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Dominion Strategic Underground Project
by Caroline March-Long, Westwood Civic Association President
Westwood is on the list to move power lines underground. Why? Over a 10-year period, they have noted troublesome lines and outage data that identified us as candidates for the burying of lines.
Phase 1 has begun and most of us should have received a letter in March if we are part of the project area. I asked Dominion Project Lead Amanda Tickle (see contact information below) to send me a copy so that the entire neighborhood could see it.
Phase 1:
– Flags put out to mark property corners (not where the lines go) – done.
– Property research and initial design
– Approach residents 1:1 to discuss easements needed to lay lines – they won’t need easements from all neighbors.
– Look at meters and determine if they can directly attach underground lines or if they are too old = too small, they’ll propose adapter boxes that will then support underground lines (if a resident doesn’t want the adapter box – they won’t be able to have their lines go underground).
Phase 2:
– All easements are complete and construction begins.
They are going to lay lines in the front of our homes…this means that a transformer will be needed for every 4-6 homes — a 3-1/2’x3-1/2′ box. I asked them what if a resident doesn’t want a transformer sitting on their front lawn, she said that placement can be discussed with the resident so it’s not unsightly (or less unsightly).
Although they don’t need all of us to agree to an easement, if enough residents within that 4-6 home radius refuse to take a transformer, they would have to cancel the project.
According to the current project map, Phase 1 is only in a part of our neighborhood for now. Check status by going to Strategic Underground Program | Dominion Energy and putting in your address under Check the Status of a Project.
Questions? Contact amanda.c.tickle@dominionenergy.com for more info.
Meeting Notes July 2026 WCA Meeting
Wednesday, July 15 at 5803 Lee Avenue
Present:
President Caroline March-Long, Vice-President and Board Member Rich Terrell, Secretary Dale Davis, Immediate Past President Jack Heisler, Board Member Jen Terrell
1. New Roles – Caroline reviewed new roles as shown above, along with James Conner as Treasurer and Jen Lorek as Board Member. Jack will be initiating the transfer of Treasurer duties to James, involving Wells Fargo Bank as our account holder. Caroline would like to initiate a “Neighbor Spotlight” item to include resident on corner with lovely garden.
2. Recent Officer Campbell and Incident – Caroline reviewed incident of two complaints regarding an overly friendly new visitor to neighbors’ homes. Warning notice sent to neighbors via email and Facebook directing further complaints to Officer Campbell.
(Officer Steve Nurmi is another WCA contact.)
3. Dogs in Park – Caroline reviewed request from Sam Gage to share brochure of
Henrico County Park regulations with WCA mailing list. We can communicate a reminder regarding lost dogs and other prohibitions addressed on park signs (e.g. no golfing, horseback riding, visiting after dark).
4. National Night Out – August 4th, 6-8 pm
a. Grillout – food and supplies. Caroline’s husband will supply grill. Rich will supply
Hebrew National hot dogs from Costco and buns, ketchup and mustard from Lidl.
Caroline will supply napkins, paper plates. Jack will supply freezer pops, name tags.
b. Drink – Jack will supply water.
c. Potluck? – Announcements will include language similar to “Have something to bring? Bring it!”.
d. Invites to Police/Truck – Announcements will include language similar to “Subject to availability”.
e. Kid Activity? – Jack will supply “Dig It Out” dinosaur eggs. Caroline will bring a tablecloth so eggs will not fall through table cracks.
f. Trash? – Park has trash cans.
g. WCA Table – Jack will supply two tables including one for dues paying. Jen will supply a sign with Venmo QRC.
h. Flyer and Promotion – Will include a link to National Night Out website. Caroline requested Jack to ask Emily if she has list of new neighbors for special invitation. Rich and Jen will provide flyers before the weekend; we could divide up neighborhood and insert into mailboxes as we walk our dogs. Caroline will consider Instagram as a channel to reach younger neighbors.
Notes:
• Rich will ask about condition of picnic tables.
• Chris Flynn at 1601 Libbie was approved for addition to communications list.
• Dale asked about other WCA activities. Caroline wants to initiate an Easter egg hunt with separate hunts per age group. Jack wants to move Picnic to May. Others include Yard Sale, National Night Out, Halloween Party and Holiday Decorating Contest.
Keep Your Lights on to Keep Westwood Safe
Hello Westwood neighbors,
In last year’s WCA livability survey and focus groups, many residents requested street lights or additional lighting to enhance neighborhood safety. Our community’s security, especially after dark, is a prime concern for everyone. In the absence of street lights in Westwood, we can all contribute to the safety and security of the neighborhood by keeping our exterior lights and lamp posts (where applicable) on overnight.
Operation Night Light is being conducted in cooperation with Henrico County Police. According to Richard Mallory, Westwood’s Community Police Officer, “Operation Night Light encourages neighbors to watch for crime, but you can’t watch if it’s too dark to see. You can keep criminals away by turning on your outside lights at night. Lighting is a major deterrent to crime during the hours of darkness.”
Keeping exterior lights on will also help pedestrians walking through Westwood and provide better visibility for drivers. Motion-detector lights are an effective crime deterrent, but of little use to pedestrians and drivers in the neighborhood.
Cost-effective dawn-to-dusk bulbs have proven useful for some of your Westwood neighbors. If you’re interested in an example, click here for a link to one type of bulb available on Amazon.
If you’re already keeping your exterior lights on after dark, thank you! If not, I hope you’ll consider participating in Operation Night Light to help keep our Westwood neighborhood safe!
Sincerely,
Maria Holperin Terrell
President
Westwood Civic Association
History: Westwood Golf Club (1926)
Did you know the Westwood neighborhood was built on the former site of the Westwood Club Golf Course?
File Source for below was originally the Given Memorial Library but the link has recently been broken.
Original Course (1926)
Westwood Map (Today)
Map Overlay: What hole did you live on?
Neighborhood Watch
Lock Your Car, Your Shed and Your House Doors and Windows.
Call Henrico County Police Non-Emergency number #501-5000 if you see something suspicious.
IMPORTANT RESOURCES
- If you witness a crime or see a suspicious situation, call #501-5000 for non- person events and #911 for person crimes; please do not be afraid to call the Henrico County Police for they are trained to help you prevent or investigate criminal activity.
- To access Crime Prevention and Personal Safety information and other Henrico County Police Division (HCPD) Community Services programs, see http://henrico.us/police/programs/brochures.
- To access crime alerts directly from HCPD, see http://twitter.com/HenricoPolice.
- To access additional crime-related information directly from HCPD, see http://www.FaceBook.com/HenricoPolice.
- For a free home security assessment by HCPD Community Officer Bob Augustine, contact Bob at aug@henrico.us.
SMART IDEAS
- Personal safety is common sense: if you feel uncomfortable in a situation, you are probably in danger; watch those around you; watch your surroundings; listen to your inner alert system.
- Avoid carrying your purse or attaché case in a way someone could grab it.
- Avoid placing presents or valuables in your vehicle in such a way someone could surveil them for possible thievery.
- Please lock your vehicle, even when you are in it; 85% (or more) of all Larcenies From Automobiles (LFA) in Henrico County are from unlocked vehicles; you can prevent auto theft and LFA.
- When you are home alone, keep your doors locked; do not open your doors for someone you do not know or cannot identify themselves; again, you can prevent a home invasion by not allowing the perpetrator inside your home.
- Although it is a good habit to back your vehicle into your driveway so you are facing forward when entering the street, it is an excellent idea to back into a shopping center parking lot so you can see more clearly when pulling out as you leave.
- With more students on the road during the Holidays Season, traffic becomes more problematic; be patient and remember that younger people are by their nature impatient and careless; go shopping or banking during the in-between hours (9:00-11:00 a.m. or 2:00-4:00 p.m.).
- Be more watchful on the roads of Westwood during the Holidays Season as more people and youth are in the Park and on the roadways; if you walk or jog in Westwood, please stay on the left side of the pavement facing traffic and near the edge of the pavement; if you bicycle, please obey the same rules of the road as vehicles.
- The Westwood Park is a County facility; no vehicles of any kind are allowed in the Park; domesticated animals are supposed to be on a lease at all times in the Park; the hours for the Park are Sunrise to Sunset.
Westwood Civic Association 