Columnist Michael Paul Williams from the Richmond Times-Dispatch will speak at the Author’s Night event at the Westover Hills branch library on Monday, February 8 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The public is invited to attend. [via]

Councilwoman Kathy Graziano, Southwest 4th District, Richmond City Council will hold a meeting this Wednesday in Richmond’s Southwest 4th District. If Richmond Public Schools are closed due to weather this meeting will be canceled and we’ll let you know when it is rescheduled. All Southwest 4th District citizens are invited and encouraged to attend. The meeting will include:

Topics

• 2010 Richmond Real Estate Assessments – James Hester, Richmond City Assessor of Real Estate
• 2010 United States Census Information – Jeffery Bourne, Assistant Chief of Staff, Richmond Office of the Mayor
• Richmond Police Department Read more >

I am a big fan of Plaza Bowl and happy to see Richmond BizSense.com ask them some questions. They say there is a slideshow but I can’t see it in my browser.

RBS: What’s your goal for Plaza Bowl?

JS: The facility itself is pretty old, so we’ll continue to upgrade fixtures. The first thing I did when I came in was improve the reliability of the machinery. I purchased used parts so I can keep the machines going. The lanes need some improvement — they’re kind of at the end of their life span. I want to give it a newer look, a cleaner look.

I like that it’s old, as long as I can keep it clean. The problem is when you get into seating that’s old, it’s going to show some wear — no matter how much you scrub it, it does look old. Most people that come in here like it, and get it, but some people, they’re used to several-million-dollar facilities. They’re going to build another big pin house a couple miles from here. I think it’s going to cost $70 million or something.

image property of tvnewsbadge

The Snow Angel is from near Forest Hill Park at 42nd and Smithdeal Ave. Great job by the unknown sculptor. Check out more photos by tvnewsbadge in his flickr set or his blog James River News.

According to NBC12 Richmond Public Schools are open tomorrow (Monday) but on 2 hour delay.

Let’s work together to get the lowdown on street conditions. Chime in with the condition of your street or if you have driven somewhere how those streets are looking.

• King William west of Westover Hills Blvd. – Icy, crunchy, not plowed or sanded since early Saturday
• Peterborough north of Forest Hill Avenue – Icy, crunchy, not plowed or sanded since late afternoon Saturday
• Forest Hill Avenue west of WH Blvd- close to clear, traffic moving at near full speed
• Forest Hill Farms, the streets were plowed late yesterday (Friday) and again this afternoon (Saturday) via LauraL
• Devonshire (not sure what block) plowed early Saturday morning via Dan
• Lee Bridge was fine at 8am. Broad St also totally clear via Anne
• W 26th St. in Woodland Heights plowed Saturday via Stuffa
• 5100 block of Boscobel Ave plowed via Heather

image property of Phil Riggan

I am tired of snow. I want to complain about the heat and humidity not the plowing and the cold. If you feel like me take a look at a series of photos (from 2007) by Phil Riggins on Hiking in the James, as in literally hiking the James by walking from rock to rock. He breaks the 100s of photos into slideshows of his 3 hikes. Great stuff and makes me summer-sick. Check out his blog Richmond on the James.

• Hike 1: Boulevard to Powhite Parkway Bridge
• Hike 2: North Bank to Belle Isle
• Hike 3: Main Section of the James River Park System

Saw this message on the Woodland Heights Yahoo Group:
The roving farmer’s market bus is coming to our house around 11 am this morning. C’mon by and get all those yummy farmer’s market treats you might be missing because of the snow!
They take checks!
54 West 29th St.

I know that Startford Grill (reviewed by River City Review) is working on adding a smoking section I just didn’t know it was in the kitchen. From their January 27th Health Inspection. To be fair I checked back and I didn’t find this same violation on any of their previous inspections (didn’t check everyone of them) and their last inspection in September of 2009 they had 0 violations.

Code 0220
Observation
Critical The facility management is allowing smoking in areas where they may contaminate food, clean equipment, utensils or other items needing protection.
Correction
Provide a designated area where employees may smoke so as not to contaminate exposed food, clean equipment, utensils, and linens, or unwrapped single-service and single-use articles, or other items needing protection.

Thanks to John at CHPN for alerting me to the restaurant report.

The winter farmer’s market for tomorrow in Blanchard’s parking lot has officially been called due to bad weather. Blanchard’s will be open. I will do another post later today/tonight highlighting what I know is open.

From the RPS website:
Parent Resource Center to hold workshops on
How to recognize and prevent bullying, Tuesday, Feb. 9
The Richmond Public Schools Parent Resource Center will hold two workshops to help parents recognize and prevent bullying among their children. Sessions will be held for parents of both elementary and secondary school students on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at the following locations and times:
• Miles Jones Elementary School
200 Beaufont Hills Drive
Noon – 1:30 p.m.
• Huguenot High School
7945 Forest Hill Avenue
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

In case you missed the robo call this morning, the various tweets, newscasts, and blog posts – Richmond School kids get another day off. Full list of closing from CBS6.

This route is a change from last year and the previous post.

The annual 5K run is next week away: February 13, 2010 at 9am, starting and finishing at the Stone House in Forest Hill Park. 5K 2010 Route 2

This community event is a 5K walk/run through the Forest Hill Neighborhood. Leashed dogs and strollers are welcome (we had lots last year!)

SCHWAG ALERT!!! All registrations postmarked by today Friday, February 5, 2010 will be guaranteed a long sleeve t-shirt. You know you want a shirt, all the cool kids are wearing them this year.

Race day registration starts at 8am.

If you’re interested in volunteering on race day, please contact the race coordinators: ihearttree5k@gmail.com
Hope to see you there!

RTD has some additional information and details on the efforts to open Patrick Henry, including the cost per pupil.

A key piece of information they have been waiting for — a projected per-pupil funding allocation of $1.3 million from Richmond Public Schools for the 2010-11 school year — was announced Tuesday, though it came during a work session at which none of the charter school’s board members was present.

and

The $1.3 million is based on enrollment of 130 students, at $10,335 each. That money goes toward salaries and other operational costs. Richmond’s current per-pupil costs are $13,100, but that includes other funding streams such as federal Title I money rather than just basic state and local aid.

Richmond Schools open tomorrow but with a 2 hour delay. Would it be inappropriate to say Thank God? [via]

As many of you know Patrick Henry was on the agenda at last night’s School Board meeting. Page attended and felt better about Patrick Henry not being included in this version of the budget after an explanation from a staff member. The overall RPS budget is going to go through some changes over the next few months and the Spanish Immersion supporters did a good job letting the board know there is support for that program. This budget will be an interesting and unfortunate battle to watch.

Antione Greene gave a presentation of behalf of Patrick Henry which focused mainly on the budget and the work to be ADA compliant.  You can check out the full presentation Patrick Henry RPS Presentation.pdf.

Patrick Henry is holding an Open House tomorrow night at 8 p.m. to distribute copies of the student application, discuss the school’s curriculum and answer parent’s questions. This will be the last Open House before the 2/12 deadline for applications. As of 1/30 a total of 121 applications have been received and on a total of 45 teachers have applied for jobs. The principal finalists have been interviewed and an announcement is expected soon. Head to the meeting to learn more.

Applications for Tax Relief for Seniors and Disabled are available on the city website and through Mrs Graziano’s office (320-2454) or Real Estate Tax Relief Form. Applications must be filed by March 31, 2010. However, if you are a first time applicant, the application must be filed by June 15, 2010. For additional information, please phone (804) 646-5690 or go to Room 100, City Hall.

Reads at a 6th grade level but finds Cesar a bit dry for her tastes.

This is the second try from one of our residents to find a permanent home for this pup. “She is approx. 9 month old and was spayed back in Oct.2009. She has been with me since that day. She has great temperament, good with kids, cats, all other dogs. Read more >

image swiped from the Luminhaus website

P.S. – Happy Lucky Combo has this week off from O’Toole’s but will be back 2/10.

According to NBC12 Richmond Public Schools will be closed tomorrow. What are you going to do with your little ones tomorrow? No really, I need some ideas. We might head over the Virginia Historical Society.

Violent Crime for the Sector was up 23% for the month compared to the same period last year and Property crime was up 13% for the compared to same period last year. Full Report The report is provided by Lieutenant John A. O’Kleasky, Jr. and he can be reached at John.O’Kleasky@richmondgov.com or 646-1944.

The following officers were recognized for their Community Impact
December 1: 1017 Hioaks Rd. (Three – Alarm FIRE) Read more >

From All Things Richmond;

FOJRP’s next clean-up of Riverside Drive will be Saturday, Feb. 6th 13th at 9 a.m. If you’d like to help, meet at Pony Pasture parking lot and wear shoes you don’t mind getting mucky, and bring gloves and trash bags. A winter clean-up gives us the chance to go after trash that is usually hidden in the spring and summer by greenery. It’s a bit like a treasure hunt, really. An hour and a half usually takes care of things, but any amount of time you can give would be much appreciated. Please let Maureen Egan know if you’re coming: maureenLegan@comcast.net Hope to see you there.

From RPS Website:

Richmond Public Schools, Closed Tuesday, February 2, 2010.
12-Month Employees 2-hr. delay, Plant Services Employees On Time NBC12 list of other closings.

I will not argue that Forest Hill Park doesn’t have one of the most impressive sledding hills in RVA. However the folks at an undisclosed location in WH have created a great run in their back alley. Our daughter had a blast and it is a reminder why I love this city and my neighborhood. Special thanks to Sydney Lyons who put this video together.

We already told you that trash pickup was delayed, that also applies to the recycling.