Gazebo To Get Solar

Posted on April 1, 2015 by Scott

Oregon Hill residents are gratified that the City workers recently repainted the historic gazebo that sits as the end of S. Pine Street, near the overlook. With the UCI Road World Championship bicycle races approaching, residents are hoping the gazebo will look enticing for spectators.

But now the City has additional news: As part of longterm restoration plans, the gazebo roof will be fitted with not only roof-flush photovoltaic (PV) solar panels and batteries to power the lighting installations around it, but also a retractable solar thermal array that will provide steam for picnic cooking as well as hot beverages in cooler temperatures.

The design for this array comes from Wolfgang Scheffler, who is well know for designing similar arrays for community kitchens across India. City officials expect to have both the PV array and the thermal array up later this summer, as long as they can get past regulation in the City’s VEPGA.

Community Movie Night Season Opens With Gangster Film ‘Scarface’

Posted on April 1, 2015 by Scott

For years, there have been Friday night community movies at Pleasants Park, next to Pine Street Baptist Church.

But this year, the chief organizer behind these movie nights is about to realize a longtime dream of showing in the park the 1983 film Scarface, starring Al Pacino. It is scheduled for just a few weeks as the season opener. Yes, he knows that he will be relying on parents to keep their children from being influenced or frightened by the film’s excessive violence, frequent strong language and graphic hard drug usage. But after decades of showing more family-friendly fare, he is ready to take more chances with his screenings, and hopes nearby neighbors will indulge him.

“I am a big DePalma fan”, he says, “And who can forget Pacino?
‘You wanna play rough? Okay. Say hello to my little friend!'” (with accent).

Free grilled hot dogs and beverages will be served as long as supplies last. The full schedule for the series has not yet been announced.

OHNA Letter

Posted on March 31, 2015 by Scott

Earlier this month, the following letter was sent to VCU, City, State officials, as well as the media in response to an earlier real estate transaction:

Dear Dr. Rao,

The members of the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association (OHNA) were concerned to hear that in November 2014, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) acquired a property at 9 West Cary Street, outside of VCU’s Master Plan boundary. In response to a request made under the Freedom of Information Act, VCU confirmed that the property at 9 West Cary Street is not within VCU’s Master Plan boundary and that VCU did not inform its neighbors that it was purchasing property outside of its Master Plan boundary.

While this property at 9 West Cary Street is not within the Oregon Hill Historic District, we object to the University acquiring property outside of its Master Plan boundary. This land acquisition is counter to the Management Agreement between VCU and the Commonwealth of Virginia that states that capital projects must be “consistent with the University’s published Master Plan.” The fact that VCU chooses to disregard its own Master Plan alarms the surrounding communities.

OHNA voted at its February 24, 2015 meeting to formally request that VCU adhere to its Master Plan boundary when acquiring property in the future. We would also remind you of the promise made by former VCU President Eugene Trani that the University will not expand south of Cary Street into the Oregon Hill Historic District.

VCU’s neighbors rely on the commitment made by the University to adhere to its Master Plan boundary when purchasing property. This assurance is essential for removing speculation and inspiring a sense of trust between VCU and its neighbors.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Hancock
Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association
President

Trash/Recycling Pickup Tomorrow…and win a car!

Posted on March 31, 2015 by Scott

This Wednesday is a red Wednesday, which means trash and recycling pickup. Please make sure you pick up containers after pickup tomorrow night. They do not belong on the sidewalk after tomorrow night.

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

Article on recent study- “The shapely side of recycling”.

In addition, we are starting to hear more about Recycling Perks program in Richmond:

Councilman Parker C. Agelasto to hold a meeting for the Richmond Central 5th Voter District

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Scott

From City Council press release:

WHAT (Richmond, Virginia U.S.A.) – The Honorable Parker C. Agelasto, Councilman, Richmond City Council, Richmond Central 5th Voter District, will hold a district-wide meeting for the Richmond Central 5th Voter District. This is part of regular meetings Councilman Agelasto holds, which include information on his Richmond Central 5th Voter District goals and accomplishments; a thematic agenda of current interest; and, special guests. These meetings are free and open to the public and all Richmond Central 5th Voter District residents are invited and encouraged to attend. The planned agenda/discussion topics for the upcoming meeting include:

· Introduction of Richmond’s New Chief of Police
Col. Alfred Durham, Chief of Police, Richmond Police Department

· Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Road World Cycling Championships: Richmond 2015
Ms. Monica Callahan, Community Engagement Director, UCI Road World Championships: Richmond 2015

· City Code Enforcement Presentation
Mr. John Walsh, Operations Manager, Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review Division of Property Maintenance Code Enforcement

· Questions, Comments, and Concerns
The Honorable Parker C. Agelasto, Councilman
Richmond City Council, Richmond Central 5th Voter District

WHEN Wednesday, April 1, 2015
6:30-8:00 p.m.

WHERE Patrick Henry Elementary School of Science and Arts
3411 Semmes Avenue; Richmond, Virginia 23225

WHO The Honorable Parker C. Agelasto, Councilman
Richmond City Council, Richmond Central 5th Voter District

CONTACT For more information, please contact:
The Honorable Parker C. Agelasto, Councilman
Richmond City Council, Richmond Central 5th Voter District, at 804.646.6050 (tel), or parker.agelasto@richmondgov.com (email)

Councilman Agelasto’s Future Richmond Central 5th Voter District Meetings

Wednesday, June 3, 2015; 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities
Randolph Community Center
1415 Grayland Avenue, Richmond, Virginia

Wednesday, August 5, 2015; 6:30-8:00 p.m.
BACK TO SCHOOL MEETING
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond – Southside Club
2409 Bainbridge Street, Richmond, Virginia

Updated location:
Wednesday, October 7, 2015; 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities
World War 1 Memorial Carillon Bell Tower
Dogwood Dell
0 South Boulevard, Richmond, Virginia 23221

Wednesday, December 2, 2015; 6:30-8:00 p.m.
HOLIDAY PARTY
Virginia War Memorial
621 South Belvidere Street, Richmond, Virginia

Keys Found

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Scott

Neighbors on the 400 block of S. Laurel Street found this set of keys.

326 S. Pine Street

Posted on March 28, 2015 by Scott

A house that has since been demolished, 326 S. Pine St., was at the location of the Pine St. Baptist Church parking lot on the 300 block of Pine Street. In the first photo, it’s the sliver of a house that is just to the left of the corner pharmacy storefront, which is now Pine Street Barbershop. The overall photo is a panoramic photo of Oregon Hill residents in front of Pine Street Baptist Church, that is currently hung in the William Byrd Community House. As it turns out, the late Senator Benedetti on March 28, 1929 was born at 326 S. Pine St. His father, Carl Vincent Benedetti appears in the city directories at that address from 1926 to 1933. The Senator died last November.

Tree Trash

Posted on March 26, 2015 by Scott

The neighborhood trash situation is looking pretty good these days overall (compared to some other days), thanks to recent efforts.

(And please don’t forget about the cleanup tomorrow!)

But this poor tree, along Belvedere near the Overlook, for some reason is a trash magnet:

Inaugural Support Virginia Green Tourism Oyster Roast & Festival

Posted on March 25, 2015 by Scott

From the VGTA website:

Join the Virginia Green Travel Alliance (VGTA) on March 28th at Historic Tredegar for its inaugural Support Virginia Green Tourism Oyster Roast & Festival! The event features sustainably-harvested Virginia oysters, non-oyster dishes, and Virginia wines and brews – all from VIRGINIA GREEN Restaurants, Wineries and Breweries.

VCU Shares Photo Collection On Flickr