Photo by Kenny Hamilton.
Monroe Park, Late 80’s
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Kids in Kayaks Kicks Off In A Week
From press release:
Nearly 100 local youth are taking to the riverfront this summer to engage in a special program offered in partnership by the National Park Service, YMCA of Greater Richmond, James River Park System, James River Association, American Civil War Museum, and The Valentine. Kids in Kayaks empowers City of Richmond youth with the knowledge of natural and cultural landscapes, provides awareness and access to resources and skill development, and builds confidence and wellness through healthy recreation and community engagement.
YOU’RE INVITED! On Wednesday, July 24, you are invited to visit Historic Tredegar at 470 Tredegar Street from 10:00 am to 11:30 am to view the programs taking place, talk to those participating and planning, and learn more about Kids in Kayaks.
Over the course of six weeks, City of Richmond middle-school students are enjoying a taste of what downtown’s riverfront has to offer. Programs include water safety courses, lessons on watershed science, and discussions about the area’s history. We invite you to come see for yourself!
“The Richmond riverfront is a vital part of the city where we can tell the stories of our nation’s history, both cultural and environmental,” said Richmond National Battlefield Park Superintendent Doyle Sapp. “This valuable partnership allows us to showcase the rich cultural and natural history Richmond has to offer while teaching kids how to safely enjoy the riverfront.”
James River Master Plan Review Tomorrow Evening
Do our voices count? I submitted my comments in a while ago. Many neighbors are suspicious given that this is partly sponsored by Venture Richmond and Dominion. Many neighbors think corporate voices may have more weight than citizens’, based on previous experiences. Still, a good time to make grassroots be heard.
Presidential Candidate Visits Tomorrow Evening
Dario Hunter, Presidential candidate and member of the Youngstown, OH Board of Education, visits Richmond, VA to talk about his plan to build a greener and fairer America as well as the strategy to grow the Green Party through the 2020 race and beyond.
He will be at the Main Richmond Public Library on Franklin Street at 6 pm tomorrow.
Disclaimer: This event is not sponsored or endorsed by the Richmond Public Library.
Trash/Recycling Pickup Tomorrow
This Wednesday is a “Red Wednesday”, which means trash and recycling pickup. Ideally, rolling recycling containers are stored and deployed in the back alleys along with trash cans. Please make sure you pick up containers after pickup tomorrow night.
If you have not done so already, don’t forget to sign up for your Recycling Perks.
In order to take your recycling to the next level, read this: 10 ways to improve your recycling.
Localities around the Commonwealth are still trying to figure out what to do about their recycling programs- in Bristol, Virginia…
People in the region are struggling with recycling due to the collapse of the oveseas recycling market. Bristol, Virginia Environmental and Safety Compliance Officer, Mark campbell, gave a tour of the Bristol, Virginia solid waste facility to see the impact that it has made.
“We really don’t have a place to take any of the material that we were collecting for recycling,” he said, as he pointed at the massive piles of trash around the site.
On a happier note, here is a story about Virginia composting…
Royal Oak Farm, located in Evington and in operation since 2008, is the largest multi- feedstock waste composting facility in Virginia and is authorized by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.
On the 115-acre property, billions of microbes do most of the work creating compost from waste generated by municipalities, industries, businesses and universities, including James Madison University and Virginia Tech.
Where do Oregon Hill neighbors compost? Most likely in their yards, but where else?
Scenes From ‘The Bastille’
Noise show in the ‘hood last night.
RPS Shines: Appreciation For The Volunteers
Special thanks to the group above which worked on Open High. It was quite a way to spend a hot Saturday.
‘Happy Feet’ Friday
Laurel Street Visitors 1964
This photo was taken on the 600 block of S. Laurel Street.
Last Chance To Give Voters A Voice On VCU/Farrell Coliseum Scheme
If Richmond citizens want to be able to vote on the VCU/Farrell/Stoney coliseum scheme, their last chance to do so may be decided in the next few days. Over 13,000 Richmond citizens have signed the petition for the “Choose Children over a Costly Coliseum“ Referendum, drafted by Paul Goldman, supported by the Sierra Club Falls of the James and others. Many of these signatures were done on Election Day last year, but the deadline to file the petition is coming up quickly (like in the next few days!), and more signatures are needed to ensure it getting on the ballot. If it does not make it on the ballot, citizens may be forced to live with and pay up for whatever the Mayor and City Council do with the $1.4. billion scheme, and it could effect City budgets for a decade to come. So, what’s it going to be? Schools or corporate welfare?
In the interest of informing the public, I am going to post the petition/referendum here. However, please ask yourself, why has local media not done so- again, over 13,000 Richmond citizens have already signed it. So why have Times Dispatch, Style, RVA Magazine, etc. mostly ignored this heroic grassroots effort? If you have been following along, including the latest FOIA struggle, things may be more clear. The Richmond Free Press and oregonhill.net have offered the most coverage on it.
The first Put Schools First referendum was fairly straight forward in demanding that Richmond leaders, especially the Mayor, come up with plan to modernize the schools first in the City’s budget planning. This second referendum, perhaps due to opposing nature, is a bit more convoluted, so here’s a quick explanation: it first states that citizens want schools to come before a new coliseum. It then includes a poison pill provision against using a TIFF (Tax Incremental Financing Fund) to finance the scheme by stating that a majority of the funding raised would have to go to schools first. It then ends with a measure to keep the schemers from going back to the meals tax for money.
If you are a resident of the City of Richmond and a registered voter, please take the time to sign this petition, even if you ultimately decide to not vote for it once it is on the ballot. 13,000 of your neighbors have already done so, don’t let them down! Give people a voice!