From Market manager, Ana Edwards:

Oh my gosh, another chance of snow? We anticipate having our farmers and bread vendors here at the BHM, unless something really cataclysmic happens with the weather!

We suggest that you get ready for another week/weekend of staying in…come and buy all your ingredients to cook up a storm!

Secretly want to do something that takes patience and results in something wonderful – spend a Sunday afternoon of slow cooking for the week: grass-fed Beef stew, roast pork served with peach rosemary jam, while sipping cocoa and munching pizelles while yummy aromas drift through your home…

Visit the Byrd House Market online: http://www.byrdhousemarket.blogspot.com
Tuesdays, 3-5:30 pm

Due to snow, our Growing and Urban Garden was canceled last week. We plan to start classes tomorrow. Yes, you can still sign up for it.
Urban Garden Guru John Wise begins his 4-week course “Growing an Urban Garden” this Tuesday, Feb. 9 , 6-8 pm, following the close of the market day. Tonight’s topic is “The Place – Garden Design”. Classes are held in the Grace Arents Library of William Byrd Community House, 224 S. Cherry St. $25 for all 4 or $10 for a single class. Please RSVP to librarian@wbch.org or call 643-2717. Next week: “The Plants – What Grows Here?

REMINDERS:
Annual Vendor Meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 1:30 – application review, market updates, VDACS information, etc. Please RSVP to byrdhousemarket@gmail.com or (804) 643-2717
Vendor Applications accepted through Friday, Feb. 26 – online, by hand, fax or mail (don’t forget the fee!)

–
Byrd House Market
William Byrd Community House
224 South Cherry Street
Richmond, VA 23220
ByrdHouseMarket@gmail.com
(804) 643-2717

As promised, Shawn Jones has put the first issue of a zine devoted to Oregon Hill. Its a b/w photocopied affair that’s called ‘Oregon Hill Cats’. In it are features on Oregon Hill history, activist profiles, the story of the Flying Brick library, photos, and poetry. While some of the articles have appeared before elsewhere, it still gives a good compiled view of the neighborhood that hopefully many will appreciate. Its in limited release right now, so you may need to ask around to get your eyeballs on a copy, but surely WBCH, SynerGeo, and Flying Brick will have one.

And, congratulations to former Oregon Hill resident and WRIR founder Chris Maxwell, as well as other founders, many who are still part of the Oregon Hill community.

WRIR, 97.3 FM, Richmond’s alternative community radio station, celebrated five years of being on the air last night at the Renaissance Center on Broad Street as part of First Friday festivities. Of course the winter storm dampened much of the rest of First Friday, but WRIR leadership bravely went ahead and held their party and were rewarded by a crowd that enjoyed one of the few Richmond events not canceled last night.

Here is local band Amazing Ghost rocking the ballroom:

It was announced last month that Oregon Hill resident Maurice Henderson was planning to run for the 5th District seat of the Richmond City School Board. Now, this month, Henderson was appointed to the Board to fill out the rest of departing Board representative’s term. Henderson has told supporters that he still plans to stand for election to the seat this November.

A lot happened at this past week’s Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association meeting.

A representative from Patrick Henry Charter School Initiative made a short presentation and answered questions.

VCU announced the opening of the controversial student recreational center at the corner of W. Cary and S. Cherry Streets. It was also announced that Oregon Hill residents who wished to buy monthly prorated membership to the new Student Recreational Center on W. Cary Street would pay a rate roughly equal to that of VCU alumni ($281.67 per year). VCU suggested that a monthly list of interested residents be kept by OHNA. (The attendance list from this past meeting was dutifully sent to VCU Community Development.) All eligible residents who purchase a membership will be required to got to the VCUCard office (located at 701 West Broad Street) to purchase a VCU Recreational Sports ID. All VCU Recreational Sports rules, policies, and guidelines apply.

Scott Burger, citing new responsibilities outside the neighborhood, voluntarily stepped down as President. Jennifer Hancock volunteered to serve as OHNA’s interim President for a few months until new leadership can be elected. She did note that she is already volunteering as the President of the Oregon Hill Home Improvement Council’s Board of Directors. One possibility that was mentioned was for OHNA to change its bylaws to rule by an elected board.

Some other issues that were discussed included a new greenway grant by City, the light from the new Mead WestVaco building(I understand that company officials may have had the light turned down a bit since the meeting), and a proposed tree removal on Pine Street.

From Hollywood Cemetery management:

A ceremony will be held for JEB Stuart at 11 a.m. on February 6th lasting approx 90 minutes. A round of volleys will be fired during the service.

Another large winter storm…

From the Richmond Dispatch, July 31, 1886:

Mr. McCann, one of the oldest and best-known residents of Oregon Hill, died suddenly Friday of heart-disease. He was over sixty years of age.