FORUM This is where you can sound off about issues that concern/annoy/humor you. Just send an email to editor@bellevueweb.org. Please be civil, and sign your first and last names.

Dear Neighbors and Citizens, I appeared at the public hearing on this matter and raised safety concerns based on conversation with parents and with Holton principal, David Hudson. I questioned the safety of children crossing a busy street with NO traffic lights, I questioned why no one had contacted the people in Richmond Public Schools' transportation and operations departments concerning what this means for students arriving by bus. I believe that had the traffic group pushed for the vote at the meeting, it would have gone down in flames, largely because of the concerns I presented. Meg Lawrence (Ginter Park) and Roy Reynolds (Bellevue) were there as was Irene Jennings. I think the traffic people have good intentions. I am just not convinced that this is the solution for the problem we have w/ that intersection. Respectfully, Carol A.O. Wolf Third District Member Richmond School Board 804-264-8015 (home) 804-357-2778 (cell) 26 June 2008 To email Council Member Chris Hilbert about this topic, click HERE

Chief Monroe, On March 19, Mr. Doody of DIT told the Public Safety Committee that the City intends to stop posting Incident Based Reporting System (IBRS) data on the Web and regress to posting only the Part I Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) offense data. This is a dreadful idea at several levels: First, the Part I UCR categories do not include important information, including drug offenses, prostitution, promiscuous shooting, and theft from vehicle, that are important to Richmond's neighborhoods. Second Mr. Doody's rationale is factually inaccurate and fails to justify his proposal. Finally, Mr. Doody insults the Richmond taxpayers who pay his salary by suggesting that those taxpayers are too stupid to understand or correctly analyze the IBRS data. I write to tell you that the RPD Web data surely can use improvement, such as a city-wide data category, but that Mr. Doody's proposal is a giant step backward that will conceal useful information from the public and will create new and unnecessary work for the Police Department. John Butcher 27 March 2007 To email Council Member Chris Hilbert about this topic, click HERE

Looks like they are getting ready to cut up some large portions of Bellevue (judging by the paint marks) This after all the trouble a few years ago to get it re-surfaced. Now , as before we will have to deal with the constant pot holes and badgering the city to get them repaired. What in the Hell is the city thinking, they constantly do this all over the city, re-pave/ re-surface and then a few months later the chop holes in it to replace pipes/ repair pipes,etc. Mike LaBelle 30 July 2006

Hello- I live in the Bellevue neighborhood of the city. Why in the world did the city lay gravel on Crestwood Avenue?  Our kids ride their bikes and skateboards on our paved streets.  A gravel surface is dangerous for them and our local motorcycle riders. Please do not lay gravel on any more streets in our neighborhood. Thank you.   Keith Elliott 26 July 2006 [EDITOR'S NOTE] Many of us on Crestwood were surprised to see the gravel. Upon calling the city works department, we were assured that this is a temporary situation. In a week or so, the road will be resurfaced. Or so we've been told!

Erin; Here is a link to Paul James the garden guys site, and a good article on getting rid of bamboo. I have also read you can use rock salt poured down the hollow stalks after you have cut them to within 5-6 inches of the ground. I have also read that you can install a galvanized steel barrier into the ground around the clump of bamboo to at least two feet and then cover the barrier with black plastic to smother the bamboo. Also you can cut the canes to about 5-6 inches and then paint the bamboo with roundup-full strength. They have to understand that Bamboo is a very invasive specie of plant and as such is extremely difficult to control, once it has a foothold. Your friend could also try digging up the plant and all the roots, rhizomes and then install an impermeable barrier between her and her neighbors property and that should at least slow it down from spreading and ease the control issues. I cannot believe with all the quality gardeners there are in Richmond that they cannot find someone to help with the problem. Have them call- James River Nurseries-798-2020 Tilley's Landscaping-798-8560 Green Tree Landscaping-346-0193 One of them should be able to help. Hope this info helps, Mike LaBelle 16 September 2005

Drug transactions in Bellevue On Aug. 6, about 6:30 p.m. on the 1200 block of Lorraine, a white cougar car was seen idling. Within minutes a dark blue, almost black older model van -- small, non-family type, no windows on the back passenger seats, Plymouth/ Chevrolet van with amazing, glittering hub caps (called "dubs") pulled up and an exchange was made. The plate for the cougar was written done. Since then, the police have been informed and in the neighborhood on many occasions. The van continues to appear. Sept. 8th, two neighbors and I watched a transaction between a late model, green truck with a covering over the bed and the ubiquitous van. In front of us on Lorraine Avenue! We contacted the police and a patrol car arrived shortly thereafter. The van had gone. On Sept. 12, I witnessed two transactions on Statford between Westbrook and Warren at 8 p.m. and 9:30. Police responded, but the van was gone. It is always the same van, different cars. Lt. Morley has been very interested and his officers have been great. Unfortunately, this is apparently and "call and meet" and that can occur anywhere, anytime. I have noticed a couple of things: They like wider streets and pull up under the darkest part of the street. On Lorraine, they pulled up infront of homes where the lights were not on and few cars were parked infront. They also parked up by that barnlike building near the corner of Brook Road. It is not well lit. On Stratford they pulled up between Lorraine and Warren, closer to Lorraine, where the street is darker. Also, the people on the corner weren't home. One transaction was farther down Stratford, closer to Westbrook, again, on the dark side of the street and behind that mound of dirt by the alley. If you find strange cars idling, call the police. Linda Dunham 16 September 2005

I was just wondering if anyone has had problems regarding the creeping nature of the running bamboo that is so prevalent in northside. My friends in Sherwood oaks are having a dispute with their neighbor about their beautiful, old bamboo stand, and can't get any professionals to help them. Can anyone advise? Many thanks, Erin Wright 14 September 2005

Greetings all! Due to the overwhelming response to Reggie's Seafood Grand Opening, we at Reggie's have decided to keep this train a'rolling! Starting this Friday, Reggie's Seafood will be open every weekend: Fridays from 1:00pm on, and Saturdays from 12:00pm on! Stop by soon and enjoy Reggie's famous eats! As always, you'll enjoy great prices and rockin' tunes! Come out and support your local merchants, every Friday and Saturday at Reggie's Seafood! Reggie Bracey 1 September 2005

Was the neighborhood Security patrol notified of this incident? Was the Neighborhood watch notified? This is interesting as it is the first I have heard of it and there was no notification through the neighborhood watch. Did You contact the Fourth precinct in regard to the police not responding? 646-4721 Lt. Tim Morley is the Lt. In charge of our area.646-4105 Commander of the Fourth Precinct- John Hall-Captain-646-4278 I would certainly call and raise hell over their not responding to this incident. Lt. Morley has been the patrol training officer in the past, so he knows the area. Mike LaBelle 16 August 2005

DRUG DEALING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD!!!! Police were notified and were unresponsive.  Be on the lookout for a white Mercury Cougar sports car and a early model dark blue minivan with tinted windows and chrome wheels.  A neighbor witnessed a drug exchange on Thursday August 4th around 7pm.  Several neighbors have seen the white Mercury Cougar on several occasions which indicates that Bellevue may be a regular area for their drug dealings.  Call the police immediately should you see either of these vehicles in our neighborhood.  This absolutely has to stop! Alice Buckner 15 August 2005

Good Morning Bellevue!! Would like to ask everyone to call or E-mail Mr.Mike West of the department of Public Works and Thank him for his efforts in getting Bellevue Avenue paved. It is through his tireless efforts that this had coma about. I had been after him and the department of Public Works for over a year about the potholes and the generally poor condition of the pavement. He went to his boss and asked for the money to get the paving done this year. Please send your thanks to him as he is Certainly One city employee that deserves the credit for a job well done. He has always been quick to respond and quick to come up with a solution to some tough problems. Phone-646-0999 E-Mail-WestMH@ci.richmond.va.us Thanks Everyone, Mike LaBelle 13 June 2005

I just read about the recent bicycle theft which was thwarted. It reminded me of our sons remote adventures. One bicycle was stolen off the back porch on Seminary Ave, and we suspect that the thieves watched our son bicycle into the back yard. Reminder--lock your bicycle, even if it is on the back porch. We were lucky to spot our son's bicycle being ridden in apartments off Old Brook Road, and with the assistance of police it was recovered. The more worrisome incident occurred when our son had matured to the point that we let him bicycle to the Ginter Park pool. A group of boys not from the neighborhood tried to take his bicycle away from him, and a neighbor witnessed the incident and chased down the boys and retrieved the bike. I would suggest that kids not ride flashy bikes to the pool, that identifiers like social security numbers be engraved into the bike, and that kids be educated to avoid such groups from a distance --darting if needed into a neighbors driveway. Two youths on one bike, or one walking and one on a bike are also a red flag that they may be seeking someone else's bicycle to procure. Many of us have tales of college bicycle thefts. In a prior life after having my second state-of the-art bicycle lock hacksawed at the VCU health sciences campus, I purchased a third bicycle--quite beat up and decrepit. It never was stolen! Sadly such street smarts are part of life in the City. Dan Lawrence--Ginter Park 14 May 2005

The trees in Carytown do interfere with the sidewalks, when they get too large and interfere with pedestrian traffic and parking the city either chops them up or removes them and replants a new tree. Trees and sidewalks do not normally get along well. Roots have a tendency to heave the sidewalks up and crack the sidewalks, damage sewer and water lines, etc. It's not that I do not like trees , I do I have learned these things the hard way with the severe trip hazards on our street and the challenge with getting the city to repair these sidewalks without damaging the existing old growth trees. They put in a new sidewalk on the west side of our street about 8-10 years ago and in the past three or four years the new trees the city planted had heaved the sidewalk up to a foot in the air in places , causing extreme trip and safety hazards, not to mention a liability problem for the city. Mike LaBelle 29 April 2005

Hello- I live on the 3900 block of Fauquier and am wondering what type of trees did the city plant in our median strip? I agree that the look of Macarthur would be helped by the addition of street side trees. Surely the Cary Town trees do not interfere with the sidewalk? Thanks. Keith Elliott 21 April 2005

In regard to the question posed by Brooke Ullman about the possibility of trees being planted in places on Macarthur, I would love to see tree's planted there, Although the city has a tendency to plant tree's that have root systems that destroy the sidewalks after a few years. They plant tree's that have surface running roots that destroy the sidewalks, sometimes water lines and sewer lines as well. We have experienced that problem on our street and I have seen the problem throughout Bellevue and other areas of the city. If the city can plant the proper type of tree, that will not disrupt the sidewalks and consequently cause safety issues with the sidewalks being heaved up, I would welcome the addition of tree's anywhere in Bellevue. Mike LaBelle 7 April 2005

Question: I bought my house on Greycourt (right near Holton School) and I frequent the local shops on MacArthur: "Once Upon a Vine" and "Stir Crazy", etc. I see the article on the website about Bellevue's trees missing: http://www.bellevueweb.org/neighborhood/business/new_trees_for_bellevue_avenue.htm But what about some tress curbside on MacArthur? Has anyone tried to get the city to pull up the occasional cement square and to plant a tree? Is this possible - I'd be very interested in donating time and to start a fundraiser to the cause. Is anyone else interested? Brooke Ullman 31 March 2005

[RE: Leaves in Bryan Park] The leaves will keep the cars from parking there in the springtime.... eventually, the leaves will decompose and the flower beds will have an abundance of mulch! C. Neary 16 February 2005

Ingrid; You probably need to get some help from an environmental engineer, if the city will not help you in filling out the forms, Also I believe you mean retention pond, Not detention pond. The Chesapeake bay act can sometimes be rather confusing. Hope this helps. Mike LaBelle 13 Jan 2005

[EDITOR'S NOTE] To see the new watershed map, visit http://www.richmondgov.com/visitor/images/PropChangChesBayPresAreaMap3.pdf 7 Jan 2005

I've just run into a problem getting a building permit from the city to tear down my old garage and build a new one. Did anyone notice that on January 1, 2005, the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act lines were changed and now many houses in Bellevue are in watershed area? The line now runs through my lot dividing it in half front to back. If I put my garage on my front lawn, I have no problems. However, because I want it in the back and not visible from the street, I have to deal with three different worksheets that make little to no sense to me. While I've paid for the building permit and it has been approved by every possible office, it cannot be issued until I figure out a multitude of calculations. I need to figure the current square footage that is impervious, the square footage that I want to add of impervious ground and factor in phosphorus run off and the run off from a ten year storm to determine the increased "load" in terms of pounds per year. If that is over some mysterious number, then I have to abate the run off by having having a detention pool designed to detain 6 to 12 hours of first flush runoff volume of .5 inches over the impervious area, a wet pond, ground infiltration system flushing the runoff or a grassed swale. HELP! My head is spinning and I don't know where to turn. Ingrid Olson 7 Jan 2005

Just a note to one and all, wishing all of the great people in Bellevue the Merriest of Christmas's and a Happy New Year!! Mike LaBelle 22 Dec 2004

[EDITOR'S NOTE] John Butcher (the previous webmaster) had some good pages on the speeding problem in Bellevue. I refer you to our old site... http://members.tripod.com/johnrbutcher/traffic/speeding_in_bellevue.htm 17 Nov 2004

Hello! My name is Chris Orth and My wife, Lindsay, and daughter, Isabella (13 mos) just moved into the neighborhood. We love it so far! One concern that deeply troubles us and seems to be shared amongst neighbors I have spoken with on Bellevue Avenue is the speeding motorists on Bellevue. The street is zoned to be a 25mph zone, but this limit is many times disregarded. Being new to the area, is there a history to addressing this problem, or am I one of the first to mention this? I would really like to lobby for a bit of help in solving the issue, whether it be through a traffic study, additional police patrol or signage. There are many kids that play in our front yards. I would hate to see a speeding motorist result in a preventable tragedy. Looking forward to hearing from you! Chris 16 Nov 2004

Fellow Toilers in the Bellevue Vineyard: I agree that we are the Third World of Northside, with the notable exception that our real estate taxes defy imagination. Having said that, I've lived here since 1973, and never in all those years did I get a flooded basement (with the exception of the Great Sewer Fiasco of last January, and the time the kids flushed a hairbrush down the toilet in 1985). We got about 7 inches of water in the basement during Gaston - which made a nasty mess. I haven't fired up the furnace yet (installed 1948), but aside from that, all the electrical stuff seems to be ok. I had to haul out mountains of furniture, papers and assorted important things, and now the alley is filled with unspeakable debris, crushed sofas, splintered crockery and delicious smelling carpet & linoleum. I await the jack-booted storm troopers bursting though the front door shouting, "Public Nuisance Police!! Search Warrant!!" at any moment. At which time, though I am old and infirm, I'll be handcuffed while the building and premises are carefully searched for offending "debris". Perhaps I'll be cited for having a "disorderly Super Can", or hauled away in a wire choke collar on the end of a stick, to one of the old folks homes or crack houses that populate Chamberlayne Avenue. First they will have to have me psychologically evaluated - for I have no grass, and there is a tree growing in my gutters. After many IMPORTANT OFFICIALS visit the crime scene, local news people have photographed, and editorialized on the carnage back of my garage, I will be hauled before the bar of justice. A wise judge, encouraged by a gaggle of IMPORTANT OFFICIALS weeping great tears and declaring they'd never seen such a mess, will pronounce that I am a habitual offender (for I was once cited for a torn yard leaf bag with a stick poking out of it). In their great wisdom, they will rule that my house must be confiscated, sold at public auction, the proceeds used to pay my fines, my psychological profile, and my room and board at the Apocalypse Convalescent Center. Destitute, I will wonder --- grizzled, blind, and limping piteously around the Blasted Heath (oops, I mean Brook Run), where I will no doubt catch my foot on a discarded hypodermic needle, fall into the creek and die of a concussion. The $17.00 left in my confiscated proceeds from the sale of the house will be used to dispose of my carcass when they find it hung up on a branch in the Chickahominy River next spring. I'm glad I got that off my chest. I feel much better now. I'm going to go pour another gallon of Clorox on the basement floor. Elizabeth Kambourian 27 Sep 2004

(Click thumbnail for larger photo) Last Sunday, September 19, we found a beautiful Huskie in our front yard. I sent an email to the Laburnum Park group and so far have not had any luck in finding his owner. He’s probably less than 3 years old, has a tan face with a black stripe down the center from forehead to nose, black with tan legs and underbelly. He’s wearing a flea collar, choke collar and cloth collar but no identifying tags. He’s very sweet, loves people and other dogs and is currently residing in our back yard and porch. If you know his owner, please relay this message. We’d love to reunite him with his family. Our home number is 358-9335. Julie Henley 111 Virginia Street 22 Sep 2004

Had a problem with Gaston's rain at our home on Chevy Chase Street, we got around 19 inches of water in our basement and lost the burner on our new furnace, our washer and dryer. We were of course not covered by insurance as we were not aware of a sewer/ drain backup add-on to our homeowners policy. I was in Florida at the time Gaston hit Richmond, My wife had to deal with this frightening event . When I arrived back home at the end of the week, and surveyed the damage to our belongings and our appliances, I was amazed at the amount of water we had gotten into our basement, having lived in Bellevue for over twenty years I had never seen anything like this. Then when I was told most of the water came back up through the floor drains in many people's homes I was shocked. I immediately went to the city's website looking for a link for some help, I also tried the Va. dept. of emergency management's website and FEMA. Well the city and state's website's were totally useless, NO information or links /numbers to call for help. FEMA' s website as of Friday the 3rd of September , Richmond was not even listed as a disaster area ( not until Saturday the 4th). I applied with FEMA for financial assistance and a inspector came out and surveyed the house and damage from Gaston. We were pleasantly surprised to find out we had received enough grant money to allow us to replace our washer, dryer and repair the furnace. I have spent the past two weeks disinfecting what I thought was salvageable from the basement and throwing away quite a bit of items not salvageable, Cleaned the basement and bought a pump and de-humidifier for the basement, developed severe allergies from the mold and mildew and generally was disgusted with the cities response to the Gaston damage in the northside (Namely Bellevue). Many thanks to my Neighbors John and Libby Clark and Erik Bjorklund for their help after and during the flooding. Mike LaBelle Chevy Chase Street 24 Sep 2004

[EDITOR'S NOTE] Some contact info: Dominion Power Reliability Department Roger Martin 755-5432 Va. State Corporation Commission Division of Energy Regulation Tammy Rudd 371-9611 15 Aug 2004

We too had a similar sewer backup into our basement (like Ms. Kambourian). Last year we asked the city Public Works folks to use their cameras on fiber-optic cables. They saw no problem with our pipes (nor theirs) but dug up the alley and did something. We have not had a problem since (but now have a lake in the alley where they did their digging). Between the sewage backups and the power outages, I am beginning to view Bellevue as being a third-world neighborhood. The number of electricity outages is ridiculous. I am speaking of the power grid that covers most homes on the west side of Fauquier Ave. and most Bellevue homes south of Bellevue and west of Fauquier Ave. The power went out four times yesterday, with one five-hour break (from 10:00 in the evening until about 3:00 in the morning). I have lived here 18 years and the power goes out on this grid significantly more (and for longer periods of time) than any other grid I have ever seen. The grid on the east side of Fauquier Ave. rarely goes down and I can think of only one outage where the west-siders got back power before the east-siders. In Isabell we lost power for 12 days. This was longer than anybody I know. I am the HR chief for over 2,500 people from all around the Richmond area and I was not aware of any employee, even on remote rural farms, who did not have power restored before us. (By the way, the east-side grid got power back several days before us west-siders.) Over the last 18 years, the grid has been out an average of at least 36 hours a year. What can we do to get Dominion Power to address this problem? Rich Souser 14 Aug 2004

If any of my fellow Bellevuers have problems with their sewer lines, i.e., backing up into the basement, toilet, or whatever inlet is available, please read this carefully. In January I had a massive backup into my basement. After getting it routed out by Roto-Rooter (to the tune of $300), it happened again within a month. I called the city. They declared they couldn't get anyone out there as they had ever so many emergencies all around the city. I advised them that my basement is a studio apartment where my sister, and her heart-transplant patient husband live, and the large amount of sewage coming up through the floor was not conducive to good health. The city servant still swore he couldn't get here for a couple of days - even though I had an ever-increasing influx of WHO-KNOWS-WHAT coming out of the basement floor. I told him I would throw a stick of dynamite down the drain and see if that would open it up. He arrived within the hour, with his nifty video camera. After several routs, toilet extractions, and cameras on fiber-optic cables were shoved down the offending pipe, the city fellow declared my line was full of roots, "low spots", broken sections, and maybe even Jimmy Hoffa. His analysis of the situation was that I needed to back-hoe the entire back yard, and excavate under my concrete 2-car garage, and replace the entire pipe. It was clear, he swore, that it was a problem on my property, not on the city's. After getting estimates ranging from $9,000 to $15,000 to replace the pipe (this ungodly amount would not even improve the looks of the place), I decided to look at the video the city made. I called them, and they said I could have a copy for $25. I purchased it and gave it to one of the gentlemen who had made an estimate. His name is Scott Toler, and if you EVER need this kind of work - DO call him. He took it home and looked at it. He called me back and said he had viewed the video, and declared that he had never seen such a clean, lovely, pristine condition sewer pipe in his life - it had a "low spot" but that wasn't causing a problem. However, said he, the fitting at the end of the pipe, belonging to the city was installed wrong, and was causing a ledge to be present at the end of the pipe, along the bottom surface. (Imagine two tubes stuck together at the end at a 45 degree angle. (No elbow fitting, just stuck together). This ledge was causing the back-up. He told me to have a look at the video and call the city back. Fortified with a barrel of popcorn and a bottle of whiskey, I sat down to view the entire length of my 81 year old sewer on the VCR. It was just as Mr. Toler said, perfect until it reached the recent "capital improvement" the city had done last summer. I did notice that there was a matching gap of about 2 inches in the top of the pipe, just opposite the ledge in the bottom. I wonder whose land was polluted with that run-off? After four months of going up the chain of command, I finally got the big kahuna, who said they would all get together and review the situation. Prior to this I had been told that: "the camera was upside down" "it's supposed to look like that" "the ledge is on the top of the pipe" "we don't see any ledge or gap" About two months ago, a previously unspoken-to city official called me and said they had installed a "ferco" joint on the pipe. I think it was true, too, as there was a recent excavation behind the garage. SO: If the sewer backs up: 1) Get the city to come make a video tape - it's free, but you have to pay $25 for a copy. Roto-Rooter wanted $200 for a video. 2) Don't believe anything they (the city) tell you 3) Call Scott Toler to look at the tape. (I have his number) 4) Look at it yourself 5) Make sure you have a problem in your pipe before you send in a crew of coal miners to dig under the garage To those of you who live on the north side of Laburnum near Brook Road: you got the same capital improvements that I did. Had any problems? If not, they probably ran out of "ferco" joints when they got to my house, and said, "what the hell, we'll just jam this last one together. Elizabeth Kambourian 13 Jul 2004

[EDITOR'S NOTE] The number for Animal Control is 646-8648 (After hours dial 780-5123) I don't think the city has a department of Neighbor Control! In the refrigerator? RE: Samis Grotto - no indication of that here...

In response to D.Payne... That Chow mix that gave your the "Stink Eye" near Avondale is named 'Patch' he belongs to my neighbor. My wife and I call him 'Butterfinger'. First week we moved into our house we saw this dog running around with a pound# of butter in its mouth. Wrapper and all. So 'Butterfinger' seemed an appropriate name. 'Patch' aka 'Butterfinger' is harmless- - His 'Poo" is not. Repeated calls to Animal Control and the owner might have solved the problem. Please feel free to call AC if you see the dog out on his own. I have seen the dog stop traffic  on Brook RD. south of Union Seminary. He gets around! Is there a number to call for neighbor control? Where does a dog find a whole # of butter? Is Samis Grotto a Cult? D.Jones 1315 Avondale 10 Jul 2003

In response to Tom Buckner's post of worry over RPS's failing quality-- I was homeschooled from kindergarten up to 7th grade, whereon I attended 7 Hills School for two years. Following that, I went to Open High School up until November, when the misery exerted upon me from that school became too much to bear, and I dropped out into homeschool again. I consider homeschool a wonderful option if it is done right. The first thing I would advise you to do is pick up The Teenage Liberation Handbook by Grace Llewellyn from the bookstore or library. It's a fantastic book on homeschooling and the endless options it opens up. Llewellyn points out the many, many faults that the school system (not just public) has. She has legal advice, curriculum suggestions, etc. It's really a great read even if you aren't considering homeschooling. I, for one, think the school system is total trash. I can't stand being in a building for 7 hours every day, regardless if it's a nice day out or not. Daniel Payne 05 Jul 2004

Three times during the past three weeks (as of July 3, 2004), teenagers have been going door-to-door in Bellevue selling candy for the supposed charity "The After School Program for Teens Against Drugs and Gangs", often just called "Teens Against Drugs and Gangs".  Bellevue residents should be aware that this is somewhat of a scam which may or may not be taking advantage of the teenagers who doing the selling.  The organization is out of Chesapeake, VA and it is not registered with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.  When giving any donation, always determine how much of the donation will actually be used for charitable purposes versus overhead and fundraising purposes. Contributions to "Teens Against Drugs and Gangs" may not be used for charitable purposes, per http://www.vdacs.state.va.us/news/releases-b/062403jrachiever.html [EDITORS NOTE - THIS DOCUMENT NO LONGER ONLINE (20050821)] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - STATE WARNS PUBLIC ABOUT SOLICITATION BY THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR TEENS AGAINST DRUGS AND GANGS June 24, 2003 Contact: Marion Horsley, 804/225-3820 "The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA) cautions consumers that an organization based in Chesapeake, Virginia, called The After School Program for Teens Against Drugs and Gangs has solicited contributions from Virginia citizens for allegedly charitable purposes. However, this organization has not registered with or been granted the appropriate exempt status by the Commissioner as required by law. Therefore, contributors are cautioned that their contributions to such organization may be used for non-charitable purposes." "OCA has received reports that The After School Program is using teens to go door to door to sell candy and representing that the funds would be used to "keep kids off the streets."" - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dan Salkovitz Avondale Avenue 3 Jul 2004

How come nobody posts things on the forum anymore? I've got something: What say we flood out Grass Alley (the little valley-like pathway between Crestwood/Pope and Stanhope) and make some sort of huge, natural swimming pool? I mean, clearly it was some sort of river in the past--it's a lush concave path, and it's still got a stream (albeit through the sewers) running underneath it. Who's with me?! I want to go swimming in Grass Alley! Or you know what? I'm suddenly having this urge to reconsider. If we flood it, the rabbits will all run away, and those rabbits are usually what's on our dinner table five nights out of seven. Just kidding! We don't REALLY eat rabbits. But we can scratch the idea of the Grass Alley pool. I was just kidding about that one, you know? Sincerely, Daniel Payne 15 Jun 2004

Citizens of Bellevue: As a parent in Bellevue I have one concern, our children. There are many issues that concern me within our community and I would like to know if anyone else may have similar concerns. I live on Lorraine Avenue and love our wonderful community. Two of my concerns are the speeding in our community and the educational opportunities. I would like to know from ANYONE that also may be concerned about these issues as I have been thinking of several alternatives to help protect our children and make Bellevue a safer place for everyone. I have heard many of our residents claim that they will move from our neighborhood due to school options in the near future. I have consulted with an education professional and have started an investigation into a Bellevue Charter School. If approved we could get state and federal funding and give our children an alternative than our failing neighborhood schools. I support public education, but obviously the problems that persist in our public schools are not being resolved and I for one will not sit back and hope the issues are resolved prior to my children being forced into a poor, failing rediculous educational environment. Anyone interested or that may have information to pass along can call me at home 264-4420. Thanks Tom Buckner Lorraine Avenue 10 Jun 2004

Found: Golden Retriever about 3 months old, male, found at Chamberlain and Overbrook Road on Wednesday, March 3. Call 740-6196 5 Mar 2004

I'd like to alert neighbors who live on Westbrook, Lorraine and other streets close to the Westminster-Canterbury construction site that numerous RATS have been seen in the area. They have been seen in wood piles and two neighbors report that they have eaten holes in their sheds and have found droppings inside. Another neighbor reported a dead rat in her yard. Obviously, vermin have been displaced from their happy homes across the street in Henrico due to the construction. I'll be sending a letter to W-C and the Department of Public Health to put them on notice. In the mean time, check your sheds and other outbuildings. If you find the need to put down poison, please do so in a way that does not endanger curious kids or dogs. The outdoor cat community will likely kill some and leave them in our yards. If you come across a dead rat, dispose of it immediately to prevent kids and dogs from coming in contact. Susan Burgess 1421 Westbrook Ave. 5 Mar 2004

Dear Mr. Johnson: I wrote to you a couple of years ago regarding my ridiculous tax assessment on my house. You told me you were working tirelessly to reduce the tax rate, but that I should be happy my house was worth so much. Please look at the following: 1998: $102,600 2000: $111,400 (+8%) 2001: $132,200 (+16%) 2002: $152,100 (+13%) 2003: $168,800 (+10%) 2004: $ 185,700 (+9%) Total increase from 2000 to 2004 is 40% I have requested (from the now discredited assessor) a review back in 2001. It wasn't worth the city's time to come and examine this property. Obviously I am STILL not important enough to have my property looked at. Comparing this house to similar ones in the neighborhood, I see that they have gone up in value almost dollar for dollar - same as mine. This tells me that NO valid comparison is being made, and I am being literally ripped off by the lazy assessor, who can collect his paycheck, but cannot serve the citizen. This house is 81 years old. It has an oil furnace, converted from a coal furnace in 1948 It has a bad roof, which leaks It has damaged eaves It has no air conditioning It has a 1960s kitchen It has a 1924 bathroom It needs to be painted (a job I continually put off, as I'm paying outrageous monthly installments into my escrow account to feed the city - which spends MY money on other neighborhoods, persons, projects, fraud, ineptitude, deceit, wrongdoing, kickbacks and other unnamed scullduggery. I am a single mother. I bought this house in 1973, when no one would touch a house in the city of Richmond with a barge pole --- due to bussing. Now, 31 years later, when the schools are completely ruined, the government untrustworthy, I am being forced out of the city by the extortion practiced by the assessor's office. When is the city going to do something for people who need their help? I'm sick of subsidizing every crack head, social security benefit fraud, tosspot, wastrel in this city - especially the ones that are infesting Chamberlayne Avenue. I'm sick of Neighborhoods in Bloom, which is palming off ramshackle hulks in Highland Park for $150,000 and up, on an unwary public (no doubt these are being pushed with various "programs, subsidies, tax breaks") --- all of which I am paying for. I don't want to hear how my house has increased in value. It in no way is worth $185,700. I can't get ahead of these vicious tax assessments long enough to do anything to make it presentable. Furthermore, the rotten City of Richmond Sewer maintenance people have installed a pipe in the alley into my sewer line, which is wrongly installed and is blocking the end of my line. My basement continually backs up with feces. A video of my sewer pipe, made by Mr. White himself, shows this to be the case. I cannot get him to return my calls. While he dawdles and puts off my problem, I have sewage int he basement, since the first of the year. I think I'll consult a lawyer. Why should I be victimized by the City any more? You have made life here impossible. I can be cited for code violations when I put a mattress out back, but it's ok for the city to cause fecal matter to be present in my basement. And for all this (not to mention the unconstitutional treatment my children got in the city schools), I get to pay $300+ per month for the honor of being used as a milk cow for the "city projects" by the likes of Gwen Hedgepeth, Sa'ad El Amin, Leonidas Young, Chuck Richardson, and a host of other "community leaders". I also get to pay extravagent monies for the Mayor to feed the Towing Board!!! What is that all about? Oh, yeah, a lot of my money went to the "school for unfortunate children" run by the crook in Fulton Bottom, who couldn't produce any students. Maybe some of my money can go to the Sheriff, so she can get new glamor shots made of herself - and maybe get a membership to the Country Club of VA. I am forwarding this to all of City Council, the Mayor, and to my neighborhood association. No doubt, my increased tax assessment will be used to renovate the crack houses on Chamberlayne Avenue, for the poor unemployed citizens who live there. I want some answers. Elizabeth Cann Kambourian 4 Mar 2004

In response to Richard Stone's request for perennials, there is also the annual Spring Plant Swap (held on MacArthur Ave). You bring plants you need to get rid of and take home new ones - Free. Plants can also be purchased for $1.00 each! I'm sure the spring newsletter will have the date and time. Be there at starting time......they go quickly! Sandy Kreiser 02/13/04

In response to Richard Stone's request for perennials, I would more than willing to part with some plants this spring! I live on Nottoway... the house with prolific flowers in the front yard..... stop by as I am often out front tending to weeds, eh. C. Neary 1416 Nottoway 10 Feb 2004

The other night, I was walking home from a friend's house over on Avondale. I went down Lamont, and had just passed the Lamont-Greycourt fork. Up ahead, out of the shadows, came a dog, about a block ahead, on the Lamont-Claremont intersection. I was wary, for it was dark and nobody was out, so I slowed, and that was when he started to chase me. I turned and outran him, but I was very frightened, and he looked like he might be part chow-chow. We went back later in a car and he was chasing cars in the area. I consider this to be very dangerous--has anybody else gotten chased by this dog, or know who the owner is? Daniel Payne 20 Jan 2004

I live at 1240 Westminster Ave. and my wife and I are growing increasingly concerned about the traffic on Westbrook. The speed at which cars travel on Westbrook is usually substantially in excess of the posted speed limit. Additionally, the construction traffic from Westminster-Canterbury has only added to the confusion. I understand that Westminster-Canterbury supports the idea of seeking a four-way top at Crestwood and Westbrook as soon as possible, but that such an initiative must come from the neighborhood association. I very much support such an initiative and would be happy to assist in moving forward on this subject. I would appreciate very much if you would place this item on the agenda of the next association meeting. I will plan to attend to speak on its behalf. Additionally, I would be happy to assist in raising this matter with city government as necessary. Thank you. Henry D.W. Burt 16 Dec 2003

Dear Richard; You might try the City of Richmond's Property search and also their GIS Maps and Data system. Both are accessible on the City Of Richmond Website-http://www.ci.richmond.va.us Hope this helps in your search for information on your house. You could also try searching the deeds at City Hall. Mike LaBelle 16 Dec 2003

To my fellow Bellevue residents: I am recently moved to a classic 1930's house at 1515 Claremont Avenue that has one of the most beautiful back gardens in the spring that I have seen. If anyone has any old photographs of my house or gardens I would greatly appreciate it! I also would like to find out when the house was built...I know sometime in the 30's but it would be great to know a year and the original owner. Some time in the 40's or 50's a lady named Mary and her husband purchased it, and from what I under stand Mary was the one who developed the gardens. From what I gather she was very involved with the Garden Club. Naturally I'm sure the address hasn't always been 1515 but surely there has to be some deed or real estate advertisements still out there. I have a great interest in renovating and have spent the last three seasons trying to get the yard back in shape so I can possibly have it on the Garden Tour next June. Also, if there is anyone out there who has an excess of perennials that they would like to share, I would be most grateful. This is indeed a lovely neighborhood and I look forward to living here for years to come. Sincerely, Richard Stone 26 Nov 2003

Dear Sirs; My wife and I have been residents in Bellevue for over twenty years. We have enjoyed the quiet and the neighborly way of the community of Bellevue. This is due in no small part to the concerned citizens and neighbors who live here in Bellevue. I was an original member of the Security patrol for five years and a team captain for four years. I have tried to stay involved in the neighborhood with the neighborhood watch and the neighborhood clean-ups. I would like to thank the members of the Bellevue civic association and the neighborhood watch and the security patrol for making this our neighborhood, one that we all can enjoy and love. I cannot say enough for the people who have been instrumental in making Bellevue a place that is safe, and enjoyable to live in. Mr. Mauri Shaw, Mrs. John Clark, Lisa Harr, Chris Sterling, Winnie Cobb, Dianna Presson, Joy Mingus, Sandy Kreiser, and numerous others that all have shown through their time and efforts that Bellevue is indeed our neighborhood. I have really enjoyed the simple and wonderful area that is Bellevue, It is nice to come home from work and enjoy the peace and quiet that is Bellevue. I would also like to know why we haven't gotten civic association decals  anymore. Sincerely, Mike LaBelle 31 Oct 2003

Hooray! Did anyone else appeal their 2003 tax assessment? Our original assessment was ridiculous. After double digit percent increases for each of the 4 years that we've owned the house I finally decided to protest. The result of the reassessment was a 70% decrease in the original increase! Most people don't think about how huge a difference this makes but it's the same principle as compounded interest on a savings account (as if anyone still has savings accounts!). Anyway, it's a great time of year in Bellevue. See y'all around. Trent, Mary Margaret, & Sallie C Park 27 Jun 2003

We found our third Civil War bullet in the yard this weekend. About 15 years ago we found 2 of the "usual" ones that you see at all the CW shows and book shops. Yesterday, however, we unearthed a big one - probably 20% larger than the usual ones you see. The first two turned up under the trellis after the downspout came loose and routed out a hole. This one was at the base of a rose bush. In 1989 my kids unearthed a bottle neck from a colonial onion shaped bottle - black glass - about 18 inches down in the ground, when they were digging a hole to plant a crepe myrtle. I hate yard work, so it seems rather remarkable to find these 4 items during my meager attempts at horticulture. Grandpa found two Civil War bullets beside his house on Fauquier Ave. about 1968 - also in the side yard. My house (on Laburnum) is facing where the battery was at Brook Rd. and Confederate Ave. Three of the bullets are perfect. One has a gash in it, as if it had glanced off of something. Bellevue was between the inner and intermediate defenses during the Civil War, and I suspect my bullets either fell out of someone's pocket, or failed to hit anything when they were fired. I was wondering if anyone has found similar artifacts in their yards? Elizabeth C. Kambourian 5 May 2003

In response to the tax assessment issue - yes, I have serious concerns about the rise, as well. I submitted a letter to the Editor, to the Times-Dispatch, that compared the assessment and increases I would have faced in Chesterfield County if I had stayed there - -The facts show that in the 13 years I lived in CC, and if I had lived there the previous 4 years, my taxes would have risen about $300, as opposed to the nearly $1000 they have risen in only 4 years that I have lived in Northside. Unfortunately, the letter did not get published. I am considering sending it again. Pam Wiegardt 17 Apr 2003

Say, the weather is getting real nice around here! Has anyone been for a stroll out recently? There are some really funny and pleasant sights out, from a bird in a tree to funny (sometimes funny-looking) dogs scrambling after squirrels. I love this neighborhood in this time of year. Daniel Payne 18 Mar 2003

I can't believe the City is going to whack us again with higher tax assessments this year. Mine went up 11% last year, and they say they will raise them another 8 to 11% this year. I am now paying more in taxes than I do in principal and interest. This is ridiculous. Yes, it's a nice big house, but it isn't located in Reed's Landing. The amenities we are getting from the city do not warrant the sort of taxes that are being levied on us. If they want to assess the houses in this manner, there needs to be a dramatic, draconian cut in the tax rate - a cut that will reflect the reality of city life. Personally, I'm tired of funding voodoo makeovers of downtown, the canal, Tredegar, statue bases, brick sidewalks for Jackson Ward (back in the early 80s), which do NOTHING to improve the quality of life here. Does anyone else in the neighborhood have any concerns about this? Elizabeth C. Kambourian 5 Mar 2003