My friend Andrew Miller sent this report from his back alley — photos and all (thanks Andrew)!  So if your alley is in just as bad shape, it looks like there may be hope!

[The city is resurfacing]….the service alley parallel to Grove and Hanover, between Westmoreland and Bunting. I don’t know if other alleys will be completed today after ours is completed. They’ve been at it for about two hours and it looks as good as new! It was previously so rutted and full of potholes that it was a rough ride even in my 4WD.

The alley parallel to Grove & Hanover at Westmoreland Ave is being resurfaced

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.

John O’Bannon’s 73rd District seat challenger, Tom Shields,  will host a town hall style meeting on the topic of education, and preparing our children for the 21st century economy, on Monday, August 24 at 7 p.m.  The meeting will be at the Tuckahoe Area Library –
1901 Starling Drive.

Shield’s press release states the reason for the meeting:

WHY:  Incumbent John O’Bannon has voted to defund education by over $1/2 billion.  Whether on early childhood, K-12, or higher education, O’Bannon has provided a consistent voice against Virginia’s schools. As an educator and Director of the Center for Leadership in Education at the University of Richmond, Tom Shields knows that education is the key to preparing our children for the 21st Century economy and as Delegate will fight to improve, not weaken, Virginia’s education system.

Wow, I had no idea any legislator would vote to defund education right now!  Personally, as a parent of 2 kids in school and as the wife of a long-time Head Start teacher, I can say, that is the last thing I would want for our children.   I feel like more money should be spent to improve quality and opportunities for our children’s education. Free Pre-K as an option for all of Virginia’s children would be a great start. Also, I like how Shields is emphasizing 21st century learning. As a blogger and someone who makes a living in social media, I have to say that what our children need to know is changing and our educational system needs to change with that. Sheilds totally gets that.  And thankfully, Henrico County Schools seem to get that too.  Computers and teaching technology to our children costs money. We should spend more money on education and teachers not less.

Also, I’d love for our education system to teach our children more creativity, and alternative solutions. So much of our schooling teaches us that there is one right answer. But what about the inventors and the people in this world that can see that there are many right answers and we just have to find or discover them.  The successful workers in the 21st Century will have learned how to be innovators and inventors — always being open to new things and always learning. Because in 21st Century learning, one thing is for sure — nothing will stay the same for very long, and our children will need to be open to new perspectives and new ways of thinking on a continual basis.

I’d love to hear O’Bannon’s side of this.  I wonder what he thinks is important for our children’s education. I wonder where else he thinks this money would be better spent.

Also, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment if you have an opinion on either of these candidates or the future of education in Virginia.

Registration for the City of Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities’ cultural arts classes is currently underway.

A wide variety of classes are offered for both children and adults. Art classes include pottery, jewelry, painting, photography, fiber arts and more. Dance classes include African, salsa, tap, modern, hip hop, ballet, line dancing and belly dancing. Martial arts classes are also offered.

For a complete listing of cultural arts classes visit the department’s website at www.RichmondGov.com/parks or call 646-3677.

Registration will continue until classes are filled, with the exception of registration for adult dance classes, which has been extended to March.

The University of Richmond will host a debate among the five candidates for mayor of Richmond Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. in Tyler Haynes Commons, Alice Haynes Room. The debate is free and open to the public, and a reception will follow.

Questioners will represent local media, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Centro, Style Weekly, WWBT TV-12 and the university’s student newspaper, The Collegian. Audience members may submit questions, which moderator Dan Palazzolo, professor of political science, will ask as time permits.

All five candidates for Richmond mayor—Paul Goldman, Robert J. Grey Jr., Dwight C. Jones, William J. Pantele and Lawrence Williams—have agreed to participate.

University sponsors of the debate include the Office of the President, Jepson School of Leadership Studies, Richmond School of Law, Bonner Center for Civic Engagement and the Center for Government and Policy.

For more information, call (804) 289-8056.

Today, Wednesday October 1st, Barack Obama and John McCain’s top energy advisors will be debating at the University of Richmond Law School. What better way to get your questions answered about what Obama and McCain plan on doing! There is no better way to show what we want from a clean energy future than to speak directly to the people who write the policies during your lunchbreak!!

WHEN: Wednesday October 1st, 12:15 PM
WHERE: University of Richmond School of Law, Moot Court Room
Directions: http://www.richmond.edu/visit/directions
Map of campus: http://www.richmond.edu/visit/directions/campusmap.pdf

We received the following video the City of Richmond government regarding the new Supercan and recycling ordinance for Richmond residents.

Richmond’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities is offering beginning and intermediate belly dancing classes weekly at its Humphrey Calder Community Center starting March 4.

The beginning level class will meet from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and include instruction in the basic moves, isolations, techniques and posture, as well as practice of traveling steps and an introduction to finger cymbals and veils.

The intermediate class will meet Tuesdays from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and will include more advanced movements based on the fundamentals taught in the beginning class. Students in this class will review and refine the basics and learn “layering” to incorporate multiple moves.

Both classes are for all ages and will run for six weeks. The cost is $35 for city residents and $55 for non-city residents.

Students should wear comfortable exercise clothes and bring a scarf to wrap around their hips.

The Humphrey Calder Community Center is located at 414 N. Thompson St. For more information, call 646-1780.