Fire and Rescue promotes two Assistant Chiefs
The Winchester Fire and Rescue Department (WFRD) is pleased to announce the promotion of two employees, James “JD” Orndorff and Jonathan Henschel, to the position of Assistant Chief.
The Winchester Fire and Rescue Department (WFRD) is pleased to announce the promotion of two employees, James “JD” Orndorff and Jonathan Henschel, to the position of Assistant Chief.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City’s annual 9/11 Memorial event in Jim Barnett Park has been canceled this year. However, the tradition will continue virtually in 2020 with a video.
“This event was created to honor our country, the heroes who responded that day and every day since, and the innocent lives lost on September 11, 2001,” stated Lynn Miller, Winchester Parks and Recreation Director. “We hope our community will watch the video and join together virtually to remember.”
Beginning September 8, 2020, City Council will resume in-person meetings at a new location. To allow for proper social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic and until further notice, all Council meetings will be held in the Jim Barnett Park Rec Center Social Hall (1001 E. Cork Street, Winchester, VA) instead of Rouss City Hall. These meetings will be open to the public to attend and masks and social distancing are required. Capacity is limited due to social distancing requirements.
The City of Winchester will be awarding grants to eligible, locally owned micro-sized businesses, large-sized businesses, and 501(c)3 non-profit organizations that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Micro-sized businesses and 501(c)3 non-profit organizations may receive a maximum grant award of up to $5,000. Large-sized businesses may receive a maximum grant award of up to $10,000.
At the August 25, 2020 Regular Meeting, City Council officially appointed Daniel “Dan” C. Hoffman of Gainesville, Florida as Winchester’s new City Manager. For the national recruitment process, which netted 93 applicants, Council utilized the services of Colin Baenziger & Associates out of Daytona Beach Shores, Florida.
Beginning August 11, 2020, community members will have additional ways to address Council during the public comment and public hearing sections of the agenda for virtual City Council meetings. In addition to the online public comment form, community members now have the option to call in or use the WebEx platform to address Council live during the meeting.
The Lord Fairfax Health District is pleased to offer 7th Grade Immunization Clinics at Frederick/Winchester Health Department. Please note that to maximize safety, the Health Department is using a special outdoor location.
COVID-19 has presented many challenges for local governments holding virtual public meetings, especially when there is a closed session (closed to the public as allowed by the Virginia Code) aspect involved. We’ve been working diligently to ensure there is adequate public access to all open virtual meetings, but we now realize this hasn’t occurred during the open portions of last several virtual Special Meetings of the Winchester Common Council where Council entered into and came out of closed session.
The City’s contractor is expected to resume working on the Central Downtown Infrastructure Improvements Project on N. Loudoun Street between Wyck Street and North Avenue beginning Monday, July 27, 2020. During construction, sections of N. Loudoun Street will be closed to through traffic and parking for up to two blocks at a time.
The Winchester-Frederick County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) has received $9,840 from the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) DMO WanderLove Recovery Grant Program, a new grant made available to Virginia’s Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) across the Commonwealth that have been heavily impacted by the novel coronavirus pandemic to fund recovery marketing initiatives. The program awarded $866,504 in marketing grant funds to 90 DMOs.