A fire truck, ambulance, and multiple police were parked at mid-block on the 300 block of S. Laurel Street this morning. Although I have not seen a police report, rumor is that a young woman would not wake up.
About 7:45 this morning
Tuesday, 8:30 pm
Pleasants Park
Refreshments served: hotdogs, snowcones, and more
http://twitter.com/natestacotruck/status/3103125886
Message from Nate’s Taco Truck
the taco truck will be closed today for mass amounts of cooking food
for tomorrow at vcu and tomorrow night at byrd house market.
Byrd House Market
They’ll be pie for sale at the market this week and plenty of other
slices of life to enjoy. Meet the folks from Art on Wheels helping make a
difference in their communities.
We appreciate our customers’ loyal support in helping us ensure local
providers earn a better-than-living wage. Remember the market opens at 3:30 p.m.
Activities this week include: Make Art Prints with the non-profit
organization Art on Wheels 3:30 to 7 p.m. Story telling from 4 to 5 pm, Face
painting from 5 to 7pm.
—
Byrd House Market
William Byrd Community House
224 South Cherry Street
Richmond, VA 23220
ByrdHouseMarket@gmail.com
(804) 643-2717
Previously, I have posted on new residential solar power as well as problems with Dominion Power’s service in the neighborhood. One of the benefits of putting grid-tied solar into place, (besides redundant power, besides lower power bills, besides tax credits, besides being able to sell state renewable energy credits (SRECs), not to mention cleaner energy in general), is that it does illuminate grid problems. For example, since taking inverter readings, and contacting the State Corporation Commission (SCC), Dominion Power has put new poles in, added transformers, and increased voltage to proper levels. In other words, if neighborhoods want better energy service, then get solar and create your own energy.
But that leaves the old utility poles in place, and brings me to my next topic- Verizon actually owns many of the old poles in the neighborhood. Dominion Power has just rented space on them in the past, while it is the City of Richmond that actually does the planning and managing of the right-of-ways. So, getting Verizon to do its part in upgrading service will encourage the City and Dominion Power to do more.
With that in mind, I call on Verizon to bring FiOS to Oregon Hill. For one thing, I have heard that FiOS is already offered north of Cumberland Street. The neighborhood has the residential density. The City has a contract with Verizon for services to its residents. I already have DSL, and Verizon sends me offers for DirecTV every week- why not save the ad money and use it instead to bring FiOS to the neighborhood? The neighborhood is right next to downtown and close to Verizon’s Virginia headquarters. While many residents already have Comcast, many of them would be willing to make the switch to FiOS. Covad and wireless beckon if Verizon cannot keep up with technological advances in the neighborhood.
The newly Council approved Downtown Master Plan recognizes Oregon Hill as a historic neighborhood that deserves Old & Historic status- to the point of offering incentives to residents for the designation. Certainly, getting rid of old utility poles and lines by bringing in buried fiber optic cable with new services would go a long way. After all, Verizon already buries line and offers these services for VCU campus.
Again, these are the sort of services that citizens expect our elected representatives to push for, especially when the service contracts come back up for vote.
Early Childhood Lead Teacher (1): To direct and promote a
developmentally appropriate group experience for children 3-5 that
promotes their cognitive, social emotional and physical growth.
BS in Early Childhood required – plus three years experience working
with 3-5 year old children and their families; must possess VA driver’s
license and experience driving a passenger van or mini bus
Early Childhood Assistant Teacher (1): Assist Lead Teacher in providing
a developmentally appropriate early childhood group experience to 3-5
year olds and their families.
CDA with 3rd or 4th year college currently enrolled in BA or BS early
childhood education degree program; Must possess VA drivers license and
experience driving passenger van or mini bus.
Early Childhood Teacher Extended Day (1): To implement and provide a
developmentally appropriate preschool group experience to 3-5 year olds.
CDA or AA in Early Childhood with 3rd or 4th year college currently
enrolled in BA or BS early childhood education degree program; Must
possess VA drivers license and experience driving passenger van or min
bus
After school Child Care Worker (2): To implement and provide appropriate
after school care to 5 – 12 year olds.
Associates degree required in child development, elementary education,
social sciences or recreation and 3 years experience working with groups
of elementary children; must possess VA driver’s license/ CDL preferred
and experience driving a bus or passenger van.
After school Child Care Worker (1): To implement and provide appropriate
after school care to 5 – 12 year olds.
Associates degree required in child development, elementary education,
social sciences or recreation and 3 years experience working with groups
of elementary children.
After school Child Care Worker/ Coordinator (1): To implement and
provide appropriate after school care to 5 – 12 year olds.
Associates degree required in child development, elementary education,
social sciences or recreation and 3 years experience working with groups
of elementary children; must possess VA driver’s license/ CDL preferred
and experience driving a bus or passenger van
To apply for these positions please e-mail your cover letter and resume
to Shelia Givens by 5:00 pm August 10, 2009 sgivens@wbch.org
Word on the street is that, following the passing of the Downtown Master Plan, 5th District Councilperson Marty Jewell will be holding a fundraising party this Wednesday, hosted by the Ripp family.
Some background here, here, and here.
Hopefully the Downtown Master Plan will be one topic of discussion at tonight’s Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association meeting.
From this past Tuesday
From this past Saturday
Despite multiple communications over the past year with the City’s Public Works and Community Development, as well as letters to the property owner, this trash pile remains a sore spot. Its right along the sidewalk and its one of the first things people see when they enter into the neighborhood from the west. Visitors to the Tuesday Byrd House Market often have to walk around it. Despite City Code violations, the trash cans are hardly ever taken away from the street back to the residents’ yards. Really, one easy solution would be to create a trash containment area along the alley which goes north behind the residences just a few yards away, and make sure residents use it. City trash trucks are supposed to be picking up from the back alleys in the neighborhood. The owner of these row houses which face the 200 block of S. Cherry, is a man named Hugh Edmunds. He continues to rent to VCU students while he lives over in the Windsor Farms neighborhood.
There have also been multiple noise complaints about these houses over the past few years, with at least one being on the Richmond police CAPS list. Sadly, some of the longtime residents on the 300 block of S. Cherry have moved away in part to the ongoing nuisances.
Years ago, I used to attend parties at 238 S. Cherry when Mike Gangloff lived there. Mike ran his own record label, Radioactive Rat, from that house. Sometimes he would even have bands play there. He made a point of warning neighbors a few days before and making sure the loudness was over before midnight. Then we would QUIETLY hang out while enjoying a few of Mike’s excellent homebrew pumpkin ales.
From Hollywood Cemetery caretakers:
“Please be advised that a 21 gun salute will be taking place Sat. between 11 and 1p.m. over in our New section for burials ( Idlewood ) near Gen. Pickett.”
From the City:
Media Advisory
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, 17 July 2009
Councilman Jewell invites families to sign up for free summer Youth Basketball Camp
Free camp for boys and girls, ages 9-13
WHAT Councilman Marty Jewell, Central 5th District, Richmond City Council, invites families to sign up for the Champions Youth Developmental Basketball Camp being held the last week in July.
This week-long camp is free for youth (boys and girls) ages 9-13, and openings are available on a first-come, first served basis.
Participants will receive free breakfast and lunch, basketballs expert instruction, t-shirts, school supplies and awards. Each camp will include 100 students. This will be the camps third year in Richmond.
WHEN/ Richmond Camp to be held: MONDAY, JULY 27, 2009 – FRIDAY 31, 2009
WHERE 8:00 A.M. – NOON – Armstrong High School; 2300 Cool Lane
Petersburg Camp to be held: MONDAY, JULY 27, 2009 – THURSDAY 30, 2009 – 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. – Petersburg High School; 3101Johnson Road
REGISTRATION CONTACT
Pre-registration is required and interested families should contact Dr. Leon Wright Bey, Camp Director, at 804.536.6394.
WHO For more information, please contact Mike Pearson, President/Founder, Friends Helping Friends, at 804. 405.4472, or 405.4472, or
Dr. Leon Wright Bey, Camp Director, at 804.536.6394.
BACKGROUND
Champions Youth Developmental Basketball Camp (CDBC) began in Petersburg in 2005 and focuses on holistic skills development, including: Basketball, Academic, Life and Leadership (BALL). CDBC is produced by the nonprofit organization, Friends Helping Friends, Petersburg Department of Parks and Leisure Services, and through the leadership of Director Tami Yerby, and Camp Director Dr. Leon Wright Bey of Virginia State University, who previously served as Virginia State University’s (VSU) Women’s Basketball Coach and Athletic Director.
In addition to the support provided by a variety of sponsors, key to the success of these camps is the help of numerous high school and collegiate basketball coaches; current/former athletes, educators, administrators, entrepreneurs, and community leaders, who serve as clinicians, motivational speakers, and support staff.
Assistance in bringing this camp to Richmond included, but was not limited to, support from Richmond City Councilman Marty Jewell, Central 5th District; Richmond Department of Parks and Recreation; Randy Ashe, Athletic Director, Richmond City Public Schools’ Armstrong High School (AHS); Darryl Watts, AHS Head Coach for Boy’s Basketball; and former local high school and Virginia State University Head Football Coach, Lou Anderson. Support for this year’s camp is also being provided by Richmond City Councilwoman Betty Squire, East End 7th District.
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