OHNA Meeting Tonight

Posted on May 24, 2016 by Scott

From email announcement:

Good morning!

A reminder that OHNA will be holding its regular monthly meeting tonight at 7 pm at St. Andrew’s.

Thanks
Jennifer

5th District Cleanup This Saturday- Update: Cancelled Due To Rain

Posted on May 16, 2016 by Scott

Update:

Sadly with 95-100% chance of rain we are canceling this event. We will work to reschedule this activites in June.

Request for Bike Share Station

Posted on May 9, 2016 by Scott

A neighbor is reiterating his request that the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association request a bike share station. According to the neighbor, there are 20 stations going in around the City but Oregon Hill is being left out, even though it has 11% of the population of the service area. He further suggests a street parking space next to Pleasants Park (corner of Albemarle and S. Laurel).

Click here to learn more about the City’s bike share program planning.

Hydro-Electric Proposal and Future Of James River

Posted on April 22, 2016 by Scott

This morning some people were surprised by this headline in the Times Dispatch: “Application filed for hydroelectric project at Bosher’s Dam”.
If they had attended the author’s talk earlier this week, they might not have been. Tredegar Iron Works and other Richmond industry relied and used hydroelectric power well into the last century.
For myself and perhaps other Oregon Hill residents, this recalls earlier conversations and speculation about riverfront development and ambitions.

Hopefully, regardless of whether the hydroelectric proposal happens or not, it adds on pressure to do something to improve the river’s health and accessibility AS WELL AS forcing Dominion Power to do more with distributed, renewable energy.

Was the City’s utility department authorized to oppose this proposal, submitted in February? And if so, by who?

This also figures into a Kanawha Canal restoration goal that ‘public private partnership’ Venture Richmond unofficially announced earlier this month. I guess the local media is still not ready to report or discuss this yet, but the devil will be in the details- including water levels and water use, recreational opportunities, whether Venture Richmond will respect neighbors’ very reasonable concerns going forward, and costs in relation to other priorities. The City’s Department of Public Utilities manages the Kanawha Canal level as well as the City’s river level. Yes, there’s a Richmond Riverfront Plan, but we all know how these plans are pretty subjective- for example, there’s no Tredegar Green amphitheater in the Plan and there was a previous canal restoration plan that has been thrown aside.

Going back to this hydroelectric proposal, it may be that upriver (and more affluent) neighbors are able to ‘NIMBY‘ it, or maybe the environmental issues with even micro-hydro-electric at this site are too large to overcome, or maybe there is even more interest in the longterm in getting rid of Bosher’s Dam altogether. But the point is, this proposal and others should be part of a more open, public conversation over the future of the James River, local energy/water policy, and our local government.

Trash/Recycling Pickup Tomorrow

Posted on April 12, 2016 by Scott

This Wednesday is a red Wednesday, which means trash and recycling pickup.

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.

If you have not done so already, don’t forget to sign up for your Recycling Perks.

In order to take your recycling to the next level, read this: 10 ways to improve your recycling.

In recycling news, U.S. authorities make arrests in recycling theft cases.

Locally, with the school year drawing to a close, it is time for student renters and others who are moving to consider how to deal with all of their stuff. With the City budget strained, it is important that stuff is recycled and disposed of properly, without just dumping it on the sidewalk, street, and alley. I am happy to post neighborhood yard sale notices on this site. There are certainly a number of local thrift stores and charities that are willing to receive furniture donations.

Will local recycling become more expensive for residents?

RPS Student Walkout Protest Planned For Monday

Posted on April 9, 2016 by Scott

From WRIC television news story:

Students at Open High School are spearheading plans to walk out of class at 2 p.m. on Monday, with students at every high school making plans to participate. The coordinated efforts come as a show of opposition to the potential closing of several Richmond Public Schools.

“We need better,” said Open High School junior Chris Bolling. “We know that we deserve better.”

Bolling and his classmates are ready to fight for the future of Richmond’s Public Schools.

This is not the first time that Open High students have lead this sort of protest. In 2014, Open High students marched on City Hall to bring attention to misplaced public priorities and dilapidated school conditions in other Richmond public schools’ buildings.

This Week

Posted on April 4, 2016 by Scott

Coal Ash Stories film screening tonight.
(***Group Bicycle Ride to Event!***, Meet at Oregon Hill Overlook at 6:45, Enjoy Gorgeous Views of James River, Arrive at 7:00 to Rag & Bones Bicycle Co-op)

VCU-Community Meeting on the Gladding Residence Center Capital Project tomorrow evening.

Community Conversations: ReRVA – Public Spaces
Tuesday, April 5, 6-8 p.m., The Valentine, 1015 E. Clay St., Richmond, VA
Continue the conversation.
Part of the Community Conversations series on revitalizing, recycling and re-imagining Richmond, find out how Public Spaces are being redefined throughout the city. Whether for recreation, environmental initiatives or reflection, public spaces are shaping why people move to and remain in Richmond. Event is free.

Mayoral candidate forum on Wednesday at VUU.

5th District meeting this Thursday.

Power Dialogue Friday, April 8, 8:30-noon at VCU, 2-5pm at UR Robins Center
The VA Power Dialog will engage college and university students from across the Commonwealth of Virginia in meaningful conversation with state regulators, officials, and peers on how our state will help meet the U.S. climate commitment of 30% cuts in global warming emissions by 2030. The day’s events will conclude with an interactive poster session and tabling. A collaborative network of twelve colleges and universities will host the event at Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Richmond. Registration is free. For more information and to register: BLOG.RICHMOND.EDU/VAPOWERDIALOG

Don’t forget about the Ukrop’s Monument Ave 10k this Saturday. There will be associated traffic closings.

The Tredegar book talk that was scheduled for last month and had to be canceled due to tornado warnings is being rescheduled for April 19th.

Volunteer Opportunity: Que Pasa Festival Saturday, May 7, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., Canal Walk in Historic Downtown Richmond
Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (VAHCC) hosts the annual Que Pasa Festival as a celebration and showcase of Virginia’s diverse Latino community and businesses. The festival will include food, drinks, music, and a variety of games and activities for people and families of all ages. VAHCC is looking for volunteers to help us make this a successful and memorable event. Volunteers will provide assistance in a variety of tasks, including setting up and breaking down, admissions, and beverage sales, and volunteer shifts are available throughout the day from 6:00am until 9:00pm. Volunteers who stay for 4 or more hours get a free meal! If you are interested in volunteering at the event, please register here: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form?EQBCT=9ff305896f8547e88f3dbb0352c9c50a

5th District Meeting This Thursday

Posted on April 3, 2016 by Scott

City Offers CERT Training In April

Posted on March 28, 2016 by Scott

From City press release:

The City’s Office of Emergency Management is hosting an April Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic Recruit Training session. The free 20-hour CERT session is scheduled for April 9, April 16, and April 23 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. All training sessions will be held at the Richmond Fire and Emergency Service Headquarters, 201 East Franklin Street. Participants must attend all three days of training to receive certification.

In the aftermath of a disaster when people feel compelled to help their community and neighbors, the skills that the CERT program teaches become invaluable. The City’s Office of Emergency Management maintains a robust CERT program, which has many active members that assist during non-emergency events. The 20 hour CERT training program educates participants about disaster preparedness and hazards that may impact their area. The program trains individuals in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Participants train alongside members of their community who will be part of their CERT Team, as well as with participants from other communities. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT sessions are taught by the Office of Emergency Management, Richmond Fire Department and the Richmond Police Department.

To register for the April CERT training session, call (804) 646-2504 or visit www.RichmondGov.com/fire/EM_Cert.aspx. The registration form may be downloaded at http://www.richmondgov.com/fire/documents/CERT2016RegistrationForm.pdf.

A fall 2016 CERT training session is scheduled for Aug. 13, Aug. 20, and Aug. 27.

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4th Precinct MPACT Meeting Tonight

Posted on March 17, 2016 by Scott

The monthly 4th Precinct MPACT (Mayor’s Participation, Action & Communication Team) meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 17, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. The meeting will be held in the library of Linwood Holton Elementary School (1600 West Laburnum Avenue).