October 2009

October 27, 2009

CONTACT: Meredith Beadles, Office Manager, Voter Registration and Elections Office

PHONE: 501-4115

Student pages to serve at Henrico polling sites on Election Day

Henrico voters will get a helping hand when they head to the polls Tuesday from the student volunteers of the Henrico Voter Page Program.

More than 300 students ages 16 to 18 from Henrico County Public Schools will work with election officials to assist voters at 92 county precinct sites. Students from eight Henrico high schools are participating in the program this year, which is sponsored by the Henrico County Electoral Board, the Voter Registration and Elections Office and Henrico County Public Schools.

Identifiable by their green shirts, pages 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; and help precinct election officials with various tasks.

Currently in its eighth year, the Voter Page Program is designed to educate young people about the electoral process, encourage their participation and cultivate a sense of service. Last year, student pages volunteered 3,630 hours through the program. Students are recommended by their teachers and must apply to the program; they earn community service learning credit for time worked. Applicants attend a training class and take an oath before becoming pages.

For more information, call 501-4115 or log on to www.co.henrico.va.us/registrar.

October 27, 2009

CONTACT: Mark Coakley, General Registrar, Voter Registration and Elections Office

PHONE: 501-4347

Glen Allen Branch Library to open Election Day for voting

The Henrico County Voter Registration and Elections Office (VREO) advises voters in the Staples Mill precinct that they will cast ballots in the Nov. 3 statewide election at their regular polling site, the Glen Allen Branch Library, 10501 Staples Mill Road.

The library currently is closed for renovation and expansion but will open on Election Day only for voting. Parking is unaffected by the construction project, and the polling site continues to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. As with all polling locations, the Glen Allen Branch Library will remain open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.

VREO also is mailing notices to the 3,835 registered voters in the Staples Mill precinct, alerting them to the status of the polling site.

For more information, contact VREO at 501-4347.

October 26, 2009

CONTACT: Nicole Gore, Prevention Coordinator, Henrico Area Mental Health & Retardation Services

PHONE: 222-8194

Henrico Too Smart 2 Start Coalition seeks nominees for outstanding youth awards

Henrico Area Mental Health Prevention Services and the Too Smart 2 Start Coalition are seeking nominees for the 14th annual Henrico Outstanding Youth Volunteer Awards. The deadline to apply is Friday, Oct. 30.

The Henrico Outstanding Youth Volunteer Awards recognize young people who have provided exemplary, selfless service to an individual, an agency or their community without monetary gain. Past honorees have engaged in a variety of volunteer activities, such as leading fund-raising efforts to benefit charitable causes, contributing volunteer service to nonprofit organizations and serving as mentors and tutors at local schools.

Nominees must be Henrico residents between the ages of 12 to 18 as of Jan. 1, 2009 and still attending school. Applications are available online at www.toosmart2start.com.

Award winners will be honored at a ceremony Nov. 19 at Virginia Commonwealth University. The awards are sponsored by the Too Smart 2 Start Coalition, the VCU Honors Department and the VCU Division of Community Engagement.

The Too Smart 2 Start Coalition is a partnership between county agencies, 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.

October 26, 2009

CONTACT: George T. Drumwright, Jr., Deputy County Manager

PHONE: 501-4515

Swine flu vaccine no longer available at Henrico County Public Health Department

The Henrico County Public Health Department advises residents that its supply of H1N1 swine flu vaccine has been exhausted at both its West and East clinic locations.

The Health Department will announce when it receives additional H1N1 vaccine and can make it available again to Henrico residents. For more information, call the department's H1N1 hotline at 501-4151 or log on to www.co.henrico.va.us/health.

October 23, 2009

CONTACT: Rhysa G. South, Assistant County Attorney

PHONE: 501-4342

Henrico County attorney named president of statewide association

Henrico Assistant County Attorney Rhysa G. South has been appointed president of the Local Government Attorneys of Virginia, Inc. (LGA) for 2009-10.

As president, South will head an organization of more than 650 public and private attorneys that promotes continuing education and provides a variety of professional support services for local government attorneys throughout the state. The LGA is the recognized authority on matters of local government law in Virginia.

South has previously served as chair of the ethics, publications and awards committees of the LGA; she also is a past recipient of the organization's Cherin Award for an Outstanding Deputy or Assistant Local Government Attorney. In addition, South has held a number of posts with the Virginia State Bar, currently serving on the body's disciplinary board and as council representative for the 14th Judicial Circuit. She is a former president of the Henrico Bar Association.

South, who joined the County Attorney staff in January 1987, received a bachelor's degree from Ohio Wesleyan University and earned her law degree at the University of Richmond.

October 21, 2009

CONTACT: Barry Lawrence, Clerk, Board of Supervisors

PHONE: 501-4318

Henrico officials named to posts with national association

The National Association of Counties (NACo) has appointed 10 Henrico County officials to the association's policy-making committees and governing bodies for 2009-10.

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, Telecommunications and Technology steering committee; Large Urban County Caucus steering committee; 2010-11 Presidential Initiative planning 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 received committee appointments:

• 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; 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 policies and goals.

October 13, 2009

CONTACT: Teddy Martin, Horticulture Extension Technician, Extension Office

PHONE: 501-5160

Henrico Master Gardener Training program accepting applications

The Henrico County Extension Office is accepting applications for its 2010 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 Friday, Nov. 20; there is a $125 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. 26 and continuing through March 25 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 or log on to www.co.henrico.va.us/extension and follow the link for agriculture resources.

October 13, 2009

CONTACT: Veta Herbaugh, Executive Assistant, Board of Supervisors

PHONE: 501-4208

Varina town meeting to discuss economy

The next town meeting of Varina District Supervisor Jim Donati will examine how the county is managing the effects of the national economic recession. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19 at the Henrico Theatre, 305 E. Nine Mile Road.

"Impacts of the Current Economy on Your Local Government" will provide an update on Henrico's fiscal condition and the effect the current economy may have on the county's 2011 budget. Finance Director John Vithoulkas will lead the discussion and will join Donati for a question-and-answer period as well.

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

October 12, 2009

CONTACT: Linda Leigh, Executive Assistant, Board of Supervisors

PHONE: 501-4208

Meet House of Delegates candidates at next Fairfield constituent meeting

The next constituent meeting of Fairfield District Supervisor Frank Thornton will feature campaign updates from several candidates seeking office in Virginia's House of Delegates in the upcoming general election. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21 at Belmont Recreation Center, 1600 Hilliard Road.

House of Delegates 71st district challenger Silver Persinger, 74th district challenger Michael Gage and 74th district incumbent Joe Morrissey will discuss their campaigns and participate in a question-and-answer period. In addition, a representative of Ken Cuccinelli will provide an update on his campaign for attorney general.

Fairfield constituent meetings are open to the public. Call 501-4208 for more information.

October 6, 2009

CONTACT: Nicole Gore, Prevention Coordinator, Henrico Area Mental Health & Retardation Services

PHONE: 222-8194

Henrico program to implement underage drinking campaign this fall

Henrico Area Mental Health Prevention Services and the Too Smart 2 Start Coalition will implement the underage-drinking prevention initiative, "Parents Who Host Lose the Most," at Henrico County Public Schools events during the 2009-10 academic year. The Henrico agency was awarded a 2009 Community Coalitions Grant by the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control in August to deliver the nationally recognized campaign to Henrico parents and teenagers.

"Parents Who Host Lose the Most: Don't Be a Party to Teenage Drinking," a program of the Drug-Free Action Alliance, will educate parents and raise community awareness about the health risks of teen alcohol consumption and the legal consequences of providing alcohol to underage youth. The coalition is planning a series of town hall events at Henrico schools to distribute campaign materials. It also will provide information at PTA meetings, boys' basketball games and other school events.

The Too Smart 2 Start Coalition is a partnership between several county agencies, 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.

October 5, 2009

CONTACT: Lt. Shawn Sears, Animal Protection Supervisor

PHONE: 727-8800

Henrico rabies clinic set for Oct. 17

The Henrico County Division of Police will hold a rabies clinic on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at gate four of Richmond International Raceway.

Shots cost $7, cash only, and include a rabies tag and certificate of inoculation. Dog owners may purchase a 2010 license for $10 with proof of rabies inoculation.

Lt. Shawn Sears, supervisor of Henrico Police's Animal Protection unit, encourages residents to vaccinate their pets.

"(Vaccination) will ensure the safety of our residents' pets and will help protect the community as well," Sears said.

Cats and dogs ages 4 months and older are required to be vaccinated for rabies. Contact Animal Protection at 727-8800 for more information.