The Richmond Public Library is ending its Summer Reading Program with a Street Party!

On August 1st, you can get down to music played by the Richmond Jazz Society and the FLT Steel Pan Orchestra, see a play, make crafts, listen to a storyteller, meet author Erica Kirov, and participate in many other activities including a free lunch! All events are free!

I believe Main Street, in front of the library will be closed, so be prepared. The activities will take place in and out of the library.

From the library’s site (with some added information I got from handbills at the mayor’s town hall meeting on Wednesday):

“Be Creative” and join us as we celebrate the end of the Summer Reading Program with storytelling, performances, crafts, music, food, and fun.

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Thanks to James Mercante at the Richmond Police Department of Public Affairs for the following information:

The Richmond Police Department needs the public’s help in locating the driver who hit a child and left the scene in the 5800 block of Thorndale Lane yesterday.

At approximately 5:50 p.m. a black Jeep Cherokee struck an 11-year-old child who had entered the roadway after visiting an ice cream truck. The side-view mirror of the Jeep struck the child in the head causing non-life threatening injuries.

The Department would like anyone with information about the vehicle or the driver to call Crime Stoppers at 780-1000.

The Department would also like to remind drivers to be extra cautious this time of year when operating vehicles near playgrounds, ice cream trucks or other areas where children are present.

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!

Now that the debates are over and with less than three weeks remaining, isn’t it about time to fess up and admit who you want the president to be?

One thing is for certain, our future president has a lot of work cut out for him. Financial crisis, Iraq, international policy, and education are but a few of the issues in need of a great administration. Regardless of politics, we all want a president who can do a great job.

Feel free to comment on who you’re voting for and why. After all, it’s still a free country!

Entering ESH Greene Elementary on a Tuesday afternoon, you’ll
find that though the bell has long since run, there are teachers still working
to enrich the lives of students. Of all the commitments a principal can make, students are the most important; thus, there’s nothing more reassuring about the quality of an administrator than catching one working face-to-face with a student, and new principal Linda Sims was doing just that.

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Several shops at Southside Plaza caught fire sometime before 6:00 p.m. tonight. Police officers on the scene had no knowledge of how the fire started or where. From a distance, it appeared the fire stretched from Shoe City to the Check & Go store. An unidentified firefighter said it appeared that the fire started at Shoe City, but he couldn’t be certain and the investigation was on going. There were 30-40 firefighters on scene, at least five trucks, and few ambulances and police cars.

See images in the rest of the post.

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Ten new principals have kicked off the new school year in Richmond Public Schools, and to my knowledge  SouthsideRichmond.org is the first to have an exclusive interview with one of these new leaders in our community. As students were practicing band drills and baton throwing, principal Natasha Thompson shared her  experience, vision, and philosophy for the benefit of the Southside community.

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Students at Broad Rock Elementary are participating in the “Change for a Ten” project sponsored by Art 180.

Art 180 is a non-profit organization that runs after-school art programs for at-risk students in Richmond. The project, “Change for a Ten,” is raising money and awareness to help keep these after school programs going. To participate, Art 180 is asking you to submit a $10 donation and art representing changes you’d like to see in the community. You may use any medium such as paint, pen and ink, pencil, collage, etc., as long as it is the size of a dollar. If you’re as bad at drawing as I am, don’t worry, they even have a template.

Currently, they are displaying art made by students at Broad Rock Elementary. If you think those guys are just drawing crayons between the lines then check this out:

Ellie Gompert, Dirty Money

For more information and to see more art by students at Broad Rock Elementary, click here or go to the main Art 180 site.