After a 5-year closure, the Warm Springs Pools reopened to the public on December 16, 2022. Operating since the 1760s, the Warm Spring Pools are an important to link to Bath County’s history and a vital piece of the community’s tourism industry. Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Martin Van Buren, and Franklin D. and Eleanor Roosevelt headline a long history of prominent guests who have enjoyed the mineral waters of the natural hot springs.

Having acquired the Pools in 2013, the Omni Homestead began a $4.5 million renovation process in 2021 to restore the Pools to how they looked in the 1920s. The 14-month renovation process came to end on December 16, 2022 as the Omni Homestead hosted a locals-only soft reopening. The Pools are currently open for reservations Wednesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Reservations may be made by calling 540-839-3860 or emailing warmspringspools@omnihotels.com.

The Staunton Augusta Waynesboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (SAWMPO) recognized out-going Board members Bobby Henderson of the City of Waynesboro, Carolyn Dull of the City of Staunton, and Randy Kiser of the VDOT Staunton District at the December MPO Policy Board meeting.

Mr. Kiser served as a founding member since the MPO was established in 2012. The MPO also recognized out-going Administrative Assistant Kimberly Miller for her outstanding dedication and service to the MPO since 2012.

The Policy Board directs and approves regional transportation planning and implementation activities in the SAW region, and consists of seven elected or appointed officials from the Cities of Staunton and Waynesboro, Augusta County, and VDOT.

The next Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training starts January 19, 2023. Designed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the course will run each Thursday from 6:30 – 9:00 pm until March 9. The class is free, but you must register to attend. Contact Rebecca Joyce to learn more and register: rebecca@cspdc.org  540.885.5174

CSPDC Director of Transportation Ann Cundy presented at the Association of MPOs (AMPO) Annual Conference in Minneapolis, MN in October. She and PlanRVA Director of Transportation Chet Parsons developed a session with consultants Avid Core, Inc. around hybrid public involvement. Avid Core has worked with both MPOs on public involvement strategies to connect with people virtually and in person. The session addressed how strategies can be scaled for the size of the MPO staff and the needs of the region.