Category Archives: community

Some Pics From This Week

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The James River ran high all weekend (photo from Wednesday or Thursday morning).


Somebody held a scavenger hunt!


Somebody in Monroe Park needs parental guidance!


Neighbors are mourning this black snake, seen alive and then found dead. Black snakes are not dangerous to humans, and help keep mice and rat populations down.


Many folks headed down to Brown’s Island and the riverfront to enjoy music and activities at the RiverRock Festival. Here’s local reggae band Reggaelize It! playing some cool tunes for a nice Sunday afternoon.


Despite warnings, street paving, and enforcement, there were still some attendees who risked parking illegally. It was not as bad as some previous years, but does not bode well for the new amphitheater opening.

Street Paving Update

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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.

Lots of Spring Events Coming…

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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

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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:
——————————————————

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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

King Ponders Passports

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While the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association is reviewing its bylaws and considering updates in regard to membership and agenda making, the King of Oregon Hill is re-visiting and re-contemplating what it means to be a subject and citizen.

“Given the dismantling of the administrative American state and the corporate takeover accompanying it, as the United States cancels more than 300 student visas, as over 50 universities are under investigation as part of Trump’s anti-DEI crackdown, as free speech and civil rights come under increasing pressure, all people residing in North America should be asking themselves what they can do to protect the more vulnerable, the targeted, the ‘invisibled’, the next-on-the-list,” The King said.

He went on-
“It’s not clear if a printed document from a small, relatively poor, internal micronation would be seen as anything more than a joke, but I am thinking of our humanitarian duty to do something, even if merely symbolic, to offer shield, escape, or hope. It’s important to remember that the United States once served as a beacon to the world. Of course, ideally, I would wish that Burgerian citizenship would come with additional benefits such as universal, single payer health care and distributed renewable energy, but these would also require more contracting, allegiance, and actual sacrifice. As the United States falters, more trappings and tools of statehood may need to be implemented here, without directly challenging the host country. Despite past racism, intimidation, and its roots as a ‘company town’ for Tredegar Iron Works, Oregon Hill has, at least in theory, ‘open borders’ and a sense of liberty which ideally can still be defended.”

Gathering The Wood…

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Oregon Hill residents, knowing what time of year it is, have started gathering branches and wood scraps for this year’s neighborhood Wickerman.

The Beltain festivities’ location will be in Parsons Linear Park along the 600 block of S.Belvidere (across from the Virginia War Memorial).

Valerie, the current neighborhood association president, says the Wicker Man’s construction will be undertaken by a subcommittee of the Friends Of Oregon Hill Parks, and questions should be submitted to that group. Faidra, one of the main members, has already volunteered that they are in the midst of deciding on a selection of local produce, unruly dogs, and either a first year student from either VCU or the Virginia Theological Seminary.

“We were asked about babies, but we are drawing the line on them, at least for this year”, she added.

Click here to see footage from previous years’ Wicker Man in Richmond Sister City, Summerisle, in southwestern Scotland.

‘Richmond300’ Committee Expresses Concerns About Neighborhood and City’s Alignment

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Reeling from accusations that new ‘pattern books’ contain multiple serious errors with growing neighborhood concerns, the City’s ‘Richmond300 Committee has declared that grave misalignments must be identified and corrected.

New development on W.Cary Street in the Fan.

In order to dispel the acridity and seek more harmony, the Planning Commission has called on Maria Peach, a globally recognized teacher, speaker, healer, and writer, who known for her work on the chakra system and its connection to human psychology and spiritual growth.
Her fees were not available at press time, but City planners have expressed great confidence in this expert’s ability to properly diagnose and channel the root lines and ultimately help the City discover, decode, and harness its life force.

“We believe that by addressing the subtle energy matrix, we can open a powerful path for sustainable healing,” stated a member of the City’s Code Refresh Task Force. “We are putting all of our crystals on the table and going back to the maps so that we can solve blockages and imbalances. We want to clear the negativity for not just Oregon Hill, but all neighborhoods and residents.”

For their part, Oregon Hill neighbors have signaled that they are willing to do the meditation, breathing exercises, and shadow work necessary to realign and eventually come to an understanding.

“There is no direct mention of the chakras in the City Code. While this might seem like a cause for concern, it is important to note that viruses, hormones, ultraviolet rays, or even “the Trinity” cannot be found in the City Code either!” explained one enlightened neighbor.