Category Archives: Main Street library

Two Important Activist Events This Thursday

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This Thursday evening there are two events that local activists may find enticing. First is a protest against the influence of money on our government from corporate interests, and in particular Dominion Energy.

From the event description:

Governor Northam is holding a fundraiser with Dominion Executive Bob Blue and Dominion’s Law Firm McGuire Woods (among other corporate interests) for his “The Way Ahead” PAC – this is corruption on display, and this corruption is the reason projects like both the Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley pipelines, Tom Farrell’s Navy Hill proposal, and others that harm Virginia communities for private profit are allowed in our state.

PLEASE JOIN US for a demonstration outside of the reception to send a message to Governor Northam and any future candidates in Virginia: Corporate corruption in our government will not stand – The Way Ahead for Virginia will be free of corrupt money, like from Dominion, and free of corporate shills like Northam!

We will demonstrate outside of the McGuire Woods building (800 E Canal St – where the fundraiser reception is being held), from 5:30-7:30 (the time of the fundraiser). Bring your signs and banners to make the message visible (we will have some signs to share).

Come for all or part of the event and send a clear message to Northam and any future politicians – this type of corruption will no longer stand. Dominion’s days in our government are over!

#NoACP #NoMVP #NoPipelines #DumpDominion

One future possibility to consider is a constitutional amendment for both the Virginia and federal constitutions against corporate money, a la www.MoveToAmend.org It’s noteworthy that Mayor Stoney has evidently gone in an opposite direction- stating just this past month that he would continue to accept donations from Dominion Energy.

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A second progressive event that should also generate a lot of political discussion is a Ranked Choice Voting Info Session at the Richmond Main Library, hosted by FairVote Virginia. That begins at 6 pm.

From event description:

Our Richmond local action group is officially up and running! Join us at the Richmond Public Library to meet local FairVote supporters, debrief on our latest legislative efforts, and learn how you can help bring ranked choice voting to Virginia in 2019.

FairVote Virginia is VA’s chapter of the national FairVote movement to advance ranked choice voting. Visit our website at fairvoteva.org to learn more.

This community news site has brought up ranked choice voting before, including in relation to the City’s Mayoral election.

Library Poised To Program City’s Public Access Cable TV Station

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Richmond’s alternative media keeps evolving as the Richmond Public Library is taking over the City’s public access cable tv station.

The Richmond Free Press newspaper reports:

Library Director Scott Firestine told the Free Press that the cameras and production equipment soon will be moved to the Main Library in Downtown from the public access studio Comcast has operated for nearly 30 years in its Richmond office, 918 N. Boulevard.

On Nov. 16, Comcast ended the live shows that local residents created and presented during the 6 to 10 p.m. time slot Tuesdays through Fridays on cable Channel 95 and switched to pre-recorded programming as part of the transition.

“This is something we have been working on since May,” Mr. Firestine stated about the library’s takeover of the public access operation. “It is an exciting opportunity for the library to provide a platform for citizens to have a voice and a classroom to learn how to use the technology,” he stated.

He expects the library to receive the equipment before Christmas, and indicated that the community programming would resume as quickly as possible, but on Channel 99.

For a little more history and background, check out a 2012 story on the cable access station in Style by clicking here.

“Fata Morgana” At Main Library Monday

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“Everyday, hundreds of people set off in boats from the coast of Libya bound for Europe in search of a better life. Escaping war, poverty and famine, the people hope they arrive in a land that can offer safety and better opportunities. Many die in the journey while others are rescued at sea and taken to ports in southern European countries where they begin their new lives as refugees. “Fata Morgana” explores the circumstances the refugees left behind and the situations they encounter on a new continent. The documentary also discusses the rise of right-wing, xenophobic politicians in Italy who are capitalizing off the crisis by scapegoating refugees for the country’s economic problems.

“Fata Morgana” is a documentary co-produced by local videographer Jen Lawhorne and Ebrima and Toumani, two African refugees trying to establish themselves in the Sicilian City of Messina. The documentary shifts the cinematic gaze over to the eyes of the refugees who filmed more than half of the documentary’s footage that explores the circumstances the refugees left behind and the situations they encounter on a new continent.”

Monday, July 23rd at 5:30 pm

Richmond Public Library

RVA EFF Kicks Off Tonight

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The RVA Environmental Film Festival (RVA EFF) kicks off tonight at the Science Museum of Virginia. It goes on all this week and part of next week at venues around the area. All the shows are FREE (thanks to generous sponsors)!

Please take the time to look over the full schedule by going to the website.

Tomorrow it will be at VCU in the afternoon and then at the Main City Public Library in the evening.

Thales Piano Trio at RPL’s Gellman Room Saturday

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Concert is happening this Saturday at 2 pm in the Gellman Room at the Main branch of the Richmond Public Library.

From the FaceBook event page:

The Thales Piano Trio is proud to present music written by three women from three different countries and eras: Jennifer Higdon, Rebecca Clarke, and Clara Schumann.

This concert is FREE and open to the public!

Thales Piano Trio
Ellen Cockerham Riccio, violin
Sara Bennett Wolfe, cello
Daniel Stipe, piano

The Thales Piano Trio has performed as part of concert series’ across the Eastern seaboard, at venues including Washington College in Chestertown MD, Trinity Lutheran Church in Richmond VA, and St. Paul’s on the Green in Norwalk CT. In addition, they have presented house concerts at numerous private residences.

Now in their second season as an ensemble, the Thales Piano Trio is the product of more than a decade of musical collaboration between Ellen, Sara, and Daniel in all possible duo combinations: Ellen and Sara won a fellowship to study and perform as half of the Heiligenstadt Quartet at the Brevard Music Center; Sara and Daniel performed sonata repertoire together at Princeton University Chapel; since meeting in 2013, Daniel and Ellen have shared the stage frequently, including as part of the Belz-Parker Artists Ascending Concert Series in Memphis and the Forest Hill Recital Series in Richmond. The trio is named for the famous mathematician Thales (THAY-lees) of Miletus. Thales’ theorem states: If A, B and C are points on a circle where the line AC is a diameter of the circle, then the angle ∠ABC is a right angle. The musicians are thrilled to be “completing the triangle” by joining together to form a trio; as such they found Thales’ name particularly appropriate.

Books for a Better World Event At Main Street Library

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On Tuesday, January 8th, at 6:30 pm the Main Library downtown will be hosting an event.
From the event announcement:

Join us for our first Books for a Better World event of the new year, now in its new location! Tiffany Jana, author of “Overcoming Bias”, and Ashley Diaz Mejias, will be discussing their latest book, “Erasing Institutional Bias: How to Create Systemic Change for Organizational Inclusion”.

As always, bring a friend and join your neighbors for our once monthly book and author discussion. Book talk will be followed by Q&A and book signing.