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Our Hero Helps the Environment
July 6th, 2010Since Richard probably won’t toot his own horn, I’ll do it for him.
Check out today’s Times-Dispatch Metro section for a nice article on keeping the Reedy Creek watershed healthy.
Lost
April 12th, 2010
Spotting during a walk around the lake, just uphill from the picnic table shelter.
Forest Hill Park Eggstravaganza photos
March 27th, 2010Hundreds of children and their families turned out today for the Forest Hill Park Eggstravaganza. While the weather was a little on the chilly side, most folks seemed to have a great time – there were funnel cakes, painted faces, weird balloon hats, and balloon-sword fights in every direction. There were also a lot of eggs; Parks and Rec did their very best to ensure nobody wound up with an empty basket. Although there were some glitches in the proceedings, for the most part the egg hunts went smoothly. I wasn’t present for the youngest age group’s egg hunt, but the volunteers seemed willing to accommodate suggestions from us in the 5-7 year-olds’ hunt, and made changes on the fly to ensure the rest went well.
Dry spell+heavy rain=trees down.
November 12th, 2009There were several downed trees in the city last night, including one in the alley behind the 5200 block of Devonshire Rd. The horizontal tree, which is now blocking the alley, took out power lines to one house and damaged a garage. Virginia Power has been called to the site to check on the wires.
ed. note: wires repaired, tree removed, garage more “smooshed” than “damaged.”Photos added, showing opposite sides of the alley.
Forest Hill Historic Designation Letter
November 7th, 2009Map of Forest Hill Neighborhood
Deer Crossing
November 2nd, 2009Drivers on Forest Hill Avenue experienced a backup today just after noon, when a deer leapt into a car crossing over Reedy Creek. The driver was (presumably) shaken but unhurt, and her vehicle badly damaged. The deer was put down by police. Some lanes were shut down while the deer was being removed and the street washed down.
Jewell charged with DUI
October 24th, 2009According to the Times-Dispatch story:
Richmond Councilman E. Martin Jewell, 5th District was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol early today, Richmond police have confirmed.
Further details were not available this morning, but Richmond police said that Jewell was held overnight.
Meet Your Firefighters
October 9th, 2009This Saturday, October 10th you can meet the firefighters at Station #17. They will be having an open house from 12:00-4:00 PM at 2901 Bainbridge Street. Click on the image to read the details and don’t worry – there will be a moonbounce!
Road work in the ‘hood
October 2nd, 2009A 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
Update: New Restaurant to fill old Seven Hills Market space
June 23rd, 2009Richmond magazine reports that
Brian Munford, owner and chef of Patina Grill in western Henrico County, is working toward opening a new restaurant in South Richmond with a partner, former Bottega chef Travis Milton. If things go as planned, the Parkside Cafe will be open in November at the corner of Forest Hill and Semmes avenues, in the space formerly occupied by Seven Hills Market. Munford said it won’t be just like Patina Grill, a West End favorite — it will have a lighter touch, will be less pricey and will have more of a Fan District look and a neighborhood feel. And unlike Patina Grill, Parkside likely will be open for lunch.
local ABC license application
June 12th, 2009This week’s Style Weekly published a legal notice announcing the application by the Red Room Lounge, 404 Westover Hills Blvd, for an ABC license (on premises).
The interesting part is the owner’s name: Oliver C. Lawrence. Is this that Oliver Lawrence?
Details on the ABC application can be found here. The property is registered to “Auto Center Holdings LLC,” but a search of the SCC site confirms that company’s connection with Oliver Lawrence.
The address in question is what appears to be an old 7-11 between the auto repair place and the apartment swimming pool on the west side of Westover Hills Blvd, near the Midlothian overpass.
Sirens at noon
June 6th, 2009The 2009 Virginia Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service begins at noon today. Area departments are observing the occasion with flags at half-staff, a moment of silence, and many will be sounding their sirens to mark the beginning of the service.
If you hear the wail of a Federal Q while you’re walking home from yard-sale-ing, please take a moment to appreciate those in our state who have given their lives to protect the public.
just-before-rush-hour wreck on Forest Hill
April 22nd, 2009
A two-car accident at the intersection of Forest Hill Avenue and Westover Hills Boulevard has the potential to tie up Wednesday-morning commuters. No tow trucks were yet on the scene as of 7:00am, and only one lane is getting through each direction.
ed note: tow trucks have appeared to work their magic and all is clear as of 7:30.
Rainbow over Hills & Heights
April 21st, 2009
Evidently, Cielito Lindo is at the end of the rainbow.
National Train Day
April 12th, 2009For those of you who also have train-obsessed small children (or have grown up to be railfans):
National Train Day is a free event, first held in 2008, in various large cities across the country (including Washington, DC). This year’s celebration marks 140 years since the “golden spike” was driven, joining the eastern and western railroads.
National Train Day will take place on Saturday, May 9, 2009, from 10am-3pm in DC at Union Station.
Amtrak has trains running in and out of Union, obviously, and the Metro is also available to get folks there for the event, so no need to find a parking spot. Besides, there’s no such thing as too many rides on trains!
Fatal Shooting Near The Forest
April 12th, 2009From the story on WTVR’s site:
It happened around 2 a.m. outside The Forest Restaurant in the 5000 block of Forest Hill Avenue. Someone inside the restaurant heard gunshots and called police. Officers arrived and found a man suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to VCU Medical Center where he later died.
No word on whether the victim was a patron of any businesses in the vicinity.
deadline for assessment appeals is tomorrow
February 26th, 2009A reminder that property tax assessment appeals for this year are due in tomorrow. If you miss this deadline you can still appeal, but the procedure gets more involved. Info on the process can be found here, and the relevant forms here. Note the inclusion of a sales search function on the assessor’s page (in the menu on the left), which can be a handy tool.
loose dog in the vicinity of Forest Hill Park
February 4th, 2009An email forwarded from Shannon Taylor, Neighborhood Watch coordinator:
A neighbor has reported that there is a pit bull mix wandering loose in the vicinity of Forest Hill Park. The animal is a male, with butterscotch colored fur and has a red collar which lacks tags. The animal appears to be friendly but please exercise caution if he approaches you. If you have any information about a possible owner of the dog please contact that person immediately.
ed note: any loose dog should be approached with caution, whether it’s a chihuahua or a golden retriever.
sunlight on the steeple
January 30th, 2009
not the usual hubcap
January 30th, 2009
This appeared, evidently overnight, in the 4800 block of Forest Hill. Anyone missing a bumper?
2009 assessments are online
January 24th, 2009John reports in CHPN that the assessments up his way are running flat to depreciating. A check of one block in southside showed the aforementioned flat-to-depreciated values with a couple of small increases and one $71K jump, which amounts to a 38% increase for that lucky homeowner, who will be calling the city on Monday.
Parcel Mapper allows jumping from property to property fairly easily, and Property Search makes it easier to see a single address/block. If you’re entering a numbered street, use the suffix.
It’d be great to see how readers’ assessments have shifted, so feel free to have a poke around and post what you find!
stabbing in 600 block of Westover Hills Blvd.
January 20th, 2009The Times-Dispatch is reporting a stabbing in the apartments on Westover Hills last night.
The victim told police he was on his way to work about 8 p.m. when he was approached outside his apartment complex in the 600 block of Westover Hills Boulevard and robbed by five men.
Overnight house fire in Granite Hills
December 23rd, 2008There was a house fire just after midnight in the 6600 block of Glyndon Lane. There were no injuries to the home’s residents. [via]
Update: NBC12 reports that two women and three cats were pulled from the fire by RFD crews.
