Monday, July 30, 2018

Economic Development Authority Meeting Notice for 8-16-18


Notice of Vacancy: Recreation Advisory Committee


Historic Preservation Review Board Meeting Agenda for 8-1-18



Dare To Be Square Abingdon Announced


Dare To Be Square Abingdon Announced

Abingdon, VA – Dare to Be Square, a day of square dance-related workshops and an evening dinner and community square dance will be held at the Southwest Virginia 4-H Educational Center on Saturday, August 18, 2018 from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm. Registration begins at 9:30 am. This event will focus on all aspects of traditional square dancing including dance calling, musical accompaniment, and organizing dances, and will highlight the social aspects of dancing. 

The event will explore regional traditional dance styles including Appalachian circle dances, square dances, and solo flat-floot dancing. Participants are encouraged to wear closed-toed, comfortable shoes.

Workshops will include: Beginner Flatfoot, Beginning Calling, Playing for Dances, Advanced Square Dancing, and Organizing a Dance. Presenters include Phil Jamison, Rich Kirby, Tyler Hughes, and Rodney Sutton, and music will be presented by the Empty Bottle String Band. Cost is $30 for the day. 

Lunch is on your own in downtown Abingdon or bring your own, and a baked chicken dinner (with vegetarian option) will be served at 5:00 pm at the 4-H Center. Those interested in the dinner should RSVP for dinner by August 3. Cost is $10.

A Community Dance with a beginner’s lesson will be held at 6:30 pm. All are welcome. There is a $5 suggested donation for dance-only participants.

Dare to Be Square is presented by The Crooked Road and sponsored by the Southwest Virginia 4-H Educational Center, the Ratcliffe Foundation, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, Dominion Energy ArtStars, and the Wayne C. Henderson Scholarship Program. 

For more information or to make a dinner reservation call (276) 492-2409 or email: admin@thecrookedroad.org.



- END-

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

2018 VIRGINIA HIGHLANDS FESTIVAL INFORMATION


Abingdon Police Department


For Immediate Release

2018 Virginia Highlands Festival Information

The annual Virginia Highlands Festival will be held Friday, July 27, 2018 through Sunday, August 5, 2018 in Abingdon. The arts and crafts section of the festival has been moved to the Barter Green across from the Barter Theatre. Music events will be held at the Abingdon Market Pavilion on Remsburg Drive. The antiques market will be located at the Washington County, VA Fairgrounds.

Road Closures for the event:

Partington Place will be closed each day from Main Street to the exit of the Martha Washington Inn's parking lot from 09:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. between July 27th and August 5th.
Remsburg Drive will be closed from the Farmer's Market to Cummings Street on the following dates and times:

·         July 27th at 4:00 P.M. to July 30th at 7:00 A.M. (except it will be open during the Shriner’s parade on July 28th from 10:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M.)
·         August 3rd at 4:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M.
·         August 4th at 4:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M.

Parking:
The Abingdon Police Department wants to remind festival visitors of parking restrictions. Like all tourist communities, Abingdon has several parking regulations that you should be familiar with to avoid subjecting yourself to an unwanted fine. 

To assist you in planning your visit, the following parking restrictions are provided for your information. 

In the Town of Abingdon, it is unlawful to:

1.         Park Overtime – OVERTIME parking is enforced Monday-Friday from 9:00am-5:00pm. It is NOT enforced on weekends (Saturday and Sunday). 
2.         Block a driveway.
3.         Park so the parked vehicle partially blocks a driveway.
4.         Block an intersection.
5.         Park so the parked vehicle encroaches an intersection.
6.         Park in a space designated by signage as a “Bus Stop.”
7.         Park so that the left (driver’s) side of a vehicle is against the curbing of the roadway. This is commonly called “Parking Against the Traffic Flow” or “Parking Against the Flow” and is our most common violation.
8.         Park in a loading zone.
9.         Park in a space designated “No Parking.”
10.       Park in any alley.
11.       Park on a sidewalk.
12.       Park so the vehicle occupies a portion of two marked parking spaces.

Parking will be limited and in high demand.  Parking is available at the municipal parking lot (across from Ellis Soda Shop) and is free to the public.  However, these spaces will fill quickly.  To accommodate visitors, there is free parking at Heartwood (exit 14) and at Roses (exit 19).  A shuttle will run from the parking areas between 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. each day.  You can avoid the traffic downtown by parking at Heartwood or Roses and taking the shuttle to event locations around Abingdon.

Coolers:
Coolers are not allowed inside the festival area.
The APD warmly welcomes your visit to our community.  We hope that your visit will be greeted with smiling faces and a friendly atmosphere.  






Monday, July 23, 2018

Blood Assurance Hosts Fourth Annual Battle of the Badges Blood Drive


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Blood Assurance Hosts Fourth Annual Battle of the Badges Blood Drive

On Friday, July 27, 2018, members of the Abingdon Police Department, Abingdon Fire Department, Washington County, VA Sheriff’s Office, and Washington County Life Saving Crew are joining forces for the Fourth Annual Battle of the Badges blood drive. A trophy will be awarded to the department with the most blood donors.  The drive will be held in the parking lot of the Abingdon Police Department at 425 West Main Street, Abingdon, from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

“Donating blood is a way that we can all be a hero in our community.  By donating to Blood Assurance, you insure that your donation will be used locally.  Blood Assurance is the sole provider of blood for Johnston Memorial Hospital, Russell County Medical Center, and Smyth County Hospital.

Donating blood is simple, takes a small amount of time, and is relatively painless.  Sadly, many who are eligible to donate, don't.  Many are busy, and others are simply afraid.   Nationally, less than ten percent of the U.S. population maintains the entire blood supply for our country.  For this reason, blood donors are special people. They take the time to, literally, give themselves to others.

This is part of the reason that we host the "Battle of the Badges" blood drive.  You do not have to be a member of an emergency service organization to join, but you can choose who gets to count your donation when you give and in the end, you will be a hero. 

This is our fourth "Battle of the Badges" drive and this year we have set a goal of collecting two hundred (200) units! This is a very sizable, but achievable, goal! However, the emergency services community firmly believes that the citizens we serve will donate on July 27th to reach this mark. To accommodate this we will have additional collection vehicles available for this drive.

We hope to see you at the Battle of the Badges!”- Police Chief/Interim Town Manager Tony Sullivan  

Blood Assurance relies on all blood types, but especially those with type O-negative blood, as it is the universal blood type. O-negative blood is given to patients in an emergency situation when their own blood type is unknown.

Blood donors must be at least 17 years old (16 years old with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. The process usually takes about 30 minutes and includes a complimentary snack and a special “Battle of the Badges” t-shirt. Donors should eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of fluids -avoiding caffeine- prior to giving blood.   

The blood drive is open to the public and everyone is encouraged to come donate in the name of your favorite public service agency. To help minimize your wait time, we encourage you to sign up at bloodassurance.org/bob2018 for a time slot.



Music From The Crooked Road Featured at Virginia Highlands Festival


Abingdon, Virginia – Music From The Crooked Road will be featured at the Virginia Highlands Festival on Sunday, July 29 from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Abingdon Market Pavilion stage. Featured artists include Dale Jett & Hello Stranger, the New Ballards Branch Bogtrotters, and ShadowGrass.

Dale Jett is a native of Southwest Virginia. He is a third-generation member of the legendary Carter Family. His musical trio, Hello Stranger, carries on the Carter Family tradition with a unique combination of traditional songs blended with a mix of songwriters that they admire and original tunes. The New Ballards Branch Bogtrotters are a celebrated group of musicians from the Galax, VA area playing Appalachian string-band style and carrying the traditional music of the Virginia/Carolina Blue Ridge forward. ShadowGrass is a group of young musicians from Western North Carolina and Southwest Virginia who crossed paths at local fiddler’s conventions in the summer of 2014 and have become the premier youth bluegrass band to emerge from the Crooked Road area. Band members adopted the name “ShadowGrass” in recognition of playing bluegrass music in the “shadow” of all the great bluegrass musicians that lived before them. 

The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail celebrates the traditional music that has been kept by families and communities of Southwest Virginia since colonial times. Settlers of this mountainous region since the 1700’s have brought various ingredients – a cappella gospel music from German tradition that lives in the Old Regular Baptist churches today; spirituals, emotive singing and a musical gourd we now call a banjo from African tradition; and ballads and fiddles brought by the Scots-Irish and English. Mixed together, these ingredients have produced one of the richest musical traditions on earth. The variety of it is amazing – old time string bands, a cappella gospel, blues, 300 year-old ballads, bluegrass, and more! It is a music tradition that is as vibrant today as it has ever been.

Please plan to join us for a day of Music from The Crooked Road at the Virginia Highlands Festival. The Abingdon Market Pavilion is located at Cummings Street and Remsburg Drive, Abingdon, VA 24210 (behind the Fields-Penn House). Tickets are $5 / Children under 12 free. More information can be found at www.vahighlandsfestival.org or by calling (276) 623-5266.




- END-

Thursday, July 19, 2018

Build-A-Basket- A Gift Shop Like No Other


Build-A-Basket- A Gift Shop Like No Other
Just minutes from the heart of town, a brand-new gift shop has joined Main Street in Abingdon. Build-A-Basket opened in February of 2018 and has been growing ever since. Starting small, Cassie Rowe and her husband took a great idea, and with the help and support of some amazing friends and family, hit the ground running.
You haven’t heard of Build-A-Basket yet? Not a problem. From the hand made soaps and lotions, to the unique home décor, you are sure to find something for anyone once inside. True to its name, this shop has just about anything you could possibly need to hand pick and build the perfect gift basket. The best part? You are not bound by what is in this cute little shop. Your imagination is the limit, and if Cassie doesn’t have what you are looking for, she can get it. Customization is the key, so once you choose the contents, the basket, and the bow, your gift is uniquely wrapped in tulle for a more personal feel. Cassie will even deliver your gift for you!
If you are looking for something a little more eye catching, check out the many other options to choose from such as diaper cakes, candy bouquets, or you can even have a care package sent to your favorite person who is states away.
“I know how hectic schedules can really put a damper on the whole gift giving situation, said Owner Cassie Rowe.” “Not everyone has the time to go spend hours searching for the perfect gift, wrapping it, and ensuring it gets to where it needs to go. That is really what our whole business is based on, the convenience of being able to call and place an order and stop by to grab it on your way to the event. I mean who doesn’t want to give a big beautiful gift basket and put all the other gifts to shame, right?”
Next time you find yourself in a time crunch, or not, stop by to see Cassie and check out the unique gift options she has on display in her shop or create your own while you are there.  You are sure to impress with a gift from Build-A-Basket!

Located at 789 W Main street Abingdon, across from Pizza Inn at exit 14.
Phone: (276) 492-6987
Email: buildabasketabingdon@gmail.com



Abingdon Main Street Board of Directors Meeting Notice for 7-20-18


Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Deborah C. Icenhour Resignation



Town of Abingdon, VA

For Immediate Release

Deborah C. Icenhour, Town Attorney, submitted her resignation to the Abingdon Town Council on Tuesday, July 17, 2018. Mrs. Icenhour began her employment with the Town of Abingdon as Assistant Town Attorney.  On January 6, 2009, she was appointed Town Attorney by the Abingdon Town Council. After ten years, the Town Council and administration would like to thank Mrs. Icenhour for her service and wish her the best in her future endeavors.

“On behalf of myself and the entire Town Council, we wish her the best in seeking personal priorities in her life as she moves forward. – Mayor Wayne Craig”

The firm of PennStuart will be representing the Town of Abingdon in the absence of a full-time attorney.



Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Olde Glade Tractor Show at Fairview July 19-21, 2018


Blood Assurance Hosts Fourth Annual Battle of the Badges Blood Drive



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Blood Assurance Hosts Fourth Annual Battle of the Badges Blood Drive

On Friday, July 27th, 2018, members of the Abingdon Police Department, Abingdon Fire Department, Washington County, VA Sheriff’s Office, and Washington County Life Saving Crew are joining forces for the Fourth Annual Battle of the Badges Blood Drive. A trophy will be awarded to the department with the most blood donors.  The drive will be held in the parking lot of the Abingdon Police Department at 425 West Main Street, Abingdon, from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

“Every two seconds someone in the United States is in need of blood and sadly, only 10 percent of those eligible donate, said Fire Chief John McCormick.” “Where else in 15 minutes can you save three lives?  Please take the time and tell them the Abingdon Fire Department sent you.  Everyone is a winner with a blood donation.”

Blood Assurance relies on all blood types, but especially those with type O-negative blood, as it is the universal blood type. O-negative blood is given to patients in an emergency situation when their own blood type is unknown.

Blood donors must be at least 17 years old (16 years old with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. The process usually takes about 30 minutes and includes a complimentary snack and a special “Battle of the Badges” t-shirt. Donors should eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of fluids -avoiding caffeine- prior to giving blood.   

The blood drive is open to the public and everyone is encouraged to come donate in the name of your favorite public service agency. To help minimize your wait time, we encourage you to sign up at bloodassurance.org/bob2018 for a time slot.



Tuesday, July 10, 2018

LOCATION AND DESIGN PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED FOR INTERSTATE 81 EXIT 19 IMPROVEMENTS


LOCATION AND DESIGN PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED FOR INTERSTATE 81 EXIT 19 IMPROVEMENTS

Tuesday, July 17 from 4 - 6 p.m. at Abingdon High School

BRISTOL – Next week, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will hold a location and design public hearing for improvements to the Interstate 81 exit 19 interchange in the Abingdon area of Washington County.
The public hearing will be held Tuesday, July 17 from 4-6 p.m. at Abingdon High School, located at 705 Thompson Drive in Abingdon.

The purpose of the meeting is to give citizens an opportunity to review the proposed project plans that include improvements to the exit 19 on and off ramps; realign a portion of Empire Drive; add traffic signals at two locations; improve how traffic merges onto southbound I-81; add turn lanes to Route 11 at the northbound off ramp; and widen a curve along the southbound off ramp.

VDOT encourages all interested citizens to attend the information meeting. To give citizens more flexibility in their participation, there will be no formal presentation. Instead, citizens will be able to review plans with VDOT representatives at their convenience anytime between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Also, citizens will have an opportunity to record verbal comments for the official record anytime during the meeting. Written comments will be accepted during the meeting or may be submitted to VDOT by July 27, 2018.  Mail comments to Mr. Jim Jones, Project Manager, 870 Bonham Road, Bristol, Virginia 24201. Or, email comments to bristolinfo@vdot.virginia.gov, referencing “Interstate 81 Exit 19 improvements” in the email subject line.
For additional information, or if you require special assistance to participate in the meeting, please call the VDOT’s Bristol District office at (276) 669-6151 or device for hearing impaired (TTY) at 711.    

(END)