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New Year’s Resolution: Use RPL’s Online Resources
If you are still looking for a New Year’s resolution, this one has a lot of potential. While many Oregon Hill residents enjoy walking downtown to our nearby Richmond Public Library Main Street location, all Richmond residents can take advantage of RPL’s FREE online resources.
Here is a list of them:
America’s News (Search largest collection of full-text U.S. newspapers)
Auto Repair Reference Center (Find the cost of repair to your car or truck)
Biography in Context (Biographical information on more than 500,000 people)
Find It Virginia (one-stop source for newspaper and periodical articles on a wide range of topics, resources for middle and high school students with research assignments)
Global Issues in Context (variety of sources focusing on broad issues such as war, genocide, terrorism, human rights, poverty, climate change. What no Kardashian or Duck Dynasty?) Literati Public (Literati is a great place to stat research on any topic, plus online homework help)
Mango Languages (Study over 77 different languages through everyday conversation. Includes over 15 courses for people learning English as a second language)
Mergent (Full financial information offered on international and U.S. companies)
NoveList Plus (Literature database spotlights biographies, book titles, subject headings, and read-a-likes for current as well as past authors)
Opposing Viewpoints in Context (This database allows users to explore both sides of hotly debated topics)
Reference USA (Find residential, business, and medical listings across the country by name, address, telephone number, or business code)
TumbleBook Library (Animated, talking picture books that teach kids the joy of reading)
Zinio (Full digital copies of popular magazines)
Then in my true, made-for-TV infomercial voice, But that’s not all!-
In addition to the many, many e-books that can be downloaded for your iPad or e-tablet reading pleasure, there is also the Learning Express Library, which offers online courses and practice tests for Civil Service, ASVAB, GED, SAT, and even vocations like nursing. Again, you can register and access these FREE online resources using your Richmond PUBLIC library card number as your username.
The thing is, I don’t think many Richmond teachers, let alone students, fully recognize just how much is available online from RPL. So, even if you are already using RPL online, make a point to tell your neighbors about it and have a Happy New Year!
Renegade Market Open Tomorrow
The Renegade Market will be open New Year’s Eve. 3 to 6 pm.
Trash/Recycling On Thursday
Due to the holiday, the trash and recycling pickup will be on Thursday. Please make sure you pick up containers after pickup Thursday night. They do not belong on the sidewalk after Thursday night.
In recycling news, on Saturday, January 11, 2014, the City’s Department of Public Works is sponsoring the fourth annual “Bring One for the Chipper” Christmas tree recycling program. In addition to Christmas trees, the event will include electronics recycling, document shredding and donations of clothing and small household items to Goodwill Industries.
“Bring One for the Chipper 2013” will take place in the paved lot at 1710 Robin Hood Road (northeast corner of Robin Hood Road and North Boulevard), from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on January 11. The event began in 2010 as part of Mayor Dwight C. Jones’ City-wide sustainability initiatives. Recycling keeps the Christmas trees and electronics equipment out of landfills, which helps reduce the City’s carbon footprint.
816 Riverside Park To Be Demolished
from email:
Notice of Pending Demolition of Imminent Hazard to Public Safety – 816 Riverside Park
In accordance with Section 36-105 of the Code of Virginia, as the Commissioner of Buildings for the City of Richmond I have signed the attached imminent hazard order. This building has deteriorated to the point that its immediate removal is necessary. As a result of this order, the building will be removed, as soon as possible, by either the City of Richmond or the property owner.
If you have questions about the unsafe conditions and the code enforcement status of this building, please contact Michelle Coward, Code Enforcement Program Manager (at MICHELLE.COWARD at RICHMONDGOV.COM or 646-6357).
Please keep in mind that the issuance of the imminent hazard order means that in accordance with City Code Section Sec. 114-930.6. (j), for those properties in City Old and Historic districts demolition can proceed without a certificate of appropriateness being issued by the Commission of Architectural Review (CAR). Also if the building is an area identified for Federal funding, in accordance with the terms of the Richmond Programmatic Agreement, the City will complete Section 106 review of the property on an emergency basis.
If you have questions regarding these historic preservation programs please contact T. Tyler Potterfield (at 804-646-6364 or Thomas.Potterfield at richmondgov.com). Mr. Potterfield can also add or remove individuals from the distribution list for future imminent notices.
Regards,
Douglas H. Murrow, AIA, CBO
Commissioner of Buildings
THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE
From RPD Crime Report:
4th Precinct
THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE
12/19/13 1:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
500 block of South Pine Street
An unknown person(s) entered the unlockedvehicle and stole tools.
OHNA Meeting Tonight
Don’t forget the Holiday Market this afternoon.
The Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association will meet TONIGHT, December 17th, at 7:00 pm in the William Byrd Community House.
The Oregon Hill City Carolers Tomorrow Night
From email:
The Oregon Hill City Carolers will be making our annual trip around the neighborhood tomorrow spreading joy and cheer around 8pm. We look forward to seeing everyone’s smiling faces!
This is funny given some of the recent attention Mamma Zu’s has received–
Trash/Recycling Pickup Tomorrow
This Wednesday is a red Wednesday, which means trash and recycling pickup. Please make sure you pick up containers after pickup tomorrow night. They do not belong on the sidewalk after tomorrow night.
In recycling news, the United Kingdon has a new report on its recycling.(LARGE pdf)
“The report recognizes that our markets are global and intertwined and that we cannot base the export debate solely on the needs of the U.K.,” says Hetherington. “Exports are vital to the U.K.’s £5 billion (US$8.167 billion) metals recycling industry. Currently 60 percent of the recycled material processed in the U.K. is exported. This reflects the decline of our metal production industry which is a matter of regret for our members.”
SQUIRRELS!
Next time you see a squirrel in Monroe Park, you might want to consider their origin. A new paper in the Journal of American History covers The Urbanization of the Eastern Gray Squirrel in the United States:
The urbanization of the gray squirrel in the United States between the mid-nineteenth century and the early twentieth century was an ecological and cultural process that changed the squirrels’ ways of life, altered the urban landscape, and adjusted human understandings of nature, the city, and the boundaries of community.
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Given the present ubiquity of gray squirrels, it may be difficult to believe that they have not always been common in American cities. In fact, they seem to have been entirely absent during the first half of the nineteenth century. The lack of systematic surveys before the twentieth century hinders estimates of the size of historical squirrel populations, which can fluctuate dramatically from year to year depending on food supplies, weather conditions, and other factors.