April 2005

CONTACT: Tim Foster, Traffic Engineer

PHONE: 501-4397

In preparation for the upcoming Chevy American Revolution 400 NASCAR event at Richmond International Raceway (RIR), the Henrico County Department of Public Works will modify traffic patterns on major routes to the raceway on Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 14. The temporary changes should help minimize traffic congestion during the races.

Due to damage to the Laburnum Avenue bridge, traffic on Laburnum Avenue east of RIR will be limited to one eastbound lane. Motorists should expect extremely heavy traffic and delays all day Friday and Saturday in the raceway area, especially from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. before the races and from 10:15 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. after the races.

The Henrico Division of Police will have officers on duty to direct traffic around the area before and after the races.

Motorists not attending the race should turn on their headlights while driving in the vicinity of RIR during the afternoon and early evening Saturday, May 14. This measure will help police maintain a smooth flow of traffic through the area.

The following traffic patterns will be in effect May 14 during peak hours:

· 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.

· Meadowbridge Road between the Henrico/Hanover county line and Azalea Avenue will be one-way southbound beginning at approximately 9 a.m. and continuing until the race starts.

· Meadowbridge Road north of Azalea Avenue will close to northbound traffic; however, in Hanover County it will remain a two-way road at all times.

· Prior to the race, three lanes on Laburnum Avenue between Alma Avenue and RIR may be routed eastbound, one lane westbound.

· After the race, Laburnum Avenue between Carolina Avenue and Mechanicsville Turnpike will be one-way eastbound. Two-way traffic will be maintained westbound from Carolina Avenue.

· After the race, Laburnum Avenue between the raceway and North Avenue may have three lanes routed westbound and one lane eastbound.

· After the race, Meadowbridge Road north of Azalea Avenue will be one-way northbound between Azalea Avenue and Atlee Road, beginning at approximately 10 p.m. and continuing until race traffic is dispersed.

· After the race, three lanes on Azalea Avenue between Richmond-Henrico Turnpike and Henrico High School will be routed westbound and one lane eastbound. This change will require all median crossovers on Azalea Avenue between Richmond-Henrico Turnpike and Henrico High School to close at approximately 10 p.m. until race traffic is dispersed. Police will assist motorists turning from Azalea Avenue to Thrush Lane and Pony Farm Drive.

While these traffic patterns are in effect, median crossovers on Laburnum Avenue will be closed between North Avenue and Mechanicsville Turnpike, except for the intersections of Pilots Lane and Laburnum Avenue and Austin and Laburnum avenues. Only right turns will be permitted to and from Laburnum Avenue. Police will be positioned at these intersections before and after the race to assist motorists turning onto or crossing Laburnum Avenue.

WRXL 102.1 FM will broadcast traffic reports throughout the day.

On-street parking on major routes to RIR is prohibited each day. Additional parking will be available May 14 at the Richmond Coliseum parking deck on North Seventh Street, at a cost of $5. Free shuttle bus service to and from RIR will be provided beginning at 1 p.m.

The Henrico Division of Police has recommended the following routes for traffic approaching the raceway May 13-14:

· From the east (Hampton Roads area) - Follow Interstate 64 west to Interstate 295 north (Exit 200). Follow Interstate 295 north and exit onto Mechanicsville Turnpike west (Exit 37B). Follow Mechanicsville Turnpike to Laburnum Avenue. Turn right and proceed to the raceway.

· From the east (Route 360) - Approach Richmond on Route 360 west (Mechanicsville Turnpike), cross Interstate 295, and continue west to Laburnum Avenue. Turn right and proceed to the raceway.

· From the east (local traffic) - Follow Interstate 64 west and take the Laburnum Avenue exit (Exit 195). Turn right and proceed to the raceway.

· From the north - Follow Interstate 95 south to the Interstate 295 east interchange (marked "To Norfolk - Williamsburg"). Follow Interstate 295 east and exit onto Meadowbridge Road west (Exit 38B). Follow Meadowbridge Road (Richmond-Henrico Turnpike) and proceed to the raceway.

· From the north (local traffic) - Use Route 1 (Brook Road) to Azalea Avenue. Turn left onto Azalea Avenue and proceed to the raceway.

· From the west - Follow Interstate 64 east to the Interstate 295 south interchange (Exit 177). Follow Interstate 295 south and exit onto Meadowbridge Road west (Exit 38B). Follow Meadowbridge Road (Richmond-Henrico Turnpike) and proceed to the raceway.

· From the west (local traffic) - Follow Interstate 64 east to the Powhite Parkway/Laburnum Avenue exit. Take the Laburnum Avenue exit, turn left and proceed to the raceway.

· From the south - Follow Interstate 95 north to the interchange with Interstate 295 south of Petersburg. Follow Interstate 295 north and exit onto Mechanicsville Turnpike (Exit 37B). Follow Mechanicsville Turnpike to Laburnum Avenue. Turn right and proceed to the raceway.

· From the south (local traffic) - Follow Interstate 95 north to the Interstate 64 east interchange (Exit 75). Follow Interstate 64 to Route 360 east (Mechanicsville Turnpike). Follow Route 360 east to Laburnum Avenue. Turn left and proceed to the raceway.

April 27, 2005

CONTACT: Gail Taylor, Coordinator of Prevention Services, Henrico Area Mental Health & Retardation Services

PHONE: 261-8547

Winners of the ninth annual Henrico Outstanding Youth Volunteer Awards were honored in a ceremony recently at the University of Richmond's Jepson School of Leadership Studies.

The awards recognize young people from throughout Henrico for their outstanding community service to the county and the Richmond metropolitan region as a whole. Receiving awards were: Nuhad Bensouda, Hermitage High School, for work with handicapped and brain-injured clients of Henrico County Therapeutic Recreation; Desmond Diggs, Hermitage High School, for organizing the Change 4 Change Tsunami Disaster Relief Project that raised more than $70,000; Victoria Hicks, home schooled, for mentoring and tutoring students at the Youth Life Learning Center; Alexander Kim, Godwin High School, for four-years service to the Christmas Tree Recycling Project; Stacy Moore, Varina High School, for work with the Moose International Youth Awareness Program; Melaina Russell, Brookland Middle School, for service to Boy Scouts of America; Brittney Tennyson, Highland Springs High School, for three-years work with Cheerific Fun Camps; and Jenna Ward, Hermitage High School, for raising and donating funds to local families during the holiday season.

Award winners received a framed certificate from the Henrico County Manager' s Office, a T-shirt, and tickets to Paramount King's Dominion and ComedySportz Improv Theater. Sponsoring the event were the Jepson School of Leadership Studies and Healthy Communities, Healthy Youth, Healthy Henrico, a partnership of public and private agencies that promote healthy lifestyles for the area's young people.


Winners of the ninth annual Henrico Outstanding Youth
Volunteer Awards were honored recently during a ceremony at the University
of Richmond's Jepson School of Leadership Studies.

April 19, 2005

CONTACT: Kim Sicola, Curator, Historic Preservation and Museum Services

PHONE: 501-5125

Henrico County Board Chairman and Fairfield District Supervisor Frank Thornton will host a special forum and public discussion to examine the local effect of the U.S. Supreme Court's Brown vs. Board of Education decision and to honor Oliver W. Hill, one of the key figures in the landmark 1954 school-desegregation case. The forum is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, May 19 in the Government Center Board Room, 4301 E. Parham Road.

"Brown After 51 Years: The Henrico and Richmond Perspectives" will feature a panel discussion on several topics, including the role of the press in reporting public reaction to the Brown decision; the pressure from the state of Virginia to adopt the policy of "Massive Resistance" and the "Freedom of Choice" plan; the closing of schools and resulting cost to the community; and the experiences of students and teachers. There will be an audience question-and-answer period as well.

Serving as panelists are Earle Dunford, former editor and staff writer of the Richmond Times-Dispatch; Vonita Foster, Ph.D., executive director of the National Slavery Museum; William M. Harris, Ph.D., associate dean of the school of policy and planning at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss.; Melton Jones, Ph.D., vice president of academic and student services at John Tyler Community College; John Kneebone, Ph.D., professor of history at Virginia Commonwealth University; and Shirin Spencer, an independent curator and educator.

The forum will also salute famed civil rights attorney and Richmond native Hill, whose legal work to desegregate Virginia schools played a critical role in the Brown case. Mr. Hill's numerous honors include the 1999 Presidential Medal of Freedom and the 2000 American Bar Association Medal.

"Brown After 51 Years" is free and open to the public. Seating is limited, however, and reservations are encouraged. Call 501-5736 to make reservations. For additional information about the forum, call 501-5125.

April 14, 2005

CONTACT: Joe Emerson, Assistant Director, Planning

PHONE: 501-4602

Henrico County will hold public meetings to discuss a proposed cash proffer policy at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 21, and at 10 a.m. Friday, April 22. Both meetings are scheduled for the Government Center Board Room, 4301 E. Parham Road.

Representatives from Henrico's Planning Department and from Tischler and Associates, which helped develop the cash proffer policy, will be on hand to explain the policy, answer questions and receive input. The meetings are open to the development community as well as the general public.

The proposed policy would allow the county to accept cash proffers to offset the costs of providing services and capital facilities for new residential developments that are expected to house school-age children.

For more information about the meetings or the cash proffer policy, contact the Planning Department at 501-4602.

April 14, 2005

CONTACT: Barry Lawrence, Clerk, Board of Supervisors

PHONE: 501-4318

The next town meeting of Tuckahoe District Supervisor Patricia S. O'Bannon will examine Virginia's gangs and ways the state works to counteract them. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, April 28, at Byrd Middle School, 9400 Quioccasin Road.

"Gang Awareness and Prevention: Strategies for Protecting Our Communities" will feature a presentation by Assistant Attorney General James O. Towey, the director of the Attorney General Office's organized crime unit--special prosecutions section, and by Deputy County Manager for Community Services George T. Drumwright Jr. They will join O'Bannon for a question-and-answer period as well.

Tuckahoe town meetings are open to the public. For more information, call 501-4318 or log on to www.patobannon.com.

April 13, 2005

CONTACT: Veta Herbaugh, Executive Assistant, Board of Supervisors

PHONE: 501-4208

The next town meeting of Varina District Supervisor Jim Donati will examine the recent announcement of a new air service provider and other changes at Richmond International Airport. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, April 18, in the Eastern Government Center multipurpose room, 3820 Nine Mile Road.

Jon Mathiasen, president and CEO of Richmond International Airport, will discuss the addition of AirTran Airways to the list of carriers serving Richmond as well as current and future construction planned at the airport. He also will join Donati for a question-and-answer period.

Varina town meetings are open to the public. Call 501-4208 for more information.

April 8, 2005

CONTACT: Steve Knockemus, Public Relations Specialist

PHONE: 501-4476

More than 125 high school seniors took the reins of Henrico County's general government and public schools administrations Thursday when they assumed the roles of elected officials and top administrators for the 48th annual Student Government Day.

Designed to give students a first-hand view of the operations of their local government, Student Government Day paired student leaders from nine Henrico high schools with key county officials, including the county manager, police and fire chiefs, Circuit Court judges and members of the Board of Supervisors and School Board.

Students shadowed their government counterparts throughout the day, gaining insight into the decision-making process and learning some of the details of local governance. Students also had the opportunity to make decisions, as they conducted a mock Board of Supervisors meeting and debated issues such as amending the Henrico 2010 Land Use Plan, expanding eligibility for the county's real estate tax exemption program and acquiring an electronic voting system.

"Student Government Day is a special day for the county staff," County Manager Virgil Hazelett said. "We have the opportunity to give these outstanding young people a snapshot of something we're truly dedicated to--serving the residents of Henrico County."

Students also listened to international youth and motivational speaker Jeff Yalden, who exhorted them to believe in themselves and their own expectations, to cultivate a sense of duty and responsibility rather than a sense of privilege and entitlement, and to treat others with dignity and respect.

"We hope this is one of those days you will remember as you move forward in life," said Board Chairman and Fairfield District Supervisor Frank Thornton. " And we hope you will continue to demonstrate and develop your leadership skills."

Student Government Day is sponsored by the Kiwanis clubs of North Richmond, Tuckahoe and West Henrico.

Henrico County Manager Virgil R. Hazelett, P.E., right, and
his student counterpart, Tracee James of Highland Springs High School,
confer before leading a meeting as part of Student Government Day activities
Thursday at the Henrico Government Center.

Deep Run High School's Amanda Keoppel, who served as
director of planning, addresses the Board of Supervisors during the Student
Government Day mock board meeting.

Elyssa Wilensky, left, of Varina High School, and Tucker
High School's Gizelle Babik demonstrate an electronic voting machine during
Student Government Day's mock board meeting.

April 6, 2005

CONTACT: Barry Lawrence, Clerk, Board of Supervisors

PHONE: 501-4318

The Henrico County Board of Supervisors will begin its regularly scheduled meeting one hour early, at 6 p.m., on Tuesday, April 12, for a public hearing regarding the Operating and Capital Annual Fiscal Plans for Fiscal Year 2005-06.

The board regularly meets at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Meetings are open to the public and are held in the Government Center Board Room, located at Parham and Hungary Spring roads. Call 501-4318 for more information.

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