The Journal
www.journalpress.com
Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2012
3
Beach officials seek County and Red Cross’ help to prepare shelter Linda, Farneth On Tuesday, Oct. 15, Colonial Beach Mayor Mike Ham and Council members Jim Chiarello, Linda Brubaker and Wanda Goforth met with representatives from the American Red Cross (Red Cross) and Westmoreland County’s Department of Social Services (DSS). The meeting had been called to discuss the necessary steps (needed to be taken by the town) to receive emergency shelter assistance in cases of emergency or disaster. Representatives in attendance from the American Red Cross included: Executive Director Julie Dudley; Disaster Coordinator for Colonial Beach Nila Walker; and Paul Hundley from the Disaster Services Program. Emergency Coordinator Helen Wilkins-Ball represented Westmoreland County Social Services. Dudley advised the council that the Red Cross supports the town with emergency sheltering in events of house fires and other un-foreseen emergencies. They also contribute blood supplies and offer certifications in CPR, First Aid and lifeguarding. Chiarello explained that the purpose of the meeting was to conduct an open fact-finding discussion with the Red Cross to find out what procedures are needed to receive help from the Red Cross for the town’s shelter. “What are our roles, and how can we work together?” Chiarello asked. The Red Cross can offer:
The Red Cross relies on bringing together all available resources, such as Social Services, churches and other community groups to coordinate efforts to meet all the needs of citizens during a crisis or in a disaster. The Red Cross defines a disaster as “an event causing human suffering requiring assistance to overcome.” They handle over 70,000 personal disasters a year, nationwide, such as families impacted by fire. Hundley told the council that he is one of two managers for what is the newly named “Eastern Virginia Region” which contains 55 localities. Hundley said the Red Cross agency wants to meet the individual needs and expectations of each locality, which may not be the same as a neighboring locality. In order to accomplish this, the Red Cross must evaluate the individual needs in each community. The agency must also evaluate local assets and resources available. Red Cross works with localities’ emergency operations plans, helping to implement them, and taking over when the leading agencies’ responsibilities change. Wilkins-Ball explained that Westmoreland County has two designated shelters- Washington District School and Montross Middle School. Anybody in Westmoreland County can come to those two shelters. Social Services will run those shelters for 72 hours, utilizing four teams who work around the clock. “At the end of 72 hours, we turn
[shelter operations] over to Red Cross. We start using your blankets and cots, but we work together and dialog with one another,” Wilkins-Ball said to Red Cross representatives. Wilkins-Ball is concerned that resources will not accommodate a third shelter. “If you’re talking about establishing a third shelter here, I’m telling you if the other two shelters are open, I don’t have the staff and the manpower to do that. However, if there would be an event that would just impact you guys, that’s certainly a possibility. But all of this needs to be defined and put in the county operations plan, so I know from day one what might happen, and my staff is prepared.” Council members explained to the representatives that with the two bridges at Mattox Creek and Tide’s Mill Stream on State Route 205, the town has, in the past, become an island during storms with heavy rains. In the case of Tropical Storm Lee, which dumped 21 inches of rain on Colonial Beach, the town was cut-off at both ends for days, from erosion damage that resulted from flash flooding. The one route through back-roads is not familiar to all residents, and is not an ideal escape route in flash flooding. Mayor Mike Ham commented, “When we get a bad storm, we become an island, and yet we still have 20% of the population [for Westmoreland County] sitting on this island.” Colonial Beach has already designated the high school building on First Street as an emergency
Verizon: Streets added
Spooky: Lots of treats
from page 1
Haunted House from 6 to 9 p.m. on Halloween night and the Town of Colonial Beach will have trick or treating from 5 to 8 p.m. The O’Gara Group will also be hosting its Third Annual Trunk or Treat event on Halloween night. The event on the O’Gara parking lot is designed to make trick or treating safer for children of all ages. Businesses, individuals and churches will park cars on the lot with open trunks filled with candy.
at their mid-month meeting on Oct. 16 that her department was recommending the approval of the construction permit extension. “We believe that this project has merit,” McDowell said. “The proposed project would improve cellular and Internet coverage in an area of the county that has marginal service.” McDowell said the cell tower will be available for use for emergency 911 communications at no cost to the Westmoreland County. The owner of the cell tower location is a local firm, Monrovia Properties. In other business, the board of supervisors voted to withdraw from the Virginia Local Disability Program provided by the Virginia State Retirement System. Westmoreland County joined the state disability program in March. To continue to maintain employer paid disability coverage for its employees, the board voted to instead to participate in the disability plan offered by the Virginia Association of Counties Risk Pool. Westmoreland County Administrator Norm Risavi said the Virginia Association of Counties program, which is underwritten by Standard Insurance Company, “satisfies statutory requirements and offers additional enhancements to plan participants.” The board of supervisors also approved two resolutions adding streets in the Glebe Harbor subdivision to the Virginia Department of Transportation’s secondary system of highways. Cople Drive and Woodland Drive will receive improvements from funding provided by revenue sharing to allow them to qualify for the state secondary roads system. This will allow the streets to be maintained by the VDOT. -Richard Leggitt
Col. Beach
Police Report
From page 1
You may qualify if you are a graduating senior with a 3.5 cumulative GPA, a combined critical reading and math SAT of 1100 or ACT composite of 24, and have lived for the past two (2) years in the counties of Caroline, Charles City, Essex, Gloucester, James City (Stonehouse District), King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, New Kent, Northumberland, Richmond, Westmoreland or York (Bruton District). Applications and further information are available from your HIGH SCHOOL GUIDANCE COUNSELOR or from the Scholarship Fund at www.faryscholarship.org.
Elementary School and Montross Middle School). Wilkins-Ball admitted that if Red Cross was willing and had the resources, there is no law preventing the town from utilizing their services in an emergency. But the council discussed options such as educational meetings with citizens to help families prepare individual disaster preparedness plans, evacuation plans, and how to weather out emergencies, should they decide to remain in their homes. Hundley said that in some cases where weather or other disasters leave homes intact, but without power for long periods of time, many localities are choosing to set up
from page 1 improvements. Although all applicants did not receive offers of money, each one was provided detailed help and plans for renovations to their properties. To date, all applicants have expressed excitement surrounding the upcoming improvements and a willingness to proceed with upgrades, regardless of whether they received grant money or not. Criteria In order to get the most bang for their buck, the Montross Facade Improvement Committee used several guidelines when choosing properties to receive money from the program. A questionnaire was filled out for each property to help
determine which properties fit the first set of criteria: visibility from Kings Highway (Route 3); physical need; historical contribution and cost of improvements. The questionnaire was a surprise to the committee. Ray Herlong said, “We didn’t want anyone to think of answers before the reviewing process.” In the first analysis, each criteria met gave the applicant one point, but Herlong believed that each criteria did not carry the same weight. For example, cost of improvements should not be judged the same as the other criteria. So the group assigned a point system to the criteria. Visibility from Kings Highway, which was considered the most important aspect of the facade improvement program, was assigned a score of- up to six points, physical need- four points, historical contribution- three points,
Deadline December 16, 2013
FARY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND
You are invited to attend Revival Services With: Evangelist Bobby McGilliard and the Ministry Team Sunday October 27, 2013 11 AM Worship Service • 6 PM Worship Service Fellowship Dinner following PM Service Gospel Singing and Preaching Each Night October 28-31 at 7 PM • (Monday - Thursday) TABERNACLE BAPTIST CHURCH
Virginiia Marke et Available e Now A
Colonnial Beach/King Georgge
10640 Kings Highway • King George, VA 22485 540-775-7188 • tbckg@va.metrocast.net
convenience stations. These stations allow residents to remain in their homes but can utilize the station for hot meals, showers, doing laundry, and charging small devices such as phones, iPads or laptops. The council’s next move will be to contact Westmoreland County Administrator Norm Risavi to discuss what the county can do to help set up a shelter in Colonial Beach. Red Cross operates solely on contributions and volunteers. Both are in great need in the Colonial Beach area. Anyone interested in donating to the Red Cross or volunteering can call Julie Dudley at (804) 435-7669.
and cost of improvement- one point. On the second test, the list of four top properties remained the same, however three of the six remaining properties did change, based on the weighted analysis. Some other criteria used had eliminated some properties from the list of recipients. For example, if the building was consistently maintained and already retained historical and aesthetic preservation, it was lowered on the list to receive funds since they would not change significantly from the small amount of grant money being offered. Larger buildings were also given lower scores. The group wants to utilize the money in a way that would have the greatest impact to the streetscape of Kings Hwy. The group went through several exercises to determine the end list. All the properties were graded, in case one or more of the ten chosen decide not to utilize the grant moneys. Because grant money must be matched with funds provided by the property owners, there is always a chance that a business may not be in a position to use the funds. The management team agreed with the architects that the businesses along Route 3, the town’s main thoroughfare, should be aesthetically pleasing and share a common thread to entice motorists to stop and shop in the town. Businesses off the beaten path will be considered for way-finding signs, designed to lure consumers to their businesses. The Herlongs refrained from discussing other work to be done with the DHCD block grant money, but did add that some properties are being considered for murals and some lots are slated for landscape improvements, designed not to interfere with possible future development. Planned improvements for the ten properties selected must now go to the State for approval before advertising for bids from contractors to complete the work.
Dr. Christopher Harrington
WE BUY GOLD
Board Certified Family Physician (24 years of experience) ~Nutrition Consulting Services are Available~ • All Ages Welcome & Accepted
Sept. 6 Anthony Brooks, 23, Kinsale, VA, arrested for Shoplifting, Unauthorized Use.
• Located in the Massaponax/
Sept. 9 Troy Clayton, 46, Alexandria, VA, arrested for Driving Under Influence.
• Most Insurance Accepted
We welcome your photos and articles! Send them to news@ journalpress.com
shelter, but needs to install a generator. Included in the installation is the need for a switch and fuel tanks. Until funding is found for these items, the town wants to explore all options to be ready when funding does come through. Determined to press on, the council looked at several alternatives to prepare for future disasters. Wilkins-Ball pointed out that very few Beach residents take advantage of shelters. But the council argued that the road flooding is a big factor for residents who don’t want to travel these roads during storms. What was not discussed, is the number of people who are unaware of the shelters in Oak Grove and in Montross (Washington District
Facades: Businesses named for grant funds
Candy and funds to purchase the candy have been donated by Montross area businesses. Signs will list the businesses and groups who helped make the event possible. The event will be held from 6 to 8 p.m on the parking lot. Halloween is an almost 500 year custom that began in Scotland as All Hallows’ Eve. The celebration of Halloween came to America with Irish and Scottish immigrants in the 1800s. Over the years it has become a festival celebrated by people of all backgrounds and their children.
COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP $24,000/4 YEARS
Helen Wilkins-Ball, Paul Hundley, Julie Dudley and Nila Walker seated in the rear, spoke with town officials to determine what steps to take to ensure the town’s shelter at Colonial Beach High School on First Street will be ready for upcoming emergencies.
In King George
Southpoint Parkway area • Accepting New Patients
To Lea arn More
Top Prices Being Paid
Ed.Sosnia ak@shos.com m
United Recovery and Refiners, LLC
Contact C Ed Sosn niak (763) 442-2925
7183 Kings Highway
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday & Sunday, Closed
(Rt. 3, next to Pern’s Market/Citgo Station)
(540) 479-4204 www.chrisharringtonmd.com
Open Every Tuesday - Friday 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
On weekends just call for appointment
10718 Ballantraye Dr., Suite 404, Fredericksburg, VA 22407 (At the corner of Courthouse Road and Southpoint Parkway)
540-645-8022