Oct '01

Florenz Sterling edited and Mary Garber produced the October, 2001 issue of the Newsletter. That issue includes news of:

October 25 - Security Patrol training - 7:00 at Battery Park Church

October 30 - General Membership meeting - 6:30 at Christ Ascension Church

November 5 - Crisis Pregnancy Center at City Planning Commission

November 10 - Richmond Marathon

November 12 - Crisis Pregnancy Center at City Council

Third Thursdays - North District Neighborhood Team - 7:00, Police Academy

CRISIS PREGNANCY GOES TO COUNCIL NOVEMBER 12

It's time for City Council to hear from the residents of Bellevue. The Association has been working to keep you informed about Crisis Pregnancy Center's (CPC) application to the City of Richmond for a special use permit to use their property at 4100 Brook Road for social service delivery. CPC submitted a detailed operation plan to the City in April, and revised those plans in a September addendum. An ordinance authorizing the use permit will be considered by the City's Planning Commission on Monday, November 5, then action will be taken by City Council on Monday, November CPC's Plan

CPC acquired the building for $51,000 a year ago, less than one-fifth the assessed value. They propose to use the building to provide free counseling and education, including medical diagnosis and treatment, birthing/parenting education and "material goods assistance" (food, clothing and equipment collection and distribution). Up to six full-time employees and three part-time and/or volunteers would be on site daily, plus up to eight clients for hourly appointments. Hours of operation would be 9 am to 8 pm weekdays, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays (no Sunday hours). Birthing and parenting classes could be held one evening per week with up to 20 participants and two instructors. The September revision adds a request for evening classes that would last until 9:30 pm sixteen nights per year.

CPC staff presented their plan to a packed house of nearly 100 Bellevue residents at a July 17th general membership meeting. A sign-in and vote taken that night, along with your phone and a-mail feedback, has resulted in a wide majority of residents expressing opposition to the CPC proposal (more than 100 responses in opposition versus less than 15 in favor of CPC). Based on that feedback, the Bellevue Civic Association board has voted to oppose the use permit application and express that opposition to the Planning Commission and City Council. It is still important for the City Council to hear from you, regardless of which side you weigh in on, so please contact 3rd District Councilman Bill Johnson and plan to be at the Planning Commission on the 5th and Council on the 12th so that our voices can be heard.

The Bellevue Security Patrol is, from end to end, a volunteer effort. This community program is a success because patrollers dedicate their valuable personal time and their own vehicles and gas to maintain a visible presence and serve as a crime deterrent throughout the whole of Bellevue. The Patrol thanks each and every patrol member and patrol supporter for your dedication. We believe our neighborhood is a bit safer as a result.

Hats Off to Current Patrollers

If you currently participate in the Patrol, please let your captains know of any questions or concerns you may have. For issues that arise during patrol, call 257-9753 to page your captain or make note of your issues on your log sheet. Your captain will make every effort to be available in the event a more urgent problem arises, such as equipment failure.

Please remember your captain is also a volunteer and may not always be available to answer your page. We encourage you to do your best each month to complete your scheduled patrol. Should you need an updated patrol schedule or if you need to select a day and time for patrolling that is better suited for you and your partner, please let your captains know. Our success depends on our ability to communicate with each other.

More Volunteers Needed

If you do not currently participate in the Patrol, we can use your help. If you've been trained previously but are on inactive status, let us know if you would like to be reactivated. If you have not been trained, please plan to attend the Patrol Training on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2001 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Battery Park Christian Church (corner of Bellevue and Brook). Representatives of the Richmond Police Department will conduct the training session. You don't need to make reservations to attend. Simply show up. Should you have any questions about the training, please call Chris Sterling at 266-7496 or Winnie Cobb at 264-0959.

BELLEVUE SECURITY PATROL
Patrol Training October 25, 2001
7-9 p.m.
Battery Park Christian Church
(corner of Bellevue and Brook)

For updates on crime and security issues in Bellevue, or to report a crime or security matter, call the Security Patrol's Community Voice Mailbox: 257-9705

Congratulations! We've gotten a few more Block Captains. Keep up the good work. However, you don't have to wait for calls through the phone trees. The Bellevue Hot Line (257-9705) is always available with the latest information. You may listen to the message as well as leave us crime or safety information to share with the neighborhood.

Recently we have learned of some teenagers reaching in mail slots trying to steal mail. This is a FEDERAL CRIME. If you witness this activity, call the police immediately. Also call the Postal Inspection Service (418-6100). Rewards are payable for information leading to the arrest and conviction of violators.

All of Bellevue appreciates the dedication and hard work of our Section Leaders and Block Captains. Let's keep Bellevue crime free. Help organize your block if it's not in our system. Call me at 266-6753 to find out how.

Plans for $141 million of new construction on the former Charter-Westbrook property were announced by Westminster-Canterbury (W-C) at a September 27th press conference. New facilities would consist of 22 homes on The Green, immediately north of Westbrook Avenue near the intersection with Crestwood, 186 Courtyard Villa apartments set further back from Westbrook in a five-story building, 60 assisted living apartments in a three-story building, 72 apartments in a two-story building for residents with cognitive impairments, and a cultural arts center with a 350 seat theatre.

CEO Don Lecky and Board President Peter Toms both cited the community's involvement in the strategic planning process that resulted in the development concept. Bellevue resident Beryl Riley represented the Civic Association at Mr. Lecky's invitation, and the W-C staff has kept the Bellevue board apprised of the developments as plans began to emerge. Our thanks to Don Lecky, Bill King and Carolyn Raskind of W-C for keeping us involved and informed, and to Beryl Riley for representing our interests. Pre-sales of units is underway, and local government approvals for the new development will be sought in the coming months, so look for more information on the timing of development, including a presentation about the plans from W-C staff at our next general meeting.

The SunTrust Richmond Marathon is coming through Bellevue again this year on Saturday morning, November 10. The race route brings the runners up Hermitage Road and under the Bellevue Arch at Pope Avenue, down Pope to Crestwood, up Crestwood to Fauquier and down the entire length of Fauquier to Laburnum Avenue.

Two water stops for runners will be located in Bellevue, one under the Bellevue Arch and one on Fauquier (miles 21 and 22 of the race). Therefore, we need LOTS of Bellevue neighbors to come out and cheer on the runners, joggers, and walkers as they come through the most beautiful, most enthusiastic neighborhood in the city.

Chuck Epes will once again be coordinating volunteers to man the water stops. Please give him a call at 264?7123 if you can come out on Race Day for a few hours to hand water to runners and cheer them on through some of the toughest miles of the course. Bring a bell, a drum, a boombox, anything to make noise and to encourage the runners. For those of you who live along the race route, break out the lawn chairs, the barbecue grills, the posters, and the music and plan a block party the morning of the race. The more, the merrier and the greater the boost for weary runners.

Believe or not, such enthusiasm and encouragement is greatly appreciated by the runners, who two years ago voted Bellevue the most enthusiastic, welcoming neighborhood of the entire race! Let's win the title again this year. It's fun, it's exciting, and it demonstrates Bellevue hospitality to the rest of the city. And did we mention the $300 prize for the most spirited neighborhood!

Please give Chuck a call if you want to help out, either at a water stop or with a celebration along the route.