Wednesday, November 6, 2024

News Briefs for April 5

HISTORIC TRIANGLE — News and notes in brief from in and around the Historic Triangle.

Join the 46th Annual Countywide Spring Cleanup

(James City County)

James City County is seeking volunteers for the 46th annual county-wide litter cleanup on Saturday, April 27.

The Clean County Commission will provide bags, grabbers and vests for pick up in advance and arrange for disposal of all collected litter. No household trash or hazardous waste may be brought to the cleanup locations, according to the county.

Participants are encouraged to form teams and select a cleanup location of their choice, or contact the Clean County Commission for cleanup site suggestions and/or to be placed on an existing team.

Visit here to register, suggest a desired cleanup location or become a Lead Volunteer.  For more information on county cleanup programs, visit its website or call 757-259-5375.

(James City County)

James City County Parks & Recreation Spring/Summer Activity Brochure Available

The James City County Parks & Recreation Spring/Summer 2024 Destination Recreation Activity Brochure highlights programs, events and activities for ages, interests and abilities through August.

To learn more about recreational offerings, services and how the department connects the community through vital partnerships, watch James City County Parks & Recreation: Have Fun and Live Healthy through our Recreation Centers, Parks and Programs.

WJCC Schools to Host Alternative Pathways to Teacher Licensure Night

WJCC Schools is inviting anyone with a current bachelor’s degree who wants to be a teacher to attend the Alternative Pathways to Teacher Licensure Night Thursday, April 11 at James Blair Middle School at 5 p.m.

Williamsburg-James City County Schools said it  values expertise from various backgrounds to help bring to life real-world experiences in the classroom. Event attendees will learn about multiple options for becoming an educator and earning a teacher’s license. Qualified candidates can be hired to be a teacher with WJCC Schools this fall while earning their teaching license, according to WJCC Schools.

During the evening event, candidates will learn about: 

  1. Multiple pathways for earning teaching credentials to fit every timeline and budget, including WJCC Schools new program with iteach
  2. WJCC Schools tuition assistance program with full reimbursement for some programs
  3. Ways prospective teachers can be hired to teach while they earn their credentials
  4. Easy application process and support available to all new teachers

UVA Health Developing ‘Paint’ to Spare Patients Repeated Surgeries

UVA Health researchers recently received $2.8 million to advance their development of a high-tech way to save heart and dialysis patients from the need for multiple surgeries, it reported.

Researchers Lian-Wang Guo, PhD, and K. Craig Kent, MD, are pioneering a quick and gentle technique to “paint” tiny nanoparticles on transplanted veins to prevent the veins from becoming clogged in the future. This type of blockage often causes cardiovascular and dialysis patients to require repeated surgeries; approximately half of all heart bypass vein grafts fail and require another graft.

If successful, it would be the first solution for these patients and a game-changing application of nanomedicine — medicine performed at an astonishingly small scale, UVA Health said.

DMV Debunks Motorcycle Myths

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles’ (DMV) Highway Safety Office is reminding riders to ensure they have a motorcycle endorsement and proper training before they put their bike on the road and debunking some common motorcycle myths. 

Motorcycle Myths: 

  • I don’t need a special endorsement on my license to ride a motorcycle. 
  • In Virginia operating a motorcycle without the proper license or endorsement could result in penalties that may include fines or even jail time. 
  • I’ve been riding for years. I don’t need a training course. 
  • Training courses are about so much more than learning to ride. Certified training courses can help correct unsafe habits, remind you how to safely react when faced with an unexpected danger and brush up on your skills. Best of all, a Virginia Rider Training Program makes getting your motorcycle endorsement from DMV even easier. 
  • I wear all my gear when I ride so training is just unnecessary. 
  • While safety gear such as helmets, eye protection, proper clothing and gloves can save your life in the event of a crash, proper training can help prevent you from getting into that crash. Gear and training are a team that helps ensure you arrive alive.
  • I don’t ride on interstates, so I’m way less likely to crash.
  • In 2023 87% of motorcycle crashes occurred on non-interstate roads. Where you drive doesn’t matter if you aren’t driving safely and aren’t properly prepared for the unexpected.

Learn more about the facts of motorcycle safety and about Virginia Rider Training Programs on the DMV’s website.

Virginia ABC Bureau of Law Enforcement Receives Third Accreditation from Professional Standards Commission

The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC) Bureau of Law Enforcement earned its third accreditation from the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission (VLEPSC) in March.

The commission, a panel of police chiefs, sheriffs and other law enforcement executives from across the state, voted unanimously to renew the authority’s accreditation award, according to ABC.

The accreditation program, administered through the state’s Department of Criminal Justice Services, requires a thorough inspection and review of agency policies, procedures, processes and operations as defined by 191 stringent standards every four years. Four performance areas including administration, operations, personnel and training are carefully evaluated against established criteria by an independent panel of certified assessors.

Virginia State Police Unveil ‘Pathway to Trooper’ Program 

The Virginia State Police (VSP) announced it is offering an opportunity for those interested in becoming a state trooper, but too young to apply.

The new “Pathway to Trooper” program helps 18- to 20-year-olds who need to find employment while waiting to apply to the Trooper Basic Session Academy. VSP policy requires State Trooper applicants to be 21 years of age by the time they graduate from the academy.

Under “Pathway to Trooper,” a young adult can join the state police as an Emergency Dispatcher in one of seven Emergency Communications Dispatch Centers. In return, the state Police will reserve a spot for that individual in an upcoming academy once the young adult becomes eligible to become a state trooper, according to VSP. The reservation is contingent upon the applicant completing all stages of the state trooper hiring process.

Young adults choosing this route are eligible for a $5,000 hiring bonus. The Emergency Dispatcher is a full-time, salaried position with full state health and retirement benefits and paid vacation leave. Once accepted to the VSP Academy, they will be eligible for a 10% salary increase upon completion of initial training, and a retention bonus of $5,000 upon completion of basic training at the academy.

Additional information on the “Pathway to Trooper” program is available online at vatrooper.com or those interested can go direct with a VSP recruiter by clicking on this link.

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