News
Annual Meeting Held
The CSPDC recently held its annual meeting at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel, with more than 60 people in attendance. Highlights of the event were keynote from Alex Tranmer, Camoin Associates on the CSPDC’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, presentations from staff, and the distribution of the FY 18 Year in Review.
We greatly appreciate the support of our sponsors for this event:
American Office
A. Morton Thomas & Associates, Inc.
Brown, Edwards & Company, L.L.P.
Draper Aden Associates
Hurt & Proffitt, Inc.
KFH Group, Inc.
Litten & Sipe, LLP
Timmons Group
Union Bank & Trust
Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc.
Virginia Regional Transit (VRT)
DONATIONS: Joelle Zaretsky, Your Logo Here Promo’s, Inc.
BRITE Bus Launches New Website
BRITE Bus recently announced the launch of a new website featuring easy access to BRITE Bus information, particularly for mobile phone users. The site is located at www.britebus.org and includes real-time service alerts, schedules, fares, and information on all public transit services available in the Staunton, Waynesboro, and parts of Augusta County (SAW) region of Virginia. Designed and created by Vada Kelly and her team of professionals at Estland Design in Harrisonburg, VA, the website is user friendly and includes language translation functions. An interactive trip planning option is scheduled to go live in the next few weeks.
BRITE Bus provides fixed-route and ADA compliant Paratransit service in the SAW area. Services are administered by the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission (CSPDC), with operational recommendations provided by the BRITE Transit Advisory Committee. The new website is the latest major improvement to the BRITE Bus Transit System since the CSPDC assumed the administration in 2015. Since that time, BRITE Bus has accepted ownership of the BRITE transit facility in Fishersville; placed a fleet of nine new silver buses and one trolley into service; awarded a contract for transit service provision to Virginia Regional Transit; implemented route improvements; upgraded transit system bus stops, shelters, and signage; and initiated social media accounts to keep BRITE users up-to-date on important transit news.
For more information contact Nancy Gourley, nancy@cspdc.org (540)885-5174.
Next Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro CERT Course Scheduled
The Cities of Staunton and Waynesboro and Augusta County in partnership with Blue Ridge Community College will be offering Community Emergency Response Training (CERT). The course will be held on Thursday evenings, September 20 – November 8, from 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at the Plecker Center auditorium, on the campus of Blue Ridge Community College.
This seven-week course uses a curriculum designed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and teaches basic skills in disaster preparedness, fire safety, first aid, terrorism awareness, disaster psychology, and search & rescue. The CERT course is designed to give the average person tools to prepare themselves and their family during severe weather or other emergencies when emergency personnel are overwhelmed and may not be able to respond immediately.
After completing the seven-week course, participants may choose to become a volunteer with the Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro Community Emergency Response Team. The course is open to anyone who either lives or works in Staunton, Waynesboro, or Augusta County. The course is free and all materials are provided. Pre-registration is required. To register for the course contact Rebecca Joyce, CERT Coordinator by telephone at 540-885-5174 or by email at rebecca@cspdc.org.
CERT Sponsors Film and Discussion About 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic
The Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is sponsoring a free showing and discussion of the film “We Heard the Bells: The Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918,” on Tuesday, August 14th, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at Blue Ridge Community College, Plecker Center Auditorium (P104).
“We Heard the Bells,” narrated by actress S. Epatha Merkerson (Law & Order), explores the experiences of a diverse group of Americans during the influenza pandemic of 1918. Their memories frame the key questions that still drive the search for answers to help us weather future flu pandemics. Nancy Sorrells, local historian, will give a sneak peek from her upcoming presentation for the Augusta County Historical Society about how the 1918 pandemic affected us locally following the film.
Coordinated by the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission (CSPDC), CERT trains citizens to protect themselves, family, and neighbors from disasters and emergencies. Begun in 2003, the seven-week regional course has trained more than 500 people with a standard curriculum designed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Training topics include disaster preparedness, fire safety, emergency medical operations, and terrorism awareness. Once the basic training course is completed, CERT members have the opportunity to take advanced training courses that are offered several times a year, as well as volunteer in their communities.
To date, there are over 100 active volunteers in the Central Shenandoah Valley CERT program. CERT volunteers have staffed emergency shelters, set-up a temporary pet shelter, and manned disaster preparedness informational booths at countless community events. Dedicated CERT volunteers have spent an entire decade donating their time to making the Central Shenandoah Valley disaster resistant.
For additional information contact Rebecca Joyce at the CSPDC, at 540-885-5174 or rebecca@cspdc.org.
Request for Quotation (RFQ) – Bus Shelters & Benches
The Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission (CSPDC) is seeking quotes on the purchase of bus shelters and benches in support of the BRITE transit service.
The Request for Quote (RFQ) document can be accessed here.