Street Paving Update

From Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association:

KEEP AN EYE ON THE SIGNS: WARN YOUR NEIGHBORS: OREGON HILL SCHEDULED STREET CLOSURES

OHNA has not been provided with specific days when the individual streets will be closed so KEEP YOUR EYES OUT FOR SIGNS!

During this period these streets will be closed at various times for milling and paving. PAY ATTENTION to signs indicating particular blocks and streets. If you will be away during this time, find a safe place to park your car, or empower a neighbor to move it for you.

Wednesday, May 7 to Wednesday, June 18 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Riverside Park from South Cherry Street to Dead End
South Cherry Street from Riverside Park to Oregon Hill Parkway
Oregon Hill Parkway from South Cherry Street to 2nd Street
South Laurel Street from Oregon Hill Parkway to Broad Street
South Pine Street from Oregon Hill Parkway to Broad Street
South Cherry Street from South Cathedral Place to Dead End
Holly Street from South Belvidere Street to Dead End
China Street from South Belvidere Street to Cherry Street
Spring Street from Cherry Street to South Belvidere Street
Albermarle Street to Dead End
Idlewood Avenue from South Belvidere Street to South Harrison Street
Grayland Avenue from Idlewood Avenue to South Harrison Street
Cumberland Street from South Belvidere Street to South Harrison Street
South Linden Street from Idlewood Avenue to West Cary Street
Parkwood Avenue from South Harrison Street to South Lindon Street
Cathedral Place from North Laurel Street to North Cathedral Place
South Cathedral Place from North Laurel Street to North Cathedral Place
North Cathedral Place from South Cathedral Place to Cathedral Place

ALSO: Next OHNA monthly meeting: MAY 27, 7PM on ZOOM.

Minimum Wage Studio Relocating

Style magazine has published a rousing tribute to Lance Koehler’s Minimum Wage Recording Studio, which is relocating to Staunton, Virginia, after 20 years of making music right here in Oregon Hill.

The piece also promotes a fundraising concert scheduled for this coming Sunday at The Broadberry concert venue.

Microphones, cables and rows of knobs and dials — every recording studio has ‘em. A stated goal, on the other hand? Not all studios have one of those, but Minimum Wage Recording did: “To make it affordable enough that bands could take more time in the studio and really dig into doing some art.”

That’s how owner Lance Koehler describes the mission he sought to fulfill during Minimum Wage’s two-decade run operating in Oregon Hill. Now the gifted engineer, founding member of No BS! Brass Band and overall pillar of Richmond’s music community is packing up his studio and moving to Staunton, and some his former clients are stepping up to honor his contributions — and pay forward his generosity.

On Sunday, Nov. 17, the Broadberry will host A Celebration of Minimum Wage Recording Studios. The concert — part send-off, part benefit event — was the brainchild of fellow drummer Scott Clark, who was among the first to record at the studio when it was founded shortly after Koehler moved from New Orleans to Richmond in 2001. Upon learning Koehler was planning to move again, Clark was immediately inspired to put a bill together.

Needless to say, many neighbors will greatly miss Koehler and the great creativity emanating from Albemarle Street.

Event description as it appears in Style:
A Celebration of Minimum Wage Recording Studios will take place on Sunday, Nov. 17 at the Broadberry. Bio Ritmo, No BS! Brass Band and Justin Golden will perform. Doors open at 7 p.m. and music starts at 8 p.m. Proceeds will benefit Minimum Wage Recording Studio. Tickets are $15 in advance ($20 at the door) and can be purchased at thebroadberry.com.

Lost Keys On Albemarle Street

From a resident:

I lost my keys and have been searching for the last two days since then. I have no clue where they might be. I figured I’d post on here in case they fell onto the street. It has my car and house key, but what I’m mainly upset about is that it had my cats ashes on it. The lanyard looks like this, and I live on albemarle by the dead end. It should have three black keys, this silver ashes thingy, a couple small keys, and a kroger card. If anyone sees them please please please message me. I’ve already searched my entire house, car, all my pockets and bags, etc so I really am just posting as a last hope

Gunfire In Neighborhood Last Night

Neighbors were awoken about 2:15 am Friday night/Saturday morning by at least 16 shots, some of them in rapid succession. Although accounts are not quite clear, it sounds like they may have stemmed from an argument/altercation around Laurel and Albemarle. Witnesses saw guns fire from speeding cars that went down Laurel and up Pine.

This morning, some neighbors found fresh bullet holes in their walls and plan to inspect their roofs. Others are gathering security camera footage and figuring out car makes/models to give to police.

Raccoon Activity

photo courtesy of Brandon Baldwin

There have been a lot more sightings of raccoons in the neighborhood lately. Some of it is probably due to the warm winter so far. Some if it may be due to other disturbances in the local wildlife population.

If you do see a raccoon on the street or sidewalk, leave it alone and consider calling an animal rescue group. If a raccoon approaches too closely, make yourself appear larger: stand up, shout, and wave your arms. If he continues to approach, throw or spray water, or even stones if needed. A raccoon that is very aggressive–or too tame, or seems to be disoriented or staggers may be sick or injured.