Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023

Chesterfield Breaks Ground on

Beulah Neighborhood Park

When the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors decided in March 2015 to identify a new site for the replacement Beulah Elementary School, conversations quickly shifted to what to do with the existing 95-year-old building and its campus.

The first part of that question was answered earlier this year, when the county opened the new Beulah Recreation Center, an adaptive reuse project that transformed the vacant school into a gymnasium, classrooms and meeting spaces, multipurpose room, stage area and kitchen for community events.

Chesterfield took the next step Monday afternoon, holding a ceremonial groundbreaking for Phase 1 of the Beulah Neighborhood Park.

The complementary 9-acre project will convert the former school athletic grounds into the Richmond region’s first regulation-sized cricket pitch, lighted and irrigated with a scoreboard and batting cage, as well as two multipurpose rectangular fields, a combination restroom/picnic shelter and a ½-mile walking trail. 

It is scheduled to be open to the public by fall 2024. 

Learn more about the project in the Chesterfield On Point blog.

Perkinson Center Hosting Four Performances

of The Nutcracker This Weekend

Come out to the Perkinson Center for the Arts this weekend for a family holiday classic!

The Stavna Ballet will transport you to the magical world of The Nutcracker, with four performances beginning this Friday and continuing through Sunday.

The production, which featueres dancers from the Stavna Youth Ballet alongside the professional Stavna Ballet company, comes to life in a winter wonderland where falling snowflakes, twirling flowers and spinning stars guide Clara and her Nutcracker Prince through a dream-like world to the land of the sweets. 

Showtimes are Friday at 7 p.m, Saturday at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m.

VSU's Trojan Explosion Competing in

Band of the Year Event Friday on ESPN

Virginia State University's Trojan Explosion Marching Band has been named the top Division II HBCU band in the country in 2023 by ESPN. The band will now compete in ESPN’s inaugural HBCU Band of The Year competition, which will take place this Friday, Dec. 15 at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

VSU will compete against Florida Memorial, a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), to take home the distinguished title of HBCU Band of the Year in the Division II/NAIA category. It will be broadcast live on ESPN Plus at 6 p.m.

The ESPN HBCU Band of The Year competition will cap off an impressive year for the university’s band. In February, they were invited to perform at the White House and on The NBC Today Show. The band also performed at the National Battle of the Bands competition in Houston, Texas, in August and was featured on a Fox Sports segment highlighting the best HBCU bands in the country.

Board of Supervisors Meets Wednesday

The Chesterfield Board of Supervisors will meet on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 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 the Greater Richmond Partnership and Economic Development annual reports in the afternoon as well as a Southside Speedway property update and the authorization of the 2024 calendar year tax rate in the evening.

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. 

Use Our Interactive Map to Create

Personalized Holiday Light Tour

Have you had a chance to use our interactive map of local holiday light displays?

Light up your holiday with a drive through local Chesterfield neighborhoods in the comfort (and warmth) of your own vehicle. Whether you’re interested in viewing thousands of inflatables, synchronized lights to music, or the more classic light displays, Chesterfield has something for everyone. Grab your crew, a warm vehicle with a full tank of gas, turn up the holiday music, and prepare to be amazed! 

We also created a tutorial video that will help you make the most of the holiday light map. We hope you enjoy it!

Explore Christmas in Chesterfield from

Front Lines of American Revolution

What did Christmas look like from the front lines of the American Revolution?

Join Henricus Historical Park expert John Pagano as he explores Christmas during the American Revolution in Chesterfield. The free event takes place next Saturday, Dec. 16 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Central Library, 7051 Lucy Corr Blvd.

Dive into history this holiday season and don't miss this unique journey into the past!

Chesterfield Behind the Mic is an audio and video podcast focusing on the people, stories and happenings of #Cfield. You can watch and listen to all of the episodes at

http://www.Chesterfield.gov/Podcast.

On the latest episode of Chesterfield Behind the Mic, which drops tomorrow, we talk to Executive Director Chet Parsons about the Central Virginia Transportation Authority, or CVTA, to discuss not only its role in the region but also the ways in which it is helping to deliver real results for road projects in Chesterfield County.

In a new article posted to the Chesterfield On Point blog, you can learn about a series of proposed budget amendments that will be considered by the Board of Supervisors at its monthly meeting Wednesday.

Chesterfield publicly kicked off the fiscal year 2025 budget process last Tuesday with a virtual town hall co-hosted by Deputy County Administrator Matt Harris and Budget Director Gerard Durkin.

The town hall was streamed live on the county’s Facebook page and is also available for viewing on YouTube.

Harris and Durkin discussed several finance-related items that will be on the agenda for the Board of Supervisors’ Dec. 13 meeting, including $92 million in proposed amendments to the county’s and school division’s fiscal year 2024 budgets.

Citizens have an opportunity to comment on the proposed budget amendments during a public hearing Wednesday, after which the board is expected to vote.

Chester Library's Holiday Selfie Station

Available Through Dec. 22

Chester Library's Holiday Selfie Station is back for another season! Dress up or down, walk in and take portraits using your own smart phone or camera. Two holiday-themed sets with props will be available during library hours from this Saturday, Nov. 25 until Friday, Dec. 22.

Chester Library is located at 11800 Centre Street.

Survey on GRTC's Transit Strategic

Plan Open Until Dec. 27

Want to have a voice in the future of Richmond transit?

GRTC's draft Transit Strategic Plan (TSP) envisions an enhanced bus network, with improvements for Pulse, local, and express routes.

Explore the proposed changes and provide your feedback to help guide the next 10 years of bus service in the Richmond region by participating in GRTC's survey, which will be open through Dec. 27.

Introducing Sabino!

He is a super affectionate, cuddly Jack Russell Terrier mix. He's an older man, around 10 years old or so, but he still has lots of love to give! Sabino loves napping and going for leisure walks, and he is very polite on a leash.

He is looking for a nice, quiet home where he can binge-watch TV with you and cuddle. Can you make this old dog's new wish come true?

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.

Report Illicit Discharges to County Storm Sewer

System By Calling 24-Hour Hotline

Chesterfield County’s stormwater ordinance prohibits unmanaged and intentional non-stormwater discharges to the county’s storm sewer system. It also prohibits connecting any structure or device that conveys any liquid other than stormwater to the county’s storm sewer system without prior authorization.

What classifies as illicit discharge?

• Automotive fluids
• Herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers
• Paints, solvents and household chemicals
• Pet waste
• Sewage
• Yard waste, grass clippings, and leaves

To report an illicit discharge, please call our 24-hour hotline at 804-717-6161.

For more information, please visit the Reporting Illicit Discharges page on the county website.

NARCAN Nasal Spray Available

For Free at All Chesterfield Libraries

Naloxone, a medication that reverses an opioid overdose, is available free of charge at all Chesterfield County Public Library locations. If you or a loved one is experiencing an addiction to or have been prescribed opioids, you should have Naloxone on hand.

For more information, visit the CCPL website.

Social Services Can Connect You

With Quality Childcare Providers

Let Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Social Services help you and your family connect with the right tools to find quality childcare!

Visit www.childcare.virginia.gov to learn more about:

* Eligibility for financial assistance

* How to apply for childcare subsidy, if eligible

* Information on childcare providers in your area and much more!

Real Estate Tax Exemption Available

for Investing in Your Older Property

Did you know that Chesterfield allows a partial real estate tax exemption for the rehabilitation, renovation, or replacement of older residential structures?

The goal of this program is to help protect and preserve our aging neighborhoods. Upon approval, the partial tax exemption will be in effect for 15 years and transfers with the real estate. The amount of the exemption is based solely on increased assessment value, not the amount spent on the improvement project. There is no application fee.

Find out more and apply online today by visiting the county's website.

Adopt-A-Spot Provides Opportunities

to Keep Chesterfield Beautiful

Interested in being an antilitter advocate? Adopt-A-Spot in Chesterfield County! Let’s work together to protect our environment.

The Keep Chesterfield Beautiful team is a part of the Department of Community Enhancement. KCB is looking for volunteers for the Adopt-A-Spot Program. This program allows organizations, businesses, and individuals to adopt smaller, more-secure areas, instead of busy roadways.

A spot may be a park, school grounds, vacant lot, parking lot, walkway, median strip, street, or entranceway. The county will provide garbage bags and reflective vests as needed.

Take pride in your community by helping to keep one site beautiful and litter-free. If you are interested in attending any of our volunteer opportunities, please contact Calvin Vonada at VonadaC@chesterfield.gov or call 804-717-6136.

Considering the expectation for snow coming this winter, now is the time for residents to familiarize themselves with all of the different ways that Chesterfield County puts out emergency information.

One of those is Chesterfield Alert, an opt-in system that sends messages directly to you in the event of an emergency. This system can send out alerts via text, email, and phone call depending on how the subscriber chooses to receive the messages. Sign up today!

Click here to learn more about how you can get accurate, up-to-date information from Chesterfield in the event of an emergency.

Searching for some independence? Find yourself having to call on family or friends to get you where you need to be?

Access on Demand is a same day, door-to-door, point-to-point service for citizens registered for mobility services. Destinations must be located within Chesterfield County, unless for work or medical appointments.

Each one-way trip is $6 and will be charged to your debit or credit card at the time of pick-up. Ride reservations must be made at least two hours in advance by calling an authorized provider for same-day service.

Register online, see if you qualify, and learn more about this service.

Did you know your group or organization can request a speaker from the #Cfield Speakers Bureau? The Speakers Bureau features a variety of topics on current and timely subjects from county leaders who are eager to talk to your group or organization.

Our subject-matter experts want to be your best resource for getting answers to important questions about Chesterfield. Topics include:

✅ District update – Request your board member to speak

✅ Preparing for an emergency - Emergency Management

✅ Senior resources in Chesterfield - Office of Aging and Disability Services

✅ Chesterfield Cooperative Extension - Master Gardeners

✅ So much more.

Clover Hill High explores aviation

The Virginia Department of Aviation buzzed over to Clover Hill High with interactive, educational activities for students, including a flight simulator. Watch this video to see how the day went.

Bellwood Buddies show up for each other

Bellwood Buddies is a new initiative to improve attendance at Bellwood Elementary. Each day, 25 older students (grades 4-5) check in with about 60 younger students (grades K-3).

The older buddies demonstrate student leadership while strengthening relationships and letting their younger buddies know they are important to the Bellwood Elementary community. Bellwood students are showing up for each other!

Winter break is coming

Winter break for Chesterfield County Public Schools students and teachers will begin Dec. 22 and continue through Jan. 5, 2024. School offices and school system buildings will remain open to the public Dec. 22, Dec. 27-29 and Jan. 2-5.