In writing an article in this week’s edition, I posted a comment regarding the firetrucks that were located at a Board of Supervisor’s meeting last week.  The point was to express the community questions regarding taking so many fire trucks to the meeting and then after the meeting, many of those same trucks were at a local restaurant.

The statement didn’t come out as I had meant – and citizens thought I meant that the firefighters were “eating on taxpayer dollars” – that was not the intent.  No one would EVER think that the tax payers pay for the food of the firefighters, rescue or police force.  And we know that many times after running calls the volunteers and paid staff may stop somewhere to eat.

Of course everyone has to eat.  That was never in question.  At least not by me or my family.

The issue was not just my opinion – for after the meeting – the following few days, I recieved many many notes and phone calls asking who gave permission to drive the trucks to the meeting and people were wondering why those involved couldn’t have gone back to the station, gotten their trucks and then gone to eat.

I personally apologize for making it appear that the volunteers eat on taxpayers – I am sorry that the wording came out that way.

We appreciate from the depths of our hearts the love and dedication from all Fire, EMS, and Police for our community.

We KNOW you do it because you care about the citizens.

I pray we don’t ever have to call you – because I read post after post on Facebook from Firefighters who made the comments “they better hope they never have to call us for help” -

I know many are upset and all I can do is make a public apology – it was not to you as individuals or to make you look bad to the community for all you do.

I explained it on Facebook and through emails I received – but all my comments were deleted. 

I sincerely didn’t mean that the dedication goes unnoticed -

On another note – I received a phone call from Powhatan Today on Friday – to let me know that the HAD sent a FOIA request in to request the email from Mr. Moore BEFORE Mr. Timberlake had sent it in to the paper.  I told them that I would let the public know of this update.

The newsletter has been updated online so there is no embarrassment to the firefighters.  You can view this week’s edition here –>  http://www.powhatanva.com/newsletter/printversion/011212/011212.pdf

Thank you for your feedback and your comments.

Sincerely -

Katrina Blankenship
info@powhatanva.com

www.powhatanva.com

Wanting to pass along a few items for the upcoming week.

1)  Working on a huge publication this week – if you have notices, letters to the editor or items to include – send them by midnight tonight (Tuesday) to katrina@katrina.com

2)  Tonight’s Planning Commission meeting is at Powhatan High School at 7:00 pm.  There is a letter from Mr. Brandon Stidham enclosed that you might want to read.

3)  The Board of Supervisors Workshop is scheduled for Thursday, January 5th, 2012 7:00 pm.  Powhatan County Public Library – 2270 Mann Road – Powhatan,  VA  23139

This is open to the public to attend.  The agenda can be seen here:  CLICK HERE

4)  The County Administrator’s Contract has been asked by many to review.  The link is HERE.  The County Administrator’s contract was written in August of 2011.  Note – for some reason – This has been removed from the County Website.

5)  If you wish to review the Audio or Video minutes of the Board of Supervisors – here is the link- Note – there are no longer video or audio after August 2011 on the County Website.

7)  With all the conversations and meetings concerning our local Administration – if you want to stay abreast of what is going on in the county – then you should try to attend the meetings.  The public needs to be aware and stay informed of what the Board of Supervisors has to work towards – to get our county back on track.

8)  If you want to know first hand what’s going on … attend the meetings …

9)  We will post notices as given to us to post.

10)  The Powhatan Radio Show will air after the Board of Supervisors Meeting on Thursday Evening … we will advise when will go LIVE and on-air.  Stay tuned to www.powhatanva.com

________________________________

From: Brandon Stidham

Sent: Tuesday, January 03, 2012 10:22 AM
To: White, Cathy
Subject: Shady Oaks Development Corporation
Importance: High

Ms. White,

Karin Carmack asked me to notify the citizens that we anticipate that Mr. Balzer will be formally requesting an indefinite deferral of the rezoning and conditional use permit cases, subject to the stipulations recommended in the Staff Report.  As we saw in the November Planning Commission meeting, the Commissioners plan to accept the deferral request and would not be holding the public hearing this evening.  Should you or your neighbors wish to provide comments this evening, you would still be welcome to do so during the Commission’s general public comment period.

Please let me know if you have questions or concerns.

~Brandon Stidham

—————————

Brandon Stidham

Director of Planning & Community Development
Powhatan County
3834 Old Buckingham Road, Suite E
Powhatan, VA 23139
(804) 598-5621 x. 2005
www.powhatanva.gov

______________________________________________________________________

This blog post sponsored by:  Mattress Direct of Powhatan!

In a dark and gloomy day – sometimes Yellow Umbrellas are the “cheer-me-up” for someone in desperate need of help.

Here’s a few Random Acts of Kindness … try one or two or all of them!  Feel free to add your thoughts or ideas to the list …  Building a STRONG COMMUNITY starts with YOU!

~ Let someone cut in front of you.
~ Give a larger tip than usual.
~ Take flowers to the hospital and ask the nurse to deliver them to a patient who doesn’t have any.
~ Offer to return the grocery cart for an elderly person or a mother with small children.
~ Send a thank-you note to someone who doesn’t expect it.
~ Take blankets to a homeless shelter or an animal shelter.
~ Send a gift anonymously.
~ Compliment five people in an afternoon.
~ Donate to a worthy cause.
~ Help without being asked.
~ Buy a bunch of daisies and pass them out to people you pass on the sidewalk.
~ Send a valentine to a widow.
~ Write a note of encouragement to a teenager.
~ Make someone new feel welcome.
~ Run an errand for someone who is sick.
~ Let some know you are praying for him or her.
~ Pay for the car behind you at a toll booth.

Now … how many more can you add?

Dear Friends:

Powhatan Volunteer Rescue Squad has had the privilege of sponsoring the Annual Labor Day Parade and Courthouse Green Festivities for more than 35 years. Our volunteers donated over 20,000 hours of their time last year to run medical calls, do standbys, attend training and sponsor events such as the Labor Day Parade.   With call volume 20% higher than last year at this time, we needed to make some decisions to adjust the workload. With that said, it is with mixed feelings that we announce we will not be sponsoring the Annual Labor Day Parade and Courthouse Green Festivities this year
Powhatan County has so much to offer with the Powhatan’s Farmers’ Market now open on Thursdays thru November, 4th Fridays April through September, Powhatan County Fair, movies available through Parks and Recreation, Reading programs through the Library, Festival of the Grape on October 22nd and the Christmas Parade on December 10th, we feel that everyone will be able to find wholesome family fun and the Labor Day parade will not be missed.

Just a reminder:  events can be listed on the Chamber of Commerce website for everyone to see at a glance at www.powhatanchamber.org.
Everyone loves a parade so we encourage you to support Bank of Essex as they sponsor the Annual Christmas Parade on December 10th. Please contact Gina Tiller at 804/302-4146 or gtiller @essexbank.com for more information.
Thank you for your years of support of the Labor Day Parade and our fund raising efforts.
Your local volunteers at Powhatan Volunteer Rescue Squad

We have designed this blog for you as users to read, learn and stay informed of the neighbours in which you share this great community!

Feel free to use the blog to share thoughts – but please keep it clean – refrain from calling names and telling tales.