Now Lakeside boosters Peter and Sharon Francisco are doing something about it. Here’s an email the Francisco’s recently sent out to market supporters:

The Lakeside Volunteer Rescue Squad will celebrate fifty years of serving the Citizens of Henrico County and the Northern end of the City of Richmond. Without the past and present service of the members of the squad and support of the community, many citizens would not have received quality care, when it was needed the most.

Sharon and Peter Francisco, the owners of “Lakeside Farmers’ Market” would like to recognize the squads fifty years of service with a fund drive at Lakeside Farmers’ Market.

Space will be provided at the market for Lakeside Volunteer Rescue Squad to have volunteers on hand to do Blood Pressure Checks and provide information on the Squad and their mission.

Peter and Sharon Francisco will make a personal contribution to the Squad equal to the single best retail sales day of the market during the months of August, September and October.

Go buy some produce for a good cause. The Lakeside Farmer’s Market is open Wednesdays from 8:00am until 12 noon, and from 3:00 until 7:00pm, and on Saturdays from 8:00am until 12 noon.

When we moved to Richmond, we were thrilled that Zorba’s at 4026 MacArthur Ave. delivered. While not the ultimate pie in Richmond, a damn sight better than any of the other delivery options in my area. It took us a while to figure out the exact combination that has now become our standard - medium pizza with green peppers, onion, pepperoni, and extra cheese.

Zorba’s continues to be our standby when we do not feel like cooking and want to stay at home. We are having our standard tonight along with a bottle of Enotria Barbera from Mendocino. Just what a Monday needed!

If you live in Northside, call them up at 264-5370. They need a $10 minimum to deliver and are open 7 days a week from 4-10 PM.

The Boulevard Project, as it’s affectionately called, was officially opened for bidding back in January when the city issued a Request for Qualifications — essentially asking interested developers to demonstrate they had what it would take to transform the placeless acreage into a destination. Since the RFQ was being coordinated by The Staubach Company (Yes, that Staubach.), the concept even seemed viable…

…But now the Boulevard Project is back on track, apparently. When I contacted the Mayor’s Press Secretary, Linwood Norman, he emailed to let me know that the RFQ’s had advanced to an actual Request for Proposals. Those are due this Friday.

You can catch up on all of my coverage of the proposed project here.

Northside crafter Kelly McCants posted a few photos of the National Night Out event held on MacArthur Avenue. The event was a joint production of the merchants along MacArthur and Bellevue avenues. The photos can be found at McCants’ Modern June weblog.

Photo by Brandon Fox

Northside food critic and weblogger Brandon Fox recently surveyed four of Richmond’s favorite farmer’s markets, including the new Lakeside Farmer’s Market in North Richmond. Her article appears in the August edition of Home Style, the monthly home-and-garden insert to Style Weekly. Here’s what she had to say about the Lakeside market:

The smallest of markets is also the only one with a 1949 white pick-up truck parked next to it, and the only one in Henrico regulated by the Virginia Department of Agriculture. Just eleven vendor spots are available at the Lakeside Farmer’s Market. No crafts–only food, plants, and produce are sold, and with two sets of hours on Wednesdays and another set Saturday morning, the more distracted of us have our best chance of remembering to go instead of having to wait until the market rolls around the following week.

Hanover Produce is there in the afternoon on Wednesday with the best tomatoes in town, as is Pleitez Produce, and the new fruit and berry CSA, Agriberry. In the morning you’ll find peaches from Lowe’s Arlington Farm, lemon cucumbers from Pleasant Field Farm, and Chile Llama Farm has been known to bring up to six different kinds of garlic. It’s hopping on Saturdays with plenty of produce, freshly baked goods, as well as eggs, pork and beef. Market manager Peter Franciso worked three years with the county to get the project off the ground, and so far, despite worries about competition from other markets and a desire to keep things small, he sees it grow every week.

Go read the whole article.

In addition to tons of pictures, the Retro Richmond post includes lots of details about what entertainment on MacArthur Avenue (formerly Rappahanock Street) was like way back when, including:

Please note that the Rosedale Civic Association and the Washington Park Civic Association have made the decision to cancel the planned activities for the evening. Both associations have asked that the neighbors support the effort to fight crime by turning on your front and back lights, sit on your porch, visit with and hold neighborhood events.

Bancroft & Alvis Neighborhood Watch | 405 Bancroft Avenue

Highland View Civic Association | Richmond Henrico Turnpike and Dove Street

Southern Barton Heights | Park @ Poe & North Avenue

Chamberlayne Gardens Apartments | 4300 Block Chamberlayne Ave. - Rear parking Lot

Old Brook Square Homeowner’s Association | 3947 Old Brook Road

Bellevue Merchants Association | 4000 Block MacArthur Avenue

Battery Park Civic Association | Stone House 2803 Dupont Circle

Ginter Park Resident’s Association | 3423 Noble Avenue (There are also events planned at 3217 Edgewood Avenue; 3810 Hawthorne Avenue; 5000 West Seminary Avenue)

North Central Civic Association | Park @ Fendall Avenue & Ladies Mile Road

Ginter Park Resident’s Association | 3613 Hawthorne Ave

The weather report says we can expect regular temps of 101 on Tuesday, the day of National Night Out. As the heat index will probably have it somewhat higher, the Association board voted tonight to cancel Rosedale’s participation in the National Night Out event this year.

… to show your solidarity in the fight against crime, your support of our Richmond Police Officers and your fellow neighbors, please keep your front/back porch lights on overnight this coming Tuesday, Aug. 5.

For more information on Boaz and Ruth, check out the website www.boazandruth.com. To reserve your spot at this free luncheon, email reservations@boazandruth.com! These luncheons are held twice a month, every month, on the first and third Tuesdays, and always from 12:00 until 1:30pm.

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.

“It’s not coming together like we hoped,” said Tracy Giddens-Jarrett, longtime volunteer and five-year president. “We may even have to drop down to just one day. A band has volunteered, and we might be able to have people come by for a hot dog or something. Our lifetime members will show up, of course, but mostly we’ll just be here.”

“Being here” for Lakeside volunteers means 24 hours a day, seven days a week for 50 years.

The all-volunteer force — 69 people ranging from ages 16 to 70 — handles about 3,500 calls a year and puts in 30,000 hours annually in actual real-time missions.

Giddens-Jarrett had envisioned displays, children’s activities, music, food, 50-year commemorative gifts and games for the celebration.

“We budgeted $12,000; less than $1,000 has come in,” she said.

The squad is still accepting donations for the anniversary event, and encourages the community to stop by for a visit on August 16.

We swung by the Lakeside Farmers’ Market this Saturday morning and loaded up on cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, corn, cantaloupe and cut flowers. Vendors were also unloading beans, watermelon, potatoes, peaches, blackberries, blueberries and much more.

The market is open twice on Wednesdays — from 8:00am until 12 noon, and again from 3:00 until 7:00pm. The market’s Saturday hours are 8:00am until 12 noon.

Feathernesters is taking lunch reservations now at 262-7305 for Lite 98 fans interested in “dining” at Kat’s Cafe.

Also, on August 4, the department will begin its three-week driver education training class for new bus drivers. To further promote their theme, “On Time, On Purpose,” the department will also conduct a day of professional development for all staff on August 27.

For more information, contact the Department of Pupil Transportation at (804) 674-1234.

The training will equip first-time and experienced progressive activists, organizers, and campaign staff with effective tools for success this election year. Participants will learn effective electoral organizing skills such as: Direct Voter Contact, Online Organizing Tools, Campaign Planning and Management and more.

The training cost is $20 and covers training materials and food. Partial scholarships are available to help cover the training cost as well as hotel accommodations.

The training is supported by leading organizations in the state such as: the Virginia Organizing Project, the Virginia Interfaith Center on Public Policy, and the Virginia League of Conservation Voters. You can register online for the training here.

“Water conservation is a regional effort that requires citizens in all localities to work together,” says Richmond Mayor L. Douglas Wilder.

If significant rainfall eliminates the current low water level conditions, voluntary water conservation measures may be avoided.

Citizens are reminded of the following steps to take to make the most efficient use of watering year-round, especially during voluntary restrictions:

Do not water your street, driveway, or sidewalk. Position your sprinklers so that water lands on the lawn and shrubs and not the paved areas.

Do not leave sprinklers or hoses unattended. Your garden hose can pour out 600 gallons or more in only a few hours. Use a kitchen timer to remind yourself to turn off the water.

Water during off-peak demand hours, between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

Check sprinklers and outside water connections for leaks.

Do not leave the water running while performing tasks such as brushing your teeth or washing your face.

Take shorter showers. Decreasing your shower time by 2 minutes can save several gallons of water.

Did you ever want to learn how to identify trees? Or how to properly prune a young tree to insure good development? Are you interested in taking care of the trees in our community? Richmond Tree Stewards training may be for you!

Class topics include: Tree Identification, Tree Biology, Selecting Planting Sites, Selecting Trees, Planting and Care, Health and Maintenance, and Proper Pruning Methods. Classes will be taught by area professionals in the tree care industry.

Registration is $95. Each participant is also asked to commit to 20 hrs of community service upon completion of the program.

Tree Stewards who have completed the class in 2004-08 may sit in the classes at no charge. Pruning Tools will be awarded to participants completing the class. If the participant does not complete the class they will not receive the tools.

Classes will be held on Tuesdays in October, November, and December. Classes on Tuesdays will be from 6:30-8:30PM at the round house in Byrd Park. The Tree Planting class will be held on Sat. From 9:00A-12:00PM TBA.

Richmond Tree Stewards
APPLICATION: (.pdf) - (.doc)

Registration is available online at www.amfamfit.com or at any of the six area American Family Fitness locations. The entry fee is $25 before Oct. 1, increasing to $35 after that date. Visit the Children’s Hospital website for more race information or corporate team details.

There has been a lot of discussion over the past months regarding a proposed traffic roundabout at the intersection of Hermitage Road and Laburnum Ave., when the A.P.. Hill Monument and grave site reside. It is a good thing that the city administration is looking into ways to make this difficult intersection a safer place to travel. The traffic engineering department was invited on multiple occasions to come to the 3rd District held on the fourth Wednesday of every month, but declined. To their credit, the traffic engineering department held two meetings in the community and went before the Committee of Architectural Review and the Planning Commission. On July 7th, the Planning Commission gave its final approval with one dissenting vote, which came from the Commissioner who lives two blocks from this intersection. Despite these hearing and forums, people who had attended several or most of these meetings, told me that their questions were not being addressed or being treated in a dismissive manner. Some of the folks that approached me have been formally trained in these matters.

It was at that time that I intervened and introduced an ordinance to prohibit the roundabout at the end of the July 14, 2008 City Council meeting. Even before it was introduced, during the Council meeting, I wrote an email to the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer over Public Works and copied the Presidents of the 3 civic associations that surround this intersection informing them that this action was taken not because I was necessarily opposed to the roundabout but that citizens still had legitimate questions about it.

School Board member Carol Wolf has said that her questions were responded to by the traffic engineering department. I am glad that happened and hope that continues to be case for all citizens. However, it is important to note that her questions were not responded to until after the Ordinance prohibiting the roundabout was introduced.

People who are raising questions about this issue are being labeled as opponents of this project. I disagree; we are simply seeking answers. In this particular case, there are 3 civic associations which abut this intersection and there is not uniformity in their opinions. Bellevue Civic Association has given their full support for the project as currently proposed. Rosedale Civic Association has stated support for the project “provided that it has been well and thoughtfully prepared.” Finally, Ginter Park Residents Association has not yet officially taken a position on this matter.

As a Council representative, it is my duty to make sure that our city government is responsive and accountable to its taxpaying citizens. It was my responsibility to step in when my constituents’ legitimate questions were going unanswered. Some feel that they have sufficient information and are supportive of this roundabout. However, today, I am not there. Here’s my pledge to you: if and when convinced of the roundabout’s merit, the ordinance that would prohibit this roundabout will be withdrawn.

Chris Hilbert