Holiday Season in Lexington

Downtown Lexington will be hosting several holiday events over the next few weeks.

The Annual Candlelight Processional and Lighting of the Community Christmas Tree will take place Friday, November 25^th. Those taking part will gather at the gates of Stonewall Jackson Cemetery at 5:15 p.m. with lighted candles and song sheets. As the procession moves down Main Street, many downtown businesses will illuminate their holiday windows. Mr. and Mrs. Claus, in a horse drawn carriage, will lead the processional to Hopkins Green where Lexington Mayor Mimi Elrod will greet them and light the Community Christmas Tree, officially ushering in the holiday season.

The Christmas Parade takes place Friday, December 2. The theme is “A Miracle on Main”. The parade starts at 6:30 p.m. at Main and Houston Street. Fire and rescue departments will lead the parade, which will feature VMI cadets, bands, floats, horses and the Grinch.

Lexington’s annual WOW (Wide Open Weekend) will take place that same weekend, December 2-4, as downtown merchants offer holiday refreshments, extended store hours and in-store promotions and specials.

Christmas Baskets

The annual organizational meeting for the Rockbridge Area Christmas Basket Program will be held Monday, November 28, at 7:00 that evening in the Old Courthouse Meeting Room on South Main Street in Lexington.

All clubs, churches and civic organizations involved with delivery of the baskets should have a representative present.

Organizers of the program will review the setup and logistics for the program and the delivery of the baskets.

In its 63rd year, the Rockbridge Area Christmas Basket Program provides food and toys to needy families at Christmas.  

The packing of the baskets will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17, at the Howard P. Anderson Arena at the Virginia Horse Center. Volunteers are needed and the packing is usually finished by noon.

Applications for a basket are being taken at the RARA Food Pantry, the Department of Social Services and the Rockbridge Area Free Clinic. The deadline for applications is Wednesday, November 30.

Financial donations to support the program can be sent to: P.O. Box 1030, Lexington, VA 24450.  

Rockbridge Community Festival

The 35th Rockbridge Community Festival will be held on Saturday, August 27.

The event in downtown Lexington will feature plenty of commercial vendors and non-profit organizations.

There will also be a number of performing groups providing entertainment, including the Blue Ridge Mountain Cloggers, Loose Gravel, and the Maury River Bluegrass Band.

The festival begins at 9 a.m. on the 27^th and runs until 3 p.m. on Main Street in downtown Lexington.

Fire Safety

Lexington fire officials are trying to improve fire safety for college students throughout the region.

Fire officials say most college-related fires are due to a general lack of knowledge about fire safety and prevention.
Lexington Fire Chief Ty Dickerson says the great majority of student fire deaths occur in off-campus housing that lacks insufficient exits, inoperative smoke alarms and automatic fire sprinklers. He says use of candles, careless smoking habits, and the misuse of alcohol contribute to off-campus housing fire deaths.
Dickerson says it’s important that both off-campus and on-campus students understand fire risks and know the preventative measures that could save their lives.

Rabies Concerns

State health officials are warning about the dangers of rabies.

Officials with the Virginia Department of Health say three bats were found recently to have been rabid. The rabid bats were involved in three separate incidents in May, June and July in separate locations in the Lexington area. 

According to the Virginia Department of Health, if a bat is out during the day, unable to fly or in a place where bats are not usually seen, it might be rabid. If you think a bat is rabid or has bitten a person, do not destroy the animal. Call the health department to get the bat tested and get medical care for anyone who encountered the bat.

Rockbridge County has seen at least nine positive rabies cases in 2011.

Water Meters in Lexington

Workers from Utility Metering Solutions will be preparing water meters in Lexington for the installation of a new automated meter read system.
Workers will be in and out of yards and fences over the next few days. They will be wearing yellow vests with “UMS”.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact Lexington Public Works at 463-3154.

Flag Controversy

A public hearing will be held in September on a controversial proposed flag and banner ordinance for the city of Lexington. The proposal limits flags that may be flown in the downtown area and on the Veterans Memorial Bridge essentially to U.S. and Virginia flags.
The flag issue flared up earlier this year after historic flags associated with Gen. Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson were flown as part of the traditional Lee-Jackson Day celebration in January. Petitions opposing the flags were submitted following the display of the historic flags.
Brandon Dorsey, commander of the Stonewall Brigade of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, has said his organization decided not to display the Confederate battle flag in January out of respect for other citizens. Dorsey said the historic flags that were flown honored the virtues of Lee and Jackson.
A public hearing on the proposed ordinance is scheduled for 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, in the county administration building.

Water line work

Workers are trying to complete a new water main line on Nelson Street in downtown Lexington but the recent discovery of a rock ledge will delay the project. A section of Nelson, from Main to Jefferson, will close Monday morning while workers use a hoe ram to pound out the rock ledge that stretches from the Lyric Theater to Main Street.
Work on the water main line project started in early June. The existing 6-inch line is being replaced with a 12-inch line. That should improve water flow and increase fire protection. The entire project should be completed by late this month.

4th of July

Plenty of activity in Lexington and Rockbridge County for the 4^th of July holiday weekend.
There will be piloted and tethered balloon rides during the annual hot air balloon rally at the VMI Parade Ground. Other highlights during the event include food, music, vendors, kids activities, a tag sale Sunday and Monday, a balloon glow Sunday night and fireworks Monday night.
The annual Children’s bicycle parade will also be held in downtown Lexington Monday morning.

Fire/Rescue jobs

The City of Lexington is currently accepting applications for several fire/rescue positions. The job descriptions, applications, requirements and supplemental application are available by going to www.ci.lexington.va.us.

The positions include Firefighter/EMT, Fire/Rescue Technician, Firefighter/Medic, and Fire/Rescue/Lieutenant.

The application packet must be returned to the City of Lexington, Human Resource Office, 300 East Washington Street, Lexington, VA 24450 by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, July 18.

Block Grant Funds

 Governor Bob McDonnell has announced that nearly $9 million in Community Development Block Grant funding has been allocated for 12 projects in Virginia.

Buena Vista will receive $1,000,000 in block grant funds for the Dickinson Well Filtration System.

Lexington will get $700,000 in funding for the Thompson's Knoll Green Mixed-income Housing Production Project.

The city of Waynesboro will receive $770,000 in funds for the Waynesboro Downtown Revitalization Project.

Ben Cline launches re-election campaign

 GOP Delegate Ben Cline has officially launched his campaign for re-election to the House of Delegates seat from the 24^th District. Cline made campaign appearances on Tuesday in Buena Vista, Madison Heights and Stuarts Draft.

Cline has been in the House since 2002. He says he’s been focusing on improving the local economy in several areas, including infrastructure, instruction, and incentives.

The 24th House District includes the Cities of Lexington and Buena Vista, Bath and Rockbridge Counties, and parts of Amherst and Augusta Counties.

Cline, who was re-elected to his fifth term in 2009, is Chairman of the Joint Health Care Commission and a member of the House Commerce Committee, Public Safety Committee, Finance Committee, and Courts of Justice Committee.

Dixie Bee-Liners At Lime Kiln

Dixie Bee-Liners

Theatre At Lime Kiln Presents "The Dixie Bee-Liners" in concert Sunday June 12th at 7:30p. Gates open at 6:00p.

Tickets are available at the box office and the weather promises to be perfect for this outdoor concert.

Visit http://www.theateratlimekiln.com/ for tickets and a complete schedule of events this Summer!