Got a little bit of volunteer time in with M.O.R.E. this morning. They are working on a better trail for the southern side of Belle Island (be patient, its not ready for public traffic quite yet). They will be out there for a few more Saturday mornings if you would like to help.
RVANews.com features an article on recent City Council meeting. In the meeting, there was much discussion on two issues that resonate near Oregon Hill, the Monroe Park renovations and a film scheduled for the Civil War Center (Tredegar).
Excerpts:
Speaking with 5th District Councilman Marty Jewell (pictured above) after the meeting presented a different view point from the council. “Monroe park is and has always been a public park, and it should remain a public park,” said Jewell, who has been seen attending some of the charity events held every Sunday in Monroe park. He said he sympathized with those involved in helping the homeless who come to Monroe Park for food and shelter.
“If you look at the master plan wordage from [the year] 2000, the language was there that we need to ‘reduce the visibility of homeless people,’” he said. “That’s always been the intent of certain corporate types who simply don’t want to see poor people.”
No part of the plan was to be voted on that night, so no issues concerning the park or the master plan were directly addressed in the meeting.
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“If they want to show it there as historical fact, then that’s one thing, but to show this in a sponsored event and in a movie theater and get everyone to come out for it,” said Hilbert, “We need to move forward with our city.”
However, 1st District Councilman Bruce Tyler (pictured in the main image of this story) brought up the fact that it was not City Council’s job to be a censor.
“There is nothing in this film that I wanna see or have shown,” said Tyler, “But I have to sit here and say that freedom of speech is what makes our country great, and i don’t think its our right to censor freedom of speech.”
The Monroe Park issues have been previously covered on this site quite a bit.
From Monroe Campaign press release:
Richmond, VA—On Saturday, January 15, starting at 12 p.m. in Monroe Park, the All the Saints Theater Company will host Party in the Park in support of the Monroe Park Campaign. It will be open to all ages and completely free of charge. Families are encouraged to attend.
Party in the Park is an afternoon-long festival. The Campaign has received its 1000th petition signature in its quest to keep the park open during renovations. All the Saints plans on celebrating by throwing a party the likes of which the old park hasn’t seen in years. Like all good parties, there will be plenty of food and music but most importantly, there will be a very tangible sense of solidarity. Groups and businesses from all across Richmond have come together to support the Campaign as well as to celebrate spending a nice afternoon in the park. All the Saints will set the scene by parading around with their iconic larger-than-life puppets, boats and dragons, while a diverse mash-up of local artists perform a series of powerful unplugged sets. A face painting station and a market offering tons of free clothing, toys and books will also be available. While old man winter may not be so accommodating, attendees can expect a delicious spread of warm food and drinks to keep them going during the course of the day.
The Monroe Park Campaign is a coalition of churches, feeding groups, radical organizations, as well as concerned citizens that have come together upon hearing about the Monroe Park Advisory Council’s plans to shut down Monroe Park during renovations. For a period of 9-18 months, the council plans on fencing off all 8 acres of the park making it inaccessible for students, homeless people currently living and socializing there, weekly feeding programs as well as anyone else who may use the park. The Campaign is working to keep at least 25-50% of the park open during the entire duration of construction and to prevent the hiring of any private security task force to police the park after renovations, especially since the master plan calls for reducing the “apparently homeless population” as one of its goals. Ultimately, the Campaign hopes to influence the type of renovations that are being planned for the park, in the hopes of making it a friendlier place for everyone.
The All the Saints Theater Company is an experimental art and theater group, responsible for puppet parades, spaghetti dinners, circuses and endless subversive street theater in Richmond.
DATE & TIME: Saturday, January 15 • 12 – 4 p.m. − Suggest coverage between 1:00 and 3 p.m.
LOCATION: Monroe Park
620 W. Main Street
Richmond, VA 23220Bands/Artists that will perform at the event include:
No BS Brass, Dave Watkins, Pedals On Our Pirate Ships, Diamond Center, Gull, Julie Karr, Lobo Marino, Better Not Makeouts, Alison Self, Canary O’ Canary, Cmilk and Reeverb Collective, Just Plain Sounds Hip Hop Collective and moreCompanies that have donated food/supplies to the event include:
Lamplighter’s Roasting Company, Crossroad’s Coffee and Ice Cream and Café Gutenberg
Also got an update:
just wanted to update you on the band list, if you do plan on posting all the bands that will be performing at PITP. Canary O’ Canary will not be performing but Gandhi’s Gunmen will be. If you could make those changes, it would be very much appreciated.
Oh, we also put together a little teaser video for PITP if you’d like to include it or use it in any way: http://vimeo.com/18520547
The Mid-Atlantic Off Road Enthusiasts (M.O.R.E.) are doing some more trail work on Belle Island tomorrow and could use more volunteers. Click here for more details, including how you can get involved.
Oregon Hill is lucky to have these folks helping with our adjacent city parks.
From email:
The Really Really Free Market for the month of December falls on December 25th, since that is the last Saturday of the month. At the November Really Really Free Market everyone talked it over and decided that yes, we would like to have the really really free market at the usual time, date, and place, despite it falling on a christian holiday.
In fact it seems like it could be a nice opportunity to being together folks who are not interested in celebrating Christmas, for whatever reasons- personal, political, religious, etc. We can do something fun and positive on that day, but something which clearly is not about celebrating Christmas.
Since many stores and restaurants will be closed because of the holiday, we are also encouraging people to treat this like a potluck- bring a dish to share if you can, preferabbly something labeled so folks with specific dietary needs or allergies can participate too! If you can’t come but want to contribute a dish please contact the Wingnut.
Please help make fliers, distribute handbills, and post online to advertise for the next Really Really Free Market!
Richmond Really Really Free Market Handbill
Richmond Really Really Free Market Flier
Saturday December 25th from 12noon til 3pm! Corner of Main and Laurel in Monroe Park. Bring clothes, toys, games, books, etc. to share and give away, come get the same for absolutely free!
Unlike traditional Christmas, all the gifts at the Really Really Free Market are FREE and come with no strings attached and no expectations of reciprocity!
If you can’t make it you can bring your donations by the Wingnut at 2005 Barton Avenue and leave them on the front porch, or call ahead (804) 303 5449
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The Really Really Free Market takes place on the last Saturday of every month in Monroe Park, at the corner of Main and Laurel Streets in Richmond, Virginia.The RVA Really Really Free Markets provide people with a chance to share the excess that they possess, to prevent the landfills from filling with stuff that will never decompose and is nowhere near the end of its usefulness, and to offer the community a chance to come together for a day of free fun in the sun! (or rain!)
People can come to share things besides the physical. Anyone interested in sharing their skills or knowledge through a workshop should let us know or just show up and teach others. Anyone interested in performing, music or reading poetry or whatever, should contact us or just show up.
So dig through your closets, take the extra from your work, ask your parents and friends and neighbors to come to bring stuff and come to get stuff. Bring clothes, furniture, food, tapes, cds, office supplies, kitchen stuff, knick knacks, paddy whacks, etc. Any stores, restaurants, or organizations are welcome to bring their surplus items or food to share with the community!
The Really Really Free Market is not about bartering, selling, or discounting. All items are 110% free. No one has to bring something to get something. Everyone can take what they would like regardless of their contribution.
So the last Saturday of every month, bring your music, your skills, your stuff, your food, and your friends and family, and help us prove that there is enough stuff in the world for everybody!
Anything left at the end of the day will be taken to Diversity Thrift.
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Mo KarnRichmond Food Not Bombs, Richmond Really Really Free Market, Richmond Zine Fest, Richmond Anarchist Black Cross
From Tess’ article:
Oregon Hill Overlook (Oregon Hill)
At S. Laurel Street and Oregon Hill Parkway
At the southern edge of the neighborhood along Oregon Hill Parkway, the ground drops off steeply toward the river below. The hill is not a very long one, but makes for a quick and exciting ride. Very small children probably won’t enjoy it as much as the grown-ups, though.
Bonus killer view: Of the snowy river and Downtown.
I wonder if we will ever see any of these (click here for Treehugger .com link) proposals from this wildlife crossing design contest for going over 195?
Fantastic? Maybe. In the meantime, I am wondering about the new canal bridge.
From a neighbor:
