Oregon Hill’s National Night Out celebration happens tonight in Pleasants Park. It will feature a movie, Nim’s Island, plus food and drinks. See you there. This is one of many NNO celebrations happening in neighborhoods across Richmond.

This Wednesday, August 6, at noon, VCU will conduct our once-a-month emergency siren test on both the Monroe Park and MCV Campuses to ensure that the sirens are in proper working order. Unlike the test near the beginning of each semester which is a two-minute wail, the monthly tests consist of a short, 15-second burst.

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The August Really Really Free Market has been announced for August 30 from noon ’til dark at Monroe Park.

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So you’re all like “Been there, eaten that.” How about Korean Karaila melon, Turkish Italian orange eggplant, yellow watermelon, eight ball squash, or Asian red string beans? These are just some of the unusual produce you can find at the Byrd House Market this Tuesday. Also indie rock musician Robert Parker Vaughan will also be performing an unplugged set.

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The corner of Laurel and China has seen a lot of action lately. On Sunday night, police evicted three or four squatters who were living in a tent in the backyard of a vacant house. The owner says renovations on the house should be finished this Fall. On Monday afternoon a car going up the wrong the way on Laurel hit a truck that was trying to cross Laurel on China. No word on how serious the injuries were, but this may add to calls for more street signs and traffic enforcement.

Pretty low it seems. But back to this project…this is before adding the water. Tuitions Gone Wild, indeed!

Richmond.com takes a comprehensive overview of Richmond’s 5th District — looking at both the boundaries and key landmarks of this diverse district, as well as a solid snapshot of the candidates and issues behind the upcoming School Board and City Council elections:

Located smack in the middle of the city, the Central District is in the center of the city and is one of two districts that crisscross the James River. It covers a diverse swath of the city, from Oregon Hill near Virginia Commonwealth University south across the river to Hull Street.

It includes the communities of Woodland Heights, Springhill, Reedy Creek, Carytown, Oregon Hill, parts of the Fan and Swansboro. Maymont and Byrd parks are also in the 5th District.

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ACORN is accepting nominations for this year’s Golden Hammer Awards. If you know of an outstanding (I-can’t-believe-they-fixed-that-wreck) renovation project with a completion date of Sept.1, 2007 and Aug.15, 2008, let ACORN know by sending in a nomination form before Sept.1 (and, yes, you can nominate your own project!).

But how much premium will VCU pay?

Thanks,
Scott

Begin forwarded message:

From: DPU – Communications
Date: August 18, 2008 3:27:19 PM EDT
To: DPU – Communications
Subject: News release: New water rates underscore conservation effort

New Rate Underscores Conservation Message

RICHMOND, VA—In an effort to encourage water customers to conserve water when supply is scarce, the City of Richmond instituted a water conservation rate, effective July 1, 2008. During designated periods of either voluntary or mandatory conservation, customers who make the decision to use more than 140 percent of their normal winter water usage (water consumed during December, January, and February) will pay a higher commodity rate on their excess usage.

“Rates are set to drive customer behavior,” said Acting Chief Administrative Officer and Public Utilities Director Chris Beschler. “The behavior that we want to promote is to protect one of our most precious natural resources so that we all are doing our part to help the environment. This water conservation rate provides a financial incentive for water customers to do just that,”

Under this water conservation rate, DPU water customers will pay a 50 percent premium on water used over and above 140 percent of their normal winter water usage during voluntary conservation measures, and a 100 percent premium during mandatory water conservation measures.

The following is an example of what an average customer would pay using more than the normal l winter water usage during voluntary or mandatory water conservation measures:

For an average water customer whose winter monthly consumption = 8 Ccf
Conservation charge threshold (8 Ccf X 140%) = 11 Ccf
Actual monthly consumption during conservation period = 20 Ccf
Consumption subject to conservation rate (20 Ccf – 11 Ccf) = 9 Ccf

Voluntary conservation measures were implemented August 11, 2008 in the City of Richmond and surrounding counties when water levels in the James River dropped below the 1,200 cfs trigger level. For more information on conservation measures during either voluntary or mandatory water conservation periods, visit DPU’s website at www.RichmondGov.com/DPU; click on “Water Utility;” and then click on “Water Utility Page” in the drop down menu, or contact DPU’s Customer Care Center at 644-3000.
Contact: Angela Fountain, DPU Communications, 646-7323

Hard copy attached

City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities
Communications Division
730 E. Broad Street, 6th Floor
Richmond, VA 23219
(O) 804.646.5224, (Fax) 804.646.4858
Email: DPUC@richmondgov.com

What are the three best things about the Byrd House Market? Food, Music, and Friends! This week we’ll have the Stainless Tree-oh (local jazz band) and Flynn’s Foods fabulous garlic fries cooked to order. So come by and connect with friends and make some new ones while you’re there!

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