“The last public bath in the city”

From a neighbor:

There is an interesting photo in the Times Dispatch today of the Grace Arents public baths on the 500 block of Belvidere.

Click here for photo.

Caption: In May 1952, the Richmond City Council ended a longtime city service: the Grace Arents public baths, in the 500 block of South Belvidere Street. As a Times-Dispatch story noted: “The last public bath in the city … finally bowed to old age and the home bathtub and shower.” Arents, who lived from 1848 to 1926, was a local philanthropist and niece of Lewis Ginter.

VCU Paint The Town Green Saturday

Paint The Town Green is a semi-annual VCU-sponsored cleanup of neighborhoods around Richmond.

From VCU event page:

Paint the Town Green 2013 will canvas the neighborhoods surrounding VCU to inculde, Randolph, Oregon Hill, The Fan, Carver, Jackson Ward, Union Hill, Mosby Ct.

Last year we had approximately 700 people attend, and this semester we are hoping to have about 1000 participants.

Show up with friends and family at 8:30 for a free breakfast, and participate in the clean up until 12pm. There will be a reception afterwards with more free food and drinks.

Afterwards head down to the annual Earth Day event at the 17th St Market. Student Participants who also attend the Earth Day Event and have a PTTG Armband will get a goody bag at the for helping out at the Earth Day Event.

RRFP Flea Market This Saturday

This Saturday, from 9am to 4pm, there will be a yard sale on the 300 bock of S. Pine Street. A portion of the proceeds will be going to the Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project (RRFP).

From the FaceBook event page:

This is an invitation to all RRFP bowling teams and supporters to come out and hock their wares in support of abortion access in VA. Bring a table and your crafts, cupcakes, BAT merch, clothes, knick knacks, records, anything at all you think you can sell, and plenty of cash for change. If you’re selling stuff with a percentage going to the RRFP, please let folks know what that percentage is. We’ve got the space in front of 3 Oregon Hill houses on a beautiful spring day, so come on out and invite your friends!

Tonight at The Flying Brick: “Black Flags & Windmills”

From the FaceBook event page:

There will be two presentations! One Monday, April 15th at The Flying Brick at 7pm and the second Tuesday, April 16th at Richmond Salon III in the VCU Student Commons at 7pm.

The presentation based on crow’s book Black Flags and Windmills: Hope, Anarchy and the Common Ground Collective (PM Press) is used as a foundation for a visual, fast moving and engaging presentation of stories to show what ordinary people can do to change their own worlds without governments. It is equal parts personal story, radical history and organizing philosophy based on crow’s experiences as a radical and anarchist organizer in the US. Some highlights covered are the connections and influences of past movements on current grassroots political organizing, the creation of the Common Ground Collective–the largest anarchist/horizontal inspired organization in modern US history formed after Hurricane Katrina in 2005–crow being labeled a ‘domestic terrorist’ by the US government and investigated for 10 years as and the effects of the ‘war on terrorism’ on political dissent and building power from below.

Parts of Neighborhood Lose Power Due to Cumberland Incident

From City’s Traffic Accidents and Hazards report page:

S LAUREL ST/CUMBERLAND ST ASSIST FIRE DEPARTMENT, TRAFFIC AND/OR CROWD CONTROL On Scene 10:37 AM COMPL ADVISES THE WIRE IS STILL ATTACHED…BUT IS SMOKING…E5 OS WIRE ON FIRE

From Laurel Street neighbor:

FYI
Power just went out for us and neighbors all around. We called the Dominion and they said it’s due to an equipment fire. Power is supposed to be restored between 2-4pm today.

Monument 10K Saturday – Lots of Road Closings in the Area

From Richmond Police:

The Richmond Police Department asks motorists to be mindful of runners, street closings and parking restrictions for the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10K this Saturday. The events begin at 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 13, with the Virginia 529 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 beginning with parking restrictions starting at 1 p.m. on Friday, April 12. Restrictions and closures will continue until 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 13.

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.

Continue reading

Richmond Hostel Benefit Show Saturday

If you have enjoyed the Vicarious Travelers Series at the Main Library, this may a good way to give back and check out some new local music:


From the Facebook event page:

$5 | 7PM Doors\\ 8PM music | ALL AGES

All proceeds go towards funding the Richmond Hostel and supporting the Richmond community.

HOSTELS ARE THE PLACE TO ROCK!!!! Come be a part of the FIRST EVER Richmond International Hostel at our FIRST EVER Benefit show!!

Enjoy local music talents, share your travel and hostel experiences, and mingle with the Richmond Hostel community! Most importantly, have fun while bringing the world to Richmond!!! Show your support because we need all the love and momentum RVA has to help this Hostel grow!!!!

Special Guests providing opening music @ 7:30

DIMPLES – (Kevin Parme)
http://dimples.bandcamp.com/
WOLF//GOAT
http://wolfgoatpride.bandcamp.com/album/in-watermelon-sugar
TIME MACHINES
http://timemachines.bandcamp.com/album/carpe-tm
NEGATIVE GEMINI
https://soundcloud.com/negativegemini
DAVE WATKINS
http://davewatkins.bandcamp.com/album/the-late-set-with-dave-watkins-and-matt-klimas

GALLERY 5: Inspire Creativity!
http://gallery5arts.org/newsitedesign/

5th District Community Action Team Meeting on Friday

Randolph resident Gregory Day has posted an agenda for the April 12th meeting of the 5th District Action Team. More information is available on their FaceBook page.

5th District Community Action Team Meeting (5CAT)
Friday April 12, 2013
7:00p.m.
Melvin A. Fox Manor
18 W. 27th St. 23225
Meeting Called to Order
Prayer
Minutes of March 8, 2013 meeting
Presentation ——————–Sandra Turner / Turning Point Mental Health Services LLC
Old Business:
RPS Football / VHSL—————Everette Fields / Deborah Butterworth
Grayland Ave./ Harrison St. Intersection:
Gate Way
Bridge Parking
Janes Walk ———————————John Spain
New Business:
Donations for Janes Walk
School Board Rally
Town Hall —- Candidates Forum
City Council Information ——————————–Honorable Parker C. Agelesto
School Board District Forum – Closing of Schools – Group Participation (45 mins.)
*At the end of this discussion/brainstorming, 5 CAT will vote on what we will support as a group.

New business topics for next meeting
Next Meeting Date / Place
Meeting Adjouned

Transportation Transportation Transportation

It’s that time of year when folks charge into Spring and the issue of transportation is often on their minds.

On this Thursday from 4 to 6 pm, the Richmond City Council GRTC Task Force will be holding a meeting at the Department of Economic Development office at Main Street Station.

Speaking of the City’s Dept. of Economic Development, the Richmond Connects Draft Plan is now ready for public review. They are inviting folks to review the plan and attend their public workshop on April 11th at the VDOT Central Office Auditorium from 5:30-7:30 pm. There will be a presentation on the draft plan and opportunities to review and comment on the plan and ask questions of the city and consultant staff about the plan. If you can’t make the meeting they still welcome your thoughts. You can download a copy of the draft plan from their website: http://www.yesrichmondva.com/transportation-development/Richmond-Strategic-Multi-Modal-Transportation. Comments on the draft plan will be accepted at the meeting and via email through May 10th. Anyone can comment on the plan through the contact link on the website.

And then there is this message from the local Partnership for Smarter Growth

The theme for PSG’s 2013 Forum and Events Program is Transportation Transformations for a Competitive and Sustainable Future. The first event is on April 16 with Jeffrey Tumlin of Nelson/Nygaard Consulting Associates, the author of the new book Sustainable Transportation Planning: Tools for Creating Vibrant, Healthy and Resilient Communities. It will be held at Richmond’s Main Street Station on April 16 from 5:30 to 7:30. Registration is at 5:30 and the program will start at 6:00. Admission is free, but registration is requested. Jeffrey Tumlin is a compelling speaker on the subject of transportation, and it will be a very informative and interesting program. For more event information, go to www.psgrichmond.org.

Some suggested reading material to brush up on local transportation issues:

Times Dispatch column by Mayor Jones, “A new direction for transportation in Richmond”

Recent Style magazine article on passenger rail, “Gathering Steam”

Richmond Magazine’s “Where Do We Go From Here?”

Renegade Market: Open and Counting Down!

Byrd House Renegade Market Tuesday 3 to 6 pm.

From Byrd House Market email:

Gorgeous Weather at BYRD HOUSE RENEGADE MARKET…Great Anticipation for a Beautiful Spring, y’all.
CSAs at Byrd House Market

ORIGIN FARMS – www.originsfarm.com
EPIC GARDENS – www.epicgardens.com
FAITH FARM – faithfarmfoods.blogspot.com
BYRD FARM/RURAL VIRGINIA MARKET – www.byrdfarm.org
TOMTEN FARM – tomtenfarmva.org

wbch.org (about WBCH)
gracearentseducation.blogspot.com (about the library)
eatgoodgrowgreat.blogspot.com (all things food, health, culture, and good growth)
_____________________

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