Author Archives: Scott

Happy New Year! Trash/Recycling Pickup Tomorrow (Or Maybe Thursday)

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Happy New Year! This Wednesday is a “Red Wednesday”, which means trash and recycling pickup, or maybe it will be Thursday due to recent holiday. 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.

If you have not done so already, fulfill that resolution, and sign up for your Recycling Perks.
In order to take your recycling to the next level, read this: 10 ways to improve your recycling.

ALSO: The City of Richmond Department of Public Works and the Richmond Clean City Commission will be hosting its 10th annual “Bring One for the Chipper” on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019 from 10 am -2 pm at 1710 Robin Hood Rd and N. Blvd. (field across from the Arthur Ashe Center. In addition to Christmas Tree recycling, the city is hosting household hazardous waste (HHW) collection, electronics recycling ( fees may apply on certain items) and document shredding ( up to 5 boxes) and city recyclers can drop off their 24 gallon green bins for reuse in city schools since now have 95 gallon recycling cart with a blue lid.

In recycling news, mounds of holiday boxes and improper recycling practices caused the City of Virginia Beach to temporarily close one of its recycling sites. Remember, flatten cardboard boxes — and only recycle paper, bottles, and cans. Leave out plastic and bags that are not recyclable.

Two Important Activist Events This Thursday

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This Thursday evening there are two events that local activists may find enticing. First is a protest against the influence of money on our government from corporate interests, and in particular Dominion Energy.

From the event description:

Governor Northam is holding a fundraiser with Dominion Executive Bob Blue and Dominion’s Law Firm McGuire Woods (among other corporate interests) for his “The Way Ahead” PAC – this is corruption on display, and this corruption is the reason projects like both the Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley pipelines, Tom Farrell’s Navy Hill proposal, and others that harm Virginia communities for private profit are allowed in our state.

PLEASE JOIN US for a demonstration outside of the reception to send a message to Governor Northam and any future candidates in Virginia: Corporate corruption in our government will not stand – The Way Ahead for Virginia will be free of corrupt money, like from Dominion, and free of corporate shills like Northam!

We will demonstrate outside of the McGuire Woods building (800 E Canal St – where the fundraiser reception is being held), from 5:30-7:30 (the time of the fundraiser). Bring your signs and banners to make the message visible (we will have some signs to share).

Come for all or part of the event and send a clear message to Northam and any future politicians – this type of corruption will no longer stand. Dominion’s days in our government are over!

#NoACP #NoMVP #NoPipelines #DumpDominion

One future possibility to consider is a constitutional amendment for both the Virginia and federal constitutions against corporate money, a la www.MoveToAmend.org It’s noteworthy that Mayor Stoney has evidently gone in an opposite direction- stating just this past month that he would continue to accept donations from Dominion Energy.

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A second progressive event that should also generate a lot of political discussion is a Ranked Choice Voting Info Session at the Richmond Main Library, hosted by FairVote Virginia. That begins at 6 pm.

From event description:

Our Richmond local action group is officially up and running! Join us at the Richmond Public Library to meet local FairVote supporters, debrief on our latest legislative efforts, and learn how you can help bring ranked choice voting to Virginia in 2019.

FairVote Virginia is VA’s chapter of the national FairVote movement to advance ranked choice voting. Visit our website at fairvoteva.org to learn more.

This community news site has brought up ranked choice voting before, including in relation to the City’s Mayoral election.

CEO of Civil War Museum Recognized By Time Magazine

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Richmond Times Dispatch columnist Michael Paul Williams recently caught up with Christy Coleman, the CEO of the American Civil War Museum. She has just been recognized by Time Magazine as one of “31 People Who Are Changing the South.”

Included in the piece is some of what’s new at Tredegar:

Five years after the merger of the American Civil War Center and the Museum of the Confederacy, the American Civil War Museum is preparing to open a new building in May at Historic Tredegar. The nearly 30,000-square-foot space will house the museum’s collections, including a new core gallery called “A People’s Contest: Struggles for Nation and Freedom in Civil War America.” The new building will also include storage space and five offices. The Tredegar foundry building will be converted from an exhibit space into an events venue. The exhibits are being installed now in the new space.

“Every day I go in there, I’m just so ecstatic to see this vision we’ve worked on for years now really come into fruition,” Coleman said. “This is another game-changer.”

The Museum continues to chin out some noteworthy events. It’s Foundry Series is pretty weighty. On January 24th it will have a program on Politics and the Supreme Court that features Dr. Timothy Huebner, Rhodes College, Memphis and will be moderated by Dr. Henry L. Chambers, University of Richmond School of Law. But it’s (free) “History Happy Hours” should also not be overlooked. On January 14, the Museum’s own Morgan Floyd will be hosting one called “Fight Like A Girl” at the Capital Ale House.

Zoning Appeal

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From the agenda for the January 2nd meeting of the Board of Zoning Appeals:

(CONTINUED FROM NOVEMBER 7, 2018 MEETING) An application of Tim Farrow for a special exception from Sections 30-300, 30-413.2(2), 30-413.7. & 30-620.1(c) of the zoning ordinance for a building permit to construct a one-story addition (13’ x 15’) on the rear of a single-family (attached) dwelling at 622 HOLLY STREET (Tax Parcel Number W000-0139/039), located in an R-7 (Single- and Two-Family Urban Residential District). The side yard (setback) and lot coverage requirements are not met.

First Day Walk

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Pine Street neighbor Stephenie Harrington is organizing a ‘First Day Walk’. From her announcement:

Tuesday, January 1st
10am

Meet at gazebo on S. Pine St, we plan to head over to Belle Island promptly at 10 o’clock. Kids, strollers and dogs on leashes welcome. Please comment below or message me if you plan to join us.
We may get some sprinkles but forecast looks quite warm.
Happy New Year!

By the way, if you are planning something further away- you may want to check out this post on the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s website about Virginia State Parks First Day Hikes 2019.

Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine On Nearby Car/Bike Accident

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Blue Ridge Outdoor Magazine’s Shannon McGowan has coverage of a recent accident that took place at the intersection of S. Harrison and W. Cary streets.

Tom Tedesco, a Virginia Common Wealth University student and a Trip Leader for the Outdoor Adventure Program there, had his easy going Saturday flipped on its head while biking home from the library…Literally.

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BRO: What advice do you have for urban bikers?

TEDESCO: First and foremost, I would like to say ALWAYS WEAR YOUR HELMET. ALWAYS. Not just when you’re biking long distances or biking fast or mountain biking, but always. It doesn’t matter how far you’re going, or if you’re only going to be biking for a few minutes; accidents like this can kill you in an instant.

I was less than a mile from where I was going when this happened, and only a few hundred yards from where I had started, and since I landed starting with my head, without a helmet, the outcome could have been far worse.

I would also like to remind people, myself included, that even if you’re doing everything right, it’s important to remember that not everyone else is. We should all be biking cautiously, with the mindset that every driver on the road is on the phone and might run a red light.

Again, click here for full article.

A Positive Step For School Modernization

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Local media are reporting about the announced school funding plan from Mayor Stoney that should satisfy the 2017 School Modernization Referendum. The WRIC report includes these highlights of the plan:

Successfully provides $800 million of school capital investment over 20 years;
Does not rely on any real estate tax increase;
Includes $150 million of school capital investment funding based on the recently enacted 1.5% meals tax that is dedicated to Schools;
Allows for full compliance with all of the city’s existing Debt Policy Guidelines;
Provides significant capital funding for general non-school projects over the same 20-year time frame;
Relies on 2% growth in the city’s debt service budget commencing in FY 2024, a rate that is below that of historic inflation and is a fraction of the city’s recent growth in taxable real estate assessed valuation.

Paul Goldman, who was the author of the Put Schools First campaign and subsequent referendum (as well as the new one!) had this say:

Media/Stoney/Council/Democrats/Chamber finally understand the citizen led 2017 School Modernization Referendum. The Referendum effort had and has only one public spirited goal: Getting long denied RVA children out of decrepit, intolerable, immoral buildings conditions and into clean, modern, worthy facilities necessary to teach a true 21st century education. I knew – as did Richmond Crusade for Voters and Sierra Club – that City Hall, City Council, editorial writers, columnists, and Chamber of Commerce would not do it without putting the proverbial political gun to their heads. And if in the end City Hall, Council, editorialists, columnists, Chamber, et al join together to do the right thing, I will be cheering the loudest for them and give them all the credit.

So, wishing good fellowship for the holidays. We shall see more of the details of the Mayor’s plan when he presents it to City Council on January 14th. Let’s hope it includes lots of vision on including historic preservation, green building, and solar for our ailing school system.

Reminder- 2019 Historic Oregon Hill Calendars

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A reminder- Pine Street Baptist Church is selling 2019 Historic Oregon Hill Calendars. The calendar is composed of black and white photos from years gone by in the Oregon Hill community. The calendars are $15 and may be purchased at the church. Money raised will be used for Pine Street’s ongoing ministries. Call 644-0339 for more information. The calendars make a great Christmas gift.

If you know of a neighborhood business that has a special holiday release, deal, or bargain, please share in the comments.