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DATE: April 25, 2001 The Henrico County Extension Office is accepting applications for the 4-H summer camp at the Jamestown 4-H Center in Williamsburg. The camp will take place from August 13 - 17, and is open to all boys and girls between the ages of nine and 13 (as of September 30, 2001). A $145 fee includes lodging, meals, transportation, instructional classes, and use of all camp facilities. Campers receive 24-hour supervision, stay in modern cabins, eat in the dining hall, swim in the Olympic-sized pool, and canoe in the James River. Extension staff is accepting applications on a first come, first-served basis. Call 501-5160 for more information or to receive an application. DATE: April 20, 2001 Heavy traffic is expected on roadways leading to and from the Richmond International Raceway (RIR) during the NASCAR race on Saturday, May 5. 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. Although we realize that newer vehicles are being equipped with daytime running lights, we feel that we can distinguish between the running lights and the headlights. "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 May 5," 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. DATE: April 19, 2001 The County of Henrico Department of Public Works will temporarily modify traffic patterns on major arterial routes to the Richmond International Raceway Friday, May 4 and Saturday, May 5. By implementing these modifications, the County hopes to minimize traffic congestion during the upcoming NASCAR races. "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 the evenings of May 4 and 5 if at all possible," he said. "Local motorists can expect heavy traffic and delays in that area, particularly between noon and 8:35 p.m. on Friday and Saturday before the races, as well as between 10:15 p.m. and 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday after the races," he said. "We expect heavy traffic all day Friday and Saturday because of other events scheduled at the raceway," Foster said. The County's Division of Police will have officers on duty Friday and Saturday to direct traffic around the raceway area before and after the races. Foster suggests that motorists not attending the race turn on their vehicle headlights while in the vicinity of the raceway during the afternoon and early evening on Saturday, May 5. 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 May 5. Carolina Avenue between Laburnum and Azalea Avenues will be one-way inbound before the race and one-way outbound after the race. Access to businesses along Carolina Avenue will be maintained from Laburnum Avenue. Traffic patterns on Meadowbridge Road prior to the race will also be modified to create a one-way road southbound between the Henrico/Hanover line and Azalea Avenue. This traffic pattern change will require that Meadowbridge Road north of Azalea Avenue will be closed to northbound traffic. It is anticipated that this change will be implemented between 1 and 3 p.m., and the one-way pattern will remain in effect until the race starts. Meadowbridge Road will remain a two-way roadway in Hanover County at all times prior to the race. Prior to the race, three lanes on Laburnum Avenue between Mechanicsville Turnpike and the raceway will be routed westbound; one lane eastbound. Eastbound traffic on Laburnum Avenue between Alma Avenue and the raceway will be routed in three lanes prior to the race; one lane westbound. For safety reasons, these patterns will not be reversed after the race. All traffic on Laburnum Avenue will be routed on the correct side of the median strip. While these traffic patterns are in effect, all median crossovers on Laburnum Avenue will be closed between North Avenue and Mechanicsville Turnpike, except the intersections of Pilots Lane and Laburnum Avenue, and Austin and Laburnum Avenues. 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 10 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 10 p.m. and lasting until the race traffic is dispersed from the area. Police officers will assist residents in turning from Azalea Avenue on to Thrush Lane and onto Pony Farm Drive in order to get to their homes. WRVA-AM 1140 radio and Metro Traffic will broadcast traffic reports before and after the race. On Saturday, May 5, additional parking will be available at 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), The Coliseum parking deck (between 7th and 8th streets) and at the Azalea Flea Market (formerly the Country Peddler) at Azalea Avenue and Richmond-Henrico Turnpike. Parking in satellite lots will cost $5. Onstreet parking on major arterial routes to the raceway will be prohibited both days. The Henrico Division of Police has recommended the following routes for traffic approaching the raceway on May 4 and 5. *From the east (Hampton Roads area) -- on Interstate 64 west. There are two routes possible. DATE: April 19, 2001 The Gaskins Road Raw Water Transmission Main Project is installing dual 54-inch water pipes to the new Henrico County Water Treatment Plant at the southwest corner of Three Chopt and Gaskins roads. This is the final phase of the four-part construction project to deliver water from the James River to the new plant. To meet its Spring 2002 deadline, the contractor has assigned an additional pipe crew to begin 24-hour installation on Monday, April 23, 2001. The accelerated construction will occur Monday through Friday and will take approximately three months to complete. Due to the activity, there may be noise from excavators and dump trucks. In addition, the contractor will need to use site lights for nighttime construction. Crews will begin south of Gaskins and Three Chopt roads, and will continue south to Ridgefield Parkway. As a result, the following residential areas on Gaskins Road north of Ridgefield Parkway may be affected by late night construction: Gaskins Road Retirement Center, The Hermitage at Cedarfield, Quail Run, Oldhouse Run, Gates Head and Springtree subdivisions. Henrico County will make every effort to minimize the impact of the construction for residents and traffic in the vicinity. DATE: April 13, 2001 Fairfield District Supervisor Frank Thornton will host a free bus tour of Richmond International Airport at his next constituent meeting on Monday, May 14. The bus will depart the Henrico High School parking lot, 302 Azalea Avenue, promptly at 6:30 p.m. "This is a unique opportunity for individuals to get a behind-the-scenes look at the Richmond airport and ask questions," Thornton said. A reservation is required. Those interested in the bus tour should call 501-7449, by Friday, April 27. Thornton's meetings are open to the public; he encourages anyone interested in learning more about the airport to attend. DATE: April 12, 2001 Officials for the Henrico County Health Department and Henrico Animal Control report that two bats were on the ground in Henrico, specifically in Cheswick Park and advise area residents and visitors to avoid any contact with bats. If you or your pet has contact with a bat, wash the affected area thoroughly, seek medical advice from your personal health care provider immediately and call the Henrico Health Department at 501-4522. Do not attempt to approach the bat yourself, contact Henrico Animal Control through the Division of Police at 501-5000 immediately. Exposure to bats can pose a serious health risk; the rabies virus in bats causes most human rabies cases in the United States. Rabies is an infectious viral disease that attacks the nervous system of humans and other mammals. Individuals can contract rabies from the bite or direct contact with a rabid bat. Rabies can only be confirmed in a laboratory. For more information on rabies, log onto the Virginia Department of Health's web site at http://www.vdh.state.va.us/epi/rabies.htm, or the Centers for Disease Control's web site at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies/. DATE: April 11, 2001 Henrico County's Board of Supervisors expects to approve a proposal to enhance the benefits for real estate tax relief through the Real Estate Advantage Program (REAP), effective for the 2001 calendar year. To qualify for REAP, Henrico residents must be age 65 and older, or permanently and totally disabled. The gross annual income allowed will increase from a maximum of $35,000 to $45,000, and the net worth of the applicant and any co-owners of the home cannot exceed $175,000 (previously $125,000) for the preceding year. Eligible residents who have not applied this year are encouraged to file as quickly as possible. Participants are required to submit an application with the county's Revenue Division and provide documentation from all sources of income and net worth. For more information, please call 501-4263. DATE: April 11, 2001 Officials for the Henrico County Health Department and the Virginia Department of Health have identified Salmonella as the bacteria that infected patients in the foodborne illness outbreak earlier this week. Twenty patients have tested positive for Salmonella. Richmond area hospitals and the state's Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services conducted the testing. At least 130 patients have now reported illness believed to be associated with the outbreak. "Now that we have a diagnosis, the next step is to identify the food in the restaurant that harbors the bacteria," said Henrico County Health Department Director Curtis Thorpe, M.D., M.P.H. "Testing is underway on multiple food items from Linh's Bakery on Rigsby Road, and the restaurant remains closed. The test results will take at least a week," Dr. Thorpe said. "We would like to thank Virginia Health Commissioner E. Anne Peterson, M.D., M.P.H., as well as state, Richmond City, Hanover County, and Chesterfield County health investigators who assisted the hardworking Henrico County Health Department staff with this investigation," Dr. Thorpe said. Salmonella infection is caused by bacteria that may be spread by eating contaminated food or by not practicing good hygiene. The bacteria usually affect the intestinal tract and occasionally the bloodstream. The most common symptoms are mild or severe diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, headache, and occasionally vomiting. Symptoms generally appear one to three days after exposure. The Health Department advises that Salmonella infection can be prevented by doing the following: For more information on Salmonella, log onto the Virginia Department of Health's web site at www.vdh.state.va.us/epi/salmf.htm, or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's web site at www.cdc.gov. DATE: April 10, 2001 The Henrico County Division of Police is holding a rabies clinic on Saturday, April 21, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at gate four of the Richmond International Raceway. Rabies shots cost $6 each and include a certificate of inoculation and a rabies tag. Dog owners may also purchase a license at the clinic for $10, but must show proof of rabies inoculation. All dogs and cats ages 4 months and older are required to have a rabies shot. DATE: April 5, 2001 Varina District Supervisor Jim Donati is hosting a town meeting to highlight the importance of "Community Beautification," on Monday, April 16, at 7 p.m., at the Eastern Government Center, 3820 Nine Mile Road. Representatives from several county agencies, including Community Maintenance and Keep Henrico Beautiful, will join Donati to discuss specific activities residents can take part in to enhance local properties and neighborhoods. Donati holds town meetings the third Monday of each month. Meetings are open to the public; everyone is welcome to attend. |