Yesterday a dump truck accidentally created an oil spill on Pine Street.
Thankfully, the City seemed to do a good job of cleaning it up quickly. Here are some pictures, courtesy of neighborhood resident Jennifer Hancock:
I am late with posting on this site, but there is this event today:
Richmond Marijuana March and Festival 2010
TODAY — MAY 8th — Noon through 4:20 and later
Monroe Park, Richmond, VA
No march, just music and talk and exhibits.
Check out FaceBook site.
City press release:
Reminder: Please follow River Regulations
The city of Richmond reminds visitors to the James River Park to obey Richmond’s river regulations.
“The regulations were put in place by the city of Richmond to increase public safety at the river. We want the public to enjoy the park, but we want them to be safe and to obey the regulations. They could save your life,” said J.R. Pope, director of the department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities.
The regulations require that anyone in the water must be wearing a life jacket when the water level reaches five feet at Richmond’s Westham Gauge. When the river level reaches nine feet, the river is closed and it is illegal for anyone who does not have a whitewater permit to be in the water.
“Now that the weather is warm, more people are coming out to enjoy the park and the river, and we want the public to know these river regulations,” Pope said. “If you plan on getting in the water – even if it’s just to wade along the shore or to go sit on a rock – it’s important for your own safety that you follow the regulations.”
Park staff posts signs throughout the James River Park, at river access points, when the water level reaches five feet that state you must wear a life jacket, and when it reaches nine feet the signs indicate that only people with a permit are allowed in the water.
Citizens can also check James River water levels before they leave home by calling Richmond’s weather and river level hotline at (804) 646-8228 and then selecting option 4, or by visiting the National Weather Service’s website at http://www.erh.noaa.gov/akq/ and typing “James River Westham” in the search box.
Pope says that many people don’t understand or underestimate the power of the river and that looks can be deceiving. While the water may look calm on the surface, it can be moving with such force below the surface that it makes it impossible to keep your footing even in a few feet of water. Also, conditions can change very quickly.
In addition to obeying the water level regulations, here are some other measures the department recommends people take to be safe at the river:
· If you can’t swim – just don’t go in.
· Never go in the water when you are alone.
· When visiting the river, let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return.
· Pay attention to your surroundings. Water levels and conditions can change VERY quickly.
· Always wear shoes in the river.
· Be aware that the river bottom is uneven and may drop off suddenly and that the rocks can be slippery.
· Always have young children wear life jackets.
· Don’t overestimate your skills. Even the strongest swimmers and most experienced boaters can and have experienced difficulty.Regulations also forbid bringing glass containers into the park, so remember to use plastic or paper items instead.
Finally, please do not litter. “Litter makes our parks unsightly and unsanitary,” said Pope. “You can help make Richmond a great place to be this summer by helping to keep our parks clean so everyone can enjoy them. We keep plenty of trash cans and recycling boxes around throughout of the park, so please use them.”
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From press release:
Join us at Byrd House Market this Tuesday, May 4th, our 2010 OPENING DAY, 3:30 – 7:00 pm, to EAT GOOD and jumpstart your GROWing season with GREATness!
That’s our theme this year: “EAT GOOD GROW GREAT” and it applies to so many aspects of the market experience and the WBCH mission to transform the lives of Richmond’s families.
Admire and buy some of the freshest locally grown and produced foods our Central Virginia area has to offer. Fresh and local means the nutritional quality is at its highest and the costs are often lower (especially if eating better means you don’t have to eat as much!!). Eating fresh, local and delicious foods means your body is getting what it wants and needs, which allows your body to grow and maintain what makes it great. Can you imagine eating food that doesn’t interfere with your health and well-being? Pretty nice!
As a Market with a Mission, BHM is really pleased to show off the new Byrd House Farmlet – a small production farm that has been cultivated to provide each of our Early Childhood Summer Program families with a sackful of farmlet fresh produce every week for eight weeks. The Grace Arents Community Garden taps into a hundred-year history of learning by doing and our community will be learning so much from the Kid’s Pizza Garden, Keyhole Garden, Three Sisters Garden (coming soon) and Straw Bale Container Garden (also coming soon).
LIVE MUSIC
Lyle from Indiana (3:30-5 pm) Richmond Original Harry Gore (5:00-7 pm)Visit: byrdhousemarket.blogspot.com for Happenings, Vendor Lists, Photos and more
Hills and Heights blog has a post about the ‘new red light cameras’ that the City of Richmond will be installing at various busy intersections. Although nothing is confirmed, there is some speculation that these will go on some of the most ticketed intersections, including several on Belvidere.
There’s been a lot of debate surrounding these. Civil libertarians worry about ‘Big Brother’, but police say that these will free up their resources and allow them to concentrate on other crime matters.
The Times Dispatch ran an article this past Tuesday on a proposed eight story apartment building for VCU students in nearby Monroe Ward.
From the article:
Gilbane Development Co. is seeking a special-use permit from the city for the 160-unit, 546-bedroom complex, which would include ground-floor retail space along Canal. The project also would include 195 parking spaces—about 1.2 per unit. That translates to a little more than one parking space for every three bedrooms.
The 1-acre site, between South Adams and South Foushee streets and bordering the Downtown Expressway, covers the southern half of the block and is currently an industrial-zoned parking lot. VCU’s Brandcenter is one block to the west, toward Belvidere Street.
Gilbane’s development could be finished sometime next year and would be the first new housing designed for VCU students in Monroe Ward since the university opened its 409-bed residence hall at Cary and Belvidere streets in fall 2008, said Reuban Rodriguez, VCU’s associate vice provost and dean of student affairs. The university has about 32,000 students but on-campus housing for only about 5,000.
Although not in Oregon Hill proper, there was some concern expressed at this past Tuesday’s Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association meeting that while this project could alleviate some VCU housing needs, it could also bring more traffic and parking issues to the neighborhood.
This Saturday’s May Day Parade is experiencing some controversy. Although the parade is not going through Oregon Hill, it was endorsed by the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association at the March meeting, and there are related workshops scheduled for this Friday at the William Byrd Community House on Cherry Street (see workshop schedule after press release).
Press release:
A coalition of local activist groups plans to hold a parade in Richmond this Saturday, May 1, to commemorate May Day. On March 16, 2010, Fellow Worker
Kenneth Yates, one of the event organizers, submitted a parade permit
application to Sgt. Selander of the RPD Special Events Division. According
to the relevant city ordinance (Chapter 102, Article X of the City Code,
pertaining to Assemblies, Demonstrations, and Parades), the police should
have responded within five days. Instead, nearly a month went. On April 14,
Sgt. Selander informed Mr. Yates that, in order to receive a parade permit,
his group would have to pay for two off-duty police officers. According to
Attorney Rebecca K. Glenberg of the Virginia ACLU, who has been in touch
with both Mr. Yates and Sgt. Selander on this matter, the city code does not
include any authority for the police to impose such a requirement.*PLEASE NOTE: * whether things work out or not, the rally and parade will
still happen. It will just have to happen on the sidewalks and not the
streets. We do have a permit for both the rally and the sidewalks.Sign the letter here:
http://www.change.org/petitions/view/free_speech_for_richmonds_may_dayDear Mayor Dwight C. Jones and Police Chief Bryan T. Norwood:
I am writing to protest the fact that the Richmond Police Department is
attempting to deny a parade permit to organizers of a Richmond May Day
Parade planned for this coming Saturday, first by failing to respond to the
organizers‚ permit application within the time limit imposed by city law,
and second by demanding that the organizers first agree to hire two off-duty
police officers, a requirement not included in the relevant city ordinance.
I urge the City of Richmond to do the right thing, respect the First
Amendment right to peacefully assemble and immediately grant the parade
permit.Sincerely,
Cc:
The New York Times, Washington Post, Associated Press, Richmond Free Press,
Richmond Voice The Virginia Defender, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Style Weekly,
WRIR, Richmond-area Clear Channel radio stations, WTVR Channel 6, WRIC
Channel 8, NBC Channel 12, May Day 2010 Richmond Organizing Committee
Here is the workshop schedule for this Friday (to get more details on individual workshops, click here):
5:30pm – 6:00pm “STOP MEANS STOP!” | The Active Hand Ministry
6:00pm – 7:00pm “VCU Students For Social Action” | VCU Students for Social Action
6:00pm – 7:00pm “Restoration of Voting Rights” | Resource Information Help for the Disadvantaged
7:00pm – 9:00pm “Conflict Resolution for Activists” | Richmond Peace & Education Center
7:00pm – 9:00pm “Reproductive Justice & Prison Abolition” | Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project
9:00pm – 10:00pm “One City, One Community.” | RePHRAME
This coming Friday will be the first community movie night of the season. It happens in Pleasants Park around 8pm when it gets dark. The feature will be the Disney/Pixar animated movie “Up”.
I hope I do not ruin any surprises (or grades) by posting this picture of a student engineering project from this past Saturday. S. Laurel Street in action, folks.
looking west toward S. Laurel Street intersection