This Thursday,  Sept.  3rd, don’t miss the lecture  by Elizabeth Stevens, independent scholar and curator of the exhibition: It’s Only Natural:  The Art of Stanley Boxer.  It kicks off the show, Rememberingstanleyboxer:  A Retrospective 1946 – 2000, now through Oct. 4th.

Here are the details:
The 7p.m., Lecture, Cousins Studio Theatre,
Modlin Center for the Arts
8 to 9 p.m., Reception and preview of Rememberingstanleyboxer:  A Retrospective 1946 – 2000

Joel and Lila Harnett Museum of Art.
Plus, don’t miss:  Zap! Comix Prints by Robert Crumb
Now – December 13, 2009

Annual Student Exhibition
Now – September 20, 2009

American artist Stanley Boxer (1926-2000) was well known for the exuberant qualities of his thickly brushed abstract paintings, but he also created equally energetic works on paper and sculptures throughout his career.  The more than sixty works chosen for this retrospective, dating from 1946 to 2000, explore his manipulation of surfaces, textures, and colors in various media, and include both figurative and abstract compositions.

Highlights of the exhibition include paintings, sculpture, and works on paper. In the paintings, mostly mixed media on canvas, Boxer combined diverse materials such as strings and pebbles with thickly applied paint to create complex abstract compositions of pattern, texture, and color.  The 1985 painting Lacedplumeinabam shows his use of thick impasto of oil paint to create dramatic overall texture. He gave his paintings titles which were long, run-on sentences, inspired by the work of American poet e.e. cummings.

University of Richmond officials have issued a letter to students detailing the school’s H1N1 flu response plan.

In an e-mail to Richmond students, Steve Bisese, vice president for student development, recommended — but didn’t require — that students sick with influenza-like illnesses return home if they live within five hours of Richmond and don’t require public transportation to get there. Otherwise, they should stay in their dorm rooms for at least 24 hours after their last fever and should wear a surgical mask when their roommates are present. Sick students can also call to have meals delivered to their rooms.

The university has developed a hotline that students, parents, faculty and staff can call if they have any questions or concerns about H1N1: the local phone number is 804-289-8847 and the toll-free number is 1-866-920-5461. It will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 11: p.m. through this Friday. A permanent schedule has not yet been determined.

Provost Steve Allered has asked the faculty to be more lenient in giving extensions on assignments for sick students, said Lynne P. Deane, medical director at the Student Health Center.

“It’s okay to go home if you can, and you want to,” Deane said.

Deane, who has worked at the university for 18 years, noted that seasonal influenza is typically prevalent from November to early April. “It appears that the students aren’t getting sicker, they’re just not used to getting sick around this time,” she said.

Pregnant women and people under 24 years old are considered “at-risk” for contracting H1N1 influenza, Deane said. Older people could have been exposed to components of the virus, so they have developed a greater immunity, she said.

The Virginia Department of Health tested segments of the Virginia population last spring to determine whether people had H1N1 — an effort to gauge where the virus was present in Virginia. Independent care providers, including the Student Health Center and Patient First, do not currently perform comprehensive diagnostic testing. The only out-patient test for influenza is the rapid influenza A test, which can determine whether someone has influenza, but cannot specify the strain, Deane said.

The students who confirmed that they had contracted H1N1 were reporting on clinical diagnosis by their physicians. A clinical diagnosis a “diagnosis of exclusion” and is not based on test results alone, but rather, the doctor’s deductive reasoning, Deane said.

Bisese recommended consulting the Student Health Center for continued updates about the virus. The Student Health Center has ordered surgical masks and is waiting for updates from the Centers for Disease Control on the H1N1 vaccine, which will be provided by the government free of charge, Deane said.

Until people can get vaccinated, Deane and Bisese urged everyone to take simple precautions including washing hands, covering coughs, refraining from sharing utensils and cups in addition to seeking medical attention in the event of flu-like symptoms such as fevers of more than 100 degrees, a sore throat and coughing. It can take up to a week to recover from an influenza-like illness, Deane said.

Bisese said more hand sanitizers had been ordered and would be dispersed around campus.

“We can’t stop influenza from spreading on our campus — it’s here and it’s going to be here — but we can do as much as we can to mitigate the circumstances,” Deane said.

Contact staff writers Avril Lighty at avril.lighty@richmond.edu and Jimmy Young at jimmy.young@richmond.edu

Yesterday, I discovered a neat new locally owned shop baking a new delicacy for Richmond’s Near West End. The Cheese Roll Bakeshop is on the back of an alleyway in a strip mall off of Patterson Avenue, just past Parham. I only discovered it because my kids are huge fans of Bruster’s Ice Cream, which sits in front of the shop.

I went in and was surprised to see that this cute little shop really focused on just one thing — the cheese roll.  When I asked about them, the owner, Filip Aszalos, offered me my very own sample of the  Brazilian delicacy. I split it in 3 parts, and me and my kids each sampled this interesting new food. First I should tell you that these are not roles made with wheat, but with tapioca flour — so they are gluten free. The cheese is completely in the dough, and rather subtle.  The roll is crispy on the outside but the inside is almost gnocchi-like starchy, creamy and moist all at the same time.  These little rolls sell for .59 cents each, or .95 cents if you want hummus,or olive spread on them (or you can order it with turkey).  Hoping the hummus and olive spread was homemade, I ordered another for the road.   I was a bit disappointed when I saw Filip pull out familiar looking containers from the Costco out to supply the toppings.  Still, it was really good, and offered a chance for my husband to taste The Cheese Roll.

So, now, Richmond has 4 more converts to really liking this neat new treat — the cheese roll.  They come in original, jalapeno, black olive, onion and garlic. The other specialty at The Cheese Shop is Brazilian flan. I’m not a flan expert, but it looked good. I’m not sure how it would be different from traditional flan. The flan is cheap too at $1.90 a slice or $18.99 for an entire giant flan.  I suggested to Filip that he start a box lunch business — if he made a slightly larger roll for sandwiches and then offered desert and fruit, he could charge $10 and expand his business, offering Richmonders something different than  the traditional box lunch that everyone seems to be tired of.

If you get a chance, go stop by The Cheese Roll Bakeshop and say hi to Filip. He is a really nice guy, offering a great product. I hope it catches on here in Richmond, and he is able to make it. So far, he has no website, and most of his business comes in by word of mouth. So Richmond, get the word out. This is a  great new local shop in Richmond, offering something we’ve never seen before. Pass it on. The Cheese Roll Bakeshop is at 8911-D Patterson Avenue,  (804) 740-5444.

Back in February, we wrote about how University Heights neighbors were working to get Henrico to build a path along Forest Avenue for walking and for bikes. I’m happy to bring you a report that that neighborhood has been successful. Here’s the full report from Lila LaCroix, President of the University Heights Neighborhood Association.   And, check out the wonderful photos too!

by Lila Loutfi LaCroix, President of University Heights Neighborhood Association, and Near West End News guest Blogger

It’s BUILT!  Now our kids can walk to school safely on their new pathway!  During the Fall of last year, University Heights Neighborhood Association approached Henrico County Public Works and government officals about installing a pathway on Forest Avenue.  Over the years our children have walked or biked on Forest Avenue in treacherous conditions.  If you aren’t familiar with Forest, you may not know that it has absolutely no space for walkers or bikers at all.  Frankly, it was dangerous.  This past year has been an example of how government should work!  The neighbors held a public meeting with the County in March, they listened to our concerns and over the year, we came up with a solution that is cost effective, pretty and meets all our needs!

The pathway is made up of “Crush & Run” , is five feet wide and is framed by wood. It’s completely level.  It goes along Forest Avenue from Rock Creek to Tuckahoe Elementary School.  We even have a crosswalk at University Blvd.

Sidewalks bring neighbors together.  We are truly grateful and happy to have one.  Wow!  This is the way it’s suppose to work.

Thanks to Byrd Park for spreading the word!  On Labor Day, many of us will be showing up to help Patience Salgado spread love to Richmond with her Guerrilla Goodness. We’ll be welcoming back the City of Richmond’s school children with some words that hopefully will make there day.  Please join us if you can. Details follow:

Patience Salgado over at Kindness Girl has a great idea:

Meet me and other Guerrilla Goodness lovers in front of the Carillon (Bryd Park) at 3:00 pm on September 7th!

Here’s how it works:

1. I will pass out addresses to city schools and sidewalk chalk.

2. You head out with friends, family, kids, dogs, grandmothers, artists, whoever…and write positive messges to kids on the sidewalks in front of the elementary schools in Richmond city for the first day of school.

3. Go home blissed out with the kindness high!

4. If you are kid, be super quiet when you are walking to school the next day and everyone around you is talking about the cool art out front. and smile.

If you can help, contact patience@kindnessgirl.com.  Patience also writes a column on parenting for RVA News.

If you love Richmond, why not spend one day giving back to your community? October 17th is HandsOn Day for Greater Richmond there are plenty of fun and family-friendly ways to give back to your city! Or, if you can’t spare the time, please spread the word….post this widget on your blog or Facebook page to show your support.

Back in March of last year,  we published some information about an expansion at St. Mary’s Hospital. Yesterday, I was driving by and saw that they were clearing a small forest area across Maple Avenue from St. Mary’s that neighbors had fought to keep as a wooded area.  I’m not sure if this is for more parking or related to the expansion. If anyone has the details, please share.

Clearing of forest area near St. Mary's Hospital

Kim Bridges, the Richmond City school board representative has a back-to-school update for the Near West End….

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