September 28, 2004
CONTACT: Sgt. Shawn Sears, Animal Protection Supervisor
PHONE: 652-3385
The Henrico County Division of Police will hold a rabies clinic on Saturday, October 9, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at gate four of the Richmond International Raceway.
Shots cost $6 (cash only) and include a rabies tag and certificate of inoculation. Dog owners may purchase a license with proof of rabies inoculation for $10; licenses for 2004 and 2005 will be available.
Cats and dogs ages 4 months and older are required to be vaccinated for rabies. Contact Animal Protection at 652-3360 for more information.
September 23, 2004
CONTACT: Lloyd Hicks, Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Programs
PHONE: 501-5160
The Henrico County Extension Office has launched its annual 4-H apple, peanut and honey sale. Proceeds benefit local 4-H youth programs.
The sale features Virginia-grown produce:
· Winesap and York apples, $12 per half bushel;
· Raw peanuts, with recipes, $6 per two-pound sack;
· Deluxe cocktail peanuts, salted and unsalted, $9 per two-pound sack;
· Honey, $4 per one-pound jar.
To obtain an order form, call 501-5160 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Order forms also are available at the Extension Office, located in the Human Services Building, 8600 Dixon Powers Drive, and at any Henrico County library.
Because supplies are limited, orders placed after Tuesday, Oct. 12 will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Staff will distribute orders from noon to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 26 at the Eastern Government Center, 3820 Nine Mile Road, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 27 at the Human Services Building.
Contact the Extension Office at 501-5160 for more information.
September 13, 2004
CONTACT: Rod Gordon, Community Resource Developer, Social Services
PHONE: 501-4091
The Henrico County Department of Social Services will sponsor free relationship-skills workshops on Saturday, Sept. 25 at All Saints Episcopal Church, 8787 River Road.
Designed for single people as well as couples, the workshops will discuss skills needed to build and maintain lasting relationships:
· "Pick a Partner: How to Avoid Marrying a Jerk or Jerkette," 9 a.m.-2 p.m., will offer singles advice to help them better select a partner and sustain a relationship as it grows.
· "Fighting for Your Marriage," 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., will teach couples the skills and attitudes needed to maintain a relationship and to anticipate and adjust to problems before they develop.
Each workshop includes lunch. The free workshops are open to the public, but reservations are required. To register or to obtain additional information, call 282-9763, ext. 17, or e-mail info@FirstThingsRichmond.org.
Henrico Social Services is sponsoring the event through a grant from the Virginia Department of Social Services Healthy Marriage and Stable Families Initiative.
September 9, 2004
CONTACT: Arthur D. Petrini, Director, Public Utilities
PHONE: 501-4280
The Henrico County Department of Public Utilities is extending a free program to remove bulky waste and yard debris resulting from Tropical Storm Gaston. County residents now have until Friday, Sept. 17 to call for the free service.
Bulky waste includes debris caused by storm damage to houses, buildings and home furnishings, such as shingles, gutters and roofing materials; drywall, lumber and other wall-framing products; and rugs, mats and other household items. Yard debris includes tree limbs, branches, leaves and similar lawn waste.
Henrico residents should place both bulky waste and yard debris curbside or by the edge of a nearby public roadway; they should be separated into distinct piles. If possible, residents should reduce debris to a maximum length of four feet.
To be placed on a list for waste removal, residents can call Public Utilities at 261-8770 during regular business hours, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, before the end of business on Sept. 17. Public Utilities will remove the waste as soon as possible.
Residents and businesses can also dispose storm-related bulky waste free of charge at the public use areas at Springfield landfill, 10600 Fords Country Lane; and Charles City Road landfill, 2075 Charles City Road. Call 261-8770 for more information.
September 8, 2004
CONTACT: Tamra McKinney, Director, Public Relations & Media Services
PHONE: 501-4257
A happy ending is a rare ingredient in compelling courtroom dramas--except in Henrico County, Va., where the county's Drug Court program is making smiles an accepted part of jurisprudence.
The program's step-by-step successes--and even a few of its stumbles and disappointments--are chronicled in a recently filmed documentary about the program, produced by Henrico's Public Relations & Media Services Department. "Drug Court: Transforming Lives" received airing on Community Idea Stations public television affiliates in both Richmond and Charlottesville, Va., in September.
With the show and a fast expanding catalogue of similar documentary-style programs, Henrico County's government television station, HCTV-37, breaks loose from the common government access stereotype.
" Along with full cooperation from the courts, one of the really unique things about this program is that a Drug Court participant took our producer home," said HCTV Station Manager David Miller. "Not only did he take them to meet his family, but he took us out on the street, at midnight, where drug deals and illegal activities occurred on a regular basis. It really is reality television."
So real that "Drug Court: Transforming Lives" has garnered national attention, already winning several awards. In September, HCTV will attend the Discovery Channel-sponsored National Association of Telecommunications Officials and Advisors conference to receive the organization's government programming award.
" We're striving to produce quality programming for the viewers," Miller said. "It's not just programming for departmental training or videos of government meetings. These are feature specials."
The scheduled airdate for "Drug Court" on public television was in recognition of September as National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month.
September 7, 2004
CONTACT: Tamra McKinney, Director, Public Relations & Media Services
PHONE: 501-4257
Henrico County is seeking the participation--and the opinions--of residents in a new telephone survey about the quality and effectiveness of the county's communication efforts. The survey gets under way today and will continue through mid-October.
"We want to determine the best ways to keep residents informed about county programs and services," said Public Relations & Media Services Director Tamra McKinney. "We want to know what works--and what doesn't--when we provide information to our residents, so their participation is crucial to the success of this survey."
Five hundred residents in each magisterial district, chosen at random, will be contacted and asked a series of questions about their county government. Each survey call will last approximately 12 to 15 minutes. The Southeastern Institute of Research will conduct the survey on behalf of the county.
Henrico last conducted a similar countywide survey in 1999, McKinney noted. "Henrico has grown significantly since then," she said, "and we want to ensure that the county's communications are up-to-date and keeping pace with the changing needs of our population. We appreciate the cooperation and input of each resident participating in this survey."
For more information, contact Public Relations & Media Services at 501-4257.
September 1, 2004
CONTACT: Arthur D. Petrini Director, Public Utilities
PHONE: 501-4280
The Henrico County Department of Public Utilities is implementing a free program to remove bulky waste and yard debris resulting from Tropical Storm Gaston. County residents have until Monday, Sept. 6 to call for the free service.
Bulky waste includes debris caused by storm damage to houses, buildings and home furnishings, such as shingles, gutters and roofing materials; drywall, lumber and other wall-framing products; and rugs, mats and other household items. Yard debris includes tree limbs, branches, leaves and similar lawn waste.
Henrico residents should place both bulky waste and yard debris curbside or by the edge of a nearby public roadway; they should be separated into distinct piles. If possible, residents should reduce debris to a maximum length of four feet.
To be placed on a list for waste removal, residents can call Public Utilities at 261-8770 daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. before the end of business on Monday, Sept. 6. County personnel will answer calls throughout the weekend and Labor Day holiday as well. Public Utilities will remove the waste as soon as possible.
Residents and businesses can also dispose storm-related bulky waste free of charge at the public use areas at Springfield landfill, 10600 Fords Country Lane; and Charles City Road landfill, 2075 Charles City Road. Call 261-8770 for more information.