County names new director of accounting department - Chesterfield Observer

After more than two decades of service to Chesterfield, including the past 20 months as assistant director of accounting, Consuela Y. Wilson has been promoted to lead the county's Accounting Department. Wilson was chosen to succeed Donna Arrington, who retired as accounting director June 30. The Accounting Department is tasked with establishing reliable internal controls through policies, procedures and business practices that promote financial integrity and protect public assets. Accounting also assists county departments with grant processes and compliance, prepares the comprehensive annual financial report and serves as a fiscal agent for various regional organizations. Wilson began her career with Chesterfield in October 2001 as a senior automation analyst. She served as financial systems coordinator from 2007 until 2018, when she was named financial systems manager. She was promoted to assistant accounting director in November 2020. Wilson has more than 10 years of progressive management experience, with active participation in the Accounting Department's strategic planning.

Rockwood Nature Center has reopened after a period of renovations. The center, located in Rockwood Park, 3400 Courthouse Road, is open Tuesday through Sunday, from noon until 5 p.m. The facility has new floors, new roof, and new back deck. CHESTERFIELD COUNTY

Government

Last week, the Virginia Association of Counties named Chesterfield County as the recipient of five 2022 Achievement Awards, including the program's highest recognition, the "Best Achievement Award." The VACo Achievement Awards highlight innovative programs focused on addressing high-priority issues presently challenging counties. This year, the county was recognized with the Best Achievement Award for "Connecting All Community Residents to Public Schools." The award gives Chesterfield one of VACo's top honors for the sixth year in a row. The county also took home five other Achievement Awards recognizing: Chesterfield County's Juvenile Detention Home Reimagines Behavior Management; 'Mental Health Is A Puzzle, But We Have The Missing Piece' Youth-Centric Social Media Campaign; StratIS Population Forecasting; and Providing an Opportunity to the Youngest in the Community to Become Future Scholars. Including this year's awards, Chesterfield leads the VACo all-time achievement list with 44 awards, earning at least one award annually since the program's inception in 1982.

The Chesterfield Domestic Violence Task Force is seeking nominations for the 4th Annual Outstanding Service Award for exemplary efforts in addressing domestic violence. Nominate a colleague, acquaintance or community member who has positively impacted the life of a domestic violence survivor by Aug. 31. For more information, call 804-748-1600 or email cdvtf@chesterfield.gov.

Did you know Chesterfield County allows a partial real estate tax exemption for the rehabilitation, renovation or replacement of older residential structures? The goal of this program is to help protect and preserve aging neighborhoods. Upon approval, the partial tax exemption will be in effect for 15 years and transfers with the real estate. The amount of the exemption is based solely on increased assessment value, not the amount spent on the improvement project. There is no application fee. Find out more and apply online at tinyurl.com/4pfdd8t3.

Registration is underway for the fall session of the Chesterfield Government Citizens Academy. Sessions will be offered on Wednesday morning from 9-11:30 a.m. Sept. 14-Nov. 9. The nine-week academy provides Chesterfield citizens with an opportunity to learn about their local government and participate in interactive sessions. Participants receive a comprehensive look at the how and the why of local government programs. Academy presenters are county leaders from different departments, offering their expertise on county programs and services. The academy is free to all participants with sessions offered at various locations throughout Chesterfield. Class size is limited. For more information, visit chesterfield.gov/govacademy or call 804-796-7100. The registration deadline is Friday, Sept. 2.

The Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department of Social Services has launched an initiative to help connect families and child care facilities with quality child care professionals in the community. Through this new effort, Chesterfield-Colonial Heights DSS hopes to assist residents by providing resources to identify quality child care facilities for their children, along with matching eligible families with financial assistance to assist with child care costs. It also plans to work within its own network of child care providers in helping them identify candidates to hire at their respective facilities – including providing access to necessary training and resources, and helping people seeking to open their own child care facilities in Chesterfield or Colonial Heights. For more information, visit childcareva.com or call 804-748-1100.

Community

The Kiwanis Club of Chester is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. There were 32 members when the club received its charter in June 1972. Three of those original members, Joe Hiller, Marshall Henry and Guy Smith, recently received the Legion of Honor award for their 50 years of continuous membership and service to Kiwanis, an organization dedicated to improving the world, one child and one community at a time.

RICHMOND ANIMAL LEAGUE'S 2022 CALENDAR

The search is on for Richmond Animal League's 2023 calendar models. Now through Aug. 27, everyone is invited to enter their pets in the calendar contest for a chance to be featured in RAL's 2023 calendar. $1 = 1 vote for a four-legged best friend to land a spot in the calendar. A pet does not have to be adopted from RAL to enter the contest nor does a pet have to be a cat or dog; all pets are welcome, with every dollar raised going directly to support RAL and animals in need. The top 12 pets will get a one-month calendar spread and will be photographed by Brittany Rose Petography for their modeling debut. The #1 pet will be the cover model. Everyone else who raises at least $125 will be featured on a date inside the calendar. The calendar contest will end at the Richmond Animal League Block Party, which will be held on Saturday, Aug. 27 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at 11401 International Drive. Visit ral.org for more information.