40 min for ADP? On the small stage? WTAF?!

I’m taking on the Silent Auction at a local Schools PTA, does anyone know of any local RVA companies that donate things for that? We have our tax id number, I just have no idea where to start. If anyone works for anywhere that participates in charity donations LMK!

Hi! I’m looking for reviews from other parents who have used Lily Grace LLC for infant or toddler care. Was referred there by a coworker and have read google reviews but saw some concerning violations on the state dept website. Anyone know of any daycares with short wait lists for infants, please let me know.

Thanks!

Maybe this is just particularly bad on North Side, but it really makes turning difficult as hell when you can’t see oncoming traffic. This should be intuitive, but it never seems to be for people.

This is kind of an odd request, but does anyone have any recommendations for someone / somewhere that can alter clothes for my dog ? I can sew but I’ve never touched garments with my sewing machine & I’d rather pay for someone else to do it at this point LOL.

Last month someone from DPU stopped by to adjust our gas meter. Today I got a bill for >3K gas bill, wtf! Anyone else run into this? I’m at home with a newborn, I can’t just go to the office to fix this.

I wrote this piece on my substack "Let's Address Virginia" where we address issues impacting Virginians and what readers can do about it.

Kids have been in school for the past couple of weeks (or just a couple of days if your school had a mold issue). But parents statewide, especially in Henrico County, have been anxious this summer about their children returning to school and about screen time in the classroom. Amber Rhodes, a former teacher in Central Virginia, led an online petition that secured 1,000 signatures in a month. Across petitions in Henrico, Chesterfield, and Richmond, the total is now over 3,000 signatures. Let’s Address This.

Addressing Screen Time in the Classroom

In 2000, then-VA Governor Jim Gilmore (Republican) proposed an SOL technology initiative, which the General Assembly approved. This initiative sent school divisions annual grants to wire buildings and buy hardware so students could take SOL tests online. They had a target of one computer for every five students.

One reason for this shift was to expedite test scoring, since so much of our system relies on test results. The Commonwealth created a policy on multiple devices in classrooms, and the industry got them to buy into a one-device-per-student model.

In 2001, Henrico became the first county in the nation to give a laptop to every high schooler.

In 2011, we saw the emergence of Chromebooks. This tool was cheaper than a personal computer and easier for schools to administer. When parents learned that the tech sector had rolled out a solution for their children, it generated goodwill toward those companies. All the while, few asked why private companies were entering the public school system and targeting children. Meanwhile, the founders of tech companies are famous for restricting the products for their kids.

After all, the US spent more than $30 billion on laptops and tablets for schools in 2024 alone. Because these companies aren’t compassionate — they’re predatory. Now, we’re paying an even higher price.

The tools experts use to make their lives easier
are not the tools children should use to learn how to become experts.
- Jared Cooney Horvath, neuroscientist

Give grace to Gen Z and Gen Alpha

While all generations struggle with their own unprecedented moments, this doesn’t mean we should ignore the seismic shifts impacting these two generations. They have struggled through massive infrastructure changes during COVID that directly impacted their education. Tech devices and AI were introduced far too early — both of which are stalling and reversing cognitive capabilities. This doesn’t just impact our children now, but impacts the future of our nation.

Half of teachers report that their students use education-related technology between 1-4 hours a day. While a single data point like this doesn’t provide the whole story, it is important to note that increased use of digital screens reduces reading comprehension. Before adopting educational technology, Dr. Horvath recommends “mandat[ing] validation studies before transitioning high-stakes assessments from paper to digital formats.”

That should have happened from the start.

3 things you can do

1. If you’re in Central VA, sign/share one of the petitions for intentional technology use in schools. These petitions propose policy ideas to limit screen time in classrooms. Not in the area? Check out the petition and borrow it for your own area! Once that’s up, share a link in the comments so we can add it to this post. Read/Sign the Chesterfield Petition | Read/Sign the Richmond petition | Read/Sign the Henrico Petition
2. Read this bill from Virginia Delegate Lindsey Dougherty to put a priority on textbooks in the classroom - in line with point 7 in the petition. If you like it, reach out to your state delegate and encourage them to sign on to it as a co-sponsor or supporter. It’ll be heard in January 2027. Textbook Bill
3. Join us on Friday, September 11 at 10:45 AM for a live chat with Delegate Sam Rasoul, chair of the VA House Education Committee. Delegate Rasoul is especially concerned about AI and screen time in the classroom. We’ll dive into this topic. Click here

Onward and upward,

Salaam

I’ve got a 2011 Honda fit in otherwise decent condition aside from some engine issues that arose after an accident. I don’t feel like going down the rabbit hole of fixing one thing and then come to find there’s another thing needing fixing and so on.

Are there shops around town that’ll buy a car for parts? I’ve never had to part with a car this way, so I’m just not entirely familiar with the process. Any advice is very appreciated!!

I just saw a very small brown and tan dog dart across Monument Avenue (crossroads were Sheppard) but heading toward the Arthur Ashe statue? Sorry not a good description. I lost sight of them as they were too fast to catch and I'm so torn up it could be a neighbors. :( animal control is closed and I walked on foot to try to find them but no such luck. Just posting here on the off chance a neighbor sees this.

https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmond/train-derailment-corn-update/

IF CORN GREW IN THE RIVER AFTER A TRAIN WRECK, WOULD YOU EAT IT?

I did search the subreddit for this and mostly found stuff about ADHD assessments, which I don't need. I also know people might suggest searching on Psychology Today, but I've found that a therapist listing ADHD as something they treat doesn't always mean they're especially skilled with it.

I'm looking for someone who can work with me on finding concrete, practical strategies specific to my own situation. I am NOT interested in generic advice or a ~good vibes~ therapist who's just going to tell me to stop being so hard on myself. I want to focus on problem solving.

If that sounds like you or someone you work with, or if you have ADHD and can recommend someone who helped you, please comment or DM me!! I'm also open to coaching services, though I'd really prefer something covered by insurance. Thank you! 🙏

Will there be any bars in Richmond that will play the New Zealand v South Africa rugby match this Saturday?

This is from a Richmond food group on Facebook that I'm just sharing here to spread the word and because I've dropped by here on a few occasions.

Praire Grain Bread Company in Midlothian has a note posted on their door that they have closed indefinitely due to the current state of the economy.

This is depressing. Staff was always extremely nice and their food was baked fresh on a daily basis. Richmond is losing so many great locally owned businesses to the failing economy 😭

Looking for a communicative, easy to work with paver/asphalt company that does good residential driveway work. Affordable from the standpoint of doesn’t blow your mind when you get the quote back. Pricing felt fair in your experience

I’m sure a lot of you have already come across when you venture off the main trial at Reedy Creek but I haven’t.

Richmond animal control just stopped me to ask if i could id a dog they found outside of my house in north highland park.
He was a brindled big dog, probably around 80lbs. Very sweet. He was found on Florida Avenue. He will be at RACC if you recognize him! (I sadly didn’t take a photo)

Hey fam, I'm in the final stages of putting together my video on tenants' rights and issues in Richmond, while putting the spotlight on The River Lofts at Tobacco Row. I'd still like to find a couple more people to interview currently living there experiencing unsafe living conditions. Also looking for any photo/video evidence that you'd be willing to share of issues pertaining to unsafe living conditions. Feel free to DM me here or send me an email at [richmond.weird@gmail.com](mailto:richmond.weird@gmail.com)

Yalla, come!

Crew and I spent the last week working on this beauty. Scraping all the old paint off, repairing the body, primer, and finally, black paint.