Genworth Financial hosts an evening of fireworks, music and family activities tonight, Thursday, July 3rd at 6:30 p.m.

Genworth Financial is holding an All-American evening of music, fireworks and family fun starting at 6:30pm at Genworth Financial, 6620 West Broad Street.  The United States Air Force Heritage Band performance begins at 7:30pm.  Fireworks begin at 8:45.  No pets, parking is free. Call 281-6699.

Style Weekly’s Amy Biegelsen does a great job profiling University of Richmond’s President, Ed Ayers, as he celebrates his one-year anniversary at U of R.  The cover story captures that likability exudes from him.  And, to top it off, he’s got a way of putting things that keeps it real.  When asked about his experience so far at UR, he says,

“It’s been so positive, it would sound dishonest if I told you,” he demurs.

 The story continues:

He wants more cross-pollination among the schools and departments, more international students, more students from different income brackets. But his desire to reunite the school with the city crowns the overarching vision of a more inclusive campus.

…..Ayers also wants UR to be more inclusive in its own backyard, and he’s leading the push to bring the university downtown, literally. The new pro bono family law clinic, called UR Downtown, will sit across the street from the new federal courthouse on Eighth and Broad streets. Students from the law school will staff it alongside students from VCU’s School of Social Work. The center is slated to open in the fall.

The story offers much insight to an interesting and complicated man.  Also, it touches on the complicated issue of race  relations on a campus that has been voted the most homogeneous in the nation in past years.  It is well worth the read.

Richmond.com features the City of Richmond’s First District this week. Check it out:

District 1 covers what’s known as the West End part of town, from the Boulevard west to Patterson Avenue and River Road and south from Cary Street to W. Broad Street on the north. It includes Munford Elementary School, Hill Middle School and the high schools of Richmond Community and Jefferson.

There are several historic and active civic and district associations representing parts of the area, including the Fan District Association and the Museum District Association. District 1 also includes the popular Carytown, with dozens of unique shops and eateries, offers hours of shopping, dining and just checking out the shops.

In Richmond’s growing blog scene, there are at least three that solely represent parts of this area: http://nearwestendnews.net/, http://fdhub.net/ and http://wotbn.net/.

Councilman Bruce Tyler, 55, is a principal at Baskervill, an architectural, engineering and interior design firm. He was first elected to council last year and is running unopposed this year. Kim Bridges, 42, is the public relations coordinator for the Central Virginia FoodBank. She’s also serving her first term on School Board and running unopposed this year.

Both point to their constant communication with each other as an example of how things should be and how they best represent the people of the first district.

“We meet on regular basis and have dialogue,” Tyler said. “We constantly exchange dialogue with regards to issues, trying to make sure we have our bases covered. As a result, we’ve formed a pretty good team to represent our district and our city.”

Bridges describes their district as very involved, caring and seeming to understand the complexities of the school issues.

“They’re willing to listen to all sides. I’ve found it to be such a pleasant experience because I know it’s not always the case in the political world,” she said.

“People are really willing to listen and consider the factors and be invested. Overall, the district is well-educated and keeps informed with what’s going on. They’re very supportive.”

As far as the most important issues to the district, Bridges sees two: parental and community involvement in middle and high schools and helping new principals at Community and Thomas Jefferson high schools get to know the area.

“There’s tremendous involvement in elementary schools, but middle and high schools are less well known although the programs are great and we have wonderful options for people,” she said.

“So I think the more people know about Albert Hill, TJ and Community options, the more they’ll consider it as option for their kids. I will have two kids at Hill in the fall. It’s a great school and I want to see it get as widely recognized as Mary Munford.”

For Tyler, it’s “roads, roads, roads,” and “drainage, drainage, drainage.”

“The lack of proper paving. It’s very frustrating as a councilman to see the lack of maintenance on roads when I know the money has been appropriated, and at the same time no action taken place,” he said.

“Drainage is a signficant issue in the first and we need to go ahead and get the infrastucutre in place and be done with it.”

A third priority of lesser importance, Tyler said, is being respectful of the urban environment by creating urban-like settings that function properly. Tyler gives the examples of replacing trees that were cut, keeping trash cans where they belong and not blocking critical rights-of-way that need to be maintained and keep the area looking good.

Citywide, both see overarching issues that need to be addressed and question how the turnover in the mayor’s office, School Board, schools’ administration and City Council will affect the city.

“I think systemwide it’s a crucial time for Richmond Public Schools to go through the leadership transition that we’re going to be going through. It makes this a really interesting time,” Bridges said. “After eight years with schools, I really think it’s the tipping point and I want to help push schools into a positive direction. I’m not saying it’s not going into a positive direction, but because it could go a number of ways. I really hope to be very involved in pushing thing in the right direction.”

Tyler agreed, saying that he’s looking for a mayor who wants to build bridges and a community.

“The reality is that we need to move the city foward and I’m looking for someone in mayoral position to work with and not fight against,” he said. “I’m looking for someone who truly wants to roll their sleeves up and address all the issues and not try come about from a bully pulpit.” 

Citywide, the most important issue facing the city are the large concentrations of poverty, Tyler said. The housing market needs to be diversified economically and socially for the city to be successful in the long run, he said.

“Everything flows from that issue, along with the fact that we need to deal with teen pregnancies, and unwanted pregnancies, as a city issue,” he said.

“The number of kids born into this world, unfortunately with single parents, find themselves not having the opporunities in life that others have. A part of that is the need for individuals to take responsibility for their actions. The city can’t do it alone.”

A third issue, he said, is that the city is driving out its middle class with high taxes, and that it needs to get its tax structure within 10 percent of the counties to foster diversity, economic development and allow the city to become vibrant.

Bridges said that she and Tyler are in an interesting position since they are unopposed, because it gives them more time to continue the work they’re already doing.

“Being unoppposed, it doesn’t mean we’re any less engaged with voters, but it does give us the ability to continue to work on issues, whereas others may have to be more distracted by fundraising and vote-getting,” she said.

“I think we’re in a really good position to continue to build on some of the stuff we do together. I’d like to see our relationship, between council person and school board member, emulated across the district. We meet regulary and talk about city and school issues that impact each other. (Such meetings) are not always the case. I hope we can help build those bridges elsewhere too.”

My only complaint….if they are offering the content online…why didn’t they link to the neighborhood blogs they listed?  Thanks for covering this Richmond.com.

Ten days late and a dollar short….The Times-Dispatch finally came out with an article on the Modlin Center’s 2008-2009 season. 
We covered it  back on June 5th, so maybe you already reserved your excellent seats, before the masses even knew about it.

Looking for something to do next weekend? Head on over to Brown’s Island for some family fun Friday night through Sunday.  Xterra  Xtreme racing adventure at the James River Adventure Games, free music, fireworks, helmet giveaways, tree climbing, rafting, fishing Segway rides and more.

All day long there are great events to watch, from triathlon to open water swimming. Click here for the full schedule.

First up is Nashville based roots rock band The Coal Men,  and  Richmond’s own DJ Williams Projeckt  starting at 6:30 p.m.  After checking out the music on MySpace, I have to say I love both bands.  DJ Williams Projeckt is one of the best (and only) jazzy, funky rap influenced music that I’ve ever heard. I have to call this band so Richmond because it is just a great mix of class, style, groove and gritty street.  Then at 9:30 p.m. the sky lights up with the Fireworks Extravaganza. 

Maple Green – 5 new homes, 3 newly renovated homes coming soon to the Near West End on Maple Avenue between Patterson and Grove. Where will they fit them all in?

Style Weekly reports today that the University of Richmond will open a family law clinic downtown in a joint venture with VCU. 

The University of Richmond is reaching out of its secluded West End campus to set up shop downtown.

In partnership with Virginia Commonwealth University’s social work and psychology programs, UR is making its first major commitment to downtown in the fall. UR’s family law clinic will pair law students with Richmond attorneys who are representing low-income families pro bono. In a separate program, undergraduate and graduate students at UR and VCU will work with city-based organizations that provide services pro bono to low-income families.

The satellite campus will take over about 4,200 square feet at 626 E. Broad St., former headquarters of Franklin Federal Savings & Loan, which is across the street from the new federal courthouse. It’s expected to open to students in time for the fall semester, says Adrienne Volenik, acting director for UR’s National Center for Family Law. The Wilton Cos. donated the space for the campus, she says.

Back in May, the United States Postal Service sent a survey out to folks who live in Henrico, but still use Richmond as their postal address, asking them if they’d like to change their mailing address to Henrico.  The majority said yes, so for the Near West End that means that starting at then end of this year ”Henrico” will be the preferred address for those in the 23229 zip code. Because the 23226 zip includes portions of both Henrico and Richmond, the 23226 city zip will we remain “Richmond”.

But, the bottom line is you can still use Richmond, and your mail will get to you.  Either Henrico or Richmond remain acceptable.

Click here for the full press release.