The Henrico County Circuit Court has dismissed Terrell Pollard’s petition for a recount of the Fairfield District school board election, which Ryan Young won by a 61-vote margin over Pollard in a five-person race. Pollard, who initially told the Citizen Nov. 14 that he did not intend to seek a recount, later changed his mind after encouragement from his supporters and filed a petition for recount on Nov. 28. But that petition was dismissed Dec. 4 by Henrico Circuit Court Chief Judge John Marshall, who said that Pollard had missed the state’s deadline to request a recount by one day....Article Link

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New wildlife crossings – pathways over interstates or other high-traffic roads that are designed to reduce or prevent collisions between animals and vehicles – are coming to Virginia. The Virginia Department of Transportation Tuesday was among 19 entities nationally to receive funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation as part of the Federal Highway Administration’s Wildlife Crossing Pilot Program. Every year, vehicle collisions with large animals kill 200 people and injure almost 26,000. Today, we're announcing major funding to improve wildlife crossings across the country—strengthening roadway safety and saving lives. pic.twitter.com/pJCQjT7tKE — U.S. Department of Transportation (@USDOT) December 5, 2023...Article Link

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The Henrico Sports and Events Center has been hosting events and competitions since October, but county officials joined members of the public to officially dedicate it Dec. 4. Construction of the -million arena will bring local, state and national events to Henrico County. It's already nearly booked for every weekend of 2024, according to officials with the Henrico Sports and Entertainment Authority. It can be configured to accommodate 12 basketball courts, 24 volleyball courts and any number of possibilities in between. The arena includes 115,000 square feet or court space within its overall 185,000-square-foot footprint, as well as four meeting...Article Link

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The scramble to get vaccinated for COVID-19 has dwindled. When the first batch of vaccines hit the market in Dec. 2020, 67% of the nation’s population received at least one dose. But as of Nov. 4, only about 14% of adults had gotten the new booster released this fall nationwide, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since those new COVID-19 vaccines became available in September and October, Richmond and Henrico vaccination rates generally have mirrored the statewide rates, according to Emily Rich, the COVID-19 epidemiologist for the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts. As of Nov. 28,...Article Link

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As a teacher and mother to a child with autism, Elizabeth Callahan is all too familiar with flaws in the Virginia mental health care system. “I see the longevity of it, and there’s just so many holes,” Callahan said. Callahan’s son was diagnosed by a developmental pediatrician at the onset of his symptoms, which included speech issues, she said. He went to occupational therapy for years until COVID-19 halted in-person visits. Her child’s therapist quit during the pandemic because “she said she would make more on unemployment,” according to Callahan. Callahan watches her students struggle to be seen by psychiatrists...Article Link

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Kalea Thompson of Henrico recently received a partial scholarship to Rochester Institute of Technology in New York to pursue performing arts in instrumental music. Thompson, a graduate of Highland Springs High School, is a first-year student in the Mechanical Engineering BS program. Performing arts scholarships are renewable for up to five years, as long as the students stay involved in performing arts. The students come from each of RIT's nine colleges, with the majority from engineering and computer sciences. A School of Performing Arts opened last year at RIT to offer non-majors in performing arts more opportunities to continue their...Article Link

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Kroger Mid-Atlantic will hold a ribbon-cutting to mark the grand re-opening of its Willow Lawn store Dec. 6 at 9 a.m. The ceremony is part of Kroger's celebration of the completion of four major store renovations in Virginia (located in Harrisonburg, Rocky Mount and Suffolk in addition to Richmond).   Renovations vary from store to store and include new décor, updated flooring, and improved signage as well as updates to departments such as floral, bakery, natural foods, and adult beverages.  Combined, the four stores received more than .4 million in upgrades, improvements and new offerings.  At each re-grand opening, Kroger...Article Link

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Henrico Recreation and Parks recently committed to making its parklands and facilities 100 percent tobacco-free and vapor-free, by partnering with Share The Air to adopt a voluntary tobacco-free outdoor policy. The policy change was initiated by Y Street, a program of the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth and Virginia’s largest youth-led movement.  On Oct. 4, Y Street members from J.R. Tucker H.S. and Highland Springs H.S. met with Henrico’s Recreation & Parks Commission to present ways in which the county can enhance its parks and recreational areas and provide an outdoor experience that everyone could enjoy.   Y Street member...Article Link

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Founded in 2020 by entrepreneur and developer Olaf K. Ross, Brick Road Coffee Company has quickly become a staple in the local coffee and food scene. Its mission is clear: to be the coffee destination of RVA, offering the highest quality coffee and a diverse handcrafted menu for Breakfast and Lunch. Quality Beans and Italian Style Roasting The café, located at 8055 Shrader Road, is committed to sourcing only the highest quality coffee beans and teas. To ensure the freshest and tastiest coffee, the founders have implemented an Italian-style roasting facility where every bean is roasted with precision and care....Article Link

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The Henrico Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing Dec. 12 to consider adding .5 million in spending to the Fiscal Year 2024 county budget. During the board’s Nov. 28 meeting, Budget Director Justin Crawford explained that amount included, among other items: • .2 million in school funding connected to Governor Glenn Youngkin’s ALL IN VA tutoring initiative; • .2 million for a land reserve fund for future county land purchases; • million for the Lambert Way road project extending Woodman Road to the entrance of Glover Park. Separately, the board awarded a [post_excerpt].675 million contract to Triad...Article Link

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