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City Manager appoints new Parks and Recreation Director

Jun 03, 2021

Following a nation-wide search resulting in 54 applicants, Winchester City Manager Dan Hoffman has appointed Christopher Konyar, of Winchester, as the City’s new Parks and Recreation Director. Christopher, who has over 20 years of experience in the field, served the past 14 years as the Superintendent of Recreation and the prior seven years as Program Supervisor both with Frederick County Parks and Recreation. He has also been a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional since 2006 and is currently a Recognized Clinician with the American Sports Education Program.

2021 Memorial Day Schedule

May 26, 2021

In observance of the Memorial Day holiday, the City will follow the below schedule for the week of May 31, 2021:

Water Treatment Plant strikes gold AGAIN

May 19, 2021

The City’s Percy D. Miller Water Treatment Plant received the 2020 Virginia Optimization Program Gold Award for its high-quality drinking water treatment from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Office of Drinking Water. This is the highest possible ranking in operations excellence for water utilities and is based on a 12-month analysis of data. The plant first achieved the Gold Award in 2018, and received the Silver Award in 2019 and 2012-2017.

SNAP emergency benefits available in May 2021

May 12, 2021

Virginia’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will again release emergency allotments of benefits to eligible households this month. Benefits will be automatically loaded to recipients’ Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards on Sunday, May 16, 2021. 

The emergency allotments raise each household’s monthly allotment to the maximum allowable based on household size as follows:

City Manager appoints new Fire & Rescue Chief from within

Apr 27, 2021

City Manager Dan Hoffman has appointed Winchester Fire and Rescue Assistant Chief (AC) Jon Henschel as the City’s new Chief. AC Henschel was selected following an extensive nation-wide search resulting in 57 applications from candidates across the country. AC Henschel has 30 years of experience with volunteer and career agencies, spending the previous 23 years with the Winchester Fire and Rescue Department.

2021 holiday schedule update

Apr 22, 2021

City of Winchester government offices and the Rec Center will not be closed on Friday, April 30, 2021. This closure was previously included in the City’s annual holiday schedule and informational calendar, but is no longer needed since the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival parade and other large events usually held in downtown and Jim Barnett Park are not being offered this year.

Click here for the City’s updated 2021 Holiday Schedule.

WPA to update automated equipment at downtown garages

Apr 21, 2021

Beginning this weekend, the Winchester Parking Authority (WPA) will be installing new automated gate and payment equipment at the four downtown parking garages which will cause some lane closures and access restrictions (see schedule below). Replacing the current antiquated system has been planned for approximately two years, but placed on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

City launches community survey for 2021 Strategic Plan update

Apr 05, 2021

The City of Winchester has launched a community survey to gather input about the priorities and sentiments of residents for a 2021 update to the City’s Strategic Plan. Deadline to take the survey is April 30.

Survey questions will focus on the following topics:

  1. Economic Growth
  2. Revitalization
  3. Quality of Life
  4. Public Safety
  5. Public Health
  6. City Government
  7. Living in Winchester

Survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/D5PCC5Q

Annual hydrant flushing program begins March 29, 2021

Mar 19, 2021

Beginning Monday, March 29, 2021 and continuing through October (weather permitting), the City’s Utilities Division will be testing and flushing all of Winchester’s 1,300 fire hydrants as part of an annual maintenance program. The process of periodically “flushing” fire hydrants is an important preventive maintenance activity and is necessary to maintain a high quality and reliable water system. It is also helps make sure the fire hydrants are fully operational in the event of a fire.