SPROUT, one of Richmond’s first Community Support Agriculture (CSA) organizations, has announced a new berry CSA serving the Richmond area. CSA essentially allows individuals and families to purchase “shares” of a harvest — for a set fee, members of a CSA receive regular deliveries of a farmer’s harvest.

SPROUT’s berry CSA will deliver weekly shares of berries and fruits every Wednesday evening at the Lakeside Farmer’s Market. Here are the details from Chris Humes at SPROUT:

WHO: Fruit and berry fans can now get in on enjoying an array of sun ripened, just picked, local berries and fruits delivered nearby!

WHAT: A weekly share consisting of a 5 lb+ tray of up to 6 pints, which includes - always blackberries, blueberries and/or peaches, plums or nectarines, and if available- raspberries. Although not certified organically grown, all products are grown with sustainable farm production practices.

WHEN: Starts Wednesday July 9th thru early September 2008 for weekly delivery! 9 weeks total.

WHERE: CSA share trays will be delivered and available for pickup every Wednesday evening from 5-7pm at the Lakeside Farmers Market at the Lakeside Town Center, 6116 Lakeside Ave. Richmond, VA 23228.

COST: $28 per week. Three scheduled payments of $84 OR pay in full to receive DISCOUNT of 10%. Space is limited- act fast!

HOW: Email chrish@threemiles.com and request your interest in joining. We will send you additional information and tell you when you can start enjoying fresh, local sweetness.

ABOUT: Agriberry LLC- 25 years ago Anne Geyer established and began directing the marketing program at Westmoreland Berry Farm near Oak Grove, VA with her husband, farm co-founder, and current farm manager Charles Geyer. With this vast expertise in dozens of summer berry varieties- Anne is eager to share with a wider consumer base. Anne is applying her range of experiences and her passion to establish other small acreage summer Agriberry sites in rural/urban counties across Virginia; starting in Hanover County in 2009. Anne is also an active board member on the National Berry Crop Initiative; a member of the Virginia Farm Bureau Specialty Crop Committee; a District 17 representative for the Virginia Extension Leadership Council; and a Hanover County Master Gardener Volunteer.

In terms of our loose coverage area, North Richmond News’ readers cross four political jurisdictions — Henrico’s Brookland and Fairfield districts, and Richmond’s 2nd and 3rd districts. Richmond.com has been profiling Richmond’s political districts as a lead-up to this fall’s School Board and City Council elections. This week: meet the 2nd District, which includes portions of North Richmond’s Rosedale and Sherwood Park communities:

Northside residents are already familiar with MacArthur Avenue’s tiny secret — the several table, take-out wonder that is Tastebuds. Now Tastebuds American Bistro is expanding into the former Sammy’s Bakery space. Style Weekly has some new details on the move:

Also staying within a coin toss of its current location, this tiny favorite gets a larger space in the next month or so at the former Sammy’s Bakery, 4019 MacArthur Ave. “Our food has been very well-received,” chef-owner Andrew Wisniewski says, “and we want to make it more accessible, with a wider price range. And we’re still committed to making everything ourselves.” Seating for 36, a small beer and wine bar, and a few changes to the take-out program are in the works.

The Times-Dispatch reported on the growth of franchise businesses in the Richmond area this week, and Lakeside’s Virginia Barbecue was one of the main features in the story:

[Betsy and Beau] Dabney bought a Virginia Barbecue franchise and opened it in 2006 in the Lakeside area of Henrico County…

…Beau Dabney of Virginia Barbecue warned of unexpected expenses. Construction costs are “always double the cost and then some,” he said.

Also, skyrocketing fuel prices have hit the restaurant with higher and unexpected charges for food delivery and Dumpster and linen services.

Still, these entrepreneurs say they are pleased with the decision to buy a franchise.

“To me, it’s the perfect combination of having an independently owned and operated office - but with support,” said Hecht, who owns two Handyman Matters territories, one in the Richmond area and the other in Northern Virginia.

“I’ve been barbecuing for almost 10 years,” said Dabney, who purchased the first franchise from Rick Ivey, founder of the Fredericksburg-based Virginia Barbeque restaurant system.

“Barbecue is going to be the next cheeseburger,” he said.

A typical Virginia Barbecue will cost between $36,000 and $202,000 to open, depending on the size of the restaurant, the company said on its Web site. The monthly royalty fee is 6 percent of net sales.

On Monday, the Richmond Planning Commission has given the city’s Department of Public Works a green light to proceed with the transformation of the intersection of Laburnum and Hermitage avenues from a series of stoplights to a landscaped roundabout. The commission seemed satisfied that Public Works had assuaged any concerns of the police department and Richmond Public Schools. The brief approval read:

Pursuant to Section 17 of the City Charter, at its meeting on July 7, 2008, the Planning Commission voted (6-1) to APPROVE the Location, Character and Extent of the proposed AP Hill Roundabout.

We hope to have more details on the time table soon.

The Richmond Crusade for Voters will be holding a candidates forum for the upcoming Richmond School Board elections this Tuesday, July 15th, at 7:00pm. The forum will be held at the Military Retiree’s Club at 2220 Sledd Street (off of Chamberlayne Avenue).

In the 2nd District, current board member Lisa Dawson is being challenged by Kimberly B. Gray. In the 3rd District, Norma Murdoch-Kitt is the only name on the ballot; current board member Carol A.O. Wolf has indicated she may run a write-in campaign, having failed to get her name on the ballot.

Bellevue’s flower shop Nicola Flora is looking for someone with experience with flowers, as well as good computer and people skills. Drop by Nicola Flora for an application and more details.

Local community program Boaz and Ruth is holding a talent search over the next several weeks, leading up to a final talent face-off during the September 13 Highland Park Merchants Day. The grand prize is $1,000.

The Discovering Diamonds Talent Search is our way of putting an intentional focus on capacity and gifts within reportedly one of the poorest and most crime-ridden neighborhoods in Richmond. Discovering Diamonds promotes individual and community pride, opportunities for success, and a sense of community that comes from gathering and participating in a shared, positive group experience.

This initiative not only impacts the Highland Park Community and the individuals who participate, it also a leadership learning opportunity for the Boaz & Ruth trainees who plan, organize and carry out the events under the tutelage of staff coaches.

There will be two preliminary rounds (uncompetitive of each other) — the first is next Thursday, July 17, and the second will take place August 21. Both will take place at Boaz and Ruth at 3030 Meadowbridge Road. Interested applicants should contact Boaz and Ruth for an application at 329-4900 or visit their website for a downloadable application.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens continues its summer schedule of evening activities in July with Families After Five every Tuesday evening and Flowers After Five every Thursday evening. (Regular admission applies.)

On Tuesdays, the Garden is open until 9:00 with an emphasis on the Children’s Garden and WaterPlay area. Food is available for purchase from 5:00 until 7:00pm in the Children’s Garden and WaterPlay operates until 8:30pm.

On Thursdays, the Garden is open until 9:00 with wine-tastings, live jazz and dining. The schedule for wines and performers is as follows:

For details, stop by Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s July calendar of events.

Lakeside’s unique boutique/cafe/home-and-garden shop invites you to their special Ladies’ Night Out event from 6:00 until 8:00pm on Thursday, July 24.

Enjoy a very special evening of shopping, food and fun here at Feathernesters! We will be serving up some delicious chocolate inspired desserts and other delicious goodies along with summery, cold fizzy drinks!
Meet several of our guest artists who make some of the items available here in the shop and see some special merchandise they have made just for this special evening!
The neighboring stores here at the Lakeside Towne Center will be participating also so there will be plenty to do!

For more information, visit Feathernesters online.

On Thursday, July 24, from 7:00 until 10:00pm, Lakeside’s ZED Cafe will hold a wine dinner featuring four courses plus a selected wine with each course. Call ZED for reservations. Limited seating. The wine dinner cost is $55 per person, all inclusive.

Also, be sure to check out ZED’s prix fixe dinner specials from 5:30 until 9:30pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in July. Three courses for only $23.99 per person, plus 1/2 price bottle of wine.

Visit ZED Cafe online for more details.

The Ginter Park Residents’ Association Tree Committee is encouraging North Richmond residents to partner with the City of Richmond to plant new trees in public spaces.

The City of Richmond has a program called Adopt-A-Tree where individual homeowners may make an application to the Urban Forestry Division to have a tree or trees planted on city property near the homeowner s location. The cost to the homeowner is $50.00 for the first tree and $150.00 for each additional tree. This cost is tax deductible. The City will plant these trees between November 2008 and February 2009. The City’s contractor will plant the tree and provide a “treegator” for these trees. The homeowner will be responsible for watering the tree for two years after the planting.

The location of the proposed tree will need to be approved by the City prior to the planting. These locations cannot be closer than 25 feet from an alleyway or street intersection, cannot obstruct signs, cannot be closer than 10 feet to a telephone pole or disturb underground utilities and some form of tree can be planted under overhead power lines. Also, if a shade tree is selected, it needs to be about 40 feet from other trees.

To participate in this program, each homeowner will need to fill out an application to the City and pay for the tree/trees to be planted before October 1, 2008. If the location is approved, the City will leave the homeowner a list of 3 trees that can be planted at this location. If the homeowner does not choose a tree, the City will plant the tree they feel fits the existing trees along that street. If the City disapproves the location, the homeowner’s check will be returned.

The Adopt-A-Tree program has a goal of planting approximately 660 trees in the City this year therefore applications will be handled on first come first serve basis. If you are interested in having a tree planted it is recommended that an application be submitted as soon as possible. To download an application, go to www.richmondgov.com, then choose department (Public Works), then choose Vegetation & Urban forestry at the bottom of the page. A link to the actual site will be provided on the Ginter Park Residents’ Association website.

The Ginter Park Residents’ Association’s Tree Committee is holding two classes this summer on proper tree selection, planting and maintenance for private spaces.

Ginter Park resident, Billy Davis, has offered to conduct two sessions on proper tree maintenance, selection and planting to assist us in maintaining our treescape on both public and private property. Mr. Davis is a certified arborist and horticulturist. Mr. Davis also draws from his experience as the owner of ArborScapes, LLC, a tree care company.

Both classes are free and open to the public.

Tree Maintenance Class #1 - Focus on Mulching, Fertilizing, Pruning, Insect & Disease Management

Wednesday, July 16, 2008
7:00pm - 8:00pm
St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church
Class Conducted by GPRA Resident Billy Davis

Tree Maintenance Class #2 - Focus on Proper Selection & Planting of New Trees

Wednesday, July 23, 2008
7:00pm - 8:00pm
St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church
Class Conducted by GPRA Resident Billy Davis

For complete details, download the two-page PDF on all of the tree committee’s initiatives.

Urban Views Weekly recently commemorated tennis champion and global humanitarian Arthur Ashe, who was born on July 9, 1943, and raised in Northside.

Arthur Ashe, tennis champion, humanitarian, and youth advocate, is known worldwide for his athletic achievements. Born in Richmond’s Northside, Arthur began playing the tennis courts at Brook Field, a blacks-only park and playground. His talent quickly came to the attention of leading black coaches. Until his final year of high school, he was educated in Richmond schools. After graduating first in his high school class, he won a full scholarship to UCLA and continued to compete. He served in the Army for four years, and earned the rank of second lieutenant…

…Upon his death in 1993, the public was allowed to mourn the loss when his body was displayed at the Governor’s Mansion in Richmond. No figure since Civil War General Stonewall Jackson had been so honored. On July 10, 1996, a monument in Ashe’s honor was erected at 3321 Monument Avenue. Last year, USA Today listed Arthur along with only 24 others as one of the Most Inspiring People of the Last 25 Years.

As part of the Children’s Miracle Networks efforts to “put the squeeze” on pediatric cancer, communities around the country will be sponsoring lemonade stands to raise funds for cancer research. On Saturday, July 19, the Rosedale Civic Association will host a lemonade stand to benefit Richmond’s local Children’s Miracle Network hospital — the Children’s Hospital on Brook Road.

The LemonAide Stand will be up and running on the sidewalk at Christ Ascension Church from 11:00am until 4:00pm. Get a free cookie with each purchase. Drive-up service makes participating fast and easy. All proceeds will go toward the fight against pediatric cancer.

The City of Richmond is hosting a CERT training session to educate citizens on basic disaster response methods. CERT training is an approach to emergency and disaster situations that helps citizens learn to manage utilities and put out small fires, provide basic medical aid, search for and rescue victims safely, and organize themselves and volunteers for maximum effectiveness. CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event where professional responders are not immediately available to help.

CERT training will be held on Friday, July 18, and Saturday, July 19, from 9:00am until 5:00pm at the Richmond Ambulance Authority, 2400 Hermitage Road.

Each citizen who completes the training session will receive a free CERT kit containing the necessary tools for CERT members to properly respond to an emergency.

Citizens can register for this free two-day training event by calling the City’s Office of Emergency Management at (804) 646-2504.

From the latest issue In Focus, the newsletter of Richmond Public Schools:

In an effort to improve parent communication efforts, the Public Information Office will host two communication focus groups during the month of July. Designed specifically for parents, the focus groups will help to identify ways to better communicate student and district progress. Forum dates are July 10 and 17, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Richmond Technical Center South building. To participate, contact Alfonzo Mathis at 780-7696.

The calendar is stacked with plenty of new events and activities for the entire month of July! Email us with your calendar submissions at north.richmond.news@gmail.com or use the contact link at the top of the page to submit news and information to North Richmond News. In the meantime, here are a few choice events taking place around North Richmond during the week ahead:

Peter Francisco, one of the key forces behind the new Lakeside Farmer’s Market, sent an email out over the weekend providing an update on the number of customers. In his email, Francisco reported that the vendors had more than 500 customers during last Wednesday’s morning and evening sessions, and more than 850 customers on Saturday. He also noted that the numbers were all the more impressive since the Lakeside market is one of the smaller in the region.

From the Times-Dispatch: