A Cross-Section of the Canal

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During the construction of the new bridge for the 2nd Street Connector, the contractors made a clean cut through the canal. This cut provided a cross-section of the canal.

As shown clearly in this photograph, there is only about a foot of dark top soil above the yellowish clay liner of the south bank of the canal. (photographer placed a 4 foot ruler in the photograph to show the scale.) Bill Trout, who is the former President of the American Canal Society, visited the site, and he took a sample of the clay and demonstrated how the clay was “puddled” with water to form an impervious barrier that kept the water from leaking from the canal.

This is important because Venture Richmond’s proposed plan to slice off 5-6 feet from the top of the south bank of the canal would definitely damage the integrity of the canal by slicing into the important clay liner of the canal.

Election Controversies Continue

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There are still some strong allegations being made about the recent election.
Received via email:

PARTICULARIZED COMPLAINT FOR CIVIL ACTION NUMBER 3:12-CV-00650

L. SHIRLEY HARVEY,
CHRISTOPHER DORSEY,
Plaintiffs

v.

JANE KIRK SHOWALTER,
GEORGE WILLIAM THOMAS,
CECELIA DABNEY,
ERNESTO SAMPSON, JR.
DONALD PALMER,
KIMBERLY BOWERS,
CHARLES JUDD,
Defendants

COMPLAINT
The Plaintiffs comes to the Court to request an investigation into the process of qualification of candidates by the Registrar, Jane Kirk Showalter, regarding local elections for the City of Richmond on November 6, 2012. The Plaintiffs research has found that in several instances, the Registrar has either made gross mistakes or deliberately made decisions that are not in accordance with the Virginia State Code 24.2 regarding elections and further noted in the procedures for registrars called the GREbook (General Registrar and Electoral Board Handbook See Exhibit I) which provides procedures for the Registrar’s office to accomplish the mandates set forth in Virginia Code 24.2.

The Richmond Electoral Board and the State Board of Elections have the authority and the power to avoid these discrepancies by overseeing the work completed by the Registrar. The lack of supervision allows that any registrar in Virginia could be bribed, could make gross mistakes, could discriminate, and could, in essence, decide elections before the citizen vote. The Plaintiffs have attempted on many occasions without success to bring about an investigation or review by filing written and verbal complaints as prescribed by the Code to several authorities including the Richmond Electoral Board and the State Board of Elections. These Boards did not respond.

Continue reading →

St. Andrew’s Church Silent Auction This Weekend

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From email announcement:

St. Andrew’s Church is holding a Silent Auction this weekend. Get a sneak peak and first dibs at bidding on Friday, November 30, from 4:00-7:00 pm in St. Andrew’s House (236 S. Laurel Street). Refreshments will be served, including samples of home-made brew that is showcased in the auction.

Final bidding will be held on Sunday, December 2, during First Sunday Fellowship in Baldwin Hall of St. Andrew’s School at 11:30 am. For those who can’t make it Sunday, you can leave an “up to” bid on Friday.

Auction items include paintings by Anthony Creech and Jane Joyner, homemade bags by Carole Justice and Oregon Hill resident Marta Powers, gift certificates to Sweet Frog and Mamma Zu, Science Museum tickets, a weekend on the Eastern Shore, and much more! In addition to getting great Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers, you can help raise money for St. Andrew’s outreach (including St. Andrew’s School, Virginia Supportive Housing, Freedom House, Circle of Peace School-Uganda, and others).

Electronics Stolen From Cars

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There’s been a rash of thefts from motor vehicles the past week or so, concentrated in the ‘Heights’ north of the expressway.

From Richmond Police Dept.:

4th Precinct
THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE
11/21/12 8:40 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
200 block of South Laurel Street
An unknown person(s) broke into the vehicle and stole the stereo and a GPS unit.
Thanks,

4th Precinct
THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE
11/24/12 10:30 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
100 block of South Laurel Street
An unknown person(s) broke into the vehicle and stole an iPod.

4th Precinct
THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE
11/27/12 12:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
200 block of South Cherry Street
An unknown person(s) entered the vehicle and stole a stereo, money and pocket knife.

4th Precinct
THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE
11/27/12 10:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
800 block of Idlewood Avenue
An unknown person(s) broke into the vehicle and stole the stereo.

Another, earlier case, was already reported.

Trash/Recycling Pickup Tomorrow

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This Wednesday is a red Wednesday, which means trash and recycling pickup. Please make sure you pick up containers after pickup tomorrow night. They do not belong on the sidewalk after tomorrow night.

In recycling news, proposed new Virginia General Assembly legislation, House Bill 1323 relates to scrap metal processors:

The bill would require each scrap metal processor to furnish a report of its purchases of nonferrous scrap, metal articles and proprietary articles other than aluminum cans and interior household items to the chief law enforcement officer of the locality in which it conducts business. The reports would be due on the next business day following the day of the purchase. Prefiled Oct. 31 for the next legislative session.

Renegade Market This Afternoon

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From email:

Come one. Come all.
The goods are here. Shop our hardy, willing food producers, crafters, growers, makers, sellers. Call me a sourpuss, but I wouldn’t mind if we got snow… The Renegade Market it pretty in the snow. Alas, it is our lot to get rain. Tuesday’s forecast is for light rain throughout the afternoon, so really no hindrance to market vending or shopping. Winter soups, sautees, sauces – the kind of goodness that keeps colds and influenzi at bay (bey?).
Tuesdays, November through April, 3pm to 6pm.
byrdhousemarket.blogspot.com for details…

Spaghetti Dinner at Perly’s
If you’ve never joined friends and family for this annual WBCH event, you’ve missed out. All you can eat spaghetti, some famous rolls, great company, a happening part of Grace Street…you get all that for $15 per person and somehow manage to support the great work done by great people for great people at WBCH. Click here for details!

Ana Edwards, Manager
Byrd House Market & Library Programs
Grace Arents Library & Education Center
William Byrd Community House
www.wbch.org / 804.643.2717 ext.306

VCU Officials Predict 5.5% Tuition Increase Next Year

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In the Nov. 26th issue of the VCU Commonwealth Times, there’s an article on page 5, written by Assistant New Editor Liz Butterfield, entitled “Officials predict rise in tuition, expenditures.”
I cannot find the same article online yet.

Excerpt:

Hanson’s office has predicted around a 5.5 percent increase to in-state tuition for undergraduates next year with no foreseen budget cuts and an emphasis on hiring new faculty. This could mean an increase of about $430 for in-state, full-time students if the increase is proposed and the Board of Visitors approved it.