The computer and electronics event at U of R was so successful that that Virginia Waste Management Association is having another collection of old electronics on Nov. 17th at the Diamond.
It is open to anyone. The time is noon- 4 p.m. Small fees will be charged for T.V.s and monitors due to the handling of the leaded glass and mercury contained within them.

I’ve been trying to encourage my friends with kids to sign up for Ruby’s Run, in memory of Ruby Harvey. Ruby’s Run is a celebration or Ruby’s life, and a way to raise money for a scholarship in her name at her old preschool.

I didn’t know Ruby, but I did know her mom and dad, Kathryn and Bryan Harvey. They made a huge impression on me. They were the among the first people I knew who were parents and still managed to be “cool”. It sounds silly to say it now, but I was pretty young when I met them, and I had just married and It made a huge impression on me that they were able to be parents and still maintain their pre-kid lifestyle of having lots of friends and being really involved in the things that they were interested in. They showed me you could be a dedicated parent and that it didn’t have to interfere your own sense of self.

Like many Richmonders, I have been devastated by the Harvey family’s death. The best way to honor them, I think, is to remember all the good things about them. Remember the happier times and to celebrate their lives as best we can.

My kids will be running on Sunday, in memory of Ruby, and if you’d like to make a pledge for the Ruby Harvey Memorial Fund or if you’d like your children to participate here’s the info:

Sunday, November 18th
packet pick up is at 1 p.m.
the race starts at 2 p.m.
It is for ages 4-14 (ages 15 and up can volunteer)
the race distance varies from 100 meters to 2 miles, depending on age.

Pledges can be made online.

O.K. This is from the North Richmond News, but it’s worth repeating.
Free. Flu. Shots. This Saturday. What else is there to say? Go get one!

The city will hold a free drive-through flu shot clinic at the Arthur Ashe Center (3017 N. Boulevard) from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 17. Passenger vehicles only. Adults 18 and older. Requires pre-registration. Call 646-3137

Congratulations to Richmond Teacher of the Year, Michaé N. Jamison, from Thomas Jefferson High School. Michae’ is a classmate of of my husbands in the Phd. program in educational leadership at VCU. She is young, bright has a great sense of humor and is exactly what our children need. She received $1,000 and will now compete for the state title.
Also, notable is that another great teacher (and friend of mine) Annie Campbell, from Fox, was the 1st runner up and received $750. (A position my husband was in last year). Annie is an amazing teacher and an even more amazing person. She is so positive and has found ways to make teaching the SOL content, which can sometimes be drudgery, to the kids so they actually enjoy it. She knows how to help the kids LOVE learning.
Richmond City Schools have tons of teachers like these. Amazing, passionate and inspiring people. Now all we have to do is let the word out.

While Henrico County water restrictions are still in affect, they’ve been modified to allow residents to irrigate trees, landscaping and athletic fields up to 3 times a week.
The complete details are posted here.

Way back in 1998, I was walking down the street in Carytown, and one of my friends, Marlene Paul, approached me with the most glowing and excited look. She was giddy with excitement as she introduced me to her friend, Kathleen Lane, and told me all about a new non-profit venture they planned — ART 180.
For Marlene, It was huge. She had been working in various industries, trying to find her meaningful role in this world. And you could just tell — after many years of searching, she had found it. Her idea: go into the most impoverished, violent, and poor parts of Richmond. Find kids who desperately wanted to find hope, and give it to them — through art. Let them express themselves in a way that maybe they never had. Let them see that there work and ideas were important….that they were important and that even one person can make a difference.
Fast forward, almost 10 years….and ART 180 is a thriving non-profit. Probably one of Richmond’s most popular and successful for being around for such a short period of time.
After volunteering at several Art 180 events, I had my own children and drifted away a bit from Marlene. But ART 180 just kept getting stronger and stronger. Reaching more kids, and endlessly thinking of new ways to reach them and new projects for the kids to conquer. Recently, ART 180 was awarded a HUGE (for them anyway) $200,000 grant from Bank of America. They just published a great cookbook with great but simple recipes from Richmond’s art and culinary community with classy and absurd recipes .
And, the piece de resistance is coming up on November 29th — Art Karma, a silent auction, party, and celebration of all ART 180 has achieved. For $5 you get entrance to one great little party with some of the most creative people in Richmond. While you are add it, sample food from the cookbook, buy beautiful art, including offerings from artists Cindy Newschwander, my husband, John M. Holland, and Fiona Ross and 7 quilts by the talented Heilbron Rushing-Cooper.
As for Marlene, she is glowing once again, this time, due to motherhood…..she’s due a week after Art Karma with her own little bundle of joy. And life in Richmond, has again come full circle.

What a sad story. This is the second time in less than a year that a pedestrian has been killed while trying to cross Broad Street near the 7900 block.
In last night’s incident, a woman was killed and a man was seriously injured as they left the Outback Steakhouse and tried to cross Broad Street, just after 7 p.m.
Last year, just a few blocks down, there was another fatality, after the man was on his way home from Bailey’s Tavern. Broad Street is dangerous for pedestrians, especially at night.

The University of Richmond’s business school is getting a $6 million donation today from two graduates.

The gift comes from Paul and Anne-Marie Queally of New Canaan, Conn.

The Queallys are both 1986 graduates of UR. Paul Queally has a bachelor’s degree in economics and is an investment banker.

The Queallys’ gift will be targeted toward a proposed addition to the Robins School of Business. The gift calls for the addition of some new programming to the curriculum in the finance department.

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What does it say about me and the state of our country that I was invited to meet President Bush on Monday, and I absolutely decline. And, maybe that is all I should say. A silent protest….to the man himself and all he does.

Bush is going to ….”talk about what we as a nation can be thankful for during Thanksgiving,” the Richmond Times-Dispatch quotes White House Spokesman Blair Jones as saying.

This should be interesting…..

At least, I should mention, that I’m glad Bush got it right. Berkeley Plantation was the site of the first Thanksgiving. Unlike what my daughter’s kindergarten teacher and likely the majority of the kindergarten teachers in America teach these days. …Why is it that the first Thanksgiving was less than 30 miles from here, and our children are still taught that the Pilgrims invented Thanksgiving?

Since I live next to the Reynold’s Crossing development and can see and hear the construction from my front door, we’ve been covering that project here at NWEN pretty intensely.
Finally, 6 weeks later, the Richmond Times-Dispatch decides to cover it!
Did they tell us anything new? Not really. I’m not sure why they waited 6 weeks.