Community
PHOTOS: RVA Road Trip to Harper’s Ferry
An evening and morning spent in Harper’s Ferry was an evening and morning well-spent.
After dropping our only child at college we turned to the mountains and explored. Over the next week or so I’ll be sharing the sights that my wife (Page) and I captured. These are from the first and second day.
We rolled into Harper’s Ferry fairly late in the afternoon and since it was on the way pulled into Harper’s Ferry Brewing. A theme from this trip is that the beer we tried was fine but compared to RVA the beers in other spots aren’t as good. We’re beer blessed in Richmond. You hear over and over how Legend Brewing has an awesome river view. I’ve always found that somewhat questionable. The view from Legend is a great view of the floodwall and city skyline. The skyline is the star not the river. At Harper’s Ferry the river is the real star. Harper’s Ferry Brewing is massive. If you pull up and the parking lot is packed don’t worry you’ll be able to find a spot with a view. They served pizza which we didn’t try but smelled great.
Can you spot the tubers?
We then headed over to Charles Town which you can check out here. An impressive thunderstorm rolled in as we drove back into Harper’s Ferry to the Barn of Harper’s Ferry. The Barn is between the olde timey part of Harper’s Ferry and Bolivar. I’m 99% sure we were the only non-locals there, which I always enjoy. Busy but not crowded, folks on laptops, one reading a book, couples, small groups all enjoying a drink as a bluegrass jam session played. It was also here that we saw one of the brightest rainbows I’ve seen.
The young lady looking at the camera was talented. In the hour and a half or so that we were there, she played at least four different instruments.
That wrapped up our first day of the road trip. The next morning we got up earlyish and hit Harper’s Ferry proper. Those that don’t know the history of Harper’s Ferry can check this out. Quick summary John Brown a white abolitionist tried to lead an uprising of slaves. His efforts failed and he was executed. In no way am I doing the story justice and you should hit that link to get some knowledge in your brainpan. Parts of Harper’s Ferry are a National Historic Park so make sure and pay the entry fee if parking in certain spots. The Park Service will ticket you if you try and skirt the rules. We parked at the train station around 8 and by 10 it was full and about half the cars had tickets on them. The Park Service provides a shuttle from their main entrance.
The light was super bright and harsh but here are some shots that give you a decent feel for the town. We’d like to hit the town again in the fall when the leaves have turned and the sun and humidity aren’t trying to kill you.
Technically not in Harper’s Ferry but across the river in Maryland. All that remains of a small community that was built around one of the locks of the C&O canal.
An old sign painted above the train tunnel. I highly suggest you walk across the railroad bridge and check out the tunnel the C&O canal. Very easy walk and one of the few flat walks in the area.
Church ruins on the way to Jefferson Rock.
Non-ruined church.
I hope you like stairs and steep inclines. Harper’s Ferry has them both in abundance.
This section has the gift shop and several buildings that show what stores would have looked like in the mid-late 1800’s.
If that mist would have lasted longer there would some much cooler-looking pictures.
There are plenty of eating and shopping option if you so desire. We had a decent breakfast bagel at Battle Grounds Bakery (although it was the plainest everything bagel I’ve had in recent memory) and enjoyed True Treats Historic Candy Shop. The crowds greatly increased as the day wore on and we hit the road for our next destination of the day, Dinosaur Land.
Education
University of Richmond announces new provost
Joan Saab, an experienced administrator and distinguished art history and visual culture scholar, will join the UR community in July.
Joan Saab, who currently serves as Susan B. Anthony Professor of Art History and executive vice provost of academic affairs at the University of Rochester, will become executive vice president for academic affairs and provost of the University of Richmond, effective July 1.
Saab is an experienced administrator and distinguished art history and visual culture scholar with more than 20 years of academic and leadership appointments at Rochester, where she is also currently serving as interim dean of the faculty of Arts, Sciences, & Engineering.
“Dr. Saab’s passions and expertise as a scholar and administrator align with our own institutional priorities,” said University of Richmond President Kevin F. Hallock. “At her core, she believes in advancing educational opportunities for students of all backgrounds, which echoes our commitments to academic excellence, access and affordability, and belonging.”
“The provost plays an essential role in ensuring continued academic excellence and innovation, and we are very pleased to welcome Dr. Saab to the University community in this role,” said R. Lewis Boggs, Board of Trustees rector. “We look forward to her leadership as we continue to pursue ambitious aspirations for our institution and the students we serve.”
In her time at Rochester, Saab has also served as director of the graduate program in Visual and Cultural Studies and chair of the Department of Art and Art History. Her areas of teaching and research include 19th- and 20th-century American visual cultural studies, American cultural history, public culture and community studies, and sensory history.
“I have long been impressed by the University of Richmond and look forward to working with the exceptional faculty, students, and staff to further strengthen the school’s sense of intellectual community and advance the academic mission,” said Saab. “Richmond’s commitment to creating a holistic and inclusive learning environment where all students can thrive mirrors my own core values. I am extremely excited to join the web.”
The recipient of numerous teaching, research, and grant awards, Saab’s accomplishments include funding from the Mellon Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Getty Research Center at UCLA, as well as a University of Rochester Provost’s Research Grant. Her first book, For the Millions: American Art and Culture Between the Wars, was the inaugural volume in the “Arts and Intellectual Life in Modern America series,” published by the University of Pennsylvania Press.
Her most recent book, Objects of Vision: Making Sense of What We See, is part of the “Studies in Sensory History Series” at Pennsylvania State University Press. She is the author of the interactive, digital book project Searching for Siqueiros, written on the digital publishing platform Scalar, and the lead editor for the Wiley Blackwell Companion to Visual Culture. She is currently completing a manuscript tentatively entitled, Tales From the Crypt: Vincent Price and American Visual Culture. She is a sought-after scholar and presenter for invited talks, symposia, and conferences.
Saab earned her undergraduate degree in English and art history from Tufts University, her master’s in American Civilization with a concentration on material culture and museum studies from The George Washington University, and her Ph.D. in American Studies at New York University.
Saab will succeed executive vice president and provost Jeff Legro, who announced he would be stepping down at the end of this academic year having served in the role since 2017. Legro, an international relations scholar, will remain at UR as a full-time member of the faculty.
Education
Henrico HS principal honored with REB Leadership Award; Colonial Trail ES principal is runner-up
Karin Castillo-Rose, principal of Henrico High School, has been awarded the 2022-23 REB Award for Distinguished Educational Leadership.
Karin Castillo-Rose, principal of Henrico High School, has been awarded the 2022-23 REB Award for Distinguished Educational Leadership. The Community Foundation and the REB Foundation present the award to four principals annually — one each from the school divisions of Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover counties and one from the city of Richmond. Castillo-Rose was surprised with the news Tuesday afternoon at a pep rally in the school’s gym, attended by her family and Henrico County Public Schools leaders.
Castillo-Rose will receive a $10,000 cash grant and an additional $20,000 for school projects. She plans to use the bulk of her funding for projects that support students’ mental, social and emotional well-being. The grant will fund student grief support groups; classes in social and emotional learning; a labyrinth garden and a “Warrior Farm” flower and vegetable garden, both to promote mindfulness; yoga classes; and outdoor recreation and socialization spaces.
Kevin Schatz, principal of Colonial Trail Elementary School, was runner-up for the award. He will receive a $10,000 grant to build a cricket practice facility accessible to students of varying abilities, including students who use wheelchairs. The facility at Colonial Trail will serve as the centerpiece of a new cricket league for students with disabilities. Cricket is a popular sport in the community served by the school.
The REB award recognizes principals who go beyond the day-to-day demands of their jobs to create an exceptional educational environment. The award stresses management and communication skills, and the ability to inspire, encourage and advocate for the school. Nominees must have served as principal at their school for at least three years.
“I’m at a loss for words,” Castillo-Rose told the crowd Tuesday. “Thank you to the students, because it is your student voice that pushes me every day to think outside the box. [Thank you] for advocating for yourselves. Thank you to the staff and sponsors who listen to the students and push me to push further, and for making sure that it is all about the students, all the time, every day. Behold the green and gold!”
Castillo-Rose has been principal at the school since 2015, after serving as assistant principal from 2012-15. Before that she was an administrative intern and teacher at Varina High School and a teacher with New York City Public Schools. She served in the U.S. Army before embarking on a career in public education. Originally from New York City, she earned a bachelor’s degree from Boston University, a master’s from Mercy College in New York and an education specialist degree from the University of Virginia. She is currently a doctoral student at Virginia Tech.
Schatz became principal of Colonial Trail in 2018. Before that he served as associate principal at Shady Grove, Charles Johnson and Nuckols Farm elementary schools. He began his career as a teacher at Nuckols Farm when the school opened in 1997. Schatz is originally from Denver and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado Boulder.c
“This is a testament to the school, the school community and everybody involved,” Schatz said. “Everybody’s focus is on belonging, but more importantly, trying to find opportunities for those students and those families who are furthest from opportunity. That’s what we do every single day, and I’m so proud.”
Government
City hosting public meeting on replacement of Byrd Park Reservoir roof
The Byrd Park Reservoir was built in 1876 and has been serving the City of Richmond residents and surrounding counties continuously since then. The Reservoir operates as two finished water tanks. Upgrades and maintenance have occurred over the years to ensure peak operating capacity.
The City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities invites residents, commuters, and visitors who utilize areas around Byrd Park to attend a public meeting to learn more about the new phase of the Byrd Park Reservoir Roof Replacement Project. The meeting is from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 23, at the Byrd Park Roundhouse at 621 Westover Road.
The Byrd Park Reservoir was built in 1876 and has been serving the City of Richmond residents and surrounding counties continuously since then. The Reservoir operates as two finished water tanks. Upgrades and maintenance have occurred over the years to ensure peak operating capacity. DPU is in the process of additional upgrades to improve the distribution system reliability and increase the operational flexibility of facilities associated with the reservoir. The concrete roofs are reaching the end of their useful life and will be replaced by two new aluminum roofs.
Construction will be sequenced to maintain the use of the park and will take place within a fenced area, with boundaries shifting as the work progresses. Access to the rest of the park and its trails will be open to the public.
Attendees of the public meeting can expect to learn more about the scope and review project plans.
For more details about this project, visit the project page here.
University of Richmond announces new provost
Henrico HS principal honored with REB Leadership Award; Colonial Trail ES principal is runner-up
Photo of the Day: Sunset Road
City hosting public meeting on replacement of Byrd Park Reservoir roof
Photo of the Day: Kaleidoscope
Gardeners Wanted to Help in Forest Hill Park
Husband-and-wife duo bringing new restaurant concept to former Mill on MacArthur space
New full-service commercial kitchen, fast casual food hall opens Wednesday
Richmond Falcon Cam is Back
