archive for February, 2008
February 17, 2008
site stuff
Hey folks. You’ve likely noticed that the site was down a few days. Sorry ’bout that. We moved the site to a new host and encountered some interesting technical details along the way. There’s still some kinks to work out, e.g., the site is presently current through Jan 14 2008– we hope to have it updated to last week later today.
February 22, 2008
site stuff, II
The revive of Jan14-Feb14 posts/comments still being in the hands of some web engineers, and a bunch of announcements piling up, we’re going active again and may at a later date try to effect a fun merge. In other words, let’s play.
February 22, 2008
Ward 3 meeting to be March 3
Ward 3 School Board and City Council reps (Kenneth L. Pritchett and Ken Pritchett, respectively) will hold a ward meeting at Walnut Hill Elementary School, March 3, 7 PM. School superintendent Dr. James Victory will give a progress report on the schools, Police Chief John Dixon will speak on the new initiatives he has implemented since his tenure began last summer, and City Manager David Canada will give an update on the state of the city going into this Budget planning season.
February 22, 2008
Requesting that you wear a hat and gloves
Thalhimers 2nd annual fashion event and luncheon returns April 12. You will have the opportunity to see the private collection of Thalhimers fashions and store memorabilia belonging to Gwen Cooper, the owner of Second Hand Rose. Additionally, you will be able to sample some the of the original recipes from the Thalhimers Tea Room, provided by Old Towne Catering, and you can enter a drawing for a vintage 1950’s Richmond charm bracelet. Read more >
February 22, 2008
PSAs from PPS
1) SAT workshops Feb 23 & Mar 8, 9am-noon at Petersburg High School. Read more >
2) Special Education advocacy training workshop, Feb 26, 6:30-8:30pm, at Tabernacle Baptist Church.
3) Community Empowerment Day, Mar 8, noon-4pm, at Vernon Johns Middle School.
February 22, 2008
For posterity sake: Agenda, Feb 20 School Board meeting
Click here to read the Feb 20 2008 School Board meeting agenda.
February 22, 2008
For posterity sake — City Council: Feb 19 Agenda
February 22, 2008
Do you have a Sears (or other) “kit” home?
Sears Kit Home author and architectural historian Rosemary Thornton will lecture on Sears and other kit homes at the Colonial Heights Middle School auditorium (500 Conduit Rd.), Feb 26, 6:30pm. The FREE lecture will feature photos of possible Sears and other kit homes found in the City of Colonial Heights along with information on how to identify a kit home. Ms. Thornton has expertise not only in Sears, but also Aladdin Kit Homes, Gordon Van Tine, Montgomery Ward Homes, Lewis Homes, Harris Brothers and Sterling. Read more >
February 22, 2008
Halifax Jazz & Blues Festival 2008
Downtown Petersburg, Inc. announces that plans are moving forward for the Halifax Jazz & Blues Festival 2008 on the Historic Halifax St. South Ave. Harrison St. Triangle. The event will be held on May 3rd and 4th and anticipates having as great an impact as last year. DPI and city officials have reached a mutual agreement to support this event in order to provide entertainment and education about the rich historical and cultural significance of this section of Petersburg. Read more >
February 22, 2008
Want to help sponsor the Citywide PTA’s “PTA Weekend” in May?
Petersburg Citywide PTA is sponsoring a “PTA Weekend” Friday, May 16 through Sunday, May 18. The events will include the 2nd Annual PTA Golf Tournament, a 5K Walk/Run, and a Celebrity Softball Game. This is truly a community event, with participants of all ages welcome to attend. Proceeds from this event benefit the Citywide PTA. Read more >
February 22, 2008
Exhibitors Sought for Southside Virginia Heritage Days
Event organizers are seeking exhibitors for the 12th Annual Southside Virginia Heritage Days in Dinwiddie County. The event will take place March 29 and 30 and features 19th-century living history demonstrations, as well as tours of the 1803 plantation house Fork Inn. Read more >
February 22, 2008
Workshops on the Cameron Foundation’s grantmaking process
To area nonprofit leaders: The Cameron Foundation will be holding information workshops regarding its grantmaking process on March 20, March 27, and April 3, 2008. All workshops are offered at the Foundation’s headquarters at 24 West Old St. in Old Towne Petersburg and will be conducted by the Foundation’s Program Officers, Anne Douglas, Risha Stebbins, and Najmah Thomas. Workshops begin promptly at 9:30 a.m. and run for approximately two hours. Read more >
February 22, 2008
A Walk with Heros - Stories from and about 9/11 “First Responders”
The Historic Petersburg Foundation and the City of Petersburg proudly present nationally recognized artist and humanitarian, Henry Kidd, at Union Train Station, Thursday March 6, 7pm. Mr. Kidd’s artistic talents cover two icons of America in Tragedy - The War Between the States and the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. His presentation captures the emotion and tells the stories of the “First Responders” at the 9/11 site who risked their lives to save others. You will hear what few have from the context of his role in capturing the tragic history that unfolded on that fateful day. Read more >
February 23, 2008
Dixie Diner entertainment lineup, today and tomorrow
SATURDAY: Patchen Sax, 11-noon; Dale Traylor, 7-8:30pm; Karaoke 9pm-2am
SUNDAY: Redman & Ruddock Jazz noon-2:00pm; Jazz, 3:00-4:30pm
February 23, 2008
120,000 feet of twine suggests possibility
Petersburg-based artists, Joshua F. Gomez and April Morales, will unveil their latest site-specific art installation, Efficere, Friday Mar 14 at the Petersburg Regional Arts Center. Efficere will be the largest installation in the center’s eight-year history. 120,000 feet of bailing twine will surround the columns of the center’s 8,000 sqft. main gallery as a public demonstration of the magnitude of possibility Petersburg holds. The installation will be on display through the month of March. In the week leading up to the unveiling of efficere, (March 8 - 14) the two artists will be publicly constructing installations in the front windows of the center as Performance art. Each performance will start promptly at 12:00 pm and last for approximately one hour each day. The artists’ intentions are of not only changing the environment in Petersburg, but the reputation of Petersburg as well. Read more >
February 23, 2008
A neighbor writes in about shots fired in front of his home
A neighbor writes: Around 1:00 P.M. [Feb 18], mid-day, while working in the backyard, heard four shots fired in the street. Went around to the corner of the house in time to see a black car speeding away up the block. Found three of the four shell casings in front of my house. 9mm. I wondered if I had been working in the front of the house instead of the rear they would have thought it good sport to shoot me. My wife and daughter were not pleased by this event. Do you think Petersburg will ever decide to enforce its laws and scatter these people? Or, is it just something we are expected to tolerate. I look at my tax bill, the state of the roads and sidewalks, the drug houses and illegal group houses that operate with impunity. I shake my head. I think: I must be stupid to be here.
February 23, 2008
2008 Annual Wine & Beer Gala: March 7
This event, benefiting Petersburg Chamber of Commerce, presents a selection of libations from around the world. Tickets are $30 per person, and are available at the Chamber of Commerce office and the Brickhouse Run. Read more >
February 24, 2008
Researching house history, Walnut Hill area
Hey folks — anyone know how to determine where/if original designs that correspond to early 20th century vintage houses in Walnut Hill can be located (and/or if any particular houses in the area have been shown to correspond to Sears or similar kit houses — on that note, we may be able to learn more about that question at this week’s lecture)? For example, through a deed search I found that McKesson Land Corp. built a bunch of houses in Walnut Hill, and through the State Corporation Commission I found that McKesson dissolved in 1950 (explaining why they are un-Google-able) — that’s as far as I got. Do fire insurance maps (aka, Sanborn’s maps) exist for this area at any office/library? Has anyone else chased down further details on the area? How about photos that date back to the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s? (If others want to start similar threads on other neighborhoods, we’ll be happy to oblige.)
February 25, 2008
Condemned, plus a Battery
A few finds from a stroll through Walnut Hill yesterday.
Condemned: 1751 Sherwood (built 1940)
February 25, 2008
Preservation workshops in April - updated details
In April the City of Petersburg’s Dept. of Planning will host a series of preservation-related lectures: “What it means to be in a historic district”, “Restoring historic windows”, and several presentations on historic paint colors. Click here for a flyer with all the location/time/etc. details.
February 25, 2008
From PPS: Read Across America Day is March 3
Monday, March 3 is Read Across America Day (Dr. Seuss’ Birthday Celebration). At 1 pm, Stuart Elementary School in Petersburg will have an author presentation as part of its participation in this event. This is a sponsorship with Capital One (Stuart’s “reading buddies”), which has a partnership with Heart of America.
February 26, 2008
On last night’s 2008-09 school budget meeting
Read here for the P-I article. A few highlights: enrollment is expected to fall, and thus monies from the state purse are expected to fall; meanwhile, paying more competitive salaries will continue to be a focus.
February 26, 2008
Cool mural
Trivia question: any guesses where this mural is located?
February 27, 2008
Save the date: 2008 Historic Garden Tour of Petersburg, April 22
Details on the participating gardens, luncheon, fashion show, and other special events are now available. For detailed information, go to the Petersburg Garden Club’s Garden Week webpage. Read more >
February 27, 2008
David Shaffer-Gottschalk performs piano recital
Virginia State University Department of Music, Art and Design presents pianist David Shaffer-Gottschalk March 2, 4pm, at Virginia State University’s Davis Recital Hall. The performance will include works by: Samuel Barber, Allan Blank, Claude Debussy, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, and Margaret Bonds.
