Recently, many Northside neighborhoods have fallen victim to copper thieves. Just last week, the NBC 12 website reported on one such case regarding thefts of copper downspouts from Lakeside Presbyterian Church:

A Henrico County (Lakeside) church falls victim to a thief, leaving some church-goers wondering who would stoop so low.

$6,000 is what it will cost to replace the valuable copper downspouts at the Lakeside Presbyterian Church, even though the church tried some help from above to catch the thief.

Ed Jacobsen was among the first to notice that over the past three weeks many of the church’s copper downspouts were disappearing.

“Everyone who hears about it is in awe that someone would stoop low enough to steal from a church,” Jacobsen said.

In reality, the thief was not low at all. Many of the now-missing downspouts are 20 feet tall. The church set up a video camera to be its “eye in the sky” in case the thief -or thieves- came back…but so far, they’re still waiting.

Unfortunately, we did not catch anything,” Jacobsen said.

If you have a tip for police, call the Henrico PD at 501-5000.

On Thursday, District 3 Councilman Chris Hilbert made the following announcement regarding multiple arrests in copper theft cases:

I have read with interest and growing concern about the ongoing problems with copper thefts in our neighborhoods. These crimes are an assault on not only the individual home owners but to the beauty of our Northside neighborhoods. I am happy to report that our Richmond Police Department made multiple arrests for copper thefts this morning and have issued warrants for other people involved in these crimes. This effort was brought about by the active participation of citizens reporting suspicious activity in their neighborhoods. I congratulate our Police on their diligence in rapidly responding to a call which resulted in these arrests.

In October 2006, fellow Northside Councilwoman Ellen Robertson and I co-sponsored Ordinance 2006-244-257, which mandated that licensed “junk dealers,” provide information to the Chief of Police on the specific items that they purchase as well as take a photograph of the person that sold the item to them. This legislation was passed to give the Police another tool in further reducing our crime rate which is at its lowest point in over 20 years. It is my understanding that neighboring jurisdictions do not have a similar ordinance in place which creates a “loophole” in our prevention strategy. Therefore, today, I am calling upon neighboring jurisdictions to enact and enforce ordinances that will help to further limit the potential of future thefts and will keep perpetrators and the businesses from benefiting financially from this type of crime.

As always, when if you see anything of suspicion, please call Richmond Police at 646-5100 or email Detective Sergeant D.A. Miles directly and quickly with this information. milesda@ci.richmond.va.us. Please continue to provide my office with feedback because you are the eyes and ears that help me to better represent your concerns.

On Friday, the Richmond Times Dispatch website made a report of the arrests.

Lakeside’s Feathernesters shop will hold a furniture painting workshop this Thursday, February 28, from 6:30 until 9:00 pm at their store at 6118 Lakeside Avenue.

Learn how to transform your flea market finds with paint - glorious paint!

You’ll learn all the tricks, tips and secrets of how to apply paint the right way along with how to finish and display your furnishings.

Each guest will receive a copy of the book “The Cottage-Chic Painted Furniture Sourcebook” - a “how to” book which explains each and every important step in the painting process. Attendees will enjoy a lite supper before the class along with beverage and dessert. Call today to reserve your space for this class - it always fills up fast. Call 804-262-7305 for details.

Now that Henrico County has given approval for a new farmer’s market in North Richmond’s Lakeside business community, the search for farmers and craftspeople interested in selling at the market is underway. Per a recent comment in North Richmond News, interested vendors should log into the Discover Lakeside website and leave a message with contact information.

NBC’s Today show is hunting for the best barbecue in America, and North Richmonders know that Buz and Ned’s Real Barbecue should be on their short list. Cast your vote for Buz and Ned’s (or another local favorite) at MSNBC, then scoot on down to North Boulevard and fill your belly with barbecue.

On Wednesday, February 27, 3rd district councilman Chris Hilbert is sponsoring a presentation called “Tax Tips and Tax Need to Knows for the 2007 Tax Year.” A representative from the Virginia Society of CPAs will make the presentation.

The workshop will take place at 6:00 pm and will be held at the Richmond Police Training Academy at 1202 West Graham Road, room 245. The academy is adjacent to Virginia Union University.

For more information or directions, contact Chris Hilbert at 646-5400 or Lisa Townes at 646-6055.

The minutes of the February meeting of the Bellevue Civic Association reveal that the space that housed Sammy’s Bakery may not stay vacant for long:

Councilman Chris Hilbert’s regular monthly meeting will be held this Wednesday, February 27, at 6:00 pm at the Richmond Police Academy at 1202 West Graham Road (behind Virginia Union University, off of Brook Road).

Richmond’s Henley Street Theatre Company and the Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities presents William Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing,” directed by Tyrus Lemerande from March 7 through March 29 at the Pine Camp Arts and Community Center at 4901 Old Brook Road. Performances are at 8:00 pm.

For more information on Pine Camp, please visit the City of Richmond’s website.

Henley Street Theatre Company aims to be at the forefront of cultivating the artistic landscape of the Richmond community and beyond.

The Times-Dispatch reports that six proposals have been received for the potential redevelopment of a large city-owned track of land between North Boulevard and Hermitage Road that includes the Diamond and the Arthur Ashe Center. News of the city’s plans to develop the property were first reported at Buttermilk & Molasses:

Six companies submitted ideas for redeveloping the area that includes The Diamond, which is where the Richmond Braves are expected to play their final season this summer.

“Things are definitely moving forward,” Linwood Norman, a spokesman for Mayor L. Douglas Wilder, said yesterday. “We’re pleased with the interest.”

… The next step, Norman said, is for the city’s consultant, the Staubach Company, to review the documents and make a presentation to the administration, probably in the next two weeks. Some or all of the companies would then be invited to submit development proposals due about 30 days from then, or around mid-April.

The Richmond Food Collective — an group of online food critics focused on organic, sustainable and local food — made a visit to Lakeside’s Zed Cafe this week. The full review and interview with Chef Bill Foster can be found at the RFC website:

The Henrico Citizen recently spotlighted the linoleum block print work of artist Julia Hebner, whose six-piece homage to the Lakeside community is on display through March 8 at Richmond’s Visual Arts Center on Broad Street.

Hebner, a retiree who describes herself as a part-time artist, said her work was motivated by a simple love of her neighborhood.

“I just really like it,” she said matter-of-factly.

The best part of the community? “My neighbors,” she said. “They’re so helpful and kind.”

The Voice reports that Jonathan Davis, a 19-year citizen of the 3rd district, has announced his intent to run for the 3rd district council seat in November’s election.

Davis feels that Chris Hilbert, who currently represents the 3rd district, has not adequately represented residents on the following issues:

- Crime and drugs in the Providence Park area
- Hilbert’s representation following the Battery Park flood
- Cooperation between City Council and the mayor�s administration
- Adding community centers for the youth
- Attention to Bryan Park

The full test of the article can be found on The Voice’s website.

Northside’s own Steven Jones and Traci Pryor are finalists on NBC 12’s Best on the Block: Outdoor Living makeover contest. Visit the NBC 12 website to view a video of the contestants and to cast your vote. Voting continues through March 1.

The Patrick Henry School Initiative has recently submitted an application to the City School Board for what could become the first elementary charter school in Virginia. The initiative is comprised of a passionate group of educators, professionals and parents who are committed to creating Richmond’s first ever Public Charter Elementary School to be housed in the vacant Patrick Henry School Building on Semmes Avenue. A charter school is an independently run, but public school, (i.e., tax supported, tuition free.) Charter Schools are required to offer an academic program not currently available in the existing school system. Charter schools often raise private money for special programs, and are, as such, private/public partnerships.

The Patrick Henry School Initiative’s mission is to establish a K-5 school based on meaningful parent, educator, and community involvement. The school intends to provide the children of our ethnically and socio-economically diverse Richmond community with an academically rigorous science and liberal arts curriculum that emphasizes environmental awareness and social responsibility. While the school will be located in the Southside, it will be open to any Richmond city child. The initiative hopes to have the school open by the summer of 2009.

To find out more about the initiative or to get involved, please visit the initiative’s website.

The Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden presents garden designer Gordon Hayward in a discussion about structures in small gardens on March 8 from 9:30 until 11:30 am.

Join acclaimed garden designer and author Gordon Hayward for this discussion about structures in small gardens. Hayward looks closely at how gardeners can use small buildings and built structures such as gazeboes and arbors, pergolas and bridges, fences and decks to help find just the right place for new gardens. Learn how these structures ease the design process by helping you see how to develop new gardens in relation to existing or new structures. Built structures in our gardens are magnets for family, guests and visitors. Learn how structures help viewers frame their relationship to the garden. Finally, when you see how built structures in your garden provide anchors, centers and starting places for good garden design, you will gain confidence in designing your own gardens. $25 members / $35 non-members. Gordon Hayward’s book Small Buildings, Small Gardens, will be available for purchase and signing.