Hot Tamales at WBCH!

Learn how to make this famous Latin dish and learn some Spanish at the same time with Honduran native at the William Byrd Community House
Elicet Vonderlippe
Choose from any of these Saturdays
March 28, April 25, or May 23
Classes cost $10 which includes your tamales lunch.
Limited spaces available per class so
RSVP now by emailing librarian@wbch.org or calling (804) 643-2717.
Classes are taught in Spanish but non-Spanish speakers are very welcome!

Traffic Pattern Changes, Street Closings
for Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10K

From Richmond Police Department Press Release:

The Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10K celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. The 10K events begin 8 a.m. Saturday, March 28, with the First Market Mile Kids Run. The first wave of the 10K steps off 8:30 a.m. near Broad and Harrison streets. The 10K’s finish line is on Franklin Street next to Monroe Park.

Logistics of the 10K will require numerous street closings and traffic pattern changes throughout the city. Following are the Richmond Police closings and changes scheduled from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday:

Broad Street from Belvidere Street to Lombardy Street will be closed from 5 a.m. to noon. The recommended detour for westbound traffic on Broad is right on Belvidere, left on Leigh Street and left on Allen Avenue. The recommended detour for eastbound traffic on Broad is left on Allen, right on Leigh and right on Belividere.
Laurel Street will be closed from Main to Grace streets from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Franklin Street will be closed from Shafer to Belvidere streets from 5 a.m. to 
2 p.m. and from Lombardy to Shafer from 7:30 a.m. to noon.
Lombardy Street will be closed from Broad to Park Avenue from 7:30 to 11 a.m.
Grace Street will be closed from Belvidere to Allen from 7:45 to 11 a.m.
Monument Avenue and Franklin Street will be closed from Staples Mill Road to Stuart Circle (Lombardy Street) from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The recommended detour for eastbound traffic is left on Staples Mill, right on Broad, left on Allen, right on Leigh and right on Belvidere. The recommended detour for westbound traffic is right on Belvidere, left on Leigh, left on Allen and right on Broad.
The Boulevard will be closed at Monument Avenue from 8:30 a.m. to noon. The recommended detour for northbound traffic is left on Park Avenue, right on Thompson Street to I-195. The recommended detour for southbound traffic is right on Grace Street, right on Thompson Street, left on Broad Street, left on Hamilton Street to I-195.
Park Avenue will be close from Cherry Street to Lombardy from 7:45 to 8:15 a.m.

There will be many street closings for all north and south streets intersecting Monument Avenue and Franklin Street from Staples Mill Road to Belvidere Street. Motorists are strongly encouraged to use I-95 and I-195 to travel around the city.

In addition to the street closings, parking will be prohibited prior to and during the 10K on the following streets:

3 p.m. Friday, March 27, to noon Saturday
Both sides of Broad Street from Belvidere to Lombardy
Both sides of Franklin Street from Belvidere to Shafer
Both sides of Laurel Street from Grace to Cathedral

5 a.m. to noon Saturday
Both sides of Monument Avenue from Stuart Circle to Staples Mill
Both sides of Franklin Street from Stuart Circle to Shafer
Both sides of Laurel Street from Cathedral to Main
Both sides of Park Avenue from Harrison to Linden
Both sides of Lombardy from Park to Monument

5 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday
Both sides of Chantilly Street from Monument to Monumental
Both sides of Kent Street from Wythe to Monument

In addition, parking will be prohibited on both sides of Lombardy from Broad to Stuart Circle from 5 to 10 a.m. Saturday and both sides of Grace from Belvidere to Allen from 5 to 10:30 a.m.

Richmond Police reminds all 10K event participants and attendees to take advantage of parking in the decks near the start and finish lines and to not leave any items that may tempt would-be thieves in plain view in your vehicle, regardless of where you park.

Edict: Oregon Hill To Participate In Earth Hour

As King, at tonight’s Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association meeting, I will be commanding my subjects to take part in Earth Hour 2009.

voteearth

I also demand, yet again, that Dominion Power completely turn off the lights in its trading floor at the foot of Oregon Hill so that neighbors can enjoy more of the night view of the river and sky.

Of course, I also ask VCU, the City of Richmond, and other entities to also take part.

“Musical Free-for-All” at Main Library

Saturday, March 28th

Musical Activities: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Richmond Symphony Concert: 4 p.m.

Richmond Public MAIN Library

101 East Franklin Street (Downtown)

The Richmond Symphony is partnering with the Richmond Public Library to present a free day of youth oriented musical activities, performances and classes culminating in a free Richmond Symphony Community Concert

Free performances also by:

Richmond Symphony’s Youth Orchestra, Richmond Ballet’s Minds In Motion, the Happy Lucky Combo

Plus great free activities, such as:

• An “Instrument Petting Zoo” for all ages

• Have your head-shot picture taken playing a musical instrument

• Musical demonstrations and youth performances

• Storytelling & Art Activities

• Youth Computer Composition Classes

• Instrument care & tuning sessions

• Suzuki Violin Classes – Violins provided!

For details, visit www.richmondsymphony.com

Day’s activities sponsored in part by Friends of the Richmond Public Library – celebrating its 50th anniversary!

Patrick Henry Charter School Planning

I wish Richmond Public Schools would hold one of these sessions and let us know when Open High and Fox Elementary will get their elevators and solar panels.

Name: Kelly Bulbulkaya
Email: kelly.bulbulkaya@patrickhenrycharter.org
Phone: 804 233-2848
Comments:
We are trying to get this information to everyone in the city. We hold these informational meetings the first Thursday of every month. It is an open house of sorts to answer questions and share information/updates about Richmond’s first charter school!
Would you please post for your readers?
Many Thanks—

Kelly Bulbulkaya
Director of Curriculum Resources
Patrick Henry School of Science & Arts
PatrickHenryCharter.org
***********************************************************************
Come One and All to the
Patrick Henry Elementary School of Science and Arts
Community Update Meeting
THURSDAY, MARCH 5th 8:00 p.m.
3411 Semmes Ave.
Richmond, VA 23225

When are you opening?
How do I apply?
What is a “progressive quarterly calendar”?
What is an “outdoor classroom”?
A healthy cafeteria?
Why is PHSSA different from other Richmond Public Schools?
Find out the answers to all of your burning questions!

February’s Really Really Free Market This Saturday

The February Really Really Free Market will be on Saturday February 28th from noon until sunset-ish.

The Really Really Free Market takes place on the last Saturday of every month in Monroe Park, at the corner of Main and Laurel Streets in Richmond, Virginia.

The RVA Really Really Free Markets provide people with a chance to share the excess that they possess, to prevent the landfills from filling with stuff that will never decompose and is nowhere near the end of its usefulness, and to offer the community a chance to come together for a day of free fun in the sun! (or rain!)

So the last Saturday of every month, bring your music, your skills, your stuff, your food, and your friends and family, and help us prove that there is enough stuff in the world for everybody!

“What are my options?” Financial Aid Workshop

With the troubles our economy is facing, many families are beginning to
search for college affordability options so their children are able to
pursue a post secondary education. High school students & parents,
especially senior students, are invited to attend a FREE workshops:

“What are my options?” Financial Aid Workshop
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Richmond Public Main Library
101 East Franklin Street
Richmond, VA 23219

Representatives from SCHEV and GRASP will be on hand to discuss:
* Preparing for college
* College access
* Scholarship resources
* Applying for financial aid
* When and how to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal
Student Aid)

Free pizza & drinks! Door prizes, too!

For more information call the GRASP hotline at (804) 323-6996

Sponsored by the Richmond Public Library www.richmondpubliclibrary.org
and GRASP (The Greater Richmond Area Scholarship Program)
www.grasp4virginia.com.

Charlie Schmidt
Development Director
Richmond Public Library
101 E. Franklin Street
Richmond, VA 23219
804.646.5511
Charles.Schmidt@RichmondGov.com
www.RichmondPublicLibrary.org
Our Mission: Inform, Enrich, Empower

SynerGeo Community Dinner with a Special Guest- Tonight

5:30 pm tonight at SynerGeo, corner of Idlewood and Albemarle:

We will have a special guest at our community dinner Monday, Mr.
Kovit Boonjear. Boonjear is a social worker, community organizer, and
social activist who has worked and lived in Khon Kaen, Thailand for
the greater part of his life. Most of his work has revolved around
working with Khon Kaen’s urban poor communities and informal labor
sector, helping to organize and mobilize groups to address the social
and economic issues that they face, such as their rights to fair
labor, adequate housing and land, and protection and support from the
local and national governments. He has also worked with various
education communities, such as the local public school system and
with the CIEE program located at Khon Kaen University. His intention
in visiting and studying in the U.S. is that he will learn to speak
more fluent English and gain useful experience working with social
workers, activists, organizers, and NGOs who are working in a similar
field as he. Shayne Thomas is working in conjunction with Educational
Network for Global and Grassroots Exchange (ENGAGE) on an the
initiative to help our colleague and mentor, Mr. Kovit Boonjear,
embark on this extended study trip to the United States. Shayne
Thomas spent the fall 2007 semester studying globalization and
development in Khon Kaen, Thailand with the Council on International
Education Exchange (CIEE). There will be photographs from this
project, the images are the result of a collaboration with a
community that lives and works at the city landfill in Khon Kaen,
Thailand. Ban Kambon Noi has existed on the edge of Khon Kaen city
for over 30 years. It is located beside the municipal landfill;
families who scavenged there eventualy decided to settle, and now 60
families (approx. 235 individuals) have homes next to the waste. In
2002, 50 percent of the villagers residing in the landfill were born
there, and at least one person from each household makes their living
by scavenging. More than 70 people work among the garbage, earning up
to 150 baht per day. Khambon Noi villagers are entirely dependent on
the landfill for their income. They are aiding Thailans’s recycling
efforts, as well as providing a great service to the city- so far
they have extended the life of the landfill by 7 years. They took
these pictures to show others what they wanted them to see about
their lives.