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Virginia C apitol C onnections, Fall 2014
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Fine Art Photographer
Seasons House on Trumpington Court
Chester eld, VA 23838-2110
804.739.1955
WANDA JUDD
Students become eligible when they are sophomores and have
at least a 2.5 grade point average, complete community service and
meet with Lemons on a regular basis during the school year.
The student can earn $500 each semester for their college savings.
In his senior year, if he choose to attend a Virginia college, he can
earn another $500, bringing his savings to $2,000.
“My first SOAR students are now seniors and all are on the path
to college or some form of higher education,” Lemons said. “I am
proud of them and look forward to seeing their future plans unfold.
I think SOAR is a very effective way to encourage and help students
continue their education after high school.”
This article reprinted with permission from The News and Advance.
Scholarships for College from page 21
Settle and AssociatesLLC
Richard L. Settle
Settle and Associates LLC
288 Clubhouse Drive
Abingdon, Virginia 24211–3839
Phone: 276-676-4444
Mobile: 804-240-1850
Pickle Ball
and Politics
By Charlie Todd
In mid September at the opening of
the special session of the Virginia General
Assembly, I walked across Capitol Square
with Dr. David Bailey, a noted political
consultant, impressive impersonator of
Mark Twain, and longtime publisher of
Virginia Capitol Connections. As we
crossed the street leading to the Executive
Mansion, I casually remarked that the
street would accommodate many pickle
ball courts and could be put to good use
when the General Assembly was out of
town.
“What is pickle ball?” David asked in a serious manner. I
explained that it is a sport that is sweeping the country, especially
the state of Florida, and, locally, Chesterfield County.
“It’s a combination of ping pong and tennis played on a
badminton court using a whiffle ball.”
David thought I was kidding and asked more questions. I told
him it was invented by Congressman Joel Pritchard and golfing
friends in Washington State in 1965. The group intended it to be
a family game for all ages. In recent years the rules have been
adjusted and clarified so that it has become a recognized, highly
competitive sport.
“In Chesterfield County this year, plans were made to renovate
tennis courts at Rockwood Park, and several were to be changed
from combination tennis and pickle ball courts to solely pickle ball.
Senior tennis players asked me to attend a Board of Supervisors
meeting where the issue was to be decided and to join them in
opposition. I avoid meetings whenever possible because that is
where minutes are kept and hours are lost, so I declined. I learned
later that 6 or 8 tennis players showed up while about 60 pickle
ball players were there. The courts in question were renovated for
pickle ball.
“It’s usually played by four people, two on a side. The idea is to
serve the ball hard and fast so that the other side can’t return it. The
scoring is much like volley ball.”
David said, “It does sound political. Team members try to put
something over on the other side by putting the ball in their court.”
“Exactly. You would be a fine pickle ball player.”
“Why is it called pickle ball?”
“No one knows. Shakespeare was the first person to use ‘in a
pickle’ as ‘in a fix’ in The Tempest. In his play, possibly based on a
shipwreck, which happened in Bermuda in the early 1600s, a group
of seafarers were marooned on an island. They were in a pickle.”
“How else is it related to politics?”
“Well, the serve must always be underhanded. Others are
blamed for a loss and you look for faults by opponents. There’s a
lot of fanning the air without results. When the General Assembly
is in session, the casual observer doesn’t know what is happening.
When you play pickle ball, the casual observer doesn’t know what
is happening. Both have been accused of racketeering, although
picket ball players actually use paddles. The swing state of Florida
has 220 sites and over 20,000 players.”
David said, “It sounds interesting. Some day we may have
Democrats and Republicans playing right here.”
“It’s a fun game,” I said. “You get more exercise than in tennis
and you don’t run as much as you do in tennis or for a political
office.”
Dr. Charles Todd is a retired Virginia teacher and school
administrator.
Donald L. Ratliff
VP–States Government Affairs
Alpha Natural Resources
One Alpha Place • Bristol, VA 24202
P.O. Box 16429 • Bristol, VA 24209
276.619.4479 (office) • 276.623.2891 (fax)
276.275.1423 (cell) •
Adopt-A-School Program
The Capitol Connections school sponsorship program is
an opportunity to provide schools with government related
educational materials. Sponsored schools receive four copies of
Virginia Capitol Connections Magazine each quarter and two
copies of the annual Redbook and Summer Red/Bluebook.
Contact Kristen Bailey-Hardy
for more information.
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