The following information is provided by the Richmond Times-Dispatch:

Five Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles offices in the region will be closed on certain days during the next two weeks to prepare for the state’s new process for issuing driver’s licenses and identification cards.

• The Richmond Central service center, 2300 W. Broad St., will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Customers can use the East Henrico or North Henrico offices during the closure.

• The Chester service center, 12100 Branders Creek Road, will be closed Wednesday and Thursday. Customers can use the Hopewell office in Prince George County or the Chesterfield office, 610 Johnston Willis Drive off Midlothian Turnpike.

• The East Henrico service center, 5517 S. Laburnum Ave. in Henrico County, will be closed for renovations May 11. Customers who need to complete transactions in person May 11 should go to the Richmond Central office.

• The North Henrico service center, 9015 Brook Road in Glen Allen, will be closed May 12 and May 13. Customers who must visit the DMV on May 12 or May 13 may visit the West Henrico office at 9237 Quioccasin Road or the Richmond Central office.

• The Hopewell office, 4401 Crossings Blvd. in Prince George, will be closed May 13 and May 14. Hopewell-area customers who need to go to the DMV on May 13 or May 14 can use the Chester office or the Petersburg office at 120 Wagner Road.

All 74 DMV offices will be converted to the new secure-issuance method by July.

Customers also can conduct DMV business through http://www.dmvNOW.com, DMV’s automated phone service at (888) 337-4782, through the mail or at other DMV offices.

At the Richmond City Council meeting today innumerable speakers for many agencies addressed the city council about the various budget cuts that have been slated for the upcoming city budget.

In a few words:  no one wants to lose money.

In quite a few more words: The economic crisis is real. Everyone is feeling the pinch to some degree or another. Representatives for the schools, police, fire department, Legal Aid, non-profit groups, and various others have made their feelings clear: Please don’t cut our budgets.

Read more >

Style Weekly published an article identifying several candidates, especially Betsy Carr, for the 69th District Delegate seat, which Frank Hall has left for an appointment by Gov. Kaine to the Alcohol Beverage Commission. According to the article:

“A wide array of other potential candidates says they’re still considering their options for the November election. The Democratic Party of Virginia’s executive director, Levar Stoney, confirms he’s considering getting in the race, as does former Richmond Mayor Rudy McCollum. The Richmond Crusade for Voters president, Antione Green, has also expressed interest.”

The Richmond Times-Dispatch published an article, especially focused on Carlos Brown, (though this article was preceded by one article focused on Mr. Green and one on Ms. Carr) stating:

“Carlos Brown, a corporate finance lawyer, is joining the hopefuls vying to succeed Hall in the 69th House of Delegates district.”

Having recently met with Ms. Carr at the last Richmond City Council meeting, and with Mr. Green at a Southside civic association meeting, I can’t help but wonder: What do these candidates (including the others mentioned in Style and RTD) have to offer that sets them apart? What accomplishments do they have to support their campaign?

During the next few weeks, Southside Richmond wants to hear your questions for the candidates. A select group of your questions will be presented to the candidates and their answers will be published here.

Southside Richmond will also seek to highlight at least five accomplishments by each candidate.

So pull out your thinking caps and start commenting!

Thanks goes to John M. at www.chpn.net for letting us know about this event.

Richmond Community Dinner with Creigh Deeds

Southside Plaza
618 W. Southside Plaza St.
Richmond, VA 23224

Thursday, May 7th
6:00 p.m.

If you look carefully, you might even see me there!

Topics

· Richmond City Budget

· Cooperation

· Public Service Delivery

WHEN WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009

7:00-8:30 p.m.

WHERE St. Luke Lutheran Church

7757 Chippenham Parkway

Richmond, Virginia

WHO         The Honorable Kathy Graziano, Councilwoman,

Richmond City Council, Southwest 4^th District

The Honorable Dwight Jones, Mayor, City of Richmond

CONTACT For more information, please contact David Hathcock, at 804.320.2454, or david.hathcock@richmondgov.com

Speakers

· The Honorable Dwight Jones, Mayor, City of Richmond

· Police Chief Bryan T. Norwood,
Richmond Police Department

· Sheriff C. T. Woody, Jr. Richmond Sheriff’s Office

WHEN Tuesday, MAY 19, 2009
6:00-7:30 p.m.

WHERE Satellite Restaurant

4000 Jefferson-Davis Highway
Richmond, Virgin

CONTACT For more information, please contact Councilwoman Trammell, at 804-240-5050 (cell); or, 233-7382 (home).

An anticlimactic evening was had by NASA as the Wallop launch site scrubbed the mission at -00:02:10  to launch. However, the moon sure looked interesting floating around the rocket.

Satellite of love . . . no, this one comes with optical equipment to provide better images for warfare use.

This community news blog is looking for more writers to contribute to this publication. Pay is non-existant, thanks is minimal, but community contribution is exceptional!

Your’s truly is currently developing very interesting partnerships with Richmond Public Schools, City Council, and the Richmond Police Department. So if you have an interest, but your closest friend is your dog, don’t panic! Contact with community agencies is provided.

So you say you don’t have a journalism degree and you’re concerned because Virginia doesn’t have a shield law . . . well don’t worry, journalist training will be provided by professionals.

If you’re interested in being a community news reporter, please contact us via the contact link posted at the top of the site. Gonzo journalism is encouraged, but not necessarily published.

A race is being developed for May 1, 2010 to run from George Wythe High School to Brown’s Island via Midlothian and Hull streets. The focus of this race is to raise scholarship funds, and perhaps an endowment for Richmond Public School students, as well as to build community relations and outreach.

Currently, the race has received interest from city council members, the mayor, members of the police department, the school board, and numerous others. Endorsements, support, and partnerships are being developed.

If you are interested in volunteering, donating, or supporting this effort, please contact shennendean(at)gmail(dot)com. The @ and dot symbol were not used here to help reduce spam.

The Richmond Police Department consists of four precincts. The entire police department has as its head officer Police Chief Norwood. The department is then separated into two areas which are presided over by Major Margaret Horn and Major John Keohane. The two areas are in turn separated into four precincts, and each one has a captain who is responsible for the precinct. Each precinct is further divided into three sectors, which has a lieutenant who acts as the commanding officer. There are over 300 officers serving the Richmond City area.

Lieutenants are directly accountable for the control of crime within his sector. On a daily or weekly basis, the captain will meet with the lieutenants to obtain information about the crime issues that are most prevalent, and the methods the lieutenants are using to reduce crime spikes and improve community awareness.

Read more >

From the Richmond Public Schools website:

The Student Council of Huguenot High School has planned an afternoon full of beautification projects for the exterior of their school on May 18 as part of ‘The National Great American Cleanup’. Aptly titled “Extreme Makeover Curb Appeal Edition,” the project is a partnership with the Richmond Department of Public Works in conjunction with National Public Works Week.
The program will begin at 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. with teams of students, staff and parents sprucing up the landscape of the district high school. Volunteers are invited to participate in this cleanup effort.
To volunteer or for more information, contact Wanda Wilder, Student Council Sponsor, at 320-7967.

From Ms. Judy Fahl:

The next Richmond Crusade for Voters meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 19,2009 at 7:00 P.M. at  the  Letters Carrier Building,  2416  Chamberlayne Avenue . We will conduct the very important business of selecting a nominee for the Democratic Primary for the race for Governor, Lt. Governor, 69th House District, and Sheriff.

I know if you’re like me, you’re fed up with potholes and bumpy roads. Every morning I travel down Belt Blvd. and sway around the road like a drunk in order to avoid the damage done to it recently. I believe the pipes that were installed were gas pipes. However, that doesn’t make my ride more enjoyable. It’s even worse when I ride my motorcycle or when other drivers nearly side-swipe me to avoid the patches on the road as well. Well have faith Virginians, the Times-Dispatch has the following information from the Department of Public Works:

Q:Since the construction of the new GRTC building, they have dug many holes on Belt Boulevard and left the road in terrible condition between Hull Street and Midlothian Turnpike. — A reader.

Answer: Resurfacing improvements at this location are scheduled to begin in the fall, said Jemila M. Woodson of the Department of Public Works. Crews will mill and pave Belt Boulevard between Hull Street and Midlothian Turnpike.

From Richmond Public Schools:

On May 28 at 7 p.m. the Fine Arts Department of George Wythe High School will hold its Spring Extravaganza in the school’s auditorium. The evening will feature a student art exhibit and performances by the school’s jazz and concert bands, inspirational dance troupe, choirs and drama department. The performance is free and open to the public. George Wythe High School is located at 4314 Crutchfield Street. For more information, call 780-5037.