Bedford County Community Connection - Winter 2024

Bedford County

WINTER EDITION 2024

COMMUNITY Connection

growth

BLUEPRINT FOR

Adopting an updated comprehensive plan and other 2024 goals

ALSO INSIDE...

WILDFIRE LESSONS

What we learned from the Matts Creek fire

SPORTS FOR EVERYONE New Parks & Rec program picks up speed

MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

Local hotlines & counseling centers

Bedford County

COMMUNITY Connection

CONTENTS

WINTER EDITION 2024

Bedford County Community Connection

In Progress

highlights the latest news from Bedford County, Virginia’s government departments. It is published quarterly online (January, April, July, October).

A Q&A with Bedford County’s Community Development Director about the new short-term rental ordinance.

PAGE 5

CONTACT PHONE 540-586-7601 EMAIL publicinfo@bedfordcountyva.gov

Looking Ahead

ADDRESS 122 East Main Street Bedford, VA 24523

County Administration discusses some of the top government goals and projects of 2024.

WEBSITE www.bedfordcountyva.gov

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SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: BedfordCountyVAGovernment Instagram: @bedfordcountyvirginia LinkedIn: Bedford County, Virginia X: @BedfordCountyVA YouTube: @CountyofBedford

Lessons from the Matts Creek Fire

A few key takeaways for the community in the wake of the 11,000-acre wildfire near Big Island.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DISTRICT 1 Mickey Johnson

DISTRICT 5 Tommy Scott

DISTRICT 2 Edgar Tuck (Chair)

DISTRICT 6 Bob Davis

DISTRICT 3 Charla Bansley

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DISTRICT 7 Tammy Parker (Vice Chair)

Adaptive Sports

DISTRICT 4 John Sharp

Children of all abilities are learning new athletic skills in this program organized by Parks & Recreation.

Learn more: www.bedfordcountyva.gov/BOS CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

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Mike Butler, Ashlee Glen, Chris Morris, Susan Pratt

ON THE COVER An aerial view of church construction off Thomas Jefferson Road in Forest.

Photo by Mike Butler 2

Also Inside...

• News & Announcements • Trash Talk

4 5

• Employee of the Quarter • Mental Health Resources

10 12

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Important Dates JANUARY

FEBRUARY

7 p.m. at County Administration Building (122 East Main St., Bedford).

County Administration Building (122 East Main St., Bedford). Worksession at 5 p.m.

ministration Building (122 East Main St., Bedford).

29 – Applications due for Tax Relief for the Elderly and Disabled:

2 – Planning Commission:

4 – Economic Development Authority (EDA): 5:30 p.m. at County Administration Building (122 East Main St., Bedford).

8 – Board of Supervisors:

7 p.m. at County Administration Building (122 East Main St., Bedford). Worksession at 5 p.m.

15 – Administrative Offices Closed for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: Waste Management Facility, gated waste collection centers, and the Bedford Area Welcome Center will be open.

19 – Early, In-Person Voting Begins for March Primary Election: Learn more on page 4.

22 – Board of Supervisors:

7 p.m. at County Administration Building (122 East Main St., Bedford). Worksession at 5 p.m.

31 – External Agency Funding Requests for FY2025 Due: Fiscal Year 2025 is from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. The request form can be found at www.bedfordcountyva.gov/fundingrequest.

1 – Economic Development Authority: 5:30 p.m. at County Ad-

6 – Planning Commission:

Learn more on Page 4.

7 p.m. at County Administration Building (122 East Main St., Bedford).

MARCH

12 – Last Day to Register to Vote in March Primary Election: Learn

on page 4.

5 – Primary Election: Learn more

more on page 4.

5 – EDA Joint Town/County Meeting: 7 p.m. at County Admin-

12 – Board of Supervisors:

istration Building (122 East Main St., Bedford).

7 p.m. at County Administration Building (122 East Main St., Bedford). Worksession at 5 p.m.

5 – Planning Commission:

15 – Virginia’s 4 p.m. Burning Law Begins: Open-air burning be-

7 p.m. at County Administration Building (122 East Main St., Bedford).

fore 4 p.m. is prohibited until April 30.

Learn more on page 4.

11 – Board of Supervisors:

22 – Administrative Offices Closed for George Washington Day: The Waste Management Facility, gated waste collection sites, and the Bedford Area Welcome Center will be open.

23 – Last Day to Apply for Absentee Ballot by Mail, March Primary: Learn more on page 4.

26 – Board of Superviors: 7 p.m.

7 p.m. at County Administration Building (122 East Main St., Bedford). Worksession at 5 p.m.

18 – Board of Supervisors Budget Worksession: 5 p.m. at County Administration Building (122 East Main St., Bedford).

25 – Board of Supervisors: 7 p.m. at County Administration Building (122 East Main St., Bedford). Worksession at 5 p.m.

in the third floor boardroom of the

ADOPT A SHELTER PET MEET SPOOKY! Spooky is an adult American Staffordshire terrier who came to the Bedford County Animal Shelter as a stray. He is a gorgeous dog with beautiful markings, and volunteers say he has a very sweet personality. Spooky would need a meet-and-greet with other dogs in a home.

Photo by Susan Pratt

If you are interested in meeting Spooky, contact the Bedford County Animal Shelter at 540-586-7690. You can also email Friends of Bedford County Animal Shelter at fobcasfriends@gmail.com. The Bedford County Animal Shelter is located at 1307 Falling Creek Rd., Bedford. It is open to the public Tuesday through Friday from 1-6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

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FYI: County News, Announcements & Reminders Spring sports registration with Bedford County Parks & Recreation opens Jan. 2 and continues through Feb. 17. Spring sports are baseball/softball, soccer, and flag football. Learn more about how to register at www. bedfordcountyva.gov/sports.

Schedule your free tax preparation assistance from AARP at the Bedford Central Library (321 N. Bridge St., Bedford). AARP will be at the library on Tuesdays and Thursdays (9 a.m. to 12 p.m.) from Feb. 1 through April 11. Stop by and pick up your pre-appointment packet and schedule a day to return with your documents.

Are you looking for a career in Fire & Rescue? The next Firefighter 1 session starts on Jan. 8. The next EMT-Basic Training session starts on Jan. 9. Contact Captain Jodi McChesney with questions: 540587-0700, ext. 1403 or jmcchesney@ bedfordcountyva.gov.

The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office’s Citizen’s Police Academy registration is now open. Classes will be primarily Tuesday nights starting May 28. Open to citizens ages 18 and up. Background check required. Register at www.bedfordcountyva.gov/ academy. Questions? Call Sgt. Ron Clayton at 540-586-7718.

Bedford County has a new Treasurer. William Perrow’s term officially starts on Jan. 2, 2024. Perrow was previously a part of the finance staff at Bedford County Public Schools.

We want to welcome William to the Bedford County team and wish him the best of luck in his new position!

Applications for Tax Relief for the Elderly and Disabled will be accepted from Jan. 1 - Feb. 29, 2024. In 2023, Supervisors made adjustments to the qualifications. Those include: total income of the household cannot exceed $50,000 and net worth cannot exceed $150,000. To apply for an exemption, contact the Commissioner of Revenue’s office: 540-586-7626.

The Information Technology department is excited to announce Ashley Thornton as Bedford County’s new GIS Manager. Most recently, Ashley performed analysis for Pinkerton Consulting and Investigation.

Prior to that role, she was a GIS Specialist for Bedford County after starting out as an intern.

Clerk of Circuit Court Judy Reynolds is excited to announce she will soon offer a free service to any citizens and property owners who are concerned about fraud involving their property. Citizens can open an account and will receive notification if there is a recording of land documents in their name. Look for those details in early 2024.

February is Heart Health Month.

It’s important to know the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. They include: chest pain/discomfort; shortness of breath; pain/discomfort in the jaw, neck, back, arm or shoulder; and feeling nauseous, light-headed or unusually tired. If you are experiencing chest pain, you should call 911 immediately.

The Waste Management department wants to remind residents that winter weather may affect hours at waste collection centers.

If there is snow or ice, be sure to check www.bedfordcountyva.gov or Bedford County social media pages before visiting your collection center.

All closure announcements will be made on those platforms.

Virginia’s 4 p.m. Burning Law starts on Feb. 15 and continues through April 30. Open-air burning prior to 4 p.m. is prohibited if the fire is within 300 feet of the woods or dry grass which could carry the fire into the woods. You can burn between 4 p.m. and midnight. The law applies to campfires, warming fires, brush piles, etc.

There will be a dual primary for Democratic and Republican presidential candidates on March 5, 2024. Early, in-person voting starts Jan. 19 and ends on March 2 and will be held in the Parks & Rec Chapel (1257 County Farm Rd., Bedford). To learn more about the March Primary Election, visit www. bedfordcountyva.gov/vote.

BROADBAND CORNER

259

miles of fiber installed*

2,700

addresses connected to broadband*

A CONTINUED COMMITTMENT

There are numerous broadband projects underway in Bedford County by a variety of internet service providers. To stay up-to-date on the progress, visit our website: www.bedfordcountyva.gov/broadband.

*Totals since August 2022 when Virginia Telecommunication Initiative projects were kicked off 4

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In Progress: Bedford County’s new short-term rental ordinance went into full effect November 1, 2023.

In August 2023, the Board of Supervisors approved several amendments to the Bedford County Zoning Ordinance regarding short-term rentals.

The updated ordinance requires all operators to submit a management plan with the County. The amendments also address other issues such as parking and signage.

Director of Community Development Jordan Mitchell answers a few questions about how the transition to the new ordinance is going.

Jordan, you all updated Bedford County’s short-term rental ordinance to better enforce occupancy limits and some other issues such as parking. How has the transition been so far?

It’s been a learning experience for us as well as the operators. We frequently receive questions and hold meetings to make sure that operators and staff are on the same page with what is expected with the submittal of registration or management plan review for this first yearly permit cycle.

What kind of feedback are you hearing about the changes?

With any ordinance revision, there is a learning period for citizens to comply. We have not had as much negative feedback

Short-term rental ordinance Q&A with Director of Community Development

Photo courtesy of Lake Retrat Properties of “Mountain Majesty” home from operators that I had expected, and the rental companies have also been supportive of the ordinance amendments.

There have been a few small amendments to the ordinance since it was passed. Do you expect to make any more adjustments moving forward?

A review of the current ordinance requirements is anticipated in mid-to-late 2024. By that point, we will have nearly finished the first year of the new permitting cycle and have enough feedback to provide the Board of Supervisors with recommended amendments, if any.

Approximately how many shortterm rentals are currently registered in Bedford County?

Since the ordinance amendments, we have received and issued nearly 43

Trash Talk:

The Waste Management Department gets a lot of questions from residents about what they can and cannot dispose of at collection centers.

All of the items listed here are not accepted at collection centers and must be taken to the Waste Management Facility (WMF) at 1060 Recycle Rd., Bedford: • Dead animals • Freon-containing appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioners and dehumidifiers • Building, construction, and remodeling materials • Solid waste generated from a commercial, manufacturing or business enterprise • Brush, limbs, and branches that are not able to be bagged • Stumps • Tires and automobile parts

short-term rental registrations and 84 management plans. All short-term rentals will need to register or have a management plan review in this first yearly cycle since the ordinance change. However, it is estimated that we have somewhere between 500-700 dwellings that are renting short-term.

How much do you expect that number to change as your staff focuses on this issue?

I expect that we could see things remain the same or see a reduction in short-term rentals in the County. This is due to the requirements not making the rentals as profitable as they were before the ordinance change as homes will no longer be allowed to advertise for occupancy that exceeds the septic system bedroom capacity.

Learn more at www.bedfordcountyva.gov/STR.

What’s NOT allowed at waste collection centers?

• •

Fencing materials Ashes and coals from any form of burning • Gas tanks or cylinders • Poisonous, infectious or hazardous waste • 55-gallon drums All commercial waste must be taken to the WMF and is charged according to which materials are being discarded.

Residential customers can dispose up to 1,000 pounds of municipal solid waste and wood waste per month at no cost.

After 1,000 pounds, residential customers are charged at a rate of $2.85 per 100 pounds.

All tires, regardless of commercial or residential are charged at $3 per tire.

Learn more at www.bedfordcountyva.gov/ waste.

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Photo by Ashlee Glen 5

On the Horizon

Bedford County leaders focus on growth, waste management, parks and more in 2024

By Shelley Basinger

Photo by Mike Butler

As we bring in the New Year, Bedford County government is looking ahead to several big projects.

Here, leaders explain what you can expect to hear more about in 2024.

ADOPTION OF UPDATED COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Comprehensive plans are the blueprint for future growth and development in a locality.

Virginia State Code requires comprehensive plans to be reviewed every five years by the locality’s Planning Commission for necessary updates. This process has been underway in Bedford County since January 2021. It’s projected to be completed in the first quarter of 2024.

Bedford County Community Development has held four citizen meetings and conducted an online survey regarding the comprehensive plan.

“We found that citizens generally agreed with the goals and objectives in the current comprehensive plan,” said Director of Community Development Jordan Mitchell.

According to Mitchell, the major changes residents will see in the compre6

hensive plan are updates to the Future Land Use Map in certain areas of the County, information and growth updates, and options to address infrastructure (transportation and public water/ sewer) as growth continues.

“We are continuing to grow, and we anticipate more growth in the rural areas of the County with broadband internet becoming more widely available,” said Mitchell.

towards making a final decision while also being aware of the necessity to be compliant with all state requirements,” said County Administrator Robert Hiss.

“Whether to develop a new landfill cell or continuing to transfer solid waste is a generational choice with both shortand long-range operational and financial impacts. I anticipate this decision being made this spring, during the fiscal year 2025 budget development process.”

POSSIBLE CHANGES AT WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITY

FINALIZING A MASTER PARKS PLAN

In 2024, there will continue to be heavy discussion at Board of Supervisors meetings about waste management.

At a worksession on Nov. 27, 2023, Supervisors discussed two options for how to proceed with operations at the Waste Management Facility. Option one would transfer all solid waste to a regional landfill, and option two would expand the current landfill.

A new Assistant County Administrator will be joining Bedford County in early 2024 and will be largely focusing on this issue moving forward.

“The Board is diligently working

Bedford County Department of Parks & Recreation is working with the Salem-based Halcyon Planning & Design to create a master plan for our parks.

The goal of this plan is to optimize Bedford County’s existing parks and recreation resources and assets, as well as strategically plan for the future. Bedford County currently has three large regional parks (Falling Creek, Moneta, and Montvale) and two smaller parks (County Rec and Independence).

In April 2023, citizens were encouraged to complete a seven-question survey about County parks and their

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recommendations. The survey and other outreach have resulted in over 1,300 individual touch points with residents.

At the Dec. 11, 2023, Board of Supervisors’ worksession, Halcyon Planning & Design presented a draft plan that included some of its findings and recommendations. Their suggestions for improvement include infilling existing parks with new or enhanced amenities and adding more small, targeted parks in underserved areas.

It is anticipated that the work of the consultant and citizen advisory committee will wrap up development of the final plan late this winter.

“The completion of this long-range plan will aid our Parks & Recreation department in identifying projects and project placement that best suit our growing community,” said Deputy County Administrator Justin Stauder. “Although this is a long-range plan, we do anticipate having a handful of projects to consider during the development of our upcoming Capital Improvement Plan.”

WORLD DISC GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP COMES TO BEDFORD COUNTY

In August, the 2024 Professional Disc Golf World Championships will be played on disc golf courses located in Bedford County.

One of the courses, New London Tech Disc Golf Course, was designed by world champion disc golfer Paul McBeth and built by Bedford County Parks & Recreation. It was opened to the public in 2021.

The other course will be located at Ivy

Zitel, based in Moneta, in 2022. This project was made possible with grants from the Department of Housing and Community Development’s Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI).

Zitel’s construction, mainly in the southwestern quadrant of the County, will wrap up in the first quarter of 2024.

Zitel will bring broadband service to a minimum of about 4,100 new addresses once the project is complete.

In March 2023, Bedford County signed a contract with Verizon to extend broadband fiber to unserved addresses in the Wheats Valley/Big Island areas that were remaining from a 2019 VATI project.

Verizon will bring broadband service to a minimum of 350 addresses in this area.

Learn more: www.bedfordcountyva. gov/broadband.

Photo by Ashlee Glen

Hill Golf Club in Forest.

“We look forward to welcoming guests from around the world as this event shines a spotlight on Bedford. This will give us the opportunity to showcase our great facilities and love of the sport of disc golf,” said Director of Tourism Nicole Johnson.

COMPLETION OF TWO BROADBAND PROJECTS

Zitel and Verizon will complete their Bedford County broadband projects this year.

The County signed a contract with

Photo by Ashlee Glen B e d f o r d C o u n t y C o m m u n i t y C o n n e c t i o n | W i n te r 2 0 24

RELOCATION OF SOCIAL SERVICES

As Bedford County’s population has increased over the past few decades (by 25% since 2000), so have the needs of the Social Services department. Through the years, the department has added numerous staff positions to handle a growing caseload in the community.

Currently, Social Services is spread out across four buildings in Bedford.

“The County is working towards combining several of these buildings into one new location to more efficiently and effectively serve the community,” said Director of Public Works Doug Coffman.

Site selection and planning will be taking place over the next couple of months.

Photo by Ashlee Glen 7

JOIN OUR TEAM! Bedford County offers a variety of exciting and rewarding careers in local government that have a direct impact on our community. With 21 different departments, we offer careers ranging from entry level to technical and professional. Our employees also have excellent benefits, VRS retirement, and a chance to participate in a variety of wellness and engagement activities.

Learn more about two of our featured jobs below. View all open positions on our website: bedfordcountyva.gov/jobs.

EMT/FIREFIGHTER Fire & Rescue is hiring EMT/ Firefighters to provide emergency medical care and fire suppression services to our citizens.

This position provides basic life support and stabilization procedures at the scene of a medical emergency and during transport to medical facilities.

Additionally, this position is trained to provide fire suppression activities and respond to fire-related incidents.

CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT The Nursing Home is hiring Certified Nursing Assistants to join their team.

This position is responsible for performing a variety of duties related to health care, services and activities of daily living (ADL), which promote, enhance, and maintain resident health and independence. In addition to County benefits, employees receive complimentary meals during their work shift.

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EMPLOYEE OF THE QUARTER

Abigail Courington Title: Planner, Community Development Hired: August 2022 Nominated By: Senior Planner Mariel Fowler, who said Courington routinely exceeds expectations, offers incredible customer service, and takes on any challenge she is given without complaints.

Tell us a little bit about your career path up to this point.

Before working here, I had graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Public and Urban Affairs. My goal was to get a job in planning regardless of where it took me in the state. I couldn’t be happier that I ended up in Bedford County.

Photo by Ashlee Glen

What do you enjoy the most about working in Community Development?

I really enjoy getting to work with the public and helping them with their zoning issues.

What’s the most challenging part of your job?

Navigating the complexity of the Bedford County Zoning Ordinance and applying it to real life situations.

How do you stay organized?

It is extremely important for me to stay organized as I have so many projects that I am currently working on. Because each project has its own set of requirements, I have a whiteboard in my office that I keep all my open projects on. Each project is organized into the different types, and I always include a brief description on what the individual project needs.

You are also very involved in Bedford County’s Wellness and Engagement Committee, which formed in 2022. Which initiatives or events have you been the proudest of?

I am most proud of the Sudoku Puzzle Challenge I initiated. The eight-week challenge started with easy puzzles emailed to all staff and ended with expert-level puzzles. We had a lot of participation from staff and look forward to doing another similar challenge in the future.

How do you spend your free time?

I spend the majority of my free time either reading or creating flower arrangements out of paper.

Employee of the Quarter is selected by the County Administrator and Deputy County Administrator through nominations from Bedford County staff.

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PUBLIC SAFETY SPOTLIGHT

Lessons learned from the Matts Creek wildfire One of the most memorable events for Bedford County residents in 2023 was the Matts Creek wildfire in the George Washington National Forest. Over the span of two weeks in November, the wildfire burned more than 11,000 acres of federal forest land near Big Island.

Once the dust (and smoke) settled, the Bedford County Department of Fire & Rescue was able to pinpoint several lessons learned from the incident. Here are their key takeaways for you: There is a different firefighting approach with wildland fires — Typically, the goal in a large wildland fire is not to put it out, but contain it.

“One common misconception is that the goal was to extinguish the Matts Creek fire,” said Deputy Chief of Operations Abbey Johnston. “But oftentimes with wildfires, they set a containment zone right away. They will put water on the fire to slow it down, but the goal is always to contain it in those pre-set boundaries.”

Jurisdiction plays a big role in who responds to a wildland fire — Our Department of Fire & Rescue does not have jurisdiction (i.e. the power to make decisions) over the George Washington National Forest, which is federal land.

“We worked beautifully in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service,” said Johnston. “But it’s their operation and we don’t have the authority to send firefighters in

Photo by Chris Morris

there unless requested or they are needed.”

Landscaping around your home matters — If you live in an area with a lot of woods, the wildfire drew more attention to the importance of keeping all the structures on your property free from brush and debris. You want there to be cleared, open space between the woods and your home.

“This provides a barrier to slow or stop the spread of a wildfire,” said Johnston.

Access to your property is important — If all or part of your property is gated with a lock, register the gate with Emergency Communications (911) so that if there is an emergency in the area, first

responders can easily gain access.

Stay connected and informed — There was a lot of information circulating as the wildfire spread. Residents should always seek information from official, trusted sources.

“Your best way to prepare in the event of a wildfire is to sign up for Alert Bedford to receive emergency alerts, monitor official news sources, have a bag packed just in case, and stay calm,” said Johnston.

“Evacuations are a rare occurrence around here, but if they would ever become necessary, we have a plan in place to coordinate evacuation efforts with the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office.”

BUSINESS BY THE NUMBERS

200

Number of high school students who attended Bedford ONE (Offering New Experiences) tours in 2023 Bedford County Economic Development organizes the tours that highlight local industries, such as automotive and hospitality.

$71.4M

41

125

Visitor spending in Bedford in 2022, according to Tourism Economics

New jobs created from the 2023 expansion of Parkland Direct on Enterprise Drive

Years in business Sterling Blower Company is celebrating in 2024

This is a 7% increase over 2021. The data, released in late 2023, is based on visitor spending from trips taken 50 miles or more from home.

The company will start construction on the 50,000-square-foot expansion during the first quarter of 2024.

Currently located on Vista Centre Drive in Forest, Sterling Blower Company was founded in 1899 in Hartford, CT.

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PARKS & RECREATION SPOTLIGHT

Adaptive program allows kids of all abilities to play sports When AJ Miller, athletics coordinator for Bedford County Parks & Recreation, was in high school, she got the opportunity to assist in a physical education class for special needs children.

“I just fell in love with it,” Miller said.

“I knew when I started working with Bedford County Parks & Recreation I wanted to do the same thing.”

In early 2023, after conversations with supervisors and lots of planning, Miller and the Parks & Rec staff debuted the Adaptive Sports program. They started with basketball and had about 11 children participate. Later in the year, they added fall soccer to the lineup.

“We run the Adaptive Sports program sort of like a camp,” said Miller, explaining that they don’t have enough children yet to form teams but that’s the eventual goal.

They asked Travis Thomas if he would be interested in taking the lead as the coach. Thomas is also an officer with the Bedford Police Department. He has 13 years of coaching experience.

“After hearing the good news that they wanted to make basketball available to children with disabilities, I was honored,” Thomas said. “Coaching basketball has taught me so much and everything I’ve learned I’ve poured back into my athletes. My passion comes from being able to teach life through basketball.”

Thomas usually starts the Adaptive Sports basketball camps with stretching

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and warm-ups, then he moves on to skills.

“With basketball at any level, the fundamentals are what is important. Dribbling, passing, shooting, layups, defensive skills like footwork,” he explained.

After working on skills, the children will scrimmage against each other.

Then, at the end of the camp, parents are invited out on the court to play against their children.

Thomas says he sees a different kind of progress with this group—it’s more focused on how they interact.

“The improvement I’ve seen on the

court is having children come together and be able to be so happy being social with other kids,” Thomas said.

Miller says they are looking forward to seeing the Adaptive Sports program expand in the future.

“It’s growing – we’ve already seen some new faces since starting it up so that’s exciting,” said Miller.

The Adaptive Sports basketball program takes place on Sundays in January and February. If you or someone you know is interested in joining, email AJ Miller at ajmiller@bedfordcountyva. gov.

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TOURISM SPOTLIGHT

Bedford Tourism forms local committee for 250th anniversary It’s a little hard to pronounce—but don’t let that stop you from getting excited about the United States Semiquincentennial!

On July 4, 1776, the 13 original American colonies declared their independence from Great Britain. That means in just 2.5 years, our nation will celebrate the 250th anniversary (or semiquincentennial) of the American Revolution.

Bedford is joining a statewide effort called the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250), which was created by the General Assembly. VA250 is busy making plans for this milestone anniversary, as well as coordinating and collaborating with all 134 cities and counties in Virginia.

Counties and cities in Virginia are forming their own VA250 committees to plan local and regionally-focused events.

Bedford County Tourism is taking the lead role in this initiative.

“We look forward to working with various businesses, attractions, and local residents to plan for this special commemoration,” said Nicole Johnson, Director of Tourism for Bedford County.

The local committee held its first meeting in September 2023 to begin discussions, and the Bedford County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution supporting the effort during their September 11, 2023, meeting.

While the official commemoration period has been designated as 2026-2031,

Photo by Woody Watts

there were many events leading up to the American Revolution that Virginia will be commemorating soon.

The Bedford area community is encouraged to stay connected with commemoration events and activities.

“The commemoration of the 250th anniversary of our nation offers an opportunity for all segments of our community to come together to share stories, photos, diaries/scrapbooks, artwork, thoughts, etc. about striving for the freedoms

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stated in the Declaration of Independence throughout the years since 1776.

Everyone is encouraged to participate in ways big and small,” said local Bedford historian, Betty Lambeth Gereau.

To stay up-to-date on the semiquincentennial, visit www.va250.org, and follow @varevolution250 on social media. Destination Bedford will also be spreading the word about commemoration activities on their social media platforms.

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Community Events JANUARY

3 – Bedford Public Library System’s “Smitten with Reading” Adult Winter Reading Program

Through Feb. 14

Patricipants fill out a BINGO board for a chance to win prizes. Learn more at www.bplsonline.org.

5 – Last Day of Festival of Trees

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, Bedford Area Welcome Center

13 – Mountain Cross MTB Series

9 – March Mudness MTB Race

Follow Bedford Outdoor Adventures on Facebook for more information.

Courses for beginners and experts.

Follow Bedford Outdoor Adventures on Facebook for more information.

12 p.m., Falling Creek Park

27 – Mountain Cross MTB Series

12 p.m., Montvale Park

12 p.m., New London Tech Park

12 – Regenerative Gardening 101

FEBRUARY

Hosted by Bedford Outdoor Adventures, a division of Bedford County Parks & Recreation.

Follow Bedford Outdoor Adventures on Facebook for more information.

6 p.m., Bedford YMCA

23 – Celtic Festival & Highland Games at the Sedalia Center Highland Athletics, Pipes & Drums, Highland Dancers, Celtic Music, Irish Clans, & more! Info at sedaliacenter.org/2024-celtic-festival-highland-games

If you didn’t get a chance to see the trees, time is running out! Vote for your favorite for $1/vote. Proceeds go to local charities.

10 – Mountain Cross MTB Series

8 – Valentine’s for Vets Begins

13 – Bike Maintenance 101

Each branch of the Bedford Public Library System will provide supplies for families to make valentines for local veterans. More than 1,800 valentines were collected in 2023.

Hosted by Bedford Outdoor Adventures, a division of Bedford County Parks & Recreation.

APRIL

MARCH

9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Falling Creek Park

11 – Knots and Ropework 101

1 – Bedford Master Gardener Class Applications are now being accepted for the 2024 Bedford Master Gardener Training Class. Learn more at bedfordmastergardeners.org.

Through Feb. 7

6 p.m., Falling Creek Parks & Rec Office

Hosted by Bedford Outdoor Adventures, a division of Bedford County Parks & Recreation.

12 p.m., Falling Creek Park

Follow Bedford Outdoor Adventures on Facebook for more information.

6 p.m., Falling Creek Parks & Rec Office

6 – Thrive Outside Festival

Meet local vendors, outfitters, camps, & more. Kids bike course, clinics/workshops, outdoor music. $5 for adults, Under 14 free.

RESOURCE LINK: MENTAL HEALTH As we start a new year, it’s important to spend time thinking about mental health and coping strategies. Mental health is often affected by weather. Cold, dark, damp days can have a negative impact on mental health.

Here are some resources if you or someone you know needs mental health assistance:

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and be prepared to provide your zip code and what type of service you need.

Horizon Behavioral Health Horizon is the area’s Community Services Board and can be reached at 434-477-5000 to schedule an intake, or 434-522-8191 for after hours emergencies.

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline If you are in distress or experiencing difficult thoughts call 9-8-8, which is available 24/7 to assist in mental health crises with free and confidential support.

Impact Living Services Impact currently offers counseling in the Town of Bedford as well as in Forest and can be reached at 434-533-1088.

211 Virginia 221VA is both a telephone number and a website that can assist in finding services available in your locality. To call, simply dial 2-1-1 from your phone

Hope for Tomorrow Hope for Tomorrow offers counseling in the Town of Bedford and in the Forest area and can be reached at 434-300-HOPE (4673).

B e d f o rd C o u n t y C o m m u n i t y C o n n e c t i o n | W i n te r 2 0 24