• On the economic development front, 2012 was a great year for
  the county, with the openings of Amazon, Kroger Marketplace
  at Stonebridge, Uptown Alley and the Greater Richmond Aquatics Partnership's aquatics center, coupled with other economic development successes.
• The developer of Stonebridge, the former Cloverleaf Mall site,  soon will begin work on the largest phase of the project, construction of 600 apartments on the 83-acre Midlothian Turnpike site. The $60 million project is expected to start later this year, with the first units ready for tenants next year. Virginia Beach-based Boyd Homes is the builder. The $18 million, 123,000-square-foot Kroger Marketplace opened in December as the first phase of a $100 million mixed-use project. The second phase is under construction with an additional 20,400 square feet of retail space. The residential component will help develop the site into an urban-style community where people can live, work and play.  
• When Seattle-based online retailer Amazon.com announced last December that it had selected central Virginia for two massive fulfillment centers to ship products to its customers, it was one of Virginia's largest economic-development announcements in years. Construction on each of the 1 million-square-foot centers in Chesterfield and Dinwiddie counties proceeded at a fast pace. In just 10 months, Chesterfield County had a fully operational center in the Meadowville Technology Park. In early October, the distribution centers shipped their first products. During the holiday shopping season, the two centers employed more than 1,000 full-time and seasonal workers combined.
• The Economic Development Authority is ready to launch an international marketing/branding campaign for 1,300-acre Meadowville Technology Park, where Amazon and Northrop Grumman Corp. are located. The campaign revolves around a new logo and a sharpened focus, where "in tomorrow's world of commerce, success will be fueled by global connectivity." The campaign is intended to make the park attractive to cutting-edge companies looking for state-of-the-art, ready-to-build locations. The plan will emphasize Meadowville's connectedness to infrastructure, transportation and technology, and aims to build the park's brand so that the name Meadowville will be recognized by tech industry insiders, corporate planners and site-selection experts. The plan will divide the business park into sections targeting different industry segments such as logistics and data centers. One section will be dedicated to hospitality and other plans include construction of a conference center. Integral to the plan is an adjoining parcel owned by a local developer who plans a center with retail, restaurants and multifamily residential. A Capital One Financial Corp. data center also is planned for the park.

• International ratings agency Standard & Poor's has affirmed the Chesterfield County Utilities Department's AAA bond rating. The department is one of only a handful of water and wastewater utilities in the nation to achieve this rating from each of the three top rating services, Fitch Ratings, Moody's Investors Services and Standard & Poor's. This rating recognizes Utilities' leadership and numerous financial achievements, including affordable rates and a solid financial position.
• Chesterfield County has recently earned an "Active RVA" certification from Sports Backers for its C-Fit program, a wellness initiative for government and school employees and retirees. Free classes, including ballroom dancing, yoga, boot camp and martial arts, are offered, in addition to a workout facility and walking trails at the government offices, and weight rooms at various schools. Employees can choose from more than 35 classes offered from 6 a.m.- 7:30 p.m. C-Fit began in January 2010, and the program has grown to encompass workout classes, physical-activity challenges, discounts at local gyms and fitness centers, and employee support groups. The support groups cover topics such as smoking cessation and elder care. C-Fit partners with the county's Mental Health Support Services to provide qualified group leaders without increasing costs.
• The Department of Youth Planning and Development is seeking nominations for the 2013 Outstanding Youth Awards. Youth nominees must be 12-18 years old, and must have demonstrated one or more of the following traits: courage, compassion, leadership, and community or school service. Adults older than 18 who have demonstrated fortitude, service or mentorship while serving youths in Chesterfield County are eligible. All nominees must be county residents. Nominations must be submitted by Friday, March 29, at 5 p.m. To find eligibility requirements and nomination forms, visit chesterfield.gov/youth awards. For more information, call 796-7100 or email youthservices@chesterfield.gov.
• COACH, Chesterfield County's Coalition for Active Children, has received a Virginia Department of Health "Making a Healthier Virginia the Priority" grant. The funds will be used to promote the "5210 Every Day message" that promotes the steps families can take to get and stay healthy: Eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables; have 2 hours or less of recreational screen time; be physically active 1 hour or more; and drink 0 sugary drinks.
  Another one of COACH's programs, Girls on the Run, recently trained 60 coaches for 20 sites including 12 elementary and eight middle school programs. The first of the 24 sessions begins in February and the students will run a 5K on May 11. This national evidence-based program incorporates character development for girls along with fitness and community involvement, and aims to increase their self-esteem and reduce at-risk behaviors.
• The Chesterfield County Police Department, in partnership with SAFE, the substance abuse prevention coalition, helped residents safely dispose of several hundred pounds of expired and unneeded prescription and over-the-counter drugs on Feb. 9. A Medication Take-Back event at the Support Services Division Building collected 820 pounds of unused, unwanted and potentially harmful prescription medications and drugs. Volunteers from the River City Rotary Club also helped to distribute SAFE information. More than 240 residents dropped off medications.  

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. And the same goes with home security. A good security strategy not only deters burglars, but the use of physical security devices can slow and complicate potential home-entry efforts. The longer it takes a burglar to gain access to your home, the greater his risk of detection and apprehension. With this in mind, evaluate your home and strengthen any weak links in your security plan.

Exterior Doors

• Treat the door separating the garage from the home's interior as an exterior door. If an offender gains access to the garage, he has ample time to try to enter the home.
• Basement doors and doors in areas with little visibility should be a solid panel design, no glass, for greater penetration resistance.
• Verify that doors fit tightly in the frame with no more than 1/8 inch clearance between the door and the frame.

Sliding Doors 

• As a burglary deterrent, place an alarm decal on one of the sliding doors.
• To prevent projectiles from being thrown through the glass to gain entry, cover glass with a security/burglary-resistant film. For even greater protection, replace the glass with laminated glass (as found in automobile windshields).
• Place a dowel rod in the sliding door track to prevent the operable door from being forced open. A second option is to place a "charley bar" on the door. Finally, sliding door pinning kits can be used to help secure wood doors.  

Prevent Scalds and Burns  

• To prevent spills due to overturned pots or pans containing hot food or liquids, use the back burner when possible and also turn pot handles away from the edge of the stove. All appliance cords need to be kept coiled and away from counter edges.
• Use oven mitts or potholders when moving hot food from ovens, microwave ovens or stovetops. Never use wet oven mitts or potholders because they can cause scald burns.
• Replace old or worn oven mitts.

General First Aid for Burns 

• Treat burns right away by immersing in cool water, cooling for three to five minutes.
• Cover burns with clean and dry clothes. Do not apply creams, ointments, sprays or other home remedies.
• Remove all clothing, diapers, jewelry and metal from the burned area. These can hide underlying burns and retain heat, which can increase skin damage.   

For more crime prevention and safety tips, click here.  

• Henricus Historical Park is offering tours on the Discovery Barge II, a covered 24-foot pontoon boat captained by Mike Ostrander of Discover the James. Typical excursions will feature wildlife viewing and discussion about the 400 years of history at Henricus and Dutch Gap. Participants will explore the habitats of native bald eagles and listen to stories of 12-foot sturgeon fish, among other fascinating aspects of the James River. Tours that take place during special events will explore nature and history related to the event. Excursions last 45-minutes. A maximum of six people may participate in each tour and the cost is $25 per person. Spring tours will take place on March 2, April 7 and May 4. Reserve a space by calling 804-318-8728. For more information, visit henricus.org.
• The Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia is presenting its sixth annual Winter Lecture Series. The programs began on Jan. 11 and continue every second Friday evening through March 22. On March 8, a lecture entitled, "Collecting Historical Autographs," will be presented by historian Randall Welch. Welch will discuss and display many of the autographs in his possession, including examples from the Civil War, the Revolutionary War, U.S. presidents, World War II and the world of entertainment. The final lecture will be presented on March 22, by Gregg S. Clemmer. His topic will be Major General Edward "Old Alleghany" Johnson - Chesterfield's Senior Confederate Officer." Programs begin at 7 p.m. in the Community Hall at Lucy Corr Village. Lectures are free to members and $5 for nonmembers. Reservations are recommended, call 804-796-7121.
• Upcoming library events include:
  The Broad Street Ramblers - three veteran Richmond musicians who are devoted to the roots and branches of America's traditional music, performing everything from blues to old-time to Hawaiian tunes.
  Practice your Irish dance skills at a ceili, an Irish dance party. Spend an afternoon learning Irish soft-shoe dancing including reels and jigs, with the band Scalaheen.
  At the Chesterfield Comic-Con you can shop comic book dealers, network with local comic authors and artists, show off your favorite costume, watch anime, enter a cosplay contest, and learn comic and anime styles of drawing! Meet Star Wars characters from the 501st Legion and get your picture taken with a stormtrooper!
  For more information or to register, visit library.chesterfield.gov or call 804-751-CCPL.