The Times Dispatch has published a great group of photos from Open High’s prom. For many neighbors, we see these kids doing the day to day to and from trip to school, so its nice to see them dressed up and cutting loose a bit.
Neighbors and friends gather on a porch on the 700 block of S. Laurel in this old photograph from William Pickett.
This morning a group of volunteers worked to clean invasive plants, brush, debris, and litter from a ‘utility area’ behind Holly Street Playground.
The group consisted of neighbors Stephenie Harrington, Jimmy Blackford, Chris Milk, and some VCU students organized by coordinator Nicole Patterson.
Afterwords, they enjoyed a delicious lunch from Peddler on Pine.
They found hundreds of bottles and cans going back 20 years+ by the labels. They also found a Viewfinder, toy trucks, school chair seats, and a tire.
A residence on Laurel Street has been using toy super hero figurines to act out an imaginary game of ‘Survivor’ in their small front yard. No real violence has been involved, though some of the figures are left in what looks like obvious distress.
While some of the children who live across the street are enthralled and look every day to see the latest happenings in the yard, their parents are still making up their own minds about what these games represent.
“Some of these figures look just so lost and forlorn,” said one parent named Teresa.
Indeed, this one, was evidently ‘voted off the island’ and did not even make it:
“If this is how the college kids want to entertain themselves these days, and they don’t hurt anyone else, I am ok with it,” stated a neighbor named Becky (ed. note: neighbors declined to give last names for this post).
No Easter eggs have been seen with the toy figures… yet.
While many people have been enjoying animal wildlife sightings in Hollywood Cemetery and along the Richmond riverfront, other neighbors have been expressing mounting alarm at a warren of rabbits living beneath the Robert Lee Bridge along the North Bank Trail. While no one has witnessed an actual attack, the rabbits have been seen acting strangely and somewhat threatening towards pedestrians and their pets walking along the park trail. Many neighbors remember the attack a few years ago by a rabid red fox in the same area.
VCU Professor Ann Wright urges residents not to panic, that although this rabbit behavior is somewhat novel, it should not necessarily be seen as dangerous. “These urbanized, European rabbits may just be protecting their eggs,” she explained. She further noted that in older times, people would try to steal the multi-colored eggs as quasi-religious icons, which may have lead to this species’ response. “The sad reality is that we may see many animal behaviors change as they desperately try to adapt to a diminishing natural environment. One in five species on Earth now faces extinction, and that will rise to 50% by the end of the century unless urgent action is taken to stabilize their environment.”
That said, James River Park management and VCU Life Sciences are moving their night vision cameras to see if they can observe these rabbits first-hand and will be looking for more signs of rabies in park animals.
A solar leak in Richmond’s Oregon Hill prompted the voluntary evacuation of nearly 100 homes near the intersection of Laurel Street and Spring Street. The leak was reported around 11 p.m. Saturday. Most neighbors were allowed to return to their homes around 2 a.m. Sunday.
Richmond Fire Department and Police Department responded to the area just after 11:00 p.m, along with Dominion Energy technicians. United Solar Neighbors’ representative Aaron Sutch was also on hand to comfort neighbors.
Laurel Street neighbor Tommy Birchett reported a strong odor in the area and saw solar streaks in the sky above his street, though a Holly Street neighbor who had recently installed solar in her residence says she did not see anything. A Dominion spokesperson said solar is still an experimental fuel, which is why it is must be kept under the utility’s control.
Crews closed Laurel Street between Albemarle and Holly in order to repair the leak.
This alarming event is somewhat similar to a gas line leak evacuation that took place this past Thursday in a West End neighborhood in Henrico. The main difference being that Henrico gas event was real.
Carol Butler Gentry shared these photos and this description.
Came across these photos taken in 500 block S. Pine St. note the milkman’s truck that used to deliver milk on our front porch. The building in upper right side is now Mamma Zu’s.
From today’s Times Dispatch…
Editor, Times-Dispatch:
It was with great interest that I recently read the news story about the protest by Oregon Hill residents over the planned development of the Paragon property on Cary Street.
Being a native of Richmond, Oregon Hill and the 600 block of Cary Street both hold a special place in my heart because my great-grandfather, Lewis Jacob, was born in the Jacob House in 1828. He lived with his brothers at various places in and around Oregon Hill and the early Fan during the 19th century.
Understandably, I was most disturbed — as were many others — to see the Jacob House moved in 1995 to its present location. However, in retrospect, the carefully planned addition of modern townhouses which developed behind it tastefully complemented its setting and today stands as a testament to a blending of the old with the new.
I sincerely hope that the developers of the Paragon property will take note that these buildings are living monuments to the people who made Richmond and that they have an opportunity to prove that the past can live with the present.
Robert J. Crouch.
Richmond.
From March 28, 1918 Times Dispatch:
From email announcement:
Dear Friends and Neighbors
Just a reminder that the monthly Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association meeting takes place TONIGHT (Tuesday March 27th) at 7 pm. I will have updates on the development on 800 block W Cary as well as info on a strategy to protect our historic buildings in the future. Please come for important information!
In addition, a VCU representative from the about to open Institute for Contemporary Art will be on hand to share info with us.
See you TUESDAY at 7PM at 236 S Laurel St next to St Andrews Church.
Thanks,
Todd.