John Rolfe Parkway, a segment of which recently opened to compensate for the old Three Chopt Road route and alleviate traffic, still lacks a way for drivers to get into West Broad Village without merging onto West Broad Street and fight throngs of traffic. That’s about to change with a new entrance.

The new entrance and exit to the mixed use development will be located behind the Short Pump Station shopping center which houses Petco and Trader Joe’s, to name a few tenants. West Broad Village’s new developer, E/Class Partners, is constructing the entrance to help with traffic flow.

Ease of ingress and egress and a cohesive flow of traffic between developments are some of the many requirements of the County of Henrico’s West Broad Street Overlay District, a special strategy area set up by County planners and meant to help encourage high quality development standards from Interstate 64 to just west of Short Pump Town Center.

Examples of connected planned developments include the roads around Short Pump Town Center. The mall is linked to the Towne Center West development to the west and to the Downtown Short Pump shopping center to the east via a series of two lane access roads.

The plan also calls for limited access to and from commercial developments near established residential neighborhoods. In keeping with this standard, West Broad Village’s original developer, Unicorp National Developments of Florida, agreed not to provide any access to the development from Three Chopt Road.

No word on when the new entrance will open to traffic.

Below are just a few ideas to get you out of the house from our weekly family events and entertainment contributor, Carissa Garabedian, who runs Macaroni Kid of Richmond, a great resource for fun things to do around town for the entire family.

1. Richmond Flying Squirrels Baseball

Friday, September 3 & Saturday, September 4, 2010, 7:00 p.m.
The Diamond
804-359-FUNN

First 2,000 fans under age 14 will get a drawstring backpack. Fireworks, t00!

Ticket prices vary.

2. Tears For Fears

Sunday, September 5, 2010, 8:00 p.m.
The National
704 East Broad Street

Tickets still available.

Ticket prices vary.

3. Family Fun At Meadow Farm

Saturday, September 4, 2010, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Crump Park & Meadow Farm Museum
3400 Mountain Road

All ages welcome. FREE!

4. Crafts, Storytelling, Dancing & More

Wednesday, September 8, 2010, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
The Shops at Willow Lawn

Crafts, storytelling , dancing and educational programs, all to share with your children.

All ages welcome. FREE!

5. The Cat In The Hat Knows A Lot About That!

Saturday, September 4, 2010, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Childrens Museum of Richmond – Central
2626 West Broad Street

Screenings of “The Cat In The Hat Knows A lot About That!” Appearances by The Cat in the Hat throughout the day.

Bank Of America credit card holders will receive free admission showing your card at the door!

Most of the women I knew either went to Downtown or Southside. First of all, it is a myth that a black person has to have a black person do their hair. The gender and origination is not the key, rather its can the person analyze the hair and perform the processes that are required, especially a relaxer. A relaxer does exactly what the name says– it relaxes the texture of the hair to make it more manageable.

When not relaxed the hair is in what is referred to as a “natural” state. Natural hair is okay, but it also takes care and specific products to maintain it’s beauty and health. If a stylist does not know how to properly do a relaxer, it could cause hair loss and damage to the scalp because of the strong chemicals it contains. I have been fortunate in finding good stylists that have been trained on relaxing and coloring techniques, as I like to change my look quite often.

I did happen upon a beautician in the Far West End who was Caucasian. She would not do relaxers but she was fabulous at cutting and styling. She was so good in fact that when a movie company came to Richmond to film “Major Payne,” they hired her to work on the set and she was gone the whole time they were filming.

Even comedian Chris Rock recognized the impact of the $9 million dollar a year black hair industry and made a film about it. According to a survey by Tresemme, women, on average, spend $50,000 on their hair over their lifetimes. Those numbers are staggering enough to warrant expansion in the business. There is definitely a business opportunity in Short Pump, but I can also understand that there must be some hesitancy and concern as to if there are enough customers to support it. But in looking around the salons at Regency and Virginia Center Commons Malls, I would say there is enough clientele to support such an establishment if properly advertised.

Fortunately with the growth of Short Pump has come an option for black hair care. Bubbles Salon and Elizabeth Arden Day Spa and Salon can properly accommodate African-American clientele. They are both located in Short Pump Town Center.

The developer has so far not wanted to comment about its long-term plan for the office building, which is vacant. Circuit City filed for bankruptcy protection in 2008 and liquidated in 2009. The land and the office building were separately owned, and thus required separate negotiations. Step one was buying the land from the bankrupt estate.

With that step completed, Pruitt is negotiating with the lender that owns the building, and that purchase could close within a few months, according to a person close to the deal. Pruitt is no stranger to big projects in Richmond. The company’s website lists office projects including West Creek Business Park in Goochland and GlenForest Office Park in Henrico.

In other Circuit City news, Bloomberg is reporting that the bankrupt entity’s unsecured creditors may get up to 30 percent on claims of what they are owed. Initially they were told not to expect more than 13.5 percent. Circuit City paid most of its secured claims, according to Bloomberg, by liquidating stores.

The final schedule will need to be approved at a Sept. 8 hearing.

Residents say Doverton Road, which was closed September 1st, caused motorists to speed between their neighborhoods, which will obviously cease now that the road has been dead-ended in two locations. Others say John Rolfe Parkway will ultimately bring more traffic to their communities overall and cause longer commute times for residents who will now have to navigate their way through other neighborhoods in order to get to main roads such as Pump Road and Ridgefield Parkway.

Interact: Do you live in the affected areas? Leave your comments about the roadway division below.

Best Pizza Restaurant

Nonna’s Pizza

First and second runners up, respectively: Vinny’s Pizza & Leonardo’s Pizza

Best Bar or Pub

Capital Ale House

First and second runners up, respectively: Kona Grill & Bar Louie

Best Breakfast or Brunch

Boychik’s Deli

First and second runners up, respectively: Silver Diner & Daily Grind Coffee House & Cafe

Best Burger

Five Guys Burgers & Fries

First and second runners up, respectively: Cheeburger Cheeburger & Capital Ale House

Best Seafood

The Summer Shack

First and second runners up, respectively: Seafire Grill & Shackleford’s

Best Asian Cuisine

Umi Sushi Bistro

First and second runners up, respectively: Osaka Sushi and Steakhouse & Ichiban

Best Restaurant for a First Date

Firebirds Rocky Mountain Grill

First and second runners up, respectively: Maggiano’s Little Italy & Cafe Caturra

Best Ice Cream or Smoothie Shop

Bruster’s Real Ice Cream

First and second runners up, respectively: Sweet Frog & Ray’s Italian Ice

Best Grocery Store

New Kroger (Broad & Lauderdale)

First and second runners up, respectively: Trader Joe’s & Whole Foods Market

Best Gift Shop

Tweed

First and second runners up, respectively: Penelope & By Invitation Only

Best Clothing Store

Nordstrom

First and second runners up, respectively: Kohl’s & Ann Taylor Loft

Best Family Outing

Deep Run Park

First and second runners up, respectively: Bogey’s Sports Park & Short Pump Town Center

Best Live Music

Innsbrook After Hours

First and second runners up, respectively: Short Pump Town Center Summer Concert Series & Daily Grind Coffee House & Cafe

Best Automotive Service Center

Midas

First and second runners up, respectively: Merchant’s Tire & Auto & Regency Tire & Auto

Below are just a few from our new weekly family events and entertainment contributor, Carissa Garabedian, who runs Macaroni Kid of Richmond, a great resource for fun things to do around town for the entire family.

1. Back To School Fair

Sunday August 29, from 12:00-4:00 p.m.
Whole Foods Market
804-364-4050

Vendors with child and school related items. Great information for Moms & Dads will be handed out too!

All ages welcome, FREE!

2. Teen Computer Gaming

Monday August 30, 2010, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Twin Hickory Library
Twin Hickory Road
804-290-9200

Open video gaming with other teens.

Ages 14+, FREE!

3. Friends & Family Day

Sunday August 29, 2010, all day
Color Me Mine
11627 West Broad Street
804-364-0108

Pay $15 for up to 4 people for sitting fees.

4. Powhatan’s 4th Fridays

Friday August 27, 2010, 5:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.
Friday Park at South Creek
2008 Carter Gallier Boulevard

Music, Food and Children’s Activities. Live Music by “The Wrest.”

$5 for all over age 12.

5. Trey Songz with Monica

Sunday August 29, 2010, 7:00 p.m.
Landmark Theater
804-646-4213

For the teens that like rap.

Ticket prices start at $46.

The firm was founded in 2006 by Mark Morton, a VCU graduate and IT industry veteran of 20 years who had worked for Wellpoint and Markel Corp.

“We provide staffing and consulting services, principally in the IT space,” Morton said of his business. Morton started the firm in 2005 with his own funds and a small loan from his father-in-law. “It was uncharted territory,” Morton said. “At the time, my wife and I had just purchased a new home, and we were expecting our third son. Leaving the security of a well established organization and taking on a new venture – it was definitely nerve-wracking.”

But the gamble has paid off. The company has grown to 50 employees and covers the mid-Atlantic with a presence in Northern Virginia and Raleigh. Morton’s client base is concentrated in the insurance, finance and health-care sectors, but the firm also does work for other sectors, including higher education.
One factor behind the company’s growth was last year’s acquisition of a local IT service company called Xperts.

“Most companies would have thought in 2009 the economy was in terrible shape and ask, ‘Why would you go and buy something?’” said Morton. “It made sense for our business and gave us access to accounts we didn’t have and also gave us operational staff to help us run the business on the inside.”
In 2009, Morton said that accounts from Xperts made up a third of the company’s business. The other two-thirds were split evenly between existing and newly added accounts.

The firm is still growing, with several job openings.

“Our goal is to continue to expand our geographic footprint and focus on maturing our presence and service offerings,” Morton said.
Morton Consulting joins 48 other Virginia businesses in the top 500 companies. You can peruse the list here.

Last year, three Richmond area businesses made the list: Robinson Radio, Packet360 and Logical Innovations, which shut down its Richmond office shortly thereafter and moved its operations to Indiana. (You can read last year’s RBS story here.)

The vandalism incident occurred at the school in June. Henrico General District Court Judge James S. Yoffy sentenced Fowlkes to nine months in jail. He must also pay $100 for each charge and just over $200 for cleanup costs.

Fowlkes appealed his conviction but remains in jail. He faces a hearing September 1 for the alleged burglary incident.

My name is Sharyn Mann, and I have been given an opportunity to present another perspective of short Pump. It seems that there are people of the opinion that African-Americans do not live in Short Pump. I say that because since I have been here I have heard that many times.

I am originally from New Jersey, but moved to Alexandria and then Hampton with my employer at the time. I was given a promotional opportunity in Richmond and decided to accept it about 15 years ago.

People asked me, “Why Short Pump? Black people don’t live in short Pump.” Well you see, I didn’t know much about the Richmond area at the time, except that the company I was transferring with had an office in Innsbrook. So I started there and found myself exploring the Far West End.

I found a model home and went in to explore. I was ready to buy on the spot. The neighborhood was beautiful. I passed pastures of cows and there was a horse farm directly behind our development. My daughter and I would sit on the porch and watch them walk the horses through the neighborhood. Alas, all that is gone now. When my family came to visit the first time they expected me to be living amongst tall buildings and lots of traffic and based on the growth we have experience, and we are on our way there.

I live in a neighborhood that has people of all races and backgrounds. It is very diverse. My daughter has been afforded a good education from elementary school through high school, which prepared her to successfully obtain her undergraduate degree from Penn State. She is now pursuing her Masters Degree at Virginia State University and hopes to become a Psychology professor.

Although the growth of Short Pump has changed the scenery, I have enjoyed the new businesses and friends it has bought. I was raised in a predominantly African-American neighborhood and city and I learned a lot from that experience, but a greater lesson that my family taught me was to learn that with hard work I can live wherever I want and be successful as I want as long as I work hard.

The only thing I want is to give my family the best things in life and moving to Short Pump and buying our first brand new home has been one of the best things that has happened to us. I don’t snub my nose at those who chose not to live here, so please don’t judge me because I live in Short Pump. I am not alone.

My goal is to bring you more local stories about businesses that have predominantly African-American clientele and views from other residents in the area. I thank you for allowing me to introduce myself.