1st District Newsletter  
September 2013
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Help Me Raise Money
for Special 
Olympics!
Less than a month to go! On Friday, October 18, I will participate in a fundraiser for the Special Olympics of Virginia by rappelling 400 feet off of the Sun Trust building Downtown and I would kindly ask your support to help reach my goal to raise $2,000 for their cause.
  
If you are able to contribute $5, $10, $25, $50 or more to the Special Olympics, it will go a long way to reaching their goal of $75,000 from this event. 
 
All money is collected electronically or by check by the Special Olympics and is not a political donation in any way. Donations are tax deductible. 
 
The Special Olympics of Virginia State Games have been held in the 1st District at the University of Richmond every summer since 1983! Thank you for your support!
 

West End Library
 
  • If you have fines on your library card, you can donate to FeedMore in September and fines up to $10 will be forgiven.
  • Do you know students can get free online homework help via the library? 
  • The West End Library has events for children (Spooky Time Fun!), teens (Seek the Unknown), and adults (Book Club: To Kill a Mockingbird & Southern Lady, Yankee Spy)
All of this great information is available in the West End Library newsletter!

Richmond Folk Festival!
 
Don't forget the 
Richmond Folk Festival will take place on our beautiful downtown 
riverfront October 
11 - 13 and embraces the heritage and traditions of all Americans.
 
Legendary masters and the next generation of dynamic young artists will celebrate the musical soul and cultural roots of America on six stages of continuous music and dance. World-class artisans, countless varieties of ethnic foods and a family area ensure there's something for every taste and every age!  

Farmers' Market Input
The City of Richmond would like your input on "Transforming

the 17th Street Farmers' Market" and how the new public space will look and function in the future at one of two upcoming sessions. 

 

The sessions will take place Tue., October 1 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and the second on Wed., October 2 from 9:30 a.m. to noon on the second floor of Main Street Station at 1500 E. Main Street (map). Please RSVP to Jeannie Welliver at 804-646-7322 or via email.


RVA Bike+Walk Survey
The City of Richmond would like to hear from you on how to make biking safer and a more accessible transportation option. Citizen input is critical for us in determining streets and corridors that need to be prioritized for bicycle improvements, as well as understanding what types of infrastructure improvements are most desired by the public. The survey takes about 6-8 minutes. You can take the survey here.

Updates & Retweets!
 
Follow me on Twitter
 
Keep up to date with my Twitter feed for news, updates and retweets from other city officials and departments and personalities around RVA! 

If You Have Gmail.....

All Gmail users who receive our newsletter and other email updates should be aware of a new policy from Gmail that separates newsletters and "promotional" mail from personal email and social media related email.

Gmail accounts will notice the tabs at the top of their inbox and if they do not see their regular newsletters or email sent to a list from a service such as Constant Contact or Mail Chimp, they can click on the Promotions Tab and should find the emails under that heading. You can set your preferences to have the email land under the "Primary" tab but you must do so manually.

Learn more about the new Gmail layout here



 
RVA Street Foodie Court at Virginia Historical Society 
every Tue. & Fri.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

City Council Meetings  
 
--Mon., Oct. 14
--Mon., Oct. 28 
 
1st District Town
Hall Meeting

Wed., Sept. 25 at 6pm
Mary Munford School 

Stormwater Credits
You may receive up to a 50% credit on your bill if you have a rain barrel or have taken other action to mitigate stormwater runoff. Apply for your Stormwater Credit here. 

Pictures Are Worth 1,000 Words
Please send us a picture(s) with your request for service or issue. Many times, a picture snapped with your cell phone goes a long way to helping us relate your request to City staff so they can easily identify the issue and correct it!

You can always call my office or use SeeClickFix to report issues such as potholes, non-functioning lights, bulk pick up requests, etc. You can also log in to the Citizens Request Service (CRS) to report more serious needs or call my office.

Important Numbers

Police Sector 311
Lt. Mike Stith Sector 
804-646-1412  -  E-mail

Finance Department
Kevin Ervin
804-646-6452  -  E-mail


West End Library
804-646-1877
Web site

Belmont Library
804-646-1139
Web site

Newsletter Archive

Jon Baliles - First District Council
Contact Me
804-646-5349 (Office)
804-592-1060 (Cell)
900 E. Broad St. Ste. 303
Richmond, VA 23219

Eli Wong, Council Liaison
804-310-1738 or

Social Media 
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Committee Assignments:
- Land Use, Housing & Transportation (Chair)
- Government Operations
- Organizational Development
- Education & Human Services (alternate)

Mail Updates
If you know someone who would like to receive these e-mail updates via U.S. Postal Service, please e-mail me here or call 804-646-5349 and provide their name and mailing address.
Town Hall Meeting Changed To Wednesday, Oct. 2
Due to multiple schedule conflicts and availability, we are having to reschedule our Town Hall Meeting that will now take place Wednesday, October 2 at 6pm at Albert Hill Middle School (3400 Patterson Avenue - map).  I apologize for the inconvenience.
  
We will be discussing issues pertaining to the 1st District and the City, including an update (but not a formal presentation) on the special use permit for 5805 Grove Avenue (Chadwick's), the Mary Munford gym & community center feasibility study, changes to our water bills, and a broad discussion of various issues, as well as an open question and answer period.  
 
We will also have a table where you can report district issues that need to be addressed with receipts given on the spot to ensure tracking and completion. For more information, please contact my office at 804-646-5349 or via this e-mail. 

Change to Utility Bills
The Department of Public Utilities has made a change to your utility bill. Beginning with bills mailed in August, stormwater fees are billed in monthly increments of the total amount instead of annually. 
 
You can read more about this and other Utility News in the quarterly Utility Talk newsletter that arrives with your bill. 

Property owners who do not receive a monthly utility bill will receive a separate bill quarterly. Customers still have the option to designate one annual lump sum stormwater payment by making the payment in person in room 102 at City Hall, or by calling 646-7000 after the payment has posted and requesting it be designated as a stormwater only payment. 

All city property owners are eligible for stormwater 

Police Update
August 14 Burglaries Arrest
In last month's newsletter, there was a story about a trio of burglaries on August 14 on the 4400 block of W. Grace St., the 4600 block of Leonard Parkway, and Greenway Lane. The neighbor who reported a suspicious car and plate number helped the police work with other jurisdictions and led to the arrest of a woman just four days later on August 18 in New Jersey. 
 
The male suspect escaped apprehension but has been identified and warrants have been obtained and placed on file for both suspects for the crimes committed in Richmond. 
 
Please remember to report anything suspicious to police and be mindful of your surroundings and goings-on in your neighborhood. 
 
Serial Burglar Behind Bars

After working with Henrico, Richmond detectives realized Barrett used the same method of operation and took the same items in Richmond that he did in Henrico.

  

Richmond police have linked Barrett to five break-ins in the city including three in the Museum District. Tuesday night, Richmond police canvassed the Museum District to reach out to the community and let folks know an 

alleged serial burglar is behind bars.

---------

Thanks to the police for all their hard work and dedication!

Outdoor Dining Proposed for Franklin Inn
The Franklin Inn has applied for a special use permit to allow outdoor dining at the corner of W. Franklin Street and Cleveland Street in the Museum District.

The permit would allow eight outdoor seats under a porch on the Inn's property and would allow patrons outside seating until 10pm but not allow music, television, prep service, smoking, or live entertainment.

The issue will be heard by the Planning Commission on Mon., October 7 and City Council (most likely) on Mon., October 14th.

You can view the proposed ordinance and plans here. Please contact Daniel Thompson in the Planning Department at 804-646-5734 with your input. 

"The General" Neil November
Richmond Magazine has a splendid look at the generosity and 
spirit of Neil and Sara Belle November, from his heroic service in World War II to their avid support of the community and the arts in Richmond over the decades. A great read about one of Richmond's great couples.

 

"Even though November holds sway in powerful financial circles and has donated millions of dollars to numerous causes, he prefers to maintain a low profile, living simply, driving compact cars and giving no indication that his family once owned a fine men's suiting company. " 
 
November's philanthropic credits would fill a book, including chairmanships of the Capital Region Airport Commission, the Science Museum of Virginia, the Virginia Aeronautical Historical Society, and the Virginia Aviation Museum. He served as chairman or president of many other local organizations, and he was instrumental in establishing the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden." 

 


Like me on Facebook
Get regular updates and news on my 1st District Facebook page! 
(You don't need a Facebook account to access the page)

RVA Street Art Festival!

Many thanks to everyone who made the RVA Street Art Festival such a success last weekend at the old GRTC bus and trolley depot! The weather was perfect, the crowds were plentiful, and the art was amazing! 

 

I am proud and humbled to have worked with Ed Trask, GRTC, and our core organizing team to pull it all together as well as all of our generous supporters and sponsors that made it possible. 

 

We are also grateful to GRTC for opening the site to the general public daily between 8:00am and 4:30pm to view the art (enter at 2500 Grayland Ave - map)

 

We hope you get a chance to stop by and see this festival's impact that illuminated our city's unlimited creative capacity and punctuated the transformational power of public art. Click here for more photo galleries. 


Mary Munford Community Center Meeting 
Dozens turned out on September 17 to discuss the feasibility of the Mary Munford Community Center and Gym with myself, Principal Muzik, School Board Representative Glen Sturtevant, Parks & Recreation deputy Director Larry Miller, and the team from Cite Design Firm which is leading the study. 
 
Attendees viewed numerous boards and other information and shared their ideas in open and one-on-one sessions with the design staff. Click here to see the information and posterboards that were on view at the meeting
 
You are welcome to share your input and ideas with the design team and can send emails to Andrew Bleckey at Cite Design at [email protected]

Speeding and Pedestrian Safety on Grove Avenue 
8News ran a story this week about speeding on Grove Avenue near Mary Munford Elementary School. 
 
City Council this week approved funding for a "Safe Routes to School" grant that will make the intersections nearby safer for parents, students and residents. 
 
Also, the Richmond Police Department has increased 
enforcement of the 25mph zone during the morning hours. In the last year, Richmond Police have issued 21 speeding tickets in this area; however last week when I was at Munford during the morning arrivals, I saw two RPD cars issue four tickets in less than 15 minutes. Please be mindful of the speed limits in our neighborhoods.

Also, I have also asked Traffic Engineering to adjust the timing of the light in the morning between 8:30 and 9:00am when pedestrian arrivals are the heaviest and to give the cars on the always backed up Westmoreland Street more time to exit on to Grove Avenue in a safe manner.  

SCHOOLS' NEWS 
School Board Forums on New Superintendent
The mailer you received Monday about the School Board forum seeking public input on the selection of the next Superintendent was incorrect. The meeting at Thomas Jefferson was held on Monday, September 23 and the meeting scheduled for Wednesday, September 25 is scheduled for Armstrong High School. I apologize for the error.

 

You may offer your input though a short, six question survey here.

 

Parent Sues Richmond School Board 

"A Richmond parent has filed a lawsuit against the city's School Board over elementary school rezoning that went into effect Tuesday.

 

In a 50-point petition filed in Richmond Circuit Court, the plaintiff alleges the School Board acted in a racially motivated manner to protect white enrollment at certain schools at the expense of minority-dominant schools, including Clark Springs, which her daughter attended until this year.

 

The School Board member most directly targeted in the lawsuit - five of the nine members were named - called it a sideshow that detracted from other work the board is trying to do." 

 

Williams: Lawsuit won't fix Richmond schools' race issues 

Michael Paul Williams wrote a poignant article on September 6 about the lawsuit filed against the School Board and he reveals the hysteria are getting in the way of the facts. An excerpt:

 

"How do you create diversity where precious little exists, largely because so many city residents of means refuse to send their children to city schools?

 

Residents have more control over creating a critical mass of diversity than the School Board, if they choose to exercise it instead of using the city's open-enrollment process to jockey for the same spots in the same schools. A lawsuit is no way to usher in the new school year and makes you wonder about the lesson we're imparting to our kids about the role, real and perceived, that race plays in their education."

  

Help Mary Munford Win $5,000!

The Virginia Lottery is giving Mary Munford Elementary School the chance to win $5,000 in classroom supplies! John Bennett was named a Super Teacher by the Virginia Lottery last year and that has enabled Mary Munford to be eligible for this prize. In order to win, they need your support!! 


To vote, please like the Virginia Lottery Facebook page (make sure you are logged into your account) and click on the Super Teacher logo and then vote for John Bennett and Mary Munford Elementary! You can vote once a day, every day until September 30 so please do so as much as you can and be sure to share with your friends!!

 

Albert Hill Back to School Night Tue., September 24
Albert Hill will host its' Back To School Night tonight beginning at 5:45. Come meet the exceptional faculty and staff and get a look at all the exciting things happening this year! Please remember to bring a contribution of Capri Suns, or individually wrapped chip/pretzel snacks, or ring pops or blow pops for Friday's block party!
 

The Vikings Start the Season 2-0! 

Congrats to Coach Hornik and the Tee Jay

Vikings who began their season 2-0 for the first time since the 1990s with a 18-14 fourth quarter comeback win against rival Armstrong! 

 

Help Replace the TJ Marquee 
Thomas Jefferson High School is looking to replace the sign/marquee in front of Tee Jay and is trying to raise between $5,000-$8,000. Any size donation is welcome and you can pay with a check or on line at www.teejayvikingsfund.org

Cookout for Friends of Richmond K-9 
Come support and join Friends of Richmond K-9 on Sunday, September 29 from noon-5:00pm at the Turning  Basin at 14th & Dock Streets (map) next to the new Southern Railway Tap House.
 
Bring your dog and listen to
 great stories from retired K9 officers and volunteers, see K-9 team demonstrations at 2 & 4pm, browse vendor tables, enjoy family fun, games, raffles, a silent auction and more!  

Click here for Facebook Event Page.

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