October 31, 2008
CONTACT: Meredith Beadles, Office Manager, Voter Registration and Elections
PHONE: 501-4115
Henrico voters won't be the only ones turning out in record numbers when they head to the polls Tuesday -- a record number of student volunteers from the Henrico Voter Page Program will be there to greet them and lend a hand with the voting process.
Some 470 students ages 16 to 18 from Henrico County Public Schools will work with election officials to assist voters at the county's 93 precinct sites. Students from each of Henrico's nine high schools are participating in the program this year.
Pages -- identifiable by their blue shirts -- will undertake a variety of tasks on Election Day. They will give demonstrations of the county's touch-screen voting equipment; look up voters and help them locate precinct information and complete forms; serve as greeters and assist elderly and disabled voters; distribute stickers and hang signage; provide line control; and help precinct election officials with various tasks.
Currently in its seventh year, the Voter Page Program is designed to educate young people about the electoral process, encourage their participation and cultivate a sense of community service. Students are recommended by their teachers and must apply to the program; they earn community service learning credit for time worked. Applicants must attend a training class, as required by state statute, and take an oath before becoming pages.
Coordinated by the Henrico County Electoral Board and the Voter Registration and Elections Office, the program received an achievement award from the National Association of Counties in 2004.
For more information, call 501-4115 or log on to www.co.henrico.va.us/registrar/.
October 28, 2008
CONTACT: Linda Leigh, Executive Assistant, Board of Supervisors
PHONE: 501-4208
The next town meeting of Henrico County Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman and Tuckahoe District Supervisor Patricia S. O'Bannon will feature a "state of the county" presentation by Henrico's finance officials. The meeting will be held in two sessions, at 3 p.m. and again at 7 p.m., on Thursday, Nov. 6 at Tuckahoe Area Library, 1901 Starling Drive.
Finance Director John Vithoulkas and Budget Director Gene Walter will discuss how Henrico is managing the ongoing economic turmoil and how the state budget shortfall, stock market fluctuations and other economic concerns are affecting the county. 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 501-4208 or log on to www.patobannon.com.
October 23, 2008
CONTACT: Megan Brown, Executive Coordinator, Keep Henrico Beautiful
PHONE: 501-4502
The Keep Henrico Beautiful (KHB) program has received a statewide award for environmental education kits it developed for use in local elementary schools.
Keep Virginia Beautiful recognized the Henrico program at its annual award ceremony Wednesday with a first-place award in the Litter Prevention-Government Agency category. Keep Virginia Beautiful, a nonprofit organization, encourages individuals statewide to take greater responsibility for improving community environments through volunteer activities.
KHB received the honor for creating and producing an environmentally themed bulletin board kit that targets students in grades K-2. The kit focuses on five topics -- reduce, reuse, recycle, environmental care and litter prevention -- and includes a banner, vocabulary words and accompanying graphics.
Designed to complement Virginia's Standards of Learning, the bulletin board kit has been distributed free of charge to every K-2 classroom in Henrico County Public Schools -- more than 580 total. The kit can be viewed online at www.co.henrico.va.us/utility/keep-henrico-beautiful/.
KHB, a division of the county's Department of Public Utilities, promotes litter prevention, recycling and environmental education in Henrico. For more information, call 501-4502.
October 14, 2008
CONTACT: Karen Mier, Director, Recreation and Parks
PHONE: 501-5104
Henrico County's Division of Recreation and Parks has received an award from the Virginia Recreation and Park Society (VRPS) for its renovation of the Henrico Theatre. The historic facility was selected as a 2008 VRPS award winner in the Best New Renovation/Addition category (for a population greater than 150,000).
The Henrico Theatre, located on Nine Mile Road in Highland Springs, reopened to the public in October 2007 following a $5.8 million renovation effort. A leading example of art deco design, the 400-seat theater serves as a center for a variety of community arts programs and events ranging from live music and stage performances to film festivals. First opened as a movie palace in 1938, the Henrico Theatre is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Henrico voters approved more than half of the funding for the restoration project in the 2005 bond referendum.
VRPS is a private, nonprofit organization that works to unite professionals, students and interested lay persons engaged in the field of recreation, parks and other leisure services in Virginia. Members work together to promote and improve the profession. VRPS is affiliated with the National Recreation and Park Association.
October 13, 2008
CONTACT: Teddy Martin, Horticulture Extension Technician, Extension Office
PHONE: 501-5160
The Henrico County Extension Office is accepting applications for its 2009 Master Gardener training program, an in-depth course that offers instruction in all aspects of horticulture.
Participants will learn about lawn care, tree and shrub maintenance, vegetable gardening, pest management and other topics. After completing classroom training, participants will serve a 50-hour internship with the Extension Office and will help conduct educational programs for the public.
Extension will accept applications through Monday, Nov. 17; there is a $120 fee to cover the cost of materials. Classes are scheduled for 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each Tuesday and Thursday beginning Jan. 27 and continuing through March 26 in the Human Services Building demonstration kitchen, 8600 Dixon Powers Drive.
To obtain an application or additional information about the Master Gardener training program, contact Teddy Martin in the Extension Office at 501-5160.
October 10, 2008
CONTACT: Virgil R. Hazelett, P.E., County Manager
PHONE: 501-4386
Following an extensive search and interview panel recommendations, Henrico County Manager Virgil R. Hazelett, P.E. has announced the appointment of Jon B. Tracy as director of Real Property, effective November 10. Tracy succeeds A. Steve Price, acting director.
As director, Tracy will oversee an eight-member department that is responsible for planning and supervising the administration of Henrico County's real estate program, including general government and schools. This includes the acquisition and disposal of all county-owned property and working with county departments to acquire easements, rights of way and sites for schools, libraries, fire stations, parks, roads, utilities and other county facilities.
Tracy earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of Richmond and most recently served as president of Virginia Title Company.
October 8, 2008
CONTACT: Barry Lawrence, Clerk, Board of Supervisors
PHONE: 501-4318
The National Association of Counties (NACo) has appointed 11 Henrico County officials to the association's policy-making committees and governing bodies for 2008-09.
Members of Henrico's Board of Supervisors received the following appointments:
* Chairman and Three Chopt District Supervisor David A. Kaechele, Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs steering committee;
* Vice Chairman and Tuckahoe District Supervisor Patricia S. O'Bannon, vice chair, Telecommunications and Technology steering committee; vice chair, Large Urban County Caucus steering committee;
* Brookland District Supervisor Richard W. Glover, Transportation steering committee;
* Fairfield District Supervisor Frank J. Thornton, Human Services and Education steering committee; and
* Varina District Supervisor James B. Donati, Jr., Community and Economic Development steering committee.
In addition, several county officials also were appointed to key positions:
* County Manager Virgil R. Hazelett, P.E., Justice and Public Safety steering committee;
* Deputy County Manager George T. Drumwright, Jr., vice chair, Medicaid and Indigent Care subcommittee; Health steering committee;
* Deputy County Manager Randall R. Silber, Environment, Energy and Land Use steering committee;
* Deputy County Manager Robert K. Pinkerton, P.E., Public Lands steering committee;
* Deputy County Manager Angela N. Harper, NACo Board of Directors; Sustainability Leadership Team; associate member, Information Technology committee; and
* Capital Area Training Consortium Director Rosalyn D. Key-Tiller, Labor and Employment steering committee.
The only nationwide organization representing county governments before Congress and the White House, NACo works to improve county government and increase public understanding of the role of counties. The association's 11 steering committees, each comprised of 60 to 100 county officials, form its policy-making arm. The committees and other governing bodies meet several times annually to examine issues key to local government and to make recommendations on legislative polices and goals.
October 3, 2008
CONTACT: Steve Yob, Director, Solid Waste and Recycling Division
PHONE: 727-8217
Area residents can recycle televisions, computer monitors and other unwanted electronic items -- anything with a plug -- at three upcoming electronic waste recycling events. Sponsored by the Henrico County Department of Public Utilities' Solid Waste and Recycling division, Ukrop's Super Markets and Central Virginia Waste Management Authority (CVWMA), the events are set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the following dates and locations:
Saturday, Nov. 8, Ukrop's Crossridge, 10250 Staples Mill Road;
Saturday, Nov. 8, Ukrop's White Oak Mall, I-64 and South Laburnum Avenue; and
Saturday, Nov. 15, Ukrop's John Rolfe, 2250 John Rolfe Parkway.
Recyclable items include cell phones and telephones, fax machines, scanners, printers, copiers, stereos, camcorders, microwave ovens, televisions, computers, computer monitors and accessories, and compact fluorescent light bulbs.
Most items will be accepted for free, although fees will be charged to recycle computer monitors, $5 each; televisions, $5 each; console (wood-encased) televisions, $10 each; and compact fluorescent light bulbs, 25 cents each. Payment can be made by cash or check.
Participants can register to win a $100 gift card from Ukrop's. For more information, call 727-8770, log on to www.co.henrico.va.us/utility/ and follow the "Recycling" link, or contact the CVWMA recycling hotline at 340-0900.
October 1, 2008
CONTACT: Linda Leigh, Executive Assistant, Board of Supervisors
PHONE: 501-4208
The next constituent meeting of Fairfield District Supervisor Frank Thornton will feature a program on the new recreation center planned for eastern Henrico and will also offer information for voters for the general election in November. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13 at the Eastern Government Center multipurpose room, 3820 Nine Mile Road.
Director of Recreation and Parks Karen Mier will give an update on the eastern recreation center, the $9 million funding for which was approved by Henrico voters in the 2005 bond referendum. In addition, Henrico General Registrar Mark Coakley will discuss voters' rights and the county's preparations for the upcoming election. Thornton will join the county officials for a question-and-answer period as well.
Fairfield constituent meetings are open to the public. Call 501-4208 for more information.