York Notebook: New Voting Info, Senior Classes and More

By Sam Thrift Monday, July 25, 2011

Voting registration and districting in York
York County residents will be receiving voter cards in the mail from the State Board of Elections informing voters of their new districts and polling places.

The 2010 Census and the 2011 redistricting process changed York County residents' voting districts and where their polling places will be. Voters can get their election information from the card or by visiting the Voter Registrar’s website by clicking here, where they can also check their registration status.

Through a service provided by the State Board of Elections, voters can provide the requested information and determine their voter registration status, polling place, and the election districts in which they live.

Voters are reminded that if they need to update their address or register to vote, they must do so by August 1 in order to participate in the August 23 Republican Primary.

If voters wish to participate in the November 8 General Election, they must update their address or register to vote no later than October 17. The Constitution of Virginia requires that voters be registered in the precinct in which they live in order to be qualified to vote.

If voters have any questions about their new districts or polling places, they can contact the Voter Registrar at 890-3440 or by email at registrar@yorkcounty.gov.

Help update county's emergency plans at Wednesday meeting
York County is asking for input from its residents with regard to updating its Hazard Mitigation Plan.

The plan addresses emergencies such as flooding, hurricanes, tornadoes, nor'easters, winter storms and wildfires. A public outreach session will be held this Wednesday, July 27, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the meeting room of the Yorktown Branch of the York County Public Library.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency requires that the Peninsula Hazard Mitigation Plan be updated every five years. First adopted in 2006, the Peninsula Hazard Mitigation Plan has been a collaborative planning effort among the Cities of Hampton, Newport News and Williamsburg as well as James City and York County.

The purpose of the plan is to provide a basis for prioritizing hazard mitigation activities within each locality. Its main components include identification of hazards, vulnerability assessment of local and state critical facilities, estimation of potential losses and development of mitigation activities in each locality.

The plan is available by clicking here and an online survey regarding the plan can be found by clicking here.

For additional information, please visit the York County Department of Fire and Life Safety on the web by clicking here or call 757-890-3600.

Senior citizen activities in the area
A variety of educational and entertaining programs are being offered at the Senior Center of York in August, including making necklaces, learning Tai Chi and driving safety programs.

Participation is open to seniors 55 or older and their spouses, regardless of age.

The center is located in the Washington Square Shopping Center off Route 17, and is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Reservations are required for all sessions and are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. To learn about all of the classes, click here or call 898-3807.

Governor appoints Yorktown man to board
Governor Bob McDonnell has announced appointments to several Virginia boards and commissions, and among them is a Yorktown resident. Matthew B. Teasdale, Chief Information Security Officer and Director of Risk Management at the Department of Social Services, has been appointed to the Advisory Board for the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

The group works to reduce the communication barriers between persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and family members, service providers and the general public.