Orange County Insight June 2021

Orange County Insight June 2021

VIBRANT ECONOMY l EFFECTIVE REFLECTIVE GOVERNMENT l SUSTAINABLE LAND USE

INSIGHT

Portrait Unveiled in Historic Courthouse Page 3 OCECC Celebrates Achievements Page 5 Start Your Business Workshop Page 11

JUNE 2021

Ted Talk

Engaging with You and Our Community

As I am writing this month ’ s Ted Talk, we have learned that Virginia ’ s State of Emergency will be lifted at the end of June. We ’ ve been waiting for this for quite a while, but it is finally here! With that great news, I ’ m pleased to announce that we will begin “ Breakfast with the Administrator ” this month so that I can have the opportunity to personally engage with County employees monthly in an informal setting. I ’ m looking forward to getting to know more about our team and the important work you do every day to help Orange County citizens thrive. Our employees are the ones who deliver service to the customer, and I want you to know that I understand and appreciate your service. My mission is to help you achieve your goals and move our team forward every day. I will also be communicating with each of you about what values we share across the organization. In these times of political and social division, shared values can anchor us to our work and to each other as we serve our community. If you are one of the lucky ones to receive the “ golden ticket ” to join me, I look forward to spending a little time together. Stay tuned as we will be adding other ways to engage with you and with Orange County residents! I invite you to do your part to stay informed by reading this publication. Several of your colleagues won prizes for doing so last month. Don ’ t miss out!

- Ted Voorhees, Orange County Administrator

Cover Photo credit: OC Tourism, Barboursville. Image above: Grelen

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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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Phone: (540) 672 - 3313

Fax: (540) 672 - 1679

[email protected]

orangecountyva.gov

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Page | June, 2021

Welcome New Staff!

Animal Shelter

Library

Melanie Orzechowski, PT Animal Caretaker 5/18/21

Amy Brice, PT Library Aide 5/24/21

Melina Moates, PT Animal Caretaker 4/4/21

Brennan Tanner, PT Library Aide 1/25/21

Jujeidy Cabrera, PT Animal Caretaker 2/19/21

Office on Youth Childcare

Circuit Court Clerk ’ s Office

Jackie Carpenter, PT Childcare Teacher Assistant 3/22/21

Rebekah Zummo, PT Deputy Clerk 2/21/21

Danielle Maynard, PT Childcare Teacher 1/25/21

Extension Office

Planning Services

Jill Wong, PT Administrative Assistant 4/4/21

Joshua Gillespie, Planning & Development Services Director 3/8/21

Emergency Communications Center

Rebecca Bruner, Records Specialist 4/4/21

Denise Campbell, Communications Officer 3/21/21

Mikalah Ludwig, Communications Officer 3/21/21

Public Works

Candice Pierson, PT Communications Officer 2/22/21

Ryan Daniels, Maintenance Worker 4/5/21

Finance

Registrar

Crystal Sisk Aylor, Accountant, 5/27/21

Kayla Conley, PT Assistant Registrar 5/17/21

Fire & EMS

Sheriff ’ s Office

Nicholas Brown, Firefighter EMT 2/8/21

Theangela Johnson, Deputy 4/11/21

Jessica Caudill, Firefighter EMT 2/8/21

Christian Amos, Deputy 2/21/21

Joshua Andrew, PT Firefighter Medic 5/12/21

Social Services

Human Resources

Sheila Morrisseay, Family Services Specialist II 5/17/21

Jennifer Carpenter, Human Resources Director 2/22/21

Katelyn Peters, Family Services Specialist II 5/2/21

Kristin Helmick, Self Sufficiency Specialist II 4/18/21

Information Technology

Walker Merryman, Help Desk Specialist 2/8/21

Treasurer ’ s Office

Kirsten King, Deputy Treasurer 2/1/21

Landfill

Gregory Young, PT Collection Center Attendant 4/18/21

Victim Witness

Raymond Wareham, PT Collection Center Attendant 2/7/21

Adrian Perry, Program Assistant 7/1/21

Page 2 | June, 2021

Captain Maples Portrait Unveiled in Historic Courthouse

By Michelle Williams

The 15 th day of May was a beautiful, sunny day, the perfect setting for the portrait unveiling of Captain Andrew Maples Jr. at the historic Courthouse. Family, friends, veterans, local officials, and members of the Orange County African American Historical Society were present as the portrait, painted by Gordonsville Artist, Becky Parrish, was added to the historic Courthouse ’ s walls.

Capt. Maples was a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps during World War II. On June 26, 1944, Lt. Maples was leading a group of Thunderbolts from their base at Ramitelli Airfield in Italy on a bomber escort mission into Hungary. His fighter developed a mechanical problem over the Adriatic Sea. Lt. Maples radioed that he planned to bail out when the aircraft reached a safe altitude. A parachute was never spotted, and a search revealed no sign of Lt. Maples or his plane. He was listed as Missing in Action. While missing in action, Lieutenant Maples was promoted to Captain and awarded the Air Medal. One year later, June 1945, the Army declared him dead and posthumously awarded Captain Maples the Purple Heart. Following the unveiling, the Honorable Judge David Franzén read an order into the court record, stating “ in recognition of the exemplary conduct and sacrifices of native son Andrew Maples Jr., ” including President Truman ’ s remarks. “ It is hereby ordered, adjudged and decreed that the court has caused a portrait of Capt. Andrew Maples Jr. to be prominently displayed in its historic courtroom among other distinguished citizens of Orange County, reflecting the diversity of our community and demonstrating that we, the people, are strengthened by that diversity and of which, by celebrating, we can be justly proud. ” Capt. Maples ’ great - nephew, Robert Elliott III, and nephew, Andre Maples Sr., unveiling the portrait.

The Maples portrait is the first of eight new portraits to be added to the historic Courthouse since the 1970’ s.

For the full story, visit the Orange County Review ’ s website for the article, written by Jeff Poole.

Photos of the Orange County historic Courthouse and Judge Franzén speaking with Doris Maples Walker outside the historic Courthouse at the conclusion of the ceremony.

Page 3 | June, 2021

Photos from event by Jeff Poole. Historical marker and Courthouse photos by Michelle Williams.

Page 4 | June, 2021

OCECC Celebrates Achievements By Chris Cord, Emergency Communication Center Director

Orange County Emergency Communication Center (OCECC) has cause for celebration this month. Two employees completed leadership training, and the OCECC A Team received an award from The Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO ) Virginia Chapter. Communications Supervisors, Holly Williams and Jessica Lohr, completed The Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) Registered Public - Safety Leader (RPL) program. This is a year - long program covering a variety of topics that leaders need. Developing the talent pool, fostering teamwork and collaboration, and managing change are just a few of the topics they learned over the course of the past year. In addition to their course work, they were required to complete a service program. For OCECC, that project was preparing for CALEA (Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies) accreditation. As part of this project, they revised and wrote several new policies and processes for OCECC. “ APCO ’ s RPL program is an excellent tool in developing leaders in the public safety communications industry and helps make us the great place we are to work. Holly and Jessica can put what they ’ ve learned to use in supervising their teams, and their work on CALEA accreditation puts us much further towards that goal, ” said Chris Cord, ECC Director. Holly had this to say about the experience, “ I am thankful for Orange County ECC being so involved in building our supervisors by way of training opportunities. RPL was an amazing class that has helped shape me over the past year into a better leader for my team. It was both challenging and rewarding to be able to complete RPL over the past year. I look forward to continuing to be the best leader I can for my team in the years to come! ” Jessica described it as “ the most intimidating, incredible experience I ’ ve had within Public Safety. The class goes beyond training, beyond learning, and genuinely made my brain approach supervising differently. The class is a year long, so it ’ s almost like learning a new language. I didn ’ t learn how to work, I learned how to grow. I learned how to lead and guide, to teach towards the future. I discovered better time management skills, project management, and interpersonal communication concepts that I haven ’ t encountered before. Fellow students became friends and resources. As APCO has just recently updated this program, it was all fresh and relevant and applicable to what I see daily. I enjoyed it so much that I reached out to APCO and was accepted as an RPL Course Facilitator, so I can take the extraordinary experience I had and pass it on to the upcoming leaders in public safety. I am very grateful for such a privilege to take this class and look forward to putting my new skills to work for Orange County. ” In addition to those personal accomplishments, OCECC ’ s A Team was selected by the Virginia Chapter of APCO for the Outstanding Team Performance in a Critical Incident Award. The team, Holly Williams, Xiushka Gibson, Alicia Herzog and Jeremy Brown, handled a call about a suicidal person on June 16, 2020. The caller, who was in Spotsylvania, refused to be transferred and Jeremy stayed on the phone until responders were on scene. The team performed flawlessly in locating the caller ’ s cell phone location, coordinating a response with Spotsylvania, and keeping the caller calm and talking. “ This is a prime example of the incredible work our Communications Officers do every single day, and to be recognized by the state chapter of APCO is an honor, ” said Chris Cord. “ It shows that we ’ re benefiting from programs like RPL. ”

The award winners will receive their awards at the Virginia APCO - NENA conference this October.

Page 5 | June, 2021

Jessica Lohr and Holly Williams

The A team: Xiushka Gibson, Jeremy Brown, Holly Williams, and Alicia Herzog

Page 6 | June, 2021

Orange County Fair Brings Wholesome Fun

By Kelly Carr, 4 - H Youth Educator, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Orange Unit

The Orange County Fair will take place June 23 - 26 at the Orange County Fairgrounds. The fair is the culminating experience for many of our 4 - H members as it's a chance to show off their project work. Whether archery members who demonstrate their skills on the targets or animal exhibitors who compete in the show ring, it's important for kids to have a chance to earn recognition for their efforts. The fair also provides a chance for members to share with the public what they've been learning over the past year, through tactile exhibits, educational posters at each animal stall, and personal visits to potential supporters of the 4 - H auction. There will also be a livestock auction. In addition to high quality, locally raised animals, the auction will also feature items such as home decor, gift baskets, and a catered dinner to benefit 4 - H club treasuries. Here are some photos from a previous fair to give a hint of the fun that attendees will experience. For more information on the many events and attractions at the fair, visit orangecountyfairva.com. Enjoy!

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Page 8 | June, 2021

Juneteenth Celebrations

Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. News reached enslaved people in Galveston, Texas that they were free and the Civil War was over on June 19, 1865. This announcement meant that the Emancipation Proclamation freeing all enslaved people and issued a year and a half earlier on January 1, 1863, was now in effect in Texas, the last state to abolish slavery. The name Juneteenth is a combination of June and 19. Other names for this date are “ Emancipation Day, ” “ Freedom Day, ” and “ Juneteenth Independence Day. ” While the celebration originated in Texas, it has spread all over the country. Juneteenth is celebrated with remembrances, family gatherings, parties, parades, prayer, and education. Forty - five states have officially recognized the day. Virginia unanimously passed legislation in 2020 to make Juneteenth a permanent statewide holiday. Juneteenth will be observed in Orange with many educational and celebratory events. The Orange County African American Historical Society and Montpelier have teamed up to host a month of events, both live and virtual. Lectures, tours, live concerts, storytelling, exhibitions, a wreath - laying ceremony, and more are scheduled in June. There will be vendors, musicians, performers, historical interpreters, and artists at Montpelier to create a lively atmosphere of learning and celebration. In addition, the Arts Center in Orange will host presentations on Saturday, June 19, 2021, from 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. focused on storytelling. These may be attended in person or watched live by computer. Orange County Offices, the Landfill, and Collection Sites will be closed on Friday, June 18, 2021, in observance of the Juneteenth holiday. The Landfill and Collection Sites will resume their normal operating hours on Saturday, June 19, 2021. County Offices will reopen on Monday, June 21, 2021, at their normal operating hours.

Find all the details and more information at these websites: Orange County African American Historical Society

Montpelier

The Arts Center in Orange

https://visitorangevirginia.com/a - glimpse - into - african - american - history - and - culture - in - orange - county/

Gilmore Cabin, the first example of a restored freedman ’ s residence open to the public, is located in Orange County.

Page 9 | June, 2021

FREE LinkedIn Learning licenses Looking to learn a new skill or two? Orange County residents are eligible for one of 1,000 FREE LinkedIn Learning licenses. The Virginia Career Works - Piedmont Region Orange Center will be holding weekly workshops every Wednesday to assist job - seekers in creating an account and exploring the more than 10,000 courses including work readiness, project management, and Microsoft Office. Contact the Center today: https://www.thinkorangeva.com/support/orange - workforce - center

Page 10 | June, 2021

The Orange County Economic Development Office, in collaboration with the Central Virginia Small Business Development Center (CVSBDC), is hosting two (2) FREE business development opportunities. A Starting Your Business Workshop and 1 - on - 1 counselingsessions will be offered on Tuesday, July 6, 2021. Central Virginia Small Business Development Center (CVSBDC) toPresent Starting Your Business Workshop

The Starting Your Business workshop will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and is targeted towards those interested in learning about the steps for starting a business, required registrations and regulations, and the components of sound business planning, including financial projections. In addition to the workshop being offered FREE and confidential, 1 - on - 1 business counseling sessions are available from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. for those seeking feedback and advice from an experienced business advisor. Counseling sessions are available by appointment only . Please call the CVSBDC at (434) 295 - 8198 to schedule your appointment for July 6 th . These events are FREE to all local businesses. To reserve your seat at the workshop, register online at https:// bit.ly/33RK6z6. For more information, please contact Susan Turner, Economic Development & Tourism Assistant,at (540) 672 - 1238 or [email protected].

Page 11 | June, 2021

Orange County Communications Department Launches New Facebook Page Visit County government ’ s new Facebook page. Please “ like ” the page and share to your friends. This page is a communication tool the County of Orange, Virginia uses to connect with our residents, businesses, and visitors.

June is Adopt - a - Cat Month June is the height of kitten season, which means a tremendous population explosion. Animal shelters will soon be overwhelmed with cats in need of a home. You can make a major difference this season by adopting a new feline friend and encouraging your friends and family to do the same. Cats make great companions! They clean themselves and do not require walks. They are self - sufficient while their human companions are at work. Cats require healthy food,

clean water, annual well visits at the vet, and lots of love. Cats enjoy playing with toys and may benefit from a cat companion, so adopt two if you can. Indoor cats live for an average of 10 - 15 years, some much longer. Outdoor cats average 2 - 5 years, so please be prepared to make a commitment for the lifetime of your cat. If you are unable to adopt, please consider a donation to the Friends of Orange County Animal Shelter or a rescue group of your choice. This will provide much needed funds for spay and neuter programs which are essential to decreasing the population of homeless cats.

Please visit Orange County ’ s page on Petfinder to view adoptable cats.

Page 12 | June, 2021

Orange County Classification & Compensation Study

By Jenny Carpenter, Director of Human Resources & Stephanie Straub, Assistant to the County Administrator and Public Information Officer

Human Resources is excited to announce the launch of our organizational classification and compensation study. The study is a direct result of the Engagement Survey conducted last autumn and the feedback we received from staff across our organization. Staff overwhelming requested action around job roles, benefits, and compensation. Earlier this spring, the County contracted with Gallagher Human Resources and Compensation Consulting (https://www.ajg.com/us/services/human - resources - compensation - consulting/) to assist us in updating job classifications, job descriptions, and salary scales. Our overall goal is to be recognized as a more competitive and equitable organization where we can be better positioned to attract and retain top talent. A diverse project team consisting of participants from across the organization has been convened to participate in the project from start to finish. The project is projected to last approximately nine (9) months and will require input from all levels of the organization. By collecting and assessing internal and external >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 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27

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