July 1998

DATE: July 28, 1998

CONTACT: Riva O'Sullivan, Senior Social Worker

PHONE: 501-4060

The Henrico County Department of Social Services will hold a free, informational meeting for potential foster parents on Tuesday, August 11, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., at the Social Services office, 8600 Dixon Powers Drive.

People interested in becoming foster parents in Henrico are encouraged to attend. Homes for teens are especially needed.

Please call Riva O'Sullivan to register for the meeting at 501-4060.

DATE: July 20, 1998

CONTACT: Mikki Knight, Deputy Clerk, Board of Supervisors

PHONE: 501-4207

Fairfield District Supervisor Frank Thornton will kick-off his Neighborhood Trek series in the Hechler Village community on Thursday, July 23, and in the Cedar Fork community on Friday, July 24. Both events are from 4 to 6 p.m. Thornton designed this community outreach series to enhance communication between residents and their local government through individual, face-to-face contact.

"I am calling this project my 'Neighborhood Trek' because that's exactly what it is," Thornton said. "I will be walking through predetermined neighborhoods and knocking on doors. I want to know exactly what concerns my constituents, and what they see in the future for their specific communities," he said.

Thornton's idea originated as a spin-off of the more common "town meetings" frequently held by other elected officials in the metro region. He is the first Henrico supervisor to initiate this type of door-to-door contact.

"I'm looking at this as a traveling town meeting," he said, "only I am the one who will be doing the walking, and bringing the meeting to the homes of my constituents. This way, we both have each other's undivided attention."

Thornton plans to notify communities in advance of his visit. Signs will be posted approximately three days prior to the visit. Notices will also be posted on the cable government access channel 37.

"I don't want to surprise or inconvenience anyone," Thornton said. "I plan to notify the individuals in each neighborhood that I am coming - that way we can both be prepared," he said.

Thornton plans to reach as many neighborhoods as possible in the Fairfield District with his Neighborhood Trek series, and encourages community participation. To schedule a visit for a specific community, call 501-4207.

DATE: July 17, 1998

CONTACT: Virgil R. Hazelett, P.E., County Manager

PHONE: 501-4206

Henrico County once again receives national acclaim. The county will receive 14 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) in Portland, Oregon on July 18.

"These awards are truly noteworthy achievements in which all of us can take pride," said Hazelett. "The reason we are considered one of the best-run counties in America is because of the high quality and extraordinary professionalism of our staff. These NACo Awards reflect this excellence and are well deserved," he said.

Due to the county's diversity, various departments are receiving the 14 NACo Awards for their ability to execute innovative programs -

1. Real Estate Computer Public Access, Finance Department, Real Estate Division
All real estate property record data is available to customers through a PC-based automated retrieval system using touch screen technology.

2. Local Vehicle License Issuance, Finance Department, Treasury Division
The department devised a new way to issue vehicle license decals. The program saved Henrico an estimated $80 thousand and saved citizens time and mailing costs.

3. A Look Inside, Fire Prevention Program, Division of Fire
To better educate on the dangers of fire, the public was allowed to enter a re-created child's room filled with burned stuffed animals, melted toys and charred furniture.

4. Nights of Mystery, Public Library
To entice diverse groups of adults throughout Henrico, the library developed programming combining two popular trends: mystery novels and book discussion.

5. Peer Amid Books, Public Library
By collaborating with the public school system, finding community literacy partners, and organizing a sign-up event at a shopping mall, the public library raised registration and participation in the summer reading program, "Peer Amid Books."

6. Check It Out!, Public Library
By cooperating with an elementary school, the library increased the number of families registered for public library cards and summer program participation.

7. Adolescent Outreach Project, Henrico Area Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services
Through different levels of activity, this project was created to increase the accessibility to, and utilization of substance abuse services by youth and families from a historically under-served African-American community.

8. Leadership Development Program, Department of Personnel
By offering the framework and resources for the achievement of employee-designed, competency-based learning goals, managers and supervisors are provided with tools to take charge of their professional development and assume greater leadership roles.

9. Community Maintenance Program, Planning Office
By seeking willful compliance of zoning, building and environmental codes, the appearance of aging suburban neighborhoods are maintained and improved.

10. Traffic Safety (Motorist Assistance) Volunteer Program, Division of Police
This program offers an opportunity for interested citizens to assist police. The service has already proven beneficial; since volunteers are trained to assist disabled vehicles and distressed drivers, patrol officers have more time to focus on police matters.

11. Juvenile Narcotics Task Force Program, Division of Police
By assigning an investigator to coordinate intelligence data on juvenile drug trafficking with other officers involved in drug interdiction and arrests, Task Force was able to make 47 juvenile arrests, break up two major drug conspiracies, and two juvenile arrests involving armed robbery and use of firearms.

12. Summer Library Program, Public Schools
Aside from 11 public libraries offering reading programs, 38 public elementary schools opened their library doors twice a week to further encourage student participation in reading activities.

13. Swinging With The Seniors, Public Schools
Over 200 senior citizens came together to "cut a rug" with high school juniors and seniors for a multi-generational night of music and dancing. Middle school jazz bands provided the music, art students transformed the gymnasium, and horticultural students from the vocational center designed corsages and boutonnieres.

14. Henrico County Public Schools Youth Apprenticeship/Internship Program, Public Schools
Students in the 10th through 12th grades have an opportunity to connect, network, and work with a business to prepare for their future career.

DATE: July 15, 1998

CONTACT: George H. Cauble, Jr., Director of Personnel

PHONE: 501-4204

Henrico County's Department of Personnel received the 1998 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Award and the 1998 Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Innovative Practice Award for their innovative Leadership Development Program. This program previously won awards from the International Personnel Management Association, and the American Society for Training & Development earlier this year.

"The county's Leadership Development Program (LDP) has been a source of pride by many here in Henrico," said Cauble. "While it is certainly nice to be recognized by these prestigious outside professional organizations, it makes me even prouder that this program has strongly galvanized employee training opportunities here," he said.

The NACo Achievement Award recognizes innovative county government programs. A Henrico County representative will accept the award this weekend in Portland, Oregon. The SHRM Innovative Practice Award honors developers of human resources programs that show potential as models that other human resource departments might emulate.

The SHRM presentation also includes a $500 cash award that Cauble will present to County Manager Virgil R. Hazelett, P.E. at the Board of Supervisors' meeting, this Wednesday, July 22. The $500 will be added to the county's general fund.

DATE: July 13, 1998

CONTACT: Page Bourgeois, Deputy Clerk, Board of Supervisors

PHONE: 501-4208

Henrico Supervisor Richard W. Glover's next Brookland District Town Meeting will feature a special program and tour of the Richmond International Airport (RIC) on Wednesday, July 29. Participants will board buses near the entrance of the Board Room in the Administration Building at the Henrico Government Center, Parham and Hungary Spring roads. Buses will leave promptly at 6:30 p.m.

"I believe anyone who attends this presentation will be surprised at what they learn," said Glover. "Most of us don't realize what the airport means to the metropolitan region. It is an important aspect of central Virginia's economy. The airport's executive director, David L. Blackshear, has promised us an exciting and interesting presentation," he said.

Participants will get a behind-the-scenes look at the airport's facilities and learn about the plans for expansion and improved services, such as parking.

Those who want to join the tour must call 501-4208 to reserve a bus seat no later than Wednesday, July 22.

The Richmond International Airport's 13 commercial airlines offer more than 160 nonstop flights daily to almost anywhere in the world. RIC plans to lengthen its runways to 10,500 feet to accommodate fully-loaded, long-haul aircraft and recently doubled its cargo volume to a total of one million square feet. The amount of cargo shipped via RIC has grown by more than 11 percent annually in the last decade. In 1997 more than 73,500 tons were shipped through the air cargo facilities. The Capital Region Airport Commission now has a foreign trade zone at RIC, which helps enhance metro Richmond's competitive edge in world-wide markets.

DATE: July 10, 1998

CONTACT: Alfredo C. Frauenfelder, GIS Coordinator

PHONE: 501-5769

Henrico County is making it easier to accurately measure it's geographical layout. After 18 months of preparation, the county is releasing a document containing mapping information, including elevation and coordinate values, of markers previously placed at most major intersections in Henrico.

"This project is one of Henrico's latest efforts to increase citizen services and to facilitate the work of surveyors, engineers, developers and builders," said Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Coordinator Alfredo C. Frauenfelder. "Since markers can be easily located, this document helps to speed up measuring procedures when residents and business owners need concise measurements of their properties," he said.

The new Survey Control Document is now available at the county's Administration Building, 4301 E. Parham Road, and the Eastern Government Center, 3820 Nine Mile Road. The document costs $40.

DATE: July 9, 1998

CONTACT: Bev Donati

PHONE: 795-7822

Varina District Supervisor Jim Donati will not hold town meetings in July or August.

Donati will hold his next town meeting in September, and will announce a topic as the date approaches.

Meetings are usually held the third Monday of each month and are open to the public.

DATE: July 8, 1998

CONTACT: Sgt. D.V. Campbell, Animal Protection Supervisor

PHONE: 652-3360

The Henrico County Division of Police will hold a rabies clinic on Saturday, July 25, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the 4-H Building, at the State Fairgrounds at Strawberry Hill, Gate 4.

Rabies shots are required for dogs and cats four months old and older. Shots cost $6 each and come with a certificate of inoculation. Dog tags may also be purchased for $10.

DATE: July 1, 1998

CONTACT: Riva O'Sullivan, Senior Social Worker

PHONE: 501-4060

The Henrico County Department of Social Services will hold an informational meeting for potential foster parents on Tuesday, July 28, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Social Services office, 8600 Dixon Powers Drive.

People interested in becoming foster parents in Henrico are encouraged to attend. Homes for teens are especially needed.

Please call Riva O'Sullivan to register for the free meeting at 501-4060.