Williamsburg Notebook: Residents Encouraged to Register Medical Needs, Mayor Kicks Off Arts Month

By Amber Lester Kennedy Friday, September 09, 2011

After feeling the effects of Hurricane Irene last week, the city of Williamsburg is reminding residents to consider sharing their medical needs with a secure website that helps officials plan for disasters. RSVP today for the Economic Development Authority’s next business roundtable, which will focus on the city’s Arts Month. The Arts Month will include events celebrating the arts at area businesses and galleries, culminating in An Occasion for the Arts. Learn more below.

RSVP Today for EDA Business Roundtable

The Williamsburg Economic Development Authority is hosting its September Business Roundtable lunch at This Century Art Gallery and Retro’s on Sept. 13.

From 11:30 a.m. to noon, guests can tour the gallery, then from noon to 1 p.m., enjoy lunch at Retro’s Good Eats on Prince George Street in Williamsburg. This Century Art Gallery Director Kerry Mellette and September Arts Month Coordinator Terry Buntrock will be the featured speakers, discussing art in Williamsburg.

An RSVP is required by Friday, by emailing your name, business name and whether you plan to attend the gallery tour to businessroundtable@williamsburgva.gov. For more information, call Marie at 220-6253.

File Medical Needs for Sheltering Purposes

The localities of Hampton Roads have established the Hampton Roads Special Needs website and Medical Needs Registry to plan and coordinate for disasters and populations with special needs.

The personal information collected through the registry will be used for planning emergency shelter services for residents with conditions that can’t be managed in a general shelter environment.

The information will also be used to plan coordination of transportation services to medical-friendly shelters for residents who cannot transport themselves.

Participation in the Medical Needs Registry is voluntary, and all information collected will be kept confidential and stored on secure servers. Residents can learn more by calling 757-420-8300 or emailing specialneeds@hrpdcva.gov.

Community Invited to Municipal Building ‘Open House’

The Mayor and City Council invite the community to an open house from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday to tour the newly expanded and remodeled Williamsburg Municipal Building on Lafayette Street.

City staff will be on hand to greet residents and at 4 p.m., a brief ceremony will be held in the foyer, followed by refreshments.

The Municipal expansion and renovation project was designed to be certified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Sustainable features of the building include a pollution prevention plan; bicycle storage racks and employee shower facilities; an improved stormwater drainage system; indigenous landscaping; reduced energy usage and more.

Learn more about the building’s green features while visiting on Monday.

Neighborhood Council Meets Saturday

The Neighborhood Council of Williamsburg (NCW) meets Saturday from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Quarterpath Recreation Center. The meetings are open to the public and residents are encouraged to attend.

Williamsburg-James City County Schools Superintendent Steven Constantino will be the guest speaker for the meeting. For information about the Neighborhood Council, contact Jim Joseph at 565-1549.

Williamsburg Kicks Off Arts Month

Mayor Clyde Haulman officially announced the beginning of September’s Arts Month at the Virginia Symphony Orchestra concert on Sept. 1.

This is Williamsburg’s first month-long celebration of the arts. Galleries and performing arts venues throughout the area will be hosting special events, culminating with an open air concert in Merchants Square on Sept. 30 and An Occasion for the Arts on Oct. 1 and 2.

Find a calendar of arts events here and more details about events here.