Author Archives: Scott

Trash/Recycling Pickup Tomorrow Morning

Posted on by
Reply

Tomorrow is a “Red Wednesday”, which means trash and recycling pickup.

Please go over what can be recycled.

NOTE: CVWMA (Central Virginia Waste Management Authority) has announced that all curbside recycling must now be INSIDE the CVWMA containers with lid closed. Items beside the container or on top of it will not be collected. In fact, incorrect setouts may not be collected at all. This is new as of July 1 for all our curbside recyclers, with the exception of townhomes/condos still using small bins. (And yes, this also applies to flattened cardboard boxes.)

Ideally, rolling recycling containers are stored and deployed in the back alleys along with trash cans. Please make sure you pick up containers after pickup tomorrow night. More CVWMA information can be found at this link:
https://cvwma.com/cvwma-locations/richmond/

In order to take your recycling to the next level, read this: 10 ways to improve your recycling.

OHNA And Upcoming Neighborhood Events

Posted on by
Reply

From email:

Dear Oregon Hill Community:

The next OHNA meeting will be February 24 at 7pm.
Agenda and Zoom link will be sent prior to the meeting.

Neighborhood events in February:

Sunday, February 15th at 5:00pm:
Storytelling Gathering at Pine Street Church
(see attached flyer)
This month’s theme: When I Fell in Love
Come tell a short story about how you fell in love – with a person, a place, a hobby, a passion, a calling, or anything that awakened joy and meaning in you. Stories can be funny, tender, surprising, or all of the above, and you’re welcome to come just to listen. Cupcakes and coffee and other beverages served.

Thursday, February 19th at 6:00pm – 8:30pm:
Community Craft Night at Pine Street Church
Bring a craft, a snack, and yourself! Even if you aren’t crafting, come hang out with community and enjoy some productive art making and socializing! Mark your calendar for the next event on March 26th.

Sunday, February 22nd at 9:00am:
Friends of Oregon Hill Parks
Committee meeting at Holly Street Playground, followed by a cleanup at Holly Street Playground from 10:00am – 12:00pm.

RVA News & Events:_______________________________

Code Refresh:
The City of Richmond has extended the comment period on draft two of the Code Refresh maps and use regulations. The comment period, which was originally scheduled to close on Sunday, February 15, has been moved two weeks to Sunday, March 1 at 11:59 p.m. Visit the interactive tools available at rva.gov/coderefresh and leave comments.

‘So, What’s Next?’ RVA Community Dinner:
– When: Thursday, February 19th, 5:30-7:30 PM
– Where: LabRVA Event Center, 1001 N. 25th St
RSVP by February 12 by clicking here: Please let us know if you would like us to invite others. Info: Email kristine.lalonde@gmail.com

Utility and Water Bill Assistance
METROCARE GAS- Assistance from Department of Public Utilities to help pay heating bills from December 15th thru April 30th. Customers must be at least 30 days past due.
METROCARE WATER- Assistance with water bills. Customers’ bills must be at least 30 days past due. MetroCare may pay one bill payment of last resort, up to $500 per heating season. FYI: Funds are for current charges only. Applicant can only receive MetroCare assistance only once in heating season or once per 12 months. Funds cannot be used for unpaid balances from last heating season or older.
ENERGYSHARE – Dominion Virginia Power helps pay customers’ utility bills.
Energyshare is a 12-month program. The program assists with heating and cooling bills. If approved, customer can receive up to $300 for cooling. June 1st thru September 30th and up to $600 for heating bills October 1st thru May 31st.
Please note: Program may end sooner depending on availability of funds.
For more information: CAPUP 804-788-0050.

—
Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association
Valerie L’Herrou, President
John Bolecek, Treasurer
Amanda Bradley, Co-Vice-President
Bryan Clark Green, Co-Vice President
Jennifer Hancock, Co-Vice President
Susan Hill, Co-Vice President
Phaedra Hise, Co-Vice President
Scott Racette, Secretary

JOIN OHNA: https://forms.gle/joCpHqcPrShu8qf86
For events and more: https://ohnarva.org/

Trash/Recycling Pickup Tomorrow Morning

Posted on by
Reply

Tomorrow is a “Red Wednesday”, which means trash and recycling pickup.

The Central Virginia Waste Management Authority has this Service Alert on their website:

February 3, 2026
5:45 p.m.
As road conditions allow, service will resume on Wednesday, Feb. 4, with Wednesday trash collection in Hopewell and Colonial Heights, and Red Wednesday recycling routes throughout the region.

The City of Richmond has lifted its state of emergency following the last winter storm, and supposedly trash collections will be on schedule.

Please go over what can be recycled.

NOTE: CVWMA (Central Virginia Waste Management Authority) has announced that all curbside recycling must now be INSIDE the CVWMA containers with lid closed. Items beside the container or on top of it will not be collected. In fact, incorrect setouts may not be collected at all. This is new as of July 1 for all our curbside recyclers, with the exception of townhomes/condos still using small bins. (And yes, this also applies to flattened cardboard boxes.)

Ideally, rolling recycling containers are stored and deployed in the back alleys along with trash cans. Please make sure you pick up containers after pickup tomorrow night. More CVWMA information can be found at this link:
https://cvwma.com/cvwma-locations/richmond/

In order to take your recycling to the next level, read this: 10 ways to improve your recycling.

Second Storytelling Event: When I Fell In Love

Posted on by
Reply

From FaceBook event page:

Join us for our Second Storytelling Event!
You’re invited to “When I Fell in Love”, a storytelling event where we’ll share true stories about the moments that captured our hearts and changed our lives. Come tell a short story about how you fell in love-with a person, a place, a hobby, a passion, a calling, or anything that awakened joy and meaning in you. Stories can be funny, tender, surprising, or all of the above, and you’re welcome to come just to listen.
Cupcakes, coffee, and other beverages served

This is the mushy sequel to the previous event.

Icy Road Conditions Continue

Posted on by
Reply

This past weekend’s winter storm continues to impact mobility, with neighborhoods and roads still very icy.

Citywide, from The Richmonder: “Richmond fights losing battle against snow, ice as temperatures stay below freezing”

Urban transportation and history nerds may take some time to ponder how the Richmond Union Passenger Railway would be handling this, if it were still in existence.

OHNA Meeting Tomorrow Evening

Posted on by
Reply

From email announcement:

(Editor’s note: Zoom meeting link and password has been redacted, please join or contact OHNA for that information)

OHNA January Meeting
Tuesday, Jan 27, 7pm: The first meeting of 2026! Agenda is attached and below. Materials for action item regarding zoning are attached.
——————-

Winter Storm
Stay safe! Have a plan in case your pipes freeze or you lose power and heat.
> Weather will delay some City services such as trash pickup
If you or someone you know needs shelter: https://rva.gov/human-services/inclement-weather
RVA city Weather Alerts signup: https://rva.gov/node/18466
Power outages: https://myaccount.dominionenergy.com/portal/#/ReportOutage
——————-

Zoning: “Code Refresh”
Comments on the second draft of the re-zoning may be made through February 15. Access interactive map and zoning regs here: https://rva.gov/planning-development-review/code-refresh You can explore the maps and leave your feedback there — or email your comments to Richmond300@rva.gov.

——————-

Parks – Richmond INSPIRE
The Parks’ Department’s Richmond INSPIRE is now live for public review.
Review the draft before March 6, 2026. Parks will start a more formal outreach strategy after the new year.
90% Draft Vision Plan — Richmond INSPIRE Citywide Vision Plan for Parks, Recreation & Community Facilities

——————-

OHNA Meeting Agenda
Tuesday, 27, January 2026 • 7:00PM

Welcome

Approval of Minutes:
There are no minutes to approve as December was a social and not a business meeting

Community and local Officials Updates: Police, VCU, Councilmember Lynch

Committee updates:

Zoning, FoOHP, Traffic and Safety, Bylaws, Events

Action items:
OHNA Resolution Requesting Amendments to the proposed Zoning ordinance
Support Tree Planting Project

New Business:

————————-
—
Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association
Valerie L’Herrou, President
John Bolecek, Treasurer
Amanda Bradley, Co-Vice-President
Bryan Clark Green, Co-Vice President
Jennifer Hancock, Co-Vice President
Susan Hill, Co-Vice President
Phaedra Hise, Co-Vice President
Scott Racette, Secretary

JOIN OHNA: https://forms.gle/joCpHqcPrShu8qf86
For events and more: https://ohnarva.org/

What Is More Important? Schools, Water Utility, Or Homeless Shelter? Welcome to Richmond’s Ranked Choice Voting Day!

Posted on by
Reply

Hi everyone! January 23rd is traditionally recognized as Ranked Choice Voting Day!

Of course, here in Richmond, VA, that does not mean too much as the political establishment is still squashing Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), despite encouragement for it.

But, hey, don’t let the General Assembly, City Council, and winter doldrums get you down. For it is I, Scott Burger, the pirate king of Oregon Hill, here to entertain you and (counterintuitively to my monarchial rule) encourage grassroots democracy with yet another exciting public RCV poll.

Given yesterday’s RPS announcement, the noteworthy recent anniversary of last year’s water crisis, and ongoing struggles for the ‘unhoused’, what is more important?

1) Fully funding our public schools

2) A reliable, working, public water utility

3) larger homeless shelters

Now, I could add as choices a sustainable environment and larger rainy (sleety? snowy) day emergency fund, but let’s not get too crazy or hopeful. Let’s keep it relatively simple. This is not a mayor’s race.

After all, we are supposed to be beginning a new City budget process…

Remember, with ranked choice voting (RCV), you are allowed to vote for more than one choice, but you need to rank them.

Also remember that the political establishment (and their corporate masters) will not allow an all-of-the-above choice as it wants large corporations and tourism to get a steady stream of taxpayer dollars in the form of tax breaks and subsidies. LIVE Nation and New Market Corporation were not going to build their new riverfront amphitheater by themselves (or were they?). Co-Star was not going to incentivize itself, now was it? Otherwise VCU might not have received their money. The corporate welfare must continue, according to our current leadership, opportunity costs, public choices, and alternatives be damned.

Remember what I said about keeping the pressure on!

Happy Ranked Choice Voting Day!

Ready? Vote:

I will try to update this post with results later, if I am not thrown into the new ICE facility in Hanover. (Remember, ICE received “only” $14 billion in funding, despite public demands to abolish it altogether. But that goes back to national priorities…)