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.

City residents can register their children to play spring soccer at the Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Faculties’ Humphrey Calder Community Center between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. March 3 through April 4.

• Registration for non-city residents will be held at the same times beginning on March 10.
• Teams will be formed for boys and girls ages 6 through 15 on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Registration is $25 for city residents and $45 for non-city residents, and a birth certificate is required for registration. A $20 uniform fee is also required.
• Teams practice on week nights and games are played on Friday evenings or Saturday mornings.
• The Humphrey Calder Community Center is located at 414 N. Thompson Street beside the fire station at the corner of Patterson Avenue. For more information, call 646-1780.

Owners of gravesites in city-owned cemeteries are reminded that by City Code all flowers, decorations and non-approved vases must be removed from lots and gravesites by March 1. As part of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities’ annual cleanup of the city’s cemeteries, any items not removed will be collected and disposed of by the cemetery staff. New flower arrangements may be placed on gravesites beginning March 20.

For questions, call 646-1401 or 646-1402.

Sheila Hill-Christian, Richmond’s chief administrative officer, announced yesterday a plan to bring “bus rapid-transit” and eventually a light rail to Richmond from Shockoe Bottom to Willow Lawn, and eventually extend the line to Short Pump. That is the best news I’ve heard in a long time that truly indicates that Richmond is looking to its future and planning ahead. On the other hand, I think they should go straight for the light rail system, or something comperable. I’m not sure how many Richmonders will be convinced to give up their car just to ride another bus. Especially if they already own the cars. Shouldn’t we just do it right the first time?
What will make folks ride the high speed bus? More traffic, higher gas prices, and incentives from employers or the City that encourage them to.
In our family, I can see us using it, especially if the price of gas continues to go up if they are willing to pick up at major intersections, not just bus stations. But, will that defeat the whole purpose and slow the bus down? Also, where will they provide parking at Willow Lawn and Short Pump for all those cars, for the folks that drive to the bus stations? Will they include alternate energy resources in the plan? This project will require regional cooperation. Can the counties and city ever agree? Can they really work together for the sake of the greater good of the Richmond Region? So many questions to be answered!

GRTC is seeking state funding to design and engineer the service, called “bus rapid transit,” as a less-expensive alternative to building a light-rail system to serve downtown and the rest of the region.

“Long-term, the best solution is rail,” said John T. Lewis Jr., GRTC’s chief executive officer. “But let’s recognize the funding realities.”

In a statement released yesterday, Sheila Hill-Christian, Richmond’s chief administrative officer, said the city is “committed to the development of rapid bus transit as a precursor to light rail development, which is so strongly needed.”

….

The buses wouldn’t be the same as the ones that lumber through downtown now. The buses would carry up to 90 passengers — who would board at stations rather than curbside stops — and employ a technology that limits time spent waiting at stoplights.

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Our friends over at the North Richmond News had some info about Survival Training Day sponsored by the City of Richmond next Saturday. Here are the details:

On Saturday, January 5, residents of the City of Richmond are encouraged to participate in “Survivor Day,” a training program covering basic skills useful during emergencies. The four-hour training session, offered as part of winter preparedness by the City’s Office of Emergency Management, will cover fire safety, first-aid, anti-terrorism and weather response measures. A free Survival Kit, with supplies such as flashlight, gloves, batteries, toilet paper and a blanket, will be given out to residents who complete the training.

It all happens from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm on Saturday, January 5, at the Landmark Theater, 6 North Laurel Street. Pre-registration is required; call 646-7000 or register online at www.RichmondGov.com

We received the following press release from Carla Harris at the Virginia Department of Social Services and wanted to pass it along:

Richmond, Va. - The deadline for low-income Virginians to apply for Fuel Assistance is this Friday, Nov. 9. Those who think they may qualify, especially the elderly and disabled, are encouraged to apply at their local department of social services by close of business on Friday. All households that meet the eligibility requirements and apply by the deadline will receive a heating assistance benefit.

Each year, the Virginia Department of Social Services’ Energy Assistance Program helps approximately 100,000 Virginia households stay warm. The Fuel Assistance Program was created in 1979 and is funded by the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) block grant. For more information on the Energy Assistance Program, visit VDSS’ website at: www.dss.virginia.gov and select “Financial Assistance” or contact your local department of social services.

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The Henrico County Board of Supervisors has raised the income limit allowing residents 65 or older or disabled to qualify for real-estate tax relief. The maximum household income for the Real Estate Advantage Program will increase from $52,000 to $62,000, beginning Jan. 1. The higher amount, approved last week, is part of a broader effort to make the program accessible to more residents. Property owners can qualify if their net worth is $350,000 or less, excluding the value of their home and 10 acres. For details, call (804) 501-4263. [via]