Category Archives: sports

Lobs & Lessons Center Hosts Tournament on Sept. 17

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From press release:

The inaugural Lobs & Lessons Family Open will serve up to 256 participants from the greater Richmond area on Saturday, September 17th, 2011, from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. It will be hosted by the Mary and Frances Youth Center on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University.

The event marks the continual partnership between the Lobs & Lessons program and the Richmond Tennis Association to develop QuickStart Tennis (QST) in the greater Richmond area. QST is a teaching format that allows more children the opportunity to experience the game, as the courts and equipment are smaller so they can feel confident. The tournament will ultimately promote QuickStart Tennis for Everyone, giving families the opportunity to play side by side and encourage the reluctant player, whether it is an adult or child.

The Lobs & Lessons Family Open is a QST event held to promote healthy lifestyles and demonstrate that QST is fun at any age, while providing a low-cost tournament opportunity for the greater Richmond area. In addition to promoting the growth of the game, the event will serve as an annual fundraiser for Lobs & Lessons. Doubles teams will have two registration options, one of which is a low-cost entry fee. A second option, “Team Challenge,” will encourage participants to raise money to support Lobs & Lessons. The event is presented by Lobs & Lessons and the Richmond Tennis Association. To register, please visit www.vcuyouthcenter.org.

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The Lobs & Lessons Family Open will be held at the Mary and Frances Youth Center, using the Thalhimer Tennis Center and Cary St. Field, on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University. The Center is located at 120 South Linden Street, just off of West Cary Street, between Cary Street Field and the Cary Street Gym.

Rising VCU Student Fees

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The Times Dispatch has another article about rising VCU student fees.

Some excerpts:

The board of visitors on Friday approved a $50 increase in the university fee, bringing the charge to $1,637 for full-time students.
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The university fee, which is assessed on all students but is prorated for those attending part time, supports intercollegiate athletics, recreational sports, the Student Commons and other programs.

The fee will bring VCU $41.5 million in total revenue for the 2011-12 academic year. Nearly $11 million will go to athletics.

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It also will cover the $10,000 needed for increased fees for game officials, $100,000 for athletic facility maintenance, and $50,000 for the higher cost of inflation and deflation of VCU’s new tennis bubble.

Also covered by the fee increase is $45,000 in higher costs for the GRTC pass program that allows full-time students to ride city buses at no charge. About $158,000 will be used for Cary Street Recreation Center operations, and $80,000 will go to student disability programs.
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The board of visitors adopted the increase in setting tuition and mandatory fee rates that will cost in-state students 7.9 percent, or $700, more. The university fee was not increased when tuition charges jumped 24 percent for the current year.

Adele McClure, this year’s student government president, said she did not hear from students who were upset by either the tuition or university fee increase. Nor did she hear complaints after Smart’s $1.2 million contract was announced.

Richmond Hosts Police Biking Conference

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Fan of the Fan has a post on RIchmond Bike Week. Don’t forget about the upcoming Capital to Capital Trail Ride.

Also, here’s an announcement by Richmond Police Department:

Over the next week, April 9-16, up to 250 police bicycle officers and administrators from around the country and the world will report for assignment in Richmond.

The International Police Mountain Bike Association conference starts tomorrow at the Greater Richmond Convention Center and at other locations throughout the city.

The IPMBA conference is the only national event where professionals learn about every aspect of public safety bicycle use. Officers and administrators from police departments, parks, universities and EMS units will receive the highest level of training.

A welcome to the attendees from Mayor Dwight C. Jones and Police Chief Bryan T. Norwood is offered in a video that shows the department’s bike units on patrol and highlights the city’s many bike trails. It may be viewed on the city’s website at www.richmondgov.com/police.

This is Richmond’s first time hosting the event and the first time in years it’s being held in an east coast city. The Richmond Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau spearheaded the effort to attract IPMBA by using the unique collaboration of the Richmond Police and Fire Departments, Richmond Ambulance Authority, VCU Police and Virginia Capitol Police in what proved to be the successful pitch.

Other factors were Chief Norwood’s strong commitment to an active and outstanding police bike officer program, and the excellent conference spaces and amenities the city offers. The beauty of Richmond and the challenge of the trails in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities’ James River Park System were also a major draw.
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Condolences to VCU Basketball Team Fans

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No matter how you look at it, the VCU Basketball Team had an amazing season this year. Even if you were not a basketball fan before, you could instantly become one by watching these guys’ enthusiasm and skill. That goes for the University of Richmond’s team also. Despite VCU’s loss last night, they can be proud of their hard work and determination in getting to the Sweet Sixteen. In doing so, they brought pride and recognition to Richmond and we are thankful. I enjoyed watching the games, while hanging out with VCU alumni friends.

Note to Trani and Mayor Jones: This does not mean that Richmond taxpayers’ money should be spent on a new Coliseum.

Joey Rodriguez Avenue

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In a surprising announcement this morning, Mayor Jones confirmed to reporters that he has taken steps to officially rename Belvidere Street for a star member of VCU’s amazing Final Four basketball team.

Belvidere Street was originally a small one lane street named after the home of William Byrd III. From this point forward, Belvidere Street will be known as ‘Joey Rodriguez Avenue’, or ‘J-Rod Ave’, after popular Point Guard #12, Joey Rodriguez.

According to news accounts, City workers will begin later this month to replace signage in order to reflect the new name.

Rumor has it that West Avenue in the Fan may get a new name as well, perhaps ‘Skeen Street’.

Monument 10K This Weekend

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Sportsbackers’ Monument Avenue 10k race is this Saturday.

Registration is closed and they have reached capacity.

Neighborhood residents should be ready for heavy traffic. Thankfully, Sportsbackers put this on their website:

We encourage participants to car pool to the race. Even better run or ride your bike to the starting line. Free parking is available on streets throughout the area. We strongly recommend going east of Belvidere to find on-street and surface-lot parking. To lessen your chances of getting stuck in traffic, please avoid the Belvidere exits off I-95 and I-195 and instead go further east and exit on 3rd Street, Broad Street or Franklin Street.