Category Archives: calendar

Updated DPU TRAFFIC ALERT – Franklin and Belvidere Streets

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RICHMOND, VA— Beginning Monday, August 3 at 9 a.m. and continuing for approximately 18 hours into the early morning hours on Tuesday, August 4, 2009, the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities will be lining a sewer main from the northeast corner of Franklin Street at Belvidere Street to the northwest corner of Franklin Street at Belvidere Street.

During this construction, the left curb lane of Franklin will be closed from approximately Pine Street to the parking entrance of the Apartment Tower located east of Belvidere St. leaving the center and right lanes available for traffic. The right southbound lane of Belvidere will be closed from Grace St. to beyond the intersection of Franklin with Belvidere streets. The right northbound lane of Belvidere will be closed from approximately Main St. to beyond the intersection of Franklin with Belvidere streets.

Motorists should follow all posted detour signs. Motorists are asked to proceed with caution around the construction area.

The City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities provides natural gas, water, wastewater and stormwater services to more than 500,000 residential and commercial customers in the metropolitan region. DPU also operates electric street lighting utility, which maintains more than 37,000 streetlights throughout the City. For more information, call DPU’s Customer Care Center at 644-3000 or visit DPU’s Web site at www.richmondgov.com/dpu.

Councilperson Jewell’s “Rippin'” Fundraiser

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Word on the street is that, following the passing of the Downtown Master Plan, 5th District Councilperson Marty Jewell will be holding a fundraising party this Wednesday, hosted by the Ripp family.

Some background here, here, and here.

Hopefully the Downtown Master Plan will be one topic of discussion at tonight’s Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association meeting.

Two Tuesday Meetings

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This Tuesday evening there are two meetings of note (actually, I am sure there are more than that, but two are what my brain is currently handling).

One is a national health care policy symposium held on the VCU academic campus. Unlike some earlier meetings on health care, this one will actually include more view points than just ‘the public option’ one that the Obama administration is pushing. Its being held by a group called United Virginia.
Please click here for more information.

The second one is for the City’s Fifth ‘Central’ District, hosted by City Councilperson Marty Jewell. It is from 6 pm to 8 pm at the Southside Comunity Services Center (4100 Hull Street). On the agenda are presentation on the new stormwater utility, crime report, traffic calming issues, and more.

Youth Dance Program to Perform June 26th and 27th

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From press release:

City’s Award-winning Youth Dance Program to Perform

The Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities’ award-winning City dance program will present its annual student performances on Friday, June 26, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, June 27, at 11 a.m. Both shows will be at Richmond’s Landmark Theater.

“Anyone who is interested in dance will be stunned to see these students perform,” said J.R. Pope, director of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities. “Every year the students in our dance program compete with students from dance studios throughout the region and come home with a bag full of trophies. This year they won 14 first place awards and seven second place awards competing with dance troupes from across the southeast, and they were the only municipally-sponsored troupe. All the others represented private studios,” he said.

The Friday night performance will feature a complete story-ballet based on the Wizard of Oz. Children of all ages will enjoy this timeless classic, which includes the tornado and all of the much-loved characters, even the melting wicked witch. The cast will feature more than 200 dancers, some as young as three years old.

Saturday’s show, entitled “Back to the Future,” will also feature a large cast, this time performing a wide variety of dance and movement, including tap, jazz, modern, and hip-hop.

Advance tickets, which can be purchased at the Landmark Box Office, are $12 for adults and $8 for senior citizens and children under the age of 12. At the door, tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children and seniors.

For more information call 646-3673.

CITY OLD & HISTORIC DISTRICT PUBLIC CONVERSATION

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The press release:

A CITY OLD & HISTORIC DISTRICT PUBLIC CONVERSATION

Wednesday, June 24th
6:30 – 8:30 pm
The Firehouse Theatre
1609 W. Broad Street [MAP]
(Free parking across the street at Lowe’s)

Richmond’s Commission of Architectural Review
and City Staff want to hear from YOU!
Why do we have Old & Historic Districts?
Why do we choose to live in them?
Why do we think they are important?
What does the public want from them?
How can the Commission of Architectural Review (CAR), the City, and residents be better custodians of Old & Historic Districts?
How can we strengthen the alliance between CAR, the City and residents?
This meeting is free and open to all residents and interested parties of Old & Historic Districts.
Please attend. Your input is crucial.

For more information, contact James Hill at james.hill@richmondgov.com
or city staff at (804) 646-6313.

Some insight:

Oregon Hill has National and State Historic Designation, but by choice not City O&H, though it may happen in the future. While I am personally favorable towards O&H for Oregon Hill, many of my neighbors have objected to government involvement and any possible economic hardship from maintaining O&H standards, and I try to respect that. I often try to broach this topic at neighborhood association meetings. If nothing else, I try to keep a sense of humor about it.

We have also watched how the City and State government has not exactly been uniform in its approach to historic preservation. Keep in mind that VCU is exempt from City code and continues to encroach and destroy our neighborhood. The debate about Union Hill’s O&H needs to be heard.

Oregon Hill has the distinction of holding the most individual historic easements in the City. There was actually a DHR meeting at the Jacob House about that not too long ago.

To get on my soapbox a bit, those individual easements are important because while Oregon Hill may lack grand mansions, we are very historic for the overall collection of working class small houses and business fronts. Its not just rich neighborhoods and government buildings that are historic and deserve to be preserved.

Thanks,
Scott

Governor Kaine To Visit Byrd Market on Tuesday

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Virginia’s Governor Tim Kaine will visit William Byrd Community House Byrd House Market and Grace Arents Community Garden on Tuesday, June 16, 2009, from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. Gov. Kaine has a long history of supporting Early Childhood Education and accepted William Byrd’s invitation when he learned how the organization used its farmers’ market and community garden as teaching tools for its numerous children’s programs.

Continue reading →

History Hounds in Oregon Hill on June 13th

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From Richmond History Center:

June 13 (10am – 12pm)

HISTORY HOUNDS EXPLORE OREGON HILL Dogs are invited to join their owners for this of Oregon Hill, in partnership with the SPCA. Dogs must have current shots, mix well with others and remain on a leash. Owners are responsible for water and cleaning up after their dogs. The SPCA will provide bags. Reservations are required: (804) 649-0711 ext. 301. Space is limited.

Meet your guide at Cherry and Idlewood streets. $10 (Pay your guide on the day of the tour. ) Members: $5

Also:

June 14 (2-4pm)

HOLLYWOOD CEMETERY An extension of the daily “Highlights” tour, this version covers in more detail the cemetery’s unique history, landscape design, architecture, symbols and residents.

Meet your guide at the rear of the stone structure at the cemetery entrance at Cherry and Albemarle Streets. $10 (Pay your guide on the day of the tour. ) Members: $5

SynerGeo Potluck Dinner on Monday

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From Katie:

Hi Everyone,
Hope you are having a lovely Sunday in the sun! Tomorrow night at 6pm SynerGeo is having its Potluck community dinner for the month of June. It is the second Monday of the month because the usual 3rd monday of the month we will all be in Comer,GA on a volunteer trip. So we hope you join us tomorrow night(Monday June 8th) at 6pm to enjoy some dinner nad conversation! We will be available to talk about our summer camps we have this summer if you or anyone you know is interested!! And you never know, maybe some 4 square will pick up again outside our building.

If you aren’t aware of SynerGeo, it is on the corner of S. Laurel and Albemarle street! It’s a small non profit that reaches out to the community in different ways such as after school art and music programs for kids and these community dinners! www.synergeo.org for a lot more info.

Hope to see you tomorrow,
Katie Cowles and the rest of the SynerGeo staff