These RVA Streets blog features some pictures of the mural of the tree that’s been painted on the William Byrd gym.
Grace Arents Tree Mural
Reply
Category Archives: community
Report From VCU Master Plan Meeting
A resident reports back from a new VCU Master Plan meeting (reposted here with permission):
Hi all-
I attended a meeting for community members wednesday afternoon to give initial concerns toward the new VCU masterplan getting ready to be shaped. Other community members from the Fan, Monroe Ward and MCV community were there as well.
There was an OVERWHELMING consensus among all the neighborhoods represented that past VCU administration had not kept their word on previous masterplans nor on individual agreements they had made with them.
I said that Oregon Hill REQUIRES a legally binding agreement to establish a boundary of Cary Street which VCU cannot cross. The moderators told the group that the current enrollment had leveled off and that they were concentrating on improving what they have, maybe adding up to 500 faculty members in the next 6 to 9 years.
Other concerns I brought forth were the need for the roundabout and 2 way traffic on Idlewood between Cherry and Harrison so VCU cars getting off the Downtown Expressway can turn to go toward the Harrison street parking deck without going through Oregon Hill causing congestion. In addition I stressed accountability for all of their facilities including the parking problems which were exacerbated by the building of the new rec center.
We desperately need support from our Councilperson on meeting these goals for improving quality of life issues in Oregon Hill regarding VCU’s presence.
Your neighborhood association meets every 4th Tuesday of the month at William Byrd Community House at 7PM. Please come out and get involved to make Oregon Hill a better place to live!
Thanks.
Holly Street Park Improvements Coming
The City’s Parks and Rec Dept. is moving forward on new playground plans for Holly Street Park. As agreed by Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association‘s Holly Street Park committee, the first step will be removing the large overhang attached to the playground house. This will open up the area visually and prevent folks from hiding/sleeping in the area. The old playground equipment will be removed and new equipment installed beginning the week of December 1st. The sand will be replaced with engineered wood fiber.
Click here for a pdf of the new playground plan.
After this portion is completed, the committee can look at locations for new tree plantings.
Oregon Hill Tour: ‘Solid & Steady’
Annie Tobey took a Historic Richmond tour of the neighborhood this past month and wrote about it as part of the Yahoo Contributor Network.
From the article:
During my October tour, Halloween decorations added a bit of fun to the 19th century facades. The houses are modest and still primarily middle class and exude a sense of being solid and dependable. The architecture tells interesting tales, with some rows of matching homes interspersed with unique structures.
4th Precinct CAPS Meeting on Thursday
From announcement:
Although the MPACT meeting for November has been changed, the Fourth Precinct Community Assisted Public Safety (CAPS) meeting will be held:
Date: November 17, 2011
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Place: Linwood Holton Elementary School
1600 W Laburnum Ave
Our Fourth Precinct team would like to take this opportunity to hear your CAPS concerns and get to know you better.
We look forward to seeing you on the 17th.
Renegade Market Today
From email announcement:
a few reminders…
11/15: Byrd House Renegade Market Tuesday, 3-Sunset
11/16 & 11/30: Vegan 101 Wednesdays, 6-8pm
11/19: Cooking as a 2nd Language: Rescheduled from October – Senegalese Cuisine with Ndeye Diallo of the Goree African Restaurant in Shockoe Bottom – Register by Wednesday at 5pm!
12/7: Va Friends of Mali Open House & Welcome Day, 4-8pm
12/16-18: WBCH Tacky Light Tours, details at wbch.org
www.byrdhousemarket.blogspot.com
—
Byrd House Market
William Byrd Community House
224 South Cherry St. Richmond, VA 23220
St. Andrew’s School Fundraisers
I received notice of some fundraising activities for St. Andrew’s School –
November 14: Pescados – China Street 11:30 am-2 pm & 5-10 pm. We will receive a percentage of the days sales.
and
The first Tuesday – Thursday of each month: Papa John’s Pizza Order online at www.papajohns.com during the dates below and enter SAS as the promo code to indicate our school.January 3 – 5 April 3 – 5
November 1 – 3 February 7 – 9 May 1 – 3
December 6 – 8 March 6 – 8 June 5 – 7
Nov. 11 Community Food Drive
From announcement:
November 11, 2011
Community Food Drive
Every week the Oregon Hill Baptist Center and
Pine Street Baptist Church provide food items for
households and homeless individuals in need.
This weekly food program is only made possible
through donations from people like you!
Join your neighbors on
Friday, November 11
5:00 – 7:00 pm • Pleasants Park
for a community food gathering at the corner of
Laurel and Albemarle Streets.
Drop off staple food items and enjoy a FREE
grilled beef or veggie hot dog and beverage.
Help support this important food ministry.
Questions: Call Jennifer Turner @ 804 648-1353
Jack o’lantern Tour
As with past years, Oregon HIll gets some imaginative pumpkins. Next year, if have any money, I will put together some sort of jack o’lantern contest. Don’t forget the parade on Monday (and be mindful that some folks will be trying to get home from work to be with their kids).
Last Official Market Day
Oct. 25 at BHM: Apple Cider Pressings, Storytime with Caroline, Eating Good and Growing Great with the Renegades!
Note from BHM manager Ana Edwards:
Dear BHM Shoppers, Visitors, Friends, Playmates, Volunteers, Neighbors and Passersby,
Our final 2011 market day is upon us and we have our USUAL WONDERFUL ARRAY of (certainly!!) the freshest, most delicious, accessible, affordable and inspiring foods a farmers market can have! We can thank our farmers and food-crafters, vendors, staff and volunteers, but we also must thank YOU!
Thank you for supporting Byrd House Market – as a market, as a community gathering place and as a program of William Byrd Community House. The feedback I get most commonly is that ours is “a great market” or “my favorite market”. When I ask Why? the the typical responses are “great food selection” and “it has a real community feel”. That makes me feel good. When I took on the role of market manager, more than anything else I wanted to NOT get in the way of a great thing and I think I’ve been successful at that. Our challenges have included parking, weather and the economy, but by and large Byrd House Market works well and is determined to do great.
Looking forward, WBCH will be visioning just how to make this market better. Your input is critical to my ability to imagine and our ability to plan for any improvements or changes to process, site/facilities, equipment and programs. Please think about what does make it work and what would make even better and send me your suggestions. (Unless you want me to craft you a survey??)
You never know what we can do, working together.
Thanks for a great season and I will see all you Renegades at the Market!
Ana Edwards, Manager