Welcome to Martinsville Field Notes, where you can find quick updates on what’s happening in Martinsville and Henry County every Friday. I’m on vacation next week, but you can catch me here the Friday after.
In this week’s column, you’ll hear about funding for the new YMCA, how local students get school supplies for free and get a look inside Troll Village. Don’t forget to check out last week’s edition if you missed it.
If there’s something you’d like to see in next week’s column, you can reach me at julianna@cardinalnews.org. There’s always something happening in Martinsville and Henry County, and I’d love to hear from you!
YMCA moves forward with construction hire
The Martinsville-Henry County Family YMCA selected G&H Contracting as the construction manager for the new Lester Family YMCA that will be built on Memorial Boulevard at the Five Points Intersection.
“What this really does is it just shows that this project is real,” said Brad Kinkema, the CEO of the YMCA. “We keep seeing movement and so this is really happening, and we’re excited.
The Y has $20 million committed for the new building, with a goal of $28 million. The Harvest Foundation provided the first $12 million. [Disclosure: The Harvest Foundation is one of our donors, but donors have no say in news decisions; see our policy.]
The Y has had conversations with the USDA about a loan that could be up to $6 million, Kinkema said, but it hopes to avoid a $6 million loan because that would put a burden on The YMCA’s operating costs. The Y is also discussing using the New Markets Tax Credit program for up to $5 million.
The Y has raised $7.25 million through the community campaign, with a goal of $8 million.
G&H Contracting is based in Salem and also was the construction manager for the Botetourt YMCA. G&H will work alongside the architectural firm, Enteros Design.
The YMCA chose G&H after putting out a request for proposal through the city’s portal, where contractors could look at the request. The Y received 10 proposals, evaluated them, moved to interviews with six contractors and landed on G&H.
The Y plans to break ground on the new site in April or May of 2027, Kinkema said. There are currently two buildings on the seven-acre lot, and they plan to begin tearing down the buildings this winter.
The current YMCA is on a five-acre lot on Starling Avenue. The Y decided to build a new building rather than renovate its current one, so that there’s space for the additions.
The new YMCA will have a splash park, an expanded indoor aquatic center, outdoor basketball and pickleball courts, a larger fitness center and its early learning center. The YMCA’s early learning center is currently located at Smith Memorial United Methodist Church in Collinsville.
“We’re at the point of no return, really,” Kinkema said. “And so we’re hoping that people will really get on board, continue to get on board, because we’ve had a lot of support. $7.25 million for this community is huge, but we think there’s still more out there.”
Henry County schools supplying students
Henry County Public Schools does not require parents to buy any school supplies, while community partners offer free haircuts, backpacks and shoes.
The school system purchases school supplies using a portion of its annual instructional budget, with this year’s being $77 million. The amount used for supplies was not immediately available.
“Our goal is to ensure that every student can come to school each day prepared to learn, without the cost of school supplies creating an additional burden for families,” said Lisa Millner, the assistant superintendent of teaching and learning.
Henry County Public Schools asks parents to provide a backpack, but several churches donate backpacks for some students in need. Back2School, a program that partners with local churches and businesses, provides backpacks, haircuts, socks and shoes for students.
Back2School and Roger Johnson from Ladies & Gents, a local hair salon, is providing free haircuts on Aug. 10 from 1 to 6 p.m. at 214 Clearview Dr.
P&HCC Productions brings ‘Trolls The Musical Jr.‘
P&HCC Productions is the first in the region to present Trolls The Musical Jr., since the licensing became available in May.
There are 57 kids from Martinsville and Henry County in the show, which is completely free to participants. Helping Youth Thrive is also donating 200 tickets for children to come watch the musical.
“It was not only necessary for us to figure out a way to make live theater accessible, but also to be able to participate,” said Devin Pendleton, the artistic director for P&HCC Productions.
P&HCC Productions is primarily known as an adult program but does a show once a year for kids to be in through a partnership with the Charity League of Martinsville and Henry County.
Morgan Belton’s son is in the show and is 10 years old. Belton said she first got him involved because he has an interest in the arts. He was really shy, but she felt like the performances helped him grow his confidence, she said.
“People may not always remember what you say, but they’ll remember how you made them feel,” Pendleton said. “It provides a space, a sense of belonging, perhaps for a student who maybe doesn’t fit in with band or with sports.”
Belton said she wants there to be a bigger emphasis on arts in her son’s life, since the elementary schools only offer art and music class for half of the school year.
The kids started rehearsing on July 13. P&HCC Productions does their performance so late in the summer to help the students reacclimate to the classroom, Pendleton said. The kids have schedules, responsibilities and homework to memorize lines and practice choreography.
The group started doing a children’s show in 2019. P&HCC Productions used to have five shows a year, including the one show with kids. Since the pandemic, it does two adult performances and one children’s performance each year.
The show is completely free for children to participate, but the parents are asked to volunteer for one hour, Pendleton said.
“Not that it’s in exchange to pay for their kid to be able to participate, but because we’re very passionate about parents also being involved in the process,” Pendleton said.
The performing arts group is not funded by Patrick & Henry Community College, but it uses the community college’s space for free. It is completely funded by ticket sales, concession sales, sponsors and donors. Pendleton is the only full-time employee of the program.
“Most theater companies have full-time staff of like five to seven,” Pendleton said. “With the help of a few of my friends, I’ve been able to pull this off over the years.”
The trolls will perform on Aug. 7 at 7 p.m., Aug. 8 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., and Aug. 9 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door.
