Near West End

Crestview Elementary, the school I can see out my back door, made the news twice this morning. The it is completely coincidental. This is a tiny school, that hardly ever makes the news. Sort of ironic that both stories are technology related. I guess that speaks to Henrico County’s dedication to technology in education.
The first story made national news after it was picked up by MSNBC, after one of the stolen laptops helped police and school officials catch the suspected computer thief when he had his photo taken by the computer itself, using remote controls.

How does the technology work? A school resource officer was able to identify the student in the picture. That led police to a home on Three Chopt where they found three computers. Brandon Arias, 18, a student at Tucker High School is charged with grand larceny and burglary, both felonies.

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In other news, Crestview 3rd grade teacher, Claudia Ketchum, received at $2,000 Teach Award from Best Buy Co. Inc. to help integrate technology into the school’s curriculum.
Now that they have the arrested the suspected computer thief, that may be possible. [via]

And in other technology news in Henrico, Henrico County Schools “TechWarrior” defends the program, SchoolSpace, that teachers use to help integrate technology into the classroom safely.

Although it is not exactly in the Near West End, I’m posting a link to coming events at Short Pump Town Center because they are nearby, and best of all free.   Recently, our family has found ourselves at Short Pump often to ride the Short Pump Express, which is $2 and going to our favorite restaturant, Tara Thai Richmond, where our friend, Birdie, is the manager.
Next weekend, the mall will feature a petting zoo:

Spring Petting Farm

Saturdays: April 5 & 12 - 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sundays: April 6 & 13 - 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Come visit baby bunnies, chicks, ducks, lambs and more…The Spring Petting Farm is located in the Main Plaza, and is held weather permitting. Admission is free. For more information, please call 804-360-1700.

As they are announced, look here for more information on other free concerts in the area.
Summer Concert Series
May 30 - August 29

The Summer Concert Series returns beginning May 30th and continuing every Friday evening (weather permitting) through August 29th. Families are invited to enjoy FREE live music performed by local bands, great food, PRIZES and of course, fabulous shopping! Concerts begin at 6:00 PM and run until 8:00 PM in the Main Plaza.
Friday, May 30
Steve Bassett & The Mystic Soul Bubba’s

Friday, June 6
Susan Greenbaum

Friday, June 13
KOS

Friday, June 20
B2B

Friday, June 27
English Channel

Friday, July 11
The Ray Pitman Project

Friday, July 18
Souler Coaster

Friday, July 25
Son Quatro

Friday, August 1
Marna & Macy

Friday, August 8
E3

Friday, August 15
Cyrus McCormick & The Reapers

Friday, August 22
Ron Moody & The Centaurs

Friday, August 29
KOS

One of our readers sent us the following question:

I live in Monument Avenue Crest (near intersection of Libbie & Patterson).  Is there a neighborhood/civic association for my area?

Any takers?  :)

SHOW DATES: APRIL 11th- MAY 23rd                                                                                           
OPENING FRIDAY, APRIL 11th

Gallery 5800 located at Grove and Libbie above Suitable for Framing will feature a solo exhibition of oil paintings from Roanoke artist Greg Osterhaus. Osterhaus’s 25-year career has established him as a well recognized painter in the Eastern United States and beyond. His vibrant oil paintings are rich in their depiction of rural settings including Cow Portraitures, Southern Landscapes, and Blue Crabs of the Chesapeake.

Join us on Friday, April 11th 5:30-8:00PM for the artist reception where we will be holding a drawing at 7:00PM for a free Cow Portrait.

Contact: Robin Grabinska
285-0774

GALLERY 5800 AT SUITABLE FOR FRAMING
5800 GROVE AVE
RICHMOND, VA 23226
804-285-0774

As a neighbor of St. Mary’s Hospital, I recently received this email:

As part of St. Mary’s Hospital Master Plan, we have discussed renovations to our emergency department.

Enclosed you will find several plans that describe the scope of the improvements to the emergency department and additional space to accommodate our new Intra-Operative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (”IMRI”) scanner, a specialized scanner used during neurosurgery.

The location of the expansion area is on the west side of the main hospital building located east of Bremo Road, approximately 425 feet south of Monument Avenue. The expansion area faces our parking deck on the west side of Bremo Road. The portion of the campus that will be affected by the expansion is shown as “Area of Work” on the enclosed plan entitled “Project Area Plan”. As you can see, this project is internal to our campus and will only be visible from the Bremo Road side of our campus.

The improvements consist primarily of an additional 15,786 square feet on the ground floor to expand the lobby and add the IMRI area. The enclosed plan entitled “Ground Floor Plan” shows the ground floor expansion area. An additional 20,178 square feet of space will be added to the first floor for a future emergency department expansion.

The emergency department addition will be situated above the IMRI addition and will add much needed space for emergency department bays. Approximately 16 additional bays will be added to the emergency department and the remainder of the department will be renovated. The enclosed artist’s rendering shows the exterior building elevation following completion of the expansion.

The parking area located between Bremo Road and the main hospital building will be reconfigured to accommodate the expansion. The plan prepared by Timmons Group and entitled “Layout, Utility, Stripping & Signage Plan” shows the parking area as it will exist following the building expansion.

The Henrico County Planning Commission is scheduled to review our plan of development on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. in the Board Room of the County Administration Building on Parham Road. The file on the POD is available in the Department of Planning, County Administration Building, for examination between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. each business day. Information may also be obtained by calling 501-4602.

or at www.co.henrico.va.us/planning. Of course, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me [Michael Kerner] at 281-8316.

Click to look at the campus site plan, ground floor plan, and two story layout.

Three men, one wearing a black jacket with a white bird emblem on the back, are being sough by police in two thefts from Sam’s Club. Click on the link below to view the photos.

Henrico County police are searching for three people who have been stealing computer and electronic equipment at Sam’s Club stores in Virginia, including two thefts from a store on West Broad Street.

Police retrieved images of the suspects in larcenies on Jan. 28 and Feb. 27 at the Sam’s Club at 9440 W. Broad St. They describe the suspects as black males in their 20s.

Anyone with information about the crimes or suspects should call Henrico Police officer R.R. Riopedre at (804) 501-5000 or Crimestoppers at (804) 780-1000

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