Local business owner Sue Durlak recently was named the 2011 recipient of the Ronald Award from the McDonald’s Corporation. The honor is presented annually to a McDonald’s franchisee for outstanding service to the McDonald’s brand and local community. Given to only one percent of McDonald's owner/operators nationwide, the award is the highest honor a region can bestow upon a franchisee, as well as the rarest to receive during a franchisee’s career.

Martin's Dumbarton Square store manager Bill Balderson (center) presented a check for $26,215 to a host of Henrico Christmas Mother program volunteers – and Christmas Mothers past – Dec. 22 at the store.

The money was donated in part by shoppers at Martin's Henrico stores through a donation program that ran in stores during the fall months, as well as a contribution from Martin's. Each of the company's stores in Henrico witnessed an increase in the amount donated by shoppers this year, compared to last year; the Dumbarton store showed the
highest percentage increase, according to Martin's spokeswoman Vicki Kiger.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell recently announced 10 state grant awards to organizations that are working to conserve historic Civil War battlefield lands – including two sites in Henrico County. The awards are drawn from the Civil War Historic Sites Preservation Fund that McDonnell and the General Assembly permanently established in 2010.

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services recently approved economic assistance for businesses in Henrico County, as well as 15 other localities, that experienced damage due to drought and excessive heat from May 25 to Aug. 27, 2011. The economic injury disaster loans are provided by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and are available to eligible farm-related and non-farm-related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster. With the exception of aquaculture and nursery enterprises, agricultural producers, farmers and ranchers are not eligible to apply to SBA for economic injury disaster loans for losses caused by drought conditions.

CVWMA curbside recycling collection will continue on regularly scheduled collection days the weeks of Dec. 26-30 and Jan. 2-6. There will be no holiday delay for curbside recycling collection services on Monday, Dec. 26 and on Monday, Jan. 2, 2012. Curbside recyclers in Ashland, Goochland, Hanover and Henrico Counties, and the cities of Richmond and Colonial Heights should place bins at the curb by 7 a.m. on their regularly scheduled day.

The 22nd Henrico Citizens' Fire Academy graduated twelve citizens December 7. Participants attended class one night a week for 12 weeks to learn about Henrico County Division of Fire, the Office of Emergency Management and various response teams. They also participated in fire related training and learned about prevention as well as how to be better prepared to handle emergencies.

The housing market in Central Virginia showed signs of improvement during the third quarter of the year, according to the Richmond Association of Realtors.

Home sales in the region rose 23 percent from the same period in 2010, and pending sales (a strong indicator of final sales) were up 11 percent as compared to the third quarter of 2010.

Area residents can take a free tour of a photo exhibit depicting Henrico history when the Valentine Richmond History Center hosts “Henrico County Day” from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20 at the center, 1015 E. Clay Street.

The Valentine Richmond History Center is offering free admission and light refreshments in honor of Henrico’s 400th anniversary. The event is open to the public.

“Into Focus: Henrico County through the Camera” features photos tracing cultural and architectural changes in the county from the 19th century to present.