Nancy Van Auken and Barbara Banyasz, piano duettists, present “Piano Duets by the Three D’s–Dvorak, Debussy, and Dohnanyi” at the Main branch of the Richmond Public Library, from 2 to 3 pm Saturday in the Gellman Room.
Well, that may be overselling it, but the Richmond Forum is hosting a program entitled “PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST: PROSPECTS AND ROADBLOCKS” this Saturday at the Altria Theater. It’s probably already sold out.
Ehud Barak has served as the Prime Minister of Israel and, more recently, as Defense Minister. Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei is a Nobel Peace Prize winner, the former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and was a leading figure in the 2011 Egyptian Revolution. For the first time anywhere, these two respected voices will sit down together for a discussion of their differing views on Middle East peace prospects in a conversation moderated by longtime journalist, author, and foreign policy analyst Robin Wright.
As the Monroe Park Conservancy continues to tighten its corporate control of Monroe Park, Oregon Hill residents are becoming increasingly discouraged and alarmed by how it is gradually stripping away its authentic, historic features. In addition to questionably removing healthy, old-growth trees, the fountain fence is no longer there. Supposedly, the 1920’s fencing is being stored offsite during park renovations and will be returned.
Laurel Street neighbor Charles Pool has used the Freedom of Information Act to gather more information. According to the Monroe Park drawings that he received, the fencing is being replaced and only the posts restored. This seems to conflict with specs provided where the decorative metal railings were to be repaired. It is doubtful that the City’s Urban Design Committee gave permission to replace this historic fencing. At 125 feet long, the fencing is substantial and curved to match the perimeter of the fountain.
Undoubtedly, low-grade hollow-core, easily damaged, pickets probably will replace the existing solid substantial fencing that could last hundreds of years if properly repaired and kept painted. The fencing is an important part of the historic fabric of Monroe Park, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Monroe Park fountain fencing pickets were dumped in outside storage at DPW storage at 810 Forest Lawn Drive. Photos from Charles Pool show that the pickets are all in excellent condition with practically no evidence of rust. (Many neighbors remember what happened to the stone balustrade that was removed at the Oregon Hill overlook- we were told that it was in “storage” but the stone later found a decade later in a heap behind the Carillon.)
It is important for the public to know that the authentic fencing is slated to be replaced without approval from the UDC.
It is the opinion of this community news site that the authentic, solid Monroe Park fencing should be fully restored, not replaced.
I hope someone was Slack enough to salvage it. All hail Bob!
(These were actually from earlier this week)
I am sorry to say that I just heard that “Granny”, the woman who inspired the “Eliza Jane RVA” blog, passed away earlier today. I enjoyed relating “The Lady in the Lavender Hat”. Here’s “Laughter & Freedom”, in her honor:
Granny’s family lived at 811 W. Cary Street. In those days Oregon Hill continued into that area, before the Downtown Expressway sliced through it’s edge, and before Virginia Commonwealth University put up a parking deck at Cary and Laurel. The house was just a few doors down from Paragon Pharmacy, where Granny and her friends would roller skate out front due to it having the only concrete. The rest of the sidewalks in the neighborhood were red brick. The family’s house had two sets of steps on the front: one set went up to the porch and front door, the other set went down to the family grocery store where Granny would steal penny candy throughout the day.
Backyard at 811 W. Cary St., Oregon Hill
The house was attached on the right side to another home and the two families were friendly. Granny says she rarely got from one place to another in the usual fashion, much to her mother’s (Lena’s) chagrin: To visit her neighbors, Granny would simply climb over the railing dividing their porches.
Sisters Frances and Claryce (“Ikey”), eldest two of the four siblingsEventually the family moved around the corner to Randolph Street. On the left side of the home there was a low building with a metal roof. Instead of going downstairs and out the front door, Granny would jump from her second story bedroom window onto the metal roof next door, then jump once more to the ground to run off and go play. She still describes this act with a far away look in her eyes and laughter in her voice.
811 W. Cary Street (with Harvey Hardware in the background) Photo courtesy of Charles Allen Sugg
Author’s note:
The two middle homes pictured here – the first of which is 811 W. Cary St. – were torn down just a short time before I arrived to take a picture for my Granny. I was devastated. She had given me the address in her distinctive “Old Richmond” accent: “Eight Eleh’m West Curry Street” (811 W. Cary Street). Fortunately, Charles Allen Sugg had photographed it in 2008 and came to my rescue. A copy of this photo now sits framed in my Granny’s home.
From obituary in Times Dispatch:
TROWER, Shirley Anne, 87, of Richmond, passed away March 16, 2017… Shirley was a native of Oregon Hill and was a lifelong member of Pine Street Baptist Church. She was a retired employee of the City of Richmond…A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, March 19, at Pine Street Baptist Church. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, March 20, in Riverview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Endowment Fund of Pine Street Baptist Church, 400 S. Pine St., Richmond, Va. 23220.
DRUG/NARCOTIC VIOLATION
1XX S BELVIDERE ST
Mar 16, 2017 at 8:29 pm
Data provided by Virginia Commonwealth University Police DepartmentPOSSESSION OF BURGLARY TOOLS
X S LAUREL ST
Mar 16, 2017 at 7:25 pm
Data provided by Richmond Police DepartmentTHEFT FROM BUILDING
7XX W CARY ST
Mar 16, 2017 at 7:15 pm
Data provided by Richmond Police DepartmentTHEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE
1XX S PINE ST
Mar 15, 2017 at 3:00 pm
Data provided by Richmond Police Department
From Craigslist ad:
I found a bag of root vegetables from martin’s in oregon hill last friday. No one was around and I was worried for them so I took them. If they are yours message me what vegetables were in the bag. also I’m sorry but I ate the baguette.
The bucket street drummers will have some competition tonight.
From Modlin Center for Arts webpage:
Exploring the limitless possibilities of the traditional Japanese taiko drum, Kodo is forging new directions for a vibrant, living art form. In Japanese, the word “kodo” conveys two meanings. Firstly, “heartbeat,” the primal source of all rhythm. The sound of the great taiko is said to resemble a mother’s heartbeat as felt in the womb, and it is no myth that babies are often lulled asleep by its thunderous vibrations. Secondly, read in a different way, the word can mean “children of the drum,” a reflection of Kodo’s desire to play the drums simply, with the heart of a child.
