John Murden at RVANews points Richmonders to a growing number of neighborhood-specific Flickr photo groups spotlighting Richmond’s diverse communities.

So much of Richmond is visually interesting: the details on the buildings beautiful or decrepit, the skyline throughout the year, everything all along the James River, the cemeteries, art, the events, you name it… A handful of Flickr groups have sprung up over the past few years dedicated to photographs of Richmond and of specific areas and neighborhoods. Check ’em out and add your photos!

You can see a random stream of images from the Northside Richmond Flickr group on the righthand side of North Richmond News’ main page.

We’re a bit late with the third question that RVANews, the community news aggregator for Richmond, has put to candidates for mayor and City Council — but as long as we get the info out before the election, right?

RVANews emails questions to candidates each week; responses are emailed back. Simple stuff. You can visit RVANews to see how the mayoral candidates responded (and candidates from other districts). Here’s how candidates for the 2nd and 3rd District City Council races responded to the RVANews question of the week — “What are your thoughts on the relationship between the current mayor and city council? Outline a model for how you’d like to see the mayor and city council work together in the future.”

Charles Samuels, District 2 candidate

The current Mayor and City Council have been finding their way in what is a totally new system for Richmond. It is understandable that there have been some difficulties in sorting out the boundaries of powers and responsibilities. There is nothing wrong with fighting for what one believes. That being said, not every issue needs to go to court. I believe there is a necessity in providing quality services to the citizens of Richmond and I do not believe those can occur as they should when there is this level of infighting between the Legislative and Executive branches of government.

The model for the Mayor and City Council working together exists in many cities throughout the U.S. and in the Federal Government. The Mayor is the Executive Branch and City Council is the Legislative Branch. In a smoothly functioning city government, this division of powers provides needed checks and balances that benefit all concerned. There must be communication between the two branches. Parties on both sides have much to gain by working for the residents and not against each other.

Jonathan Davis, District 3 candidate

I am disappointed and dismayed at the relationship between City Council and the mayor. The citizens of the Third District have suffered because of the bickering and quarreling and my opponent, the incumbent, has been among the worst offenders. The priority must be on solving problems for the citizens of Richmond, sitting down, working together and building consensus, rather than grandstanding for the media. There will be reasonable disagreements and they must be handled in a constructive manner. The citizens of my district have been the losers because of the incumbent’s tunnel vision and his needing to win an argument in front of the cameras rather than address real problems.

The mayor and the council must have a cooperative, working relationship for the benefit of the citizens. My opponent has wasted valuable time bickering with the administration. It takes two to fight and my opponent prefers to grandstand his disagreements with City Hall rather than address neighborhood problems. As a City Councilman, I intend to focus on solving problems and creating a cooperative, working relationship with the mayor’s administration rather than expending time and energy bickering to prove a point. The city will never reach its full potential until the council and Mayor work together.

Just across the street from Buz & Ned’s, there’s a new place for residents from the Fan and from Northside to meet over a cold beer and a warm meal. Style Weekly has the scoop on Stronghill Dining Company:

It took two years — “like watching your own hair grow,” Rob Weaver says — but sometimes an inexplicable wait makes the payoff even sweeter. That’s pretty much the case with the city’s newest restaurant, Stronghill Dining Company, which opens this week at 1200 N. Boulevard. It’s a collaboration of experienced friends who are ready to run full-throttle, and it promises a new kind of Southern hospitality.

Weaver and his wife, Jessica, local entrepreneurial legends for a string of thriving businesses including River City Tattoo, aren’t claiming to be restaurateurs and aren’t as interested in profit margins as they are in their mission and the people they’ve recruited.

General manager Cole Bucholtz, executive chef Owen Lane and a who’s who of local servers and bartenders — “heavy hitters I don’t have to micromanage,” as Bucholtz puts it — will run the 88-seat business. Their esprit de corps is as obvious as their inked-up arms. “It’s our little island in the city,” Weaver says, “a community of people who know what they’re doing.”

Read more at Style Weekly.

As GRTC works to balance the needs of its riders with a contracting operating budget, it is inviting Richmond residents to give them feedback on proposed changes — including those impacting riders of North Richmond bus routes, the Route 20 bus along Brookland Park Boulevard and the Route 22 bus on Hermitage Road.

The Times-Dispatch has details on last week’s first public hearing:

Thomas Rogers came hoping to save North Side bus route 22.

Until last night, it was scheduled to be eliminated. Now, it might still have a ray of hope.

Without bus 22, Rogers’ only alternative is Chamberlayne route 37.

“Bus 22 is a smaller, more personal” option, Rogers said, “not crazy and crowded like Chamberlayne 37.”

Rogers was talking before the start of an informal town meeting sponsored last night by GRTC Transit System at the Richmond Police Academy on Graham Road in North Side. The meeting attracted about 30 people.

Rogers, 26, a tech employee for the city’s schools, doesn’t drive. The loss of North Side 22 would add to the time it takes him to get to and from work — to say nothing of the discomfort.

About 10 people in the crowd asked questions or made comments.

A teacher complained that it was hard to carry a lot of materials on the Chamberlayne 37 bus because it was so crowded.

GRTC Chief Executive Officer John Lewis listened to everyone’s complaints and suggestions.

Jonah Holland at Near West End News points her readers toward the dining delight that is Richmond Restaurant Week, slated to run from Monday, October 27, through Sunday, November 2.

The only Northside restaurant currently listed as a participant is Zed Cafe on Lakeside Avenue. (Stop by Tastebuds, Kitchen 64 and Northside Grille and ask them to get on the list!)

During Restaurant Week, for the low price of $25.08 you get dinner from a local restaurant — and $2.08 of each meal goes to The Central Virginia Food Bank.

It’s autumn and the leaves will soon leap from the trees and cover the yards, sidewalks and streets of North Richmond.

For residents of Bellevue, Ginter Park and Washington Park, the city will be collecting loose leaves as part of its annual vacuum program twice — between November 17 and 28 (round one) and between January 12 and 16 (round two).

For residents of Northside and Highland Park, the city will be collecting loose leaves as part of its annual vacuum program twice — between December 29 and January 2 (round one) and between February 9 and 13 (round two).

The city has published leaf collection guidelines to help residents:

Residents raking leaves to their property line for vacuum collection:

A piece of legislation proposed by the Urban Forestry Division of the City of Richmond is heading to the city’s planning commission on Monday, October 20, at 1:30pm. The ordinance states that:

Information received about the impact of this ordinance on the Fan District should be of interest to Northside property owners. According to Fan resident Calder Loth, the Fan District:

The meeting is open to the public.

In November, ReFinery, a consignment shop specializing in women’s wear, will open at 1221 Bellevue Avenue:

Richmond’s newest consignment shop, specializing in women’s wear, will be opening soon in north Richmond’s Bellevue neighborhood.

ReFinery will carry like‐new, ready‐to‐wear‐condition apparel and accessories in sizes ranging from petite to plus‐‐‐coats, jackets, suits, dresses, skirts, slacks, sweaters, blouses, tops, lingerie, hats, scarves, gloves, handbags, belts, shoes, and jewelry. ReFinery will offer fun and funky objects for the home. Inquiries are welcome anytime and consignors are encouraged to make contact after October 15. You can reach owner Linda O’Neal at refinery.inc@verizon.net.

“Star Bright, Star Light” – a joint production of Richmond’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities and the Richmond Astronomical Society (RAS) — has been firmly rescheduled for October 23 at 6:30pm in Bryan Park.

Members of RAS will set up their telescopes on the park’s soccer fields for a spectacular view of the night sky. You will be able to discover the mysteries of Jupiter and its cloud belts and four of its moons, which were first discovered by Galileo in 1610, as well as see the night sky’s double stars and star clusters.

A brief program will kick off the event to introduce guests to the objects in the sky, and members of RAS will provide sky maps. In addition, an LCD monitor will show real-time pictures of the telescopic views.

The public is encouraged to bring binoculars so RAS members can point out the many objects in the sky to explore on your own.

The program is free to attend. For more information, e-mail president@richastro.org.

The Richmond Police Department’s monthly report for Sector 412, which covers much of Northside, has been released for September. Highlights include:

The City of Richmond’s DepartmentCity of Public Utilities recognizes Public Natural Gas Week through October 11:

As a member of the American Public Gas Association (APGA), the City of Richmond operates the country’s eighth largest municipally owned natural gas utility. The City joins with other APGA member utilities in this annual national observance intended to build public awareness of the benefits of having a community-owned distribution system.

The City’s natural gas utility serves 105,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in the City of Richmond, Henrico County, and portions of Chesterfield and Hanover counties.

“Natural gas is the cleanest burning and most efficient fossil fuel. It is environmentally friendly and reduces green house gas emissions by up to 29 percent. This week offers an ideal opportunity to remind current and potential natural gas customers of the benefits of natural gas,” says DPU Director Chris Beschler.

The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) invites the public to stop by a display set up in City Hall during Public Natural Gas Week to register to win a DPU prize pack. The names of two winners will be drawn on Monday, Oct. 13, 2008.

A forum for the five candidates running for mayor will be held at 7:00pm on Thursday, October 9, at Holton Elementary School at the corner of Laburnum Avenue and Hermitage Road. The forum, North Richmond civic associations and the Holton PTA, is free and open to the public.

Chattering Children and Speak Up School will be holding a Community Fun Day on Sunday, October 26, from 1:00pm until 4:00pm in celebration of their move to their new location at 1307 Lakeside Avenue. There will be a bouncy castle, ice cream, face-painting, hot dogs and live music for children of all ages.

Chattering Children is a non-profit organization for children with hearing loss, helping children learn to listen, talk and live fully without the use of sign language. This event is free and open to the public.

North Richmond News is working with the Richmond Police Department to keep the community informed of crimes in our area; there have been several crimes reported in Northside in recent days. We will report crimes by block numbers, not specific addresses:

It’s now officially open on MacArthur Avenue. Stop by and check out our newest local business.

Carver & Jackson Ward News has details on the public planning process initiated by the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RRHA) to kick off the revitalization of the North Jackson Ward Community, including Gilpin Court and Dove Street:

RRHA selected ICON Architecture Inc. of Boston as the firm to lead the agency’s planning process for the revitalization of North Jackson Ward which includes Gilpin Court and Fay Towers . ICON will serve as the Master Planner for the revitalization process, meaning the company will create a document which describes, in narrative and with maps, an overall development concept including both present property uses as well as future land development plans. ICON will also develop the planning schedule, prepare financial analyses, and engage all stakeholders, including residents, community leaders, and city political and business leadership, in a participatory process where input and design elements will be guided by realistic and sound market principles.

RRHA’s own website is thick with additional information and documents on the process.

The 3rd annual Oystoberfest Oyster Roast & Street Festival to benefit Connor’s Heroes will be held at St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church on Saturday, October 18 from 11:00am until 7:00pm. From the Times-Dispatch:

The event will be held on St. Thomas’ grounds at 3602 Hawthorne Avenue in historic Ginter Park, and will feature oysters galore, beverages, bands and a Kid Zone with games, inflatables, crafts and more. Scheduled bands include Silly Bus, Uisce Beatha, John Fetherstone, The Bart Chucker Band, The Silverbacks, and Soul Providers. A variety of food and drinks, including Oysters (on the half shell, steamed, and fried), barbecue, brats and hot dogs, soda and beer will be available for purchase.

Tickets for food and beverages can be purchased on the day of the event. Oystoberfest is free to attend, but a $2.00 donation is suggested. For more information about Oystoberfest, visit www.oystoberfest.com or call (804) 305-6520.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch’s Will Jones has details on a minor controversy flaring up in the 3rd District campaign for Richmond City Council:

Richmond City Council candidate Jonathan Davis found an inexpensive way to get cards and signs printed for his campaign.

He used four wards in the state’s Youth Industries job-training and apprenticeship program for incarcerated youth.

Davis, an advertising design instructor with the program, reported a $1,500 in-kind contribution for design and printing services from the program at the Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center.

More details on the controversy can be found here.

Bill McKelway with the Richmond Times-Dispatch has a story about a Lakeside resident whose luck turned when Henrico firefighters rescued his two dogs from his burning home:

Josh Funkhouser’s luck may have turned yesterday, thanks to Henrico County firefighters who saved his Lakeside home and two pet dogs.

Reciting a litany of ills that resembled the lyrics from a country song, Funkhouser broke up with his girlfriend a month ago, lost big time playing poker in Las Vegas last week and saw his Kenwood Avenue home rendered temporarily uninhabitable by a kitchen fire yesterday…

… The fire was discovered by a neighbor, R. Scott Ogle, who smelled smoke and called 911 after finding the house empty and hearing barking inside.

… In their first minutes on the scene, shortly after 1 p.m., firefighters located Funkhouser’s two dogs deep to the rear of the one-story house.

“It was very tough making our way back there,” said Battalion Chief Steve Wood. Six-year-old Albert, a mix, was fine and alert, pausing to offer Funkhouser a lick or two in all the post-fire commotion.

But firefighters found 2-year-old Zoe, a golden retriever, unconscious.

Firefighters rushed the dog outside and it took a team of rescue workers more than 10 minutes to revive her with oxygen on the front lawn.

Then they carried her a few blocks away to Lakeside Animal Hospital in an ambulance.

“We think she’s going to be fine,” said Dr. Kijona Key, Zoe’s treating veterinarian. “This sort of thing happens more often than you’d think.”

Near West End News has posted Zed Cafe’s planned menu for Restaurant Week in Richmond:
Appetizer
Seasonal Greens w/Caramelized Shallot Vinaigrette
Portabella Mushroom Pistachio Pate

Main Course
Moroccan Baked Chicken w/Herbed Bulgur Pilaf
Pecan-Crusted Seasonal Whitefish w/Dijon Cream
Apple-Cider Braised Pork Loin w/Roasted Red Potatoes

Dessert
Apple Pecan Cake w/Caramel Sauce
Cinnamon Pear Crisp
We posted details on Restaurant Week in Richmond earlier this month. It is scheduled to run from October 27 through November 2.