Category Archives: community

Councilperson Agelasto’s Meeting/Sierra Club Tour Of VCU On Wednesday

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There are two events on Wednesday evening that may be of interest.

From City Council press release:

The Honorable Parker C. Agelasto, Councilman, Richmond City Council, Richmond Central 5th Voter District will hold a district-wide meeting in the Richmond Central 5th Voter District. This is part of regular meetings Councilman Agelasto holds, which include information on his Richmond Central 5th Voter District goals and accomplishments; a thematic agenda of current interest; and, special guests. This meeting is free and open to the public and all Richmond Central 5th Voter District residents are invited and encouraged to attend. The planned agenda/discussion topics for the upcoming meeting include:

· “Richmond Grows Gardens Program” Presentation
Ms. Victoria Campbell, Community Garden Coordinator
Richmond Department of Parks Recreation and Community Facilities

· Richmond Government Procurement Presentation
Ms. Tillie Jackson, Deputy Director
Richmond Department of Procurement Services

· “Richmond Alley Blitz Program” Presentation
Mr. Bobby Vincent, Deputy Director of Operations
Richmond Department of Public Works

· New Richmond Public Utilities Bill Design and Water
Drainage/Standing Water Presentation
Mr. Robert Steidel, Director
Richmond Department of Public Utilities

· Updates from The Honorable Parker C. Agelasto, Councilman,
Richmond City Council Richmond Central 5th Voter District

WHEN Wednesday, June 11, 2014
6:30-8:00 p.m.

WHERE Maymont Park – Maymont Stone Barn
1700 Hampton Street; Richmond, Virginia

WHO The Honorable Parker C. Agelasto, Councilman
Richmond City Council, Richmond Central 5th Voter District

CONTACT For more information, please contact The Honorable Parker C. Agelasto, Councilman, Richmond City Council, Richmond Central 5th Voter District, at 804.646.6050 (tel), or parker.agelasto@richmondgov.com (email)

Councilman Agelasto’s Upcoming Richmond Central 5th Voter District Meetings ___

Wednesday, August 13, 2014; 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Randolph Community Center; 1425 Grayland Avenue; Richmond, VA

Wednesday, October 8, 2014; 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Richmond Public Schools – Swansboro Elementary School
3160 Midlothian Turnpike; Richmond, Virginia

Wednesday, December 10, 2014; 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Virginia War Memorial; 621 South Belvidere Street; Richmond, Virginia

And then from the Sierra Club Falls of the James:

Walking Tour of VCU’s Green Initiatives (click here for link)

Wednesday, June 11, 2014
7:00 PM

Shafer Court Dining Hall (VCU)
810 Cathedral Place, Richmond, VA

Steve Heinitz, with VCU’s Office of Sustainability, will lead us on a tour of several of VCU’s greening initiatives on campus: a green roof, a roof-mounted wind turbine, solar collectors integrated into the design of a parking deck, and more! Wear comfortable shoes and bring your water bottle. Parking on street or the Laurel St. parking deck at the corner of Laurel and W. Grace Streets.

T. Tyler Potterfield Day of Service On July 19

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From new FaceBook event page:

The City of Richmond was chartered on July 19, 1782. It’s
fitting that she shares a birthday with our dear colleague,
T. Tyler Potterfield, who was once heard to profess her “the greatest city in the world”.

This year we’d like to celebrate Tyler and his beloved City of Richmond by volunteering on their birthday, July 19. We’ll be working to help clean up and improve a section of the Riverfront, a place in the city Tyler treasured, at the Pipeline Walk and Overlook. We’ll also plan to have lunch together and a chance to celebrate Tyler’s legacy through conviviality, not just service. More details will be forthcoming as plans are finalized (and we’ll share them here).

Project Clean Move Makes A Dent In Student Tenant Trash Problem

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This past Saturday, Project Clean Move went into action, cleaning up several piles of student trash. Again, what is significant about this VCU-lead effort is that it proactively makes a point of contacting landlords and tenants and tries to get them involved in solutions.

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This past Saturday, several volunteers helped sort through tenant leftovers and identify furniture and other objects for pickup by charities, as well as work with City trash crew to pick up garbage. The process could have benefited from more volunteers and there were still some problem areas leftover from the weekend. They were noted for enforcement. In some cases, furniture marked for charities was taken and new trashed furniture was left.

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But overall Project Clean Move had a good start. It will need to improve with the next iteration next month. The hope is that this will lead to a change in culture.

Byrd House Market Tuesday

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From email announcement:

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Byrd House Market is a nutrition program of William Byrd Community House. WBCH.org
Turns out Byrd House Market customers really like their eggs. Yep. Eggs. So, whose got eggs? The Byrd Farm, Deer Run Farm, Epic Gardens, Faith Farm Foods & Origins Farm. Check first and get’em quick!
Click here to try our Product Search feature for eggs, lettuce, greens, onions, and more!
Welcome Pedal Pops to our market this week – delicious fruit popsicles. Heavenly Treats features Boyfriend Cookies, Chocolate Pound Cake, and Molasses Cookies. Rina Factory’s got Madelines, Cranberry Scones & Biscotti, Croissants, Twists and Sub Rosa loaves. Portobellos, Shiitakes & Criminis, Get Tomato and Herb Plants from Bill & Joyce. Variety, quality and aromatic visions in soaps and skin care at Wandering Cow Farm and Serene Suds. Phal’s Noodles, Spring Rolls & Kebabs, Agriberries and Jams, Herbes de Provence & refreshing Tulsi Basil Tea, Smudge Sticks, Sausages, Chicken and roasting veggies. Supper makes itself!

Welcome Elaine Meredith, intern from VaTech, doing Cooking Demos and SNAP nutrition lessons every Tuesday this summer! THIS WEEK: Asparagus Scrambled Eggs!

Amanda West Montgomery is a fantastic educator volunteering to coordinate children’s activities in the community garden. Meet her this week!
…
We send a big thanks to intern Teresa Willoughby who came to WBCH from St. Andrew’s Church “Grace On The Hill” episcopal service corps, in September 2013. She’s been our market and library assistant, and receptionist. Teresa did SNAP promotion with interns from VCU, shared nutrition information with WBCH visitors, and compiled a directory of Oregon Hill nonprofits, schools and local businesses which we’ll have at the market info tent. She and her fellow GOTH interns made shopping at Byrd House Market part of their weekly food budget so we know they ate very well while supporting our local economy! Thursday is her last day as an official Grace On The Hill intern. We wish her well in her future endeavors!

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Farm. Fresh. Pledge! Facts
Summer Pledge Months: June, July and August
Monthly Prize Pack Values: $100-$200 (Virginia Grown and Virginia’s Finest goodies)
Bonus Prize Pack Month: August to celebrate Virginia Farmers’ Market Week (August 3-9) the prize will include a $200 Virginia Grown/Virginia’s Finest Prize Pack plus a Bed and Breakfast (B&B) gift certificate courtesy of the Bed & Breakfast Association of VA
First Drawing: July 8, 2014 – Prize Pack: $100 Virginia Grown/Virginia’s Finest Pack

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Live Music:
Blue Lotus Collective
is a local collective of RVA musicians, who organize house and venue shows and offer recording/performance opportunities to up-and-coming songwriters.

Quick Weekend Reminders

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Get ready for VCU’s Project Clean Move. In addition to trash cleanups, volunteers will load reusable items to give to nonprofits this Saturday, May 31, from 8 a.m – 12 p.m. Separate your trash and reusable items and leave them out before 8 a.m. The Randolph/Oregon Hill truck will likely handle Randolph from 8-10 and Oregon Hill from 10-12. Speaking of which, we need volunteers in Oregon Hill. Please get in touch ASAP if you can help out tomorrow.

The Tredegar American Civil War Center has a full weekend of events, including gunfire exhibitions and actors portraying figures from Tredegar’s history.

Expect some gunfire sounds from Hollywood Cemetery at some point tomorrow afternoon/evening. The cemetery is hosting a ceremony in the Soldiers Section at the speakers stand, with rifle fire. The ceremony should begin about 3PM and last about 2 hours.

Hollywood Cemetery is also hosting a special Civil War Walking Tour tomorrow from 2 to 4 pm.

From the Pyramid to the gravesite of Jefferson Davis, high above the James River, Hollywood Cemetery is the final resting place for thousands of Confederates. Come visit the graves of such notables as J.E.B. Stuart, George Pickett, Fitzhugh Lee, Jefferson Davis and many others whose stories continue to capture our imagination 150 years after the Civil War began. Meet at the cemetery entrance at Cherry and Albemarle streets. $15 per person $5 for History Center Members and children under 12 Walk-ups welcome. Cash or check, or purchase online at richmondhistorytours.com. On-street parking. This tour is presented as part of the Richmond History Tours program, a service of the Valentine Richmond History Center.

Sierra Club Asks For Monroe Park Pledge

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The Sierra Club Falls of the James Executive Committee sent this public request today (Disclosure: I am a member of the SCFOJ Executive Committee and actually wrote the following):

The Sierra Club Falls of the James Executive Committee, recognizing VCU’s representation on the Monroe Park Conservancy board, respectfully asks for a public pledge to keep, at the very least, the same amount of mature trees and natural shade canopy as what is currently in Monroe Park. Given some past Monroe Park proposals, we believe this public pledge is necessary. We also request a careful inventory of the current mature trees, and ask to be notified before any are removed. While it is understandable that dead and dying trees may need removal and replacement, it is vital that Richmond retain valuable urban green resources. City trees, and groups of trees, are extremely important to offsetting downtown’s heat island effect, creating a habitat for birds, supplying a calming presence on human beings, and offsetting climate change caused by global warming.

We also note that Monroe Park has been a historic place of public gathering and political protest, and we request that the Monroe Park Conservancy continue to allow these important civic activities. The ACLU of Virginia recently sent a letter that raises questions on these points in regard to the City’s Monroe Park lease.

Lastly, it is also worth noting City Councilperson Parker Agelasto’s resolution, adopted by City Council, to work with the Conservancy to expand the board, and consider requesting an increase in the membership of the board to include a.) the Director of the city Parks Dept.; b.) a representative from the city’s Urban Forestry Division; c.) a representative of the Falls of the James Sierra Club; d.) representatives of the neighborhoods near the park that rely on the park as a fundamental community resource.

Byrd Market/Council/OHNA This Afternoon/Evening

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Byrd House Market this afternoon at Idelwood and Linden. Visit http://www.byrdhousemarket.blogspot.com for more info.

While many people will paying attention to the stadium debate and large docket of issues at Richmond City Council, there is also an Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association (OHNA) meeting this evening at 7 pm at the William Byrd Community House.

Part of OHNA’s agenda will include a development proposal for a small lot on the 400 block of S.Cherry Street.

Trash/Recycling Pickup Thursday/Project Clean Move Saturday

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Normally, this Wednesday is a red Wednesday, which means trash and recycling pickup. But because of the Memorial Day holiday, pickup has been pushed back a day to Thursday. Please make sure you pick up containers after pickup. They do not belong on the sidewalk after Thursday night.

Also, get ready for VCU’s Project Clean Move. In addition to trash cleanups, volunteers will load reusable items to give to nonprofits this Saturday, May 31, from 8 a.m – 12 p.m. Separate your trash and reusable items and leave them out before 8 a.m. The Randolph/Oregon Hill truck will likely handle Randolph from 8-10 and Oregon Hill from 10-12.