Yearly Archives: 2009

Celebrate Grace Arents This Friday

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From poster:

St. Andrew’s School, Williams Byrd Community House, and St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church would like to invite you to attend the unveiling of the Grace Arents historical marker.

Please join us Friday, October 16th at 5:30 pm at St. Andrew’s School, 227 South Cherry St., Richmond, VA 23220. Free, guided historical walking tours and a children’s fall festival immediately following at 6:00 pm. The children’s saints walk will be held in the church at 6:30 pm.

Please RSVP for the unveiling at development@st-andrews-school.org or call 648-4952.

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River Petition + Sierra Club Hosts VCU Recycling This Wednesday

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Many citizens are concerned about protecting neighborhoods’ historic views of the James River from inappropriate development. An event on Wednesday unveils a petition on the subject.

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Later that evening, the Sierra Club Falls of the James group holds its October membership monthly meeting at the Science Museum of Virginia. Recycling at VCU will be the main program. This may also be of particular interest to Oregon Hill residents.

7:00 pm
Program: Recycling and Sustainability. And a Pre-Elections Political Update!
Speakers: Jacek Ghosh, Director of Sustainability at VCU, and Steve Heinitz, Recycling and Reuse Coordinator at VCU.

Jacek Ghosh has been leading VCU’s campus effort to meet the requirements of the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) and is directing the development of VCU’s Sustainability Master Plan, due in May 2010.

Mr Ghosh has worked for community-based non-profit organizations for over thirty years. Previously, he was the Economic Development Director for the Fairfax Renaissance Development Corporation (FRDC) from 1997 to 2006. Many of you may have already met Mr. Ghosh, working with the JRGBC, Richmond’s Better Housing Coalition, and the Richmond Cool Cities group.

Steve Heinitz has worked at VCU since the 1990s, managing its recycling and reuse program, a major effort handling confidential documents destruction, cardboard, electronics, light bulbs, mixed paper, scrap metal, wood and waste products. He has been a FoJG member since the mid-1990s, and is active with the group.

Come discover how our FoJG Recycling initiative is progressing, and how you can play your part!

More Richmond Folk Festival Photos

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But first, imagine what used to be on the Festival site- the Gamble’s Hill park and neighborhood and part of Oregon Hill neighborhood, the State Penitentiary, the functioning Tredegar Iron Works and working Kanawha Canal.

Hopefully the Richmond Folk Festival has proven somewhat sustainable (I know I volunteered and dropped my donation in the bucket!) and we will enjoy for years to come. But keep in mind there could be other new developments on the site, like the new Meade WestVAco headquarters. Personally, I keep hoping that the Richmond Transportation Museum idea can be dusted off…

Anyway, on with the photos from a great weekend…

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RFF Last Night With More To Come!

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It’s here!

Seems like just yesterday that I was standing in the Ethyl field with about twenty people taking in crazy Bulgarian wedding music on the very stormy first night of the National Folk Festival’s debut in Richmond.

Last night the second RICHMOND Folk Festival started with the best weather possible and a big crowd. It was truly a beautiful night and it was great to see so many people enjoying themselves while listening to wonderful music.

If you did not make it, don’t fret, the Festival continues today and tomorrow. Don’t forget to buy a Festival t-shirt and drop a donation into the bucket.

A few photos from last night:

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Monroe Park Planning Article

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From the City’s Department of Community Development October Update:

Monroe Park Master Plan Moving Ahead

Richmond acquired the original 11 acres for Monroe Park in 1851 when the park still lay outside city limits. It was envisioned as a place that would provide opportunities to partake of “invigorating air” and to participate in the “interchange of social affections.”

It has been the home to the State Fair, served as a training ground for Civil War troops, and played host to a Bruce Springsteen concert in the late 1960s, and its history, location and character have made it one of the City’s landmark public spaces.

The Monroe Park Master Plan was begun in 2006 and adopted last year to serve as a guide to reinvigorate the park and integrate historic preservation with
modern recreation needs.

Over time, it plans for the restoration of the Checkers Building, improvements to park entrances and lighting, uniform tree plantings with a variety of species, and other improvements.

The plan is expected to be presented to the Urban Design Committee in October.

You can review the Monroe Park Master Plan here (a large 66MB file – may take a moment to open).

Click here to view some vintage postcards of Monroe Park from the VCU Library.

Robbery Near Monroe Park

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From Richmond Police:

ROBBERY
10/09/09 12:30 a.m.
700 block of W. Franklin St.
Two males reported they were robbed by two unknown males with a gun.

The Times Dispatch account has a little more information.

Two young men told Richmond police they were sitting on a wall in the 700 block of West Franklin Street, opposite the north side of Monroe Park, when they were confronted at 12:30 a.m. by two unknown males who first asked for a light. One of the suspects then pulled a handgun and demanded money.

The two victims surrendered their wallets and cell phones, and the suspects ran.

This continues a rash of robberies that have been plaguing the whole area.

Richmond History Tours of Hollywood Cemetery

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From the Richmond History Center:

Mon.-Sat. (10:00-11:30a) Through October 31st

HIGHLIGHTS OF HOLLYWOOD CEMETERY A walking tour of historic Hollywood Cemetery, final resting place of soldiers, residents and presidents.Meet your guide just beyond the stone building at the cemetery entrance at Cherry and Albemarle streets. $10 (Pay your guide on the day of the tour. ) Members: $5

PLUS THIS WEEKEND:

Oct 11 (2-4pm)

HOLLYWOOD CEMETERY An extension of the daily “Highlights” tour, this version covers in more detail the cemetery’s unique history, landscape design, architecture, symbols and residents.

Meet your guide at the rear of the stone structure at the cemetery entrance at Cherry and Albemarle Streets. $10 (Pay your guide on the day of the tour. ) Members: $5

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Fourth Precinct CAPS Meeting Scheduled

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Fourth Precinct Community Assisted Public Safety (CAPS) meeting will be held:

. Date: Thursday, October 15, 2009

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Place: Linwood Holton Elementary School

1600 W Laburnum Avenue

Please bring your concerns, comments and suggestions to this meeting in order that we may address them properly.

Thank you

Jacki Page

Sr. Customer Services Representative

804-646-4150

10M Race Goes Thru

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The Richmond Road Runners had their Capitol 10M Race this morning. According to the website, the course was “designed by runners for runners”, which is great, except they neglected to tell anyone in the neighborhood, even after the course changed. Oregon Hill is used to these kind of events and sometimes even enjoys hosting them, but a little respect goes a long way.
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From an earlier run:
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Since they were without the Royal protection and the runners were really slacking as they came down Laurel Street, I decided to briefly join the race and add “a little motivation”:
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(Seriously, I was never within 40 feet of these runners to keep her from lovingly licking their sweat off. The dog did quietly enjoyed the quarter of a block run. Did I mention there are some pit bull awareness events coming up?)