The Cyber Seniors Program is provided by the Coomes Recreation Center. For more information, please call
276-623-5279.
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Herald Courier Interview on December 12, 2016
Interview of Mayor Cathy Lowe, Town Manager Greg Kelly, and Tourism Director Kevin Costello with Damean Mathews of the Bristol Herald Courier. The interview was in reference a FOIA request from the newspaper regarding the Town's 10-99s for the 2015 fiscal year.
Friday, December 16, 2016
Credit Card Processing Notice
NOTICE
To citizens and business owners:
The Town of Abingdon will NOT be able to process
credit/debit card payments on Friday, December 30, 2016. This means that
payments cannot be made in person or over the phone on this day. On Tuesday,
January 3, 2017, the department will resume processing payments. We are sorry
for the inconvenience as the town switches financial institutions.
*Note: The town offices will be CLOSED on Monday,
January 2, 2017 in observance of the New Year’s Holiday.
Thursday, December 15, 2016
Statements Regarding Lawsuit Decision
TOWN OF ABINGDON
Abingdon, Virginia
On Wednesday,
December 14, 2016, the Honorable Sage B. Johnson rendered his judicial opinion
in the matter of Joseph W. Levine, et al v. Town Council of the Town of
Abingdon, VA, et al., Washington County Circuit Court, Case No. CL 16-46. Judge Johnson has confirmed “that the Court
therefore finds that the Planning Commission, staff, and Town Council had
sufficient information to allow it to make a reasonable decision as it related
to the rezoning.” Judge Johnson further
opined that “There being no evidence presented by the Plaintiff’s to support
this claim, the Court does not reach the merits of the Plaintiff’s legal
argument. The record in this case is devoid of any fact that would support an
argument that the town engaged in contract zoning”. Click here for the full
decision from Judge Johnson.
“The Town of Abingdon remains committed to the
Meadows development project and its public/private partnership with Marathon
Realty and the Virginia Department of Transportation. While this lawsuit has
been difficult for all parties involved, the town plans to move forward with
making Exit 17, Cummings Street, and Green Spring Road the safest it can be for
all residents and visitors to the town.
In addition, the town is committed to maintaining the beautiful view
shed of the Virginia Creeper Trail as the commercial development and the sports
complex come to fruition. Likewise, the town is committed to preserving the historic
home site on the town’s 40+ acre site and incorporating it into the overall
site plan for development on that tract.” – Town Manager Greg Kelly
“Vice Mayor Humphreys, Councilman Howard and I want
the residents to know that from the beginning, the former Council took
seriously the comments and feedback of every citizen. This has been a
challenging process and the citizen’s input has made this a better project.
Town staff has displayed great professionalism and dedication to the citizens
of Abingdon. We have faith that this project is what is best for the safety,
health and welfare of the town and her citizens, both now and in the future. We
appreciate the court’s careful consideration and ruling on the merits of this
case and we will proceed with the same sensitivity, as this transformational
project moves forward. It is my sincere hope that this is an opportunity for
Council to work more closely on the issues that face the town on a daily basis.”-
Mayor Cathy Lowe
"I
am pleased that the judge made the correct decision and that this matter is now
behind us." -
Attorney Brad Stallard, Counsel for the Town of Abingdon
###
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Thursday, December 8, 2016
ENTREPRENEUR EXPRESS & BUSINESS CHALLENGE PLANNED FOR WASHINGTON COUNTY, VA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Washington County Chamber of
Commerce
1 Government Center
Place, Suite D
Abingdon, VA 24210
(276)
628-8141
ENTREPRENEUR EXPRESS & BUSINESS
CHALLENGE PLANNED
FOR WASHINGTON COUNTY, VA
A competitive challenge with more
than 23,000 in awards & prizes
ABINGDON, VA:
November 14 - 18 is
Global Entrepreneurship Week. In Honor of Entrepreneurship the Business Plan
Challenge team will host an Entrepreneur Express Workshop on November 17 from
6:00 – 9:00 p.m. at Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator. This event
will also be the kickoff of the 4th Annual Business Plan Challenge
announcement. Global Entrepreneurship Week is the world’s largest celebration
of the innovators and job creators launching start-ups to bring ideas to life,
drive economic growth and expand human value. The workshop will kick start the
2017 Challenge by providing an overview to prospective contestants with the steps
to launching, marketing, financing and managing a successful business. To
register for the free event go to www.vastartup.org
or call the Chamber office at (276) 628-8141 or Virginia Highlands Small
Business Incubator at (276)492-2062.
The Business Plan Challenge is an ambitious
business plan competition designed to attract entrepreneurs with new
technology, value added agriculture, outdoor recreation, light manufacturing
and retail/support service businesses to locate their start up or expand their
existing business within the towns of Abingdon, Glade Spring, Damascus and
within the boundaries of Washington County, VA. One winning start up business and one existing
business will win $5,000 each. There
is also a 2nd and 3rd place prize for each category. The Virginia Highlands Small Business
Incubator, Virginia Department of
Small Business and Supplier Diversity, The Washington County Chamber of
Commerce, and People Incorporated, have partnered with Washington County VA,
The Washington County IDA and the Town of Abingdon, to host the fourth annual Washington County
Business Plan Challenge. The winners will receive $15,000 in cash awards toward implementing their winning business
strategy. The winning start – up business will also receive $8,000 in free
services from Mike Spiegler, Spiegler- Blevins, CPA’s and Wess Boggs, Penn
Stuart. New this year is a $1,000 award
from the Walmart Community Foundation
to the business who earns the highest score for their Pitch Night performance. To be considered for the awards, participants
must attend all business training classes to be held weekly over a six week
period and complete a business plan that will be presented before a panel of 4
judges. The business plans will be reviewed and scored by 3 anonymous judges,
who are experts in their fields, and who do not know or recognize the names of
the contestants.
All contestants are
provided a list of mentors from a variety of business and educational sectors
of the community and Virginia. These mentors are available throughout the year
to assist in continued business planning for the contestants. Applications are
due January 11, 2017 and classes will begin on January 24, 2017. The free
entrepreneurship classes will continue on a weekly basis thru February 28,
2017. They begin at 6:00 p.m. and are held at Virginia Highlands Small Business
Incubator. The public is also invited to participate as an observer. The
Challenge team offers free business classes throughout the year on a variety of
topics through a program titled the Noon Knowledge. These classes are held from
12:00 – 1:30 p.m. at Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator and are presented
on Livestream and Facebook Live during the class and then uploaded and archived
on www.Youtube.com/noonknowledge. Businesses of all types gain valuable insight
from both programs that are especially designed to help the entrepreneur develop
leads for selling products and services locally, gain business exposure, build
relationships and network with other entrepreneurs. All of the programs
presented in the Business Plan Challenge and the Noon Knowledge series can be
viewed live on Livestream and through Facebook Live on Virginia Highlands Small
Business Incubator page or they can be viewed on Youtube, Noon Knowledge.
To apply for the
Washington County Business Plan Challenge, please contact the Washington County
Chamber of Commerce, or visit www.washingtonvachamber.org/business_challenge. Applications for the Challenge will be accepted
through 5:00 pm on January 17, 2016. Space is limited and will be on a first
come first serve basis. Information and
updates can also be found and shared on the Facebook page Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator, the
website www.vhsbi.com, Facebook page Washington
County Business Challenge, and http://events.vastartup.org.
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Abingdon Muster Grounds Recognition 12-6-16
The
General William Campbell Chapter-Sons of the American Revolution held a
ceremony to present the Abingdon Muster Grounds with a certificate "In
Recognition of Exemplary Patriotism In the display of The Flag of the United States
of America" on December 6, 2016.
Picture
1: Leigh Anne Surber, Superintendent of the Muster Grounds, with members of the
SAR Chapter after the presentation.
Picture 2: Vice-Mayor Rick Humphreys, dressed in his revolutionary period clothing, who is an active member of the SAR Chapter.
Friday, December 2, 2016
ABINGDON MAIN STREET HOSTS “HOLIDAYS ON MAIN” DECEMBER 10th
For Immediate
Release
Contact: Jennifer Montgomery
Phone
276-492-2237 mainstreet@abingdon-va.gov
ABINGDON
MAIN STREET HOSTS
“HOLIDAYS ON MAIN” DECEMBER 10
Abingdon,VA (December 1, 2016) – Abingdon Main Street is hosting its
first “Holidays On Main” holiday shopping celebration on Saturday, December 10,
2017 in Abingdon’s Main Street footprint. The day will feature shopping deals,
refreshments and a holiday window display contest.
Shoppers can vote for their favorite
holiday window display, and the business who garners the most votes will be
named as the inaugural Abingdon Business of the Month in a program introduced
by Abingdon Main Street.
Additionally, the organization will
officially roll out an Abingdon-specific smartphone app and will invite the
public to join in on that day. The public introduction of this app on December
10 will make Abingdon only the second town in the Commonwealth of Virginia to
launch this interactive, educational addition to smartphone activities.
Abingdon’s businesses that will be
participating in the activities for “Holidays On Main” include Abingdon
Merchantile & Frame Gallery, Forget-Me-Not,
Jerroleens Shed, Goodman Jewelers, Greer Jewelers, Necessities, Shady Business,
and The Candy Shed. For a full list of
participating businesses, check www.AbingdonMainStreet.com.
Abingdon Main Street is a 501 C 3 and is designated as an accredited Main Street
America™ program for meeting rigorous performance standards set by the National
Main Street Center and is recognized for its exemplary commitment to preservation-based
economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street
Approach®.
Abingdon Main Street’s programs include
community events like Main Street Busker Fest, and the Abingdon Wolf Project
“Who’s Afraid of Virginia’s Wolves,” as well as leveraging grant programs and
sponsorships to support small businesses.
For more information on Abingdon
Main Street, including upcoming events and ways to get involved, visit www.AbingdonMainStreet.com or call (276) 492-2237.
####
Thursday, December 1, 2016
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
American Energy Society Hosting “Local Energy, America’s Power” Event Series in Abingdon, Virginia
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Kathy Artus, Senior Director
kathy@energysociety.org
American Energy Society Hosting
“Local Energy, America’s Power” Event Series in Abingdon, Virginia
Premier post-election event will cover all transformational
energy solutions available for coal country
SAN
FRANCISCO, Calif. – November 22, 2016 – The American Energy Society
is hosting its next series event, ”Local
Energy, America’s Power,” at bucolic Emory & Henry College
in Abingdon, Virginia, on December 5 and 6, 2016. This is the first formal
post-election event on energy to be held in this region. The speakers and
panelists will bring views that represent the entire spectrum of opportunities,
promising a balanced and deeply thoughtful review of what is perhaps the most
pressing issue facing the country today. More importantly, the emphasis is on emerging
energy technologies suitable to the Upper South, which highlights potential
business development and job creation. According to Eric Vettel, President of
the Society, “the objectives for the Summit are straightforward - strengthen
the energy cluster of the Upper South and create a model that can serve as a
best practice for other regions. This Summit is exceptional because it is also
the first time that professionals from every energy sector will have an
opportunity to convene post-election.”
Jake Schrum, President of Emory & Henry College: “We are delighted and
honored to be hosting this Summit on energy innovation and related
opportunities for economic development and job growth in the Mid-Appalachian
Region. We expect highly important contributions to the future of the region.”
In recognition of this
important and timely event, the American Energy Society is offering discounted
registration for a limited number of seats – anyone interested should register
today. A limited
number of special sponsor-partnership
opportunities are also available.
About The
American Energy Society
The American Energy
Society (AES), is a non-partisan and independent network of professionals from
every sector of energy. Members of the Society
include thought-leaders in science and engineering, industry and small
business, academia and national laboratories, public and private funding, and
policy and administration. Through a variety of services and programs, the AES
connects experts and notifies members of policy changes and innovations,
groundbreaking discoveries, upcoming conferences, new publications and awards,
fellowships, and job openings – all tailored to fit individual profiles and
preferences. To learn more about AES, watch a brief introductory video
or visit www.energysociety.org.
###
Monday, November 21, 2016
Town of Abingdon Submits Ornament for Governor’s Mansion Tree
Town
of Abingdon Submits Ornament for Governor’s Mansion Tree
Virginia
Localities Gather Ornaments for Holiday Tree
Each year the Virginia Municipal League gathers
ornaments from nearly 200 localities across the state to be displayed on the
Holiday Tree at the Governor’s Mansion. This year’s theme for the 2016 Holiday
Tree is “Home for the Holidays.” The tree will feature works of art that
celebrate the unique history and culture of the towns and cities that they
represent. The localities are asked to submit one handcrafted ornament that is
distinctive to their community.
This year Sara Reese, a local artist at the Arts
Depot, created the 2016 Abingdon ornament. The ornament includes historic
buildings, music notes, and artistic elements. Each of these components shows
how important history, arts, and cultures are to Abingdon. “It was an honor to
create the ornament for the Governor’s Mansion,” said Ms. Reese. “All of the
things included in the ornament make Abingdon a very special place- a great
place to visit and a great place to live.”
“The Arts Depot, established in 1990, has been an
asset to Abingdon and a diamond of the arts community,” said Mayor Cathy Lowe.
“Sara Reece, one of the resident artist’s at the Arts Depot, is widely
recognized for her pottery and creative designs. I proudly display one of her
pieces in my own home. We are privileged to have her art and her studio in
Abingdon’s downtown. Art, in many forms, is one of the components of Abingdon’s
culture that makes us unique. We are truly blessed to have the Arts Depot and
the talented artists as part of Abingdon’s art community.”
The Holiday Tree will be on view to the public
throughout the holiday season and will be seen by thousands of visitors to the
Executive Mansion. This project is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate what
makes each Virginia city, town, and county special. For more information on the
Holiday Tree and the Executive Mansion, visit www.executivemansion.virginia.gov.
*Also attached are pictures of the 2015
Abingdon ornaments that were submitted. The wolf was handcrafted by John
Dickens, and the Santa was handcrafted by Mark Blevins. Both are members of
Holston Mountain Artisans.
###
Thursday, November 17, 2016
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Monday, November 14, 2016
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Notice of Traffic Detour
Please see the attached notice of detour traffic on Baugh Lane for
installation of sewer line in the Town of Abingdon for November 14, 2016 -
November 15, 2016.
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Monday, November 7, 2016
Friday, November 4, 2016
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
America Recycles Day 11-12-16
America
Recycles Day
On Saturday, November 12, 2016, the Town of Abingdon
Sustain Abingdon Committee and Keep Southwest Virginia Beautiful will hold an
America Recycles Day event. This event will be from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the
Abingdon Police Department parking lot (425 West Main Street, Abingdon). There
will be on-site FREE e-waste recycling and FREE document shredding. Donations
for the Second Harvest Food Bank, gently used shoes, and various pet supplies
for the local animal shelter are being collected and are greatly appreciated.
If you bring donation items, you will be entered into a raffle to win various
prizes. There will be free coffee and doughnuts while supplies last. For more
information on the America Recycles Day event, please call 276-628-6611 or like us on www.facebook.com/sustainabingdon.
*See the attached flyer for acceptable
items for e-waste recycling.
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