Alternative Designs Proposed For Virginia Capital Trail

By Junelynn Tran
VCU Insight

RICHMOND, Va. -- Two alternative designs have been proposed for the next phase of development for the Virginia Capital Trail, a separate trail or a widened shoulder along Route 5. The next phase will be constructed in Varina in eastern Henrico County.

A recent public hearing by the Virginia Department of Transportation gathered citizens opinion and found that more than 75% of Varina residents prefer a separate trail. A shoulder-widening project would impact property owners and could cost almost twice as much as a separate trail.

The 55-mile Virginia Capital Trail runs parallel along Route 5 all the way from Richmond to Williamsburg. Four sections of the trail are already complete. The trail should be finished by 2014.

Gender Studies Department Holds Spring Art Show

By Junelynn Tran
VCU Insight

RICHMOND, Va. -- The Department of Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies at VCU has opened its doors for its spring art show. It features artwork from 20 students, faculty and other local and national artists. Each art piece focuses on a central idea within the department such as race, class, gender, or sexuality.

This was the department's fifth show since 2009 at the Starke House on Franklin Street. It is free and open to the public and will run until May.

Willow Lawn Reverts to Outdoor Mall

By Junelynn Tran

Willow Lawn will transform into an outdoor mall, forcing some stores to go out of business.



Some businesses consider renovation an opportunity to start fresh. For others, it means going out of business for good. Or for worse.

Owner of Gold 'N Gold Jewelers, Abdul Moosa, has had his kiosk open at Willow Lawn for over ten years. The recent reconstruction has forced him to shut down his business.

"Well, it is a very sad thing, you know, when they do the renovations," Moosa said. "I am being displaced out of my business, and I won't have any other alternative, except to be out, you know. The small business will die on which my sustenance depends on my bread and butter."

Moosa says Federal Realty, the company that owns the mall, failed to notify him about the renovations and he found out about it through the news. The renovations call for striking down the interior part of the mall and converting it into a parking lot for easier store accessibility.

Customers will be able to get around the mall more easily. Some feel that the changes are necessary due to its current atmosphere. One customer, Minh Nguyen, comments on the mall's lack of appeal.

"It has no stores that I'm remotely interested in or any of my friends would be interested in, and it's very slow," Nguyen said. "Nothing's really going on inside. The design of it inside alone is very boring and dull to me."

As for Moosa, the future of his store remains unclear. He will either leave by the end of the month, or extend his contract for another month or two.

"And as a result of that, I don't know what is my future," Moosa said. "Are they going to offer me a space outside? So I have got a lot of layaways for the people here. I have to communicate to the customers to come and pick it up, the time is short, I'm in a limbo, and I don't know what's going to happen and how long they will give me."

Halloween Costumes 2010

By Junelynn Tran

Halloween is right around the corner and people are still on the lookout for costumes.



If you go to Halloween Express, located on West Broad Street, you can see a giant Frankenstein and Rocking Grandparents. This store carries hundreds of costumes, decorations and accessories for adults and children. Originally a franchise with over 300 retail store locations, Halloween Express remains only temporary.

The store opened the second week of August. Blair Baldwin, the store manager, says they try to open by Labor Day weekend so families can start browsing.

“Sales don’t really start happening too much until October; people aren’t in the mood,” said Baldwin. “So we open Labor Day weekend and then we’ll stay open for a couple days after Halloween, just for After-Halloween Sale Monday and Tuesday. And then we pack up and start over again next year.”

When choosing a costume, people like the idea of something unique and original. Customer Erin O’Grady advised its best to find something easy and creative to avoid looking like everyone else.

Whatever you decide to be this year, remember to stay safe and have a happy Halloween!

EPonym & Esta ft. Jeff Bernat - 'Distance' Music Video

Track: "Distance"
Artists: EPonym & Esta ft. Jeff Bernat
Album: Summertime Cool
Director/Producer/Editor: Junelynn Tran

The album was released during Summer 2010. I was assigned a final project in my video class and was allowed to create any type of film project I wanted. I instantly thought of this song and knew I wanted to create a conceptual music video for the song. The two characters are a couple enduring a long distance relationship. The video pieces the story of what keeps them together.

Plans for Construction in Monroe Park Causes Tension

By Junelynn Tran



Monroe Park, located in Richmond’s Fan district, has been used since the mid-19th Century. Originally, it was used as the state agricultural fairground site and now serves as an assembly ground for drifters and homeless people. The City of Richmond is looking to give the park an upgrade but it is causing a stir with some.

It is hard to pass by Monroe Park on Sundays and not notice homeless relief groups giving out food and clothes. But all that may change in the upcoming year. Monroe Park plans to revamp its image by spending $6.2 million to reconstruct paths and add new park amenities, such as moveable chess tables and a stage area.

Alice Massie, President of the Monroe Park Advisory Council, says the goal is to restore the park’s original layout while modernizing it to appeal to VCU students and other visitors.

“The projected changes are based on safety, for all public,” said Massie. “Students, citizens, neighbors, those that are handicap accessible needed and the average student who wants to cruise through the park.”

While the city has received positive feedback from the general public in regards to the renovation, it is the homeless and the homeless relief groups that volunteer in Monroe Park that have the most opposition. Monroe Park will be under construction for at least nine month, which begs the question - what will the homeless and volunteers do now?

Wendell Joyner, a volunteer from the Future Church of Christ, said it would become difficult to find the homeless if they have no where else to go.

Massie agrees that this will cause some challenges for the homeless, but the City of Richmond is looking at alternatives. Massie says they are “working to be proactive” to help the people recognize their options to get a meal, fresh water and other amenities.

Food Not Bombs, a volunteer homeless relief group, has been feeding people in Monroe Park for 16 years. A volunteer from the organization said that closing down the park for nine months is “unacceptable and unfair” to the homeless.

Massie points out that the upgrades are for all people.

“It is for anyone that wants to enjoy the outdoors,” said Massie. “So whether you are a retired man who wants to play chess or a student who wants to study with a group or sunbathe or play any kind of casual sport or if you’re family and you want to have a picnic. It should be for anybody in the city of Richmond.”

Construction for the project is scheduled to begin in spring 2011.

VCU welcomes the class of 2014

By Junelynn Tran
The Commonwealth Times

Keys? Check. New TV? Check. Kettle Corn? Why not.

Over the weekend, approximately 3,650 freshman flooded Monroe Park moving into on-campus housing with the help of families and a small army of VCU Residential Life and Housing greeters.

In coordination with the Richmond Police, traffic on both Main and Franklin Street ground to a halt as officers shut down street parking and reserved lanes for freshman move-in only. Families received color-coded parking passes indicating which loading zones and parking decks were reserved for them. Parking officials allotted each family 30 minutes to unload in front of dorms before asking them to move to long-term parking decks. Several tow trucks loomed nearby as a reminder for families to keep moving.

About 60 yellow-shirted greeters waited outside residence halls. They provided water bottles, helpful directions and extra sets of arms, unpacking car after car until the final family cleared the loading area.

After signing into receive room and mailbox keys, new students entered their dorms and met their Resident Assistant.

Not everything about Move-In day was stressful. In Monroe Park there were many festivities to help students and their families relax after unpacking; such as chair massages, a mechanical bull ride and a magician. About 9,000 bottles of water were offered courtesy of the VCU Alumni Association, along with kettle corn and “I Love VCU” buttons. Volunteers from fraternities and sororities wore green shirts and helped guide students and family members to recycling bins.

The planning process took nine months to prepare, according to Jane Firer, associate director of administrative operations in university housing. “It’s a mixture of stress and anticipation,” said Firer. “It’s gratifying to see the process work out successfully.”

In all, about 5,000 students will live in on-campus housing this year, filling the dorms to capacity.

Original article