Henrico News Archives for Month: October 2025

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.
A little girl sits in a fire engine and touches a fire helmet on a man’s head.

Community celebrates opening of Bungalow City Firehouse 23

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Since opening in mid-February, Firehouse 23 has enhanced fire protection and emergency medical response to areas of eastern Henrico. Officials celebrated the station and its new fire engine with a grand opening and ribbon-cutting event that included a traditional fire engine push-in ceremony.

Located at 5618 Nine Mile Road, Firehouse 23 is named after its surrounding neighborhood of modest bungalow houses dating to the 1920s. “It’s tight-knit and resilient – a thriving community to this day,” Varina Supervisor Tyrone Nelson said of Bungalow City. “So, the name has deep roots, and it’s appropriate the fire station’s title reflects the community which it serves.”

Utility worker working on a water valve with four sets of AAA.

Henrico becomes first to earn ‘quadruple AAA’ status for water, sewer bonds

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The county's 'quadruple AAA' status reflects that it has received the top ratings from all four of the main municipal rating agencies: S&P Global Ratings, Moody’s Investors Service, Fitch Ratings and Kroll Bond Rating Agency.

In August, Henrico became the third county in the nation to receive AAA ratings for general obligation bonds from the four agencies.

Varina Supervisor Tyrone E. Nelson's Varina District Community Conversations. Monday, Oct. 20, 6 p.m. at Varina High School, 7053 Messer Road. Thursday, Oct. 23, 6 p.m. at Elko Community Center, 6216 White Oak Road. Monday, Oct. 27, 10 a.m. at Henrico Theatre, 305 E. Nine Mile Road. https://henrico.gov/supervisors/varina-district

Varina meetings in October to highlight proposed Prime Agriculture/Rural Conservation land-use designation, New Market Heights Trail

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Varina District Supervisor Tyrone E. Nelson will host the meetings Oct. 20, 23 and 27 to discuss a proposed land-use designation to help preserve farmland and other rural properties in Henrico County. The Prime Agriculture/Rural Conservation category is being considered as part of the county’s 2045 comprehensive plan.
An older woman holds a book with black and white photographs.

As one of Henrico’s 130 centenarians, Frances Bailey sees a lot to look forward to every day 

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Frances Bailey is the embodiment of active aging. At 102, she holds a prom queen title from her assisted living community, has an exercise routine named after her, wrote and self-published a memoir with her late husband and has been honored twice at Henrico’s Centenarian Celebration events.

logo for Outreach And Engagement

Henrico opens survey to enhance how it connects with, supports communities

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Henrico will use the survey responses to guide its efforts to strengthen communication, expand resources and enhance opportunities for civic participation. The input also will be used to identify strategies to deepen relationships across neighborhoods, faith communities, cultural groups and civic organizations.
Community Impact Grants Program, with photos of a young girl cleaning up a lake or stream and a landscaped garden by an arbor. Logo for HEART - Henrico's Environmental Action Resource Team.

HEART invites nonprofits to apply for second round of Community Impact Grants

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Applications for funding through the Community Impact Grants Program may be submitted online through Wednesday, Nov. 26. HEART will review the applications for compliance with program requirements. Grant awards of up to $5,000 are expected to be announced in the spring.

“The Community Impact Grants Program aims to inspire and empower residents and organizations to look closely at their neighborhoods and communities for ways to create a more resilient environment,” said Samantha Hudson, director of Henrico’s Sustainability Division. “The collective impact of even small, hyperlocal projects can be quite significant, especially when paired with all the county is doing to reduce carbon emissions and build a stronger, more sustainable community.”

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