November 24, 2009
CONTACT: Nicole Gore, Prevention Coordinator, Henrico Area Mental Health & Retardation Services
PHONE: 222-8194, ext. 3006
Henrico program sets town hall meetings for underage drinking campaign
Henrico Area Mental Health Prevention Services and the Too Smart 2 Start Coalition will hold "Think! Don't Drink" town hall meetings to address teenage drinking on Thursday, Dec. 3, from 6-8 p.m. at Tuckahoe Middle School, 9000 Three Chopt Road; and Thursday, Dec. 10, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Varina High School, 7053 Messer Road. The meetings are part of the coalition's underage-drinking prevention campaign, "Parents Who Host Lose the Most."
The town hall meetings are designed to educate parents and raise community awareness about the health risks of teen alcohol consumption and the legal consequences of providing alcohol to minors. Young people often have greater access to alcohol during the holidays, said Nicole Gore, coordinator of the Too Smart 2 Start Coalition.
"We want to increase parental awareness and help them better communicate with their kids so we can reduce these situations," Gore said. "We encourage families to attend together."
"Think! Don't Drink" will feature speakers from law enforcement and parents who will share their experiences. Participants will receive information on laws regarding adults and underage drinking and will receive tips for hosting and overseeing parties for teenagers. Parents will be asked to sign a pledge not to provide alcohol to minors. The meetings are free and open to the public.
The Too Smart 2 Start Coalition is a partnership between county and private agencies, businesses, school resources, law enforcement, community leaders, parents, youth and others. For more information, log on to www.toosmart2start.com or call 222-8194.
November 9, 2009
CONTACT: Michael K. Magner, Central Region Planner, Virginia Department of Health
PHONE: (804) 432-9987
Henrico Health Department to hold reservation-only H1N1 clinic Thursday
The Henrico County Public Health Department will hold a reservation-only H1N1 vaccination clinic on Thursday, Nov. 12, from 2:30-7:30 p.m. in the Old Dominion Building at Richmond International Raceway. Clinic participants should enter the raceway complex at gate four on Laburnum Avenue.
Henrico residents must pre-register and schedule a reservation to receive the vaccine. Residents can make a reservation online at www.HenricoFlu.com beginning at 6 p.m. today. Residents also can reserve a time by calling Henrico's H1N1 Hotline at 501-4151 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday (the H1N1 Hotline will not be staffed on Wednesday for Veterans Day).
The Thursday clinic will dispense 1,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine, including 750 by injection and 250 by nasal spray. The principal intent of this clinic is to vaccinate children in private school, home school and daycare. The Health Department has been vaccinating Henrico County Public Schools students since Nov. 5 and plans to hold a vaccination clinic at every public school.
In addition to children, Thursday's H1N1 clinic will focus on vaccinating residents in the following priority groups: pregnant women; children and adults ages 6 months to 24 years; adults 25 to 64 years old with certain health conditions; individuals who live with or care for infants younger than 6 months; and health care workers and EMS providers.
For more information, contact Henrico's H1N1 Hotline at 501-4151.
November 5, 2009
CONTACT: John A. Vithoulkas, Director, Finance
PHONE: 501-4266
Henrico budget now benefiting from Short Pump Town Center tax revenues
Henrico County coffers are getting a timely injection of funds from Short Pump Town Center, whose tax revenues are being funneled into the general fund budget now that the retail showplace's infrastructure costs have been paid.
The Henrico County Board of Supervisors will vote at its regular meeting Tuesday to dissolve the Short Pump Town Center Community Development Authority (CDA), which was created in September 2000 to finance public infrastructure associated with the project. The CDA issued $25.5 million of special assessment revenue bonds to pay for traffic signals, entrance roads, stormwater management and other infrastructure at the project's western Henrico site. Short Pump Town Center opened in September 2003; for five years, tax revenues generated by the upscale, outdoor mall were dedicated to retiring the infrastructure debt. The total debt service of $31.1 million has been paid and the county collected nearly $4 million in additional tax revenue during that five-year period.
"The Short Pump Town Center CDA is a great success story," said Finance Director John A. Vithoulkas. "We reached full payoff in five years with the unanticipated benefit of significant revenue over and above the debt payments."
With the infrastructure debt paid, tax revenue from Short Pump now will move directly into Henrico's general fund. The county expects more than $8 million in incremental revenue from the retail center during the 2010 fiscal year.
"This revenue is arriving at exactly the time it is needed the most," Vithoulkas said. "The timing couldn't be better."