Orange County Insight 11/2020

Orange County Insight 11/2020

VIBRANT ECONOMY l EFFECTIVE REFLECTIVE GOVERNMENT l SUSTAINABLE LAND

INSIGHT

Honoring our VETERANS Page 2

Updating Holiday TRADITIONS Page 13 Halloween Contest WINNERS Page 3

NOVEMBER 2020

Ted Talk I am thankful for …

Remember when your elementary school teacher asked what you were thankful for as we learned about American Thanksgiving traditions, complete with those construction paper pilgrim hats? The same tradition continues at many dinner tables across our land as we take time to pause and reflect on our many blessings at this time of year. November is our month of thanksgiving and our month to render appreciation to our veterans, many of whom are listed on the adjoining page. I thank all veterans for their sacrifices and service to our Nation. In this election month, I am tempted to say that I am just thankful that the election is over since most people are tired of the ads and the divisive rhetoric, but what I am most thankful for is that Americans continue to be a beacon of democracy for the world. Winston Churchill said in the House of Commons in 1947, “ Many forms of government have been tried and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all - wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time. ” I am thankful that we have a voice in who governs our community, our Commonwealth, and our Nation. I think James Madison would be proud of how we have carried forward his vision and evolved to become more inclusive and responsive to the needs of our people. Finally, I am thankful for each County employee who continues to support our community during one of the most challenging periods I have witnessed in my three decades of public service. Political division, social unrest, global pandemic, economic disruption, and numerous other descriptors could all be assigned to 2020. Yet, we continue to move forward.

Please accept my thanks to each of you, and please let me know how I may continue to serve you.

Ted Voorhees, Orange County Administrator

We ’ re Here For You

Orange County Administration

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Physical Address 112 W. Main Street Orange, VA 22960 Mailing Address P.O. Box 111 Orange, VA 22960

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Page | November 2020

Veterans Day

Honoring All Who Served

Nov. 11

Office on Youth Jennifer Detwiler USA

Airport Robert Gruitt USA Eric Smith U.S. Coast Guard

Emergency Communications Center Jimmie Tate USA

Board of Supervisors Lee Frame USN

Orange County Sheriff ’ s Office Sheriff Mark Amos USAF Deputy Chris Votaw USAF Robert Kelly (Civilian employee) USAF Sargent John Berry USN

Fire & EMS Mike Stewart USAF Roger Wilson USA NG Noah Madden USMC Nathan Mort USMC Public Works William Alley Jr USA Edward Baker USMC Aaron Caine USMC Randy Clatterbuck USA Peyton Fincham USN Louis Gibson USAF Eddie James USAF Raymond Offer USA James Shifflett USA Marty Williams USMC

Sargent Mike Garrison USN Deputy Bryan McFarland USN Investigator Abe Lasco USMC Deputy Jesse McPeek USMC Deputy Jack Bryant USMC Deputy Shawn Hilton USMC (Currently serving in Marine Reserve) Major Mike LaCasse USA Lieutenant Bart Sigler USA Deputy Chris Williams USA Deputy Adam Schienschang USA (Currently serving in Army Reserve)

Library Michelle Pursel USMC

Page 2 | November 2020 Page 2 | Nove ber 2020

By Jayson Woods, Programs & Facilities Supervisor, Orange County Parks & Recreation

Cooperative Extension Office in Orange set the table for a good performance with a USDA “ My Plate ” theme, stepping up from bronze last year to take silver. They share the podium with the Orange County Gordon Building 2nd Floor ’ s hilarious “80’ s Workout ” entry featuring Orange County Administrator Ted Voorhees as a Richard Simmons stand in! The judges awarded each of these runner - up entries additional attention in the form of superlative awards. The Extension Office was recognized as the “ Cutest ” entry for their clever incorporation of protective face coverings into their costumes. Unsurprisingly, the Gordon Building up- stairs crew were deemed the “ Funniest. ” Grymes Memorial School annually contributes several great entries to the contest. This year their Administration team was awarded the “ Scariest ” superlative award with their all - too - appropriate “ Plague Doctors ” themed costumes. This contest is an annual event sponsored by Faye ’ s Office Supply. This year saw an incredible array of quality entries, with 11 groups participating. Winners were select- ed on Nov. 6, 2020, using a combination of a Facebook vote, official judges scoring, and participation consideration. Top finishers will receive a trophy and a Faye ’ s Office Supply gift card. Get your coworkers together and join us for next year ’ s contest!

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The Orange County Treasurer ’ s Office won first place with a scarily good entry in Orange County Parks & Recreation ’ s latest Office Costume Contest, held at the end of October. Perpetually a strong contender, their office ’ s Beetlejuice themed entry enjoyed top marks on Facebook and from 75% of the judges. This is fitting, as the Treasurer ’ s Office was the initial inspiration for this event when OCPR staff saw how much fun they had costumed as a group in 2013. We decided to spread this fun and creative spirit throughout Orange County businesses the following year and have been at it ever since. 2020 has been a unique year, and this carried over into our contest. There was a tie for 2nd place for only the second time in contest history; the first was in 2015. Interestingly, the Treasurer ’ s Office took first place that year also. The Virginia

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Page 3 | November 2020

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Virginia Cooperative Extension: “ My Plate ”

Gordon Building 2nd Floor: “80’ s Workout ”

Commissioner of the Revenue: “ Disney Princesses ”

Virginia Tractor: “ Life on the Farm ”

Grymes Memorial School Administration: “ Plague Doctors ”

Orange Chiropractic & Family Fitness: “ Skeleton Crew ”

Hale Family Dentistry: “ Out of this World ”

Landfill: “ Nightmare Before Christmas ”

Grymes Upper School Teachers: “ Shark Week ”

Grymes Lower School Teachers: “ Witches ”

Page 4 | November 2020

Page 4 | November 2020

1. Never provide your account or credit/bank card information over the phone to unknown callers. Scammers pretending to be a company (Amazon, DirectTV, etc.) call saying that your account has been compromised and ask to verify your account. If you receive a call asking for any private information, end the call without providing information and call that company ’ s main number to check for yourself. 2. Scammers pretending to be people in need of money is a prevalent social media scam. Be cautious! If a caller says that your relative is in jail and needs bail money without telling the rest of the family, hang up and call your family to verify. 3. Requests for payment by prepaid credit cards or gift cards are probably scams. 4. Scammers may call claiming to be government officials and stating you owe money. They demand immediate payment, or they will send the police. Tell them you will call the government entity yourself to ask about your ‘ debt. ’ Sheriff ’ s deputies will never call you to collect a debt owed to the court system or the county government. 5. Scammers ‘ spoof ’ local phone numbers to make themselves look legitimate. Recently, scammers pretending to be from Amazon contacted an Orange County government staff member using a number that appeared to be a local business in Orange, not Amazon ’ s. The scammer did not fool the staff member. Holiday Safety Tips from the Orange County Sheriff ’ s Office By Major Michael R. LaCasse & Captain Jason Smith 5 Scams to Avoid

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Page 5 | November 2020

11 Shopping Safety Tips

1. Only park and shop in well - lit areas. 2. Always lock car doors, even in your driveway.

3. When shopping, cover valuables or place them in the trunk. Many vehicles without trunks have ‘ shades ’ that cover cargo spaces. Blankets on floorboards will work as well. 4. Never leave your car running at the curb while you run in to grab something quickly. Don ’ t leave children in vehicles. 5. Carry only necessary cash and credit cards in an RFID “ radio - frequency identification ” blocker in your front pocket, especially if walking through a crowded store or mall. Inexpensive RFID blockers prevent thieves from remotely stealing your credit card information as you walk in public. 6. Never leave your purse in an unattended shopping cart. 7. Do not allow someone to “ shoulder surf ” to see your pin number. 8. Be wary of strangers approaching you for any reason. 9. Don ’ t overburden yourself with multiple bags that limit your mobility and distract you. 10. Stay alert in parking lots. Avoid being distracted by your phone. Have your keys ready in hand. 11. Do not leave valuables or packages in your car at home. ‘ Car Shoppers ’ will walk around the neighborhood testing car door handles to find an unlocked car to search for valuables such as GPS ’ s, money, guns, and gifts.

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Page 6 | November 2020

Have you fallen off the COVID precaution bandwagon? If you have, it ’ s understandable. Infection rates have been low in Orange County compared to other areas of the Commonwealth. Healthy habits can be challenging to maintain. We all want our “ old lives ” back, and reportedly a vaccine will be available in a few months. The CDC urges us to continue precautions such as hand wash- ing, social distancing, and most important, mask use. With the holidays just days away, the potential for super - spreader events is high. The Health Department advises that we celebrate Thanksgiving with only the members of our households to avoid spreading the virus. Travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID - 19. Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others. Neighboring counties are experiencing significant infection rate increases. The inconveniences that we endure now might save the life of another member of our community, or even our own. Coronavirus Information : Remain vigilant at holiday gatherings

From the CDC website:

Hosting a Thanksgiving Gathering

 If having guests to your home, be sure that everyone follows the steps to make Thanksgiving safer. Have conversations with guests ahead of time to set expectations for celebrating to- gether.

 Have a small outdoor meal with family and friends who live in your community.

Limit the number of guests.



 Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and items between use.

 If celebrating indoors, make sure to open windows.

 Limit the number of people in food preparation areas. Don ’ t let others wander in.

 Have guests bring their own food and drink.

 If sharing food, have one person serve food and use single - use options, like plastic utensils.

Page 7 | November 2020

Tax payment collection rate up despite COVID - 19 pandemic During the COVID - 19 pandemic, some taxpayers have had their work hours cut, have experienced layoffs, or even lost their jobs in company closures. These challenges have not stopped citizens from making timely payments. Orange County Treasurer Dawn Herndon states, “ We have a collection rate of 96%, up 2% from this time last year. This is a testament to the taxpayers of Orange County who, even in difficult times, meet their obligation to fund essential county services. “ The Treasurer ’ s Office understands county taxpayers ’ pandemic - related financial challenges. To help taxpayers stay current, they sent an additional delinquent notice in July, giving citizens another opportunity to pay in full or to make arrangements to pay the Treasurer ’ s Office directly by September. The office has always offered payment plans to taxpayers and allows prepay- ments. Their helpful service has not gone unnoticed. One staff member recently received flowers from a taxpayer in apprecia- tion of the caring assistance she received. The Treasurer ’ s Office has been working with IT staff and Management Services to implement touchless credit card pay- ments at the Treasurer ’ s Office and to start accepting credit card payments at other county departments. Customers will be able to swipe their credit cards without handing them to the staff members taking the payments. Ms. Herndon believes that this safer system will soon be implemented.

Local COVID - 19 testing sites

COVID - 19 Drive - in Screening and Testing

111 Short St. Orange VA 22960

Phone: (540) 672 - 9000

Orange Family Physicians

13198 James Madison Highway Orange VA 22960

Phone: (540) 672 - 3010

UVA Primary Care Locust Grove

4376 Germanna Hwy Locust Grove VA 22508

Phone: (540) 972 - 7798

Information Links

CDC - https://www.cdc.gov/ coronavirus/2019 - nCoV/index.html Virginia Department of Health - https:// www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/ Coronavirus Self Checker - https:// www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019 - ncov/ symptoms - testing/coronavirus - self - checker.html What to do if you are potentially exposed - https:// www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/ local - exposure/ Mayo Clinic ’ s Coronavirus State Tracking Map –Compare Orange to neighboring counties - https:// www.mayoclinic.org/coronavirus - covid - 19/map/virginia

Page 8 | November 2020 | October 20

Though a COVID - 19 Thanksgiving may look differ- ent, there are still a number of things families can do to make the celebration special. See how many ingredients you can source locally. Make this a family challenge, and help the local economy in the process. Late fall vegetables include sweet potatoes, butternut squash, acorn squash, greens such as mustard and kale, brussels sprouts, and beets, to name a few. Roasting vegetables gives a very different texture and flavor than steaming or boiling. Peel, cut into pieces, drizzle with olive oil, and experiment with various herbs. Rosemary and sage lend excellent flavor to butternut squash. Brussels sprouts are tasty with thyme, rosemary, and pomegranate seeds or cranberries added for color. Beets stand out with thyme, fresh orange juice, and kosher salt. Involve the family in preparing the meal. Kids are great at washing and peeling vegetables, mixing dressing, and setting the table. Modify preparation tools for their ages; knives can be nylon, plastic, or

Opportunities for New Thanksgiving Traditions By Kaci Daniel, Senior Extension Agent, Virginia Cooperative Extension - Orange Unit

Page 9 | November 2020

Get outside for a long walk in nature or a friendly game of flag football to burn off extra calories and spend time together. Return to traditional games like Red Rover, Capture the Flag, and Hide and Seek. Create a scavenger hunt for items found in your yard or neighborhood -- something fuzzy, something green, something larger than a playing card. Plan a “ cardboard parade ” with those who live near you. Stay out- side and socially distanced while sporting card- board decorations and costumes or miniature handmade floats. Kids and adults of all ages will be able to use their creativity and give new life to old household goods, cardboard, paint, string, duct tape, and whatever else they can find. Clearly, there ’ s more to Thanksgiving Day than just turkey, football, and online shopping. Try these ideas and let us know how they work for you. Maybe 2020 starts new traditions to enjoy for years to come!

metal, and assigned to kids depending on their maturity and dexterity.

Share your bounty and meal with others. Deliver a goody package to the door of an elderly neigh- bor who may not cook. Consider telling them about it ahead of time so they will feel secure knowing they have a meal coming. Gather the ingredients for your favorite side dish and present those and a recipe to a neighbor or friend who can share in your traditions. Include a handwritten note about why the dish is meaningful to you. Decorate the home with expressions of thanksgiv- ing. Gather greenery, ornamental grasses, and seed pods or nuts from your yard and create a table - scape. Mix pumpkins, gourds, fresh fruit, and colored leaves for seasonal displays. Invite family members to list things they are thankful for on pennant flags made from paper grocery bags, or use a paper runner or placemats on which members write their thankfulness.

Page 10 | November 2020

Orange County Economic Develop- ment has launched a new campaign, “ Orange County is Retai l Ready ” to support consumer - facing businesses this holiday season. During November and December, Orange County Economic Develop- ment will highlight retail, service, restau- rant, and other small businesses throughout the County. The campaign will occur mainly over social media and also includes informative blogs and video footage from local businesses. As a component of the “ Orange is Retail Ready Campaign, ” the Orange County Office of Economic Development ORANGE COUNTY ECO CAMPAIGN “ ORANGE C LOCAL SPENDING

Click here for full press release

Page 11 | November 2020

ONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LAUNCHES NEW COUNTY IS RETAIL READY ” TO ENCOURAGE

encourages our community to shop locally by participating in the Orange County Small Business Passport Event. Shop at six local businesses of your choice, have them sign your passport and submit to be entered into a drawing to win one of ten $150 gift cards to a local business. For more information and to down- load your passport, please visit https://www.thinkorangeva.com/ living - here/orange - county - is - retail - ready. Follow the “ Orange County is Retai l Ready ” campaign on social media at @thinkorangeva.

Commercial Business Update - from the Economic Development Department

Aquaphalt, the newest tenant in the Thomas E. Lee Industrial Park, continues to make progress on the construction of their 40,000 square - foot plant. The plant is slated to open in January 2021 and will manufacture a high performance cold - mix repair material for asphalt and concrete. The company brings a 2.3 million investment to the County and six new jobs, with the potential for future growth.

Page 12 | November 2020

ITSM (or IT Service Management) is all activities involved in designing, creating, delivering, supporting and managing IT services. This includes things like tracking your computer and the software installed on it, helpdesk ticket resolution, technology contract management, and project manage- ment. The benefits of such a system are: County Government Information Technology Department launches its first IT Service Management (ITSM) system.

Improves efficiency by saving time and effort by avoiding duplication of work. Creates transparent IT processes and services. Ensures adherence to various industries compli- ance. Engages in effective planning. Increases the county return on IT investment. This system will help usher in a fundamental change in how the county ’ s IT department services will be delivered to meet the current and future needs of coun- ty staff and citizens. Larry Clement, Director of Information Technology explained, “ The most interesting feature of the ITSM is

Example of an ITSM status update screen.

the ability to design and manage a >Page i Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19

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