Board of Building Code Appeals Training

Sustain Abingdon Meeting Notice:

Cancellation Notice for the March 4, 2020 HPRB meeting

Town Council Meeting Agenda for March 2, 2020

Budget Work Session Meeting on 4-9-2020

*Correction to meeting location. Virginia Tourism Corporation Meeting Notice for 3-13-2020:

Virginia Tourism Corporation Meeting Notice for 3-13-2020

Governor Northam Announces Statewide 2020 Census Week of Action

Governor Northam Announces Statewide 2020 Census Week of Action ~ Activities promote participation in the upcoming census, encourage Virginians to take action in their communities ~

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today invited Virginians across the Commonwealth to participate in a 2020 Census week of action tomorrow through next Friday. Events throughout the week encourage Virginia residents to learn more about what’s at stake in the 2020 Census and to take action in their communities to help ensure Virginia has a complete and accurate count.

“An accurate count in the 2020 Census will support our efforts to build a Commonwealth for all Virginians and paint a more complete picture of the diverse voices that make up our state,” said Governor Northam. “I urge all Virginians to take part in the 2020 Census week of action and learn about how you can raise awareness about the upcoming census in your community.” Virginians throughout the Commonwealth can help promote the census by taking part in the following activities. Friday, February 21 – Sunday, February 23 | Interfaith Engagement This weekend, faith-based organizations and communities are encouraged to share information about the 2020 Census with their parishioners by incorporating messaging into their sermons, lectures, or other teaching, and by including information in programs, bulletins, and newsletters. Faith-based organizations and communities can access the Virginia Complete Count Commission’s Interfaith Engagement Toolkit here. Monday, February 24 | Engaging Virginia’s Seniors Facilities and organizations that support Virginia’s seniors are encouraged to share information about the 2020 Census. Additionally, families are encouraged to create a plan of action for completing the 2020 Census with the seniors in their lives. Older Virginians and their loves ones are also asked to mark their calendars for Wednesday, March 4 and join the 2020 Census Tele-Townhall hosted by the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth and AARP Virginia. From protecting themselves against census scams to letting family caregivers know how to help their loves ones, the Tele-Townhall will offer important information to help people make sure they are counted. Details about how to participate in the 2020 Census Tele-Townhall will be made available here. Tuesday, February 25 | College Students’ “Talk About It Tuesday” Colleges and universities are encouraged to educate students and faculty about the importance of the 2020 Census. Students are encouraged to participate in “Talk About It Tuesday” by talking to their parents and guardians to create a plan of action for completing the 2020 Census. College Students can find information on student enumeration here. Wednesday, February 26 | Let’s “Get Social” (on Media) Virginians can “Get Social” (on Media) by following Virginia’s Census engagement efforts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Virginians are also invited to participate in a Twitter chat about what’s at stake in the 2020 Census. Questions can be tweeted to @CountOnVirginia. Promote the Census using the hashtags #Census2020 #VACompleteCount #CountOnVirginia. Pledge to be Counted The Northam administration recently announced a partnership with CommunityConnect Labs to use mobile messaging to connect with hard-to-reach populations. On Wednesday, February 26, Virginians are encouraged to “Pledge to be Counted” by texting the word “PLEDGE” or “CENSO” (Español) to the number for their respective locality. Participants will receive a digital pledge card that can be shared on social media. Standard text messaging data rates may apply. Valley: (540) 235-5155 Northern: (703) 684-0007 or (571) 200-0828 Coastal: (757) 210-3232 Southside: (434) 201-4884 Southwest: (276) 218-8138 Central: (804) 203-0393 “We are excited to use our new text messaging platform to reach Virginians all over the Commonwealth,” said Secretary of the Commonwealth Kelly Thomasson. “We know that text and other mobile messaging is one of the best ways to reach underserved populations, especially those populations that are historically hard-to-count in the census.” Thursday, February 27 | Counting Our Youngest Virginians It is estimated that upwards of 5 percent of children under the age of four went uncounted in the 2010 Census. On Thursday, early childhood care and education centers are encouraged to share information with parents and guardians about the 2020 Census and the importance of young children born on or before April 1, 2020 (Census Day), being counted. Information on the enumeration of children ages 0-4 can be found here. Friday, February 28 | K-12 “Census in Schools” Educators and school administrators are encouraged learn about how they can incorporate the U.S. Census Bureau’s Statistics in Schools (SIS) program into their lessons and classroom activities. The SIS program uses census statistics to create classroom materials for grades pre-K through 12. Learn more about the SIS program here. Additionally, Parent-Teacher Associations are encouraged to share information on the importance of the 2020 Census through newsletters and on social media—highlighting the value of programs such as Head Start, school breakfasts and lunches, and how 2020 Census data will support these efforts. About the Virginia Complete Count Commission On December 18, 2018, Governor Northam signed Executive Order Twenty-Seven establishing the Virginia Complete Count Commission. The purpose of the Commission is to improve participation and representation of all Virginians in the 2020 Census. The Commission facilitates the sharing of ideas and community resources regarding the 2020 Census and serves as a conduit between the Commonwealth and the United State Census Bureau.

The Virginia Complete Count Commission serves as a trusted voice and resource to educate, empower, and engage all communities for the purpose of ensuring that everyone who lives in the Commonwealth of Virginia is counted in the 2020 Census. For more information on the 2020 Census and Virginia Complete Count Commission, visit census.virginia.gov or follow @CountOnVirginia on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. ###

Come Grow Your Own Garden - The Abingdon Gardens

Come Grow Your Own Garden - The Abingdon Gardens

The Town of Abingdon’s Sustain Abingdon Committee will begin accepting applications for their “Grow Your Own” community garden on Monday, March 2, 2020.  You can pick up an application at the Abingdon Town Hall (133 W Main Street). 

The Abingdon Gardens is a “grow your own” community garden space where residents of Washington County, VA can rent a 20’ by 20’ vegetable garden plot for $25 for the spring/summer growing season.  The gardens are located at the Fairview Historic Homestead, 908 Hillman Highway, Abingdon, VA.

The Old Glade Antique Tractor Association provides tilling services and there is an elaborate rainwater collection system onsite that provides water access for the gardeners.

For more information visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sustainabingdon or call 276-628-3167.

*Sustain Abingdon’s mission is to advise and encourage Town employees, residents & visitors on environmentally sustainable solutions.

Planning Commission Meeting Notice for 2-24-2020

Request for Proposals- Flexible Spending Accounts:

Work Session Agenda for 2-19-2020:

Notice of Vacancy for EDA:

Cancellation Notice for Tourism Advisory Meeting:

NOTICE OF VACANCY - Sustain Abingdon

NOTICE OF VACANCY - HPRB

NOTICE OF VACANCY - Board of Building Code Appeals

Press Release - The Bearcat Bluegrass Band Featured in Crooked Road Series

Abingdon, Virginia – The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail presents the Bearcat Bluegrass Band in concert on Thursday, February 13^th from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Southwest Virginia Cultural Center & Marketplace (formerly Heartwood) in Abingdon, VA. This concert is part of The Crooked Road Music Series.

The Bearcat Bluegrass Band is a group from Virginia High School in Bristol, Virginia. The band is composed of students and staff from the Bristol Virginia Public Schools. They perform locally at school functions and help teach in the after-school Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) Programs at Virginia Middle School and Washington-Lee Elementary School. The group encourages other students to learn to play music and offers opportunities to play with the band at school events.

The Crooked Road Music Series takes place each Thursday at the SWVA Cultural Center & Marketplace. Visit the SWVA Cultural Center & Marketplace and experience Southwest Virginia's creative and authentic culture. Located off I-81 at Exit 14 in Abingdon, VA, the Cultural Center features youth artists each 2^nd Thursday along with open jams on the 1^st, 3^rd, 4^th (and 5^th) Thursdays to showcase Southwest Virginia performers.

As part of The Crooked Road's Thursday night live music, the SWVA Cultural Center & Marketplace Cafe features SWVA patty melt and black bean, beef and sweet potato chili. Admission to the concert is free and donations will be accepted for Crooked Road Traditional Music Education Program (TMEP).

More information can be found at The Crooked Road website,www.thecrookedroad.org, and at SWVAculturalcenter.com. For additional information, please call (276) 492-2400, ext. 2409 or email: admin@thecrookedroad.org.

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Photo of the Bearcat Bluegrass Band (credit – Christopher Tate) is attached.

NOW HIRING- Foreman at Street Dept

February 11, 2020 Meeting Cancellation Notice

CANCELLATION NOTICE

THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS

FOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2020

AT 6:00 P.M.

ARTHUR CAMPBELL CONFERENCE ROOM

FIRST FLOOR

133 W. MAIN STREET

For information regarding the meeting, please contact:

Janice Dornon
jdornon@abingdon-va.gov

276-628-3167

The Gallery @ Barr Photographics announces the inaugural installment of the Corner Gallery’s 2020 exhibition series

The Gallery @ Barr Photographics announces the inaugural installment of the Corner Gallery’s 2020 exhibition series with a collection of oil and acrylic paintings entitled “Experiential Improvisations” a debut gallery exhibit, by emerging, outsider, Bristol, Virginia artist, David L. Browning, aka, The Mayberry Deputy.

David Browning was born in 1949 and raised in Bristol Virginia, the eighth of nine children, seven sisters and one brother.  After graduation from Virginia High School in 1967, David gravitated to performing arts. David began to hone acting and performing skills, discovered at Virginia High, as characters in stage plays for local and regional theatre groups, beginning with the Dogwood Theatre Youth Program on to Virginia Intermont  and  Sullins Colleges and eventually landing at Theatre Bristol. During the progression David was doing commercials for TV and parts for short corporate training films. As his career progressed David worked as a theatre administrator and director as well as an actor. All the while adding the tools he would need to perfect the role of The Mayberry Deputy as a tribute artist for the Don Knotts character “Barney Fife” as seen on the television program, The Andy Griffith Show..  Mr. Browning’s portrayal of The Mayberry Deputy has garnered critical acclaim and has been the “job” for Mr. Browning for over 26 years and will continue into the future, but this article is about a different set of talents that David possesses. Art as expressed with a paint brush on canvases using either acrylic or oil paints. David is, what is known in the art world as, an “outsider artist”, meaning someone who has had no formal training, yet is proficient with constructing images on two dimensional substrates like paper or canvas. In 2016 David began his journey as a painting artist by buying some art supplies, drawing and painting experimental creations, promptly discarding them and beginning the process over again. Watercolor painting gave way to acrylic paints, then, oil painting and with oils, David had discovered his medium.

            Mr. Browning reveals in his artist’s statement, “With a background of live performance for nearly fifty years, putting art on a canvas via painting never entered my mind until 2016, when I began experimenting with creating images using watercolors. I soon found that with no training as a visual artist, my lack of training showed up clearly, but I still wanted to paint.  I began to experiment with acrylic paints and enjoyed the experience very much, but still wasn’t completely satisfied with my creations. After acrylics, it didn’t take too long to move on to painting with oil, here I found a path to more joy of creating and going to the canvas.  As an “outsider artist”, I explored my own style, I watched videos on You-Tube of painting instruction, including many well know painters living and dead, and covered many canvasses with images, some of which I liked and many I did not.  The images I liked reflected my own ideas, feelings and approach to image creation incorporated with technical knowledge and techniques gleaned from instructional videos. A personal style of image creation emerged and this is where I have settled. I discovered my painting style reflects my live performance style, geared clearly toward improvisation and trial and error.  Creating the exhibit “Experiential Improvisations” has been a labor of joy, especially since I only began to paint in my sixth decade.  I am encouraged as I realize that the creative, visual arts are not limited to a certain age or status.  I have also discovered, through painting, that one can grow as an artist and express feelings, ideas and images, using multiple genres, throughout our entire lives.”

 “Experiential Improvisations” will be celebrated with a reception, gallery talk and demonstration of technique by David L. Browning, to which the public is cordially invited, on Friday, 14 February from 7 - 9:00 PM in The Gallery @ Barr Photographics, 152 E. Main Street, Abingdon, Virginia.  “Experiential Improvisations” will hang, and be offered for sale, through 31, March.   The Gallery @ Barr Photographics is housed in the Greenway Trigg Building, located in the heart of Abingdon’s main street historic district.  Please call 276- 628-1486 or visit https://barrphotographics.com/CornerGalleryFeatureArtist.aspx?cms=9386 for further information.

 

Meeting Notice for Tourism Advisory Committee on 4-7-2020: