Will Open High’s Budget Be Cut?
Local political blogger Jonathan Mallard has both the City’s proposed Richmond Public Schools budget link and some commentary. Former elected school board rep Carol Wolf has even more commentary on her blog, Save Our Schools.
From the proposal, it looks like Open High will have less field trips and staffing development.
Main Library HVAC Work

Franklin Street in downtown should be back open soon. It was closed this weekend while new HVAC equipment was replaced in the Main branch of the Richmond Public Library.
Main is Oregon Hill’s local public library branch, not to be confused with other libraries.
Oregon Hill Resident Runs For School Board/ Lots of meetings next week
Oregon Hill resident Maurice Henderson is planning to run for the Richmond School Board.
There is an upcoming meeting to introduce him on 2nd Baptist Church, 1401 Idlewood Avenue on Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 2:30 P.M.
This is an opportunity to meet and ask him questions regarding his candidacy for this position vacated by the former representative, Betsy Carr, who ascended to the position of 69th district representative in the General Assembly.
Also,
The next 5th District meeting with Councilperson Jewell will be held on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at 6:00 P.M. – 8:30 P.M. It will be held at the Binford Middle School, 1701 Floyd Avenue, Richmond, VA 23220.
In addition,
The Mayor’s State of the City Annual Address will be next Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at 6:30 P.M. – 8:30 P.M. It will be held at the Richmond Center Stage, Carpenter Theater, 6th & Grace.
But please note: The Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association holds its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, January 26, at 7 pm.
Volleys in Hollywood for Pickett This Saturday
Hollywood Cemetery management wants to let neighbors know that there will be a ceremony at the Pickett gravesite in Hollywood on Saturday, January 23 from 11 a.m. until noon. There will be volleys fired at this ceremony. Thank you for your assistance in getting this information out to the neighborhood.
Flying Brick Library Meeting
Paraphrasing a recent announcement from the Flying Brick Library:
The Flying Brick Library would like to announce that the first volunteer interest meeting will
be at 5pm on Friday Jan. 22nd! @ 506 South Pine Street (The Flying Brick!)This meeting will be more of a discussion and presentation about the
library and its history. Folks will also share stories and talk about
their goals for the space. There will be food and tea and hopefully a lot
of good discussion. This is a great opportunity to check out the space if
you haven’t had the chance to come by yet! We hope people will leave
feeling excited about the project and thinking about ways they want to
contribute.After this initial meeting there will be another meeting on Tuesday Feb.
2nd at 7pm. This meeting will be a little more organized and for folks who
are pretty positive that they are interested in volunteering. At this
meeting we hope to start plugging people into working groups, and just
helping folks get a better idea of exactly the kind of work they want to
be doing with the library.
Byrd House Market Tomorrow + Upcoming Vendor Meeting
From Ana Edwards, the Byrd House Market Manager:
Part 1)
I hear it’s going to be a balmy 60 degrees Fahrenheit this week. So you know where you need to be on Tuesday! (BHM at 3-5:30 pm, right? Right!) Follow the thoughtfulness of the observance of the birth and life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with the determination to do good works in your neighborhood and for your family – get some good food at the market and get it into your stomach – Your body will thank you! Your brain will thank you! I invite all of you – staffs and bosses, employers and contract workers, swing shifters and indoor table tennis champions, CEOs and graphic artists – to join us at the Byrd House Renegade Market! Make us your regular good food stop-on-the-way-home.Part 2)
If you are a Renegade vendor now, were a vendor during the 2009 season or would like to apply to be a vendor during the 2010 Byrd House Market season, it is time to send in your application. This week we will post the application packet on our blog site: www.byrdhousemarket.blogspot.com just above a link to the 2010 Online Vendor Application Form.In addition we will be holding the annual Byrd House Market Vendor Information Meeting to discuss the application, plans for the season and to get your input. This meeting will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 1:30pm in the Grace Arents Library of William Byrd Community House and will give me a chance to meet many more of our current and prospective vendors for the upcoming season.
The Work of Wrong Doers, 1896
From the Richmond Dispatch, January 18, 1896:
The youths on Oregon Hill have recently started quite a money making scheme at the expense of the city. It seems that a certain junk-dealer has offered to buy bricks at four for one cent. Little by little the sidewalks on Oregon Hill have dwindled away, until now many of them present quite a dilapidated appearance. It is said that more than twenty boys are members of the enterprising exchange.
Very successful Young Men’s Society of 1886
From the Richmond Dispatch, January 17, 1886:
One one of the very successful Mission Sunday schools in the city is the one under the care of the Young Men’s Society of the First Presbyterian church, located on Oregon Hill, corner of Spring and Pine streets. W.S. Donnan, Jr., is the efficient superintendent, ably seconded by his assistant, Mr. A.H. Christian, and a faithful band of teachers. The school now numbers some 250, and is in great need of more teachers.
Tree Removal + Tree Stewards
There’s an elm tree on the 300 block of S. Pine Street that is scheduled to be removed. City workers believe a split in the trunk will lead to future problems if it is not removed. More details about this and other tree removals can be found by clicking here:
http://www.richmondgov.com/Departments/publicworks/docs/listTreeRemovals.pdf
Also, from a City press release:
Richmond Tree Stewards 2010
Are you interested in learning more about proper tree care? The City of Richmond boasts one of the top urban forests in the country, and now you have the opportunity to learn more about the thriving trees in our community.
Who: Richmond residents interested in learning the proper methods of planting and maintaining trees by becoming Tree Stewards
What: Richmond Tree Stewards 2010
Where: Tuesdays at the Round House in Byrd Park and one Saturday class, location TBA
When: Every Tuesday, February 9 – April 13 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. and Saturday, March 20 from 9 a.m. – noon
Background: Class topics include tree identification, tree biology, soil characteristics, planting and care, health and maintenance, and proper pruning methods. The Tree Planting class will be taught by area tree care industry professionals.
Registration is $95 for city residents and $150 for non-city residents. Each participant is asked to commit to 20 hours of community service upon completion of the program. Tree Stewards who completed the class between 2004-2009 may sit in the classes at no charge. The registration deadline is Friday, January 15, 2010. Checks should be made to Richmond Recreation and Parks Foundation. To download a registration form log onto www.treestewards.rrpfoundation.org or call 646-6785 for more information.
