This past Thursday evening a neighbor on the 600 block of S.Laurel saw 3 juveniles start to boost a bicycle off the front porch of a student house across the street. She bravely told them to put it back and called the police. The would be thieves left before the police could arrest them, but the neighbor’s daughter shared with the police a cell phone video of the incident.
This is the time of year when police see a lot of these type of crimes happening. Please stay alert.
Community Movie Night
Friday, August 16, at dusk
Pleasants Park
Refreshments Served
From email:
Dear 5th District Resident,
The purpose of this email is to notify you of our 5th District meeting on tomorrow, August 14 at 6:30 pm at the Randolph Community Center (1415 Grayland Avenue). Agenda items include a Richmond Public Schools update from school board representative Ms. Mamie Taylor, a programming update from Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities, a special presentation from GRTC regarding route updates, an update on City Stadium and a Richmond City Council legislative update.
We’d also like to remind you that we will host a community clean-up this Saturday, August 17th in the Carytown and Stadium neighborhoods. We will be meeting at 9:00 a.m. at the City Stadium parking lot (600 McCloy St.). If you are interested in volunteering please contact our office at 804-646-5724.
Sincerely,
Parker C. Agelasto
Richmond City Council, 5th District
Also, from email:
Good afternoon, all!
This is a reminder that there will be no 4th precinct CAPS meeting for this month, in keeping with our summer break tradition. (We also don’t meet in December).
Our next meeting will be September 19th, at 6 pm at Linwood Holton Elementary, as usual.
As always feel free to get in touch with me with questions, comments, or concerns.
Thanks as always,
Matt Toner
MPACT
(804) 646-1062- desk
(804) 357-6969- mobile
matthew.toner (at) richmondgov.com
From email about the sign (see earlier picture by clicking here):
Dear Members of the Urban Design Committee,
Please allow me to express the profound horror felt by myself and many members of the community over your recent consensus to recommend approval of a huge metal VCU Billboard encroachment in the sidewalk right of way adjacent to the intersection of Belvidere and West Main streets. I have attached a picture of the sign as it was installed- by mistake within the park property.
Even when positioned on the sidewalk location recommended by your committee, this sign obstructs historic sight lines through Monroe Park and is inconsistent with the Monroe Park Master Plan as adopted by the city.
The Monroe Park Advisory Council labored for 8 years coming up with an exciting and comprehensive Master Plan to implement an historically sensitive renovation which will return the Park, which is Richmond’s oldest and most historic park, to the jewel it should be. The city has already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in consultant fees as well as in crafting construction documents. Your bad recommendation undermines all of this hard work and capital expenditure.
The manner in which you came to your conclusion is especially troubling. Not only were stakeholders, to include the Monroe Park Advisory Council and the neighborhood associations adjoining the park not advised of the vote in advance, but neither was city council. The neighborhoods that surround and use this park will be severely impacted by this ugly and huge metal billboard encroachment. Furthermore, since you opted not to meet in August, the minutes of the July 3, 2013 meeting in which you arrived at your recommendation were not voted for approval and consequently not placed on your website. This left the stakeholders totally in the dark and created a fete accompli for VCU and this wretched sign. For all intents and purposes, this huge billboard incorrectly “brands” Monroe Park as a VCU Facility. As guardians of aesthetic matters in the city, I just can’t imagine what you were thinking when you recommended approval for this huge billboard encroachment.
VCU participated in the design and supported the final draft of the Monroe Park Master Plan. By submitting the application which is inconsistent with the Master Plan, they are again engaging in ethically questionable behavior. Oregon Hill and other nearby neighborhoods have suffered at the hand of the VCU administration through unbridled encroachment during the Trani years and obviously again now that Rao is president.
In closing, I find the way that this issue was handled by the UDC to be the exact opposite of transparent government. I sincerely hope that city council will investigate and make recommendations limiting the scope of responsibility of the Urban Design Committee if not completely redefining the body. You should all be ashamed of yourselves.
Sincerely,
Charles T. Woodson
New Vendors!
Ted & Kirsten’s Excellent Adventure – bagels served with fresh ingredients expands our prepared food offerings.
Margy’s Comforts Home Bakery brings breads, rolls, and other savories to your table along with Pleased to Be Crafting crocheted hats, bags, and accessories.
And don’t forget the noodles, spring rolls, sweet potato rolls, butter, honey, berries, peaches, squash, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, chanterelles, shiitakes, portobellos and crimini, the cool cucumbers, riron-rich beets and melons and okra, green beans, leeks, creamy yogurt, cold milk and refreshing kefir, sausages, roasts, fryers, bacon, chops, tenerloins and soup bones…
Pets and Peeps Day
http://dogtownlounge.blogspot.com/
Mugsy
“Returning Raw Foods to Pets” by Mugsy’s Dogtown Lounge
At 4:30, 5:30 and 6:30, Mugsy will show and tell why raw foods are important (and natural) to your dog’s and cat’s health and well being.
Visiting Nonprofit:
Artmaking with Virginia Center for Latin American Art includes an exhibit on the Bus: Helen Ruiz paintings, 3:30 – 5 pm
The Peeps: HandOn Teen Impact Farm to Plate Day Camp – 10 teens on hand to help set up the market, tour the farmlet, do a scavenger hunt and shop the market!
Live Music courtesy of the Blue Lotus Collective
and much more at byrdhousemarket.blogspot.com
____________
Ana Edwards, Manager
Byrd House Market & Library Programs
Grace Arents Library & Education Center
William Byrd Community House
www.wbch.org / 804.643.2717 ext.306
Sometime over the last few days, VCU erected this large metal sign within the boundaries of city property.
WTVR reporter Mark Holmberg did a nice little piece on the Tredegar Street rope swing. Here’s how it begins:
It’s just a missing rope swing. One that goes missing from time to time.
And yet, it’s an identifiable part of the cityscape, a Richmond tradition, if you will, every bit as evocative as the smell of Shockoe Bottom or the vista atop Sunset Hill where Grace Street surrenders for a clifflike block.
At least two generations and mayhaps more have loved this rope swing hanging high from the railroad trestle between Brown and Belle islands on historic Tredegar Street. It’s about 40 feet above the mighty James River, which offers a mostly friendly little eddy – with a deluxe sandy bottom – to embrace the tens of thousands of laughing, splashing swingers.
He goes on to say that although no one admits to cutting down the swing, it does happen from time to time and then returns.
From email:
There are several volunteer opportunities across the watershed to come out and help the James River. If you are interested in any of the events below, just let me know.
August 17: The Tire-Less James
Volunteers are needed to remove tires — and only tires — from the James River between Lynchburg and Richmond during the first Tire-less James Event. We recommend that you wear work gloves and closed toe shoes. Canoe or john boats are best. We are encouraging as many groups as possible to choose James River State Park (Dixon Landing) to Wingina (5.5 miles), there will be multiple historic James River batteaux on site to help carry out tires from this section. Groups can look at available sections and register online. http://www.jrava.org/get-involved/volunteer/tire-less-jamesSeptember 14, 9am-1pm: JRAC Cleanup
Join hundreds of volunteers across the James River watershed to clean up trash. Select from 15 different sites from Lynchburg to Newport News. Look at available sites and register online. Help with recycling is needed at the Reedy Creek site that JRA sponsors. http://www.jrac-va.org/events/cleanup/September 21, 9:30 am – Noon: Rain Garden Maintenance and Cleanup
Help with weeding, planting, and mulching of several rain gardens. All tools will be provided. Please wear sturdy shoes and clothes that can get dirty. Meet in the parking lot behind Advance Auto, 6300 W Broad Street, Richmond. Pre-registration is required. To register, please contact Amber Ellis at 804-788-8811 ext 205 or volunteer(at)jrava.org.September 22, Richmond Splash & Dash
The James River Splash & Dash is a competitive tube race which takes place near Richmond’s Belle Isle. After the race, JRA hosts an after party that includes a live music and food. Volunteers are needed for various tasks that day including registration, race marshals, and set up. http://www.jrava.org/splash-and-dash/richmond/indexAmber Ellis
Watershed Restoration Associate
James River Association
9 South 12th Street, 4th Floor
Richmond, VA 23219
Tel: (804) 788.8811 ext.205
Email: aellis(at)jrava.org
www.jrava.org
Recently the antique Wurlitzer organ that Lunde once played upon was disconnected and stored away. There are only about two dozen of its kind left in the country.
“It’s heartbreaking,” said Lunde.
The controversy over the Wurlitzer began last summer. Lunde says renovation management at the Landmark wanted to remove the organ, he claims he was told to open up a few additional theater seats.
After outrage from organ enthusiasts worldwide, city council assured Richmonders that the organ would not be moved. Lunde and others felt relief, that is until this week.
“They cut the voice out of the organ because you can’t play it,” said Lunde.
Just last week after Lunde got a tip from a friend, he went to the Landmark theater and found the cable to the organ cut, cement poured where the playing console used to be and the instrument resting amid a construction site.
“It’s a trust issue,” said City Councilman Parker Agelasto.
He and Council President Charles Samuels were called on the issue and began asking questions. Samuels was told by the administration that the approval for removal came from Richmond CAO Byron Marshall, who was at the time unaware of the organ controversy.
As one neighbor wrote to our Councilperson, “The Administration needs a good talking to on destroying historic resources…A very unnerving pattern has been unfortunately established…”
But honestly, is anyone surprised by this, given what has gone on? What’s next? Center Stage asking for a percentage of every pint sold to fix the organ?