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Inside This Issue
Meeting Schedule
Thursday, March 25
Social Services Advisory Board
CANCELLED
4:00 pm
Tree Commission
City Yards, 301 E. Cork Street
Monday, March 29
6:00 pm
World Series Contract Signing Ceremony
City Hall, Council Chambers
Tuesday, March 30
5:30 pm
Council Work Session & Budget Discussion
City Hall, Council Chambers
Tuesday, April 1
4:00 pm
Board of Architectural Review
City Hall, Council Chambers
5:30 pm
Old Town Development Board
City Hall, 4th Floor Exhibit Hall
7:00 pm
South End Citizen's Assoc.*
Montague Avenue Methodist Church, 102 Montague Avenue
Monday, April 5
6:00 pm
Winchester Public School Board
WPS Central Office, 12 N. Washington Street
7:00 pm
North End Citizen's Assoc.*
Douglas Learning Center, 598 N. Kent Street
6:30 pm
World Series Volunteer Meet-and-Greet
War Memorial Building, Jim Barnett Park
*North and South End Citizens Associations are private organizations whose meetings are open to the public and are listed as a convenience to the public. Their listings are in no way an endorsement by the City of Winchester of the specific activities of the organizations.
Upcoming Events
2010 Adult Spelling Bee
Thursday, April 8
6:00-9:00 pm
Old Town Events Center
Orchid Show and Sale
March 26-27
10:00 am-4:00 pm
Museum of the Shenandoah Valley
Learn about growing and caring for orchids from the experts in the Lord Fairfax Orchid Society. At the MSV, the society will sell orchids grown by members as well as display member favorites on a show table. Throughout the sale, members of the orchid society will be available to share their knowledge about orchid types, care, and growth. You are welcome to bring problem orchids to the event for some suggestions. Culture sheets for each type of orchid will be available. MSV admission is not required to attend the show & sale.
First Battle of Kernstown - 148th Anniversary Commemoration Tour
Saturday, March 27
9:00 am – Morning tour
1:30 pm – Afternoon tour
A battlefield tour will be conducted by renowned author and First Battle of Kernstown expert, Gary Ecelbarger. Mr. Ecelbarger will begin his narrated walking tour on the fields of Pritchard’s Farm where the battle began on Sunday, March 23, 1862. After a lunch break (on your own), the tour will continue on Col. Glass’s Rose Hill Farm where the fiercely fought battle ended. Free for KBA and MSV members. All others $5 separately for morning and afternoon tours (payable at entrance to each property).
Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, March 27
9:00 am
Jim Barnett Park, Kiwanis I Shelter
Bring an empty basket and search for eggs in the park! Children will be separated into three age groups (under 3, 3-5 and 6-8). Free event thanks to Blue Ridge Kiwanis, Kiwanis Club of Winchester and Old Town Kiwanis. Call 662-4946.
Meet the Winchester Orchestra
Sunday, March 28
2:30 pm
George Washington Hotel
The event will start with an instrument petting zoo and hands-on activities with the Discovery Museum. Children will be able to touch and explore different instruments, use tuning forks, magnify & transform sound waves, and try out string telephones. At 3:00 pm the concert will start by Virginia Virtuosi, presenting: Musical Camera Safari. Tickets Required $9 for Ages 2 and up. Tickets are available at www.winorch.tix.com!
REMEMBER: when purchasing your tickets, select Winchester Parks & Recreation as your charity partner and WPRD will receive $3 from every ticket you purchase!
Magic Lantern Theatre Presents: "High Noon"
Wednesday, March 31
7:00 pm
Handley Library Auditorium, 100 W. Piccadilly Street
"High Noon" (1952) is the hour the train will arrive with a released prisoner who is looking to get even with retiring Sheriff Will Kane (Gary Cooper) for putting him away on a murder charge. Kane’s new bride (Grace Kelly) and his friends think he should leave, but Kane thinks he should face the killer and his gang. This dramatic western classic is simple, powerful, and unforgettable. Won 4 Oscars. Thomas Mitchell, Lloyd Bridges, & Lon Chaney Jr. also star. 85 min/B&W. Free. Donations are welcome.
Museum of the Shenandoah Day
Saturday, April 3
10:00 am-4:00 pm
Museum of the Shendandoah Valley, 901 Amherst Street
This day marks the fifth anniversary of the opening of the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley and the Museum invites everyone to visit free of charge! Regular admission rates apply for house & garden tours.
Community Yard Sale
Saturday, April 24
9:00 am-3:00 pm
Jim Barnett Park Gym
Register to be a vendor ($15 - table provided) and sell your unwanted items or come to shop. Be the first to see all the treasures with early bird shopping from 8:00-9:00 am ($5 admission). Shop for free after 9:00 am. Call 662-4946.
DUII Phase II Update
All underground water/sewer replacements are complete. Currently, crews are working on the base paving and the final paving will begin the week of April 19. The concrete and brick portions of the sidewalk replacements will continue for the next two weeks.
Estimated Completion Date: Before the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival.
Links
Next CitE-News Issue
Wednesday, April 7
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Winchester Police Staff Organize an Event to Help One of Their Own
The Winchester Police Department will be holding a spaghetti dinner and auction to benefit Officer Robert Shickle who is undergoing cancer treatments and his family on Saturday, May 15 at the Winchester Moose Lodge on Cork Street from 4:00-8:00 pm. ALL proceeds will go to Officer Shickle’s family in their time of need.
For Robert's story, please click here.
Annual Fire Hydrant Flushing Program Begins
Weekdays, beginning this week, during the months of March, April, and May, from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm, the City of Winchester will be testing and flushing hydrants at various City locations. As a result, there may be some discolored water in the Winchester water system. No customers will be without water. This discoloration consists primarily of harmless silt and precipitates and does not affect the safety of the water. If you experience discoloration in your water after crews have been flushing in your neighborhood, clear the pipes in your own home by running all water faucets for a minute or two when water will return to clear.
The process of periodically "flushing" fire hydrants, however, is an important preventive maintenance activity. Although it may appear to waste water, this process is part of a routine maintenance program necessary to maintain the integrity of the water system and to continue to deliver the highest quality water possible to our customers.
The flushing program is necessary to maintain a good water supply for both firefighting and domestic consumption. The community’s cooperation with the annual Fire Hydrant Flushing Program is appreciated.
This year’s program will include the installation of fire hydrant locators on the City’s 1,200 fire hydrants. Fire hydrant locators provide better visibility during nighttime hours and winter months.
Should water customers have questions, they may call Winchester Public Utilities at 667-1815, extension 1411.
Firefighters Receive Training in Unique Circumstances
In a unique set of circumstances, firefighters will receive high-rise training in three of the four City autoparks. In conjunction with the annual Fire Hydrant Flushing Program, City personnel will utilize the water that would normally go right into stormwater drains to clean the autoparks. Assistant City Manager and Interim Parking Director Anne Lewis said that this is the first attempt at such a Spring Cleaning. “Autoparks are normally swept weekly in the warm weather months but have never received this type of thorough cleaning”. A lot of dirt and dust accumulated during the Downtown Utility Infrastructure Improvements project.
On Saturdays in April (3, 10, and 17), Court Square, Braddock, and Loudoun Autoparks respectively will undergo this much needed cleaning. Crews from the City’s Fire and Rescue Department will be able to brush up on their skills including connecting hydrants, drain of dry suppression system, and hose line handling. Captain Gary Ganoe is in charge of the training. “It’s not too often that we can be in a 4-story building for skills training – usually it’s the real thing. We want to put their knowledge into action in a controlled environment and treat it like it’s real.”
This training/cleaning will begin at 8:00 am on Saturday, April 3, 10, and 17. It is anticipated to take a few hours to complete. Most activity will be contained in the autoparks. However, be aware for fire and rescue apparatus on adjacent streets. Autoparks will be closed during this time and re-open at the conclusion of the training/cleaning. Monthly parkers will receive advance notice and be required to move any stored vehicles to another autopark.
Should water customers have questions, they may call Winchester Public Utilities at 667-1815, extension 1411. Parkers may call the Winchester Parking Authority at 722-7575.
World Series Planning Kicks Off with Two Events
 The City of Winchester is excited to host the 2011 Cal Ripken 10-Year-Old World Series in Jim Barnett Park! To make the designation official, the public is invited to attend the Contract Signing Ceremony on Monday, March 29 at 6:00 pm in the City Hall Council Chambers (15 N. Cameron Street). Wear your uniform, bring pom poms or come as you are! Everyone who is a baseball fan or ready to show some community spirit is invited to attend!
To coordinate an event as large and prestigous as the 10-year-old Cal Ripken World Series, hundreds of community volunteers will be needed. Volunteers can serve on planning committees or work during the tournament. For more information about the volunteer opportunities, please attend the first World Series Volunteer Meet-and-Greet on Thursday, April 8 at 6:30 pm in the Social Hall of the War Memorial Building in Jim Barnett Park.
Click here for the ActivitE-News World Series Special Edition (WPRD electronic newsletter) for more information about the planning committes.
If you'd like to get involved or just learn more, please attend this informal gathering of baseball lovers and the 2011 World Series Executive Committee. For more information about the Volunteer Meet-and-Greet, please contact Amy Simmons at 533-0603.
WPD Officer and Volunteer of the Year Honored at Award Ceremony
The 2009 Winchester Police Department Employee of the Year was awarded to Officer Greg Lambert. Officer Lambert has been a member of the department since 2007 and is assigned to the Patrol Division. He was nominated for Employee of the Year by his peers, not for any specific acts, but for his consistent professionalism, dedication and commitment to the Winchester Police Department and the citizens of this community.
Ms. Carrie Heishman was awarded the Winchester Police Department Volunteers in Policing (VIP) VIP of the Year for 2009. Ms Heishman volunteered over 500 hours of her time to the VIP program in 2009 and was also awarded the Gold Level Presidential Service Award for this achievement. Ms. Heishman has become a valued leader in the VIP program and has been available for numerous community service events attended by the VIPs.
Yard Waste Collection Begins in the City
Every Wednesday from now through January 12, 2011 (excluding the weeks of Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s) yard waste is collected in the City of Winchester. This includes grass clippings, leaves, plant and bush trimmings, brush and small limbs.
Grass clippings, bush/plant trimmings and leaves must be placed into open containers (i.e. small trash cans) or biodegradable PAPER lawn bags. Yard waste cannot be accepted in plastic bags. Brush and small limbs (3” max. diameter) must be cut and tied into tight bundles no longer than four feet and no larger than 18 inches in diameter. We are not able to collect loose trimmings.
Picking up yard waste separate from trash and recycling collection keeps compostable materials out of the landfill thereby lowering costs. This also keeps our drainage systems clean and clear.
YES, we will pick up yard waste:
- Contained in small cans or biodegradable PAPER bags, OR
- Tied in tight, compact bundles
NO, we will not pick up yard waste in the following manner:
- Plastic Bags
- Loose material
- Containers or bundles over 75 pounds
- Material longer than 4 feet (in cans, bags, or bundles)
- Bundles larger than 18 inches in diameter
- Individual limbs larger than 3 inches in diameter
- Dirt, clay, rock, etc.
Grasscycling is mowing your lawn without bagging the clippings. There are a few simple tips to follow. Keep mower blades sharp and clean, only mow about 1/3 the height of the grass each time. Typically, that means mowing weekly in the spring and bi-weekly in the summer. Why do it? It's better for your lawn than bagging because it returns nutrients to the lawn, and reduces the need for fertilizers.
Though not an actual City service, the City advocates backyard composting as the most efficient and environmentally sound disposal option. Call Michael Neese, Refuse-Recycling Coordinator at 667-1815 ext. 1452 for details or click here for more information.
March 12 Budget Committee Meeting Minutes
ITEMS OF DISCUSSION:
• Mr. O’Connor presented two budgets based on the requests from the February 26, 2010 meeting. The staff proposal is balanced with no tax increase but it includes a $5 refuge collection fee to pay for equipment replacement. This fee does not cover the whole cost of refuge collection. The proposal also includes a 15% reduction in funding of outside agencies and Detox has been removed. The committee’s proposal includes Detox but not the refuge fee. Staff prepared a listing of the outside agencies with the staff recommendations and the committee recommendations. The listing has the ability for Council members to give their input as well. The Schools Capital Improvement Plan list has been included for discussion.
Vice-President Major stated he does not want to impose a fee on citizens to cover reductions made by the State.
Mayor Minor stated refuge collection is a service the City has always provided and does not want to impose a fee even with the increased costs.
• President Buettner asked if it would be better to do a Contract for Services with the outside agencies instead of making a donation. Mr. Williams stated they would have to run through the procurement process.
• After further discussion, it was decided the next Budget Committee meeting will be held at a Council Work Session (March 30 at 5:30 pm) to discuss funding of outside agencies, the refuge collection fee, and the suggested Contract for Services. Staff was also directed to pare down the $226,000 shortfall on the proposed
What Does That Mean Exactly? - Part 3
When Council enters into executive session at the end of a Council meeting, what are they doing exactly? Below is a brief description to help you better understand this governmental process:
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Public bodies may hold closed meetings only for the following purposes:
1. Discussion, consideration, or interviews of prospective candidates for employment; assignment, appointment, promotion, performance, demotion, salaries, disciplining, or resignation of specific public officers, appointees, or employees of any public body; and evaluation of performance of departments or schools of public institutions of higher education where such evaluation will necessarily involve discussion of the performance of specific individuals.
2. Discussion or consideration of the acquisition of real property for a public purpose, or of the disposition of publicly held real property, where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body.
3. The protection of the privacy of individuals in personal matters not related to public business.
4. Discussion concerning a prospective business or industry or the expansion of an existing business or industry where no previous announcement has been made of the business' or industry's interest in locating or expanding its facilities in the community.
5. Discussion or consideration of the investment of public funds where competition or bargaining is involved, where, if made public initially, the financial interest of the governmental unit would be adversely affected.
6. Consultation with legal counsel and briefings by staff members or consultants pertaining to actual or probable litigation, where such consultation or briefing in open meeting would adversely affect the negotiating or litigating posture of the public body; and consultation with legal counsel employed or retained by a public body regarding specific legal matters requiring the provision of legal advice by such counsel.
7. Discussion of strategy with respect to the negotiation of a hazardous waste siting agreement or to consider the terms, conditions, and provisions of a hazardous waste siting agreement if the governing body in open meeting finds that an open meeting will have an adverse effect upon the negotiating position of the governing body or the establishment of the terms, conditions and provisions of the siting agreement, or both. All discussions with the applicant or its representatives may be conducted in a closed meeting.
8. Discussion of plans to protect public safety as it relates to terrorist activity and briefings by staff members, legal counsel, or law-enforcement or emergency service officials concerning actions taken to respond to such activity or a related threat to public safety; or discussion of reports or plans related to the security of any governmental facility, building or structure, or the safety of persons using such facility, building or structure.
Change Your Clock, Change Your Smoke Alarm Battery
The beginning and end of daylight savings time is the perfect time to check your smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries.
“To ensure their family and home is protected, we are encouraging all residents to use the start of Daylight Savings to replace the smoke alarm and carbon monoxide batteries in their homes,” said Fire and Rescue Chief Frank Wright. “We also urge people to help elderly relatives and neighbors who may not be capable of changing the batteries themselves.”
But what should you do with those old batteries? Refuse and Recycling Coordinator Michael Neese suggests that if people are still using dry cell single use batteries they can be recycled through mail in programs such as:
“This is a great opportunity for individuals to switch to rechargeable batteries, this change can help reduce waste and toxicity; plus rechargeable batteries can be recycled locally.”
During this time, Emergency Management Coordinator Lynn Miller also encourages residents to use the change to daylight savings time to update emergency preparedness plans. The March ritual of making homes safer from fire is also a great opportunity to review disaster response plans and restock disaster kits.
Miller recognizes that it’s not the first thing on a family’s mind. "No matter how busy our daily routine, we all need to take the time to think about what to do in the event of severe weather, flooding, fire - or any other major disaster. Your family will cope best by preparing for a disaster before it strikes. Once a disaster strikes, you won’t have time to shop or search for supplies.”
Traffic Signal Removal Scheduled - Piccadilly/Washington Intersection
The existing traffic signal at the intersection of Piccadilly and Washington Streets will be removed and converted to an all-way stop on Sunday, March 28. This traffic signal removal was approved by City Council at the April 14, 2009 council meeting when a traffic signal warrant study showed that a signal is not needed at this intersection. This is the final traffic signal that will be removed in the downtown area.
Along with the all-way stop, pedestrians will find the new convenience of ADA accessible sidewalk ramps at the intersection.
The City of Winchester wants to thank all the citizens, Winchester business owners and the public who utilize these important streets for their cooperation in making this transition and asks all drivers to be alert to this traffic change. |
