Join us at the PHSSA building on Thursday, October 1, at 8 p.m. for an overview of our recent assessment of the building and information about scheduled renovations. Take a tour of the building and check out the classrooms that our students will use starting in July 2010.

With two high profile dog fighting cases pending in our local area, the time could never be better for an event which educates the public and honors these unjustly maligned animals.

National Pit Bull Awareness Day is a concept created by a Tennessee pit bull rescue in 2007 with the intent of creating a national day on which pit bulls are celebrated versus demonized. In stark contrast to the daily abuse and victimization of these dogs, this day is intended to be a day to cherish these animals. The event has grown in support since it’s inception with 2008 being marked by 150 celebrations across the United States and even events as far away as Canada and Russia.

In celebration of National Pit Bull Awareness Day, Ring Dog Rescue is hosting a series of activities surrounding that date to celebrate these dogs. The centerpiece event of the celebration is a public event intended to provide insight, education and a place to network for animal welfare advocates:

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The dog pictured above was found wondering around on W 21st st. He was seen on 29 Sep and again on 30 Sep. He is not a particularly young looking dog and appears to have some arthritis in his hind legs. He appears physically like a dog not long without a home. We offered him a couple of chances to go home in case he was just away on a little adventure of his own choosing, but he didn’t go far before coming back. Since he looks fairly old and cared for, it would seem some one is missing a pet. Instead of turning him back out loose into the unknown, we decided to take care of him for awhile and search for his owners. If you know this dog or his family please call 804.986.0855, or email boxofhammers@gmail.com.

According to Richmond Biz Sense the long awaited 6-Packs of Legend beer were released into the wild today. I haven’t made the journey to either 48 Hours or Once Upon A Vine to verify, so if somebody is reading this and about to head out why don’t you be a dear and pick me up a pack.  At the present time only Legend Brown is available but more are to come.

Official Press Release:

GOVERNOR KAINE ANNOUNCES ENERGY EFFICIENCY REBATES AND THIRD ANNUAL ENERGY SALES TAX HOLIDAY

~ Consumers can purchase energy-efficient products tax free October 9-12; claim state rebates and federal credits on qualifying products ~

STAUNTON – Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced the launch of the Virginia Energy Efficiency Appliance Rebate program, a new program to encourage the purchase of high-efficiency appliances and products. The program will use $15 million in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment act to provide rebates to residential and commercial consumers on certain qualifying appliances and equipment. Homeowners will be eligible for rebates for 20 percent of the costs of the products, up to $2,000, and commercial consumers will be eligible for 20 percent of their costs up to $4,000. Rebates will be distributed on a first come-first served basis.

Governor Kaine also highlighted Virginia ’s third annual sales tax holiday on ENERGY STAR and WaterSense qualified products, which will take place October 9-12, 2009.

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From the RTD:

A man who robbed a South Richmond coffee shop, nearly shot an employee and led police on a foot chase, will spend 13 years in prison.

Richmond Circuit Judge Theodore J. Markow sentenced Eddie James Edwards III today to 20 years for the robbery charge and suspended half of the sentence, plus three years for use of a firearm in a felony.

The robbery occurred about 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 9, 2008, at Crossroads Coffee and Ice Cream in the 2600 block of Forest Hill Avenue.

Kit includes switch and outlet sealers, fluorescent light bulb, toilet water tank insert for conserving water (“toilet tummy”), door and window weather stripping.

Other services onsite for this event:

• Pleasants Hardware staff to explain what the items in the kit do and how to install them
• Department of Social Services to accept fuel assistance applications
• ElderHomes representative to answer weatherization questions
• Senior Connections representative to provide resources information
• Utility Buddy for photos and refreshments

To qualify, participants MUST BE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND AND 65 OR OLDER

This event is sponsored by the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities

Friday, Oct. 23, Pleasants Hardware, 2024 W. Broad Street, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

You know summer is over when the music dies. This Sunday is the last in the Music in the Park series at Forest Hill Park. The series wraps up with  The Big Payback a James Brown tribute band. Hit the previous link to sample their music, sounds like a party waiting to happen.

The music starts at 5 and wraps up around 7. This is an earlier start time then shows during the summer months and I noticed last show that quite a few people showed up late.

The series is brought to you by the Westover Hills, Forest Hill, and Woodland Heights Neighborhood Associations, and the City of Richmond. All the groups playing have at least one member who lives in the neighborhood. The following businesses also have contributed to Music in the Park: Cielito Lindo, Dominion Heating and Air Conditioning, Crossroads Coffee, 43rd Street Gallery, True Timber, and Riverside Outfitters.

A flyer was left at homes in Forest Hill Terrace today to notify residents of upcoming slurry application to some of the streets. Both 45th and 46th Streets are patched, so the slurry is a-comin’.DPW flyer 10.02.09

Ron Fischer from B United will be there tasting Pausa Cafe Chicca and Tosta, Hofstetten Granit Bock and Kuebelbier, and Hitachino Ginger and White Ale. All beers I have never tried so no opinion offered.

Jason from Barboursville Vineyards will be there with a selection of wine.

On October 17^th, HandsOn Greater Richmond will rally and organize 1,000 volunteers to tackle community issues through service.  40 projects will take place at local nonprofits, schools, and city parks.  Together, we’ll beautify schools, build trails, repair homes, feed the hungry, build birdhouses, plant trees, care for animals – you name it.   Come on out on your own, or bring your friends, family, co-workers.

Of special interest for Hills & Heights neighbors could be a Total Makeover at Huguenot High School !  Volunteers will paint murals, plant shrubs, improve the grounds and create a positive environment to stimulate learning and school success!   Sign up to help Huguenot High School.

More information about HandsOn Greater Richmond and HandsOn Day can be found at www.HandsOnGR.org.  We hope you can join this community transforming event!

Is it too late to tell you that tonight, Sat Oct 03 at 08:00 PM, these bands are playing at Plaza Bowl.
• HEX MACHINE
• Dysrhythmia
• The Wayward
You can now follow them on twitter!

Sorry for the late notice but I just saw this:

The 7 Hills Scooter Club is having their monthly ride tomorrow today, October 4th. We’re meeting up at Crossroads in the Fan (26 N. Morris St), and we’re leaving around 11 am. The last two rides have had turnouts of over 30 people, and the weather is supposed to be gorgeous, so make sure you don’t miss this one! See you then! [via]

Having a five year old means we end up spending a great deal of time at what is locally known as “Triangle Park” but is more formally known as the  Westover Hills United Methodist Church playground. Yesterday there were the requisite childish shrieks and motherly admonishments and there, tucked up under the roof of the bulletin board was this little surprise.

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From CBS6 News we hear:

Forest Hill Park which is undergoing revitalization was targeted and defiled by vandals overnight.

Hateful Racial Slurs were spray painted in white around several areas of the Park. The messages were aimed at The Jewish and African American Communities.

City Crews were on the scene this morning attempting to erase the messages.

Police say they have no suspects but are actively investigating this incident.

Anyone with information that can help police is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 780-1000.

I if anyone has some photos please send them our way. I am going to try and get out there shortly to see what I can see.

Image from NBC12

Amazing what a few decades will do! The trees that are on this lot now cast the library in almost constant shadow but they weren’t even planted when this pic was taken August 19, 1959 by the Adolph B. Rice Studio. I found this image on Flickr in the collection of The Library of Virginia. The Westover Hills Library had just opened in July of that year, previously having been at one point in the basement of the Stone House at Forest Hill Park. The library is slated for renovations next year to update some of the original fixtures.

We touched on this in passing here but I wanted to bring your attention to a special event that Ring Dog Rescue is sponsoring on October 25th. If you have a pit bull or pit bull mix, live in Woodland Heights or one of the adjacent neighborhoods and need any of the following services; spay, neuter, rabies shot, or other vaccinations call this number 804-622-4200 and Ring Dog Rescue will provide the services for free. That’s not all, the good folks at RDR will also take care of transporting your dog to and from the procedure. You really can’t beat free. Space is limited so call the number above or find at more on the website. Times are tough and money is tight if your pit bull or pit bull mix needs some of these services please take advantage of this generous offer. If you can’t use the services you can help get the word out by printing up this pdf (Flyer 9-25-09) and posting it for others to read.

Woodland Heights resident Sara is raising money for Special Olympics in a rather unique way and can use your help. If she raises $1,500 she will get to rappel down the Suntrust building in downtown Richmond on Saturday. I just checked and her donations stand at $565 so she has a way to go before she can fling herself off (with all the correct ropes and safety gear of course) a large skyscraper. To make a donation and learn more go to Sara’s fundraising page.

It was a beautiful, cool evening Sunday night when a large crowd headed to the park to watch Payback, a James Brown tribute band. The kids started dancing early but by the end there was a rare crowd of adults dancing with abandon.It’s hard NOT to shake your groove thang with such great music.

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Applications will be available Oct. 15 for rising ninth-graders who would like to attend the Richmond Public Schools International Baccalaureate program for the 2010-2011 school year.

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City Press Release:

The Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities is offering four bus trips for senior citizens this fall and winter.

These include day trips to Drumheller’s Orchard in Lovington, VA, for the Apple Harvest and Apple Butter Festival on Oct. 17 ($25 per person), to Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Baltimore, MD, for the matinee performance of “Aida” on Oct. 29 ($85 per person), and to Norfolk’s Chrysler Hall Theatre to see “The Color Purple” on Nov. 15 ($80 per person). The payment and registration deadline for these is Oct. 9.

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This Saturday, October 10th, the Sierra Club Friends of the James Group are hosting a bike ride to check out the Reedy Creek watershed. John Zeugner will lead the ride and show off watershed stabilization and restoration projects in our area.  Park in the back of Patrick Henry Charter School. For more information call John Zeugner at 804-288-5005. If it is rainy (last check weather forecast showed a 50% chance of rain on Saturday) the ride will take place on October 17th.

Everyone is also invited to October meeting of the SCFOJ at the Science Museum next Wednesday, October 14. There will be a presentation by VCU’s recycling and sustainability team.

The Woodland Heights Yahoo Group has a report of a rabid raccoon. Around 8:00 tonight Richmond Animal Control was in the 3000 block of Ferncliff looking for the masked critter. Previously this evening the raccoon  chased a pair of walkers down the street. Animal Control request that anyone spotting a strange acting or aggressive raccoon to please call the police non-emergency number (646-5100). Animal Control also advises to keep your dogs on a leash for control if they should encounter this animal and make sure their shots are up-to-date.

Read more >

Official Press Release:
Application packets to attend Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School for Government and International Studies and Appomattox Regional Governor’s School for the Arts and Technology will be available at Richmond City middle schools beginning Oct. 15.

Informational sessions for parents and students will be held Nov. 5 at Maggie Walker and Nov. 10 at Appomattox. Both meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Applications are due to middle school guidance counselors by Dec. 1. No additional information will be accepted after this date. Letters of acceptance status will be mailed March 12.

For more information, contact Rodney Fout, coordinator of gifted programs, at 780-7805.

The early mornings may have a chill, but down by the lake it is still the lushness of summer.  The arrogance of the heron has returned. Mobile Dredging has completed the shaping of the lake to its new contours.  Masons are scheduled to rebuild the stone wall where possible, and where the wall is too damaged for repairs, a necklace of grey granite, right-sized to match the old stone, is being put in place. Within two weeks, the lake will be refilled, from Reedy Creek and the springs that enter. Soon the wetlands plantings will be put in place. The uplands at the south of the lake will be reseeded in the coming days.

Report and pictures courtesy of David Hathcock, thanks David.