“Though The Eyes Of Bill Draper” This Tuesday Evening

Bill Draper grew up in Stratford Hills near Pony Pasture, and spent his youth hopping rocks, fishing, swimming, and canoeing on the James River. Today, his athletic accomplishments continue to reflect his love for the outdoors and for living a healthy lifestyle. He is a veteran member of the Richmond Sports Backers Marathon Training Team, and is often found cycling on the Virginia Capital Trail or kayaking on the James with friends. He has completed several 500-mile bike rides, two 50-mile ultramarathons, and 31 Richmond Marathons, along with numerous others.
After retiring from a forty-year career in healthcare sales and marketing, Bill began carrying his camera on his outdoor adventures and sharing his photographs of the James River trails, birds, animals, and waterways on social media. His unique photo exploration of the James River Park System has been embraced by the Richmond community, including local media, who often feature his photographs.
Bill will be sharing his photography and the stories behind them at Pine Street. Come and be a part of this special evening. Pine Street is located in the historic Oregon Hill Community. There is a parking lot behind the Pine Street Barber Shop.

CobbleStore Vintage and Rest in Pieces are holding a sidewalk sale this Saturday

From announcement:

CobbleStore Vintage and Rest in Pieces are having a “sidewalk sale” in the Oregon Hill neighborhood near VCU!
This is a huge spring cleaning/clear out event! Most of CobbleStore’s items will be priced $1-$5 with LOTS of free items as well.
90% of the items will not be priced. Come make a pile and get a bulk deal! Super super cheap, looking to clean out a lot of backstock. Bring your own bag/box!
Bring CASH!!! We are happy to run credit cards or tap to pay, but will not run a card transaction for less than $5 and you will be charged sales tax. No tax with CASH transactions and better deals!(this applies for CobbleStore Vintage’s sales ONLY)
Event will take place from 11am-4pm! GET HERE EARLY, we are expecting a huge turnout and all of the best items will certainly sell in the first hour.
CobbleStore Vintage is located at 324 South Pine Street, Richmond Virginia 23220, Rest in Pieces is just around the corner on Laurel Street(walking distance from each other).
sidewalk sale, rummage sale, estate sale, yard sale, tag sale, clearance sale

Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association Meets Tuesday

From email announcement:

OHNA MAY 27 2025 MONTHLY MEETING

Join Zoom Meeting: 7pm
(Editor’s note: Zoom link and password redacted. Please contact OHNA at ohnarva@gmail.com for that information)

Welcome

Approval of Minutes (Scott Racette)

Community and local Officials Updates:

Police, VCU, Commonwealth’s Attorney, City Council, RVA neighborhood liaison

Primary candidate introductions: Hear from candidates for two city constitutional offices: Tom Barbour Jr., running for commonwealth’s attorney (we heard from incumbent commonwealth’s attorney Collette McEachin at the April Meeting); incumbent sheriff Antionette Irving, and challenger for sheriff, William Burnett.

Committee reports:
Zoning, FoOHP, RvaPB, Bylaws

Updates and Continued Business

New Business:

Pleasants park: stage for events (Dave Pierandri: discussion)
Traffic calming (Doug Allen: discussion)
Iron fence: request to city to save (Charles Pool: vote)
Water meter at Pleasants Park (Charles Pool: vote)


Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association
Valerie L’Herrou, President
Bryan Clark Green, Co-Vice President
Jennifer Hancock, Co-Vice President
Susan Hill, Co-Vice President
Harrison Moenich, Co-Vice-President
David Shannon, Co-Vice President
Scott Racette, Secretary
John Bolecek, Treasurer
JOIN OHNA: https://forms.gle/joCpHqcPrShu8qf86
See events and more: https://ohnarva.org/

Virginia War Memorial To Hold “Say Their Names” Marathon

The Virginia War Memorial will honor fallen service members in a unique way this Memorial Day by having veterans, “Gold Star families”, and members of the public will read aloud the names of nearly 12,000 Virginians killed or missing in action over an estimated twelve hour time period.

The names, etched in glass and stone at the Shrine of Memory, represent Virginians who died during wartime from World War II to the never-ending “War on Terror”.

The Virginia War Memorial, a division of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS), will host the 69th annual Commonwealth’s Memorial Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 26, 2025, in the Heilman Amphitheater. The “Say Their Names Marathon” will begin at the conclusion of the formal ceremony in the Shrine of Memory – 20th Century. The public is invited and encouraged to attend the ceremony and to support those reading the names through the afternoon and evening.

Richmond At The Movies This Thursday

This past April 1st there was an OregonHill.net post that mentioned movie and television productions in Oregon Hill.
Now there is an upcoming event that is celebrating Richmond in the movies.

Called “Richmond on Film: A City in the Spotlight”, it takes place this Thursday at 5:30 pm at the Richmond Public Library’s Main Library (Oregon Hill’s public library), in its Gellman Room.

The link: https://rvalibrary.libcal.com/event/13636608?hs=a

The blurb:

Richmond has been a backdrop for a variety of films, from Hollywood blockbusters to independent projects. Join us for a screening event where we’ll showcase clips from films shot in Richmond, as well as a feature set and filmed here. Explore how our city is portrayed on screen and the difference between films set in Richmond vs. those filmed here.

We’ll also introduce you to our Digital Archive, where we invite YOU to contribute your own photos and videos of Richmond, capturing the real-life scenes that reflect our city’s authentic history. Whether you’re a film lover, history buff, or local resident, this event is a chance to celebrate Richmond’s cinematic legacy and help preserve its true story for future generations.

Also, check out other events happening at ‘The Main’ this summer!
https://rvalibrary.org/events/

Paving will start THIS WEEK – Look for ‘NO PARKING’ signs

From Amy Robins, Liaison for Councilmember Stephanie A. Lynch:

OREGON HILL NEIGHBORS!!! READ THIS and share with your neighbors.
Please pay attention to the NO PARKING signs for paving. Paving will start THIS WEEK (May 5). Their goal is to go as fast as possible as weather permits.
This may mean will will not be able to park on your street for several days and have to walk a bit further for parking. Please remember this is a short term inconvenience for a long term benefit.
Please make sure you all talk with each other as you see each other walking dogs, to your car, etc throughout the neighborhood so everyone is aware. Some streets tend to have high tow rates during street sweeping.
@everyone

https://www.rva.gov/public-works/paving

… And Then There Are The Upcoming Riverfront Concerts

The list so far… there may be some new ones added since making this list…

April 26 – Brown’s Island – Remi Wolf with Dana and Alden

May 2 – Brown’s Island – Friday Cheers – Chaparelle with Jack Wharff and the Tobacco Flats

May 9 – Brown’s Island – Friday Cheers – Bully with Rikki Rakki

May 10 – Brown’s Island – Fighting Gravity with Pat McGee Band and Virginia Coalition

May 16 – Dominion River Rock – Mountain Grass Unit and Garden Variety String Band (music ends at 9:30 pm)

May 17 – Dominion River Rock – at 1 pm, For What It’s Worth, at 2:05 pm Sweet Potatoes, at 3:10 pm The Sugar Hollows, at 4:30 pm, Oh He Dead, at 6:15 pm, Mikaela Davis, at 8 pm, Andy Frasco & the U.N. (music ends at 9:30 pm)

May 18 – Dominion River Rock – at 1 pm Reggaelizit, at 2:10 pm, Don and the Fam, at 3:30 pm, Suggesting Rhythm

May 23 – Brown’s Island – Friday Cheers – Dogpark, Weekend Plans, & Caroline Vain

May 24 – Brown’s Island – TLC with Saved By The 90’s

May 30 – Brown’s Island – Friday Cheers – Josiah and the Bonnevilles with Jonathan Paige Brown Jr.

June 6 – Brown’s Island – Friday Cheers – Cashes Culpepper with Ramona and the Holy Smokes

June 6 – Alianz Amphitheater – Kansas and 38 Special with Outlaws

June 7 – Alianz Amphitheater – Rick Springfield: I Want My 80’s Tour

June 10 – Brown’s Island – Wallows: Model and More Tour

June 10 – Allianz Amphitheater – Dispatch w/John Butler

June 11 – Allianz Amphitheater – Glass Animals: Tour of Earth

June 13 – Brown’s Island – Friday Cheers – La Lom with Afro Zen Allstars

June 19 – Allianz Amphitheater – Boys II Men

June 20 – Brown’s Island – Friday Cheers – The War And Treaty with Mekong Express, The Get Fresh Horns, and Madeline Edwards

June 21 – Allianz Amphitheater – Dwight Yoakam

June 26 – Allianz Amphitheater – Parker McCollum Tour

June 27 – Brown’s Island – Friday Cheers – Say She She with Big Fancy

July 10 – Allianz Amphitheater – Kids Bop Live

July 12 – Allianz Amphitheater – Counting Crows

July 15 – Allianz Amphitheater – Dave Matthews Band

July 16 – Allianz Amphitheater – Dave Matthews Band

July 17 – Allianz Amphitheater – Brad Paisley

July 19 – Allianz Amphitheater – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

July 24 – Allianz Amphitheater – Lamb Of God, GWAR, Hatebreed

July 26 – Allianz Amphitheater – Whisky Myers

August 1 – Allianz Amphitheater – The Head And The Heart

August 3 – Brown’s Island – Flaming Lips & Modest Mouse

August 6 – Allianz Amphitheater – Styx & Kevin Cronin + Don Felder The Brotherhood

August 9 – Brown’s Island – Jampacked featuring Lotus, Moon Taxi, Spafford, and more!

August 10 – Allianz Amphitheater – Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts

August 23 – Allianz Amphitheater – Bailey Zimmerman

August 24 – Allianz Amphitheater – The Red Clay Strays

August 26 – Allianz Amphitheater – Simple Plan

August 28 – Allianz Amphitheater – Gavin Adcock

August 29 – Alison Krauss & Union Station

September 1 – Allianz Amphitheater – James Taylor

September 2 – Brown’s Island – Men I Trust: Equus Tour

September 6 – Allianz Amphitheater – Leon Bridges

September 9 – Brown’s Island – Sierra Ferrell:Shoot For The Moon Tour

September 20 – Allianz Amphitheater – Steve Martin and Martin Short

September 22 – Allianz Amphitheater – “Weird Al” Yankovic

October 10-12 – Richmond Folk Festival

October 21 – Allianz Amphitheater – Tedeschi Trucks Band

Remember this statement- ““We’ll be working with our business and residential neighbors to make sure that we are a good partner and good neighbor,” she says. “For us to be successful, we need everyone around us to be happy with us, so it’s something that we are very aware of, and we’ll go through all of the proper procedures to make sure that we are putting together the best plan possible.”
from “RVA’s New Groove” article in Richmond Magazine.

Of course, we will all need to speak up for those that cannot..

Lots of Spring Events Coming…

The Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association is putting a lot of events on its website …hey, the more the merrier…
There are some great opportunities to become more locally involved…
https://ohnarva.org/events-2/

Here are some more…


TOMORROW:
Open High’s PTA is holding its annual Art Exhibition and Bake Sale to benefit art at Open.
Please join us in the Open parking lot Thurs, 4/24, 3:30-5:30… Enjoy beautiful student art and maybe buy a tasty treat to raise money for student art supplies. All are welcome!


John Murden, who created Church Hill People’s News and this and many other neighborhood sites, is hosting a new event this Saturday.

Get your kids on the bikes and ride with us!
KIDICAL MASS + CARGO BIKE MEET-UP on Saturday 4/26
Meet and ride from Bryan Park in Northside or Meadow Park in the Fan to Pine Camp.
Meet at Meadow Park in the Fan at 10AM ~or~ at Bryan Park Bellevue Gate at 10:30 and ride together to Pine Camp.
Got a cargo bike or just big bike curious? Want to find out about bikes that can carry kids and groceries? Bring your bike check out other bikes, take demo rides and meet other cargo bike riders.

Van Yahres Tree Company will lead Hollywood Cemetery’s annual Spring Tree Tour on May 2.

This 90-minute guided walk will showcase our accredited arboretum and provide education about the preservation and care of the historic trees of Hollywood Cemetery.

RSVP to Kelly Wilbanks at kwilbanks@hollywoodcemetery.org or call 804-648-8501.

The Richmond Public Library Main Branch (Oregon Hill’s branch) has a variety of upcoming events, including a DIY Frog Waffles workshop on April 30th and free blood pressure screenings on the first Monday of each month and select Saturdays.
Check out the calendar here:
https://rvalibrary.libcal.com/calendar/main?cid=7469&t=d&d=0000-00-00&cal=7469&inc=0

Also don’t forget about the Friends of RPL Spring Book Sale:

Don’t forget that VCU’s graduation weekend is May 9-11.

Pine Street neighbor Stephenie Harrington has a timely reminder:
REMINDER
Saturday, May 10
City trucks will be removing rubbish and debris
Friday, 5/9 —> Place items where trash is normally picked up

OHNA Meeting Notice

From email announcement announcement:

Please join us at Pine Street Baptist Church for an in-person monthly meeting and pasta supper provided by the church (vegan option available). We will meet early, at 6pm, so we can get our dinner and get settled and start a little early. In exchange for feeding us, the church will be asking for our thoughts on how the church can meet the changing needs of the community. Agenda below and attached.

Neighborhood Traffic Safety Walk: Tuesday April 22 at 5:30 pm
JOIN The Oregon Hill Stop Sign Safety Workgroup and City of Richmond Traffic Engineer Andy Boenau for a walk through OH’s dangerous intersections. Meet at Pine Street Baptist, Albemarle Street side, at 5:30.

Public Feedback: Brown’s Island Design Pop-up: Tuesday, April 22·3:30 – 7:00pm
Oregon Hill residents are encouraged to attend this public design feedback session for Brown’s Island. They say it’s a casual drop-in event, so ok even if you only have 10 minutes to stop by Brown’s Island to share your thoughts on proposed plans for the future of this beloved public space! Haxall Bridge Entrance near Potterfield Bridge. Learn more: https://venturerichmond.com/our-services/browns-island-improvement-plan/

Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan: Tuesday, May 6th at 6:00pm.
Review the final draft of the Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan. It will be presented to the RVA Planning Commission for a vote Tuesday, May 6th in the 5th floor conference room of City Hall (900 E Broad St) at 6:00pm. Public comments may be no more than two minutes. Written comments may be sent to Alyson Oliver (alyson.oliver@rva.gov) prior to the meeting time.

_______________________________________________________
Agenda: OHNA Monthly Meeting April 2025
Join Zoom Meeting (Editor’s note: Zoom meeting info redacted, please join or contact OHNA in order to receive it)

Welcome

Approval of Minutes (Scott Racette)

Community and local Officials Updates:

Police, VCU, Commonwealth’s Attorney, City Council, Allianz Amphitheater

Committee updates:

Zoning, FoOHP, RvaPB, (Bylaws and Stop Sign Safety ctes will present during “Discussions” and “Continued Business” portions of the meeting

Updates and Continued Business
May Open Gardens Day: May 17, 10:00 – 2:00. (Phaedra Hise)

Stop Sign Safety Workgroup: presentation, discussion, and vote (Amanda Bradley)

Discussions
Bylaws Committee: amended bylaws presentation and discussion (no vote)
Note: “By-Laws may be amended at any duly constituted meeting of the Association by a two-thirds vote of those members present and voting, provided that the amendment was submitted and read at the previous meeting of the Association.” (Phaedra Hise & John Bolecek)

Pine Street Baptist Church: Discuss ideas for reimagining the space to meet the needs of our community. (Philip Turner)

New Business:
——————————————————


Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association
Valerie L’Herrou, President
Bryan Clark Green, Co-Vice President
Jennifer Hancock, Co-Vice President
Susan Hill, Co-Vice President
Harrison Moenich, Co-Vice-President
David Shannon, Co-Vice President
Scott Racette, Secretary
John Bolecek, Treasurer

OHNA on the Web: follow our calendar of events: https://ohnarva.org/
JOIN OHNA: https://forms.gle/joCpHqcPrShu8qf86