City of Winchester's Holiday Schedule

City Offices:

Closed Friday, December 23, Monday, December 26 and
MOnday, January 2

Refuse & Recycling:

• Friday, December 23 - Friday's Refuse collection is rescheduled for Wednesday, December 21 (Yard waste is canceled this week)
• Monday, December 26 - Monday's Recycling collection is rescheduled for Wednesday, December 28 (Yard waste is canceled this week)
• Monday, January 2, 2012 - Monday's Recycling collection is rescheduled for Wednesday, January 4 (Yard waste is canceled this week)
• Wednesday, January 11, 2012 - Yard waste and Christmas tree collection
• Wednesday, January 18, 2012 - Last yard waste and Christmas tree collection for the season

Please place materials on the curb by 7:30 am on the day of collection, but not before 5:00 pm on the evening before collection. If you have any questions, please call 667-1815 ext. 1452.

Winchester Parks & Recreation:

December 23: Open 5:30 am - 9:30 pm
Christmas Eve: CLOSED
Christmas Day: CLOSED
December 26: Open 5:30 am - 9:30 pm
New Year’s Eve: 9:00am – 6:00pm
New Year’s Day: CLOSED
January 2: Regular schedule resumes (5:30 am - 9:30 pm)

WinTran:

WinTran will not operating December 23-26 or January 2

Holiday Decorating Safety Tips

This time of the year homes and neighborhoods come to life with the spirit of the season using lights for decoration.  This is a reminder to do your part to decorate safely.

Inside Decorating Safety Tips:
• Place all trees and decorations away from heater vents as this will dry them out.
• Do not run electrical cords under carpets or rugs.
• Be careful with candles; make sure they are completely extinguished before going to bed or out for the evening. NEVER put candles near dried decorative materials. 
• Keep all candles and matches out of the reach of children.

Christmas Tree Safety Tips
• Natural trees should be cut at a 45 degree angle at the base and placed in water.
• Place tree away from sources of heat.
• Use only non-flammable decorations.
• Use only lighting evaluated by a nationally recognized lab (Underwriters Laboratories).
• Inspect lights for frayed wire or other defects before use
• Do not leave lights on unattended.
• Keep natural tree stands filled with water.
• When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly.

Outside Decorating Safety Tips:
• Make sure all lights and extension cords are in good condition; rated for outdoor use and are UL listed.
• Most Christmas tree lights are now inexpensive so if they are cracked or damaged throw them away.
• If using a ladder, make sure it is in good shape, rated for the size of the person using it and use a spotter to keep ladder stable.
• Do not overload electric circuits.  LED lights are good for reducing the electrical load.
• Read all instructions and follow the recommendations on the number of strings of lights that can be connected.

For further information, please call Winchester Fire and Rescue at  540-662-2298.

Curbside Christmas Tree Collection and Recycling for City Residents

Winchester Parks & Recreation Memberships and Passes Make Great Gifts 

Winchester Parks and Recreation (WPRD) memberships make great gifts!  Purchase a month, 3-month or annual membership for a friend or family member this holiday season and give the gift of unlimited access to WPRD's indoor pool, gymnasium, fitness room, racquetball court, and more.

Need another gift idea?  WPRD also has punch passes and this month get 10 FREE punches with a purchase of a 20-Punch Pass (coupon required). Click the coupon below to download and print.

Purchase at the War Memorial Building (Jim Barnett Park, 1001 East Cork Street) or call (540) 662-4946 for more details.

Winter Came Early! Are You Ready?

Source: www.vaemergency.gov

Old Man Winter paid an early visit to many Virginia communities at the end of October with snow accumulation and cold temperatures! Were you surprised? Were you ready?

During winter months, there could be power outages, icy roads, closed schools and businesses, and health problems associated with wind, cold and snow.  If you and your family aren’t ready for winter, then take a few simple steps now to prepare.

• Make a plan. Decide on a meeting place outside of your neighborhood if your family is separated and cannot return home because of closed roads.  Choose an out-of-town relative or friend to be your family’s point of contact for emergency communications.  With your family, write down your emergency plan – get a free worksheet at www.ReadyVirginia.gov. Click on Make a Plan for more details.
• Get a kit.  Start with these basic supplies for winter weather: three days’ food; three days’ water (a gallon per person per day); a battery-powered and/or hand-crank radio with extra batteries; and your written family emergency plan.  After you have these essential supplies, add a first aid kit, medications if needed, blankets and warm clothing, supplies for special member of your household, and pet items.
• Stay informed.  Before, during and after a winter storm, you should listen to local media for instructions from emergency officials.  There may be times when you are advised to stay in place until it is safe to travel. Stay informed about winter storm watches and warnings and road conditions.  You can get road condition information 24/7 by calling 511 or checking www.511Virginia.org.  .

Go to www.ReadyVirginia.gov and print out an emergency supply checklist and a family emergency plan.  Get ready now!

Park to Close Entrance to War Memorial Building

After consulting with the Park Board, Winchester Parks and Recreation has decided to close an entrance (entrance facing Preston Field) to the War Memorial Building in order to better serve and create a safer environment for customers. 

The entrance facing Preston field will officially be closed as of January 2, 2012.  Please use the public entrance adjacent to the outdoor pool.

WPRD asks that all patrons check in at the front desk prior to using the facility.  This will help Park staff know in which activity the customers are participating and identify if they are in the proper location of the facility.  It is just one more step in increasing patron safety. 

Thank you for your cooperation during this transition.

---

City City's Comprehensive Plan is Complete

SUSTAINABILITY
     – continuing into the future without decaying or collapsing
     – meeting today’s needs without sacrificing the future

That is the key principle of Winchester’s future vision. This Plan charts a new path toward environmental, economic, and social sustainability. It promotes a walkable community made up of vibrant mixed use neighborhoods that honor Winchester’s rich history and use the latest technology. This Plan reflects City Council’s philosophy of proactively improving citizens’ quality of life. It is a strategy to make vision into reality–to make Winchester a Community of Choice.

PLAN HIGHLIGHTS
Making this Plan involved a new and highly public approach. Early in the process, elected officials and City staff undertook a careful and comprehensive analysis of community conditions. Citizens helped develop city-wide goals and objectives, as well as specific neighborhoods’ issues. The focus of this strategic planning document shifts from a city-wide perspective to look at the city as a series of neighborhoods organized within ten Planning Areas.

Using the framework of the ten Planning Areas, the Plan states specific objectives and actions to improve the City. Alternative Development Concepts illustrate a future vision of the City consistent with New Urbanism: higher densities and walkable community. It maintains stable single-family residential neighborhoods, but advocates for either infill or redevelopment embracing a mixed-use approach to land use and zoning. This Traditional Neighborhood Design is consistent with Winchester’s heritage and may also bring new vigor and prosperity to its communities.