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Adopt-A-Tree Deadline Tuesday, Sept. 2!
Don't forget the Adopt-A-Tree deadline is NEXT Tuesday Sept. 2 (since Sept. 1 is Labor Day).
This successful program helps replenish and sustain community street trees in the city and helps protect one of Richmond's most precious assets and valuable resources. The total estimated value of Richmond's urban canopy is $211 million. Trees are planted from Nov. 1 to April 15.
or call 804.646.0681.
Click here for an application.
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Richmond City Council Districts as Breakfast Foods
The team at RVANews.com had a little fun and drew up a map of City Council as breakfast foods. The 1st District is a fried egg! Over easy, of course.
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 | | The re-routed River Road entrance to UR, August 2014 |
Take a quick tour of the new entrance to the University of Richmond off River Road near Azzuro.
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1st District Twitter Picture of the Month
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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!
July 2014 |
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Fire Protection for
Your Kitchen
Kitchen fires are the leading cause of fires in the City and the nation. In many cases, people are home but simply leave stoves unattended or get distracted.
You can now buy a product about the size of a can of sterno you mount to the underside of your kitchen hood or microwave. In the event of a fire, it triggers the release of a non-toxic dry chemical to suppress the fire.
There are two types of product available - one called Stovetop Fire Stop and another called Auto-Out. They are not currently available in big box stores but you can get Fire Stop through a distributor (like Ferguson) and Auto-Out on their site or via Amazon.com.
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Food Truck Court at
Mary Munford
Head to the bi-monthly Food Truck Court on Wednesday evenings at Mary Munford this summer and fall with lots of yummy food from RVA food trucks from 5:30-8:30 pm (dates below).
The trucks will be parked in the bus pull-in area and neighbors are encouraged to bike or walk or use the staff parking lot if driving. For more information call Jesse Bain at (804) 237-2949.
September 10 & 24
October 8 & 22
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UPCOMING MEETINGS
-- Tue., Sept. 8 - 6:00pm
1st District Town Hall Meeting
Tue. Sept. 23 - 6:00pm
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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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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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Link Up on LinkedIn
Follow updates on social network for work professionals, aka "the safe-for-work social network"
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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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Join the Police for a Crime Problem Solving Workshop on September 6
The Richmond Police Department's Third Precinct Sector will host a Problem-Solving Workshop on Saturday, Sept. 6 a t Mary Munford Elementary School (map) from 9:00am until 3:00pm. 
Come meet your precinct captain and sector lieutenants and share any concerns you may have. The workshop is YOUR chance to tell the Police directly what the problems are on your street and neighborhood and work with us to identify and decide the best ways to address them.
Included in this workshop will be a discussion about the social platform NextDoor (see next story - it's not like Facebook) that Richmond Police are using to better connect neighbors directly with police to share data and information that can lead to suspects and arrests.
Please share this information with your neighbors! If you have prior questions or want to confirm your attendance, please email Capt. Emmett Williams at [email protected] or call 646-1412.
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Join Up With NextDoor to Better Your Neighborhood
If you have not already done so, you might consider joining the neighborhood social network called NextDoor. It is a great way to connect with your neighbors to meet, talk online, and share information that can make your neighborhood better and safer.
Many people are using Nextdoor to spread word about suspicious activity or break-ins, organize a neighborhood watch group, find a trustworthy babysitter or handyman, requesting help in looking for missing pets, and find nearby neighbors!
Nextdoor's mission is to "use the power of technology to build stronger and safer neighborhoods" and it is a great resource.
You can join from your laptop or download the app and stay connected with neighbors through your phone or iPad.
There are already eight neighborhoods in the 1st District that have established a presence on NextDoor: Colonial Place, Eldersile Place, Henry Place, Malvern Gardens, the Museum District, Sauer's Gardens, Willow Lawn, and Windsor Farms.
If you have questions about NextDoor, you may contact Joseph Porcelli at 857-222-4420 or [email protected].
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Schools' Facilities Needs
One topic that has been discussed widely this summer are the facilities' needs of our public schools. Basic life and safety issues such as providing heat or air conditioning, mold spores, electrical issues, and failing roofs have been widely published. The school administration under the leadership of Dr. Bedden and the new executive staff he has assembled has been impressive and I believe they are on the right track. 
The list of $35 million needed to address these basic issues (a little more than $6 million was provided this year by the Mayor and City Council) was not produced to point blame for a problem that has evolved over decades, but to provide an honest and basic assessment of the conditions of our public schools so we can prioritize and discuss how we are going to resolve the pressing needs and begin to plan for the long term improvement of the entire school system.
It will not be easy and it will not be resolved quickly but it needs to begin with teamwork between the school administration, School Board, Mayor's team, and City Council. We worked together during the last budget cycle to provide more capital funding than the schools have ever been provided in a single year - so we know we can do it.
Now, we all need to map out a strategy and take the next steps to provide the basic life and safety needs for all of our schools and plan for the longer term. I look forward to working with everyone who shares the same goal of helping our schools and our City excel together, because we cannot do it apart.
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Public Safety Update
New Crime Database Puts the Data at Your Fingertips
Kudos to the Richmond Police Department for launching their new website that allows you to see any reported crimes via a great technological platform. "RAIDS Online" is a crime mapping and analysis tool that that will make it much easier for you to keep track of crime anywhere in the city and communicate with officers.
Residents can get updates for their neighborhood within a certain radius of your address, get email alerts, as well as report crimes or issues in your area and improve communication between the public and the department. The site allows you to analyze crimes via a map, graphs and analytics, as well as a data grid and data layers. You can check out the site and even take a tutorial on how to use it here.
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Shed Break-Ins Suspect Surrenders
You may remember last month's newsletter had information about a wanted person of interest regarding shed break-in's throughout the district during the summer. The description of the individual was widely distributed in late July and the suspect surrendered to the Police at the end of July and is facing multiple charges.
Please remember to report anything or anyone suspicious on your street to the police so they can compile the data to combat crime in our neighborhoods.
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Breakfast & Lunch Program
Mary Munford will offer a free breakfast and lunch program for 2014-2015 that is open to all students at no charge who are currently enrolled in Richmond Public Schools. Children will be able to participate in these meal programs without having to pay a fee or submit an application. Information is available on the RPS site. A la carte snack items will be offered for sale to students. Click here to see a la carte pricing.
School Supply Fee
This year all grades will collect a school supply fee, so you don't need to run to the store with a list of "back to school" items. Click here to find the fee sheets (these sheets also list school fees for each grade). The "end of year" charter field trips are not included in the fee sheet.
Soccer Registration Underway!
Soccer registration started this past weekend for kids age 4-11. You can register online here. There will also be an all girls U12 team this season. If you have questions you can email Chris King at [email protected].
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Albert Hill Open House August 29!
Albert Hill cordially invites all families of grade 6th, 7th and 8th grade students to its Annual Open House on Friday, August 29th from 2:30-3:30pm. Stop by for a brief afternoon of meeting and greeting your new administrators, teaching teams, and the rest of the tremendous Hill faculty! Enjoy a self guided tour and some delicious ice cream!
Hill PTA Positions Available
The Hill PTA has several committee positions available if you are interested in getting involved.
* Hospitality: This committee purchases /preps and serves snacks at the general PTA monthly meetings. Two people are needed on this post. The time commitment is approximately four hours per month per volunteer, including the monthly board meeting.
* Teacher Appreciation: This committee plans and runs several teacher appreciation events during the school year. Two people are needed on this committee. The time commitment for these positions is minimal, requiring only a few hours of time about three times during the school year.
Please contact Molly Todd if you are interested at
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New Thomas Jefferson Marquee Installed!
The new Thomas Jefferson High School marquee was installed on August 5th and looks amazing! Congratulations to all of those who had a hand in fundraising and remained dedicated to see this project through to completion. It is a testament to the commitment so many alumni, residents, and parents have to Thomas Jefferson High School. Ride by and see it for yourself at Grace and Malvern!
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Still Not Too Late to "Take Them A Meal!"
There are still a few slots available later in the season to help the TeeJay Vikings football squad through the Take-Them-A-Meal program each Monday through Thursday through November 6.
Volunteers deliver protein bars for the team to help provide nutrition for the team after long hot practices when their bodies need recovery fuel! Click here to learn more and sign up!
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Floyd Ave. Bike-Walk Street Hubub
This week there has been a significant amount of what could be considered misinformation distributed about the Floyd Avenue Bike-Walk Street in hopes of generating opposition to the proposal. One postcard mailer claims that, if approved, the project would negatively affect property values, eliminate almost/more than 100 parking spaces, and suggests more four ways stops and speed bumps. There is no conclusive evidence either way that I have seen that property values are affected by a bike-friendly street, but a handful of legal parking spaces could be eliminated along with two dozen illegal spaces, and it is well established that the Fire Department opposes all way stops and speed humps as it greatly affects their response time in a profession where every second counts.  Another letter delivered recently to Fan District mailboxes incorrectly asserts that 1,000 cars per day will be diverted from Floyd Avenue to other Fan streets, and that Floyd will be removed from the street grid altogether. It also falsely states that I am a proponent of this project.
Anyone who attended the meetings at the Virginia Historical Society knows that diverters are not a part of the proposed project and traffic will not be re-routed to Grove Avenue or Ellwood Avenue. Floyd Avenue would not be removed from the grid; it would have a series of traffic circles installed to slow the marginal speeds down a few miles per hour and thus be safer for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.
All three Council members whom represent the portions of Floyd have received a significant amount of feedback on both sides and appreciate everyone's efforts to learn as much as possible, and I have remained open minded on this project. I am grateful for the staff that have put time in to explain the project to residents and cyclists, and gather as much public opinion as possible before making a decision.
As we reported in last month's newsletter, the 1st District would see new traffic circles along Floyd at Dooley Avenue and Belmont Avenue and bump-outs at Auburn Avenue. The new measures would replace traffic signals and stop signs, though north-south traffic approaching Floyd would still have to stop. The proposal and the documents presented at the meeting can be viewed here. You can still add your input, comments, questions, and concerns to the team working on this project at the link above as they continue to develop the plan out it this fall.
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Rental Inspection District Study
There has been some concern recently about a resolution that is being considered that could/might establish a rental inspection program in the City similar to those done in more than 20 other Virginia localities. I have received some emails expressing concerns about such a program and wanted to share the discussion that took place at the July Land Use Committee meeting that helps shed some light on what is being considered, beyond what was reported in the media or is spreading through rumors and scuttlebutt.
Some of the key points from the discussion about a potential inspection program include:
- Public input will be sought prior to any formal ordinance being considered
- It is a labor intensive effort to establish a program
- Suggested that the City engage the interest of the public before we invest too many man hours to establish a program
- Potential districts established only in areas that request one
- A district could only be established in a neighborhood with certain findings as stipulated in the state code (i.e. high concentration of rental property and high number of code violations)
- Committee requested a timeline of recommendations of steps and resources needed to see if such a program can/should be established
- The resolution before Council will be amended before being considered after receiving timeline and suggestions from staff.
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Property Assessments in the City
Property values increased on average of 2% across Richmond according to the City Assessor.
"Notices of reassessment were mailed in late June, and the city's online property records have been updated to show the new values. With the reassessments, the average home value is $187,725."
You can view a listing of average prices and percentage change by neighborhood here. Much of the 1st District had increases of .1% to 4.7%. If you have an issue with your assessment, please contact my office at 646-5349.
Below is an assessment "heat map" that shows percentage changes by census tract. 
Click here to see a larger version of the map.
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Toast puts a creative twist on traditional comfort food!
If you missed the review in this week's Dining section of the Times-Dispatch, Toast (in the Village shopping center on Three Chopt) received a great review and kudos for its' creativity! 
"The gastropub creates dishes that are surprising, inventive and delicious, merging ingredients, flavors and even temperatures you wouldn't necessarily couple together. And Toast's presentation is pretty darn creative to boot.
Glancing over the menu, we had trouble deciding on appetizers - shrimp and crab nachos ($13),
kimchi sesame tuna ($12), bacon gouda beef sliders ($12), fried pickles and jalape�os ($6) and much
more. Everything (yes, everything) sounded delicious."
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Free Tree for Your Yard!
The James River Association (JRA) is making it easier for Richmond residents to increase and enjoy all the shade of new trees! Homeowners can receive up to a $200 reimbursement per home for trees planted on their property between September and November 2014 that will help reduce stormwater runoff  , provide aesthetic value, capture and store rainfall and reduce soil erosion.
Applicants must be an existing River Hero Home or submit an application to become a new River Hero Home to qualify. River Hero Homes is JRA's certification program that recognizes homeowners who are successfully taking steps to improve water quality by reducing the amount of stormwater and pollution leaving their property.
To become certified, JRA requires homeowners to install a river-friendly practice, such as planting trees or installing a rain barrel, as well as following some simple everyday actions to reduce pollution. RVA News has the details.
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Tour de Fall Line Festival Takes Place Saturday, September 27
Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 27 for the first Tour de Fall Line on Mayo Island and the James River. The Tour de Fall Line will highlight Richmond's epic trails -- like Buttermilk Trail and the Northbank Trail and the jewel of Richmond, the James River. 
The day will consist of two separate events, open to all. Mountain bikers can complete the 50-mile loop that runs over virtually every trail along the James River - Buttermilk, Northbank, Forest Hill Park, and more. Whitewater enthusiasts will drop in at the Huguenot Flatwater boat landing and run the James River all the way down to Mayo Island where paddlers and mountain bikers meet at the end of the trip for an outdoor party, complete with a band and beverages.
The event is a coordinated effort between Richmond-MORE and the James River Outdoor Coalition to show off everything they fight for as advocates for mountain biking and paddling in Richmond, while at the same time serving as a fundraiser for both organizations. Click here to learn more.
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Quickness RVA Delivers
Quickness RVA Delivering Restaurant Food to Your Home
If you don't feel like cooking but need more for dinner than the usual takeout foods, then check out a restaurant delivery service called Quickness RVA that was profiled in last weekend's Times Dispatch. 
"Quickness RVA delivery business started in June 2010 and now has four cargo bikes and 14 riders with their own bikes delivering for 20 Richmond restaurants. The company works mainly with restaurants in or near the Fan District, including Ipanema Caf�, Lamplighter Roasting Co. and Sticky ToGoGo.
Here's how Quickness RVA works: Customers order food for delivery directly from the restaurant and pay for it. The restaurant contacts the delivery service, which picks it up at the restaurant and delivers the food to homes or offices in a designated zone."
The company's service in the 1st District is available in the Museum District, Windsor Farms, Henry Place, Colonial Place, Malvern Gardens and Sauer's Gardens neighborhoods.
Click here to read the story and visit their web site to see their menus and their delivery zones.
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Newsletter
