Trash/Recycling Pickup Tomorrow Morning

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.

In local recycling news, Henrico County Fire crews had to battle a dumpster fire at an East End recycling facility.

Also, Richmond Magazine had a nice profile of NOPE Compost Company, a local waste management business that, since 2009, has been trying to lessen the percentage of food and paper waste that goes into Virginia landfills by collecting and disposing of compostable waste from corporations, schools and individuals.

In national recycling news, researchers publishing in Nature Food magazine looked at what might happen if food waste bans now used in places such as Massachusetts and Vermont were adopted across the U.S. As WBUR reported, their analysis showed that sending food scraps to recycling systems instead of landfills could shrink food waste’s overall climate impact by up to 99%. Nationwide food-waste recycling would cut methane as well as landfill nutrient pollution linked to toxic algal blooms, lowering risks to waterways and nearby communities. The study also projected a major plastics drawback: Without better packaging and sorting, contaminated compost under a nationwide ban could spread up to 20,000 tons of plastic onto farmland each year.

Welcome to Oregon Hill!

With many people doing the end of July moving thing, a lot of new people are moving into the neighborhood.

From FaceBook post by neighbor Mariah Huffman:

Welcome to Oregon Hill – a free neighborhood guide!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1g_sTm3_awALk3OcJjQigMQoUExwPaXIDAAoQMLSIz4Q/edit?usp=sharing

This is as mobile-friendly doc, and an ongoing work in progress! Anyone should be able to view and share.

Thank you to everyone who has helped add to this so far. Both Stephenie Lynch’s office and Verenda Cobb from VCU have offered to help print this out. I am still working on a print-friendly version that will be easy to read. At the August OHNA meeting I will ask for help planning how to distribute the printed versions (they will have a QR code for easier link access).
We (we being neighbors) have also been invited to come hang out with Verenda at the VCU SOVO Fair on Friday, Aug. 21 from 3-6pm in Monroe Park. This is the student activities fair that kicks off the school year. I will work on a condensed print-out we can leave at the table for OH resident students.

In addition, the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association has this page on its website:
https://ohnarva.org/oregon-hill-411/

AIR QUALITY ALERT – Community Movie Moved Indoors

Air Quality Alert issued July 17.
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has issued a Code PURPLE Air Quality Alert across The Richmond Metro Area

Now it’s Code Purple. Due to high levels of \(PM_{2.5}\) particles, the Virginia DEQ strongly advises that everyone, especially children, the elderly, and those with heart or lung disease, avoid all outdoor physical activity.

At least one local environmentalist had this to say –
“I’m mad as hell that Dominion Energy is increasing its climate pollution when climate change is causing forest fires and these oppressive heat comes that are killing people.”

OHNA Meeting Tuesday

From email announcement:

OHNA MONTHLY MEETING JUNE 23, 7pm on ZOOM

(editor’s note: please email ohnarva@gmail.com for Zoom meeting information and password)

Welcome
Approval of Minutes: Scott Racette

Community and local Officials Updates: Councilmember Lynch; Verenda Cobbs, VCU, Ashley Graves (VCU PD); Kelyn Gibson, Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, Johnny McRoy, RVAPD,

Announcements:

Committee reports:
Zoning, Parks, Events, Traffic and Safety, Bylaws, Amphitheater, Treasurer
Continued Business:
Action: Motion from May 26th Meeting regarding Oregon Hill Parks Stewards and FOOHP

New Business:
Action: OHNA Traffic Committee Safe Streets Priorities Memo


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/

Oregon Hill Home Improvement Council Celebrates 50th Anniversary

About a dozen or so Oregon Hill neighbors met earlier this evening at the Pine Street Baptist for a meeting of the Oregon Hill Home Improvement Council, which doubled as the non-profit organization’s 50th Anniversary Celebration. Although quorum number was not reached, there was a lot of good conversation and pizza. Current board members presented and relayed information, discussed history, answered questions from attendees, and brought up possible future endeavors. Expect a future meeting date to be announced.







Upcoming OHNA AND OHHIC Meetings

The Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association (OHNA) is meeting tomorrow night, May 26, 6pm IN PERSON at Pine Street Baptist Church.
Notes and excerpts from email announcement:

Please bring a dish to share!
Agenda is attached and pasted below. There will be a virtual option for those not able to be present physically.
Because the church allows us to use their space without charge, please consider donating items for the church’s unhoused person ministry. NEEDED ITEMS for summer include socks, sunscreen, and insect repellent (including wristbands).

Monthly Meeting Agenda
Tuesday, 26 May 2026 • 6:00PM
This meeting will be held in person, at Pine Street Baptist Church. You may also join virtually at the link below.
Join Zoom Meeting (Editor’s note: Zoom meeting link redacted. Please contact OHNA at OHNArva@gmail.com for link)

Welcome

Approval of Minutes: Scott Racette

Community and local Officials Updates: Councilmember Lynch/Amy Robins. Other updates will be submitted via written reports

Announcements:

Committee reports:

Zoning, Parks, Traffic and Safety, Bylaws, Amphitheater, Events, Treasurer

Continued Business:

Action: Should OHNA host “National Night Out”event?

New Business:
Vote for interim committee chairs for the bylaws committee and the parks committee


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/

Not to be confused with the OHNA, OHHIC, the Oregon Hill Home Improvement Council will be holding its first in-person, annual membership meeting in many years this coming Sunday, May 31, 2026 at 7:00 pm at the Pine St. Baptist Church. About 30 Oregon Hill residents have registered for OHHIC membership and will be allowed to vote on a new OHHIC board. Founded in 1976, the neighborhood non-profit organization will also be celebrating its 50th year anniversary at the meeting. OHHIC has renovated over 20 historic houses in Oregon Hill, selling them to first-time homeowners and placing preservation easements on the homes. Also, OHHIC sensitively built 17 quality new homes on vacant lots that are compatible with the Oregon Hill Historic District. OHHIC owns the historic Jacob House at 619 West Cary St. that was built in 1817.

Community Craft Night Tonight

From FaceBook event page:

Join us for Oregon Hill’s Community’s Craft Night. A monthly gathering of crafting and conversation among neighbors and friends. Bring your own creativity, crafts, as we share together in community. The informal gathering is a great way to meet your neighbor. All ages welcome. Bring a snack to share if you like. Enter the Pine Street building at the side door on Albermarle Street.