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Halloween Fun in (or near) the First District
Fri., Oct. 25
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Sat., Oct. 26
2:30pm
3:00-7:00pm
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Wed., Oct. 30
Spooky Time Fun at
West End Library
4:30pm
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1st District Most Clicked
We are offering a fun, new feature each month to show the top 3 most clicked links in the previous month's 1st District
E-newsletter!
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1st District Twitter Picture of the Month
Great work LS students! 863 pounds of food delivered to@FeedMoreInc!
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Belmont Butchery Beast Feast Sun., Oct. 27
The Belmont Butchery celebrates its 7th anniversary Sun., Oct. 27 with Beast Feast at Scotchtown in Hanover County.
Seven teams of great local chefs will serve seven courses cooked on open fires. Enjoy live music, wine and beer, tasting tents from local artisan producers, and the promotion of local farms, chefs, and historic properties.
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Reporting a Neighborhood Issue
There are multiple ways that you can report neighborhood issues that you need us to address.
1. You can call my office (804-646-5349) and speak to either me or my liaison, Eli.
2. You can log on and use
SeeClickFix to report issues such as potholes, non-functioning lights, bulk pick up requests, etc.
3. You can also log in to the Citizens Request Service (CRS) to report more serious needs (or again, call my office).
If possible, 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!
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Get regular updates and news on my 1st District Facebook page!
(You don't need a Facebook account to access the page)
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Town Hall Meeting
Tue., Nov. 26
 Please join us for a Town Hall Meeting Tuesday, November 26 at 6pm at Albert Hill Middle School (3400 Patterson Avenue - map). We will be discussing issues pertaining to the 1st District and a m,ore detailed agenda will be included in next month's newsletter, email announcement, and on our Facebook page. For more information, please contact my office at 804-646-5349 or via this e-mail.
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UPCOMING MEETINGS
--Mon., Oct. 28
--Mon., Nov. 11
-- Mon., Nov. 25
1st District Town
Hall Meeting
Tue., Nov. 26 at 6pm
Albert Hill Middle School
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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.
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Link Up on LinkedIn
Follow updates on social network for work professionals, aka "the safe-for-work social network"
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If You Use Gmail.....
 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, 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.
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Updates & Retweets!
Keep up to date with my Twitter feed for news, updates and retweets from other city officials and departments and personalities around RVA!
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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
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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   
Committee Assignments:
- Land Use, Housing & Transportation (Chair)
- Government Operations
- Organizational Development
- Education & Human Services (alternate)
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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.
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Floyd Ave. Bike Boulevard "Mobile Open House" Nov. 2
Did you know Floyd Avenue is being considered to be transformed into a "Bike/Walk Street"? 
Come take a morning walk, bike, or jog down Floyd Ave. on Sat., Nov. 2 at 10am with representatives from RideRichmond, Bike Walk RVA (a program of the Sports Backers), the City of Richmond, and dozens of neighbors. The event begins at Monroe Park and concludes at the VMFA to continue the conversation with additional interested members of the community.
You can find out and share what you like about Floyd Ave and how we can work to make it even more safe and comfortable for people riding bikes, walking, and driving. If you choose not to ride or walk, Spoken4 will be on hand to transport you in a bicycle rickshaw. Free bike valet will be provided by Richmond 2015 at VMFA.
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Behind the esoteric and well-appointed walls of the Tuckahoe
Style Weekly took a look inside the enigmatic Tuckahoe apartment building on Cary St. and discovered the myth no longer matches the reality. I have driven by thousands of times since I was a child but never been inside. Take a fascinating look inside in this in-depth piece.
 "For 71 years, the Tuckahoe has been a tower of mystery to legions of Richmonders curious enough to guess who and wha t lies inside. Here, it is imagined, faceless and aged socialites keep secrets and legacies locked away from the rest of the city.
Names of past and present residents spring to mind - Dabney, Dementi, Reynolds, Wheat - the trust of Old Richmond. It seems as if behind the brick, mint juleps and cucumber sandwiches are passed as casually as conversation. But now, residents of the Tuckahoe speak out against the myth.
...they agree not coincidentally that the Tuckahoe is "Richmond's best kept secret." They contend a new time has come to the Tuckahoe - one that is decidedly youthful and, what's more, inclusive."
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Mary Munford Gym / Community Center Meeting Wed., Nov. 6
Come see and comment on the presentation by Cite Design about their proposal for a Gym/Community Center that is being considered for Mary Munford on Wed., Nov. 6 at 6:00pm in the school's auditorium.
The meeting format will include a presentation of the draft plan by the design firm, followed by a question and answer period and a chance to register your opinion and give feedback to Jon and Glen as well school officials, and Parks & Recreation staff.
The Department of Parks and Recreation can structure any potential programming and hours of operation based on the needs and desires of the school and community. Any plan will also have to increase parking for employees and visitors to the school. We encourage you to play a role in this process!
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5805 Grove Ave. Special Use Permit
A meeting will be held sometime in later November to discuss the special use permit application  for the Chadwick's building at 5805 Grove Ave.
The exact meeting date and location will be set within the next week
7-10 days. We will announce it on our web site and also on our Facebook page, so please check back for updates (we will also send an email to our mailing list and to neighborhood associations to send to their members).
The meeting agenda and format are yet to be finalized but there will be a presentation from the applicants as well as staff from Planning & Development Review to answer questions and get input from neighbors.
Click here to review the plans and application for the special use permit.
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Many thanks to everyone who contributed more than $1,300 for Special Olympics and enabled me to go Over the Edge on Fri., October 18!
Rappelling 400 feet down the SunTrust building was actually fun, though being on the edge before descending was a little harrowing (no, I did not look straight down!)
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Downtown's rebound gains escape velocity
"So ... if you haven't been downtown in a lo
ng time other than to pass through, it's time to venture out and see what's happening and be a part of it. You will be amazed and enthused.
Don't hide behind old stereotypes and fears. This is a new time, a new generation, and urban renewal is taking place all over the country. Come see the classic old storefronts and buildings converted into apartments, lofts, galleries and stores.
See people walking along Grace and Broad on their way to and from neighborhood restaurants. Feel the beat and pace and vibrant lifestyle that is here. Break out of your routine, venture into your great city and see for yourself its rejuvenation and rebirth."
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Peter Blair Goes Big On Cable
"Gwen Marder, the fashion director for Fox News Channel, has ordered neckties for the cable channel's on-air talent. "She liked all our ties and started ordering them." Marder ordered 58 of the brightly colored ties.
Marder is responsible for dressing more than 200 people - many of them tie-wearers - for the cable channel and provides a variety of wardrobe choices for them. Fowlkes said Peter-Blair will fill its order in February and then he'll be looking for his neckties on the Fox News anchors.
"If they like them," Fowlkes said, "we may start supplying bowties, too."
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A Tough Act to Follow at St. John's Church
While not quite as passionate or profound as "Give me liberty or give me death", I was asked to speak to them about my role as an elected official. I mentioned the lesson of the 1775 Convention reenactment they had witnessed is that
sometimes decisions are
difficult and can come with mild, or even intense, disagreement.
However, since most governments can't simply shutdown when they disagree, the power of words and ideas are important to persuade people to a common cause or goal. Given that the resolution in 1775 passed by only a few votes, the power of Mr. Henry's words (along with good manners) were very likely just enough to win the votes he needed to his side and thus set in motion a key act of the American Revolution.
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Spooky Saturday at Mary Munford Oct. 26
The 21st Annual Spooky Saturday "BOO BASH" takes place Saturday, October 26th from 3:00-7:00pm at Mary Munford. There will
be food and fun for ALL ages, including some brand new activities and events this year: the 360 Turbo Rush Obstacle Course, World of Sports 5 Star Game, Tractor Barrel Train, and our first annual Spooky Olympics!
Pick a teammate and participate between 5:00-6:00pm in sack races, pumpkin spoon relays and the 3-legged race. And back by popular demand: The Mechanical Bull, Skary-oke, Class Pumpkin contest and more than you can imagine!
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RPS Announces New Online Payment System For School Meals
Richmond Public Schools' School Nutrition Services has launched a new online payment system to help parents manage their child's breakfast and lunch transactions.
 The new system allows parents to make quick and easy online payments to their child's school accounts using a debit or credit card. Parents at all schools in the district (and City) can now:
-- Deposit money into their child's account online at any time
-- Monitor their child's meal and a la carte purchases
-- Prevent their child from misplacing his or her lunch money on the way to school or while in school.
You can also receive a low-balance email alert when the account balance falls below the established amount.
Parents interested in signing up for this service can visit SchoolPaymentSolutions to register.
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The 1st District Boys
Butch & Sundance, Batman & Robin, Frodo & Sam, Cliff & Norm. Add the "1st District Boys" to the list of duo's who work well together to get it done.
Politico Paul Goldman writes about the efforts of Jon & Glen to involve the community on the Mary Munford gym project.
"Jon and Glen are going to make sure the people particularly in the affected community have a chance to have input BEFORE they ever make a formal proposal on behalf of the community. That's representative democracy with a capital D.
Jon and Glen can be counted upon to understand this basic rule of fairness. As they say in business, they are "on it."
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Albert Hill Traveling Bowls
 The project, Bowls Around Town RVA, asks students to borrow the bowls, use them to serve a family meal and document the results by posting pictures on Tumblr. Dishes have included butternut squash soup and breakfast for dinner. Oh, and a lot of pasta."
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T.J. snaps 2 streaks with win over Marshall
On a misty, rain-soaked Saturday afternoon, the Thomas Jefferson football team found there was no better day to shine.
Since 2004, the Vikings hadn't produced more than two wins in a season, let alone beat John Marshall. But a reliable defense and steady offense helped Thomas Jefferson defeat John Marshall 32-20. The Vikings (3-3) inched one game closer to their first winning season in 30 years. Click here to read more.
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James River News
Even though the warm weather is behind us, there has been a lot of great news about Richmond's crown jewel and raison d'etre, the James River. These stories have all popped up in the last month and are great reading about our river that runs through it...
Park leader, peacemaker and occasional art critic
"Burrell was born in Lancaster County and raised in Essex County. He graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2002 with a degree in parks and recreation management and a minor in environmental studies.
Burrell met White when White spoke to one of his VCU classes. Burrell recalls thinking, "I want to know what he knows. I want to work with him."
He got an internship with the park, then a seasonal job, and went full time in December 2004. Among other things, he cut biking and hiking trails, helping turn Richmond into a popular playground for mountain bikers."
"Much of the iron bridge on top of the dam is still standing, but pedestrians can venture out only a short distance before hitting a dead-end overlook. This week, a team of engineers is beginning the work of figuring out how to fill the gaps and create a walkway that will extend from Brown's Island to the trails and attractions on the Manchester side of the river."
"One of the quieter places to watch the tidal James River is at Great Shiplock Park at Dock and Pear streets in Shockoe Bottom. Fisherman, runners, walkers and cyclists are drawn to this area of the riverfront. The small park has a historic working canal lock, trails, fishing spots and many great views of the river and downtown.
Work began on the $450,000 face lift in Spring 2013. The park entrance was reworked, new trees, grass and landscaping were planted, canal stones and an electronic kiosk (not completed) with everything to do in Richmond and along the 52-mile trail were installed."
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Crime Prevention Tip
There were 16 thefts from motor vehicles in the last month that occurred from the Museum District to Stonewall Court and areas in between. The Richmond Police remind us to place your belongings in the trunk of your car and not to give someone any reason to
 make a quick grab.
Park in well-lighted area
Park in well-traveled areas
Lock your doors
Do not leave valuables in the car
Mark or slash inspection stickers and city decals
Put valuables in the trunk
Do not use your glove box as a safe
Do not leave toll change in plain view! |
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Newsletter 
