Author Archives: Scott

Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

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Exciting news today as bees arrived. Pine Street neighbor Stephenie Harrington had this to say,

Thanks to the dedicated teachers and volunteers who assisted with beekeeping instruction since last fall. Today we watched a wonderful group of confident students handle bees! #OpenHighSchool
We established one hive today and will receive the second hive in a few weeks.
I will be documenting activities and later this year we will offer some public workshops with Parks and Rec Dept so folks can learn more about this urban pollinator project and more things coming this fall.
Thanks to OHHIC (Oregon Hill Home Improvement Council), OHNA (Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association) and neighbors for your support.

More details and publicity soon…

Play Ball! 100 Years Of Baseball in Virginia At War Memorial

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Tomorrow night, April 16, the Virginia War Memorial is holding a special event that starts at 6:30 pm.

Come to the War Memorial on April 16 to celebrate the long history of baseball in Virginia!

Join local experts and fellow baseball fans as we discover the intertwined history of baseball and World War I from the Virginia National Guard Command Historian Al Barnes. Al will also be available during the event to personalize copies of his brand new book “Play Ball! Doughboys and Baseball in the Great War.”

Jump forward to today with the Richmond Flying Squirrels’ Todd “Parney” Parnell, to learn how the Squirrels are redefining baseball in Richmond today. Come ready to ask questions and learn, and see a variety of baseball artifacts spanning back through a century.

This family-friendly event is FREE and open to the public, and baseball-themed snacks will be available for purchase!

Speakers:
Al Barnes, Virginia Army National Guard Command Historian
Todd Parnell (Parney), Chief Operating Officer and Vice President, Richmond Flying Squirrels
James Triesler, VWM Director of Education

Cost:
FREE

Coliseum Vs. Schools II (Or Is It V?)

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And this issue keeps bubbling…

Paul Goldman responds to Richmond Public Schools superintendent Jason Kamras’ column in the Times Dispatch newspaper:

Dear Mr. Kamras, in response to your column which predictably starts by blaming white racism. Your open by saying opposition to the record taxes you and Stoney proposing to pay for huge new RPS spending is primarily rooted in a lack of “trust the money” as to how the money will be spent. The first reason you give for this lack of trust parrots the growing City Hall line Stoney aides post on FaceBook: “Some of that distrust has its roots in biases about race and class — conscious or otherwise — that still grip Richmond.” Mr. Kamras, with all due respect, if you want to know why people don’t trust, look no further than the bogus school modernization plan you, Stoney and Council championed. We now know it knowingly used $cost figures $hundreds of millions too low! In addition, 5 new schools where promised from the record meals tax hike: now we know we will be lucky to get 3. A 60% mistake! Sir, the people’s growing lack of trust isn’t caused by racism. But rather proven financial incompetence and knowing misstatements by you, the Mayor, Council on money matters.

By the way, Goldman recently entered a court petition that challenges the City on its secrecy surrounding the Farrell Coliseum redevelopment scheme. And a recent protest at Farrell’s appearance at the University of Richmond included prominent mention of the coliseum proposal. From the UR Collegian article:

The protesters, who are part of a group called The Virginia Student Environmental Coalition, were escorted out of the event. As they were escorted out, they chanted, “No coliseum, no pipeline, people’s lives are on the line!”

And one other thing… Virginia Business reports that Dominion Energy was among large corporations that paid no federal income tax for 2018 U.S. income.

Some previous posts about this subject:

CenterStage, Altria Theater Exempted From Real Estate Tax

Schools Before Stadiums!

Broken Promises: Richmond’s Leaders Don’t Want To Put Schools First

Coliseum Vs. Schools: Time For A New Referendum (I)

WRIR’s Open Source Show Today

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WRIR-LPFM’s local affairs show Open Source will be airing today at noon. It will feature at least two stories that may be of particular interest to Oregon Hill- Monroe Park renovation problems and the archeological excavation of Virginia State Penitentiary’s site.

TUNE TO THE SOURCE!! On Friday’s edition of Open Source RVA, heard at noon on WRIR 97.3 FM, I discuss the continued problems with the Monroe Park renovation with Todd Woodson, former member of the Monroe Park Advisory Council, including the recent discovery that $350,000 in school construction funds were being diverted toward the park. And author Dale Brumfield returns to the host seat. He talks about the Virginia State Penitentiary archeological excavation with Sacred Ground Historical Reclamation Project’s Ana Edwards, archeologist Ellen Chapman, and Environmental historian Libby Cook. ALSO: Charles Mcguigan of WRIR’s “A Grain of Sand” tells the inspirational story of 60-year-old Iron Man Triathlon champion, Will Turner. SO MUCH SOURCE! Listen in Friday at noon on WRIR 97.3 fm Richmond Independent Radio and http://wrir.org..

Prepare For Monument Avenue 10K Traffic

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From Richmond Police Department:

Thousands of participants will take to the city streets on Saturday morning for the much anticipated Monument Avenue 10K. There will be numerous road closures and “No Parking” zones will be in effect beginning as early as tomorrow, April 11.

Events begin at 8 a.m. with the Virginia 529 Kids Run followed by the start of the Monument Avenue 10K at 8:30 a.m. North Laurel Street between W. Franklin Street and Cathedral Place road closure and “No Parking” zone will go in effect tomorrow. Additional road closures will go into effect early Friday morning. Cars parked along the race course will be towed. A complete list of times and dates are attached.

During the event, Monument Avenue will be closed between Stuart Circle and Staples Mill Road. Portions of other main streets will also be closed, including West Broad Street, West Grace Street, West Franklin Street and Lombardy Street. (See maps below.)

To learn more about the course and potential impacts on specific neighborhoods, visit the Richmond Police Department website.

2019 Monument Avenue 10K Street Closure Locations:

Thursday April 11th
N. Laurel Street between W. Franklin Street & Cathedral Pl.
April 11th (1:00 PM) to April 14th (5:00 PM)
Friday April 12th
N. Cherry Street between W. Main Street & Floyd Avenue
April 12th (5:00 AM) to April 13th (5:00 PM)
N. Linden Street between Park & Floyd Avenue
April 12th (5:00 AM) to April 13th (5:00 PM)
N. Cathedral Pl. between Cathedral Pl. & S. Cathedral Pl.
April 12th (5:00 AM) to April 13th (5:00 PM)
N. Laurel Street between Cathedral Pl. & W. Main Street
April 12th (5:00 AM) to April 13th (5:00 PM)
Cathedral Place between N. Laurel Street & N. Cathedral Pl. / VCU Commons Area
April 12th (5:00 AM) to April 13th (5:00 PM)
S. Cathedral Place between N. Cathedral Pl. & N. Laurel Street
April 12th (5:00 AM) to April 13th (5:00 PM)
Floyd Avenue between S. Cathedral Pl. & N. Harrison St.
April 12th (5:00 AM) to April 13th (5:00 PM)
Shafer Street between W. Franklin & Grace Street
April 12th (10:00 AM) to April 13th (5:00 PM)
W. Franklin Street between N. Harrison & Belvidere Street
April 12th (1:00 PM) to April 13th (5:00 PM)
N. Laurel Street between W. Franklin & Grace Street
April 12th (1:00 PM) to April 13th (5:00 PM)
Grove Avenue between N. Harrison & Linden Street
April 12th (3:00 PM) to April 13th (5:00 PM)
Park Avenue between N. Harrison & Linden Street
April 12th (3:00 PM) to April 13th (5:00 PM)

Saturday April 13th (Race Day)
W. Franklin Street between N. Lombardy & Harrison St.
April 13th (3:00 AM) to (5:00 PM)
Shafer Street between W. Broad & Grace Street
April 13th (3:00 AM) to (12:00 PM)
Pine Street between W. Franklin & Broad Street
April 13th (3:00 AM) to (5:00 PM)
N. Laurel Street between W. Grace & Broad Street
April 13th (3:00 AM) to (5:00 PM)
W. Broad Street between Belvidere & N. Lombardy St.
April 13th (4:00 AM) to (12:00 PM)
N. Harrison Street between W. Marshall St. & Park Ave.
April 13th (4:00 AM) to (2:00 PM)
Kent Road between Wythe Avenue & Monument Avenue
April 13th (5:00 AM) to (1:00 PM)
Chantilly Street between Monumental St. & Monument Avenue
April 13th (5:00 AM) to (1:00 PM)
Blacker Street between Monumental St. & Monument Avenue
April 13th (5:00 AM) to (1:00 PM)
Canal Street between Belvidere & S. 2nd Street
April 13th (5:00 AM) to (2:00 PM)
Park Avenue between N. Lombardy & Linden Street
April 13th (6:00 AM) to (9:00 AM)
N. Lombardy Street between Hanover & Park Avenue
April 13th (6:00 AM) to (10:00 AM)
Hanover Avenue between N. Lombardy St. & Park Ave.
April 13th (6:00 AM) to (9:00 AM)
N. Meadow Street between Monument & Park Avenue
April 13th (6:30 AM) to (2:00 PM)
Monument Avenue between Stuart Circle & Staples Mill Road.
April 13th (7:00 AM) to (2:00 PM)
W. Grace Street between Belvidere & N. Allen Avenue
April 13th (7:00 AM) to (12:00 PM)
N. Lombardy Street between W. Broad St. & Park Avenue
April 13th (7:00 AM) to (2:00 PM)

St. Andrew’s School Hosting Event Tomorrow Evening

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Tomorrow (Thursday) evening at 7 pm, the St. Andrew’s School is hosting “a community conversation” at The Woman’s Club at The Historic Bolling Haxall House (211 E. Franklin Street).

Here is more information:

The Carol Wingo Dickinson Thought Leaders Series
Cradle to Career: Equity and Social Justice in Early Childhood Education
Thursday, April 11, 2019
7:00 p.m.
The Woman’s Club at The Historic Bolling Haxall House

Please join us for a thoughtful conversation on how our community can work together to ensure
that all of our children are given equitable educational opportunities that lead to future success.

Featuring:
The State of Early Childhood Education in Virginia
Kathy Glazer, President, Virginia Early Childhood Foundation

Keynote Address
Dr. Beatrice S. Fennimore, Professor of Education, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

With a panel discussion moderated by
Dr. Cynthia Weldon-Lassiter, Ed.D., Head of School, St. Andrew’s School

Panelists
Mrs. Q’Sheka Banks, Family Member, St. Andrew’s School
Dr. Andrew Daire, Dean, VCU School of Education
Dr. Beatrice S. Fennimore, Professor of Education, IUP
Dr. Kate O’Donnell, Principal, St. Andrew’s School

If you would like to attend this event, please RSVP to Ashley Landes at development@St-Andrews-School.org or 804.648.4952 ext. 123.

Suggested admission is $35 per person.

If you would like to give the suggested admission, please make your check payable to St. Andrew’s School, 227 South Cherry Street, Richmond, VA, 23220 or click here to give online.

This inaugural event was named after Carol Wingo Dickinson, a lifelong community servant who, along with her family, supported the St. Andrew’s School community for almost 20 years. During her time at St. Andrew’s, Carol served as a Lunch Buddies volunteer, joined the Board of Directors in 2011, and assumed the role of Board Chair in 2017. Her knowledge, experience, and dedication to the school made her an invaluable leader and advocate for providing access to quality, life-changing education to our students. The Thought Leaders Series honors her memory and invites the whole community to work together for social justice and equity in education.

St. Andrew’s School is a well-established equity-driven community organization that engages in positive community change by providing access to high-quality K through 5 education and forges relationships that strengthen the greater Richmond community’s cradle to career continuum through the perspectives of equity and social justice in education.

Trash/Recycling Pickup Tomorrow

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This Wednesday is a “Red Wednesday”, which means trash and recycling pickup. Ideally, rolling recycling containers are stored and deployed in the back alleys along with trash cans. Please make sure you pick up containers after pickup tomorrow night.

If you have not done so already, don’t forget to sign up for your Recycling Perks.
In order to take your recycling to the next level, read this: 10 ways to improve your recycling.

In local recycling news, The Richmond Free Press is reporting that Chesterfield County is poised to pull out of a regional curbside recycling program, which could require Richmond and Henrico County to boost their subsidies to maintain the program.

The decision could come as early as Wednesday, April 10, when the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote on a new 2019-20 budget that includes no money to support the county’s share of the recycling program’s cost, beginning July 1.