The spring rains and warmer temperatures after this brutal winter means potholes are popping up everywhere.
You can always email us or call to report them, but you can also download the handy SeeClickFix app for your phone that lets you report potholes and other issues such as non-functioning street lights, bulk pick ups, etc. Look for the SeeClickFix in your app store.
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Notification Changes for Urban Design Committee
One of the recommendations on the Urban Design Committee (UDC) application is for the applicant to speak with the project area citizens, civic associations and Councilpersons prior to making application to the UDC. At the request of City Council, the UDC is now also sending notice of application receipt to all civic associations and councilpersons within 1000' from the project boundaries.
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1st District Twitter Picture of the Month
Go ahead and envision yourself sitting on this patio this spring, summer, fall!! It's happening...
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1st District Most Clicked
A fun feature each month to show the top 3 most clicked links in the previous month's E-newsletter!
March 2014 |
Reporting Neighborhood Issues
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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UPCOMING MEETINGS
-- Mon., April 28 - 6:00pm
-- Mon., May 12 - 6:00pm
-- Tue., May 27 - 6:00pm
(moved due to Memorial Day Holiday)
1st District Town Hall Meeting
Wed., May 28 - 6:00pm (moved due to Memorial Day Holiday)
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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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Looking for the Food Truck Court?
Because of construction and renovations at the Historical
Society, the food truck court runs every Tuesday in the parking lot at Robinson Street & Monument Avenue from 5:30-8:30pm.
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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
804-646-1945 - 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 Avenue Bike Boulevard Meeting Set for Mon., May 19
There will be a special meeting with Councilmen Samuels, Baliles, and A gelasto to discuss the proposed Bike Boulevard concept at the Virginia Historical Society (map) on Monday, May 19 at 6:30pm.
The Department of Public Works and Traffic Engineering will present the concept of turning Floyd Avenue into a Bike Boulevard between Nansemond St. in the Museum District and Monroe Park. Public Works is being assisted on this project by The Richmond Regional Planning District Commission.
The project is looking at modifying Floyd Avenue with
the addition of enhanced bicycling lanes and safety accommodations, such as signage and pavement markings. The project will also implement motor vehicle traffic-calming measures such as roundabouts, chicanes, speed lumps, and traffic diverters. These facilities will discourage cut-through motor-vehicle traffic, but allow local motor-vehicle traffic.
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Alley Blitz Underway to Address Backlog of Repairs 
My office has received more requests for alley repairs in the last 16 months than any other single request (even potholes). We have continually monitored the list and made regular requests for service. The list of alleys needing service in the 1st District alone numbers around 300 and the backlog Citywide is over 800.
I am very appreciative that Chief Administrative Officer Byron Marshall, Public Works Director James Jackson, and Deputy Director Bobby Vincent, whom have formulated and just launched an alley repair initiative that focuses specifically on addressing the backlog over the next three months with extra alley crews and more equipment.
I have also put in a sizable budget amendment to allow this initiative to continue through the late summer and early fall until leaf collection season begins. I will also once again be working with an alley crew in the district on Turn Around Day in early May. Thank you for your patience in addressing this and please know that we will be monitoring the progress in the coming months. If you have a request for alley service, please contact my liaison, Eli Wong, at eli.wong@richmondgov.com.
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Road Closures May 2-4 for Collegiate Cycling Championships
The CapTech USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships come to Richmond May 2-4 and will cause traffic detours and delays all three days.
Friday's race will significantly impact travel all day in the central business district and Broad Street area Downtown as well as on Belvidere, the Lee Bridge, and Monument Avenue out to the Boulevard.
Saturday's race will only impact the central business district, and Sunday's race will impact roads from Libby Hill Park through Downtown, Jackson Ward, parts of the Fan and Monument Avenue out to Boulevard.
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Westhampton Playground
The Westhampton Playground reopening will be delayed until mid-May, unfortunately. Adjacent property owners concerned about that the relocation of the power lines along the property lines have asked Dominion to place them underground, which they are working to complete by the end of next week.
The company that originally installed the playground equipment a decade ago has scheduled to re-install the equipment beginning on May 16 at their expense, and I have asked if it is at all possible to please expedite that schedule.
I appreciate everyone's patience during the transition and encourage everyone to take advantage of the nearby playgrounds behind Westwood Baptist Church off of Glen Burnie Rd. as well as Mary Munford and Thomas Jefferson High School.
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Bearing Witness with Council Commentator Dick Harman
Dick Harman has witnessed more than 600 City Council
meetings as the announcer on WCVE's live gavel-to-gavel coverage of City Council's formal meetings, which some might consider a new definition of suffering.
Mr. Harman was recently honored for his 25 years of service - and has only missed two meetings in that time - and deserves high praise for his consummate professionalism and his eternal patience.
Q: How do you prepare for meetings? Bulk up on carbs? Straight bourbon? Lots of sleep?
A: I don't drink for one thing. No, I get the copies of the agendas. Then I always get down to City Hall around 2:30 before the informal meeting and spend time reading up on what's going to go on. I don't do calisthenics or anything like that.
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Historic Garden Week Comes to Hampton Gardens in the 1st District
Historic Garden Week begins this weekend in the region and comes to the Hampton Gardens neighborhood of the 1st District on Friday, May 2. That day's headquarters will be located at St. Giles Presbyterian Church at 5200 Grove Avenue (map).
"In 1915, businessman Abram L. McClellan purchased 98 acres of undeveloped farmland west of downtown Richmond and formed the Hampton Gardens Corporation.
It is home to handsome examples of Tudor, Georgian, Federal Revival and Mid-century Transitional-style homes. Five private homes and gardens on Greenway Lane, Oak Lane, Roslyn Road and Harlan Circle are featured. Highlights include homes owned by interior designers and homes exhibiting significant art collections."
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Police & Safety Update
Sector Lieutenant Stith has published his newsletter for April that is available here.
In it, he reminds residents "now that Spring has arrived and the Winter weather has packed its bags for its seasonal vacation, please be vigilant of solicitors in your respective
neighborhoods knocking on doors offering to do yard work or work on your residence. Also, look out for your elderly neighbors. During this time frame, predators often seek out the elderly to take advantage of them by engaging them in a ruse to steal money from them."
There were 35 property crimes during March in Sector 311 (which also includes the Stony Point and Cherokee Road areas), which is down from 43 for the same period last year which reflects a 15% decrease. Please remember to keep your house and car doors locked and do not leave any items of value in your car. If you see any suspicious activity in your neighborhood, please call 911 to alert the Police.
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Museum District Mother's Day House & Garden Tour Sun., May 11th
provides a rare opportunity for guests to go inside the private houses and gardens of some of Richmond's most beautiful and historic residences. The tour runs from 1:00pm - 6:00pm.
This year's Honorary Chair is Virginia's Secretary of Education and former First Lady Anne Holton and the tour will focus on homes on Monument Avenue, West Franklin Street, and Wythe Avenue. The hospitality Center will be located at Albert Hill Middle School. Proceeds are reinvested in the neighborhood and donations are made to local nonprofits.
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Safe Routes to Schools at Mary Munford
Mary Munford hosted a neighbors' meeting on Tue., April 21 about the Safe Routes to Schools plan that is being funded by a VDOT grant and will provide for better flashing signage around the school, painted crosswalks, as well as a raised crosswalk on Westmoreland Street and residential traffic circles on Commonwealth Avenue. The preliminary plan, which was met with overall approval from the neighbors in attendance, can be viewed here. If you have input you would like to share, please email my liaison, Eli, at eli.wong@richmondgov.com and we will relay it to the Public Works team.
I will also be putting in a budget amendment to install a turn-in area on Westmoreland that will relieve the morning congestion and provide for additional parking throughout the day for service vehicles (and eliminate the need for the Loading Zone) as well as for any evening meetings or activities. The turn-in is modeled on a similar project being installed at John B. Cary elementary that you can view here and should not affect any of the trees on Westmoreland Street.
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Albert Hill Middle School Multi-Family Yard Sale Sat., April 26
Albert Hill Middle School will have a Multi-F  amily Yard Sale on Saturday, April 26 from 7:00am-12:00pm. Because of the number of families participating in this Sale, it has the potential to attract a large number of buyers and is a chance for you to meet other Hill families!
Families from the Hill community can buy a table for $25.00, which will entitle that family to a table outside (or inside school if it is raining), advertising, and, if you wish, pick up of unwanted goods afterwards. You bring your goods to sell and keep all of the money you make! If you are not interested in buying a table or cannot attend, please consider donating goods to be sold at the PTA table and contact Julie Seabury at julietschorn@hotmail.com.
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Thomas Jefferson Wind Ensemble Concert 
The talented musicians from Thomas Jefferson High School Wind Ensemble performed a concert April 24th and shared two special performances with WTVR in a recent story. Band Director, Eric Cousins and President of the Cadet Corps Alumni band, Ernie Huband talked about the school's Cadet Corps Alumni Band Fundraising Concert. Click here to see the story and video of the band.
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Schools' Facilities "Caving In"
You might have seen a recent cover story in Style Weekly about schools facilities and the need for basic maintenance which for numerous reasons has been lacking in recent years.
"None of the school staff members accompanying Gray, Larson and Style on the school tours are willing to be identified by name. They cited fear of retribution, an indictment of the district and political culture at City Hall.
School Board Chairman Don Coleman says he has a good relationship with Fairfield Court's principal, which is why he was surprised he never got a call about its leaking roof. "Somewhere he was thinking, 'Oh, I better not say something.'"
"Where is this still coming from?" Coleman asks, answering: "People don't believe change is happening.""
I have posted several articles about Richmond's new Superintendent, and I firmly believe Dr. Bedden is the right man for this job to begin the transformation of our school system. It is a job that many think might be impossible to achieve, but I think it is possible with his leadership and the Board working together with small steps first, and working toward a stride. I have submitted several budget amendments to that end that will be discussed and debated in the coming weeks about what kind of school system we want to build/rebuild. We can debate strategies for economic development and fighting poverty until we are blue in the face but until we have a solid, reputable school system that prepares children for their adult years, all of that debate will be for naught.
Click here to read the entire article.
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THANKS!
A huge gesture of thanks is due for the Mary Munford Elementary School staff, parents and community supporters that helped raise $1,800 to purchase needed equipment and new uniforms for Thomas Jefferson High School Soccer Team. Jessica Hendricks, the PTA President- elect at Mary Munford and coordinator of the Munford Soccer League helped coordinate the donation drive that resulted in new uniforms for both home and away games, new soccer balls, new travel backpacks as well as other items. Thank you for all your efforts!
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From Farm to Table: Keeping Faith with Food Series at First Presbyterian
First Presbyterian Church on Cary Street Road is hosting a four part program about food that is open to the community on four Sunday evenings beginning April 27.
"Food is controversial and confusing-whether it is the latest diet to banning 32 ounce drinks in New York City. How do we keep faith with ourselves, our families, our community and our health when it comes to food. Experts in the food production, hunger and the relationship of food to health will stimulate your thinking."
Click here for more information about the series and each session's topic.
Click here to register. |
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Bertha's Country Lane Featured
 It's been a year since the official declaration of Bertha's Country Lane in the Museum District, even though Bertha Burke has tended to her small alley for more than six decades through her own dedication and hard work. WRIC did a wonderful story on Mrs. Burke and how, at 92, she is still going strong and making the alley on Belmont Avenue a sought out spot among neighbors!
"If you've ever walked around the Museum District in the summer, you may have noticed a particular alley full of flowers.
"I have petunias and impatiens and wisterias and camellias," she says. "Whatever grows in the sun, I put in the sun. Whatever grows in the shade, I put in the shade."" |
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Sporting RVA
There are lots of great sporting options in RVA for you and your family this spring and summer!
The Flying Squirrels are celebrating their 5th season in RVA at the Diamond with Nutzy and Parney!
The Richmond Kickers look to repeat as USL PRO regular season champions and play games at City Stadium.
Those are just some of the sporting options in RVA now that the weather has turned warmer! |
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