The Capital Area Training Consortium (CATC) invites area businesses and organizations to nominate local executives to serve as members of the Capital Area Private Industry Council. The council, in cooperation with the Capital Area Policy Committee, oversees the local investment of federal training dollars and directs the employment and training services available to eligible individuals under the Job Training Partnership Act.
Members serve three-year terms in a private-public partnership committed to meeting the area's workforce development needs. Local elected officials, representing the consortium's member counties of Henrico, Hanover, Chesterfield, Powhatan, Goochland, New Kent and Charles City, annually appoint eleven of the council's 33 members.
For more information, or to request nomination forms, call Robyn Bumgardner at 271-5569.
Thomas S. Gay, executive vice president and part-owner of BMG Metals, Inc., has been elected the 1997 chairman of the Capital Area Private Industry Council. Gay is also chairman of the Henrico Business Council and a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce.
The Capital Area Private Industry Council, under Gay's leadership, plans to develop "one stop" career centers for job placement and training assistance for economically disadvantaged adults and youth, as well as displaced workers. The centers will primarily be supported by the Job Training Partnership Act funds received from the Capital Area Training Consortium (CATC) a partnership established by the counties of Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover, Charles City, Powhatan, Goochland and New Kent.
The career centers will provide a talent bank from which metro area employers can select potential employees. Area business leaders may also provide direct input to the career centers to help determine what type of training and preparation are most needed in the metro area job market.
Gay's objective for 1997 is to develop and refine the "one stop career center" concept, and to ensure participation by all community resources that will have an impact. The career centers are necessary to continue the development and availability of a quality workforce as the region grows, according to Gay.
The first career center is expected to open in August, 1997.
Heavy traffic is expected on roadways leading to and from Richmond International Raceway at the Virginia State Fairgrounds on Strawberry Hill during the NASCAR race on Sunday, March 2.
The County of Henrico Department of Public Works suggests that motorists who are not attending the race but must travel through the area during the morning and early afternoon should turn on their vehicle's headlights. This signal will help police officers maintain a smooth flow of traffic through the area.
"We're doing everything we can to minimize traffic congestion and to ensure traffic safety before and after the race," said Henrico County Traffic Engineer Tim Foster. "We'll have police officers on duty directing traffic, signs posted on main roads near RIR, and temporary traffic patterns to handle the enormous number of cars that will be in the area March 2," he said.
Police officers will watch for vehicles with headlights on and direct these cars toward a through-traffic lane outside of the flow of heavy raceway traffic.
The County of Henrico Department of Public Works will temporarily modify traffic patterns on major arterial routes to the Richmond International Raceway at the Virginia State Fairgrounds on Strawberry Hill Sunday, March 2. By implementing these modifications the County hopes to minimize traffic congestion during the upcoming NASCAR race.
"Anyone attending the race should get there early," said Henrico County Traffic Engineer Tim Foster. "My best advice for everyone else is to avoid the raceway area March 2 if at all possible," he said. "Motorists can expect heavy traffic and delays in that area, particularly between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. before the race, and 4 to 8 p.m. after the race," he said.
The County's Division of Police will have officers on duty to direct traffic around the raceway area.
Foster suggests that motorists not attending the race turn on their vehicle's headlights while in the vicinity of the raceway during the morning and early afternoon on March 2. This will help police officers maintain a smooth flow of traffic through the area.
During peak hours the following traffic patterns will be in effect. Carolina Avenue between Laburnum and Azalea avenues will be one-way inbound in the morning and one-way outbound during the late afternoon and evening.
Prior to the race, three lanes on Laburnum Avenue between Mechanicsville Turnpike and the raceway will be routed westbound; one lane eastbound. This pattern will be reversed after the race, with three lanes going eastbound; one lane westbound.
Eastbound traffic on Laburnum Avenue between Alma Avenue and the raceway will be routed in three lanes prior to the race; one lane westbound. This pattern will be reversed after the race, with three lanes going westbound; one lane eastbound.
While these temporary traffic patterns are in effect, all median crossovers,except the intersection of Pilots Lane and Laburnum Avenue and the intersection of Austin and Laburnum avenues will be closed between North Avenue and Mechanicsville Turnpike. With the exception of these intersections, only right turns will be permitted to and from Laburnum Avenue in this area. Police officers will be positioned at the intersection of Pilots Lane and Laburnum Avenue and the intersection of Austin and Laburnum avenues before and after the race to assist residents and other motorists in turning to or from Laburnum Avenue or crossing Laburnum Avenue. In addition, turning movement restrictions will be enforced at major intersections on Laburnum Avenue between Mechanicsville Turnpike and North Avenue.
Traffic patterns on Meadowbridge Road north of Azalea Avenue will be modified after the race to create a one-way road northbound between Azalea Avenue and Atlee Road. This one-way pattern is expected to be implemented by approximately 4 p.m. and be maintained until the race traffic is dispersed.
Traffic patterns on Azalea Avenue will be modified after the race so that three lanes of traffic will be provided in the westbound direction for traffic leaving the Raceway between Richmond-Henrico Turnpike and Henrico High School. One lane of traffic will be provided in the eastbound direction on this road segment. This traffic pattern change will require all median crossovers on Azalea Avenue between Richmond-Henrico Turnpike and Henrico High School, including the intersection of Azalea Avenue and Wilkinson Road, to be closed at approximately 4 p.m. and lasting until the race traffic is dispersed from the area. Police officers will assist residents in turning from Azalea Avenue onto Thrush Lane and onto Pony Farm Drive in order to get to their homes.
Carolina Avenue between Richmond-Henrico Turnpike and Laburnum Avenue will be restricted to race traffic only, except for access to local businesses along this route.WRVA-AM 1140 radio will broadcast traffic reports from its traffic-scan helicopter before and after the race.
Race fans can park at the fairgrounds or in two satellite parking lots with free shuttle bus service to and from the raceway. Satellite parking will be at the VaPark parking lot--near the Richmond Coliseum between 4th and 5th streets, and East Jackson and East Leigh streets in downtown Richmond--and at the Azalea Flea Market (previously the Country Peddler) at Azalea Avenue and Richmond-Henrico Turnpike. Parking in satellite lots will cost $4. Onstreet parking on major arterial routes to the raceway will be prohibited.
The Henrico Division of Police has recommended the following routes for traffic approaching the raceway on March 2.
*From the east (Hampton Roads area) -- on Interstate 64 west. There are two routes possible.
Route A: Follow Interstate 64 west, take Interstate 295 north. Exit onto Route 360, Mechanicsville Turnpike west. Follow Route 360 west to Laburnum Avenue, turn right onto Laburnum Avenue. At this point expect three lanes of traffic from the intersection of Laburnum Avenue and Mechanicsville Turnpike to the raceway.
Route B: Follow Interstate 64 west to the Laburnum Avenue exit. Turn right and proceed to the raceway. Expect three lanes of traffic from the intersection of Laburnum Avenue and Mechanicsville Turnpike to the raceway.
*From the east -- on Route 360. Approach Richmond on Route 360 west, cross Interstate 295, continue on Route 360 west. Follow Route 360 west to Laburnum Avenue and turn right. At this point, expect three lanes of traffic from the intersection of Laburnum Avenue and Mechanicsville Turnpike to the raceway.
*From the north -- on Interstate 95. There are two routes possible. Route A: Follow Interstate 95 south to exit 82 (marked U.S. 301 south). Proceed to the intersection of Azalea and Chamberlayne avenues and turn left onto Azalea Avenue. Proceed to the intersection of Azalea Avenue and Richmond-Henrico Turnpike. Continue straight on Carolina Avenue or turn right onto Richmond-Henrico Turnpike and proceed to the raceway. Route B: Leave Interstate 95 south at the Interstate 295 east interchange (marked To Norfolk - Williamsburg). Follow Interstate 295 east and exit onto Meadowbridge Road west. Follow Meadowbridge Road (also known as Richmond-Henrico Turnpike) to the intersection of Azalea Avenue and Richmond-Henrico Turnpike.
*From the west -- on Interstate 64. Follow Interstate 64 east to the Powhite Parkway/Laburnum Avenue exit. Take the Laburnum Avenue exit. At the bottom of the ramp turn left and proceed to the raceway. After crossing Chamberlayne Avenue at the intersection of Alma Avenue and Laburnum Avenue, traffic will be routed three lanes in one direction to the raceway.
The Henrico County Directory of Organizations is being updated for its 1997 edition. Organizations currently listed in the directory will receive notices in the mail. Other non-profit groups in the County wishing to be included should contact the Public Information Office by calling 672-4257, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. They can also leave a message on the Directory of Organizations' Update Hotline voice mail at 672-5449, twenty-four hours a day, or e-mail information to pen12@co.henrico.va.us.
The Directory is a popular resource for citizens that lists civic, homeowner, service, and community associations. County agencies also frequently use the Directory when notifying the public of zoning changes, up-coming hearings, and other matters of specific interest. Newcomers to the area find it helpful in locating groups related to their interests.
All corrections, additions, or deletions to the Directory should be received by March 17.
"Crime in Your Neighborhood" will be the topic of Board Chairman and Varina Supervisor Jim Donati's next town meeting on Monday, February 17, at 7 p.m., at the Eastern Government Center, 3820 Nine Mile Road.
"Everyone is concerned about crime today, and we want to put minds at ease, particularly by offering some prevention tips and pointing out certain behaviors that tend to invite crime," Donati said. Henrico's Chief of Police, Col. Henry W. Stanley, will be the featured guest speaker, and will field questions regarding crime, prevention, and community policing in the Varina district.
Varina town meetings are held the third Monday of each month and are open to the public.
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