Category Archives: community

Underwater Choir Recording Scheduled for August

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As the new group RVA League of Leisure and Public Pool Appreciation takes shape, some events are starting to be scheduled. This one is for August 11 at 1 pm in the bottom of the Randolph Public Pool. Practice, practice, practice.

From the Facebook event page:

This event’s platform is continuing to re-envision our public space while providing a recognizable pastime in performance. The direction of this recording situates the group in a circle formation dialoging to one another. Submerging together the group screamingly sing which will be received through the condenser microphones in the center of the ring.

Advancing towards this event I realized that this pastime of underwater vocal projection is enjoyed through basic achievement in absurdity. The enlarged statement making of the group dilutes any talent, content, or exacted consciousness. This fundamental encourages participation whether cloaked or not and now being said i hope to see you, my friends, at Randolph Public Pool 1pm sharp for a musical collapsing of classical reservations. hahaha ♥

Ground Broken For Byrd House Farmlet Greenhouse

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From the WBCH site:

Ground has been broken for a new greenhouse out by the Byrd House Farmlet. Josh McVeigh, one of our Associate Board members is leading the effort. Josh has been laying the groundwork (no pun intended) for this project for several months. He arranged for Richmond Window Corp. to donate old windows that otherwise would have been destroyed. He also drew up the plans and is coordinating with Home Depot who is generously supporting this effort. The greenhouse will allow us to start seedlings as early as January each year for transplanting to our Farmlet. The Byrd House Farmlet is a 1/4 urban production farm located behind William Byrd Community House. All the produce harvested from the Farmlet goes directly to our on-site Food Pantry for distribution to individuals and families seeking food assistance.

WBCH Receives $50,000 from the Pauley Family Foundation

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From the Times Dispatch article:

The Community Foundation, in collaboration with funding partners The Pauley Family Foundation and Richmond Eye & Ear Foundation Fund, awarded nearly $1.3 million in grants to 33 local organizations.

The Community Foundation supports programs through the endowments of local donors that focus on the health of central Virginia. The community grant-making program addresses needs and opportunities as they emerge and engages philanthropic partners in the advancement of regional solutions. The grants include:
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William Byrd Community House: $50,000 to partially support staff salaries for the early childhood education and after-school programs.

Speaking of WBCH…a new greenhouse is being built…see upcoming post…

Letter on “Richmond’s Monroe Park: The Unfolding Tragedy”

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Open letter from Oregon Hill resident and Monroe Park Advisory Council member Charles Woodson:

Dear Friends,

Two years or so ago when the Monroe Park Advisory Council stopped meeting and an exciting Monroe Park Master Plan was delivered to our City Government, I figured the Park was at its most downtrodden. It was impossible to fathom Monroe Park – our first City Park and one that just oozes with fascinating history and promise of a great rebirth, falling even further into a rotting, even more trash filled and untended and dangerous corpse of a place. On Sunday, July 15, 2012 at around 3PM, that realization slapped me in the face. Three RPD cruisers were parked by the overgrown fountain with blue lights flashing, responding to reports of a “crazy man screaming and brandishing a gun” in the Park (their words). I felt afraid for my life.

Historic Monroe Park is situated equidistant from the James River, the soon to be refurbished $50,000,000.00 Altria Theatre (nee Mosque) project and VCU’s beautifully planned $32,000,000.00 Institute of Contemporary Art but there is no word on poor Monroe Park with its terrific $6,000,000 plan of redemption. No website for either the Park itself or the phantom Monroe Park Foundation exists on the web. Nothing… Nada … just Yelp.com’s disturbing descriptions of drunks and hobos and a few other meaningless entries.

The many feedings continue to pour trash into the Park. Trashcans full after one or two feedings, the patrons sit on the benches beside the fountain and just throw refuse on the ground where it gets blown with the trash can overflow into VCU and the neighborhoods surrounding the historic Park.
The trees need maintenance, some need removal and a hundred or so need planting.
The barren brown grounds, devoid of grass in many areas need work to revive.
The decrepit sidewalks and pathways crumble beneath your feet.
Substance abuse is rampant. I wouldn’t want my kids playing here.

Im ashamed mostly at myself for not being a more consistent voice for this great Park. But im also ashamed of you, Charles Samuels, since this is your district and you were a champion for the Park at one time. And there is shame for the Mayor who I know to be aware of the dire situation. Im also upset with VCU for not putting a boot in our rear ends for not making ANY progress – this is weak leadership on their end as well. This is, after all, their face for the newbies that come crashing into Gladding, Johnson and Rhodes Halls, etc, each August and have to live with this mess.

It’s time to get rid of the running mouths and roll up our sleeves and crack open the city wallet to address these issues.

Sincerely,

Charles Todd Woodson.

His letter included the following photos:

All Music Players are Invited to Acoustic Jam This Tuesday

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From email announcement:

All Music Players are invited to a 3rd Tuesday Acoustic Jam
at the Byrd House Market, 5:00 – 7 p.m.
That’s this Tuesday, July 18th.

Please meet at the Epic Gardens tent. We’ll play in the middle of the market where vendors and shoppers can hear us. (instead of over under the tree where we won’t be heard. After all, we’re part of the ambiance. Of course if it’s hot as hades and the only shade is under the mulberry tree, we can reconsider).

The genre is determined by the players, so don’t be shy about choosing a song to sing, a rock to roll or a groove to play. It’s all wide open! Folk, Oldtime, Country, Bluegrass, Blues, Gospel, Jazz, Rock, Celtic, Children’s Songs, anything you can play on an acoustic instrument!

Reminder: farmers’ markets are smoke free outdoor places. If you like to smoke, kindly leave the area (across the alley would probably work) … and hurry back so we can get back to pickin’!

Come early and bring your totebags to shop at the Byrd House Market.

Come anytime to play, even (especially!) after work.

Where it’s happening: Oregon Hill, behind William Byrd Community House on the corner of South Lindenand Idlewood. It’s on the left when you hop off the Downtown Expressway at the Belvidere Exit. You can’t miss it. For more directions and a market update, visit http://byrdhousemarket.blogspot.com or call me.

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____________________

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

Upcoming: Brunch is for the Birds

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From email announcement:

An invitation to explore the practice of backyard bird language based on the new book by Jon Young, “What the Robin Knows.” Three Sundays, starting July 29, from noon to 1:30 pm at St. Andrew’s Community House, 236 S. Laurel Street. July 29, Aug 5, and Aug 12.

Brunches: Brown bag or $5. (Please RSVP regardless)

The last weekend, August 11-12, we’ll be joined by Michael Blackwell, a trained naturalist (including work with Jon Young) who has been learning and teaching bird language for over a decade. Michael will lead several optional bird language “group sits” throughout the weekend ($10 per sit).

Contact Abbott Bailey for more details. (abbottbailey at comcast.net or 687-0122).

Link to Flyer: Brunch is for the Birds

A Two Person Yardsale This Saturday

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From the Craigslist ad:

Hello! Having a two person yardsale this saturday, one of us is is moving so there is a little bit of everything you could hope for
Where : Albamarle Street in Oregon Hill, between laurel and pine
When: 8:30am- 1:00pm

We will have—
Lot’s of vintage items
Nintendo DS
Cannon SLR
Retro Dinning table and chairs
Outdoor furniture
Tons of crafting supplies Knitting Needles, yarn, crochet supplies, paper goods
two kitchen tables
ikea tables
shoes
clothes
tools
kitchen goods
Furniture
Books
Electric Heater
Dress Form
Room divider
Assorted Baskets/ Boxes
Glass Sets
Plates
Records
Clothes
Lots of vintage linens
Christmas stuff
Housewares
Knick Knacks
and more!

cash only no checks please

3 Things

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RVAnews.com has an article series called “5 Things” where they preview and highlight five local events for the upcoming weekend.

This week, two of those things are sports events happening close to Oregon Hill on the James River:

3. James River Splash and Dash

Of all the races that I will never run, the James River Splash and Dash is the one I regret not running the most. First: you run. Then: you tube down the river. Then: you run your tube on land. It sounds as ridiculously fun to watch as it must be to participate. What could add more hilarity to this event? Oh, just a party afterwards with food and beer and music and stuff, NO BIG DEAL.

Sat. Jul. 14 • 4:00 PM
Belle Isle
$34 to race and participate in the no-big-deal party

4. Project Athena Richmond Relay Marathon

“Ho ho ho, a race involving TUBING,” says you, the famous tubing killjoy. “‘Tis not for I,” you said, (still talking, I see). “Instead, I plan to stay unsoiled and bone dry while simultaneously helping an excellent cause. Please drop me off at the Project Athena Richmond Relay Marathon, where a team of friends and I will run parts of marathons together, benefitting Project Athena and all the dream-fulfillment it does for people who’ve been through physical hell. It’s like physical hell in order to help those in physical hell. Appropriate!”

Sat. Jul. 14 • 7:00 AM
Brown’s Island
$6 per race enthusiast

And then there is this last event, which usually brings at least a few crews of filmmakers to the neighborhood:

5. The 48 Hour Film Project

Fast filmmakers, heed the call of the 48 Hour Film Project, aka “49 Hours? No Dice.” You’ll lose a lot of sleep and have a crap-ton of fun, I bet, as the festival peeps give you a character and some background information (kickoff is this Friday at The Camel). Then you’re off, writing, filming, and editing a movie to be turned in at this very event. Watch the fresh-faced hopefuls greet each other amiably on Friday or giggle sympathetically as they stagger in, cowed by the very briskness of this idea on Sunday. Screenings begin in a few weeks.

Sun. Jul 15 • 5:00 PM
The Camel, 1621 W. Broad St.
Free!

Neighborhood Deals With Lingering Power Issues/Braces For ‘Fireworks On The James’

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Oregon Hill, like much of the Richmond area, is still cleaning up after recent storms. The downed trees on S. Cherry Street in front of the William Byrd Community House in the picture below were removed this morning.

Thankfully, it seems like the neighborhood did not suffer as much damage as other places. Still, Pescados restaurant suffered a power outage along with some residential blocks. There are still a few houses on the 400 block of S. Laurel that do not have power.

At the same time, residents are getting ready for expected crowds for tomorrow night’s ‘Fireworks on the James’. A couple of notes on that-

Fireworks to begin at approximately 9:15 PM
Enjoy music simulcast on WRIR-FM, 97.3 during the evening.
In case of rain, the event will take place on Thursday, July 5th.