Henrico Happenings

Henrico County is celebrating National Bike Month. Join us as we share updates related to county cycling routes, new end of ride stations at county facilities and a full schedule of bike safety events for the whole community during the month of May.

H.E.A.R.T visits with members of the student Youth Council. These Henrico County Public Schools high school students share why they joined H.E.A.R.T and what is important to them about the environment. So, join us as we listen to their solutions and ideas on how we can protect and preserve the natural environment. Go Green!

H.E.A.R.T. is excited to announce the inaugural Community Impact Grants program. This podcast will explain the details of this program that offers financial assistance to non-profit organizations that are looking to help our local environment.

H.E.A.R.T. visits with Henrico‘s Fire Marshal, Justin Finan, and Deana Williams from the Department of Public Works to find out the connection between the Division of Fire and the environment. Once again, we discover another resource the county offers to help Henrico become a more sustainable and environmentally responsible community.

To celebrate the first year of activities at the Henrico Sports & Events Center, Dennis takes the podcast on the road to the facility, where he visits with some of the people who helped make the past year so successful. You'll heard behind the scenes stories about what it takes to host youth sporting events, high school graduations and even the A-10 Women's Basketball Championship. For more information about upcoming events, or if you'd like to host your event at the facility, visit https://www.henricocenter.com/

H.E.A.R.T. is offering a pilot drop-off composting program for county residents. This program will reduce the amount of solid waste in landfills and provide useful materials for landscaping and agriculture. From November 1 – 8 the county will be holding a Pumpkin Composting Kickoff Event at both Henrico County Public Use Areas. Beginning November 9, compostable food waste can be dropped off at these same locations. So, listen and learn how composting can be beneficial for the community and the environment.

In Episode 10, Jay Howell from the Richmond Strikers discusses the soccer scene in Richmond, the future of the sport, and the Jefferson Cup - one of the most prestigious soccer tournaments in the United States.

Dennis shares the studio with NOVA Aquatics' Director of Operations & Facilities to talk expansion, Olympics and more.

On this episode of Henrico Happenings, we explore all the details of an exciting free music event, Soulful Sunday! Victoria is joined by Julian Charity and Aziah Bell from Henrico Recreation & Parks, who discuss what to expect and how you can make the most of this community gathering that celebrates African American heritage. The festivities will include a vendor fair, food trucks, musical performances, a DJ and activities for people of all ages! Soulful Sunday Eastern Henrico Recreation Center Sunday, September 15, 2024 3pm - 7pm

Showtime, All the Time host Dennis Bickmeier has a lively conversation with local sports advocate and expert Todd "Parney" Parnell in this episode.

Showtime. All the Time - Ep. 7: Lane Casadonte - Sports Director WTVR by Henrico County

Our guests for this episode of the H.E.A.R.T. podcast are Steve Yob, Henrico's Deputy County Manager for Community Operations, and Sarah Stewart, REME Program Specialist for Plan RVA. Learn how a comprehensive eco-friendly plan is in the works to positively change the environment in your own backyard and how your voice can make a difference. "They call it a climate pollution reduction plan, but the focus in many ways is on greenhouse gas reduction," Stewart said "and then the reduction of the associated air pollution that you might see."

This episode of Henrico Happenings is all about upcoming high school graduations. Victoria is joined by Eileen Cox, Chief of Communications for Henrico County Public Schools. The Class of 2024 will be the first seniors graduating at the Henrico Sports & Events Center, so things will look different this year. Do you have questions about where to park or what is allowed in the facility? Those questions and many more are answered here. For more information about what to expect on the big day, visit https://www.henricoschools.us/

Members of the Henrico County Department of Public Works Mosquito Section visit the H.E.A.R.T. podcast with tips to help residents enjoy the great outdoors without being bugged by mosquitoes. This “Mighty Crew” can help you fight the bite in your neighborhood by offering property inspections, educational materials, school visits and knowledge based non-chemical treatment solutions. For more information visit https://henrico.us/works/engineering-environmental-services/mosquito-info/ You can also call (804) 226-6453 or email swi_info @henrico.us

May is National Bike Month, and this episode of the H.E.A.R.T. podcast is focused on the benefits of cycling. Sydnei Douglas and Ryan Levering talk about the different ways riding a bike can not only reduce impact on the environment, but also improve your mental and physical health.

Our guest for this episode of the H.E.A.R.T. podcast is Kristin Owen, Henrico's Floodplain & Dam Safety Manager. She shares information about Henrico Public Works programs intended to inform residents about flood risk, as well as mitigation plans to help reduce those risks. Updated FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps, which went into effect on April 25, 2024, are available online at https://henrico.us/works/design/floodplain/map-updates/. In addition, Henrico has joined the FEMA Community Rating System (CRS) flood program, allowing qualified residents to receive a 25% discount on their flood insurance premiums beginning in October 2024. Information on this program can be found at https://henrico.us/works/design/floodplain/.

Dennis sits down with Will Driscoll, Executive Director of the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, as he prepares to welcome its newest class of legends at the Henrico Sports & Events Center.

On the latest episode of Henrico Happenings, Victoria is joined by Brandon Hinton, Deputy County Manager for Administration. The two discuss some of the highlights from Henrico County's proposed budget for fiscal year 2024-25.

Join H.E.A.R.T. as we discuss the benefits of trees, the unsung natural heroes of the environment, that are vital to the balance of the world's ecosystem. They clean the air, provide habitat for wildlife, are a source of building materials and offer a natural environment for people to improve their mental and physical well-being.

Episode #5 of Showtime, All the Time features Hunter Leemon, of Sportable, who is leading the charge for adaptive sports in our region, and specifically, the National Wheelchair Basketball National Championships, coming to the Henrico Sports & Events Center in April.

Henrico County recently held its 65th Student Government Day. We spoke with Deep Run senior, Anooshka Pendyal, to get her thoughts about shadowing members of Henrico's Public Relations team, her presentation to the rest of the group and completing her first video projects.

Have you ever thought about working for Henrico County and having a career in local government? If so, this episode of Henrico Happenings is for you! Victoria is joined by Whitney Crain and Lauren Taylor, both from the Henrico County Human Resources department. Topics covered include benefit offerings, leadership development, and where to apply for a potential career with Henrico County. For more information visit https://henrico.us/hr/

For episode #4, Dennis is joined by the Atlantic 10 Conference Women's Basketball Associate Commissioner, Candy Cage. Less than 30 days out, the A-10 Women's Basketball Championship is the topic du jour as these two sports colleagues discuss the excitement this tourney will bring to Henrico and the region. Fast play and strong talent will bring the Henrico Sports & Events Center alive March 6-10. And no one can tell the story better than Candy Cage. Tix available now at https://atlantic10.com/tickets.

This month, Dennis is joined by the Henrico Sports & Entertainment Authority Board chair, Steve Yob. Steve is the Deputy County Manager for Community Operations and has been with Henrico County for 20+ years. He and Dennis talk about the HSEA Board's work over the past year and share some fun running and track stories.

Join us for another H.E.A.R.T. Podcast as we share about our most recent “Boots on the Ground” project! Henrico's Environmental Action Resource Team (H.E.A.R.T.) assembled more than 35 volunteers consisting of members of the H.E.A.R.T. committee, the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF), Scouts, Master Naturalists, and local environmental enthusiasts to plant close to 180 native trees and shrubs at Lake Hening, located at the Henrico Western Government Center. This collaboration between H.E.A.R.T. and VDOF will enhance the existing natural riparian buffer surrounding Lake Hening. In a few years, visitors to Lake Hening will be able to reap the physical and mental benefits from this healthier, vibrant, and more beautiful greenspace! With the collective efforts of H.E.A.R.T., VDOF, and local stewards of the environment, Henrico has taken a huge step towards becoming a cleaner, greener community to live in.

In the final episode of Henrico Happenings for 2023, Victoria is joined by representatives from My Henrico Academy (MHA). Raina Vann, Henrico's Multicultural Community Liaison, as well as two recent graduates of the MHA program, share stories about what the program has to offer for those considering signing up. My Henrico Academy is a free program that engages multicultural communities with interactive lessons and culturally specific approaches to bridge participant's understanding of how their local government and communities work together. Individuals who thrive in MHA seek information to share with other immigrants; attend program sessions with officials and leaders to learn how they can become more engaged in the civic process; and participate in activities to experience county programs, locations and services. For more information, or to sign up for the 2024 academy, visit https://henrico.us/multicultural-community-engagement/my-henrico-academy/

Dennis is joined by Del Harris, head boys basketball coach at Collegiate School and vice president of 804 Coaches For Change (804CFC). The organization is hosting the 3rd annual 804 Coaches For Change Community Classic at the Henrico Sports & Events Center on December 27-30. The event will feature boys and girls high school basketball teams from around the region. 804CFC looks to encourage student-athletes to be successful beyond the playing field and help make positive change in their communities. For more information visit https://804coach4change.org/

Our guests for this edition of the H.E.A.R.T podcast are interns from the Henrico County internship program. The group talks about some of their projects and what they've liked about being a part of the Henrico County workforce. You'll also hear why they think the efforts of the H.E.A.R.T. committee are so important. To learn more about the internship program, visit https://henrico.us/services/internship/ To learn more about the H.E.A.R.T. committee visit https://henrico.us/heart/

The latest episode of Henrico Happenings is here to get you ready for all of the fun holiday events Henrico Recreation & Parks has planned over the next few weeks. Victoria is joined by Aziah Bell and Adam Schwartz, who share the details so you don't miss out. Whether it's a movie, concert or even a visit from Santa himself, there is sure to be something to get you feeling festive. For more information and a calendar of events, visit https://henrico.us/organizer/recreation-parks/

In this episode of Henrico Happenings, Victoria is joined by Leslie Stephen from Henrico Area Mental Health & Developmental Services (MHDS). They discuss a number of different topics, including the three grants given to Henrico by the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority. For more information call Henrico MHDS at (804) 727-8515 or visit https://bouncebackhc.com/

n the first episode of Showtime. All the Time, Dennis is joined by Henrico County Manager John Vithoulkas. The pair discuss the Henrico Sports & Entertainment Authority and how it is helping to boost tourism opportunities in the county. Top notch facilities are a big draw so you'll also learn how the newly opened Henrico Sports & Entertainment Center is already proving to be a game changer in the region.

The Henrico County Department of Finance and the Virginia PACE Authority joins H.E.A.R.T. to talk about a fantastic opportunity for businesses looking to green up their facilities. C-PACE is a long-term fixed rate loan program for qualified applicants to help them invest in their future by providing financing for a variety of improvements such as solar and renewable energy projects. Find out how you can get on board this program that will ultimately make Henrico County a greener place to live, work and play.

Eric Leabough, Director of Community Revitalization, joins Victoria on the latest episode of Henrico Happenings. Leabough explains what services his department provides to Henrico residents and talks about some of the different housing programs available in the region.

Keep Henrico Beautiful, along with Henrico Recreation and Parks, will be hosting the Plant Native! Festival on October 21 from 10am to 2pm at Meadow Farm Museum at Crump Park. There will be vendors, information booths and seminars for you to learn about the benefits of native species in our area. There will be a series of speakers that follow the vendor segment from 2 to 3:30pm.

In the latest episode of Henrico Happenings, Victoria is joined by Henrico's Finance Director, Sheila Minor to discuss tax relief. For the second consecutive year, Henrico County is taking steps to reduce the impact of rising real estate taxable values on taxpayers by providing a credit equal to two cents per $100 of taxable value. Taxpayers will receive a check equivalent to 2 cents per $100 on their 2023 assessed values, if the credit is $30 or more. Credits less than $30 will be applied to real estate tax accounts. For more information, call (804) 501-4729 and select option 1.

Pollinators, like bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, are the unsung heroes of horticulture. Creating a pollinator garden to attract them year-round is as easy as planting a few native plants. Henrico's Environmental Action Resource Team visits with local experts to learn what a pollinator garden is and how to get started. Watch and listen to this podcast so you can find out what all the “buzz” is about.

The 24th annual James River Cleanup will take place on Saturday, September 9. We are looking for volunteers to help with this effort. Osborne Park and Boat Landing will be a cleanup site in Henrico County and there will be 10 additional locations along the James to get involved in this event. Please take advantage of this environmental stewardship project.

Our guest Cari Tretina, Henrico County Chief of Staff, joins the podcast to give us a summer update about the H.E.A.R.T. committee's progress. Get an overview of H.E.A.R.T. as well as a sneak peak of future environmental goals in Henrico County.

Central Virginia Waste Management Authority and Keep Henrico Beautiful paid a visit to the H.E.A.R.T. podcast to discuss recycling. We learned the do's and don'ts, and how easy it can be to get started. Recycling can be fun, you'll see why.

In this episode of Henrico Happenings, Victoria is joined by Henrico's new Advocate for the Aging, Ashlee Giles. Ashlee explains how her office is helping Henrico County's aging population by enhancing social engagement, wellness and independence. For more information: henrico.us/services/seniors agingadvocate@henrico.us (804) 501-5065

The latest episode of Henrico Happenings is focused on recycling! Kim Hynes, Executive Director of CVWMA and Jon Clary, Henrico Solid Waste Division Director, join Victoria to talk about the 95-gallon recycling carts being delivered to Henrico residents. Each single-family home in Henrico eligible for curbside recycling through CVWMA will receive a cart, at no cost. These carts replace the smaller, handheld bins currently in use. For more information visit https://cvwma.com/cvwma-locations/henrico-2/

May is National Bike Month and H.E.A.R.T. is celebrating with a podcast on bicycle safety. Learn how to be a safe cyclist and a safe motorist as well. Let's get out and go biking!

In this episode of Henrico Happenings, Victoria is joined by Kristin Blalock from Henrico CASA. You can learn how to become a Court Appointed Special Advocate, and work with judges to help meet the needs of abused and neglected children in the area. Also hear about the Home for Good event, and how you can enter to win a one-of-a-kind childrens playhouse. For more information on Henrico CASA, visit henricocasa.org

Henrico County Recreation and Parks along with Keep Henrico Beautiful, shared the great news about the Earth Day Celebration 2023 coming up on April 22 at Deep Run Park. The event will focus on environmental education. This family friendly celebration will include live music, food and informational vendors, and fun and games.

Megan Brown from Keep Henrico Beautiful joins the show to talk about Vermicomposting. We discovered that Red Wiggler worms can be heroes when it comes to accelerating your home composting projects! Learn how to turn paper and kitchen scraps into valuable Black Gold for your gardens.

Henrico County held its 64th Student Government Day. We spoke with student participants to get their insights about this great day of learning about their local government.

Brandon Hinton, Deputy County Manager for Administration, talks with Victoria about the proposed budget for fiscal 2023-24. Highlights include tax more tax relief, education and public safety investments, funding for capital projects, and an 8.2% merit-based salary increase for county and Henrico County Public Schools employees

On the night of October 16, 2021, Deshawn Johnson was struck and killed by a motor vehicle in Henrico's West End. With little evidence to go on, Henrico Police are asking for the public's help with any tips or leads that might help them solve this case, and bring closure to Deshawn's family. Anyone with information is asked to contact Metro Richmond Crime Stoppers' anonymous tip line at 804-780-1000 or Corporal Scottie Shoemaker with Henrico Police at 804-501-5000.

Andy Farmer from Virginia Energy Sense joins Kristin and Victoria with some helpful tips to help you save money on your energy bills this winter.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are the most traveled times of the year. Before you hop on a flight at Richmond International Airport, listen to our Henrico Happenings podcast. Airport president and CEO Perry Miller offers tips to help you get to your destination smoothly. He also shares details about projects underway at the airport that will make flying the friendly skies even better.

On Tuesday, Nov. 8, Henrico voters can participate in the 2022 bond referendum — a proposed $511.4 million investment in our schools, parks and other public facilities. Henrico County Manager John Vithoulkas and Henrico County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Amy Cashwell explain what a yes vote means for our community.