Henrico News Archives for Year: 2025

Decorated Christmas tree with colorful lights and ornaments in a cozy living room encouraging tree recycling.

Henrico to accept Christmas trees for recycling Dec. 26 through Jan. 9

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Henrico County will accept Christmas trees for recycling into mulch from Friday, Dec. 26 through Friday, Jan. 9. The free service, offered by Keep Henrico Beautiful and the Department of Public Utilities, preserves landfill space and protects the environment. It is available to Henrico residents only. Nonresidents and commercial haulers are excluded.
Staff of Henrico Area Mental Health & Developmental Services stand for a photo with the Board of Supervisors in a large meeting room.

Henrico Area Mental Health & Developmental Services earns praise, reaccreditation from CARF International

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The accreditation, which extends through November 2028, represents the highest endorsement an agency can receive. In addition, CARF offered no recommendations for improvement – an accomplishment achieved by only 3% of 9,600 peer-reviewed agencies. MHDS’ nearly 500 employees provided services to more than 10,000 individuals in fiscal year 2024-25. 
Tobacco and vap shop businesses in Henrico County that have been inspected.

Henrico Board of Supervisors adopts tighter regulations on vape shops

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New stores offering products defined as “recreational substances” would be allowed only in the B-3 Business and M-1 Industrial zoning districts and would also be required to receive a provisional use permit. That would require public hearings and approval from the Board of Supervisors.

In addition, such stores would not be allowed within 1,000 feet of a school or 2,000 feet of a religious institution, day care center, public park or existing store selling recreational substances.

Supervisor Roscoe D. Cooper III will host a Fairfield Forum on Thursday December 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Eastern Henrico Recreation Center, 1440 N. Laburnum Avenue

Fairfield Forum on Dec. 18 to focus on holiday safety and winter activities

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 The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Eastern Henrico Recreation Center, 1440 N. Laburnum Ave. The public may attend in-person or participate remotely.

Representatives from several agencies, including the Fire, Police, and Recreation & Parks divisions and Henrico County Public Library, will give presentations and answer questions. Invited guests include state Sen. Lamont Bagby and Del. Destiny LeVere Bolling. 

Countysealcircle 150 X 150

Henrico offices, facilities and courts to close at 2 p.m. due to snowstorm

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The early closure applies to all facilities, including libraries, recreation centers and public-use areas. Trash collection is being suspended for the day, with routes scheduled to resume Tuesday, Dec. 9, weather permitting. Residents are encouraged to keep their carts by the curb or road’s edge for collection.
Henrico County Tax Bills Due notice with a banner added that reads, Deadline extended to Monday, Dec. 8. 501-4729 or taxhelp@henrico.gov, pay online: henrico.gov/finance.

Henrico extends tax payment deadline to Monday, with offices closed due to inclement weather

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With Henrico’s government offices closed today for inclement weather, the county has extended the deadline for tax payments that were originally due Friday, Dec. 5. The deadline, which applies to installment payments of real estate and personal property taxes for the second half of 2025, is now Monday, Dec. 8.

The extension provides taxpayers with additional time to submit payments without penalty.

Wooded property by Roslyn Hills Park

Henrico, Capital Region Land Conservancy and developer partner to protect historic land by Roslyn Hills Park

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The 6.4 acres of wooded property was part of Ziontown, a Black community established following emancipation by Henry Pryor, who had been enslaved at nearby Ravenswood plantation. Ziontown, which means “heavenly place,” began with Pryor’s purchase of 5 acres and prospered into the 1960s, with about 50 homes and as many as 275 residents, according to research for a historical marker installed by the county in 2020 along Ridge.

The Board of Supervisors voted Oct. 28 to acquire the land in collaboration with CRLC. With a $850,000 grant from the county, CRLC acquired the property from Dan and Linda Wilson, of University Park LLC, through a part-gift and part-sale transaction. Then, CRLC donated it to Henrico, and the county conveyed a conservation easement to CRLC, designating the site for the perpetual preservation of open space and restricting future development. The closing was finalized Nov. 24.

Logo for Henrico Outreach and Engagement Interfaith Network

Henrico to host Dec. 10 fair to help residents prepare for winter weather

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The event – Winter Ready: Henrico’s Emergency Preparedness Fair – will give attendees a chance to receive advice, tips and resources for staying prepared and safe during winter. The fair will include details on preparing homes, vehicles and families for harsh weather, power outages and other emergencies.
State of the County 2025, getting to yes, November 20, 2025, with collage image of officials, workers and scenes from the county plus the Henrico County seal.

Watch the 2025 State of the County address

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County Manager John A. Vithoulkas will host Henrico's 2025 State of the County address Thursday, Nov. 20 beginning at 7:45 a.m. The presentation by senior officials will highlight projects, accomplishments and achievements across service areas, including finance, economic development, tourism, public safety, housing, sustainability, infrastructure and recreation.
2025 Henrico Christmas Mother Ann McGee stands with County Manager John Vithoulkas and the two organizations of Henrico's Christmas Mother program, Rebecca Slough and Tanya Brackett.

Board of Supervisors recap: Henrico Christmas Mother preparing to support more families in need during holidays

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The Henrico County Christmas Mother program will serve 1,625 families during the holidays, an increase of 100 families over last year, according to Ann McGee, the 2025 Henrico County Christmas Mother. McGee, a former executive director of NOVA of Virginia Aquatics, said 500 volunteers will assist this year's effort.
4-H Grows Here

Henrico 4-H to offer holiday-themed activities in December and January

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The Deck the Doors holiday party will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4 at the Henrico Extension Office, 6800 Staples Mill Road. Youth ages 5 to 13 will explore the beauty and importance of evergreens while crafting a festive wreath to take home.

A pair of science-themed workshops geared for youth ages 9 to 13 - Make it Merry and Make it Bright - will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Dec. 22 and Friday, Jan. 2 at the Belmont Recreation Center, 1600 Hilliard Road.

Aerial photo of open land at Runnymeade Farm with a small building and a driveway leading to it.

Henrico, Happily Natural Day to establish community farm in Varina

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The community farm on the 1,052-acre Runnymeade property will encompass 10 acres during its pilot phase and could expand to 20 acres and potentially more, depending on community interest.

Farmers will be able to apply to use plots as small as a half-acre, beginning in late fall. Once it is operating at capacity year-round, the farm’s annual yield could total as much as 500,000 pounds of produce – a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains and flowers.

photo of Cari Tretina, Henrico County Chief of Staff

Henrico Chief of Staff/Deputy County Manager Cari Tretina selected to lead Economic Development Authority

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Tretina has served as Henrico’s chief of staff since 2019 and in an expanded capacity that includes deputy county manager since 2022. Among her accomplishments for Henrico, she has collaborated with EDA on dozens of agreements and initiatives to attract jobs and investment to Henrico, while also enhancing business opportunities and livability in the county.

EDA is responsible for attracting business growth and investment in Henrico, which has more than 353,000 residents, 25,000 businesses and 200,000 jobs. Overall, the county represents the fourth largest economy in Virginia.

Henrico Board of Supervisors 2024

Board of Supervisors recap: Public hearing on animal cruelty registry set for Dec. 2

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At its Oct. 28 meeting, the board initiated its process to consider establishing a local animal cruelty registry. A public hearing for the proposed ordinance will be advertised for Dec. 2. A state law that took effect in July 2024 allows localities to create a registry that includes the names and relevant information of people convicted of certain felony offenses of animal cruelty.
Help neighbors facing food insecurity. Feed More. Donate. Volunteer. feedmore.org.

Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance to be available for SNAP participants

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Due to expected delays and gaps in accessing benefits, Henrico is collaborating with neighboring localities and Feed More, central Virginia’s nonprofit food bank, to ensure that the community’s nutritional needs are met. About 116,000 individuals in Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover counties and the city of Richmond typically qualify for SNAP.
As part of an honor guard training, participants carry a casket.

With discipline and precision, National Honor Guard Academy shares expertise with local units

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More than 50 representatives of two dozen public safety agencies across three states attended the National Honor Guard Academy (NHGA) hosted by the Henrico County Division of Fire. The training session, held Oct. 19-24, was dedicated to elevating the knowledge, skills and execution of public safety honor guard units.

NHGA came about because “there just wasn’t any training for public safety honor guards,” said Doug Swartz, the academy’s founder and commanding officer.

“Traditions were being missed or misrepresented and our fallen just weren’t being honored the way we wanted them to, so we put a training program together.”

The 45-hour course offered a mix of classroom and hands-on learning. Materials covered basic drills, church and casket protocols, proper casket handling, precise movements and flag etiquette. It culminated with a full, mock line-of-duty funeral procession to give participants a chance to practice all they learned.

Instructors are retired or active public safety officers, with both civilian and military experience.

Map of Bagged Leaf Collection Areas.

Henrico’s residential leaf-collection programs to begin early November

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Free collection of bagged leaves will get underway Monday, Nov. 10 and continue through Sunday, Feb. 8. Crews will work week to week in five zones; each zone will be collected twice over the course of the program. Residents living outside the zones can order free pickup of bagged leaves by calling 804-727-8779.

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