By the way, Pete also wanted me to post a picture of this cat that decided to visit him in his back yard. Anyone know whose it is?
Lost (?) Cat Visits Pete
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Countdown For Virtual Roadtrip By Oregon Hill Artist
Seems like everything is going virtual these days.
And in Oregon Hill, Laurel Street resident Pete Baldes and his friend in California are about to embark on a virtual roadtrip with the help of Googlemaps. He virtually leaves tomorrow evening. Feel free to hitch a ride:
Live streaming video by Ustream
New Construction At Albemarle Fire Site?
Looks like like there will soon be new construction to replace the historic row houses that burned down earlier this year. Meanwhile, this article appeared.
We should have had a better idea of what the houses would look like before we ever made it back to Richmond. We’d been in pretty heavy contact with our friends back home who watched them burn. We had seen pictures of the fire itself on Max’s phone (thank goodness for technology these days). We had seen the charred remains of other fires on television and on the news before. But we had no idea that the damage would have been that bad. No idea. The sight of it was too much for me to handle. The front of the house didn’t exist, except for a smoky skeleton that had once been the framework of the house. You could see into the remains of our bedrooms, but there wasn’t much to look at. All we could make out by the light of the construction workers were impressions of our former belongings — charred shapes that represented bookshelves, desks, and beds.
Looking Forward to ‘CoffeeBRAKES’ and Run To The River
Hopefully not at the same time…seriously though, two quick announcements for upcoming events (also don’t forget the Richmond Folk Festival from Oct. 9-11):
The CoffeeBRAKE is a traditional program from Off Campus Student Services with USC&A, that allows sponsors to gather or distribute information to students. This is an excellent opportunity for program promotions, membership drives, and volunteer opportunities. Starting Fall 2009, programs will be weekly, one sponsor at a time in the new Off Campus Student Services office, Room 119, in the Commons. Talk to 75 to 100 students per CoffeeBRAKE. For details on how to sponsor a Commuter CoffeeBRAKE in the University Student Commons, go to our website.
http://www.usca.vcu.edu/offcampus/coffee.php
We look forward to sharing a cup of coffee with you!
Martha Harper
University Student Commons & Activities
Off Campus Student Services Coordinator
Virginia Commonwealth University.
907 Floyd Ave. Room 104b
Richmond Virginia 23284
804-828-6500
FAX 804-828-6182
www.usca.vcu.edu/offcampus
¡Manos a la obra!
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Run to the River is a challenging 10k hill race, 5k community walk and 1k fun run to benefit the Neighborhood Resource Center (NRC). Runners will tackle three hills as they dash over cobblestone streets, through historic neighborhoods, and along the banks of the James River. Enjoy live music, refreshments, a free massage or a health check at the finish line party and health fair. Run to the River is one of the most difficult and scenic races in Richmond – and one of the most rewarding. All event proceeds directly support the NRC, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing quality resources to families with limited means in the Greater Fulton community of Richmond, VA. The NRC helps youth achieve academic success through individual tutoring and a sliding-scale Montessori preschool. Art and music programs provide youth creative outlets to express themselves. Parents earn their GED and conduct job searches at the NRC. To register or learn more about the race, visit
www.runtotheriver.org.
Mini-Dukes of Hazard
As usual, I am usually the last person in the neighborhood to hear about things. The following I heard second-hand and only parts of….
The story begins in the alley behind the 600 blocks of Laurel and Cherry. It forms a ‘T’ with entrances on Laurel, Cherry, and Holly, but not China. For a long time after the old cobblestones were taken out, it was an increasingly hazardous, gravel-but-mostly-dirt alley.
It was eventually paved, which lead to more people speeding through it.
Citizens begged for some signage or speed bumps, but the City said it was an alley and not a street and therefore would not get additional signage. I found some novelty/party ‘stop’ and ‘yield’ signs at a thrift store and put those up on the utility poles, but then they were taken down when the power grid was worked on. Speeders go up the alley and skid on the brakes when they realize it does not go all the way through to China Street.
Anyway, sometime last week some young men in a mini-van were speeding up the alley and failed to brake. When my neighbor became incensed at yet another invasion of his backyard, the mini-van pilots panicked and drove between houses. Somehow they drove over an embankment that ended in a three and a half foot drop after a brick retaining wall on the front sidewalk on China Street. In the process they damaged the wall as can be seen in this picture:
I am not clear on what happened after that. I would love to hear some more details. I do know the alley now has a real stop sign. I am guessing the City put it in, or my neighbors “requisitioned” it.
Bragging Rights
Who has the tallest sunflower in the neighborhood?
OHHIC Gets POD For New Houses On Laurel Street, Including Affordables
Oregon Hill Home Improvement Council received City approval for its Plan of Development for the 600 block of S. Laurel Street. Two affordable and one market rate house are planned for what is currently a large blank lot.
Because these are modular houses developed by ‘Golden Hammer’ winner Allen Townsend, they will hopefully be in place relatively soon and OHHIC is looking for buyers. If interested, please contact Todd Woodson at 804 644 3812 or candylandmusic@earthlink.net
More details forthcoming…
Street Resurfacing On Thursday
For Immediate Release:
August 5, 2009
For more information, contact:
Sharon North – (804) 646-5607
Jemila Woodson – (804) 646-5665
City Begins Slurry Seal Paving Program
WHO: City of Richmond Department of Public Works
WHAT: Slurry seal paving program
WHEN: August 2009 through October 2009
WHERE:
Bellevue
Oregon Hill
North Highland Park
Dinwiddie Avenue
BACKGROUND: Slurry seal is a pavement restoration technique that consists of mixed asphalt, aggregate, and additives. The technique effectively preserves and extends roadway life by protecting it from the effects of weathering and normal wear and tear. During the project, there should be minimal interruption to traffic flow.
From refuse collection to pothole reports, Customer Care Center representatives are available at 3-1-1 to assist citizens with all of their Public Works needs. For more information on the City of Richmond, visit www.RichmondGov.com
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From the posted signs, it looks like Laurel Street will get repaved tomorrow (Thursday, August 6). Parking restricted from 7am to 6pm. Towing Enforced.
Earlier this week the City repaved Cherry Street. If you look at the photo below you can see where the old trolley tracks still show through.
Cherry Street
It’s Not The First Time That VCU Disregarded Slave History
Sadly, the recent repaving of the parking lot at 15th Street is not the first time that Virginia Commonwealth University has disregarded important African American slave history.
Back in the 1990’s, Richmond activists warned President Trani that it was wrong to tear down the Jacob House in order to make room for the VCU Engineering School. So, to mute protests, he decided to have it moved across the street. There were still concerns that this would ruin the historical integrity of the site since it was considered a probable Underground Railroad site. One man, Alan Schintzius, actually got arrested when he laid in front of the bulldozer. Sure enough, a hidden basement room was discovered after the house was moved. Its gone now, filled in and buried by VCU.
You have to wonder what other Richmond history has been buried.
At least the moved Jacob House survives, for now, at the corner of Cary and Pine.
Byrd Market Trashed (Again)
Would this be allowed to happen in Windsor Farms? In the Fan? On the VCU campus? In another City Councilperson’s District?
Again, this trash situation is something that myself and others have brought up time and time again.
