Over the past two months, the City of Winchester has participated in the Virginia Department of Emergency Management’s new Health Equity Pilot Program. The program provided staff training, personal protective equipment (PPE) and public health information for distribution in underserved and vulnerable areas in Winchester, especially in areas in need and at risk of contracting COVID-19.
Starting the week of October 12, the City’s contractor will resume work on the Wentworth Drive Improvements Project. In order for the work to occur safely, road closures will be implemented regularly and around where the work is occurring.
Please be aware of the below road closures for October 12-16, 2020 (7 am-7 pm, local traffic will have access):
ATTENTION: The City of Winchester government does not regulate, schedule or cancel trick-or-treating activities for Halloween each year. In the past, the Winchester Police Department has made a recommendation for the date and times for safety purposes, but when trick-or-treating occurs in the city is up to individual neighborhoods and families.
The Virginia Department of Health's guidance for holiday gatherings is the same as it is for everything else:
On October 15, 2020 at 11 am, the City of Winchester will officially dedicate a new neighborhood park at the corner of E. Cecil and S. Kent Streets to Ruth Jackson, a late Winchester resident and business owner (rain date: 10/22 at 11 am). The new park was officially named the Ruth Jackson Memorial Park by City Council as recommended by the Winchester Parks & Recreation Advisory Board on February 11, 2020.
The community is invited to the dedication ceremony to honor Ms. Jackson and her family.
New this year, the City of Winchester will observe Columbus Day on October 12, 2020 and operate the below schedule. Please note that these changes were not included in the City’s annual informational calendar as the holiday was officially added to the City’s schedule after the calendar was printed.
The Winchester Fire and Rescue Department (WFRD) has received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold Plus Award for implementing quality improvement measures for the treatment of patients who experience severe heart attacks.
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.”
The City of Winchester will operate on the following schedule the week of September 7, 2020 in observance of the Labor Day holiday:
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.