging to the Garrett family at Hudgins and listed under a business trust, WLGEPG Valley View, was rejected unanimously by the commission, with member Donald Morgan absent.

Charlotte Evans, in photo at top, and her mini horse Cocoa were named the overall champion of the mini horse division at the Mathews Horse and Pony Club show held on Saturday in Dutton. Bella Madigan and her mini horse Hawkeye, below, won reserve champion.

A charge of disorderly conduct that was brought against Mathews County supervisor Mike Walls last year by planning commission chairman Billy Cook was dismissed on Monday, Dec. 9 in Mathews General District Court. A finding on the charge had been withheld since the case was heard on Dec. 11, 2023.

The Fairfield Foundation Family Circle, a volunteer-led affiliate of Coming to the Table, is sponsoring a screening of the documentary “Silenced Voices” at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at the Fine Arts Museum of Gloucester, 6894 Main Street.The screening is free and open to the public and will be followed by a question-and-answer session with the filmmaker, Jobie Hill, founder of the non-profit organization Saving Slave Houses, and others. A light lunch will be provided, and an exhibition of photographs by Freedom B. Goode will be on display. Donations will be accepted to support the Fairfield Foundation Family Circle.

The Mathews County Board of Supervisors has two meetings on its slate for today, Thursday, Dec. 19, a special meeting for a closed session at 4 p.m. and the regular monthly meeting at 6. Both meetings will be held in the historic courthouse on Court Street.

The Inn at Warner Hall in Gloucester has been sold to BluWater Group, an Orlando, Florida-based private equity firm that specializes in acquiring and enhancing distinctive properties in the maritime, aviation, and luxury real estate sectors.