Held Saturday at Forest Hill Presbyterian Church. We arrived late in the day so only captured pictures of one band. They were awesome and we had a great time. I didn’t write down their name, anybody out there remember it so I can post a link to their website? I apologize for the quality of pictures light was waning and my skill level is below average in the edit room.

If you want to find out about what is happening at Echo Harbour and don’t want to leave the comfort of the southside you are in luck. The Greater Jefferson Davis Area Civic Association and the Richmond Crusade for Voters are holding a forum with Echo Harbour Developers. I found out about this meeting from Richmond City Council and Telegraph.

Tuesday, September 01, 2009 6:30 PM-8:00 PM
Southside Community Service Center
Southside Plaza
4100 Hull Street Road
Richmond, Virginia 23224

There is a white dog with a colorful collar roaming about Westover Hills this evening. Despite Page’s and my best efforts he/she eluded capture. The dog is very skittish around people but is very curious about dogs. The skittishness worries me since it darted in front of a car while we were watching and nearly got hit. Last seen around 7:15 on the corner of King William and Peterborough.

sorry for the blurriness I am having camera issues

The word “initiative” is press-release speak for heavier enforcement since the curfew law is already in place. The initiative is happening this in preparation for the start of school next week.

The city’s code bans anyone under 18 in public places between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. the following day unless they are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, engaged in an employment activity, engaged in a government, civic or religious activity, involved in an emergency situation are within 25 feet of their residence.

“We’re conducting the curfew initiative this week to re-educate youths and parents about the city’s curfew,” said Major Norris Evans. “It’s not just a rule at this time of year, but all year long.” [via RTD]

Update and pictures from David Hathcock, thanks for keeping us informed on the restoration.

Several story lines this week. This week crews are removing logs from the lake site, some that were down and dead, some that needed to be removed. The log removal, and the removal of the last loads of soil should be completed by the end of next week. The dredging and hauling should be completed. Next, the contractors will be restoring the lake to its historic depth and contours, uncovering and protecting stone walls around the lake.

The bad news is that overnight August 31st, vandals at the dam damaged some of the mechanism of the drainage system. You will see Erin Ziegler in the water manually removing debris so the water level can be lowered. The vandalism will not stop the progress being made. One of the most interesting things today is that the historic bed of Reedy Creek, where it flows into the historic lake, has been uncovered. This rock lentil has not been visible for many years, and after the work is complete, will again be under water. The old stream bed can clearly be seen.

So, some time in the few days, a hallmark will be reached. The final truck loads of trees and soil will be gone from the site. Then trucks will begin to haul rock into the site to rebuild the contours of the lake and the stone walls.

Good news, and good work by Marine Mobile Dredging.

KC lives on Bliley Road and Forest Hill and is a yellow lab. KC got away the evening of Monday, August 24th. She is a very friendly dog and will go up to anyone. She had a green electric fence collar (black box) and aqua blue faded collar with her name and number stitched in the collar. It is possible that by now her collars might have come off. She was diagnosed with cancer this past year and we really need her back so we can give her the care she needs. I am hoping that someone may have spotted her and maybe able to provide some information on where she is.

I really appreciate your help! We really miss her and want her home!

Samantha Best
(804) 357-0701 or (804) 647-6738
samantha.best@cengage.com

Note from Patrick Henry’s Director of Curriculum Resources

Dear Friends,

As we get closer to our opening date for Patrick Henry School, I continue to remember the reasons I got involved with this project. I am a mother of two small children and a resident of the Woodland Heights area, and I was saddened to see that the school closest to my house and located right next to the James River Park System was vacant. From an educational standpoint, the school’s proximity to the Forest Hill and James River parks offers unique educational opportunities in the arts and sciences that no other school in the city or surrounding counties can boast.

As a former educator, I have been involved in developing the curriculum for the school since the idea began. To create a school based on science seemed a natural fit, because the school is next to the parks. The arts focus was added because there is such a void of arts in schools these days.

To find out more about our teaching techniques and curriculum, please attend our next open house, Curriculum 101, on Thursday, September 3, at 8 p.m. at the Patrick Henry building, 3411 Semmes Avenue.

Looking forward to meeting you!
Kelly Bulbulkaya
Director of Curriculum Resources

This was forwarded to us from the Forest Hill Neighborhood Watch:

In the past few days there have been several reports of suspicious men soliciting business in the Westover Hills and Forest Hills neighborhoods. Please exercise caution when opening the doors to strangers. You owe them nothing – not your time or money and you should not hesitate to ask them to leave your property if you are not interested in their product. In fact, I often refuse to open the door if a stranger is knocking. If you are creeped out by someone, please call 911 or 646-5100. Let the police figure out whether the person is legitimate. At the very least, the police will note who the person was, what he/she looks like and will be able to establish a pattern of unusual behavior that may assist in solving a future crime. If it turns out to be nothing, it’s not a big deal and no harm is done.

The first two incidents occurred on Monday evening (8/31/09). A white male, about 5 feet 7 inches, dirty blond hair and glasses approached at least two homes in the 4600 block of Devonshire (between Prince George & Cedar Lane). He was specifically targeting homes with children and said he was selling children’s literature or educational material. During both encounters he acted strangely and could not produce any brochures or company information. He loitered at one house for 10 minutes before someone answered the door.

The third incident occurred on Monday and Tuesday (8/31-9/1) evening and involved a white male, approximately 6 feet tall, wearing a red baseball hat, khaki pants and a grey polo shirt with a VerizonFios insignia embroidered on the front. On both evenings he was observed in the 4400 block of Stonewall Avenue and 4400 block of New Kent. Although he wore a business shirt, his behavior was very unusual in that he wandered aimlessly through the neighborhood, retraced his steps for no apparent reason, only knocked on one door, avoided eye contact and tried to hide his face when spoken to, and said he was trying to find out why 20% of the neighbors did not have a contract with VerizonFios.

The police were called for each incident. If you have seen something similar in your block, please let me know.

Shannon Taylor
Forest Hill Neighborhood Watch Coordinator
www.ForestHillNeighborhood.com

Folks are gathering through Facebook to clean graffiti in the James River Park. I found out about this through the Byrd Park neighborhood blog which is gaining momentum.

photo credit to Stephen Brandt

A few months ago, one of the most beautiful spots in James River Park, if not in Richmond, was attacked by vandals – the flat rocks at the railroad bridge waterfall. In cooperation with the City of Richmond Parks Dept., Friends of James River Park, and Richmond Police, I am organizing this clean-up to scrub away this graffiti; this will bring these natural rock surfaces as close to their original state as possible, rather than having them painted w/ solid colors (the common procedure with such). I have already done some scrubbing of these rocks, and with a good number of volunteers I estimate this task will take about an hour or less. No harsh chemicals can be used, just wire brushes, water, and elbow grease.

Read more >

Cities for Small Towns, Nakatomi Plaza, Marionette and Landmines at Plaza Bowl $5.

Mayor Dwight Jones and Superintendent Yvonne Brandon will discuss the Richmond Public Schools.

All parents interested in Richmond schools are encouraged to attend and ask questions of the leadership.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

7:00 pm

St. Luke Lutheran Church,

7757 Chippenham Parkway

For information please call the office of Kathy Graziano at 320-2454.

Once a week resident Thomas Scott sends us a photo taken in the neighborhood. More of his stunning photographs at the blog Punch Photo and an online portfolio Thomas Scott Photography. Click on the image to see full size.

A slide show of all the Photos of the Week

Read more >

As I suspected August was not a good month for crime. Violent crimes climbed 33% from the same period last year. In August 08 there were a total of 12 violent crimes and this year there were 16. Robberies committed with a firearm were at 2 last year and climbed to 6 this year. There were 87 property  crimes in August 08 and 107 in 09 an increase of 23%. The two biggest jumps were in theft of motor vehicle parts/accessories up 71% and theft of moped/other vehicle type up 150%.  August Sector Report.pdf

We’ll end on an up note and recognize an officer for his outstanding work. Officer Benjamin Frazer observed a suspicious moped at Westover Hills Blvd. and Crutchfield St. Officer Frazer initiated a stop and determined that the moped had been reported stolen. The driver attempted to conceal his identity, but Officer Frazer used his investigative skill to reveal the driver’s true identity. The driver had (3) outstanding warrants and marijuana on his person. This individual was charged with (2) felonies, (2) misdemeanors, (3) warrants, (1) traffic summons and a stolen moped was recovered.

Councilwoman Robertson will be holding a public forum on Tuesday, September 15 from 10-noon to solicit input and support of  proposed tax exemption(PDF) which seeks to offer tax incentives for development in specific areas. [via]

Public Forum
Southside Community and Housing Development Corporation
1624 Hull Street, Richmond Virginia

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2009
10:00 a.m. – Noon

“Huguenot High School staff members were evacuated briefly today after a fire was discovered in a clothes dryer.

The fire was reported shortly after 1 p.m. in a room near the gymnasium of the school in the 7900 block of Forest Hill Avenue in South Richmond.

No injuries were reported, and the fire was quickly controlled.

Classes do not begin until next week.” [via]

WTVR ran a story about the suspicious solicitors we reported on recently. Thanks to CSB for providing the link!

We’ve been following the progress of the Forest Hill Lake restoration project here on H&H. And now the RTD is reporting that the project may finish up ahead of schedule, despite the sometimes heavy rain and sporadic vandalism. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports:

About one week’s worth of excavation remains to be done, once the Ohio-based dredging crew returns to work next week after the Labor Day holiday. The work then will focus on restoring many of the historic features that have been lost for years under accumulating mud and marshland.

The Forest Hill Neighborhood Association is hosting its third “Country in the City” house tour on Sunday, September 20, from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Grab a friend or neighbor and meander along the tree-lined streets of our diverse neighborhood to visit the nine homes on the tour.

Read more >

A member of the Woodland Heights Yahoo group had the satellite radio stolen from their Jeep Friday night parked on the 700 block of W 32nd St. The car was unlocked since the jeep is a soft top and the owners didn’t want the top to be cut open. Usually all valuables are taken into the house but on Friday the radio was left in the unlocked car and someone took advantage of the situation. A police report was filed.

Just got back from breakfast at Paradise and the owner stopped by our table to let us know that from 5 – 7 tonight (Monday) there will be free pony rides in the parking lot. If it is raining hard it will be postponed. I didn’t think to ask why there will be free pony but I was told never to look a gift pony in mouth.

Update: I went up there at 5:30 with my cowboy hat and chaps on and no ponies. Bummer, must have been rained out.

Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Yvonne Brandon will be at the 4th District Meeting Wednesday night but if that doesn’t work out you have a second chance on Thursday, September 17 at Westover Hills Elemetary or 3 other locations. At both meetings Superintendent Brandon will discuss the upcoming school year and new projects.

• 8AM at Westover Hills Elementary – 1211 Jahnke Road
• 11AM at Richmond Community High – 201 East Brookland Park Blvd.
• 2PM at Martin Luther King Jr. MS – 1000 Mosby Street
• 5:30PM at Richmond Technical Center – 2020 Westwood Avenue

Thanks to John at Church Hill People’s News for catching this one. It slipped past me and isn’t posted on the RPS website.

Today is the first day of school for Richmond Public Schools. Keep your eyes out for kidlets crossing the street unexpectedly.

Received this email last week from Woodland Heights resident Captain John D. Turner and wanted to share it with the community.

Friends,

I hope you’re all well. I’m finishing up my year here in Iraq and want to tell you about something I was able to take part in recently. I recently saw a story on CNN about Brad Blauser almost two weeks ago regarding his charity, Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids. On a whim, I went to his website, www.wheelchairsforiraqikids.com and emailed him. I got a response about 3 hours later and the rest is history. Brad flew in last Wednesday morning (19 Aug 09) at 0100 to FOB Warhorse and we distributed 9 wheelchairs to handicapped children. The mission of Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids is “to provide disabled children in Iraq with high quality pediatric wheelchairs (retail value of $3500) purchased from Non-Profit ROC Wheels (www.ROCWheels.org) at $350/ea, and distributed free of charge to needy children. I have made it my goal to find at least 30 donors (or 30 chairs – whichever comes first).

Read more >

Reported from Woodland Heights Yahoo Group. This time on the  600 block of 34th.

Sometime between last Thursday nite and this morning, we had a car broken into…Luckily nothing of importance stolen, as we keep very little in the car. A nice comforter and wool jacket that were headed to Goodwill were taken, doesn’t look like anything else was removed. We think we left the door open accidentally but it was locked when we got to it this morning. Guess the thieves locked it after they were done with it!?!