Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023

Visitor Spending in Chesterfield Reaches

New Heights: $582 Million

Another year, another new record for visitor spending in Chesterfield.

According to an annual study released Tuesday by the Virginia Tourism Corp. (VTC), visitors spent more than $582 million in Chesterfield in 2022, eclipsing the previous year’s total by $46.7 million or 8.7%.

The total included sales of $194.5 million on food and beverage, $105.5 million on lodging, $76.1 million on retail, $82.0 million on recreation and $124.6 million on transportation.

The data, which was compiled for the VTC by Tourism Economics, reflects spending by travelers who stayed overnight in paid accommodations or took trips at least 50 miles from home.

In 2022, tourism in Chesterfield supported more than 6,051 jobs with a combined payroll income of nearly $163.8 million, while generating local tax receipts of about $28.5 million.

For perspective, the latter number is equivalent to more than 5 cents on the county’s real estate tax rate.

For more information, visit the Chesterfield On Point blog.

Chesterfield Opens Seven New

Community Recycling Centers

Chesterfield residents are now able to drop off recyclable materials free of charge at Community Recycling Centers located in seven different county parks.

The new centers at Harry G. Daniel Park at Iron Bridge, R. Garland Dodd Park at Point of Rocks, Ettrick Park, Goyne Park, Irvin G. Horner Park, Huguenot Park and Rockwood Park accept drop-off recycling from dawn to dusk when the parks are open.

These sites, which were chosen in order to maximize geographic coverage and bring drop-off locations closer to residents’ homes, accept glass, paper, and plastic as a single stream of recycling, meaning users won’t have to separate the materials. That work is performed by staff at a privately-owned material recovery facility, which continues to process all recyclables collected in Chesterfield.

The opening of these seven Community Recycling Centers coincides with the restoration of seven-day operations at the county’s northern and southern convenience centers planned for this fall.

Visit Chesterfield's website for more information about recycling.

Come Out to Third Annual Community Cup

Saturday at River City Sportsplex

The third annual Community Cup will take place this Saturday, Sept. 30 at Chesterfield’s River City Sportsplex, 13030 Genito Road in Midlothian. Gates open at 9 a.m. and the event begins at 10 a.m.

The Community Cup actively engages public safety agencies and multicultural communities across the region in positive community building with law enforcement and firefighters. It is a partnership between Chesterfield and Henrico counties, the City of Richmond and the Virginia State Police.

In addition to the soccer tournament, activities include food trucks, multicultural market, entertainment, a kid’s zone, first responders’ vehicle viewings and informational booths.

Click the image above to watch a cool multicultural promo video that has more information about the event!

Early Voting Under Way for

November's General Election

In-person early voting has begun at the Chesterfield Registrar's Office for the November general election.

Early voting is available from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the General Registrar’s office, 9848 Lori Road. The office will also be open on the two Saturdays (Oct. 28 and Nov. 4) preceding the general election from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Early voting ends on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 5 p.m. The general election will take place Tuesday, Nov. 7.

To find more information about the 2023 general election in Chesterfield, including sample ballots and candidate information, visit www.promotethevotecfield.org. 

Voters Must Adhere To New State Law Before Casting Absentee Ballot 

Registered Chesterfield voters planning to cast an absentee ballot need to meet new requirements before returning their ballot either by mail or in a dropbox (located at all open polling locations),

Recent legislation (HB1948) removed the witness requirement for absentee ballots. Voters are now required to provide the last four digits of their social security number and their year of birth on the ballot envelope.

As stated on the Ballot Return Envelope, your ballot will not be counted if you do not fill in the Statement of Voter on the envelope completely.

Absentee ballots requested by registered Chesterfield County voters are currently being mailed to their respective residences.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot for the Nov. 7 General election is Oct. 27.

View more information about changes to absentee ballot return, and other information regarding the November General Election, at the Chesterfield General Registrar’s webpage. 

Final Chesterfield Farmers Market

of 2023 Season is Wednesday

Don't miss your last chance this year

to support local vendors!

Don't forget to come out to the Chesterfield County Farmers Market, 6701 Mimms Loop, on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. through the end of September.

The market offers fresh produce, local artisans, friendly vendors, and other quality products. There are also food trucks available if you're looking for a quick lunch.

Board of Supervisors to Meet Wednesday

The Chesterfield Board of Supervisors will meet this Wednesday, Sept. 27, starting with a work session at 2 p.m. in Room 502 of the County Administration Building (9901 Lori Road) and then an evening session that begins at 6 p.m. in the Public Meeting Room (10001 Iron Bridge Road).

An online comment form is available for citizens to submit comments ahead of time.

Meeting agenda highlights include updates from the Chesterfield Health District and Mental Health Support Services, as well as the latest on the state budget.

The entire meeting, excluding the closed session, will be available for viewing on Comcast Channel 98 and Verizon Channel 28, and live streamed on chesterfield.gov and the county’s YouTube channel. 

FRIDAY

Manchester at Monacan, 7

Meadowbrook at Matoaca, 7

Midlothian at Clover Hill, 7

Huguenot at James River, 7

Richmond City School of the Arts at Cosby, 7

Thomas Dale at Dinwiddie, 7

L.C. Bird at Powhatan, 7

ChesterFest 2023 Slated For Saturday

at Chester Village Green

ChesterFest 2023 takes place this Saturday, Sept. 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Chester Village Green, 11801 Centre St.

The popular annual community festival features food, live music, arts and crafts, and other fun activities, including a Kids Zone with inflatables. It’s a great time for folks of all ages!

Parking and shuttle service will be available at Thomas Dale High School's main and west campuses between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

For more information about the event, visit chesterfestvirginia.com.

Copa Talento Coming to Chesterfield in July 2024

What “American Idol” has done for singers, Darwin and Anthony Murrillo are trying to do for youth soccer players.

Recognizing there are many talented young people in America, particularly among its growing Latino population, that never get a chance to showcase their soccer skills because their families lack the financial resources needed to join a high-level club, the Murrillo brothers formed Copa Talento.

It’s an organization committed to providing equal access to resources and opportunities, through competitive soccer programs, for the Latino and/or underserved communities.  

The Murrillos announced last week that they are bringing Copa Talento to Chesterfield’s River City Sportsplex in early July 2024. The event will include a three-day soccer clinic offering “intensive training” at affordable prices, followed by a showcase tournament that grew from 30 teams in its first year to 111 in 2023.

Learn more by reading an article in the Chesterfield On Point blog.

The Chesterfield Department of Community Enhancement is preparing its Comprehensive Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER), which outlines the county's performance in administering two funded activities: the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and the Home Investment Partnership Grant (HOME).

A draft of the report is available for public review and comment on the Community Enhancement website. The department is seeking comments through this Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 5 p.m.

In a new article posted to the Chesterfield On Point blog, you can learn more about Dan Athey, a firefighter/paramedic with Chesterfield Fire and EMS who also serves as a certified peer recovery specialist for its Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) unit.

Back in July, Athey conducted a follow-up visit with Richie Wilson, a county resident who was in early-stage withdrawal from opioids and had collapsed at home, prompting Wilson's father to call 9-1-1.

They sat in the living room and talked for more than an hour, Wilson recounting the ups and downs of his 10-year battle with an opioid addiction that began with a 9mm kidney stone and prescription pain medication.

Then Athey, a man he literally had just met, shared his story – specifically, his own struggles with alcoholism.

“He said ‘You’re not alone,’” Wilson recalled. “I was coming off a pretty hard substance and I was feeling crappy. Even doctors don’t understand how your brain works. They think they do, but they don’t. It takes an addict to really understand an addict. When Dan said he’s a recovering alcoholic, I was like, ‘Wow, you’re just like me.’”

On the latest episode of Chesterfield Behind the Mic, we talk to Dalila Medrano, Multicultural Community Engagement Coordinator, about the ways in which the county reaches out to multicultural parts of the community, the kinds of resources that are available, and the types of events Community Engagement and Resources offers. That list includes the Community Cup, which will take place on Saturday, Sept. 30 at River City Sportsplex.

'Staying Strong at Stonebridge'

Resource Fair Takes Place Oct. 3

Join Chesterfield's Office of Aging & Disability Services, Parks and Recreation, Senior Connections and the YMCA for an Active Aging Week celebration, "Staying Strong at Stonebridge."

The event takes place next Tuesday,

Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to noon at Stonebridge Recreation Center, 230 Karl Linn Drive.

It's a resource fair offering health screenings, flu shots (bring your insurance card), fitness and wellness activities, a DJ, food, raffles and more for seniors and adults with a disability in Chesterfield.

Federal Agencies Conducting Nationwide

IPAWS Test on Oct. 4

In coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will conduct a nationwide test of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) starting at 2:20 p.m. next Wednesday, Oct. 4.

The test will include the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and the Emergency Alerting System (EAS). This means residents should receive a WEA message on their mobile device, as well as an EAS message on television and radios.

Unlike Chesterfield Alert, where you receive local emergency alerts based on the addresses associated with a registered account, IPAWS is an alerting system that allows the federal government and approved local and state government agencies to send warning messages to people who are physically within a geographical area without registering. These alerts are issued when there is extreme danger in a geographical area and officials need as many people as possible in that space to take protective action. Some IPAWS alerts you may be familiar with are Amber Alerts and weather alerts from the National Weather Service.

Chesterfield is an authorized alerting authority. We have sent WEA messages twice in the past year. Most recently, we sent a message to the surrounding areas of where a missing juvenile was last seen. While WEA alerts are useful, Chesterfield will use Chesterfield Alert for most types of emergency messaging, so please opt in at www.ChesterfieldAlert.com. You can enter multiple address points in your Chesterfield Alert account as well as choose multiple notification methods.

We will use IPAWS when there is extreme danger and immediate action must be taken by as many people as possible in a geographical area. To ensure you are receiving IPAWS alerts, please go to the settings of your mobile device and verify that the your wireless emergency alerts (WEA) are enabled. WEA alerts should override your phone’s do not disturb function.

Learn more about the scheduled IPAWS test by visiting FEMA's website.

Register for CASA's Superhero 5K

Oct. 8 at Westchester Commons

Chesterfield's Court Apointed Special Advocate (CASA) program is proud to announce the return of the Superhero 5K on Sunday, Oct. 8 at Westchester Commons.

It starts at 8:30 a.m. and includes a 5K run, a kids 1K run and a Family Fun event. Gather your family and friends to run or walk -- costumes are optional but encouraged!

Proceeds from registration fees benefit Chesterfield CASA, whose mission is to promote safe, permanent homes for abused and neglected children by providing trained volunteers to advocate for them throughout their involvement in the juvenile court process.

Register by visiting the event website.

Hi, I'm Valentine!

I am a silly, entertaining, loving boy. Sadly, my owner could not care for me anymore due to reasons beyond their control. They loved me greatly and are really hoping I can find a new home that will love me too.

I love to play ... like, a lot. It's my favorite. Toys are the best. I don't even care what kind -- they are all awesome and I get pretty vocal about how excited I am. There's also this weird thing attached to my butt -- I'm told it's a tail -- that like to chase. I just don't know why it's there! Like I said, I'm just super silly.

I did well with other dogs I met, I just hope they like me. I'm a hugger to other dogs (it's a dominance thing), and some dogs may not appreciate this. I'm a 2-year-old Pitbull mix and I weigh 43 lbs.

If you are interested in meeting this pet, please contact Chesterfield County Animal Services at 804-748-1683, option "2," to schedule an appointment. Office staff are available by phone 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Our shelter is located at 9300 Public Works Road.

Adopt-A-Spot Provides Opportunities

to Keep Chesterfield Beautiful

Program aims to help students stop vaping

According to the Virginia Department of Health, vaping is an epidemic among young people, with more than one in four high school students and one in 10 middle school students reported vaping in the past 30 days. To combat vaping, Chesterfield County Public Schools invites parents and guardians to “How to Talk to Your Kids About Vaping.”

This free program is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 12 from 6:30-7:45 p.m. at Thomas Dale High School's main campus, 3626 W. Hundred Road; Register at bit.ly/stopvape_TDHS.

It will cover:

• Health risks of substance use during adolescence and young adulthood

• Myths, trends and concerns about vaping and marijuana use in young people

• Information and resources needed to address this issue with children

Oct. 5 is deadline for openings on advisory committees

Advisory committees established by the Chesterfield County School Board are one way community members connect with their local schools. Advisory committee members are appointed from each of the county’s five magisterial districts and include parents, teachers, staff members, students and others interested in helping Chesterfield County Public Schools achieve its vision of creating a better tomorrow. Advisory committee members who are appointed by the School Board must reside in the district they represent.

Under Virginia’s open government requirements, meetings are generally required to be held in person. If you are unable to meet in person, please note that in your application under “availability for meeting attendance.” For more information about specific committees or to apply, visit the school division's website.

Click the application button to apply by next Thursday, Oct. 5 if you are eligible and interested in these openings:

Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee

·Midlothian District (partial term ending June 30, 2025)

School Health Advisory Board

·Bermuda District (partial term ending June 30, 2024)

·Clover Hill District (partial term ending June 30, 2024)

Special Education Advisory Committee (Parent representatives must have a child participating in a special education program within Chesterfield County Public Schools at the time of appointment.)

·Clover Hill District (partial term ending June 30, 2026)