All News Archives
BRMC 2012 Cavalcade of Music Fund Raiser
Posted March 6, 2012 at 7:19 PMWe have a great show lined up for the Cavalcade of Music on Sunday, April 29. With the early notification that we sent out, some may be tempted to put it aside for later response, and then forget. Why not do it now, and assure your support for this, our only charity fund-raiser of each year. Better still -- sell some tickets to your friends and/or extended family. They will be glad you thought of them.
Valentine's Day event on Sunday, February 17, 2013
Posted February 1, 2013 at 12:28 AMJoin us for a Very Special Valentine's Day event on Sunday, February 17, 2013 !!
Enjoy a special evening of Fine Dining at the elegant Brandermill Woods Club House. The evening begins at 6:00 with a welcome Open Bar Cocktail Reception featuring a full selection of spirits and wine, with butler served Mini Quiche and bar snacks. Dinner begins at 7:00 p.m.
Please note that the cost per person listed following the choices of entree is all inclusive -- the reception, the dinner and unlimited beverages throughout the evening == including beer, wines and spirits (scotch, vodka, gin, rum, etc.) soft drinks, the entertainment, door prizes, taxes and the gratuity.
Dinner begins with: Baby Spinach Salad with glazed pecans & Manderins pre-set Raspberry Vinaigrette)
Your entree and dessert choices are:
- Surf & Turf Lobster Tail & 4oz. Filet Mignon -- $66 per person
- 6oz Petite Filet Mignon Bearnaise -- $56 per person
- Baked Salmon Filet & mustard/dill sauce -- $52 per person
- Chicken "Oscars" -- $50 per person
Each entree is served with rice pilaf and California blend vegetables.
For dessert: your choice of Carrot Cake or German Chocolate Cake.
Following dinner, we visualize being in a "supper club" and welcome popular & talented vocalist -- Joe LaLuna -- offering our favorite selections -- the soothing strains of some oldies -- and some not so old.
Note that tables will accommodate 6 or 8 persons. Therefore, we suggest that when making your reservations please indicate with whom you wish to be seated, otherwise we will randomly assign seating.
Reservations will be accepted on a first paid basis and must include each person's selection of entree and dessert. Reservations must be received before Monday February 11.
We also encourage you to invite relatives, friends and neighbors to join us. Simply add their names, entree & dessert selections to the reservation form.
Complete and mail the reservation form, with your check(s) payable to BRMC, to
Bill LaLonde 14207 Chimney House Road, Midlothian, VA 23112
------------- Print & cut -- or provide info on separate sheet ------------
Name ____________________ Entree _____________ Dessert ____________ $ _________
Check(s) Total: $ _________
May 3, 2012 Meeting
Posted March 16, 2012 at 10:29 AMMonica Hughes. the Executive Director of the Chesterfield Lifelong Learning Institute (LLI), will be the speaker for the May meeting of BRMC.
LLI, is now in its ninth year of meeting that thirst for knowledge and the challenges of seniors through daytime college level courses, lectures, events and other activities. LLI is about intellectual curiosity and the joy of learning for learning’s sake: all goals of seniors not ready for an inactive and stoic retirement and who are looking forward to a future with challenges and opportunities for personal growth.
Guided tour of the National Air & Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Posted January 14, 2013 at 10:13 AMThe BRMC has arranged a special guided tour of the National Air & Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, adjacent to Washington Dulles International Airport.
The date is Wednesday, March 20, 2013.
This popular event will fill up quickly, so early reservations are encouraged.
Paid reservervations must be received by March 1, 2013.
Contact Bal Dighe for details: 804-639-6960.
National Monuments, April 18
Posted March 15, 2013 at 1:34 PMBRMC Social Committee Vice-chair Bal Dighe has done it again !!
He has arranged a wonderful day-tour of two National Monuments, with transportation by luxury motorcoach at just $35.00 per person, including taxes and gratuity,--- provided we have a minimum of 40 persons, and we can accommodate up to 56.
The monuments are....
Appomattox Courthouse National Park, which is comprised of many historical structures plus several reconstructed buildings. The village itself is the site of the surrender of General Robert E. Lee to General Ulysses S. Grant, thus ending the four year civil war. We will see documents and the many artifacts of that tragic event, including the pencil used by General Lee for additions and corrections to the treaty.
The D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia. That town suffered the highest per-capita casualties in the nation. The National D-Day memorial honors the allied forces that fought in the invasion of Normandy France on June 6, 1944. The English garden, a haunting tableau of the invasion, and the victory plaza pay homage to the brave forces and sacrifices of our fallen heroes.
Note that the entrance fee for Appomattox is just $3 or is free for those who hold Golden Passport (senior citizen) passes. Since many of our members are holders of this passport, they are entitled free entry with two more persons.
Similarly, the D-Day Memorial waives the small entry fee for Veterans. Thus, the prudent option is to have each person handle their own entry.
The details are:
- Date: Thursday, April 18, 2013
- Leave Market Square @ 9:30 a.m.
- Arrive Appomattox Courthouse @ 11:00 a.m.
- Leave Appomattox @1:00 p.m.
- Lunch stop @1:15 at The Porterhouse Restaurant in Lynchburg, were each person can order his/her own meal from the menu and pay accordingly.
- Depart Lynchburg @2:00 p.m.
- Arrive and tour the D-Day Memorial @ 2:30.
- Depart Bedford @ 4:30 p.m.
- Arrive Market Square @ 6:30 p.m.
- Paid reservations are required for this special offering, and must be received before Monday, April 1st. If we do not have the minimum 40 paid reservations BEFORE that date, the tour will need to be cancelled and your checks returned/cancelled.
Send your checks, payable to BRMC, at $35. per person, to:
6112 Duck Cove Road Midlothian, VA 23112
Questions? Please call Bal at 804.639.6960
November 5, 2026 Meeting
Posted October 11, 2026 at 4:47 PMOur guest will be Neil Luther, director of Chesterfield’s Parks and Recreation Dept.
October 1, 2026 Meeting
Posted September 19, 2026 at 11:07 PMThe speaker for our October meeting will be the founder of Richmond BizSense: Aaron Kremer.
VDOT and CDOT work well together
Posted August 12, 2026 at 10:46 AMBy Greg Pearson
Despite having among the largest responsibilities for a state department of transportation in the United States, the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) recently retired assistant district engineer for planning, programming and project development assured members of the Brandermill Region Men’s Club that VDOT and CDOT (Chesterfield’s Department of Transportation) work well together. That was the assessment of Mark Riblett, who retired on August 1 having worked for CDOT for 13 years before serving 27 years with VDOT. VDOT has overall responsibility for maintaining Chesterfield’s roads, including designing, building and maintaining them. Where required by the county, CDOT recommends proffers on developers to help pay for new construction in and adjacent to the developers’ new commercial and residential projects.Riblett urged BRMC members to weigh in with their questions and concerns when VDOT is seeking community input on new road projects. “It can make a difference,” he said, citing a roundabout that was proposed near Cosby High School. After evaluating citizen comments, VDOT put in four stop signs instead.
But generally, Riblett said, roundabouts are more acceptable to Chesterfield residents today than when they were first introduced more than ten years ago. “Citizens have gotten used to them,” he added.
VDOT uses cameras to monitor traffic but doesn’t face the criticism from citizens that law enforcement does from Flock cameras. VDOT doesn’t save the data but rather uses them to provide drivers with timely, useful information to avoid traffic congestion, vehicle accidents or road construction.
Much of VDOT’s road funding is derived from taxes on gasoline totaling 42.2 cents per gallon. That includes an excise tax of 32.6 cents per gallon plus a statewide motor vehicle fuel tax of 9.6 cents per gallon. The federal gas tax is 18.4 cents per gallon.
June 4, 2026 Meeting
Posted May 26, 2026 at 4:38 PMChesterfield Administrator Dr. Joe Casey will provide an overview of county operations. Late last year, Dr. Casey announced his retirement effective July 1 so we expect it will be a look back also and perhaps what retirement looks like for him.
Fellowship begins around 9:15A with the speaker’s program starting at 10AM after the Pledge of Allegiance is presented. Follow the BRMC signage to locate our meeting space. The meeting ends about 11AM. Guests are very welcome to join us for the program.
Chesterfield’s approved FY27 budget increases 4.7% to $1.09 billion
Posted April 11, 2026 at 10:46 PMBy Greg Pearson
The FY27 budget that starts July 1 lowers the car tax rate and expands tax relief for seniors and sets aside initial funding toward $220 million for Chesterfield’s fourth water source. The real adjusted General Budget retains the $1,767 per capita spending of the current budget and is slightly less than ten years ago in 2017. Chesterfield is the fastest growing county in Virginia.
On average, county property tax collections increased 4.55% last February, slightly above the average of 4.1% over the past 20 years since 2006. Chesterfield officials proudly pointed to having the lowest personal property tax rate in FY27 of the Richmond area at $3.27 per $100 assessed value, down a dime from FY26.
Chesterfield County Public School teachers get an average increase of 5% in pay costing an additional $8 million over the current fiscal year. Other increases include $843,000 for the Chesterfield Police Department, $723,000 more for the Sheriff’s Department and Fire and EMS get $2.1 million more for its department.
The program for the May meeting of the Brandermill Region Men’s Club (BRMC) was a PowerPoint presentation by Chesterfield Budget Director Gerard Durkin and Budget Manager Shane Hill. The complete PowerPoint is provided below.
Last March, both the Virginia State Senate (SB917) and the House of Delegates (HB1263) sent their proposed legislation to Governor Abigail Spanberger that would permit an expanded role for collective bargaining with public sector employees statewide. Spanberger has made more than 20 changes to the draft legislation, including having collective bargaining begin in 2030 after she leaves office.
At the BRMC meeting Durkin was asked if Chesterfield County has taken a position on collective bargaining. Durkin responded that “all the board members signed a letter to the Governor’s office in opposition to collective bargaining.”
County Administrator Dr. Joe Casey will be the speaker at the June BRMC meeting and likely reminisce about the past 11 years in his position. Casey announced his retirement effective July 1, and Chesterfield has not announced his replacement yet. The June 4th meeting will be held at the Brandermill Church at 10 am. In addition to BRMC members, Chesterfield County residents are invited to attend.