The first public hearing on the recently released updated Downtown Master Plan will be Monday, Dec.3rd at 6:30PM at the City Planning Commission meeting in the 5th floor conference room in City Hall. Backers of this vision of Richmond’s future are urging citizens to turn out to show their support for the plan.

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The November 2007 report for Sector 413 is now available (PDF), and includes this nugget:

11/26/07 - Due to the assistance of a citizen in Oregon Hill, Terrance Bridy was arrested and charged with 2 Burglaries and Grand Larceny. A citizen observed Mr. Bridy coming from his neighbor’s back yard carrying suspicious items. The citizen confronted the suspect and the suspect began to run. The citizen followed him and was able to detain him until Officer Patrick Mansfield was on scene. Officer Mansfield remembered that Mr. Bridy matched the description of the suspect in an attempted burglary on 11/02 – that victim was notified and was able to identify him as the person attempting to break in to his home. Mr. Bridy was charged with both offenses.

Richmond’s Open and Community high schools received silver and bronze medals, respectively, in the US News and World Report Best High Schools and High School Rankings. More than 18,500 schools located in 40 states were analyzed according to how well students performed on state tests, how well each school’s disadvantaged students performed and whether the school was successful in providing college-level coursework. Community was one 3 percent to be awarded a gold or silver medal. Open was one of 6 percent, to earn bronze. [via]

Marien Matera, editor of the Richmond Music Journal, recently wrote a review of the Hollywood Grill on her blog.

A string of small arsons in Oregon Hill and the Fan that took place late Friday night/Saturday morning is being investigated. While the police and fire marshal were on the scene, more trash can fires were reported on Cumberland and in the Fan.

A motorcycle parked in front of a house on the 400 block of Laurel Street exploded after it’s seat was on fire. Fortunately the fire was put out before it spread to any of the nearby wood frame houses.

The final Byrd House Market of the year of the year is today, Tuesday December 11, 2007 from 3 until 6 PM. Stop by and pick up something from the unique craft vendors and “some yummy holiday treats for the body, mind and heart”.

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For more info, contact Patty Parks at librarian@wbch.org or 643-2717.

• During the school holidays the library will be open Dec. 18 - 21, and Dec. 26 - 28 from 10-5.
• Dec. 19 10-11 a.m. Story Time with Mary West
• Dec. 19 1-3 p.m. Afternoon Movie: Transformers
• Dec. 21 8:30-10 a.m. Coffee, tea and news open to community and WBCH staff.
• Saturday Dec. 22 the library is open from 10 - 4 p.m.
• We are closed on Dec.24 and 25.
• Dec. 26 Story time 10 - 11 a.m. with Mary West.
• Dec. 26 1-3 pm afternoon movie: Freedom Writers
• Dec. 27 6:30 - 8:30p.m. Documentary:Sicko Michael Moore’s Healh Care doc.
• Dec. 28 8:30-10:00 a.m. Coffee, Tea and news - open to community and WBCH Staff
• Dec. 31 Library Open 10-4, Movie: 1-3 Surf’s Up

I am troubled by what I am hearing from Pantele these days. It seems like he is playing politics with ADA school settlement/City of the Future money. Both Wilder and Council want to use the issue against each other, rather than solving the issue.

It sounds like the School Board chair, Braxton, is siding with Pantele and Council against Mayor, though that is not helping the schools or students either. Wolf is at least vocal and wants to see ADA solved, but I am not hearing much from our School Board rep, Carr.

If they are looking for “large renovation projects” (because that is what Pantele is insisting on), then Open High could certainly use a ADA elevator addition.

I find it disgusting that the City is giving 50 million to the VaPAF/downtown arts center, but can’t give squat to solve this ADA crisis NOW.
ADA Kids and parents are still suffering needlessly. Is the City waiting until they sue again? What’s it going to take, the National Guard, just like in Little Rock?

Proposal:

Fix up Open. Energy audit, put solar on the roof and make it part of the science curriculum, add ADA elevator and other needed items. Bring in Community High program from West End to Grace Arents building THOUGH keep Community High and Open High programs separate (keep good teacher/student ratio), Make sure at least some of the money from sale of Community High building sale goes back into school system (do NOT let developers have all the profits), Maintain Community and Open High’s building and standards (hello local media, they just won NATIONAL RECOGNITION!). Do NOT let Trani and VCU decide the future of Open High, but hopefully keep allowing Open/Community students attend some college classes. Bring in more community gardening and park service projects.

I would like to hear other suggestions.

Changes at one of our sister sites had killed the neighborhood crime map for a few days there, but it’s all back now.

Richmond residents can register to receive free training in basic skills during an emergency as part of winter preparedness as part of Survivor Day training sponsored by the City’s Office of Emergency Management. The four-hour training session in fire safety, first-aid, anti-terrorism and weather response measures will take place from 9AM to 1PM on Saturday, January 5, at the Landmark Theater.

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