… Or as a neighbor put it, the transfer of ownership to VCU is complete.
New Activities Offered In Monroe Park
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Oregon Hill Baptist Center
From the beginning, Richmond Baptists saw the need to care for the physically and spiritually destitute in the city. In 1914 Richmond Baptists opened a pioneer institution, the House of Happiness. It quickly became a lighthouse for the needy in Richmond. As population shifted and the needs of the people changed, it became clear that more centers were needed. The Cary Street Baptist Center opened in 1940 with a Vacation Bible School. In 1974 this center was moved to its present location inside Pine Street Baptist Church and the name was changed to the Oregon Hill Baptist Center.
Today, Oregon Hill offers counseling, small group Bible studies, family activities, and youth gatherings. As the community has changed over the years, many of the ministries of the Center have changed as well. Now Oregon Hill operates an emergency food pantry and provides some financial assistance for those living in the 23219 and 23220 zip codes. RRCB’s First Sunday Food Share collection helps supply the pantry.
One of the major areas of focus is their Homeless Ministry. Several unique opportunities have emerged in this ministry. The Center offers lockers for use of the homeless. This gives them a place to leave important papers, personal items, and some clothing. A mailing address is also provided for those with no other option. With the help of volunteers, the homeless are also provided a laundry drop off and pick up service once a week.
The post goes on to identify some of the volunteer opportunities associated with the center.
City Introducing Electric Assist Bicycles Into Its Bike Program
In welcome news, the City of Richmond announced today that is adding some electric assist or pedelec bicycles into its bicycle sharing program. This is something that this community news site has been looking forward to for a long time.
The tagline is to “Look For The Lightning Bolt”-
Open High Students March For Climate
The Times Dispatch has a nice article on Open High students’ participation in today’s international youth march for climate awareness.
Here’s an excerpt:
About 100 Open students – roughly half of the school’s population – left their studies in the Oregon Hill neighborhood at 9:30 a.m. and marched down Belvidere, Franklin and Broad streets to demand the city and school system take action to stop the effects of climate change.
“This is our future,” said senior Ian McCoy. “The generations before us screwed up our environment and now we have to suffer.”
McCoy helped organize the Richmond protest, one of an estimated 2,000 across the world on Friday. Global students drew inspiration from Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old Swedish activist who has held demonstrations outside the Swedish parliament since last year. Thunberg was recently nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
What I really appreciated was that the article included specific demands from Richmond students to their school administration and City government:
1. Have the city and Richmond School Board recognize the need “to include steps to mitigate climate change with the long term and short term goals.”
2. Use green building standards in school renovations and construction.
3. Have the school district stop using Styrofoam and other non-recyclable, one-time-use plastics in school lunches.
4. Reduce energy usage and improve energy efficiency in schools.
They made those requests known in a meeting Friday with Richmond Public Schools Chief of Staff Michelle Hudacsko and Mayor Levar Stoney’s Senior Policy Advisor for Youth Initiatives, Eva Colen.
Bring on the solar schools!
Alex Jonestown Massacre/W I S H/AJM/Soul Meets Body/Strawberry Moon at Mojo’s Friday
From FaceBook event page:
Awesome show at Mojo’s on Friday, March 15th!
Strawberry Moon
Lo-fi Bedroom Pop
https://strawberrymoonrva.bandcamp.com/Soul Meets Body
Pop Punk Bangers for the Underdogs
https://soulmeetsbody.bandcamp.com/Alex Jonestown Massacre
Agitprop Punk
https://alexjonestownmassacre.bandcamp.com/W I S H
Noisy Shoegaze Alt-Rock
https://wishrva.bandcamp.com/Doors @ 8
Show @ 9
21+
$5 suggested donation!
The Tough Sh**s / Sick Bags / Toward Space at Mojo’s Tonight
From the FaceBook event page:
Rockin’ their way down from Philadelphia to SXSW in support of their new album “Burning in Paradise” (on BURGER RECORDS), The Tough Shits are blessing us with a stop in Richmond!
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Joining us for local support will be Richmond’s favorite leather-clad shredders, SICK BAGS, and the always-ripping Toward Space.
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.
In Virginia recycling news, the last recycling plant in Sullivan County, Tennessee, that handles paper and plastics for local governments is set to close, affecting recycling efforts across the region. The Bristol Herald-Courier reports Tri-Cities Waste Paper’s Friday closure will also affect Bristol, Abingdon and Washington County in Virginia. In other news, the annual Virginia Recycling Association (VRA) conference will be held on May 6-8 at the Virginia Crossings Hotel and Conference Center in Glen Allen, VA, near Richmond. The conference theme is “Changing Behavior to Encourage Recycling.” VRA members and non-members are welcomed.
In international news, the Indian government announced last week that it will ban scrap plastic imports as part of its efforts to strengthen the implementation of environmentally sound management of hazardous waste in the country.
Benefit Dinner/Memorial Unveiling For Dirtwoman
From the campaign page (where you can make your donation):
Donnie “Dirtwoman” Corker had a heart as big as Richmond (making the rest of her approximately the size of Delaware).
She was a beloved icon and pioneer for the LGBTQ community, a literal landmark to Richmond’s counterculture for more than 40 years, a beloved brother, and a dear friend to Richmond’s famous, infamous and not-at-all-famous alike.
Dirtwoman embodied everything about Richmond that is weird, wonderful and willing to be different while making a difference.
In honor of the everlasting impact crater Dirtwoman left on our fair city, and honoring a pledge made to her by her friends before her death in 2017, we invite YOU to a special benefit dinner and memorial plaque unveiling at Mamma Zu’s
What: Benefit Dinner/Memorial Unveiling
Where: Mamma Zu’s
When: April 7
Why: Massey Cancer Center
Huh?: Massey saved Donnie’s life
Cost: $50 donation to Massey Cancer
What Else: This event coincides with the Virginia Premier of “Spider Mites of Jesus: The Dirtwoman Documentary at the Virginia Film Festival.BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE: After you donate, print out your donation confirmation email. This IS YOUR TICKET to attend this special Dirtwoman memorial dinner at Mamma Zu’s
Hollywood Twilight
Yesterday evening, looking over Cherry Street into Hollywood Cemetery. I expect a similar scene today with slight overcast of clouds.
Happy National Retro Video Game Day!!!
Rainy start to weekend might mean a good time to sit back, order some delicious food from Peddler on Pine and play some video games. Tech Exchange up on W.Cary just posted this deal. They also have a great deal on video game cartridges that ends soon.