Neighbor Creates ‘Sanctuary’ to Help Formerly Incarcerated Citizens

Posted on April 2, 2015 by Scott

Congratulations to Pine Street neighbor Liz Canfield!

She is featured on this WTVR report: VCU professor creates ‘Sanctuary’ to help formerly incarcerated residents ease back into society

Excerpts:

Virginia Commonwealth University and the Richmond City Sheriff’s Office have teamed up to provide formerly incarcerated Richmond-area residents and their families a place to learn, create, and transition back into society. Sanctuary, which opened March 30 at 101 W. Broad Street, will provide GED tutoring, job preparation and resources, resume building, and creative expression through art for members re-entering the community.

…

Sanctuary co-founder Dr. Liz Canfield is an assistant professor at VCU in the College of Humanities and Sciences’ Department of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies.

“We wanted to build a safe place on the outside where people can go when they got out,” she explained.

Sanctuary is an extension of Open-Minds, a program Canfield co-directs with VCU English professor Dr. David Coogan. Open-Minds provides dual enrollment classes for VCU students and incarcerated people at the Richmond City Jail.

Illegally Demolished Historic Wall To Be Rebuilt HIGHER

Posted on April 1, 2015 by Scott

After the historic Tredegar wall was illegally demolished several years ago, and much controversy resulted, several promises were made to rebuild the wall.

Recently, a neighbor who works in historic preservation has been helping preparations to finally start work on rebuilding the wall.

However, this website has recently learned that there are new plans to rebuild the wall at least twenty feet higher than its previous height. No one could comment on this development at press time.

While it remains a mystery as to the exact reasons being given for this raise, there is some speculation on the need to use ‘extra’ historic bricks that will be made available from the planned updating of old City Hall. Some Oregon Hill residents believe the higher wall will be used to host community movie screenings, while others believe that the City is preparing the wall for river level rise due to climate change.

Please stay tuned as this story develops.

St. Andrew’s Church and School To Host Blip Hop Symposium

Posted on April 1, 2015 by Scott

In what is sure to stir up music fans and parishes alike, St. Andrew’s Church and St. Andrew’s School announced today that they will jointly host an academic and music symposium on the small, mostly instrumental genre of modern music known as blip hop.

Although many details still need to be confirmed, including which August weekend has been reserved, exciting aspects are starting to take shape. Some big names in blip hop have already been invited (though their appearances still need to be scheduled), including German techno duo Mouse on Mars, Matthew Herbert, and blip hop enthusiast and Grammy-winning pop musician David Byrne (formerly of the Talking Heads). Local artist ENE (aka Scott Hudgins) has definitely committed and plans to attend the entire symposium. Regardless of the final line up, tickets will be free and offered first come first serve (reserve now by calling the church office at 804-648-7980)

In the spirit of community there will be several pieces performed in conjunction with the church’s choir and organist and the school’s violin, chorus and piano classes throughout the event. Workshops on blip hop dancing will also be offered. Live concerts will be held in the church’s Baldwin Hall, near the Grace Arents Community Garden, the William Byrd Community House, and Oregon Hill’s Riverside Park. Other sponsors are still being decided though possibilities include community alternative radio station WRIR, University of Richmond radio station WDCE, Plan 9 Music, Councilperson Parker Agelasto’s Office, Girls Rock! RVA, Richmond2015 UCI Bicycle Race, and Dinamo restaurant.

Asked why St. Andrew’s Church and School is so interested in blip hop, church leadership pointed to several factors. St. Andrew’s, of course, does have historic Welsh and Scottish links to the Northern European culture that David Byrne himself has praised in blip hop. “We realized that we do have tangible links to electronic music”, said one vestry board member. He mentioned the renovated St. Andrew’s House (236 S. Laurel Street) as previously being the starting place of the seminal band LaBradford. He also said that there had been some past confusion between the church’s EFM (Education for Ministry) group and EDM (a popular acronym for Electronic Dance Music).

St. Andrew’s School is still celebrating its 120 year anniversary,” gushed the St. Andrew’s Head of School, “and this symposium is another change to highlight how music has played an important part in our education efforts.”

St. Andrew’s rector, Rev. Abbott Bailey, herself a not-so-secret Zap Mama fan, said that she sees the blip hop symposium as “a way to engage with the lost children of the nineties.”

A member of Grace-On-The-Hill, a youth ministry of St. Andrew’s Church in partnership with the Diocese of Virginia, had this thought to offer:

“Instead of just rhythm pounding on like a soothing metronome, creativities and personalities layer atop it. Things meld together as strong but diverse parts join the score. Life departs what we’ve known and suddenly feels nothing like the squishy, germ-filled meat mush in the grind nor the innocent swing of habit; it transforms into a grand experience of unity within a beat. Different components add to the piece, and it is far too complex to brave its performance alone.”

Mouse on Mars on YouTube:

Gazebo To Get Solar

Posted on April 1, 2015 by Scott

Oregon Hill residents are gratified that the City workers recently repainted the historic gazebo that sits as the end of S. Pine Street, near the overlook. With the UCI Road World Championship bicycle races approaching, residents are hoping the gazebo will look enticing for spectators.

But now the City has additional news: As part of longterm restoration plans, the gazebo roof will be fitted with not only roof-flush photovoltaic (PV) solar panels and batteries to power the lighting installations around it, but also a retractable solar thermal array that will provide steam for picnic cooking as well as hot beverages in cooler temperatures.

The design for this array comes from Wolfgang Scheffler, who is well know for designing similar arrays for community kitchens across India. City officials expect to have both the PV array and the thermal array up later this summer, as long as they can get past regulation in the City’s VEPGA.

Community Movie Night Season Opens With Gangster Film ‘Scarface’

Posted on April 1, 2015 by Scott

For years, there have been Friday night community movies at Pleasants Park, next to Pine Street Baptist Church.

But this year, the chief organizer behind these movie nights is about to realize a longtime dream of showing in the park the 1983 film Scarface, starring Al Pacino. It is scheduled for just a few weeks as the season opener. Yes, he knows that he will be relying on parents to keep their children from being influenced or frightened by the film’s excessive violence, frequent strong language and graphic hard drug usage. But after decades of showing more family-friendly fare, he is ready to take more chances with his screenings, and hopes nearby neighbors will indulge him.

“I am a big DePalma fan”, he says, “And who can forget Pacino?
‘You wanna play rough? Okay. Say hello to my little friend!'” (with accent).

Free grilled hot dogs and beverages will be served as long as supplies last. The full schedule for the series has not yet been announced.

OHNA Letter

Posted on March 31, 2015 by Scott

Earlier this month, the following letter was sent to VCU, City, State officials, as well as the media in response to an earlier real estate transaction:

Dear Dr. Rao,

The members of the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association (OHNA) were concerned to hear that in November 2014, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) acquired a property at 9 West Cary Street, outside of VCU’s Master Plan boundary. In response to a request made under the Freedom of Information Act, VCU confirmed that the property at 9 West Cary Street is not within VCU’s Master Plan boundary and that VCU did not inform its neighbors that it was purchasing property outside of its Master Plan boundary.

While this property at 9 West Cary Street is not within the Oregon Hill Historic District, we object to the University acquiring property outside of its Master Plan boundary. This land acquisition is counter to the Management Agreement between VCU and the Commonwealth of Virginia that states that capital projects must be “consistent with the University’s published Master Plan.” The fact that VCU chooses to disregard its own Master Plan alarms the surrounding communities.

OHNA voted at its February 24, 2015 meeting to formally request that VCU adhere to its Master Plan boundary when acquiring property in the future. We would also remind you of the promise made by former VCU President Eugene Trani that the University will not expand south of Cary Street into the Oregon Hill Historic District.

VCU’s neighbors rely on the commitment made by the University to adhere to its Master Plan boundary when purchasing property. This assurance is essential for removing speculation and inspiring a sense of trust between VCU and its neighbors.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Hancock
Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association
President

Trash/Recycling Pickup Tomorrow…and win a car!

Posted on March 31, 2015 by Scott

This Wednesday is a red Wednesday, which means trash and recycling pickup. Please make sure you pick up containers after pickup tomorrow night. They do not belong on the sidewalk after tomorrow night.

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

Article on recent study- “The shapely side of recycling”.

In addition, we are starting to hear more about Recycling Perks program in Richmond:

Councilman Parker C. Agelasto to hold a meeting for the Richmond Central 5th Voter District

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Scott

From City Council press release:

WHAT (Richmond, Virginia U.S.A.) – The Honorable Parker C. Agelasto, Councilman, Richmond City Council, Richmond Central 5th Voter District, will hold a district-wide meeting for the Richmond Central 5th Voter District. This is part of regular meetings Councilman Agelasto holds, which include information on his Richmond Central 5th Voter District goals and accomplishments; a thematic agenda of current interest; and, special guests. These meetings are free and open to the public and all Richmond Central 5th Voter District residents are invited and encouraged to attend. The planned agenda/discussion topics for the upcoming meeting include:

· Introduction of Richmond’s New Chief of Police
Col. Alfred Durham, Chief of Police, Richmond Police Department

· Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Road World Cycling Championships: Richmond 2015
Ms. Monica Callahan, Community Engagement Director, UCI Road World Championships: Richmond 2015

· City Code Enforcement Presentation
Mr. John Walsh, Operations Manager, Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review Division of Property Maintenance Code Enforcement

· Questions, Comments, and Concerns
The Honorable Parker C. Agelasto, Councilman
Richmond City Council, Richmond Central 5th Voter District

WHEN Wednesday, April 1, 2015
6:30-8:00 p.m.

WHERE Patrick Henry Elementary School of Science and Arts
3411 Semmes Avenue; Richmond, Virginia 23225

WHO The Honorable Parker C. Agelasto, Councilman
Richmond City Council, Richmond Central 5th Voter District

CONTACT For more information, please contact:
The Honorable Parker C. Agelasto, Councilman
Richmond City Council, Richmond Central 5th Voter District, at 804.646.6050 (tel), or parker.agelasto@richmondgov.com (email)

Councilman Agelasto’s Future Richmond Central 5th Voter District Meetings

Wednesday, June 3, 2015; 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities
Randolph Community Center
1415 Grayland Avenue, Richmond, Virginia

Wednesday, August 5, 2015; 6:30-8:00 p.m.
BACK TO SCHOOL MEETING
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond – Southside Club
2409 Bainbridge Street, Richmond, Virginia

Updated location:
Wednesday, October 7, 2015; 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities
World War 1 Memorial Carillon Bell Tower
Dogwood Dell
0 South Boulevard, Richmond, Virginia 23221

Wednesday, December 2, 2015; 6:30-8:00 p.m.
HOLIDAY PARTY
Virginia War Memorial
621 South Belvidere Street, Richmond, Virginia

Keys Found

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Scott

Neighbors on the 400 block of S. Laurel Street found this set of keys.

326 S. Pine Street

Posted on March 28, 2015 by Scott

A house that has since been demolished, 326 S. Pine St., was at the location of the Pine St. Baptist Church parking lot on the 300 block of Pine Street. In the first photo, it’s the sliver of a house that is just to the left of the corner pharmacy storefront, which is now Pine Street Barbershop. The overall photo is a panoramic photo of Oregon Hill residents in front of Pine Street Baptist Church, that is currently hung in the William Byrd Community House. As it turns out, the late Senator Benedetti on March 28, 1929 was born at 326 S. Pine St. His father, Carl Vincent Benedetti appears in the city directories at that address from 1926 to 1933. The Senator died last November.