Downtown Utility Infrastructure Improvements
The City of Winchester is very pleased to announce the kickoff of construction on the Downtown Utility Infrastructure Improvements Project that will replace the underground water, sewer, and storm infrastructure and sidewalks on Braddock and Cameron between Gerrard and Fairfax Lane. Work started Monday, May 4 on both streets on the south end of
the project near Gerrard and will progress north.
During the project, every effort will be made to maintain one lane of traffic on both Braddock and Cameron, but there may be a few days when that will not be possible due to safety concerns. On street parking will not be available within the specific area where work is occurring. All work on Braddock and Cameron is expected to be completed by October
24, 2009.
This project was originally scheduled to be completed in 2010-11 but it is necessary to replace the extremely old water and sewer infrastructure sooner than later. Some of the existing water mains in the project area are over 150 years old. The project schedule has been expedited and will be completed this year in advance of converting Braddock and Cameron to two-way traffic. The total cost of the utility replacements is approximately
$10 million and will be paid for by the City’s Utility Fund that is funded solely by water and sewer rates, not by the General Fund through property taxes.
The conversion to two-way traffic on Braddock and Cameron is expected to take place around Thanksgiving later this year. By expediting the utility replacement project (a project that would be completed even if the conversion to two-way traffic would not happen), the actual cost to the General Fund for converting the streets to two-way traffic will be less than $100,000.
The City of Winchester understands that this project will have a significant impact on the downtown area during construction and is working diligently to minimize these impacts and complete the project as quickly as possible.
The City is working closely with the Old Town Development Board to provide updated project information to affected businesses by implementing “block captains” to maximize the flow of information and by holding weekly meetings. There will also be positive messages displayed in the project area to help show the importance and necessity of the project. The effort will include signage such as:
• “Progress Ahead: Investing in Old Town Winchester”
• “Historic Winchester: Investing for the Future”
• “Come Join the Renaissance of Old Town Winchester”
 Project updates can also be found on the City’s website, www.winchesterva.gov, by clicking on the link “Downtown Utility Improvements” on the homepage.
What Does the City Do for SABF?
Have you ever visited downtown on Monday following the parade? Have you ever noticed how clean it is? It is as if the Festival never occurred. Downtown Maintenance Crews work all day and night following the parades and the midway to ensure that Old Town is ready for business on Monday!
The City's Public Works Department begins planning for SABF in
mid-January. During the last three days of the Festival, 43 Public Works team members worked 40 hours per member in the three-day period from Friday through Sunday.
Most of what the City of Winchester does before, during and after the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival (SABF) is behind the scenes. SABF is organized entirely by the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival organization located on North Cameron Street. The SABF organization hires the talent, signs up all the volunteers and manages the activities.
The City of Winchester assists the SABF organization by issuing event and building permits; conducting inspections on tents, bleachers and amusement equipment; posting "No Parking" signs and enforcing parking restrictions; managing traffic; providing security; organizing detour routes and street closures; cleaning the streets; providing trash cans and recycle bins; setting up barricades; responding to emergency calls; volunteering at special events;
and much more!
The City is proud to partner with the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival to help keep all the festivities running smoothly and safely.
Pay Tribute to Those Who Safe Lives
At the April 14, 2009 Regular Meeting of City Council, a resolution was unanimously approved designating the week of May 17-23, 2009 as EMS Week.
 The members of Winchester Fire and Rescue Department are ready to provide lifesaving care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Having this access to quality emergency care dramatically improves the survival and recovery rate of those who experience sudden illness or injury.
In 2008, Winchester personnel responded to over 4,100 EMS calls with almost one-half of those calls requiring advanced life support interventions - skills administered by either an EMT-Enhanced, EMT-Intermediate or EMT-Paramedic. Paramedics provide the most advanced level of emergency medical care available to the general public outside of a hospital
setting.
This year’s theme for EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WEEK is, “EMS: A Proud Partner in Your Community” and will be observed with a vehicle extrication demonstration that will incorporate various other agencies including a static display of fire and rescue apparatus and the PHI AirCare medical helicopter on Saturday, May 23 from 10:00 am-2:00 pm in front
of the Ohstrom-Bryant Theater on the Shenandoah University Campus. This event is open to the public.
Rain Barrel Registration Full
Within 24 hours of the April 22 CitE-News, registration for the City's free "Make and Take" Rain Barrel Workshop on May 14 was completely full!
The space and resources for this workshop were limited and the City apologizes to those residents that are not able to participate this time. However, the City applauds your desire to be more environmentally
responsible.
Make Your Own Rain Barrel
 During dry months, 40 percent of the average household's water consumption goes to outdoor watering. Rather than needlessly draining that water out of the faucet, gather rainfall in a rain barrel connected to the gutter system and use it to keep the lawn and garden green.
Just an inch of rainfall on a 1,000-square-foot roof will accumulate over 600 gallons of fresh water. When picking out a barrel, here are a couple of things to look for:
- Choose a model topped with a mesh screen that will keep debris out of the
barrel and a lid that prevents mosquitoes from using the water as a breeding
ground when it's not raining.
- Look for a barrel equipped with a side spigot where a hose can be attached
and watering cans can be easily filled.
Also, most rain barrels can hold up to sixty gallons of water, so make sure it's parked on a strong and steady surface.
Subscribe to the New Park ActivitE-News
ActivitE-News is a new monthly electronic newsletter from Winchester Parks & Recreation.
 The purpose of the newsletter is two-fold. First, we want to reduce our costs of printing paper brochures three times a year and be more environmentally responsible. Second, we want to maintain consistent communication with our patrons and keep everyone up to date with what’s happening at WPRD.
The park’s activity guide will still be produced three times a year but it will only be mailed to a subscription list. However, the guide will be posted on the park’s website ( www.winchesterva.gov/parks) and a notification email will be sent to ActivitE-News subscribers letting them know when they can download their on-line copy. Anyone that wants to continue receiving the printed version in the guide must contact the park and notify a front desk staff member.
ActivitE-News will feature a few stories each month of different things happening at WPRD as well as upcoming events, interactive tabs at the bottom that take you to different sections of our current activity guide, and other important dates and information.
CVB Wins the “Best Visitor Center of the Year"
Almost a year after its grand opening, the Winchester-Frederick County Visitor Center and Civil War Orientation Center received top honors at the 2009 Virginia Tourism Summit. The 2009 Virgo Travel and Tourism Award for “Best Visitor Center of the Year” was presented to the Winchester-Frederick County Convention and Visitors Bureau, which manages the center.
The award was based upon judging criteria that included community impact, the quality of the design of the visitor center, creativity in development and implementation of the center, and effective use of resources and budget.
 The visitor center serves to welcome visitors to the area and help them learn about the variety of attractions, lodgings, and dining experiences available in Winchester and Frederick County. The facility features a media room and an orientation film. The center’s new location and displays are already paying off, with visitation up 35% in 2008 from 2007. Of the 16,000 new visitors in 2008, more than 5,000 were local residents and community business leaders.
The award comes as the Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Battlefields Foundation, and attractions throughout the region are preparing for the Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War. The commemoration of the war’s 150th anniversary will take place from 2011 to 2015. Read More
Other CVB News:
The new visitor guides are in. Pick up your copy today in City Hall or at the visitor Center at 1400 South Pleasant Valley Road.
The votes have been tallied for People's Choice Award for Favorite Restaurant! The winner will be announced May 15 during National Tourism Week! Thank you to all who voted - over 300 votes were received!
Get Influenza Updates on City's Website
 If there are any local emergency or non-emergency information regarding the H1N1 Flu, the City of Winchester will post the necessary information on its website. Just click the "Influenza Update" button for important flu information. Also, find links to H1N1 Flu information from the Virginia Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Distracted Driving Awareness Day
Last week on April 29, was the National Distracted Driving Awareness Day. Even though the day has passed, it is never too late to learn more about staying safe on the road. Three Seconds. That’s All it Takes.
80% of all crashes and 65% of all near-crashes recently studied by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute involved driver inattention within 3 seconds of the crash.
Check out these statistics to learn how your behavior behind the wheel puts you at an increased risk for a crash.
Behavior Increased Risk
Reaching for a moving object 9 times
Driving drowsy 4 times
Looking at an external object 3.7 times
Reading 3.4 times
Dialing a phone 2.8 times
Applying makeup 3 times
Eating 1.6 times
Reaching for a non-moving object 1.4 times
Talking on hand-held phone 1.3 times
Source: Virginia Tech Transportation Institute Naturalistic Driving Study, Relative Risk Estimates for Crash/Near Crash Inattention Events
May is National Foster Care Month
All children deserve a safe, happy life – including the 496,000 American children and youth in foster care. Young people in foster care especially need nurturing adults on their side because their own families are in crisis and unable to care for them.
Each May, the nation salutes the compassionate people who make a difference by serving as foster parents, relative caregivers, mentors, advocates, social workers, and volunteers. Thanks to these unsung heroes, many formerly abused or neglected children and teens will either safely reunite with their parents, be cared for by relatives, or be adopted by
loving families.
The City of Winchester recently launched a new foster care website in partnership with Clarke-Frederick-Winchester (CFW) Foster Care. To learn more about becoming a foster parent, please visit www.winchesterva.gov/foster-care.
City Council Seeks Candidates for Boards and Commissions
Winchester City Council encourages all citizens to consider involving themselves actively in City government by serving on a City Board or Commission. Board and Commission applications are accepted throughout the year and candidates will be interviewed by a City Council Sub-committee.
“We rely on citizens to provide their expertise and feedback on services we offer or how to proceed for the betterment of the City”, said Council President Jeff Buettner. “It’s a commitment that helps shape Winchester – whether it is in the way areas are zoned, structures preserved, or what activities are planned downtown.”
City staff created a new brochure and application form to help citizens understand what the various boards and commission responsibilities include. Vacancies on boards and commissions are advertised in The Winchester Star monthly and on the City’s webpage.
For more information on how to become involved, contact Assistant City Manager Anne Lewis at (540) 667-1815 | 
