Meredith Barnes’s blog What I See Right Now takes a scenic tour of the neighborhood.
Meanwhile In Oregon Hill…
Reply
Late Notice On Visit to Mali
Chris Maxwell reminded me that this is happening–
The Vicarious Traveler’s series offers an opportunity to travel and learn about customs and cultures around the world. Though shared pictures, stories, music and discussions we can start to understand how interrelated we are and our role in this world we inhabit. This experience will hopefully make us all better stewards of our land and cultures.
Saturdays in February & March
February 4: Easter Island- Kristin Smith, lifelong traveler, will talk about her trip to Easter Island and how to save money traveling abroad.
February 25: Jordan- Virginia Vasser will talk about her trip to Jordan and offer other insights into Muslim culture.
March 3: Mali and Senegal- Dr. Robin Poulton and Virginia Vasser discuss their visits to two former French colonies. Dr. Poulton’s recent book oabout Mali will be available for purchase at the hostel after the program.
March 31: Tanzania- Alice Baird presents slides of Tanzania’s gorgeous scenery and amazing wildlife.
3:30-5 p.m.
Richmond Main LibraryRefreshments provided by the Richmond Hostel Committee. Programs are free and the public is invited.
The series is part of Hostelling International’s Opening Doors, Opening Minds initiative, which brings into sharp focus a vision that hostellers can become caring world citizens who are catalysts in creating a more peaceful world.
Programs will be followed by an optional tour of the future Richmond Hostel under
development near the Main Library.
A couple of quick editorial notes/comments-
Segou, Mali is one of Richmond’s Sister Cities.
While the Times Disgrace continues to trumpet the corporate development plans, it’s things like the Sister Cities program and the future Richmond Hostel that really speak for sustainable, intelligent tourism in Richmond.
Sweet Frog Coming To Cary Street Oregon Hill?
Plans for 349 S. Laurel Renovation
The new owner, Nolen Blackwood, was good enough to share some plans for the renovation of the storefront at 349 S. Laurel Street. He is interested in neighborhood feedback. If you have trouble with the size, you may want to download the pdf by clicking here.
Oregon Hill Jam Crate Sale!
Experience the best jams Oregon Hill has participate actively offer. These Oregon jams are made fm. Oregon grown berries. Sampler includes: Strawberry Rhubarb, Apricot, Marionberry and Raspberry. Makes completely different tall exclusive gift.
From Oregon Hill Farms…in Oregon.
Also, don’t confuse with Oregon Hill Winery in Pennsylvania.
And here I was hoping it was a music special from Minimum Wage Studio or Vinyl Conflict.
Storefront for Community Design Trolley Tour on Saturday
The 1-year-old nonprofit works with homeowners, businesses and organizations to “encourage high-quality community development and strengthen Richmond’s urban neighborhoods by providing access to design and planning resources.”
Giles Harnsberger, manager of Storefront for Community Design, explains that there’ll be no stops. “We’ll keep rolling to go by the 22 sites that Storefront has worked on.”She explains that Storefront is a workshop where anything goes. “It’s a place where people can come and work with a designer on a whole range of projects, which is what we’re showing with this tour.” Some of the projects are completed, while others are in the planning pipeline.
Some examples are the Wiliam Byrd Community House in Oregon Hill, where Storefront is assisting their plan for a nutrition center and a kitchen learning center.
Volunteer For New Trees For Oregon Hill
From email:
As I mentioned last night at the OHNA meeting, from 2002 until Marty Jewell was elected, over 400 street trees were planted in Oregon Hill. Despite humble requests to our councilperson for budget consideration to continue this progress, all communication was ignored so only trees planted were by privateers during that period.
We have a chance to make a new start in this area with no money needed, only volunteer labor. Although trees will be small, with care they will grow to provide us with many benefits as urban dwellers.
I have included the schedule and details below for a tree giveaway sponsored (ed.- I have edited out for this post, we don’t need competition for the trees!)
In order for us to make the most of this opportunity, a 5 step volunteer process is necessary and you are very welcome to help out in one or all of these areas as follows:
1. Identification of empty prospective tree well sites. If you need a tree near your house or would care to inventory our tree stock and come up with suggestions, that would be great and report back would need to be done in the next 2 weeks or so.
2. Preparation of identified tree wells. Unfortunately since we dont have a stump grinder, only clean, non stumped sites will work (unless you want to rent a grinder). It is necessary to dig up and loosen dirt in the wells BEFORE HAND so everything will go smoothly for the planting. This is the hardest part (but not that hard).
3. Pick up of trees at site. We need a good idea how many we need and what types of trees. 10 allowed per person and we need to get there early.
4. PLANTING. Oh the joy! Kids especially welcome! Supervision by tree stewards available.
5. AND MOST IMPORTANT! We need volunteers to adopt the baby trees and water them during the dry times. They should get 15 gallons a week during the dry months and this is essential to their survival for the first couple years. They will pay you back with MANY benefits!
If you can help, please email me, Todd, at
or call and leave a message at 783-8829 giving me your name and contact info. We will have 1 or 2 short organizational meetings along the way and I will keep you advised on this group and hopefully on the blogsite. Time is tight! Todd.
“F29: SHUT DOWN THE CORPORATIONS”
From announcement:
Occupy Richmond answers the national call put out by Occupy Portland to
Shut Down the Corporations on Wednesday, February 29 with a day of action
against corporate influence in politics.At 1:00 PM, a press conference
will be held at the corner of N. 3rd
St. and E. Franklin St. in front of the Richmond Times Dispatch and Media
General buildings.Afterwards we will march to actions throughout the city to bring attention
to the ways in which bribery are business-as-usual in the corporate
world.This day of action focuses on the American Legislative Exchange Council
(ALEC) and one of its member corporations, Richmond-based Altria. Not
only is Altria one of the largest contributors to ALEC, but several
Altria executives occupy key positions of power in the organization. The
current National Chairman on ALEC’s corporate board is
Mr. W. Preston Baldwin III, a former tobacco lobbyist and Vice President
of State Government Affairs at U.S. Tobacco Inc., a company now owned by
Altria. Daniel Smith, a lobbyist, is Altria’s representative on ALEC’s
corporate board. Like other corporate members who spend thousands of
dollars to join, Altria lobbyists
use the platform provided by ALEC to develop special relationships with
legislators. ALEC works with corporate interests to craft
ready-to-introduce bills to provide
lawmakers. By providing cover for the purchase of influence in the halls
of government, ALEC whitewashes patronage and makes bribery seem
respectable.Event Schedule:
• Rally at the Media General/Richmond Times Dispatch corner at 12pm (N.
3rd St. and E. Franklin St.)
• Demonstration at Altria at 2pm (N. 5th St. between Leigh and Jackson)
• Rally at Richmond Federal Court House at 4pm (N. 7th St. and E. Broad St.)
Contact: Occupy Richmond Media Group
Tel: (903) 203 – 7358
Email: occupyrichmondva.media@gmail.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEResources for further information:
• http://f29.occupyrva.org
• http://www.facebook.com/events/253092951433469/
• http://www.shutdownthecorporations.orgAbout Occupy Richmond:
Occupy Richmond considers itself a part of a growing economic and human
rights Movement that recognizes and affirms the essential dignity and
inherent value of all human beings and life.
We seek to create a safe space for free speech and civil dialog because we
believe our society and the earth are in crisis, and we recognize the need
for imminent change.
About Shut Down the Corporations:
Occupy Portland calls for a national day of non-violent direct action to
reclaim our voices and
challenge our society’s obsession with profit and greed by shutting
down the corporations. We
are rejecting a society that does not allow us control of our future. We
will reclaim our ability to
shape our world in a democratic, cooperative, just and sustainable direction.# # #
* No one person has been elected to speak on behalf of the entire
organization. The contact information provided is
given only for verification and follow-up purposes.
Jewell Supports Road Despite Citizen Opposition
The Times Dispatch has an article about the 2nd Street Connector At City Council yesterday. It manages to not mention the citizen opposition from the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association and the Sierra Club Falls of the James group.
Richmond is preparing to build a new road to its downtown riverfront, while keeping open a remnant of the city’s historic canal system to one day float boats again.
The capital budget that will be presented by Mayor Dwight C. Jones next week for the fiscal year that begins on July 1 will include $385,000 to preserve a section of the James River and Kanawha Canal with an open-bottom culvert beneath the proposed Second Street Connector.
However, it does mention how 5th District Councilperson Marty Jewell is supporting the road (despite the neighborhood’s wishes):
Councilman E. Martin Jewell, of the 5th District, supports the road but not the culvert beneath it because of the $385,000 price tag that the mayor is expected to include in his proposal capital budget for fiscal 2013.
“To do this now is ridiculous,” Jewell said.
But city planning and economic development staff said Richmond would get only one chance to preserve the remnant of the canal that extends from downtown as far west at Maymont Park.
“This is the first opportunity for the city to have a say about how the canal is treated,” planner Jim Hill told council.
“We think there’s an invaluable benefit to the city … by not foreclosing the opportunity for the future,” Hill said.
OHNA Meeting Tonight
It’s the fourth Tuesday of the month, which means the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association meets tonight at 7 pm at the William Byrd Community House.