Byrd House Market for Aug. 28

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From email announcement:

Back in the 90s my favorite meal was based on the existance of one salad dressing: Girard’s Pesto Dressing. I started with a large pile of spring mixed greens or romaine lettuce and baby spinach leaves. A large spoonful of warm basmati rice is laid on top, then toasted pine nuts, small chunks or shavings of havarti cheese with dill. The pesto dressing was poured over and a final sprinkle of black pepper. This came to an end when Girard’s discontinued their Pesto Dressing. All you smartie-pants who know how simple it is to make your own salad dressings can just stop smirking. I was in mourning and thought nothing would ever be the same again.
Then came Farmers Markets! So, I think late summer salads should be high on your list this week. Ingredients abound. And savory sautees await. And grilled whatsoevers…

WBCH after-school kids created their own salad recipes. Try one!

Vendors who will be here this week that were not last week: Thinking of You Creations, St. Andrew’s Church, Wild Heaven Goat Soaps, Petal Palate, Bernie’s Baked Goods, Sustenance…
Robin Raver is off this week, so no massage, but she’ll see you next week – First Tuesday of the month! And Epic Gardens is teaching edamame stuff at VSU, and she’ll see you next week. Where will you be?
Our storyteller is off this week, but we will have a tarot card reader and face painter. Tips are welcome – support your local artisans.
and Don’t Forget to VOTE!

EVERY DAY through September 15! (See Richmond UNITE notice below)

And speaking of such things, ARE YOU registered to vote? Check out Cedar Street Baptist Church, www.csbcog.org, for voter registration times and information. Or go to the city’s website to learn more. DEADLINE: October 15th (22 days prior to election day)

byrdhousemarket.blogspot.com
and wbch.org
—
_____________________

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

Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association Meets Tomorrow Night

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The Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association will meet tomorrow night at the William Byrd Community House.

From email announcement:

Hello everyone

The monthly OHNA meeting is tomorrow, Tuesday, August 28th at 7 PM at the WBCH.

Jack Berry, from Venture Richmond, will be attending the meeting to discuss the amphitheater that he wants to put in over by the 2nd St connector.

Thanks
Jennifer
OHNA

City Council Candidate Shewmake Challenges Rival’s Ballot Certification

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The Times Dispatch has a very interesting article this morning on 5th District City Council race and the government’s election process. Click here to read entire article.

From the article:

In the latest challenge to Richmond’s candidate-certifying process, a City Council candidate’s attempt to have an opponent removed from the ballot was denied last week by Richmond’s voter registrar and the city’s Electoral Board.

The request by S. Lee Shewmake, who is running for the 5th District seat, said a review of the signatures on the petitions filed by one of her opponents, Parker C. Agelasto, revealed numerous “errors and irregularities.”

The article goes further to delve into recent controversies regarding the City’s voter registrar.

It was the latest complaint involving how the registrar’s office reviews signatures on candidate petitions in city elections. And the fact that Showalter reviewed Agelasto’s signatures at all raised the eyebrows of the lawyers who have successfully sued the registrar to get a School Board candidate on the ballot and are in litigation to get a review of a would-be mayoral candidate’s petition signatures.

Reminder: 2013 Richmond Adopt-a-Tree Program Deadline Is Sept. 1

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From email:

COUNCIL PUBLIC INFORMATION NEWS ADVISORY
IMMEDIATE RELEASE TO BE FORWARDED AND SHARED
Thursday, 23 August 2012

Richmond residents reminded of September 1st application deadline for the FY 2013 Richmond Adopt-a-Tree Program: Purchase, plant and protect a Community Street Tree

Entire community invited and encouraged to adopt a tree

WHAT (Richmond, Virginia U.S.A.) — Richmond City Council reminds residents of the upcoming September 1st deadline for applying for the FY 2013 Richmond Adopt-a-Tree Program.

Managed by the Richmond Department of Public Works Division of Urban Forestry, the Richmond Adopt-a-Tree Program helps increase the beauty, efficiency and value of Richmond neighborhoods by providing a way for Richmond residents to purchase, plant, protect and care for city/community street trees.

Applications and more information about the Richmond Adopt-a-Tree Program and adopting a tree are available by calling the Richmond Department of Public Works Division of Urban Forestry, at 804.646.5607 or http://www.richmondgov.com/PublicWorks/UrbanForestry.aspx (webpage), applications can also be downloaded from the EnRichmond Foundation website, at http://www.enrichmond.org/ Tree adoptions are $50.

Recognized as an outstanding and successful program that is helping to replenish and sustain community street trees in the city of Richmond, the Richmond Adopt-a-Tree Program is helping to protect one of Richmond’s most precious assets and valuable resources.

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Richmond Open Government Project

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Perhaps inspired by other local online petitions, the Richmond Open Government Project launched theirs recently:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/684/909/771/make-richmond-city-hall-an-open-government-equal-to-the-best-in-virginia/

Knowledge comes from unfettered access to information. Currently the City of Richmond lags far behind the other six most populous cities in Virginia (Alexandria, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Virginia Beach) in terms of the information that is made available to its citizens and their ease of acquiring said information. The City of Richmond impedes the public’s access to information and participation in many ways. A short list of what the City does not do is below. For a complete list of the comparisons between the seven cities go to: http://cityhallreview.com/opengov/index.html

City Council does not post meeting agendas on its website.
City Council does not broadcast meetings at which most deliberations occur.
City Council does not hold public hearings at convenient times
City Council does not post meeting videos on its webpage.
City Council does not provide for downloading its meeting audios.
City Council does not archive meeting audios on its webpage.
City Council does not post all reports or presentations on its webpage.
City Council does not report deliberations in its minutes.
City Council does not report public comments in its minutes.
The Planning Commission provides very limited meeting information on its webpage.
The Board of Zoning Appeals provides no meeting information on its webpage.

People who want public accountability and the opportunity for meaningful participation in the City of Richmond government can and must change the status quo. Armed with information and the opportunity to participate, the public can be a watchdog, an agent of change and a collaborative partner in the decision-making process. As the Capital of the Commonwealth and the epicenter of the development of America’s popular government, the City of Richmond should be at the top of the list for offering unfettered citizen access to public information. The people can open city hall through a united and relentless demand for change. The Richmond Open Government Project intends to start this demand for change with the following petition to City of Richmond’s government leaders:

As a citizen, stakeholder, or candidate for political office in the City of Richmond, I pledge to call for, support, and vote for the following:

That the City government, in accordance with state law, immediately begin to publish City Council minutes that include a summary of the discussion on matters considered.

That the City government broadcast live all regular public meetings on the City website; and

That the City government commit to raising its open government standards to a level that meets or exceeds those of the other six most populous cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Today at VCU is the Great Bike Roundup!

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From Ride Richmond’s FaceBook page:

Today at VCU is the Great Bike Roundup! 10-2 on the Commons Plaza. Free bike repair, helmets and lights for those who register their bikes (while supplies last), and tables for the Cycling Club, RideRichmond, and more! Immediately following will be a Cycling Symposium. Come learn the ins and outs of cycling in town and at VCU!

This Tuesday at Byrd House Market

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From email announcement:

3rd Tuesday Jam
Our cat has abandoned the kitchen floor for our bed once more as our most reliable indicator that the seasons are changing. Fiddling and plucking in the market tells us its the 3rd Tuesday of the month and the sudden hush of students of all ages as the reality strikes that bells will call them back to class. These are the signs of autumn on my mind…

So start thinking stocks, and soups and stews. Creamy vegetable bisques with cheese and toasted breads. Late tomato bruschetti and light fresh sauces over sauteed, steamed or roasted fresh veggies of almost any kind you like. Savor the last weeks of summer and the illusion of freedom and carefreeness – let your foods embody what’s good and nostalgic, what good and coming soon.

This week, we bid farewell to Almadina and welcome Ettamae’s Oven. It’s been a rough year at the market between the economy, the heat and the storms, especially for our smaller, newer entrepreneurs. I have really enjoyed seeing the end of market trading between vendors to help support each other and strengthen bonds of shared experience. Spread the word – Byrd House Market is a great community because of its people and because its got the right stuff and the right attitude!

and Don’t Forget!
Visit William Byrd Community House’s website – it pays to know just how Byrd House Market, the Grace Arents Community Garden and the Byrd House Farmlet make up the outdoor nutrition education program of WBCH’s Library – to know how these work with the daily integration of social safety net services with early childhood education and after school programs to transform lives and build self-sufficiency in everyone who comes to our agency for help and encouragement. Next year WBCH celebrates 90 years of great work in Richmond. www.WBCH.org. Learn more. Volunteer. Support. Thanks! (See Richmond UNITE notice below)

Who’s Your Favorite Farmers Market?
Voting is still on for the 2012 America’s Favorite Famers Market contest at VaGrown. Click the button at byrdhousemarket.blogspot.com. AND at VaGrown here are two more marketing resources: Official Virginia Farmers’ Market Week Proclamation (last week, but nice for your “wall”) and Grow Virginia’s Economy: Take the $10 a Week Challenge (ongoing)

Farmers and Foodies on Facebook!
Our vendors are talking, sharing photos and showing off their great stuff on Facebook! Check it out: http://www.facebook.com/?sk=nf

MORE Save-the-Dates:
2012 Hans S. Falck Lecture on Social Responsibility will be Thursday, October 4th at St. Andrew’s School. THEME – Eradication of Poverty: Utopia or Reality? The Intersection between Housing, Livelihood and Transportation.hanssfalcklectures.blogspot.com
National Food Day (Oct.24) is October 23rd at Byrd House Market! www.foodday.org. We’ll have a chiropractor, VCU Wellness Department, a scavenger hunt and more.

Raffles
A $1 raffle ticket gets you a shot at $33.83 in Byrd Farm goodies and supports Byrd House Market! Every week all season long! We have had a happy winner every week – it’s a great deal and your pantry will love you for it.
and Massage????
For every $10 you spend at the featured vendor of the week, you get 1 minute of chair massage with Robin Raver! Different vendor every week! Check the chalkboard for this week’s vendor. (Last week Robin tore into the boulders in my neck and shoulder blade muscles so hard she made me wish I could cry in front of everyone. She said “you may not like me now, but in a couple days I will be your goddess! Lucky for us both as soon as I stood up I wanted to fall to my knees and a week later the boulders are pebbles and I can turn my head!) So since you’re going to spend $20-30 anyway, go get a massage. Or not. I’m just sayin…

Grants for Agricultural Producers
WASHINGTON, August 16, 2012 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today invited agricultural producers to apply for grants to increase the value of their products.
“Producers can greatly enhance the bottom line of their businesses and improve their economic prospects when they improve the value of their products, thus expanding their markets and customer base,” Vilsack said. “The Value Added Producer Grant program (VAPG) has a proven track record of doing just that and I am pleased to announce that we are inviting producers to apply for these grants by the deadline. The funds in this program enable America’s farmers, ranchers and rural business owners to find ways to expand their product offerings, revenue streams and create more economic opportunity by bringing additional value to what they already produce.Read more…. http://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USDAOC-4f4adb

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