Category Archives: News

VCU Bike Round Up Tomorrow

Posted on by
Reply

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Commons Plaza

From webpage:

Ride your bike to campus on April 14 for a tune-up and registration, and talk shop with other VCU riders. All bike riders – serious, silly and sensible, alike – are welcome.

This program is for the every-day, casual bike rider. Competitive and serious cyclists are welcome but will likely have knowledge and assistance beyond what the Great Bike Round-Up offers. VCU Police will be here to help get students’ bikes registered. Mechanics from local bike shops will be here giving free tune-ups and are here to answer any questions you may have about your bike. Food will be provided while supplies last!

Celebrate Earth Day early by getting your bike set up and ready to ride! We thank you for choosing alternative transportation!

Real Estate Rush

Posted on by
Reply

With the federal tax credit winding down, there seems to be a lot more houses coming up for sale in the neighborhood.

Don’t forget Affordable Housing Awareness Week.

Speaking of affordable housing, the Oregon Hill Home Improvement Council is excited to be building three new modular houses on the 600 block of South Laurel St. The lots have been vacant for more than a decade. These houses will be in the Italianate/Victorian style, complementing the style of the neighborhood, and two of the three will be the first “affordable” modular homes in the Richmond area.

These will be 2-3 bedroom homes in the $165’s and up, only a block and a half from the river. These historically sensitive houses are being developed by Alan Townsend, an Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods 2007 Golden Hammer award winner.

If interested, please contact Todd Woodson at 804-783-8829 or candylandmusic at earthlink.net.

TheCollegePlace-Richmond Upcoming Workshop – April 17

Posted on by
Reply

Announcement:

TheCollegePlace-Richmond Upcoming Workshop:

College Admissions for High School Students – Preparation for college is
important and it?s never too early to start doing your research on higher
education. This workshop is targeting high school students and provides
basic information on choosing schools, filing college applications,
computing college costs and more. (Please note: This is the last College
Admissions Info Workshop this fall.) Target audience: 10th and 11th grade
students/parents.

Event Details: Mary & Frances Youth Center (on the campus of VCU next to the
Cary Street Gym).

Date: Saturday, April 17, 2010 (10:00a – 11:30a) — Registration Deadline ?
April 14, 2010

Register: This workshop is free but space is limited. Visit
http://www.ecmcfoundation.org/details/workshopForm.html to register. You
must register in order to participate.

For questions, please call 827.0551 or email Gabriela (gmira at ecmc.org).

Party Report

Posted on by
11

A longtime Oregon Hill resident reports:

12:30AM April 10, 2010

8 RPD patrol cars (2 were unmarked) were in the rear and
front of the houses on 200 block S Cherry where an out of control VCU
party was taking place. I would estimate that between the people
outdoors in the back yards and the people spilling into the street
out front there were 300-400 students or more that dont live in the
neighborhood. The noise was amazing with the screaming sounding like
a huge sporting event and music through some kind of PA. One kid had
a bullhorn he was screaming through. Most of the kids looked
underage and carried cases or 12 packs of beer or open containers-
many 40 oz bottles.
As I sat on my porch, a student came within 10 feet of me and
started urinating in my yard until I screamed for him to get the h*ll
out of there.
It took the officers well over an hour to disperse the crowd
and they circled the block for another hour or so as hangers on tried
to start the party back up at other houses on the 200 block. This
was a huge endeavor and use of resources for the City Police who have
their hands full elsewhere.
Oddly enough, a VCU student escort bus delivered 6 or so
party goers to the location that disembarked before they realized the
cops were shutting down the party. They sure looked bewildered. I,
for one, dont appreciate VCU using this shuttle to transport party
goers into Oregon Hill after midnight. It compounds the problem and
it has happened before.
These houses are owned by Hugh Edmunds (some by he and his
brother) and are the site of chronic out of control VCU parties. His
only interest seems to be keeping them full of VCU students.

Fines and Fees for River Rescues

Posted on by
Reply

NBC Channel 12 is reporting that the City wants swimmers to know that they need to follow their rules. From the article:

“Last year we had 78 calls to the river for river rescues. Of that we pulled 52 people off the river,” said Richmond Fire Department Lt. Shawn Jones.

So far this year firefighters raced out to the river 16 times, pulling 5 people out.

“The current is moving relatively swiftly here, so this puts the rescuers at danger and also the person being rescued,” added Jones.

Richmond police can ticket anyone not obeying river rules. The citation comes with a maximum fine of $100.

The city can also choose to make a person reimburse the city for rescue expenses which are based on the distance and equipment used. Even people, who qualify for a permit when water levels are above nine feet, are responsible for rescue fees. But since 2008 police have only cited 14 people. It was unclear if anyone has ever had to pay for a rescue, but the option’s there.

Spring Has Sprung At Byrd Market

Posted on by
Reply

Announcement:

Byrd House RENEGADE Market (Playing Now thru April 27)

ONGOING thru 5.1.10: Eat Good Grow Great Challenge Grant!
Give now and your contribution counts twice! WE NEED YOU!

4.17.10: Crop Mob (Part 2) VCU Social Networking Project “CROP MOB” (Part 2)
will add rows and plant crops to Byrd House Farmlet.

4.24.10: Next Cooking as a 2nd Language class: Bangledeshi Cuisine

5.4.10: Byrd House Market 2010 Season Opening Day – SAVE THE DATE!

Details on these happenings and more on our Blog
www.byrdhousemarket.blogspot.com

Learn more about William Byrd Community House and why Byrd House Market is a Market with a Mission!

Become a Fan on Facebook: www.facebook.com/gracearents

Assault on Parkway

Posted on by

This morning’s police blotter reported this assault from this past weekend:

4th Precinct
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT (x2)
4/3/10 8:23 p.m.
700 block of Oregon Hill Parkway
Two males reported they were assaulted by approximately 15 males.

OHNA Endorses May Day Parade

Posted on by
1

At last week’s meeting, the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association voted to endorse this year’s May Day Parade.

More from OHNA Interim President Jennifer Hancock’s recent announcement:

OHNA has voted and agreed to endorse May Day 2010. The May Day organization is offering the neighborhood a couple of different ways to participate if you are interested.

a). Attend a parade.

From the website http://maydayrva.org/

“a rally and parade through Jackson Ward (a historically black neighborhood struggling with gentrification) and Broad St (a business district laden with art galleries and restaurants, who contribute to said gentrification of Jackson Ward) led by All The Saints Theater Company (a local socially conscious collective of puppeteers)”.

b). Have an idea for a lecture? Connected to an organization with a mission for social justice and no name recognition? Now is your chance. May Day 2010 is looking for proposals for workshops.

Again, from the May Day website

“In an effort to facilitate dialog and provide an opportunity for the community to network, share information and become involved with the various existing movements in Virginia, May Day 2010 will play host to a series of workshops, discussions, and lectures on Friday April 30th and Saturday May 1, 2010”

To make a proposal, May Day 2010 has a form on its website that you can fill out. It can be found at
http://maydayrva.org/propose_workshop.php

c). Attend a workshop for puppet making. Lily Lamberta, of the All the Saints Theater Company will be running a general puppet making workshop at Plant Zero. Details to follow.

d). May Day 2010 is hosting a workshop for kids, as a part of Slaughterama, on Belle Island, Saturday at 2 PM. The kids will be making wings that they can wear in the parade, if they so wish.

Lost Cat on Laurel Street

Posted on by
1

From Craigslist ad:

An indoor cat got out on Thursday in the 400 block of Laurel St. in Oregon Hill. Black with white spots on chest and stomach. Red collar (may be gone) with tag with name “Oscar.” He has not come back and we have not found him. The sooner the cat is located and returned the more substantial the reward. If they have found this cat. Call me at 703-431-7778 or 202-450-7863.