Current Conversations

Latest Episodes:

Season 3, Episode 2: Adult Services and Adult Protective Services May 11, 2023

Show notes

Lisa Kersey, the director for Gloucester County's Department of Social Services, shares resources for adults during Older Americans Month. Social Services has resources to help people who are struggling with a disability, food insecurity, housing problem or other need.
Learn more about what the Department of Social Services can offer: https://www.gloucesterva.info/293/Adult-Services

Season 3, Episode 1: How's the Broadband Project in Gloucester Going? Mar 02, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to Season 3 of the Current Conversations podcast! In this episode, we sit down with Eric Beach, Gloucester's Director of Information Technology, who provides us with the latest updates on the Broadband Project in Gloucester County. Eric is currently overseeing the project. When will you see broadband in your area? What can you expect with the service? Eric answers these, and many other burning questions during this episode.

Season 2, Episode 11: Looking Back on 2022 and Ahead to 2023 Jan 05, 2023

Show notes

This month, we are honored to be joined by Gloucester's County Administrator, Carol Steele. During this episode, she looks back on a few of the many accomplishments the County made in 2022 and also some of the challenges the County faced. She also looks ahead to many of the exciting things in the works for Gloucester for 2023.
You won't want to miss this episode!

Season 2, Episode 10: The Opioid Crisis Dec 07, 2022

Show notes

Join us for this important episode as we address the Opioid Crisis locally, and ways the County is working to enhance existing opioid addiction services in the community.
This month, Steve Wright, Gloucester's Deputy County Administrator, discusses the first steps in how Gloucester may use an estimated $680,000 that the County is slated to receive from the Commonwealth's Opioid Abatement Fund.
Gloucester County will be hosting small table discussions on the topic Dec. 12 from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Gloucester Main Library Community Room. Service providers, family, friends, those in recovery, or anyone impacted by the crisis are encouraged to attend and share their experiences and recommendations.
In order to help staff prepare for this event, attendees are requested to RSVP here.
Those unable to attend, and who would like to provide input are encouraged to do so on the County's Community Engagement platform, which can be accessed here.

Season 2, Episode 9: The General Reassessment Nov 02, 2022

Show notes

Real Estate reassessment notices for property owners in Gloucester County will be mailed out in mid-November for the January 2023 General Reassessment.
This month, County Assessor Dan Thomas explains the ins and outs of the reassessment process and how the increase in real estate market values will impact this general reassessment. You won't want to miss this episode!
To learn more about Real Estate Assessment in Gloucester, visit: https://www.gloucesterva.info/449/Real-Estate-Assessment

Season 2, Episode 8: Community Planning Month, Zoning, and What's Next? Oct 05, 2022

Show notes

The month of October is Community Planning Month, so we sat down with Anne Ducey-Ortiz, Director of Planning, Zoning & Environmental Programs, and Carol Rizzio, Senior Comprehensive Planner, to discuss the history of Planning and Zoning in the community and what's next. This podcast discusses multiple ways you can become involved in the County's rezoning process. We also learn about current and future development projects taking place in Gloucester.

Season 2, Episode 7, the Gloucester Museum of History Sep 07, 2022

Show notes

This month, we sit down with Robert Kelly, Gloucester's Museums Coordinator. Robert is a true history buff and is extremely engaging. In the short 2.5 years he has been in the role, Robert has worked to expand the Museum's offerings inside and outside of its walls.
Over the next several months, the Museum has exciting events planned for all ages. Take a listen to learn about all that this gem in our community has to offer!
To learn more about the Museum, visit:
https://www.gloucesterva.info/820/Museum-of-History

Season 2, Episode 6, the Inaugural Gloucester Day Aug 03, 2022

Show notes

This month, we learn about the Inaugural Gloucester Day, which will be celebrated Sept. 3. As part of the newly founded Gloucester Collaboration, this is a day to celebrate our own “Land of the Life Worth Living,” and the many aspects of our community that make it special to YOU!
We chat with Gloria Williams, Gloucester's Community Engagement & Public Information Manager and Susan Ammons, Gloucester's Tourism Coordinator about this exciting event.
To learn more and to find out details on how you can participate in this inaugural event, visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/1043607733250654.

Season 2, Episode 5, How Did Your 911 Address Number Come to Be and Why is it so Important? Jul 05, 2022

Show notes

Have you ever wondered where your 911 address came from or how it came to be? This month, we take a trip down memory lane, back to the early 1990s, when these numbers were first established. Rita Taylor, our GIS Manager, was with the County during much of this time, and explains how the system works, where to place your numbers, and why they are so important.
To visit the links mentioned in this podcast, visit: https://www.gloucesterva.info/643/Geographic-Information-Systems-GIS
https://library.municode.com/va/gloucester_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH14.5STADNUSY

Season 2, Episode 4, The Gloucester Arts Scene Jun 01, 2022

Show notes

This month, we sat down with two of Gloucester’s creative community organizations, Arts on Main and the Cook Foundation, to explore our county’s thriving local arts scene. Learn more about the upcoming Gloucester Arts Festival, the importance of the arts, and opportunities for people of all ages and skill levels to get involved.

Learn more about the work of Cook Foundation here:

https://www.thecookfoundation.org/

Find out more about the many programs offered by Arts on Main here:

https://gloucesterarts.org/

Preview the events of the 2022 Gloucester Arts Festival here:

https://www.gloucesterartsfestival.com/