Roughly in the tradition of Grace Arents, who started the first free library in Richmond (now the William Byrd Community House), Greg Wells and friends started the Flying Brick Library in their house on Pine Street. Now that household is dissolving, and the Flying Brick Library is changing hands. Style Magazine has an article.

The following email exchange is related to this issue and is posted with permission. I will note that I have not heard from Councilperson Jewell since I approached him at the end of the Richmond Crusade for Voters meeting.

From: candylandmusic@earthlink.net
Subject: Re: [OregonHill] Jewell, rezoning, alley
Date: June 18, 2008 8:40:11 AM EDT
To: OregonHill@yahoogroups.com
Reply-To: OregonHill@yahoogroups.com

Many many hours of hard work have gone into coming up with this UB2 proposal. The City’s Department of Community Development are to be applauded for holding the numerous meetings among stake holders and proposing a unique zoning designation that can help the Oregon Hill Cary Street Corridor become a positive pedestrian oriented business/residential area and stave off inappropriate development. Jewell’s disengagement from his constituents needs is made more disgusting by his list of donors to his campaign (google “VPAP E. Martin Jewell” to see the list of developers that are “banking” on Jewell). Im just so disgusted with this guy and his shenanigans. Every time the neighborhood has needed his support, he votes against us or ignores us, to include smashing our newly gained R7 zoning in the rest of the neighborhood to allow a parking lot for his ol’ pal Salomonsky against the neighborhoods wishes. No new street trees this year, VERY little needed infrastructural repairs accomplished and supporting higher real estate tax rates are a few of his “accomplishments” as Councilman. Please vote for Mark Brandon in November for 5th district Councilperson. We desperately need a change.

On Jun 17, 2008, at 11:51 PM, Scott Burger wrote:

Saw our Councilperson, Marty Jewell, at the Crusade for Voters
meeting tonight. Once again, he claimed to have trouble reaching me
for some reason. He also says he wants to sit down and talk to me
about the Cary Street rezoning. I told him he could talk to me right
there. He said he did not know about the proposed rezoning. I told
him that OHNA had voted and revoted to support urban business
district zoning since 2002. He said that the Community Development
Dept. had not kept him abreast of recent proposal. I told him that’s
not true, because I had email where he was cc’ed. he said that was
not good enough notification. I repeated the neighborhood’s support
for rezoning. He said he did not blame us, he blames Community
Development. I repeated the neighborhood’s support for rezoning to
ub. He said certain property owners on Cary did not want the
rezoning. I asked him for names. He would not name them. I repeated
OHNA’s longtime support for rezoning to ub. He said he would talk
with me later.

Before he could brush me off, I repeated my concerns for the alley
behind the 600 block of Cherry. He acted surprised and said that Gary
Duvall in Public Works was supposed to have fixed it. I repeated that
the alley had not been fixed for some time now, and improper drainage
was threatening the historic John Miller House and other houses. He
called his assistant’s voice mail and left a reminder for her to
remind him.

Thanks,
Scott

“ART 180 enlisted the help of students at St. Andrew’s to come up with ideas for the mural. Zanin’s friends told the students about Jonny Z — about his love of art and music, community, coffee and pizza — and they went from there. The mural, running the length of a back building connected to Joe’s Inn, 205 N. Shields Ave., in the alley between Shields and Rowland Street, contains a little bit of everything, or “kind of random, fun and colorful,” said Lauren Healy, another project coordinator.”

Also at this month’s dinner we are going to be asking people to
help us out with one of our projects for this summer’s art camp, so
come prepared with a nice quote or a happy message!!

Please help us by telling your neighbors and friends about this, I
really want this to be known as something positive for everyone to
join in for Oregon Hill!

Hope to see you all on Monday!
Katie Cowles

Volunteer Coordinator
cowleskatie@yahoo.com
www.synergeo.org

In April, two Virginia activists walked three days south crossing the Arizona desert into Mexico. They walked in solidarity with the countless number of people who traverse the dangerous terrain in search of better lives in the U.S., to protest unjust anti-immigrant policies in Virginia and the millions of dollars annually spent on border militarization.

Jeff Winder and Sue Frankel-Streit of The People United! will report back on their experience with a puppet show. They will also promote the Fifth Annual Gathering of The People United \”Taking Root: Building Community, Sustaining Resistance\” to be held the weekend of June 27 in the mountains of central VA. All are welcome to come. This is a kid-friendly event.

RICHMOND, VA May 30, 2008. Six Burner Restaurant will host a benefit for the Byrd House Market on Wednesday, June 18th from 5:30 to 9:30 pm. Diners will receive a delicious three course dinner for their donation of $35 to benefit the Byrd House Market, a program of William Byrd Community House.

The William Byrd Community House provides services to children, teens, parents, and seniors in the Richmond community. The Byrd House Market’s goal is to promote the health and welfare of its community while supporting local farmers, food producers, and artisans.

Six Burner restaurant is generously supporting BHM by offering customers a pre-fixe menu featuring fresh foods from BHM’s vendors for one night only on June 18th. The proceeds from this event will go to supporting the Byrd House Market. Call now for reservations as seats will fill up fast!

Six Burner Restaurant
1627 West Main St
(804) 353-4060

Just one of the things that makes OH a great place to live. The Water Horse was the feature this past Friday night.

See it while you can, because it is supposed to be enveloped by the construction of the massive, 100,000 sq. ft. rec center.

An addition should be added to Open High for an elevator.
Along with solar panels.

Money should not be that big of an issue.

That building is a beautiful part of Grace Arents‘ legacy to Oregon Hill and Richmond education. It should not be closed. Open High, as a small school, is one of RPS’ greatest success stories.

Congratulations to Beatty and Wolf! They have worked tirelessly on behalf of Richmond children.

On my walk this evening I saw kids lining up for their graduation from St. Andrew’s School as well as the latest modular house on Idlewood (see this post on the first one from last year).

If you do see it in the future, don’t approach or even gawk, just call 911 so Animal Control can be alerted. They are hoping it will find its way back to more wilderness.

This reminded me of a few years ago when the deer came into the neighborhood and was clattering his hooves along the cobblestone alleys.

My neighbor on China Street, Larry, told me about growing up in Oregon Hill back in the 50’s, when there was ponies behind the Parsons House and you could go furtively hunting on the James River with a .22.

Anyone have any good wildlife (nonhuman, please) stories in Oregon Hill?

Highlights Of Hollywood Cemetery DAILY walking tour

Mon May 19 10:00 am
Monday – Saturday (April 1st - October 31st); 10:00-11:30 a.m.; and Saturdays in November 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd 29th, 10:00-11:30 a.m.

Historic Hollywood Cemetery is the final resting place for two U.S. Presidents, writer Ellen Glasgow, Confederate President Jefferson Davis, notable Civil War Generals George Pickett and J.E.B. Stuart, plus thousands of Confederate soldiers. This tour focuses on the history of the cemetery and the famous personalities buried there, as well as the symbolism of the many works of memorial art installed as grave markers.

COST: $10 (cash only) at tour site, $9 in advance; $5 History Center members.

STARTING POINT: Meet your guide at the rear of the stone tructure on the left as you enter the cemetery from Cherry & Albemarle Sts.

http://www.richmondhistorycenter.com

Byrd House Market

Tue May 20 3:30 pm
Veggies, crafts, bread, and more! Every Tuesday, rain or shine.

or more information call 804-643-2717, or visit
http://byrdhousemarket.blogspot.com or email byrdhousemarket@gmail.com

Story Time In the Library

Tue May 20 10:00 am
Mary West delights toddlers and pre-school age kids with her engaging story telling and often has us all moving our cabooses! Tuesdays from 10 -10:30AM at the Grace Arents Free Library

http://www.wbch.org/go/programs/library/

William Byrd Community House
224 South Cherry Street Richmond, Virginia 23220
Phone: 804-643-2717 Fax: 804-225-0297

Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association meeting

Tue May 27 7:00 pm
@ William Byrd Community House (224 S. Cherry St). Meetings are open to all people and anyone living in Oregon Hill is automatically eligible for membership. Meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of every month (except December).

We are getting into the rhythm of nature here at the market. Our students look forward to our Tuesday market. We celebrate our seasons with the produce brought in by the vendors. If you take a moment and stroll through the Grace Arents Community Garden, you can actually see strawberries, onions, and greens growing. Paolo, our veteran child gardener, from last year pointed out his strawberries, and the mulberry tree laden with berries. I think it seems more abundant than last year. I keep thinking we should probably harvest the berries and make a Byrd House Market Mulberry Jam. Anyone have a good recipe?

Remember the new parking places, you can park on both sides of Idlewood – there are “no parking” signs, but these are reserved for you, our market shoppers. Also along the alley adjacent to the market; and across the street from the market next to the alley along the cemetery –Todd has generously given us permission to park there. The parking lot for WBCH is also available after 5:30.

Our Vendors this week are bringing:
FARMERS
Amy’s Garden: unfortunately Amy said she is planting seeds before the rain hits, so she will be back with us next week.
Betty Moore: roses and small bouquets
CCL: all natural, free range , no additives pasture raised pork, chicken and brown eggs. And a few handmade crafts.
Faith Farm: Anti-biotic Free Grass-Fed Beef, Pastured Pork Pastured Chicken. Goat Cheese, Amish Roll Butter, Farm Fresh Eggs, Local Honey, Farm Fresh Eggs. Fresh Squeezed Limeades
Bill Heath: Cauliflower, broccoli, June peas, radishes, cabbage, Herbs, vegetable and flower plants
Mike’s: Herb plants, curly endive, lettuce, spinach, arugula with onions and radishes
Perennial Pleasures Plant Pharm: Peonies, Baptista, snapdragons and mixed bouquets
Pleasant Fields Farm: perennials, annuals, hanging baskets, strawberries, onions, herbs
Pleitez Produce: Strawberries, asparagus and greens
Roxbury Nursery: perennials, annuals, herbs and hanging baskets
Rural Virginia Market: spinach, turnips, carrots, spring onions, sugar snap peas, lettuce, beets, pac choi, eggs, goat cheese and tea
Victory Farms: Lettuce, salad mix, kale, swiss chard, beets, turnips, radishes, kohlrabi, cabbage, escarole, beet greens
John Wise: Woody ornamental plants, perennials half hardy annuals and such

BAKED GOODS AND SNACKS
Back to Earth Foods: Vegetable soup, limeade, water, lemonade, carrot cake, and banana walnut bread
Bernie’s Baked Goods: Sweet potato rolls, cakes and pies
Bread for the People: whole wheat bread, multi-grain bread and plain bread, plain, garlic and Romano cheese baguettes, cinnamon brioche loaves, and chocolate cheese schneck
Espress-a-go-go & Relish: Smoothies and vegetarian prepared snacks
Koralee Coffee House: Indonesian Coffee Beans, Organic loose tea from China, hot and iced coffee, iced tea; bottled water; coke, and pre-packaged snacks
Simply Delicious: Cookies and world famous lemon pound cake, brownies, cookies and pies

CRAFTS
Hanaan’s Essential Oils: Aromatherapy Sets, spring floral scents, exotic musk, essential balms
Wild Heaven Farm: Handmade goat soaps and skin care
Kizmet’s Klozet: Handcrafted jewelry, inspired from lyrical Romany Gypsy roots incorporating sterling and semi-precious stones

ACTIVITIES
3:30-7 Waldorf School with Children’s booth (if it does not rain!)
4:30-4:50 Story Time in the Garden (if it does not rain!) with Jane Harrison
3:30 - 7 Non-Profit Booth come learn more about the Vegetarian Society

RAIN or SHINE

We are happy that you are making WBCH/BHM a weekly Tuesday tradition. Your support helps the vendors make a better-than-living wage and it helps WBCH develop better programs fro gardening, nutrition, and the environment for our students and community. We are all working for a healthier, greener and better Richmond for the future.

Contact Central Montessori School at (804) 447-7493, centralmontessorischool@comcast.net, or centralmontessori.org for details/tickets.

Byrd House Market

Tue May 13 3:30 pm
Veggies, crafts, bread, and more! Every Tuesday, rain or shine.
http://byrdhousemarket.blogspot.com/

Story Time In the Library

Tue May 13 10:00 am
Mary West delights toddlers and pre-school age kids with her engaging story telling and often has us all moving our cabooses! Tuesdays from 10 -10:30AM at the Grace Arents Free Library
http://www.wbch.org/go/programs/library/
William Byrd Community House
224 South Cherry Street Richmond, Virginia 23220
Phone: 804-643-2717 Fax: 804-225-0297

History Hounds Explore Oregon Hill

Sat May 17 10:00 am
Bring your pooch, and join your guide and a representative from Richmond’s SPCA for this fun way to explore some of Richmond’s neighborhoods. Dogs must be current with their shots, mix well with other dogs and remain on their leash for the tour. Owners are asked to bring water and are responsible for cleaning up after their dog. The SPCA will provide clean up bags. Cost is $10. Reservations are required.
TIME: 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Meet your guide at the corner of Laurel and Idlewood Streets.
http://www.richmondhistorycenter.com

Highlights Of Hollywood Cemetery Sunday walking tour

Sun May 18 2:00 pm
DATES: April 13th, May 11th, June 8th, July 13th, Aug. 10th, Sept. 14th, Oct. 12th; and every Sunday in November 2nd, 9th, 26th, & 23rd.

This extended tour of Hollywood Cemetery expands upon the daily tour, with an extra 30 minutes of information about cemetery art, architecture, landscape, symbolism, and the famous personalities buried there, including John Tyler, James Monroe and Jefferson Davis.

STARTING POINT: Meet your guide at the rear of the stone structure on the left as you enter the cemetery from Cherry & Albemarle Sts.

As for more park stuff, I need to circle back with the City’s Parks and Rec Dept. to see about the water fountain and new canal bridge for the Belvidere Greenway.

At the same time, I need to supply some direction on the future of Holly Street Playground. Right now, the Holly Street playground continues to be shared by groups of toddlers, parents, and children, and, on the other end of the spectrum, older kids and college students. We have tried doing surveys with the neighborhood association newsletter with only some success.

I think one thing that can be done with some consensus is to get rid of some of the dilapidated support sheds in the Holly Street Playground.

Tip of the hat to Todd Woodson at Candyland Music.

http://scottymoore.net/richmond.html

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT. KNOW YOURSELF.
Come find out more about yourself and your neighbors at the William Byrd Community House/Byrd House Market
Tuesday May 6 – Opening of the 2008 Market Season

Welcome back to the Byrd House Market! We are more than a farmers market, we are a program of the William Byrd Community House. As a program, we are using our garden, and classes to teach folks about food sustainability, how to grow our own food and how to change perceptions about gardening and eating. All of this is done in the spirit of informal learning and sharing information, in the old fashioned way- person to person and neighbor to neighbor. Last year we had over 200 students, staff, community gardeners, UGG’s students and volunteers participating in garden and market programs. We had over 700 community members shopping at the Byrd House Market.
We hope that coming to WBCH/BHM becomes your weekly Tuesday tradition. You r support helps the vendors make a better-than-living wage and it helps WBCH create better programs for gardening, nutrition, and the environment for our students and community. We are working for healthier, greener and better Richmond for the future.

Farmers
Amy’s Garden: Strawberries, greens, flowers, and plants
CCL: eggs, chickens and pork
Faith Farm: Grass-fed beef, pastured pork, farm fresh brown eggs, raw natural honey, goat cheese, possibly chicken.
Bill Heath: Herbs, vegetable plants, kale, onions, radishes
Mike Wilbin: Kale, plants, lettuce
Perennial Pleasures Plant Pharm: red snapdragons, white Dutch Iris, baptisia in yellow and blue, and Agrostemma
Pleitez Produce: Strawberries, asparagus and greens
End Farm/Byrd Farm: greens, onions, eggs, carrots, greens
Victory Farms: Arugula, baby broccoli choi, broccoli rabe, escarole, herbs, mixed Asian greens, red Russian kale, romaine heads, salad mix, spinach, summer crisp lettuce, Swiss chard, carrots, scallions, turnips

Baked Goods and Snacks
Bread for the People: Neufchatel coffee cake, peanut butter oat nut bars, whole wheat bread , plain bread, Italian bread, calamata olive with rosemary bread, onion and rosemary focaccia, garlic and Romano cheese baguettes and chocolate cheese schneck 
Bernies Baked Goods: Sweet potato rolls, cakes and pies
Kids R Cookin: showing children how delicious healthy can be
Koralee Coffee House: Indonesian Coffee Beans, Organic loose tea from China, hot and iced coffee, iced tea; bottled water; coke, and pre-packaged snacks
Simply Delicious: Cookies and world famous lemon pound cake, brownies and pies

Crafts
Hanaan’s Essential Oils: Mother’s Day Aromatherapy Sets, spring floral scents, exotic musk, essential balms
Pure Light Candles: soy candles
Wild Heaven Farm: handmade goat soaps and skin care
2dye4: dyed tee shirts
Kismets Kloset: Handcrafted jewelry, inspired from lyrical Romany Gypsy roots incorporating sterling and semi-precious stones
Seashells and Beads:
Wildwood Carver: Hand-carved bowls, spoons and platters

Activities
3:30 – 7:00 Waldorf School children’s activities
3:30 – 7:00 WBCH birdhouse decorating with WBCH Jr. Board
3:30 – 7:00 WBCH birdhouse quilt squares with WBCH Quilt Volunteer Kathy Morand
4:00 – 4:15 Garden Planting Demonstration in the Garden with Liz Tayor
4:30 – 4:50 Story time in the Garden with Jane Harrison

Music
5:00 – 6:00 Internationally known musician, Sharron
6:00 – 7:00 Blue Line Highway Richmond’s beloved alternative country/folk/blues band
BLH has deep ties to the Oregon Hill community since members of the band practiced and lived on Cherry St. for many years.
The band recently shot a music video along Spring St to celebrate their Hilly roots and the diversity found in that area. When contacted about -the market event, BLH songwriter Melissa McKenna replied, “Sure I know the William Byrd Community House — they do great work!” The band which consists of Julia Dooley, Melissa McKenna, John Leedes and Ray Alfano play to a loyal fan base in the Richmond area, who come to hear their impressive musicianship and their soulful harmonies. With the market open from 3pm to 7pm, market customers will have time to shop and then bop while making new friends in the community.

WBCH/BHM May – October We are open, Rain or Shine, EVERY TUESDAY 3:30 until 7PM (In the event of heavy rain, we will hold the market in the gymnasium located across Linden Street on the opposite side of the street from the outdoor location.

Built around 1818, the residence of Quaker abolitionist Samuel Pleasants Parsons at 601 Spring Street is strongly believed to have been a stop on the Underground Railroad. [via]

As Oregon Hill residents have stated, the pools of water are still pooling, and thankfully at least one mayoral candidate has taken notice…

Goldman for Mayor - 1 May 2008 - For Immediate Release - Contact: 804-833-6313

Basic residential water rates championed by City Hall, City Council are”way too high”

Goldman says many customers paying between them “many millions more than they should”.

Says full review of these “water tax” formulations must be done far sooner than City Hall plans.

(Richmond) -

Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, says many Richmond city residents are “unfairly burdened” with basic residential water rates that are “way too high” based not just on an analysis of such surrounding areas as Henrico County, but based also on what City Hall is now conceding.

“As the Mayor himself has conceded, a city “fee” is really often just another name for a city “tax”, and in that regard, it is time for City Hall and City Council to fully accept their responsibility for what is really just another name for Richmond’s sky-high “water tax” on so many resident families” said Mr. Goldman.

In a statement, Mr. Goldman continued:

” Concerned community and environmental leaders have long pointed out, for example, the disparity between Henrico and Richmond in terms of the onerous burden of the city’s “water tax” relative to Henrico County in terms of key residential rates charged many residents. Their efforts and foresight are to be complimented. Unfortunately, City Hall and especially City Council are still resisting the urgency of their message as regards this “water tax” burden and why it needs to be fixed as soon as possible to remove the multiple-million dollar burden.

In that regard, let me point out that according to a City Hall press release, Richmond’s “public utilities director, Chris Beschler….said he plans to conduct utility rate reviews every two to four years…to preclude future instances” of unfair burdens.

In the first place, the current water “tax” proposal by City Hall, by it’s own admission, doesn’t completely do away with existing unfair burdens. Secondly, this latest proposal by City Hall, while at least a rejection of the old failed policies put in place by the old form of government, is really too little, too late by the very logic of the new proposals it has sent to City Council. That being said, at least City Hall seems to be ahead of City Council on appreciating the need to change especially as City Hall and City Council are getting ready to impose a new Stormwater fee, or “tax”, on residents, not to mention record real estate taxes and government spending.

Accordingly, by City Hall’s own admission, waiting perhaps as long as 4 years to review and correct unfair burdens means it might continue to collect all these many millions of unfair “water taxes” right through the term of the next Mayor.

This is unacceptable to me and to the people of Richmond.

Accordingly, if elected Mayor, I can guarantee residents that this will not be the case in my term. Instead, my proposed “Richmond Unity Council” will help coordinate an immediate full and comprehensive review of basic residential water rates, indeed city utility policy in all aspects, to make sure any unfair fee, or “tax”, burdens on individuals and/or businesses are eliminated as quickly as possible.

We need to turn the page on the failed politics and policies of the past. So while it is only fair to acknowledge that City Hall, through it’s latest proposals, has at last become more pro-active on the issue of basic residential water rates, it is also likewise only fair to point out that neither City Hall nor City Council have demonstrated the urgency needed to make the necessary changes required to save Richmonders millions of dollars.”

(end of Goldman for Mayor press release)

So there it is. Do any of the other candidates, including the Oregon Hill-raised Dirtwoman have anything to say about the matter?

As King of the Hill, I am reconsidering the mount of tribute that my subjects pay in relation to the services supplied to them by the City government. I am not alone.