Category Archives: community

The Shockoe Stadium Struggle Continues…

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The Times Dispatch headline for last night’s City Council meeting was pretty triumphant, “Shockoe baseball stadium plan wins initial backing 6-3”, which may not be that surprising given the newspaper’s ties to the proponents of the controversial Shockoe Bottom stadium proposal.

But the opposition is not giving up. From the Facebook announcement:

THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES! The Defenders will be hosting a second Activists Meeting this Thursday, Feb. 27, 6:30 pm, at the William Byrd Community House, 224 So. Cherry St., RVA 23220. This will be a opportunity to network and share ideas on how to strengthen the movement against a Shockoe Bottom stadium and for a real Historic District. The Defenders will be promoting a more organized community petitioning campaign as a way to reach out to those not yet involved and encourage them to join this important struggle. Hope to see you there!

Also, the editor of this community news site has started a boycott petition, which may take on increasing importance if political options continue to fade. The boycott was also reluctantly announced at last week’s City Council Land Use and Financial Committee meetings. I say ‘reluctantly’ because the boycott was started due to failing local politics. It is open to non City residents as well.

“We, the undersigned, stand in opposition to the Mayor’s Shockoe stadium proposal. There are many reasons to oppose a stadium in Shockoe Bottom: the questionable finances of the developers’ plan, parking, traffic, leaving the best and most accessible site for baseball in the city and disrespecting the incredible history of what once was the largest slave-trading district north of New Orleans. Some of us are county residents who do not want to travel into the Bottom for a baseball game.

As long as the Shockoe stadium proposal is still a threat, from this point forward we promise to boycott the Flying Squirrels’ baseball games and other supporting businesses. This is not something we take lightly- many of us like the Flying Squirrels and recognize the harmful economic effect that this boycott will have. However, with the Mayor and proponents not allowing a referendum or citizens’ vote on the Shockoe stadium proposal, and in effect muting our political voice, we have decided it is time to exercise our economic voice.”

How many subscriptions and sales can the Flying Squirrels afford to lose before they recognize that this stadium proposal is not viable for lack of public support?

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VCU Drone Warfare Event On Wednesday

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From the FaceBook event page:

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The Arab Student Association at VCU is hosting an event to raise awareness regarding the illegal use of drone strikes still taking place in countries such as Yemen, Pakistan,Somalia etc. We have guest speakers coming to inform you of the reality of these drone strikes that continue to happen until today. It will be in the form of a discussion panel. You all get to engage and ask our guest speakers all the questions you have. Admission is free. The event will be in the Richmond Salons located upstairs in the student commons.

City Opens Emergency Shelters as Winter Storm Approaches

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From email announcement:

City Opens Emergency Shelters as Winter Storm Approaches

Richmond, VA – The City of Richmond has opened two emergency shelters to assist City residents in the event power outages occur as a result of the winter storm. Residents who reside in areas where power outages are frequent during storms are advised to seek shelter now before traveling conditions deteriorate. The City’s Emergency Shelter locations are:

Linwood Holton Elementary School
1600 West Laburnum Avenue

James Blackwell Elementary School
1600 Everett Street

Residents should bring any medication, personal items and supplies that they may need. The City will provide meals and snacks to shelter attendees. Residents may also charge their medical equipment batteries and cell phones at the City shelter in the event they lose power at home. Weapons are not allowed in the City shelters. Pets are not allowed within the City shelter with the exception of service animals. Richmond Animal Care and Control (RAC&C) will staff both City shelters to accept the pets of residents attending the shelter. RAC&C advises residents that pets should be brought indoors, and if they do need to be outside, they should have adequate shelter that protects them from exposure to winter weather. Residents should call (804) 646-5123 if they need RAC&C to pick-up their pet from their residence.

“With the potential of power outages and roads possibly being blocked because of heavy snow, I urge residents who believe they have a potential to lose power to travel to a City shelter now,” said Mayor Dwight C. Jones.

The City’s Cold Weather Overflow Shelter will open tonight, February 12 and Thursday, February 13 as overnight temperatures are forecasted to remain at or below 40 degrees during this time period. The overflow shelter is located in the City’s Public Safety Building, 501 North 9th Street. The shelter entrance is the second entrance on the 9th Street side of the building closest to Leigh Street. The shelter opens at 7 p.m. and closes the following morning at 6 a.m. Shelter registration will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Food will not be provided and pets are not allowed.

The Cold Weather Day Warming site will open tomorrow, Thursday, February 13 as daytime temperatures are forecasted to remain at or below 40 degrees during this time period. The warming site is open each day from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. Commonwealth Catholic Charities operates the day warming site at 511 West Grace Street.

Residents in need of overnight shelter are asked to report to Commonwealth Catholic Charities Homeless Point of Entry by 5 p.m. each day for a comprehensive intake and referral to the appropriate shelter. Commonwealth Catholic Charities Homeless Point of Entry is located at 511 West Grace Street. A referral to the Cold Weather Overflow Shelter will be provided to individuals who are not eligible for an existing shelter or if all available beds have been filled. Individuals seeking access to the Overflow Shelter must have a referral.

The City’s Department of Social Services will accept Crisis Assistance applications now through March 15 at 900 East Marshall Street, Monday through Friday; from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents can also call the Fuel Line at (804) 646-7046. The department also provides emergency assistance with gas and electric disconnection notices for residents who qualify.

Elderly or residents with disabilities may also contact Senior Connections for assistance at (804) 343-3000, Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For up-to-date information and additional instructions from the City of Richmond during this weather event, please visit www.Richmondgov.com, follow the City on Twitter @CityRichmondVA, and stay tuned to local radio and television stations.

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Stock Up at Renegade Market Tuesday (Today!)

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From email announcement:

Before the Next Snows Come
Stock Up! Rich vegetable simmers, toothsome fragrant stews, hot baked goodies …
True winter temperatures call for warmth from the kitchen reaching bone-deep to see us through these polar vortex times. Bake something, quick saute. It’s COMFORT we want!
Come by the Renegade Market Tuesday, 3 pm – 5:30 pm

Interested in Vending at Byrd House Market?
The online application can be found on our blog: byrdhousemarket.blogspot.com

Brown Bag Lunch Series at RPL
Don’t know what sustainability means? Wondering about genetically modified organisms? What’s a Farm Fairy? Do you permaculture? These questions are loaded with terminology most of us just may not understand. This is a great time to visit the Lexicon of Sustainability Exhibit at the Richmond Public Library and attend one of two brown bag lunches:
February 20 at Noon: Lexicon of Farmer Sustainability
Kate Ruby, Master Gardener and Manager of the Farmer’s Market at St. Stephen’s Church
February 27 at Noon: Lexicon of GMOs
John Lewis, founding coordinator of Renew Richmond
__________________

Ana Edwards, Manager
Byrd House Market & Library Programs
Grace Arents Library & Education Center
William Byrd Community House
www.wbch.org / 804.643.2717 ext.306

Cynthia Ann Brandt Obituary

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Cynthia Ann Brandt, 65, died peacefully on Tuesday, January 28, 2014 in Richmond, VA. She was born on December 31, 1948 in Chincoteague, VA and lived in Richmond for the majority of her life. Cynthia is survived by her husband Cliff, her father and mother-in-law William G. Brandt Jr. and Julia Brandt, and her sister-in-laws Pauline Kerwath and Vivian Pollock. Information regarding memorial plans can be found by emailing cliff.w.brandt at gmail.com.

From a long term time reader:

I have known Cliff and his wife for about 4 years now and they are terrific people, beloved by their neighbors and friends.

Community Discussions On Monroe Park and Idlewood Traffic Tomorrow Evening

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If you didn’t catch Friday’s Open Source RVA on 97.3 FM and http://wrir.org/, check out the podcast! Oregon Hill neighbor Charles Woodson of the Monroe Park Advisory Council talks about a controversial lease agreement that would give Richmond’s oldest park over to a private conservancy.

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This should be required listening prior to attending the “Community Conversation” happening tomorrow evening at 6 pm at the Nile.

Join us as we collaborate with Richmond Magazine, TMI Consulting Inc., the Future of Richmond’s Past and local restaurants to offer our next series of “Community Conversations.” Each month we will discuss a locale in the city spanning from Shockoe Bottom to the Boulevard. Attendees will participate in a discussion with Harry Kollatz, Jr., senior writer with Richmond Magazine and author of two books on Richmond history: Richmond Ragtime and True Richmond Stories, who will facilitate a conversation on the significant events and changes that have occured in Monroe Park over time. By the end of the evening attendees will have a comprehensive view of the history of Monroe Park and how it has become the locality that we see today.

I know some neighbors will be missing this due to a conflicting meeting about the Idlewood roundabout project at the Randolph Community Center.

From Councilperson Parker Agelasto’s newsletter:

At 7:30 pm, the City’s Traffic Engineer, Tom Flynn, along with consultants from Kimley-Horn and Associates will meet with a task force of Randolph and Oregon Hill residents to discuss the problems and solutions in crafting a design for the a proposed roundabout along Idlewood Avenue.

The proposed roundabout has been a recommendation of the City Traffic Engineer with the City for about 10 years and was codified in the long-range Richmond Connects Multimodal Transportation Plan. In 2012, this had a series of public work sessions to make recommendations and included several modifications in March 2013 before being finalized in July 2013. The complete document is available at www.yesrichmondva.com/sites/default/files/documents/RichmondConnects.pdf.

The roundabout project was spearheaded by a coalition from Oregon Hill, William Byrd Community House, Byrd House Market, St. Andrew’s School, St. Andrew’s Church, and VCU. Due to the nature of the Downtown Expressway exit ramp and the traffic intersection at S. Cherry Street, this section of Idlewood Avenue is dangerous and poses a safety concern. VCU offered to contribute half of the cost of the project if the City contributed the remainder. These funds are currently in the budget and the City leveraged its share to receive matching funds from the State (meaning the City’s cost is only 1/4 of the entire project). That said, the concept is fully funded and a consultant has been hired to begin the design process with public input.

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Renegade Market Invites You (Tuesday)

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From email announcement:

Great food!
Come on out from 3 – 5:30 pm (ed. note: Tuesday). Faith Farm and Mugsy’s Dogtown Lounge will be in the Gym, our other friends will be on the grassy market grounds along Linden Street.

Taking Applications Starting Feb. 7
We’re looking forward to a great 2014 market season. Vendors, plan to start applying to Byrd House Market on Friday, February 7th at byrdhousemarket.blogspot.com. Look for the tab “For Vendors” and click to find the regulations and application

Environmental Film Festival
Slow Food RVA was a partner in the National Food Day Dinner, held on October 24, 2013 at WBCH. They will be at the Environmental Film Festival which opens this Friday at 7pm at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond with the screening of In Organic We Trust. “Join us this Friday, February 7 at 7 pm at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond. We will be screening In Organic We Trust. For more information about the festival, visit http://rvaenvironmentalfilmfestival.com/ which runs from Feb. 5 – 9, FREE to the public. For more information on the film, visit http://www.inorganicwetrust.org/”
_____________________

Ana Edwards, Development Assistant
Manager, Byrd House Market & Library Programs
Grace Arents Library & Education Center
William Byrd Community House
www.wbch.org / 804.643.2717 ext.306