July 24 Newsletter: Lawn length debates

Weather: A gorgeous day awaits, with a high of 82, before humidity returns later in the weekend.

On this date in 1985, the annual Boy Scouts Jamboree begins at Fort A.P. Hill with a concert by the Beach Boys.

For decades, Richmond mandated tidy lawns. A new proposal would give native plants more leeway.

Steve Mothershead’s yard in Barton Heights is a riot of native plants — mountain mint, passionflower vines, redbud, elderberries, river oats and more. They spill around the house and the fence and populate the adjacent “hell strip,” the narrow ribbon of land between sidewalk and curb. They are abundant and unruly, buzzing with life and bursting along the property lines.

Some neighbors, though, are less than enthralled. Richmond's rules, which date back to the 1950s, make it unlawful for grass and other non-ornamental or non-agricultural vegetation to exceed 12 inches.

But as the years have passed, views on yards and gardens have changed. Read more here.

EDA offers partial access to CarMax Park entrance during WinterWorld; Squirrels owner blasts proposal as 'wholly unacceptable'

Richmond EDA Director Angie Rodgers broke her silence regarding the ongoing feuds at CarMax Park involving Richmond Flying Squirrels owner Lou DiBella.

• "If this is how the duration of your tenancy at CarMax Park is going to proceed, then we have a long and arduous road ahead of us," Rodgers wrote of DiBella's legal threats.
• An attorney representing DiBella sent a five-page response calling the EDA's letter "unacceptable," and detailing what she described as a pattern of unresponsiveness from the city.

DiBella's legal team also objected to a statement from the city that the two sides had been "working closely." Read more here.

Habitat for Humanity celebrates 100th solar installation

Volunteers hoisted solar panels onto the roof of an Ashland home on Wednesday, celebrating the 100th installation of solar panels by Habitat for Humanity locally.

When families living in Habitat homes are chosen for solar panel installation, they save an estimated $70-$80 a month in electricity costs, according to officials. Read more here.

WATCH: Richmond's first Parallel Parking Championship, featuring NASCAR driver Noah Gragson

Richmonders are not generally known for their driving acumen, but they put their best foot forward on Wednesday at the inaugural Parallel Parking Championship. See more here.

Obituaries

• Bob Burrus, a civic leader who led McGuire Woods to national prominence, dies at 91
  • A UR official said Burrus was a “phenomenal person” and a “pivotal figure” at the university.
• Mary File Clem, Health Brigade co-founder, dies at 79 (Times-Dispatch)
  • What she and the other founders started now serves more than 12,000 individuals.
• Remembrance: Julian “Alan” Sader, Lion of the Theater (Style Weekly)
  • The local actor stormed on Richmond’s stages and served as the TV spokesman for ChildFund International.

Joe Kelleher went back to school in his 80s to help veterans with PTSD

Kelleher, who served as a helicopter technician with the Marines, works with veterans who are suffering from PTSD, and has published an adapted curriculum and facilitator manual on the topic.

At age 84 he can still swim two miles, and goes on cross-country bicycle trips with his son. Read more here.

In other news

• Richmond climbs to No. 2 on LinkedIn's Cities on the Rise list (Axios Richmond)
  • Augusta, Georgia was No. 1, followed by Richmond then Reno, Sarasota and Harrisburg.
• Netflix-inspired camp helps Richmonders with autism build social confidence (VPM)
  • Campers learned how to navigate situations common to romantic relationships, from establishing eye contact to figuring out whether someone is single.
• It has poured at my house four days this month. How are we still in drought? (Cardinal News)
  • A single decent rainfall doesn’t end a long-term severe to extreme drought like the one most of Virginia has been in for several months.
• Plan 9 Music celebrates its 45th anniversary with a special concert tomorrow at Hardywood (Style Weekly)
  • With proceeds going to the nonprofit radio station WRIR, the show will feature some of the area’s most notable musicians, past and present.

The editor's desk

Parallel parking only counts if you do it like we used to back in the day – without a backup camera.

Michael Phillips, founder
mphillips@richmonder.org

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