Author Archives: Scott

SynerGeo Community Dinner Monday

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Hi Everyone-
We are having our September Oregon Hill Community dinner THIS Monday
at 6pm!!!! Our doors will be open to anyone who wants to come and share
a meal with neighbors and meet our new 2008/2009. We do ask if you can
to bring something to share, even if its small or a paper good
donation. In order to keep these dinners going, we do need help from
the neighborhood! There will be music at the dinner by our new music
director, Bean Weatherford. Some of you may have seen him play at the
Byrd Farmers Market with his childrens band: The Ps and Qs. And it is
going to be his goal to find musicians in the neighborhood to play at
the upcoming dinners(which are every 3rd monday of the month!!)

We all hope to see you on Monday! Please help us by spreading the word
to friends/neighbors.
Have a great night
Katie Cowles

SynerGeo Inc.
349 S. Laurel st.
www.synergeo.org

1990 Park Plans

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Still on the theme of plans. Last post was of a prospectus for a museum that never happened. This post is of something that did happen- the linear park along Belvidere. These plans (link takes you to .pdf file, which may take a little time to load) are dated 1990, but the idea for the park goes goes back much further. Before the new Lee Bridge was built and U.S. 1 was created, Belvidere was a one lane, tree-lined, residential street like Laurel St. Sadly, the last house that faced Belvidere was destroyed earlier this year. The park concept was thought of as something that would offer a buffer from the increasing traffic of Belvidere and also lead to peaceful passage to the river. The hope was also that it would extend north to Monroe Park and northern neighborhoods as a real greenway for the City. The river connection finally came into place with the help of grants and attention from resident Napi Ippolito. Although grant money and assistance has been sought for the northern extension from Idlewood, that has not yet happened. I know a lot of us were hoping that this small greenway could become part of the East Cost Greenway. Anyway, I am hoping others can add more in the comments on this post.

What Might Have Been Or What Could Be?

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The mayoral race is running hot and heavy. Meanwhile, the Downtown Master Plan still simmers…

I have been hinting at various other plans, both past and future, and with Murden’s help I am going to try to unearth and present some past ones here.

Starting with this prospectus for a Virginia Transportation Museum (this is a big .pdf file and it may take time to load) that would have gone just below Oregon Hill and the Virginia War Memorial. I found it in the local history section of ‘the Book Lady’s’ booth in the Super Flea on Midlothian.

While I worry about losing more private/public green space, I like the idea as an urban, intermodal, FUNCTIONING museum that would tie in canal, bicycle, train, auto, streetcar, and pedestrian uses. Imagine how cool it would be as a stop on the East Coast Greenway, right above Tredegar Iron Works/ Civil War Center. I understand that some talk about this possibility for the Byrd Pump House in the future.

Anyway, think about it when you visit the site during the Richmond Folk Festival.

“Survivor Day” Training Offered to Richmond Residents on Saturday, September 13

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WHO: Richmond residents can register to receive free training in basic survival skills during an emergency

WHAT: “Survivor Day,” sponsored by the City’s Office of Emergency Management, is a four-hour, free training session in fire safety, first-aid, and terrorism and weather response measures

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, September 13, 2008

WHERE: Landmark Theater, 6 North Laurel Street

This training is designed to prepare citizens with information and planning tools in the event of a widespread disruption of public services, commerce and transportation due to a local emergency.

Training is free and open to all City residents. Citizens can register by calling 311 or visiting www.RichmondGov.com .

A free Survival Kit, with supplies including flashlight, gloves, batteries, toilet paper and a blanket, will be provided upon completion of the training (limit one per household).

Another VCU Siren Test

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Dear Monroe Park Campus Community Advisory Group:

I wanted to let our neighbors know that at noon on Wednesday, September 3, 2008, VCU will conduct a full test of its emergency communications system.
The full test of the system will include 10 sirens on both the Monroe Park and MCV campuses along with text messages, digital signs, e-mails and Web site information that are part of a multi-channel system for communicating emergency information to VCU students, employees, parents and neighbors.

The sirens will sound a fast, up-and-down wail for three minutes, and after a one-minute pause, sound a steady wail for one minute to signal “all clear” to end the test.

We want to remind our neighbors that in a real emergency, sirens will sound for four minutes to signal that an immediate, life-threatening emergency has occurred or is imminent. The purpose of the siren is to alert people outside of campus buildings to immediately seek secure shelter and additional information. People in campus buildings should remain where they are and seek additional information about what is happening and how to respond. People off campus should not come to campus but should seek additional information. Once the campus environment is determined to be safe, the “all clear” even tone siren will be activated for two minutes.

A reminder about text messaging and our VCU Alert Web site: text messaging is the only channel available that can provide personal communication to you wherever you have cell phone service. Text messages will be used for notifications about emergencies, but will also be used to announce closings and delays for inclement weather. There is no cost for enrolling. If you haven’t done so already, you may sign up for text messaging now at www.vcu.edu/alert/notify.

Emergency information also will be available on the VCU Alert Web site at www.vcu.edu/alert, (also accessible off the VCU homepage at www.vcu.edu).

Following the test, we welcome your comments or feedback. You can e-mail us at vcualert@vcu.edu.

In addition, please note that full tests of the VCU Emergency Communications system are conducted near the beginning of each semester. Monthly checks of the siren system, consisting of a one-minute fast wail that also recharge the siren batteries, are conducted at noon on the first Wednesday of each month.

As always, we will communicate with our community neighbors when there is any enhancement or change about which you would want to know. And please, do not hesitate to forward this email to your neighbors, to help spread the word about the siren test.

Sincerely,

e-mail: samessme@vcu.edu

Mugging on Cherry St.

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Police responded Thursday night to a mugging near the intersection of Cherry and Albemarle. A student was approached by 2 black males (one of which had a handgun). They demanded money but he did not have any. There were no injuries. Muggers fled and there were no arrests.

Thank You Michael Paul Williams! “VCU learns growth doesn’t mean prestige”

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On behalf of Oregon Hill residents, I wish to express my appreciation for Michael Paul Williams’ Times Dispatch column this morning.

The school has increased its enrollment by 9,000 students during the past decade. But it has struggled to keep pace — from a standpoint of resources and faculty — to fulfill its academic mission.

Critics of school President Eugene P. Trani, who is stepping down in July, have long complained that he has placed development and enrollment growth above academics. They might call the U.S. News & World Report ranking the chickens coming home to roost.

As the Trani era ends, his successor’s main task will be to restore confidence in academic integrity and to enhance — or repair — VCU’s national stature.

VCU’s promise must not be compromised by its unbridled growth. The school must scale down its ambitions to meet its academic mission. If it is to become a true up-and-comer, quality — not quantity — must be job one.

Despite the hard feelings, Oregon Hill residents are sorry that VCU did not get nationally ranked, we do want what is best for our neighbors (including students getting a quality recreational center), but we are also happy to see that common sense is coming to bear.

Pools of Water (part 2 or 3?)

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But how much premium will VCU pay?

Thanks,
Scott

Begin forwarded message:

From: DPU – Communications
Date: August 18, 2008 3:27:19 PM EDT
To: DPU – Communications
Subject: News release: New water rates underscore conservation effort

New Rate Underscores Conservation Message

RICHMOND, VA—In an effort to encourage water customers to conserve water when supply is scarce, the City of Richmond instituted a water conservation rate, effective July 1, 2008. During designated periods of either voluntary or mandatory conservation, customers who make the decision to use more than 140 percent of their normal winter water usage (water consumed during December, January, and February) will pay a higher commodity rate on their excess usage.

“Rates are set to drive customer behavior,” said Acting Chief Administrative Officer and Public Utilities Director Chris Beschler. “The behavior that we want to promote is to protect one of our most precious natural resources so that we all are doing our part to help the environment. This water conservation rate provides a financial incentive for water customers to do just that,”

Under this water conservation rate, DPU water customers will pay a 50 percent premium on water used over and above 140 percent of their normal winter water usage during voluntary conservation measures, and a 100 percent premium during mandatory water conservation measures.

The following is an example of what an average customer would pay using more than the normal l winter water usage during voluntary or mandatory water conservation measures:

For an average water customer whose winter monthly consumption = 8 Ccf
Conservation charge threshold (8 Ccf X 140%) = 11 Ccf
Actual monthly consumption during conservation period = 20 Ccf
Consumption subject to conservation rate (20 Ccf – 11 Ccf) = 9 Ccf

Voluntary conservation measures were implemented August 11, 2008 in the City of Richmond and surrounding counties when water levels in the James River dropped below the 1,200 cfs trigger level. For more information on conservation measures during either voluntary or mandatory water conservation periods, visit DPU’s website at www.RichmondGov.com/DPU; click on “Water Utility;” and then click on “Water Utility Page” in the drop down menu, or contact DPU’s Customer Care Center at 644-3000.
Contact: Angela Fountain, DPU Communications, 646-7323

Hard copy attached

City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities
Communications Division
730 E. Broad Street, 6th Floor
Richmond, VA 23219
(O) 804.646.5224, (Fax) 804.646.4858
Email: DPUC@richmondgov.com