December 2, 2022

A publication by Gloucester's Department of Community Engagement and Public Information

Public Forum to be held Dec. 12 on Enhancing Existing Opioid Addiction Services in Gloucester

Gloucester County will be hosting small table discussions on enhancing existing opioid addiction services in the community Dec. 12 from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Gloucester Main Library Community Room. Service providers, family, friends, those in recovery, or anyone impacted by the crisis are encouraged to attend and share their experiences and recommendations. 



Gloucester is slated to receive an estimated total of $678,362 distributed in annual installments through fiscal year 2039 from the Commonwealth’s Opioid Abatement Fund. This fund is a result of a $26 billion national settlement with opioid distributors and manufacturers. The County is using the Dec. 12 forum and other means to receive public input to help guide decisions on how the funding will be allocated within the County to help combat the opioid epidemic locally. 

Individuals who are unable to attend the forum but would like to provide input are invited to do so through the “Opioid Remediation Settlement Funds Use-Public Feedback” by clicking here.

The funding must be utilized to treat, prevent, or reduce opioid use disorder or the misuse of opioids through evidence-based or evidence-informed methods, programs, or strategies. Examples of eligible expenditures include medication-assisted treatment; prevention programs; support for those in treatment and recovery; to address the needs of pregnant or parenting women; research; training and more. 

According to Gloucester Sheriff Darrell Warren, Gloucester has had 20 opioid overdose deaths in the last two years. 

“Even one death due to drug overdose is one too many,” said Steve Wright, Gloucester’s Deputy County Administrator, who is overseeing the program locally. “Our intent is to use this and other community engagement opportunities to learn first-hand from our citizens who are or have been directly impacted by the opioid crisis. We want to know how we can best utilize this funding to help our residents and work to combat this terrible epidemic.”

In order to help staff prepare for this event, attendees are requested to RSVP by clicking here. Any questions regarding the forum can be directed to Steve Wright at swright@gloucesterva.info or 804-693-4042, or Gloria Williams, Community Engagement and Public Information Manager at gwilliams@gloucesterva.info or 804-693-5730.  

Important Event Information!

The countdown to the 2022 Christmas & Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony has begun! With that being said we are monitoring the weather closely and wanted to provide an update on the Gloucester Parks, Recreation and Tourism and Gloucester County Government Facebook pages!

Important Information!

-There is no rain date for this event.

-Those participating in the parade will be contacted if cancellation has to occur (via email so keep look out!)

-Updates for those planning to attend the parade will be posted here as well as on our main page.

We hope that the weather holds off and we are able to see all the amazing hard work you all have put into your floats and parade decorations!

Road closures will be in effect on Main Street for all thru traffic until the parade's completion. During the parade, traffic will still be able to proceed onto JCMH towards Mathews County, if coming from the Walmart area and off JCMH, if turning left towards the Walmart area. To allow for easier parade flow, “No Parking” signs will be in place along Main Street from the area of Carriage Ct. to Cary Avenue. Please do not park in this area!

Gloucester Welcomes a Flurry of New Businesses to the County

Gloucester County’s Economic Development office has announced quite a few new businesses that have opened recently, or are under construction in the County, signifying that Gloucester’s economy remains strong.

Click here to Learn About These Businesses

It’s official! The Gloucester Farmers Market is back, this time at Historic Ware Church!

Beginning in May of 2023 local farmers, watermen, and artisans will have a new place to share their products with the wider Gloucester Community, on the second Saturday of each month (through September).

Visit www.glocofarmersmarket.com for more information, or to apply as a vendor!

VDACS Launches New Mental Health Resource to Assist the Commonwealth’s Agricultural Producers

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) announces the official launch of the AgriStress Helpline for Virginia to provide the Commonwealth’s agricultural producers with mental health support.

The helpline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and has interpretation services for 160 languages. Farmers can call or text 833-897-2474 to speak directly with a healthcare professional. Crisis specialists have access to a Virginia specific curated database of agricultural and health resources.

To Learn More, Click Here.

LIBRARY NEWS

PARKS & RECREATION NEWS

Gloucester Parks, Recreation & Tourism Receives Virginia Tourism Corporation Grant for Tourism Marketing

Governor Glenn Youngkin announced recently that Gloucester Parks, Recreation & Tourism received a $5,000 grant for its Visit Gloucester for The Holidays & Beyond project. This project will focus on marketing Gloucester as a tourist destination during the months of November-April. There will be a focus on events throughout Gloucester during a time that some may not normally travel to the area. Grant funds will be used to leverage existing advertising dollars from Gloucester Parks, Recreation & Tourism, as well as local organizations.

Click here to Learn More

Holiday Photos in The Park

Join us at Beaverdam Park for a Holiday Photo Op! Wear the ugly sweaters, the holiday finery or “our favorite” park attire! We will email photos for you to use as Christmas Cards, presents and for scrapbooks. Goody bags too!

Register for a 10 minute appointment between Noon and 1:30pm on Saturday, December 10. Amphitheater. $10/ family, deadline December 3.

Head to gloucesterva.info/civicrec to grab your time slot!

Replayed Post on Money, Health, and Other Things!

With all of the holiday cooking this month, the Virginia Cooperative Extension is revisiting a previous post. This week, they’ll dive a little deeper into the topic of food safety and discuss “FAT-TOM”, and how remembering that can help reduce the chance of food poisoning!

To Learn More, Click Here.