Category Archives: community

VCU SGA’s “The Big Event” Coming Up Next Month

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VCU’s Student Government Association is sponsoring “The Big Event” on April 20th.

The Big Event at VCU is a one-day, student-run service project where Rams come together to say “Thank You” to the residents of Richmond. VCU Student Government Association is excited to provide leadership and vision for a new tradition that shows our appreciation to the surrounding community, completing service projects such as yard work, window washing and painting for residents of the community. We share in the mission of similar programs throughout the nation – “One Big Help, One Big Thanks.”

Do you know of a project requiring attention in Oregon Hill? Does an elderly neighbor need yard work done? Any graffiti that needs covering up? Need something heavy taken to Goodwill? VCU students can help with that! Submit your request online at https://thebigevent.vcu.edu/residents/

OHNA Meeting Tomorrow Night

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From announcement:

Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association agenda for next week (3-26-19/Tuesday/7pm/St. Andrew’s Church)
“-7PM Meeting brought to order
-Updates from VCU Liaison, RPD, VCU police
-Update on our Open High Bee initiative.
-Guy Blundon of Victory Rug Apartments will discuss SUP proposal to change some things as the apartments are eligible to become privately owned dwellings.
-Discussion of crime reduction measures such as neighborhood watch, etc.”
Hope to see you all there!

East Coast Greenway and ‘ATP Trail Study’

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I am not exactly sure why local planners and media do not bring it up (are they worried about it taking attention away from the ‘Cap-To-Cap’ Trail?, does it go against corporate rulers’ schemes?, are they worried about provoking Agenda 21 conspiracy theorists?) but the Times Dispatch has an article on the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) preparing to build a 40-mile bike trail from Ashland to Petersburg, one that still does not even mention the East Coast Greenway (www.greenway.org) effort.

Of course, this ‘ATP Trail Study’ fits in with the East Coast Greenway planning. Why not report on it in those terms?

This community news site has been bringing it up for over a decade now. Originally, neighborhood leaders were interested in having the East Coast Greenway connect with the Belvidere greenway, which connects the Parsons Linear Park with the Riverside Park and the James River Park. That fits in with the Belle Island trail already being designated part of the East Coast Greenway.

From Belle Island, today:

Unfortunately, VCU and other bad development have stymied those thoughts, even though it would have been really cool to have a trail connect Monroe Park and Carver via a trail along Belvidere. Since then, many citizens hope that the East Coast Greenway will utilize the Cannon Creek Greenway, and then have the trail go west to connect with Belle Island. This could really be a boon for Barton Heights and other Northside neighborhoods that need more economic development.

It’s important that everyone understands how important this is for Richmond’s future. Having the East Coast Greenway intersect with the Virginia Capital Trail will be amazing. Imagine bicycle tourists traveling down from DC, coming into Richmond, staying and enjoying the area before making to the choice to fork or not. Pretending this is just a regional thing is just ridiculous.

VDOT will hold a public information meeting on Tuesday, March 26, from 5-7 p.m. at the Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School, 1000 North Lombardy Street, Richmond, VA 23220.

Oregon Hill Baptist Center

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River Road Church, Baptist, website has a recent post that gives a little history of one of the Centers of Care For The City, Oregon Hill Baptist Center:

From the beginning, Richmond Baptists saw the need to care for the physically and spiritually destitute in the city. In 1914 Richmond Baptists opened a pioneer institution, the House of Happiness. It quickly became a lighthouse for the needy in Richmond. As population shifted and the needs of the people changed, it became clear that more centers were needed. The Cary Street Baptist Center opened in 1940 with a Vacation Bible School. In 1974 this center was moved to its present location inside Pine Street Baptist Church and the name was changed to the Oregon Hill Baptist Center.
Today, Oregon Hill offers counseling, small group Bible studies, family activities, and youth gatherings. As the community has changed over the years, many of the ministries of the Center have changed as well. Now Oregon Hill operates an emergency food pantry and provides some financial assistance for those living in the 23219 and 23220 zip codes. RRCB’s First Sunday Food Share collection helps supply the pantry.
One of the major areas of focus is their Homeless Ministry. Several unique opportunities have emerged in this ministry. The Center offers lockers for use of the homeless. This gives them a place to leave important papers, personal items, and some clothing. A mailing address is also provided for those with no other option. With the help of volunteers, the homeless are also provided a laundry drop off and pick up service once a week.

The post goes on to identify some of the volunteer opportunities associated with the center.

Open High Students March For Climate

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The Times Dispatch has a nice article on Open High students’ participation in today’s international youth march for climate awareness.

Here’s an excerpt:

About 100 Open students – roughly half of the school’s population – left their studies in the Oregon Hill neighborhood at 9:30 a.m. and marched down Belvidere, Franklin and Broad streets to demand the city and school system take action to stop the effects of climate change.

“This is our future,” said senior Ian McCoy. “The generations before us screwed up our environment and now we have to suffer.”

McCoy helped organize the Richmond protest, one of an estimated 2,000 across the world on Friday. Global students drew inspiration from Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old Swedish activist who has held demonstrations outside the Swedish parliament since last year. Thunberg was recently nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

What I really appreciated was that the article included specific demands from Richmond students to their school administration and City government:

1. Have the city and Richmond School Board recognize the need “to include steps to mitigate climate change with the long term and short term goals.”
2. Use green building standards in school renovations and construction.
3. Have the school district stop using Styrofoam and other non-recyclable, one-time-use plastics in school lunches.
4. Reduce energy usage and improve energy efficiency in schools.
They made those requests known in a meeting Friday with Richmond Public Schools Chief of Staff Michelle Hudacsko and Mayor Levar Stoney’s Senior Policy Advisor for Youth Initiatives, Eva Colen.

Bring on the solar schools!

Benefit Dinner/Memorial Unveiling For Dirtwoman

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From the campaign page (where you can make your donation):

Donnie “Dirtwoman” Corker had a heart as big as Richmond (making the rest of her approximately the size of Delaware).
She was a beloved icon and pioneer for the LGBTQ community, a literal landmark to Richmond’s counterculture for more than 40 years, a beloved brother, and a dear friend to Richmond’s famous, infamous and not-at-all-famous alike.
Dirtwoman embodied everything about Richmond that is weird, wonderful and willing to be different while making a difference.
In honor of the everlasting impact crater Dirtwoman left on our fair city, and honoring a pledge made to her by her friends before her death in 2017, we invite YOU to a special benefit dinner and memorial plaque unveiling at Mamma Zu’s
What: Benefit Dinner/Memorial Unveiling
Where: Mamma Zu’s
When: April 7
Why: Massey Cancer Center
Huh?: Massey saved Donnie’s life
Cost: $50 donation to Massey Cancer
What Else: This event coincides with the Virginia Premier of “Spider Mites of Jesus: The Dirtwoman Documentary at the Virginia Film Festival.

BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE: After you donate, print out your donation confirmation email. This IS YOUR TICKET to attend this special Dirtwoman memorial dinner at Mamma Zu’s

James River Park Planning Meeting Last Night

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Some scenes from the James River Park Master Plan meeting last night at the Virginia War Memorial:


Much of the meeting was spent conversing and viewing and writing on maps… nothing was officially proposed…

For more information on the James River Park Master Plan, click here (and if you have not already, fill out a survey).

Oregon Hill Real Estate Market Watch

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Neighbor and real estate agent Wes Fertig put out this recent Oregon Hill Market Watch report for those that have been interested in selling their home here or moving in. Two other things to mention: Wes Fertig participates in a program that gives real estate rebates and discounts for any employee of Richmond area police department, fire department, sheriff’s office, 911 center, or EMS agency when buying or selling a home with him as the realtor. Secondly, he is OregonHill.net’s newest advertiser!



To see more of the report, click here.

Angel Needs A New Home

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From a neighbor Summer Shultz’s post (shared with permission):

Sweet Angel needs a home! She is a purebred husky, 12 years old and in excellent health. Her owner is dealing with a crisis and is no longer able to keep her. Look at this face! Do you have room in your heart for Angel, as either an emergency foster while her owner picks up the pieces, or as a forever home? Angel’s owner wants her safe and happy and is willing to give her up.

If you are able to supply such respite, please contact Summer via email- summrlyn(at)aol.com

OHNA Meeting Tomorrow Night

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From announcement:

Hey everyone! Please don’t forget that our next Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association meeting will be Tuesday, February 26th at 7pm inside St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. Below is the agenda sent by OHNA President Todd Woodson. Hope to see you all there!!!

“First, for those of you that have cats or small dogs that go outside, there is a grave danger to them existing within and adjacent to the neighborhood. 16 months ago, I was “adopted” by two mated feral cats. The male I could eventually pet while the female always ran at the sight of humans. They were not coming inside so I built an insulated house on my porch with an outdoor heating pad and fed and watered them. They went under the house during bitter cold. The female went missing 1 1/2 weeks ago, then yesterday at 5am, my indoor cat woke me up screaming but not wanting to go out. I checked the porch and my other outdoor cat was gone. A night watchman at Hollywood Cemetery confirmed last night that there are at least 7 coyotes in the cemetery that they have seen and are aware of. Right now is mating/gestation season so there will be even more coyotes coming. There was a confirmed sighting some months ago a couple alleys east of me of a coyote with a cat in its mouth. Coyotes will establish a “prey profile” of the easiest, most available food source available which they will seek with keen senses of sight, sound and smell. After research on the internet, I determined loss of cats to coyotes as well as attacks on small dogs is at an epidemic rate in the city and being near the river and an open space like Hollywood compounds the problem. Coyotes are classified as nuisance animals by the Va Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and can be killed at any time (with the exception being with a weapon on Sundays). They are not native to Virginia but populations have exploded since they have moved here. PLEASE take all measures available to safeguard your pets! I am shocked and saddened by my horrible loss and don’t want to see it spread.
Our meeting will start at 7pm with the usual updates from Police and VCU. I will then introduce Dr. Ghazala Hamshi who will speak regarding her candidacy for Virginia Senate in our district, a position currently held by Senator Glen Sturtevant. Dr. Hamshi is a lifelong democrat and she has worked as a college professor and administrator as her career calling.
I would then like to discuss the 2000 Riverfront apartment building’s Special Use Permit Application for an illuminated “2000” sign on their building. This is the apartments next to the river directly across the Lee Bridge from us. Concerns have been noted in the past on light pollution, especially near the river, and the need for such illuminated signage.
We will also have updates from Councilperson Agelasto’s office.
Take care and I look forward to seeing you Tuesday.”