Sixth Annual Hollywood Cemetery Picnic Coming Up

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Set for May 7, a Sunday.

From FaceBook event details:

Pack a picnic basket, bring a blanket and relax to sounds of great entertainment at Hollywood Cemetery.

Guided trolley car tours will be provided. An ice cream truck and hotdogs will be on site.

Performances by the Oak Lane Band and St. Christopher’s School’s acapella group BEAUX TIES.

The picnic is free to attend. Please RSVP Nancy Shepherd at (804) 648-8501 or email her at nshepherd@hollywoodcemetery.org for a reservation.

Interview With Beth Marschak, Richmond Earth Day Founder

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Style magazine has a nice interview with Beth Marschak, one of the founders of the Richmond Earth Day celebration (and a former Oregon Hill resident).

Here’s an excerpt:

Beth Marschak, now an HIV prevention specialist, was 20 when she helped organize the city’s inaugural Earth Day at Monroe Park in 1971.

In a nod to Saturday’s yearly acknowledgement of the planet, Style spoke with Marschak about some of the progress made — and to worry about the future.

Style: Why did you want to bring Earth Day to Richmond?

Marschak: I was in a student group at Westhampton-University of Richmond called S.H.A.M.E – Studying and Halting the Assault on Man and Environment. That was back when people liked names like that.

Most of the people in our group were science majors. I was a chemistry major at that time. People had a fairly sophisticated view of the problems affecting the environment and ecology from a scientific standpoint.

And, of course, if you looked at the James River back then, it was terrible. Sewage was going directly into the river. You would not want to get into it. Now people tube down it and swim in it and fish. You could not do that then. You wouldn’t put a toe in it.

So it was really one of those things where, right here in this area, you could see some major impacts from not having policies protecting clean water, clean air.

She also recently wrote a letter to the Planning Commission, asking that they spare remaining mature trees in Monroe Park. However the Planning Commission voted in favor of removing the trees.

Councilperson Agelasto Holds 5th District Meeting Thursday

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From City Council press release:

Councilman Parker C. Agelasto to hold a meeting for the Richmond Central 5th Voter District

All Richmond Central 5th Voter District residents invited and encouraged to attend

WHAT (Richmond, Virginia U.S.A.) – The Honorable Parker C. Agelasto, Councilman, Richmond City Council, Richmond Central 5th Voter District, will hold a meeting for the Richmond Central 5th Voter District. Councilman Agelasto typically holds individual meetings for the Richmond Central 5th Voter District every other month throughout the year. These meetings are free and open to the public and all Richmond Central 5th Voter District residents are invited and encouraged to attend. The planned agenda for this meeting includes:

Special Guests

· The Honorable Levar M. Stoney, Mayor
City of Richmond, Virginia

· The Honorable Betsy Carr, Virginia State Delegate
Virginia House of Delegates 69th Voter District

Agenda Items

· Richmond Public Library
Ms. Danita Green, Member, Richmond Public Library Board

· Richmond Central 5th Voter District Updates

· Questions and Comments

WHEN Thursday, April 27, 2017
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

WHERE Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities
William Byrd Park – Round House
621 Westover Road, Richmond, Virginia
(Located within William Byrd Park near the intersection of Lakeview Avenue and S. Robinson Street)

CONTACT For more information, please contact, Amy Robins, Liaison for
The Honorable Parker C. Agelasto, Councilman, Richmond City Council, Richmond Central 5th Voter District, at 804.646.5724 (tel), or amy.robins@richmondgov.com (email)

– E N D –

The Peedmont Reports On Mamma Zu’s

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Proving that April Fool’s continues, local satire site The Peedmont has a ‘breaking news’ story about a server smiling at Mamma Zu’s restaurant. Excerpt:

Once the food order was finally placed, the birthday group reportedly relaxed and the rest of the evening went smoothly. Then, as witnesses described it, the unexpected occurred.

“She was clearing our plates and then she started doing this weird thing with her mouth,” recalled Mable, “I was about to ask if she was okay.”

The group fell silent, reporting that they were afraid of the way she was distorting her face.

“Suddenly, we all realized she was smiling,” described witness, Mike Donahue. “It was almost like she was grateful that we were there.”

The incident lightened the mood significantly. However, the server immediately returned to her original demeanor when the group all asked for separate checks.

(Editorial note: I for one have always appreciated Mamma Zu’s service. Their systematic and calm approach is helpful when dealing with some of the West End crowd.)

“Paris in Words and Music” This Saturday

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CMSCVA (Chamber Music Society of Central Virginia) partners with the Richmond Public Library to present “Paris in Words and Music” an informal event combining poetry, prose and music from composers and writers inspired by Paris, the “City of Light.”

What: “Paris in Words and Music”
When: Saturday, April 22, 2:00pm
Where: Richmond Main Public Library, 101 E. Franklin Street
Tickets: Free

More Monroe Park Trees Threatened

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The City’s Planning Commission yesterday ignored the recommendation of the Urban Design Committee and the staff of the planning department to consider alternatives to cutting down the magnolia and maple trees in Monroe Park for temporary tents.

On Sunday, at the Monument Avenue Easter Parade, the Sierra Club Falls of the James collected many petition signatures in favor of saving the the trees.

It will be really awful if the City continues to ignore PUBLIC concern for trees on PUBLIC property.

The photo below of the maple tree was previously published in the Times Dispatch: