Leathy’s Death Notice, 1861

From the Daily Dispatch, May 4, 1861:

Died.
Yesterday afternoon, Leathy, infant child of Baylor S. and Leathy Martin, aged 2 years9 months and 12 days.

That once loved form, now cold and dead,
Each mournful thought employs;
We weep our earthly comforts fled,
And withered all our joys.
Hope looks beyond the bounds of time,
When what we now deplore
Shall rise in full immortal prime,
And bloom to fade no more.

The funeral will take place from the residence of her father, on Oregon Hill, this (Saturday) afternoon, at 4 o’clock. The friends of the family are invited to attend.

Editor’s Note: Baylor Martin was one of the founders of the Pine St. Baptist Church and lived at 401 S. Pine

Oregon Hill REDISTRICTED!

From the Fan community news site:

Redistricting of the State Senate and House of Delegates districts based on the 2010 Census numbers was made official recently, with some impact on the neighborhood.

A piece of the Fan close to Monroe Park, all of Oregon Hill and Byrd Park, and much of the Forest Hill area that have been part of State Senate District 9, currently held by Donald McEachin (D), will now be in State Senate District 10, held by John Watkins (R). Interestingly, with these and other changes, both of these Senate districts are now less partisan than before the redistricting: District 9 has been redistricted to be 6.3% more Republican (up to a whopping 36.5%), while District 10 is now 7.5% more Democratic (40.7%).

Byrd House Market Opens Official 2011 Season

From announcement:

Byrd House Market opens it’s 5th season on Tuesday, May 3rd having grown from 27 to 32 vendors offering fresh, seasonal, locally grown fruits, vegetables and plants, locally made desserts, baked and canned goods, meats, butter, more hot and ready-to-eat foods and an array of ornamental plants, cut flowers, and handcrafted items. We are delighted to have a winery with us this season and BHM is proud to be home to many of our area’s finest fresh food subscription (aka CSA – Consumer Supported Agriculture) vendors. New and returning vendors help keep our market almost 95% food-focused, ensuring the widest possible array of delicious, healthy food selections.

EAT GOOD GROW GREAT is the operating principle behind William Byrd Community House’ nutrition education program and is the reason-being for this historic social services agency to have added a farmers market, community garden and production farmlet to its rich array of services for Richmond families in need. Good nutrition is key to healthy living and by also teaching it we see the WBCH mission — transforming lives … building self-sufficiency – in action, every day.

Byrd House Market is open Tuesdays, May through October, 3:30 – 7:00 pm.

For a detailed list of vendors and other market information, please visit our blog: byrdhousemarket.blogspot.com!

Upcoming…

Really Really Free Market Saturday
School choice group meets Saturday
Disney’s Beauty and The Beast continues at the Landmark Theater
Pine Street yard/garage sale on Saturday-

May Day Paradeer…Celebration on Sunday
Pescados brunch service starts on Sunday
Monday is City Council budget meetingperhaps we will see if Patrick Henry School gets more funding.
And don’t forget that Tuesday is the first official Byrd Market of the year!
Also Tuesday, there’s a meeting about Richmond’s transportation policyI might have a few thoughts on that.

Parental Choice Group Forms in Richmond

From Richmond Magazine article:

A new organization has emerged from the seemingly perpetual public-policy dust-up surrounding Richmond’s first public charter school and last year’s state law changes that simplify the process of creating new charter schools in Virginia.

The Greater Richmond Education Reform Alliance will hold an organizational and informational meeting this Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. at the Anointed Worship Center, at 4909 Government Road, located in the Fulton area of Richmond’s East End. The event is open to all, says Keisha Cummings, chairwoman of the board of the newly formed advocacy group.

“What it is is a call to action,” says Cummings, who previously served as the first Parent Teacher Association president at the Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts, where her daughter attends. “We want to inform people about what we’re talking about … and help them to advocate for whatever it is that they want for their children.”

By focusing its advocacy efforts on the more broad “whatever” that parents may seek, Cummings says, the new group seeks to avoid endorsing a single option — or even to risk appearing to be advocating against more traditional public schools.

“The organization was started to educate parents and to advocate for education reform, and to do that by educating parents in Richmond and the metro area,” she says. “It’s not so much we’re advocating for charter schools, but education options.”

May Day Parade Controversy

Despite the American Civil Liberties Union’s assistance, the memorandum opinion 4-28-11 came out today against the plaintiff.

From the Times Dispatch article:

A federal judge on Thurday morning turned down an ACLU bid that would allow an activist group to hold a May Day parade in Richmond without paying for off-duty police escorts.

“Obviously we’re very disappointed with the ruling, and our clients will have to make a decision on how to proceed,” said Rebecca Glenberg, legal director of the ACLU of Virginia.

In a ruling, U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson wrote, among other things, that the group failed to show the Richmond police decision to deny the parade permit “was based on anything other than reasonable public policy considerations.”

The ACLU asked Hudson to allow the Richmond May Day Coalition/Organizing Committee to hold a May Day parade Sunday without paying $294 for off-duty police officers to serve as escorts.

The “May Day International Workers Day” was expected to draw 200 or more participants and involve marching bands, banners, flags, a bull horn and a small public address system, said city officials.

The parade would start at Monroe Park, proceed west on Main Street, north on Lombardy Street, east on Broad Street, south on Laurel Street and end back at Monroe Park.

Again, Congratulations to Mamma ‘Zu and Pescados

Mamma ‘Zu wins Style’s Best of Richmond Readers’ Pick for Best Italian Restaurant.

From the article:

This ain’t no red sauce joint, and pizza is not listed on the blackboard. Mamma ‘Zu charms the purist looking for a taste of real Italy with classic preparations and ultrafresh ingredients. Some diners claim to abhor this strange little place, but its list of devotees is way longer.

Also, note that Pescados won for Readers’ Pick Best Local Seafood.