Page 6 - January 3, 2018

FEATURE

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ENGAGED

Jean Fulgham: Former owner of the Chester Ice House, Joann Duncan: Gold Star sister who started fallen soldier
the first stop for anglers in the late '70s to '90s. Fulgham banner program in 2012 that eventually helped her to accept
and her husband, Tom – who died in a plane crash in 1991 her brother’s death in the Vietnam War. After reading about a
– started out selling 10- to 300-pound blocks of ice from Gold Star mother in Washington state who’d made a banner
the front porch of the business, which sold wood stoves, for her son, she decided to follow suit and make one of her
and when that closed, they transformed it into a place for brother. Duncan eventually started the Virginia Fallen Heroes
anglers to weigh their fish and buy minnows. The business Memorial Banner Project and currently has 69 banners; her
eventually expanded to selling tackle, bait, snacks, and goal is to have banners for the entire state. She participates in
hunting supplies; fishing tournaments were held and meals the Colonial Heights and Chester parades and the Chesterfield
were sold as more regulars joined in. Fulgham worked in the bait shop business County Fair, where Gold Star families (and soldiers if the family is unable to attend)
until 2000 and built her husband’s welding business, MFI, into a $5.5 million walk in and hold their loved ones’ banners.
business afterward. She is now 76 and retired but she'sfondly remembered for
her days as proprietor of the Ice House.
Brenda Bush: Known as the founder of Pansy Day. Retiring
this school year as office manager at Curtis, Bush was presented
Joshua Cole: Principal at Ecoff Elementary School who with a lavender T-shirt inscribed "Pansy Day Founder" by the
introduced Social-emotional Learning (created by the Center Curtis PTA on Pansy Day. She has been a part of the Curtis
for the Collaborative Classroom) into the curriculum. Cole is family for 30 years, and she has been the cheerleader to keep the
the founder of “A New Angle: Creating Equity in Education” tradition each year from the start. She is retiring this school year.
– an educational resource said to provide and empower other A plaque in her honor was also installed at the entrance garden
leaders with a new perspective on improving school culture at Curtis Elementary. When Bush first started at Curtis 30 years
– and after teaching Social-emotional Learning at Ecoff for ago, she said, the grounds at Curtis were in terrible shape. In the
three years, the percentage of students reading on grade level beginning she would bring her lawnmower to school and, along with the custodian,
has risen from 64 percent to 84 percent and suspensions have cut the grass. She inspired a lot of parents to come over on weekends to beautiful
decreased from 58 to 16. Cole is also the author of “The Character Club: It’s the grounds at Curtis. Parks and Recreation takes care of the grounds, but Pansy
Time to Power Up!”, a children’s book for students and teachers that he created Day, planting day, continues each year.
to help support Social-emotional Learning, which he implemented this school
year.

Elliott Fausz: Seven-year manager of ChesterFest, a one-
day festival that began in 2001 and is hosted by the Chester
Community Association. Fausz said it takes eight or nine
months of preparation and it creates economic and social
activity in the community. Every dollar raised the CCA
contributes through vendor fees and sponsorships goes back
to the community, and the projects they have on their list
include a dog park at Goyne Park, Bank On (a financial
wellness program), Christmas wreaths along Route 10,
financial contributions to school programs, and Chester Park beautification.

Joe Hillier: Founder of the Chester Kiwanis Club who
organized dinners for WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam ‘Tis the Season to GIVE.
veterans. For this year’s “Welcome Home Vietnam Era
Veterans Celebration Event,” Hillier, who served in the
Navy from 1966 to 1968, knew it would be difficult finding Thanks to our friends, thousands of school children across the
veterans because of how they were treated when they region enjoyed a hands-on learning experience in 2017.
returned from war. Hillier and his wife, Suzanne, drove
through neighborhoods looking for homes or license plates Keep History Alive. Educate a Classroom for $175.
with signs of a Vietnam veteran, knocked on doors, and
advertised. Hillier, who has been a dentist for 46 years, eventually found nearly
190 veterans in the area, and 177 were in attendance. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation that will teach
future generations about Virginia’s rich history. Visit Henricus.org to
contribute today and ignite a love of history that will last a lifetime.
Jeanne Hensel: 2017 Chesterfield-Colonial Heights
Christmas Mother. Hensel taught for 30 years, 25 of those in
Chesterfield County, and was introduced as the Chesterfield-
Colonial Heights Christmas Mother to the community at a HENRICUS HISTORICAL PARK
tea in her honor in October. Hensel, who has already been 251 Henricus Park Road • Chester
in two parades, is expected to work directly with schools, (804) 748-1611 • www.henricus.org
churches, and the Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department
6
of Social Services to identify individuals and families in
need.
Keep History Alive. Experience Henricus.

06 JANUARY 3, 2018 news@villagenewsonline.com