Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023

Chesterfield Presents Proposed Budget Amendments at Facebook Live Town Hall

Chesterfield publicly kicked off the fiscal year 2025 budget process Tuesday afternoon 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 will also be 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.

Learn more in an article posted to the Chesterfield On Point blog.

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



The board also is scheduled to take action on two other financial topics at the Dec. 13 meeting: setting Chesterfield’s maximum real estate tax rate for calendar year 2024 and adjusting the eligibility thresholds in a tax relief program for the disabled and elderly.

Tacky Light Run, a RVA Holiday Tradition,

Winds Through Walton Park Saturday

Sports Backers of Richmond is turning RVA’s favorite holiday tradition into a can’t miss experience for walkers, runners, Santa-lovers and elves-at-heart!

Join us for the annual Tacky Light Run this Saturday, Dec. 9 and spend the night immersed in holiday cheer. Discover dozens of homes with over-the-top tacky lights in Midlothian's Walton Park neighborhood, including the famous Dawnridge Court.

At 4 p.m., there's a pre-race festival at the North Pole (Mid-Lothian Mines Park, 13301 North Woolridge Road). The Tacky Light Run begins at 6 p.m. near the park.

For a full schedule of events, registration and course information, including road closures, visit the Sports Backers website.

Rally your family and friends because this is a night that’ll have you feeling like you’ve landed in the North Pole!

Purchase Unique Holiday Gifts Saturday

at Annual Winter Maker Market

With the holidays closing in, here's an event in mind to find unique gifts!

Join the Chesterfield Farmers Market and Chesterfield County Public Library this Saturday, Dec. 9 for the annual Winter Maker Market.

The event will take place at Central Library from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will be held inside and both admission and parking are free.

Visit your favorite farmers market vendor or meet some new ones. Get all your holiday shopping done in one place.

There will also be a food truck on site so you can grab lunch while you are out.

Chester Kiwanis Christmas Parade

Rolls Down Route 10 Sunday

The annual Chester Kiwanis Christmas Parade will be held on Sunday, Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. The parade route begins at the Chester YMCA and runs west along Route 10 to Chester Village Green.

The Chester Kiwanis Club is the community host for the annual Christmas Parade. Kiwanis is a global organization dedicated to changing the world one child and community at a time. More than 40 individual units are participating in this year’s event, with “Joy to the World” as the theme.

For more information, please email chesterchristmasparade@verizon.net or visit chesterVAKiwanis.org. 

In a new article posted to the Chesterfield On Point blog, you can learn more about our interactive map of holiday light displays across the county.

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! 

The article includes links to a listing of addresses and a tutorial video that will help you make the most of the holiday light map. We hope you enjoy it!

Explore Christmas Through the Centuries

Saturday at Henricus

Make your holiday season historic at Henricus!

The 17th through 20th centuries in England, the American colonies, and the United States transformed Christmas into what we know today. Explore what Christmas looked like, smelled like, and sounded like to Virginians throughout the centuries this Saturday, Dec. 9 from noon to 7 p.m. at Henricus Historical Park.

Later in the evening, wander under the moonlight through one of the oldest English settlements in North America. Candles will flicker from every window, fireplaces will crackle in timber-framed houses, and bonfires will help chase away the winter chill. Enjoy a forest of festive greenery as Henricus puts on our finest for an Old World Yuletide. Your journey through time will end with a greeting from Father Christmas!

For more information, visit the Henricus website.

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.

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, we talk to Chief Loy Senter of Chesterfield Fire and EMS and Lt. Col. Brad Badgerow of the Chesterfield Police Department about how you can keep your family safe this holiday season. We cover ways to ensure your kitchen, lights, and home are not at risk of fires and best practices for protecting yourself and your valuables while out shopping this year. 

Topping Out Ceremony Marks Milestone

for Springline at District 60 Project

In partnership with the Chesterfield Economic Development Authority, local engineering firm Timmons Group held a topping out ceremony last Friday to recognize a significant milestone in the Springline at District 60 development.

County leaders and those involved in the project signed a large steel beam before it was hoisted into place, completing the skeleton of the first structure under construction on the site of the former Spring Rock Green shopping center: a five-story, 150,000-square-foot office building that will house Timmons Group's corporate headquarters, as well as the administrative staffs for Chesterfield County Public Schools and the county's Economic Development Department.

Read more about the topping-out ceremony and Springline at District 60 in the Chesterfield On Point blog.

VSU's Trojan Explosion Named ESPN's

Division II HBCU Band of the Year

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 next 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.

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.

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.

Meet Miss Piggy!

This cute little pocket pittie is so happy to see everyone, when she wags her crooked little tail, her whole body wiggles! She is so happy to be around people and other dogs, she does the cutest little hops!

Miss Piggy is very food motivated so she will be easy to teach, but she'd much rather have your love over treats any day. If you are ready to meet this adorable little girl, call us today! Piggy is a 3-year-old spayed female Pitbull mix and weighs about 43lbs.

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.

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.

Denim Drive results

The annual Denim Drive is a partnership among Goodwill, the Chesterfield County Council of PTAs and Chesterfield County Public Schools that turns jeans into jobs while helping schools.

Working to make a difference, schools from across the district collected and donated 4,202 pieces of used denim clothing, which Goodwill will repurpose for use by central Virginia residents. That’s a 56% increase from the 2,688 pieces donated in 2022!

As an incentive to participate in the annual community support program, the nine school PTAs that collect the most denim win cash prizes ($1,000 for first place, $750 for second place and $500 for third place). Here are the top schools in the 2023 Denim Drive:

Elementary schools

● First place: Old Hundred (480 pieces)

● Second place: Grange Hall (323)

● Third place: Swift Creek (84)

Middle schools

● First place: Tomahawk Creek (326 pieces)

● Second place: Midlothian (314)

● Third place: Robious (261)

High schools

● First place: Midlothian (593 pieces)

● Second place: Cosby (484)

● Third place: Manchester (284)

Mission Tomorrow

Each year, eighth-graders from Chesterfield County Public Schools and other central

Virginia districts experience Mission Tomorrow, an interactive career exploration event. Hands-on activities introduce students to a wide array of career options and work-based learning opportunities. Watch this video to see Chesterfield students exploring possibilities at Mission Tomorrow.