| Welcome to Currents, Chesterfield County's quarterly e-newsletter for county residents and others who are interested in what is happening in our locality. |
Programs and Services 
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Relative Connections
Chesterfield County's Office of the Senior Advocate and Chesterfield County Public Schools are partnering to provide a new program called Relative Connections for grandparents who are raising school-aged children. Free seminars will be held on May 18 and 25. For more information, call the Senior Advocate at 768-7878.
4-H Seeks Volunteers
The Chesterfield County 4-H mentoring program is seeking caring adult volunteers to help youths in grades six-12 and their families.
Interested volunteers must be at least 21 years old and have a vehicle.
A background check and attendance at a training session is mandatory. For more information, including how to apply, contact Iris Wade at wadei@chesterfield.gov or 804-751-4401.
Tax preparation results
This spring the Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department of Social Services offered free electronic tax preparation for people whose incomes were below $49,000, many of whom qualified for the Earned Income Tax Credit. IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers assisted 250 families, helping them to save about $344,000 total.
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For Board of Supervisors meetings, events calendar and district news, click on the links to the right. If you need to find the district you are in, go to Citizen GIS.
- According to the 2010 Citizen Satisfaction Survey, Chesterfield County continues to provide an outstanding quality of life for residents. More than 93 percent of survey respondents rated the overall quality of life as good to excellent. The survey is conducted every two years to gauge community sentiment on public safety, education, customer service and more.
- On April 13, the Board of Supervisors passed a fiscal 2012 budget of $703.8 million, which is four-tenths of a percent more than last year's. The proposed financial plan was developed within the existing tax structure, leaving the county's real-estate tax rate at $0.95. The plan does not include any changes to the county's diverse portfolio of programs and services, nor does it include any planned layoffs. In departments where there are retention problems, such as public safety, technology, engineering and finance, the plan includes additional funding for staffing and compensation, and for replacement apparatus for Fire and Emergency Medical Services. It also preserves tax revenue for schools at the fiscal 2011 level. The budget includes a 2 percent pay raise for eligible county employees.
- In February, Chesterfield County received official 2010 population data for the county from the U.S. Bureau of the Census. This population data confirmed that Chesterfield County will need to redraw its five magisterial districts in order to equalize the population among the districts. Two different approaches to redistricting were developed to equalize the county's population and satisfy the legal requirements governing the redistricting process. On April 27, the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 for the Plan A option of the redistricting plan. Redistricting was necessary because the population in the five districts has shifted since the last U.S. Census was taken in 2000. With a current population of 316,000, each district should have about 63,000 people. They range from 55,546 in Clover Hill to 75,136 in Matoaca. Plan A will move small groups, with as many as 14,781 people changing district, although the final number could change. Plan B would have had 42,082 people changing, primarily in the Bermuda and Dale districts.
- The draft Comprehensive Plan was reviewed by the Planning Commission in February and focused on the introduction, vision and land-use elements and transportation. To obtain a free copy of the plan, call 804-748-1970.
- At the request of Chesterfield County, the U.S. Postal Service has approved the use of optional or alternate community names for addresses in several ZIP codes in northern and southern Chesterfield County. Beginning June 15, residents and businesses will have the option of using the community names "North Chesterfield" and "South Chesterfield," respectively, in ZIP codes where Richmond, Colonial Heights and Petersburg currently are used. Anyone with questions may call 804-748-1211. Information, including a section of frequently asked questions and answers, also is available online at chesterfield.gov.
- In September, Chesterfield County, once again, made America's Promise Alliance's list of the 100 Best Communities for Young People. More than 350 communities in all 50 states and the District of Columbia were represented in the competition, which is open to all communities that make children and youths a priority, including small towns, large cities, counties and school districts. The county has received this recognition every year since the competition began in 2005.
- On March 11-20, more than 800 soccer teams, including about 28,000 players, coaches, spectators and officials from 35 states, visited the region, generating an estimated $13.5 million in revenue. The Jefferson Cup tournament included boys and girls teams competing on fields in Chesterfield and Henrico counties, including synthetic fields at SportsQuest.
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| Prepare for Spring Projects |
Rain Barrel Workshops
The Department of Environmental Engineering is offering a rain barrel workshop on May 12. Participants learn about the benefits of rain barrels and actually construct their own rain barrels to take home. Registration is required. Workshops take place at the Chesterfield County Fairgrounds.
Safety First When Working Outdoors
The Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services reminds residents about the following safety tips when working outdoors:
- Call Miss Utility at 811 before digging on your property.
- Allow time for lines to be marked before beginning work, typically within three days.
- Be careful when using ladders and stay away from overhead power lines.
- Have another adult secure the base of the ladder.
- Never tie a safety line on any object that can be moved such as a car, truck, all-terrain vehicle, etc.
- Wear gloves, safety glasses and ear protection when working with power tools.
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| Arts, History and Recreation |
Check out what Chesterfield County has to offer, both indoors and out, this spring! May - May 7, Tire Amnesty Day. This event will allow Chesterfield County residents to dispose of unwanted tires free of charge. The event will be from 9:30 a.m. until noon at the Southern Area Convenience Center located at 6700 Landfill Drive in Chester. Limit 5 tires per household. 748-1297
- May 7-8, Mount Malady - America's First Hospital. This event details the science and technology of 17th-century medical care including demonstrations of medical procedures and practices. Henricus Historical Park. Daily Admission Fee. Free for members. 748-1613.
- Eagles at Sunrise - Join Capt. Mike Ostrander on May 7, 7-9 a.m., on his 24-foot pontoon boat for a unique experience in search of bald eagles, blue heron and osprey on the James River. $40 per person. Space is limited; register early. 938-2350. Dutch Gap Conservation Area.
- May 12, 7-8 p.m., Spring Acoustic Concert Series presents The Virginia House Band, an upbeat evening of old-time dance tunes, ballads and songs. Central Library. Register online at library.chesterfield.gov or by calling 748-1603.
- May 14, 7:30-8:45 p.m. - An Evening Under the Stars with the Richmond Symphony at Henricus Historical Park. Bring a chair or blanket for limited lawn seating or become a Henricus Foundation Patron for reserved seating options. Admission is free and parking is $5 per vehicle. Rain date is May 15, 2011. 748-1613
- May 14-15, Drewry's Bluff demonstration of Civil War naval operations and interpretive tours of Confederate Fort Darling. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., 7600 Fort Darling Road. Free. 226-1981.
- May 28, 10-11 a.m., Midlothian Mines Park Tour. On this guided tour, learn more about the pioneer coal industry of Midlothian, one of the first commercial coal mine operations in North America. $8/person. Registration required, call 748-1623 and request Course# 21889.
June- June 3, 7-9:30, Bluegrass Music Jam. Bring a fiddle, guitar, mandolin, bass or banjo and join a gathering of musicians to play or listen to a variety of tunes. Rockwood Nature Center. Free for all ages. 310-7964
- June 4, 10-11 a.m. Historic Eppington Tours. Eppington Plantation was a large tobacco plantation built in 1768 by Thomas Jefferson's brother-in-law, Francis Eppes VI. $8/person. To register call 748-1623 and request course # 21865.
- June 11, 8-9 p.m. - Magnolia Grange Historic Paranormal Tour, ages 8- Adult. Join Spirited History, a team of paranormal investigators as they explore the haunted activity of this site. Hear spine tingling tales and fascinating history. Bring cameras and recorders to find a ghostly experience. Registration online at chesterfieldhistory.com.
- June 14, 6-8:30 p.m., Indoor/Outdoor Sampler Rock Climbing. Try rock climbing in two venues. Begin at PEAK Experiences and learn how to work the ropes at an indoor climbing gym. On July 5, head outdoors to climb the Manchester Wall in Richmond. $30/person. To register, call 748-1623 and ask for course #21718.
- June 18, The Civil War on the James Tour. This tour races the naval actions that took place in the area of Dutch Gap and Jones Neck from 1862-1865 aboard the Discovery Barge II, a pontoon boat. $40/person. Departs from Deep Bottom Boat Landing. Find other local Civil War events on OntoRichmond.com.
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