November 30, 2010
CONTACT: Barbara Herzog, Executive Director, Henrico CASA
PHONE: 501-1671
Henrico CASA seeks volunteers for child-advocacy training program
Henrico County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is seeking volunteers to serve as advocates for abused and neglected children in the court system.
Henrico CASA will conduct a free, six-week training program for volunteers from 6-9 p.m. each Tuesday and Wednesday beginning Tuesday, Jan. 11 at its office in the Hungary Spring Office Park, 3001 Hungary Spring Road, suite A. Potential volunteers must apply for the program; applicants will undergo interviews, background and reference checks as well as fingerprinting and local criminal checks.
To apply or obtain additional information, contact Jeannine Panzera at 501-1673, email pan01@co.henrico.va.us or log on to www.henricocasa.org. The deadline to apply is Monday, Jan. 3.
CASA volunteers serve as the voice of abused and neglected children in the court system. They come from a variety of educational and professional backgrounds; legal experience is not required. Participants receive training to conduct interviews, research and investigate cases, provide written reports for Juvenile Court judges and assist child welfare professionals and case attorneys.
Last year, volunteers served as advocates for 277 children, donating nearly 10,650 hours to their cases.
Henrico CASA is a private, nonprofit organization that works closely with the county's Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. For more information, log on to the CASA website.
November 24, 2010
CONTACT: Linda Leigh, Executive Assistant, Board of Supervisors
PHONE: 501-4208
Tuckahoe town meeting to discuss 400th anniversary, county economy
The next town meeting of Henrico County Board of Supervisors Chairman and Tuckahoe District Supervisor Patricia S. O'Bannon will provide information about Henrico's upcoming 400th anniversary celebration and also will feature discussion about the county's economy. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 6 at Deep Run Recreation Center, 9910 Ridgefield Parkway.
O'Bannon and Finance Director John Vithoulkas will discuss the variety of county-hosted activities planned to mark the county's quadricentennial anniversary next year. Events scheduled for the yearlong commemoration include a Civil War symposium; an evening with best-selling author and Henrico High School graduate David Baldacci; programs about African-American and Virginia Indian culture and history; a kite and food festival; and historical bus tours. A schedule of events and more information are available at www.henrico400th.com.
In addition, O'Bannon and Vithoulkas will lead a discussion highlighting the positive aspects of the county's economy. They will hold a question-and-answer session as well.
Tuckahoe town meetings are open to the public. For more information, call 501-4208 or log on to www.patobannon.com.
November 12, 2010
CONTACT: Leonard C. Cake, Administrative Director, Economic Development Authority
PHONE: 501-7654
Zeller Gmelin Corp. to relocate to Henrico facility
The Henrico County Economic Development Authority (EDA) announces that the Zeller Gmelin Corp., a worldwide leader in printing inks, has purchased a building at 4801 Audubon Drive in Henrico to house a manufacturing and warehouse distribution center and corporate offices. The company is expected to occupy the 83,427 square-foot facility during the first quarter of 2011.
Headquartered in Eislingen, Germany, Zeller Gmelin makes UV printing ink products for lithography, flexography, dry offset and screen printing. It operates more than 30 manufacturing and service support facilities worldwide; the company's products are used in more than 75 countries.
The Henrico facility will allow Zeller Gmelin to expand its business operations and enhance efficiencies and productivity. The property can accommodate future expansions as well.
"We are pleased to welcome Zeller Gmelin to Henrico County," said Board of Supervisors Chairman Patricia S. O'Bannon. "They will fit right in with the other quality industrial operations in the area. We look forward to a long relationship with this company."
In addition to Henrico EDA, several county agencies assisted in Zeller Gmelin's acquisition of the property, including Planning, Building Inspections, Community Revitalization and Finance.
November 12, 2010
CONTACT: Kim Edmonds, Extension Agent
PHONE: 501-5160
Volunteers needed for income tax-preparation program
Henrico County and MetroCASH -- formerly known as the Greater Richmond Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition -- are seeking volunteers for an annual program that provides free income tax-preparation assistance for qualifying residents.
Volunteers are needed to help eligible families and individuals prepare and file income tax returns, serve as interpreters and site coordinators, and greet and screen taxpayers. MetroCASH volunteers will serve at sites throughout the metropolitan area, including two in Henrico:
Previous experience with income tax preparation is not required, and hours are flexible. Volunteers can attend an IRS-sponsored training session and must complete a certification exam before assisting with income tax preparation. Several training sessions will be offered in January. To register or to obtain additional information, contact Shelbra Jones with MetroCASH at 775-6437 or joness@yourunitedway.org.
MetroCASH, a coalition of local governments, state and federal agencies and civic and educational organizations, works to help low-to-moderate income families claim tax refunds that can help pay bills and reduce debt. MetroCASH offers qualifying taxpayers a free alternative to paid tax-preparation services and works to raise awareness of the earned income tax credit. Last year, the coalition helped area residents file 1,828 tax returns, which generated $2,648,772 in total refunds. The free service saved its users $365,600 in potential preparation fees.
November 10, 2010
CONTACT: Lisa Sanderson, Extension Agent
PHONE: 501-5160
Henrico Extension encourages recycling of garden plastics on Nov. 13
The Henrico County Extension Office is encouraging fall gardeners to recycle their nursery plastics as part of a special effort on Saturday, Nov. 13 at Strange's Garden Center.
Garden pots, trays and containers with resin codes 2, 5 and 6 (the number printed on the bottom of the pot) can be recycled at the two locations of Strange's Garden Center, 12111 W. Broad St. and 3313 Mechanicsville Turnpike. Henrico Extension and Strange's began the ongoing nursery plastics recycling program in the spring; Saturday's event will focus attention on the high volume of containers generated by the fall planting season.
The local effort is part of a statewide initiative to redirect nursery containers from landfills to recycling centers. Extension Agent Lisa Sanderson said that more than 300 million pounds of plastic are deposited in landfills nationwide each year.
"Much of this plastic can be recycled into new garden pots and nursery containers," she said.
Plastic collected at the garden centers is sent to a recycler that will use it to make new nursery products, Sanderson said.
Residents are encouraged to remove loose dirt and metal wire from garden pots before arranging them according to their resin code.
For more information, contact the Henrico Extension Office at 501-5160 or log on to www.bse.vt.edu/green/Plastics/overview.htm.
November 8, 2010
CONTACT: Linda Leigh, Executive Assistant, Board of Supervisors
PHONE: 501-4208
Thornton, Donati to hold joint town meeting on Richmond International Airport
Henrico County Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman and Fairfield District Supervisor Frank Thornton and Varina District Supervisor Jim Donati will hold a joint town meeting on continuing development at Richmond International Airport (RIC) on Monday, Nov. 15, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Henrico Theatre, 305 E. Nine Mile Road.
Jon Mathiasen, president and CEO of the Capital Region Airport Commission, will be on hand to provide information about low-cost carriers and to discuss the RIC Master Plan for expansion. He will join the Henrico supervisors for a question-and-answer period as well.
The meeting is open to the public. Call 501-4208 for more information.