Category Archives: community

Message From Outgoing OHNA President Todd Woodson

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Dear Friends and neighbors

Thanks to all that came out to the OHNA meeting last night. For those of you that were not there, I stepped down from all my official positions with OHNA (19 years as treasurer and 3 years as president). A new, exciting group of officers was elected that will be led by president Bryan Green. I will do all that I can to make the transfer smooth. My wish is that they will have much good fortune in the future and that they continue to protect our neighborhood, continue the dialogue and relationships with our schools that have been my focus, and bring forward a more congenial and productive energy to the association. It has been my honor to serve you and I thank you for all the well wishes.

I will not be going away though, and in fact 2021 will be the busiest year of my life. I will continue to advocate for the Richmond community as a member of the City’s Urban Design Committee and will retain my position as Fourth Congressional District Leader for the Humane Society of the United States, also keeping my day jobs at VCU (22 years) and UR (11 years). I will continue to advocate for responsible environmental laws as well and along with an independent Committee, will have a big announcement coming soon on an historic environmental initiative. My American Chestnut project continues to grow and next Fall I hope to have well over 100 blight resistant American Chestnut hybrid trees grown organically from seed to donate to Richmond Parks and other appropriate open spaces in Virginia. I sent trees just this week to Highland County. My music will also continue and im filming a jazz/blues special program tonight at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts that can be seen on their website soon.

So as this will be my last email, I will leave you with the Style Weekly Back Page editorial I wrote as a neighbor that published yesterday:

https://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/opinion-let-us-succeed/Content?oid=16786088

Very Best Wishes for a terrific and safe Holiday!

Todd.

OHNA Meeting

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Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association president Todd Woodson sent this email today:

Dear Neighbors

The November meeting will take place this coming Tuesday,Nov 24 at 7pm in Pleasants Park. We will be holding elections for the upcoming year and considering two proposed changes to the bylaws (see below). Tuesday’s forecast is clear and 52. Not ideal but doable. Please dress accordingly! We will try to keep things on track so the meeting will be as short as possible.

It has been brought to my attention that some statements I never made were included in a post on the community facebook page by a person in the neighborhood. This is regarding the meeting format for the association upcoming meetings. This Tuesdays meeting will be in weather that is not overly harsh so meeting outside is the plan. OHNA traditionally does not meet in December. I made NO statements regarding format after the first of the year because I might not even be re elected so it wouldnt be my decision to make. I respectfully request that you do due diligence if this person or someone else releases official statements i “have made”. Sending out emails to you with the agenda was first started 3 years ago when I was elected president. I do it to be courteous, transparent and to encourage neighbor participation in the meetings.

Here is my REAL take on format options that are POSSIBLE during the new year:

1. Virtual through Zoom. Not ideal but available through City channels at no cost. Volunteer Jenny Friar will be setting that up should that be the desired format in the coming year.
2. Meeting in person during colder months at a Parks Dept venue such as Randolph Community Center or Byrd Park Roundhouse. It is my understanding that Business Meetings are exempt from the 25 person limit. Strict distancing with masks should always be observed.
3. January and February are not usually busy months for neighborhood business so a cancellation could be a possibility should there be nothing to discussed.

We do what we have to to get through this pandemic and I wish you all good health and blessings for the new year.

Hopefully, after December 14, we will have the Richmond 300 issue behind us.

Thanks,

Todd.

Proposed bylaw change to membership requirements: two amendments addressing membership were introduced.
As per bylaws, as a bylaw change, can be voted on at the next scheduled OHNA meeting, 24 November 2020.

Current
Article III- Membership
Section 1: Eligibility. All residents of Oregon Hill at least 18 years of age, and only such residents, shall be eligible to become members of OHNA.

Section 2: Members. Those eligible for membership shall become members of OHNA by attending at least two OHNA meetings within one year and then registering their membership with the Association’s Secretary.

Proposed bylaw change I
ARTICLE III- Membership
SECTION 1: Membership in the association shall be granted to any person 18 years of age or older, residing in the designated Oregon Hill boundaries. Additionally, membership is extended to one vote for each business, school or church within the designated Oregon Hill boundary.

SECTION 2: Membership shall be granted to a resident or a business, school or place of worship in Oregon Hill. Each business, school or place of worship shall designate a sole representative to vote in all matters presented to the association voting membership. Members can register with the association secretary.

Proposed bylaw change II
ARTICLE III- Membership
Section 1: ELIGIBILITY. All residents of Oregon Hill at least 18 years of age, residing within designated Oregon Hill boundaries shall be eligible to become members of OHNA.

Section 2: MEMBERS. Membership in the association shall be granted to any person 18 years of age or older, residing in the designated Oregon Hill boundaries who has attended at least one ONNA meeting out of the previous twelve meetings held. This change is for the year 2020 only, in recognition of the impact of the pandemic.

During 2021, the Bylaws should undergo a systematic revision and update, and membership requirements should be evaluated comprehensively at that time.

Oregon Hill Halloween

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Photo by Charles Pool

Expecting rain tomorrow and Friday, but Halloween weekend should be dry. Due to rising pandemic infections locally, nationally, and around the world, the All The Saints Halloween parade has been cancelled this year and, while not banned, trick-or-treating is discouraged.

Halloween Parade Still Planned; UPDATE: CANCELLED

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UPDATE: With national and international concerns rising over surges in COVID-19 cases, the annual All The Saints Halloween Parade has officially been cancelled by organizers.

While disappointed, most if not all the Oregon Hill neighbors seem to appreciate and understand the decision.

Message from the All The Saints Theater Company:

The 15th Annual Halloween Parade: “A Funeral March for the Plague of Now!” will take place on Saturday October 31st, All Hallow’s Eve.
This year is a very different year. We take COVID-19 very seriously and urge everyone to take all safety precautions should you decide to join us.
Please read the following to understand how this year will be different!
THIS YEAR’S ROUTE WON’T BE MARCHING THROUGH OREGON HILL.
Please come with your COVID Pod who you are prepared to carry a puppet with or march alongside! MASKS ARE REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE! We will have masks to spare if you forget yours! If you would like to decorate your car and be at the back of the parade that is allowed as I am picking a route that allows for vehicles.
We are meeting (per usual) at Monroe Park 7pm sharp on 10/31! Due to the nature of this year, in order to keep the people usually on the sidelines out of the equation we are NOT announcing the route until we march, and it will be slightly shorter than our usual route. It is a year to participate, not to be a bystander (in all ways, not just for the parade).
15 ft Plague Doctors, Vultures schlepping the refugees of the Humanity System, the celebratory skeleton puppets, Grandma Elder, the Hawk of Resistance that defeated the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, Black Lives Matter and the Confederacy is Dead Puppets, and King NoOne and his Fascist Empire will be there and they must be defeated this November with the Vote!
Music by members of NoBS as Tyrannis Bass, and many other amazing local musicians!
All the protection from COVID-19, the police state, and the fascist empire to you and your people. Please stay safe.
As always, this parade is in honor of the dead. Thank you.

The Puppets Protect,
Lily Lamberta and the All the Saints’ Family.

St. Andrews’ Tables and Benches

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From Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association President Todd Woodson:

Special thanks to Richmond Love You Block grants, Richmond Toolbank, Oregon Hill Home Improvement Council and Dominion Energy for making this possible. We unloaded six picnic tables and four benches for the kids today.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Saturday, October 24th at 10am at 1000 Idlewood Ave to prepare the bed for the St Andrews Pollination Station/Education Garden. We have tools- shouldn’t take too long. See you Saturday the 24th! Just bring your mask and water!

Virtual Richmond Folk Festival Begins

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Unfortunately, the pandemic has forced this year’s Richmond Folk Festival to ‘go virtual’.
From The Richmond Free Press:

The 16th Annual Richmond Folk Festival, a celebration of music and culture from around the globe, will take place virtually Oct. 9 through 11.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, people can enjoy the festival through a special television program, radio broadcasts and online streaming.

Music from Jamaican reggae, Chicago blues, Altai throat singing, kosher gospel, Gypsy jazz, Indian slide guitar, Gulf Coast boogie-woogie, Ireland and Dominican bachata will be featured from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10 and Sunday, Oct. 11, on Virginia Public Media radio stations 107.3 and 93.1 FM. The music is by performers from past Richmond festivals.

From 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, the festival will broadcast “All Together Now,” a two-part television celebration of Virginia artists, including Butcher Brown featuring J. Plunky Branch, Cora Harvey Armstrong, Kadencia and Jared Pool & Friends. The performances were filmed at Richmond’s Spacebomb Studios in partnership with VPM, and will be interspersed with performances from the festival’s Virginia Folklife Stage from the past. It will be broadcast on VPM Plus Channel 57.1 WCVW digital HD and livestreamed on VPM’s Facebook page and VPM’s YouTube page.

An interactive art installation by artist Kevin Orlosky will take place on Brown’s Island, the site of the festival in the past. Public participation is encouraged, with people wearing masks and socially distancing. People can paint a rock that represents something they miss, mourn or are looking forward to doing again after the pandemic. The rocks will become part of Mr. Orlosky’s stone labyrinth that, when viewed from above, will form a hand.

Artist Shannon Wright of Richmond, an illustrator and cartoonist whose work has been featured in major publications, books and online sites including The New York Times, created the official poster for the festival.

Details about the festival, performers, schedule, activities and where to listen or watch it are available on www.richmondfolkfestival.org.

As one of the handful of people who attended the very first folk festival (rainy) night in Richmond, back when it was National Folk Festival, I am delighted to see that it is soldiering on, as I very much enjoy the outside music it usually brings to the area. And while neighborhood relations have not always been harmonious, I know many Oregon Hill residents will be sad that they will not have the full festival just down the hill this year. It deserves support. (And talk is cheap- if you can afford it, do purchase a folk festival poster or t-shirt at Plan 9 Records or online).

Park Land Saved

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Dear Ms. Ebert,

I was pleased to hear that you have removed 606 Spring Street and 609 China Street from the Biennial Real Estate Strategies Plan list for city property proposed to be sold. So that this error does not happen again, it is imperative that these lots are properly listed in city records as city park land and part of Oregon Hill’s linear park.

Thanks to the great help of the City Clerk’s office and the City Record’s librarian, I have located the City Council Ordinance 85-285 whereby the City Council authorized the purchase of the lots to create the linear park when Belvidere Street was widened. As noted in the Ordinance: “The purpose of this paper is to authorized city acquisition of the residual portions of the properties, and in some instances, additional properties that front on the side streets.” These two lots at 606 Spring Street and 609 China Street were among the additional properties that front on the side streets as shown on the Plats 21444 and 21437 attached to the ordinance. (Please see attached ordinance and details from the plats.)

In 1998 the Richmond City Council approved Council Resolution 98-R61-77. The purpose of this Resolution was to accept $2,336 from the Save Oregon Hill Organization to build the gazebo on the Oregon Hill park land that was formerly known as 609 China Street. This gazebo is still located on city park land on what was formerly known as 609 China Street. (Please see the attached photograph).

This is the link to the Council Resolution 98-R61-77:
https://richmondva.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=2151094&GUID=44542EF4-3CB6-463B-AD25-9F247102E503&Options=ID|Text|&Search=Oregon+Hill

As shown in the attached 1990 plan for the linear city park, 606 Spring Street and 609 China Street are essential portions of Oregon Hill’s park. (Please see attachment.)

Please update all city records to show that 606 Spring Street and 609 China Street are city park land. Our city park land is precious.

Sincerely,

Charles Pool

Sundial

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In Hollywood Cemetery, in front of the massive mausoleum for Lewis Ginter, is found a very modest sundial marker for his heir and niece, Miss Grace Arents.

On the sundial reads the words: “FROM SCHEME AND CREED THE LIGHTS GO OUT THE SAINTLY FACT SURVIVES THE BLESSED MASTER NONE CAN DOUBT REVEALED IN SAINTLY LIVES.”

Miss Grace Arents was the “patron saint” of Oregon Hill. With her inheritance from Lewis Ginter, she generously gave to the Oregon Hill neighborhood. Among her remarkable contributions are the St. Andrews Church, the William Byrd Community House, the Grace Arents School (now Open High) and the Grace Arents Housing on Cumberland St., perhaps the first and finest subsidized low-income housing in Richmond. (This Grace Arents Housing is now fenced off and the neighborhood is concerned that the future of this important part of her legacy is threatened.)