Gloucester’s newly revamped Beehive publication was one of 45 recipients of 2024 Virginia Association of Counties’ Achievement Awards, which recognize excellence in local government, VACo announced last week.
“Even in 2024, some residents don’t have access to reliable internet,” according to an executive summary that was part of the county’s submission. “For decades, Gloucester County has mailed out a print publication called ‘The Beehive’ to every household on a quarterly basis. The pamphlet—formatted on newsprint and distributed by the local newspaper—used to be a reliable way to get Parks and Recreation offerings, tax deadlines, election updates and mosquito control information to Gloucester’s residents, along with other important news. As the digital era progressed, many people started throwing out the Beehive without ever opening it. The pamphlet looked and felt like junk mail, and that’s how people treated it.
“In 2023, the Community Engagement and Public Information Department d...