Recent News Releases
June 18, 2013
CONTACT: John A. Vithoulkas, Henrico County Manager
PHONE: (804) 501-4386
Henrico appoints Neal as director of General Services
Henrico County Manager John A. Vithoulkas announces the appointment of John H. Neal, Jr. as director of the Department of General Services, effective June 29.
Neal has been the assistant director of General Services since joining Henrico general government in March 2012. He will succeed Christopher L. Winstead, who left the position in May.
As director of General Services, Neal will be responsible for planning, supervising and delivering various support and administrative services for agencies within Henrico general government and Henrico County Public Schools. These functions include the Central Automotive Maintenance operations, mail room, print shop, records management, facilities and plant maintenance, capital projects coordination and security. The operations will account for a total of 186 employees and $34.4 million in spending during fiscal year 2013-14.
Neal holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering/transportation from Virginia Tech. He served as a capital projects manager for the city of Richmond before coming to Henrico.
June 10, 2013
CONTACT: Georgia Phillips, Foster Home Coordinator, Henrico County Department of Social Services
PHONE: (804) 501-7496
Henrico Social Services seeks foster parents for training
The Henrico County Department of Social Services will hold a meeting Thursday, July 11 for individuals and couples who may be interested in providing foster care to county youth.
Henrico has a significant need for foster parents, with 98 children placed in foster care as of April 30, according to Social Services. A total of 53 children entered care during the past year.
The meeting will be from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Board Room of the Human Services Building, 8600 Dixon Powers Drive. Participants will learn about the needs of foster children; the traits of a successful foster parent; the ways to work with program staff and the child’s biological parents; and the application and approval process.
“A foster parent can truly make a positive difference in the life of a child,” said Shawn Rozier, assistant director of Social Services. “Children who need foster care have the same talents, gifts, hopes and dreams of other children. They need a stable, loving home to live in while we work with their families to address the problems that brought them into foster care.”
Foster parents are asked to be available around-the-clock to bring children into their homes and provide short-term and potentially long-term care in a safe, stable environment. Foster homes are needed for children of all ages, children with special needs and sibling groups. Foster parents must be at least 21, have their own source of income and sufficient living space to care for a child. Foster parents can be single or married, male or female, with or without children of their own and from all backgrounds, races and nationalities. Foster parents receive monthly stipends to offset their costs of care. Greater payments support the care provided to older children or sibling groups.
To register for the meeting, call Georgia Phillips at (804) 501-7496 or Tony Jones at (804) 501-4245. For information about foster care, go to www.henricocares.org.
May 29, 2013
CONTACT: Capt. James E. Mellon Henrico County Division of Fire
PHONE: (804) 501-5877
Cell: (804) 836-9310
Henrico to commemorate expanded Fire Station 13 on June 8
Henrico County will celebrate the expansion and renovation of Fire Station 13 with a ceremony and family-oriented activities Saturday, June 8 at the station, 12491 Church Road.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature a ribbon-cutting and a hose-uncoupling, as well as remarks by members of the Board of Supervisors and other county officials. The activities also will include tours of the station, food and a fire truck inflatable bouncer for children.
Fire Station 13 opened in 1986, with 5,445 square feet of space and two vehicle bays. A $3.2 million project approved by voters in the 2005 bond referendum expanded the station to 8,753 square feet, with three vehicle bays.
The station offers sleeping quarters for 13 firefighters per shift, a large kitchen area and day room, exercise room, training room and 4½ bathrooms. It is home to Engine 13, Squad 13, and Medic 13 and is assigned 31 firefighters, 10 per shift plus a station captain.
The renovation and expansion project was designed under the U.S. Green Building Council’s standards for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED. Henrico is pursuing LEED Silver certification for the project.
For information about the dedication, call Henrico Fire at (804) 501-4900 or go to www.co.henrico.va.us/fire.
May 28, 2013
CONTACT: Capt. James E. Mellon Henrico County Division of Fire
PHONE: (804) 501-5877
Cell: (804) 836-9310
Henrico to test community alert system June 4
Henrico County will test its community alert system Tuesday, June 4, by sending a message to nearly 157,000 landline phones and to more than 3,500 email addresses and wireless devices that are registered with the system.
The test of the Community Emergency Notification System is planned ahead of the 2013 hurricane season and is expected to have minimal impact on residents and businesses. They will not need to answer the calls or respond to the messages that are left on their answering machines or received as emails or text alerts.
The test will begin about 9 a.m. and conclude by 4 p.m. on June 4. The test will resume about 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 5 if more time to complete the calls is needed.
“The Community Emergency Notification System is a valuable tool that Henrico uses to keep its residents, business owners and others informed during a localized or countywide emergency,” Fire Chief Anthony E. McDowell said. “The upcoming test will ensure the system is operating at maximum efficiency when it is needed.”
During the test, Henrico and its system partners will assess the local telephone network’s ability to handle a large number of calls, similar to the volumes that would occur during a hurricane or other emergency. Officials then will set the system to send out the maximum number of calls per hour without overloading the telephone network. This will reduce the likelihood that calls or messages will be dropped or blocked during an emergency.
Launched in 2012, the Community Emergency Notification System gives designated Henrico emergency personnel the flexibility to send messages countywide or to a selected geography. The system is overseen by the Division of Fire and powered by CodeRED, a high-speed, mass notification system.
Residents and businesses are already equipped to receive voice messages on their landline phones because the community alert system uses Henrico’s 911 system in reverse. However, individuals must register if they would like to receive messages on their wireless phones, computers and other mobile devices. To sign up, go to www.HenricoAlert.org. There is no cost to register. Standard messaging fees may apply.
For information on the community alert system, call (804) 501-4900 or go to www.co.henrico.va.us/fire.
May 10, 2013
CONTACT: Kendra Young, Extension Agent, Henrico County office of the Virginia Cooperative Extension
PHONE: (804) 501-5160
Spaces still available for Henrico Junior 4-H Camp
The Henrico County office of the Virginia Cooperative Extension continues to accept registrations for the 2013 Henrico County Junior 4-H Camp near Williamsburg.
The camp, which is open to boys and girls ages 9 to 13 as of Sept. 30, will be held June 17-23 at the Jamestown 4-H Educational Center. A total of 10 spaces for boys and 27 spaces for girls remain available.
The cost of the camp is $230 and includes lodging, meals, programs, instructional class materials and transportation by chartered bus. Scholarship assistance may be available. Registration forms are at www.co.henrico.va.us/extension.
The Junior 4-H Camp is designed to provide 180 youths with a fun learning environment while they make friends and discover the outdoors. Activities include swimming, archery, canoeing, basketball, forestry, wildlife, volleyball, shooting sports, fishing, campfires and crafts.
The Jamestown 4-H Educational Center is located on 16 acres of woods and open spaces along the James River. Amenities include air-conditioned lodges and cabins, archery and rifle ranges, a swimming pool, a floating dock, a ropes course and an amphitheater.
Accredited by the American Camp Association, the camp is operated by adult and teen counselors and a staff that includes lifeguards, recreational leaders, a dietician and a medical attendant. Parent volunteers also are needed. For information, contact Henrico Extension at (804) 501-5160 or henrico4-h@vt.edu, or go to www.co.henrico.va.us/extension.
May 6, 2013
CONTACT: Lt. Shawn M. Sears, Animal Protection Unit, Henrico County Division of Police
PHONE: (804) 727-8801
Henrico rabies vaccination clinic set for May 18
The Henrico County Division of Police will offer rabies vaccines for dogs and cats from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 18 at the Henrico County Government Center, 4301 E. Parham Road. The clinic will be on the first level of the parking deck adjacent to the Administration Building.
The shots cost $10 and must be paid for in cash. A rabies tag and certificate of inoculation are included. Pets from all localities are welcome. Cats must be in carriers.
Under Virginia law, dogs and cats 4 months of age and older must be vaccinated for rabies.
Henrico dog licenses will be available for $10, for a one-year license, and $15, for a three-year license. Officers will be available to discuss license options and vaccination requirements.
For information, call the Animal Protection Unit at (804) 727-8801 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.