Category Archives: government

City News Release: Traffic Signal Improvement Safety Project

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From City of Richmond press release:

The city of Richmond is preparing to start construction on a traffic signal upgrade project to improve intersection safety for motorists and pedestrians.

Who: City of Richmond Division of Transportation Engineering

What: Traffic signal improvements

When: Monday, March 1 through September 17

Where: Belvidere Street and Main Street; Belvidere Street and Franklin Street

Scope of Work: Installation of new mast arm signal poles and pedestrian pedestal poles; installation of pedestrian countdown indicators; installation of new wheelchair ramps; newly painted pavement markings; sidewalk restoration

For more information on city services and schedules, please visit us on line at www.RichmondGov.com.

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Henderson Appointed To School Board

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It was announced last month that Oregon Hill resident Maurice Henderson was planning to run for the 5th District seat of the Richmond City School Board. Now, this month, Henderson was appointed to the Board to fill out the rest of departing Board representative’s term. Henderson has told supporters that he still plans to stand for election to the seat this November.

Oregon Hill Resident Runs For School Board/ Lots of meetings next week

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Oregon Hill resident Maurice Henderson is planning to run for the Richmond School Board.

There is an upcoming meeting to introduce him on 2nd Baptist Church, 1401 Idlewood Avenue on Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 2:30 P.M.

This is an opportunity to meet and ask him questions regarding his candidacy for this position vacated by the former representative, Betsy Carr, who ascended to the position of 69th district representative in the General Assembly.

Also,

The next 5th District meeting with Councilperson Jewell will be held on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at 6:00 P.M. – 8:30 P.M. It will be held at the Binford Middle School, 1701 Floyd Avenue, Richmond, VA 23220.

In addition,

The Mayor’s State of the City Annual Address will be next Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at 6:30 P.M. – 8:30 P.M. It will be held at the Richmond Center Stage, Carpenter Theater, 6th & Grace.

But please note: The Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association holds its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, January 26, at 7 pm.

Tree Removal + Tree Stewards

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There’s an elm tree on the 300 block of S. Pine Street that is scheduled to be removed. City workers believe a split in the trunk will lead to future problems if it is not removed. More details about this and other tree removals can be found by clicking here:
http://www.richmondgov.com/Departments/publicworks/docs/listTreeRemovals.pdf

Also, from a City press release:

Richmond Tree Stewards 2010
Are you interested in learning more about proper tree care? The City of Richmond boasts one of the top urban forests in the country, and now you have the opportunity to learn more about the thriving trees in our community.
Who: Richmond residents interested in learning the proper methods of planting and maintaining trees by becoming Tree Stewards
What: Richmond Tree Stewards 2010

Where: Tuesdays at the Round House in Byrd Park and one Saturday class, location TBA

When: Every Tuesday, February 9 – April 13 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. and Saturday, March 20 from 9 a.m. – noon

Background: Class topics include tree identification, tree biology, soil characteristics, planting and care, health and maintenance, and proper pruning methods. The Tree Planting class will be taught by area tree care industry professionals.

Registration is $95 for city residents and $150 for non-city residents. Each participant is asked to commit to 20 hours of community service upon completion of the program. Tree Stewards who completed the class between 2004-2009 may sit in the classes at no charge. The registration deadline is Friday, January 15, 2010. Checks should be made to Richmond Recreation and Parks Foundation. To download a registration form log onto www.treestewards.rrpfoundation.org or call 646-6785 for more information.

Style: Tredegar Will Become Regional Visitor’s Center

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A story in this week’s Style magazine gives information on a new federal-local partnership for the Tredegar ironworks site.

The partnership between the American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar and the National Park Service comes as regional planners continue spinning their wheels, quietly debating where to create a central visitor’s center in anticipation of next year’s commemorations of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

Tredegar, once the iron-smelting backbone of the Confederacy’s industrial effort, has long been a shared site between the National Park Service and the nonprofit civil war center. The new plan means Tredegar’s cohabitants become symbiotic partners on the site overlooked by Ethyl Corp.’s corporate headquarters on Byrd Street.

The partnership is unique within the National Park Service, says David Ruth, superintendent of the National Park Service’s Richmond National Battlefield Park. The federal government and the Civil War center will run jointly the museum’s day-to-day operations and retail functions. Ruth says the partnership with the center is even more comprehensive than the joint public-private effort that runs Gettysburg National Battlefield.

Gettysburg interprets a single battlefield, where Tredegar becomes a gateway to antebellum and war-era Richmond as well as all of the battlefield sites throughout the state. The private side of Tredegar has long focused its Civil War interpretation on a more rounded history of civilian and military life within the context of black, white, Northern and Southern experiences.

To read the rest of the article, click here.

Jewell Sentenced To Suspended Jail Term in DUI

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From the Times Dispatch (this follows coverage for his arrest in October):

Richmond City Councilman E. Martin Jewell pleaded no contest yesterday to driving under the influence in October and apologized to his constituents and the community.

“I made a mistake. I should not have driven after drinking,” the 5th District council member said outside Richmond’s John Marshall Courts Building.

Substitute Judge Randy Rowlett fined Jewell $500, with $250 suspended, and imposed a 90-day jail sentence with the time suspended for three years. Jewell’s driver license also was suspended for 12 months, but he will be allowed to drive to and from work, including City Council functions. Jewell is owner of Total Home Care, a residential cleaning service.

In addition, Jewell was referred to the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program, an anti-drunken-driving school that will last at least 10 weeks. Attorney Craig Cooley, who represented Jewell, said the punishment was standard for a first-time offender such as Jewell.

Richmond police pulled over and arrested the councilman about 1:30 a.m. Oct. 24 near Byrd Park. Cooley said Jewell’s blood-alcohol reading was 0.11 percent. In Virginia, a motorist is presumed to be legally intoxicated with a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or higher. Cooley noted that Jewell’s level was below the 0.15 percent that would trigger mandatory jail time.

The state’s maximum punishment for first-offense DUI, a Class 1 misdemeanor, is one year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

Free holiday performance set for Dec. 6 at Landmark

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From City press release:

For Immediate Release
Dec. 4, 2009

Media Contacts:
Tesha Davis – (804) 646-3998
Christy Everson – (804) 646-5944

Free holiday performance set for Dec. 6 at Landmark

The Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities will present its annual holiday gift to the city, its production of “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6, at the Landmark Theater.
The musical tells the story of the mischievous shepherd boy Amahl and his mother, whose lives are changed forever after meeting three kings. It’s a heartwarming and humorous story that will charm and delight the entire family.
This is the department’s 48th year of offering this free holiday musical, which with its all-volunteer cast, has become a Richmond tradition.
The performance is free and no reservations are required.
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