Church Hill Association of RVA Newsletter - November/ December 2016 Issue

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N E WS L E T T E R · N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 6

In This Issue Letter from the President . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 3 Conservative Clothing and Dreadlocks . . pg. 4 House Tour Preview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 6 Election of Officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 18 Gather and Tiny Spaces . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 24

Photo Captured in Church Hill By Isabelle Cabral


About the Church Hill Association CHA Board of Directors President: Bill Dinkin: president@churchhill.org Vice President: John Sieg: vp@churchhill.org Secretary: Debbie Kearns: secretary@churchhill.org Assistant Secretary (at large): Martha Looney Treasurer: Paul Lozito: treasurer@churchhill.org

MEETINGS & NOTICES Historic Preservation and Land Use Committee Meeting First Tuesday of each month: 6:00 pm Location: Patrick Henry Pub

Assistant Treasurer: Trish Bernal: assistanttreasurer@ churchhill.org

Generally held on the Tuesday before the Board meeting at the Patrick Henry Pub, 2300 E. Broad Street at 6:00 pm

Directors at Large

UPCOMING MEETING: NOV. 8 AND DEC. 6

Colin Schlueter

Pamela Lipscomb

Karen Jones

Barbara Cotter

Past President: Tom Wilds Historic Preservation and Land Use Chair: Robert Gordon

Volunteers Church Hill Newsletter: Layout Graphics: CAO Agency newsletter@churchhill.org Content Editor/Ad Sales Coordinator: Celeste Deal: crdeal@earthlink.net: 644-2862 Lead Newsletter Distribution: South: Tom & Eileen Sanders: 343-7157 North: Sandra Horton: 780-1641 Membership Coordinator: Amy Beem: 344-0001: membership@churchhill.org Church Hill Planters: Marion Macdonald: 644-1347

For more information on joining the CHA, please see our website at: www.churchhill.org, or fill out the application included in this publication.

CHA Mission The purpose of this organization shall be to promote a sense of unity and common endeavor among all the residents of the St. John’s Church, Church Hill North, and Chimborazo Old and Historic Districts, other residents of the East District, and other interested persons, in order to develop a stable, desirable urban neighborhood.

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CHA of RVA Board Meeting First Thursday of each month: 6:00 pm Location: Patrick Henry Pub Generally held on the first Thursday of every month at the Patrick Henry Pub, 2300 E. Broad Street at 6:00 pm UPCOMING MEETING: NOV. 3 AND DEC. 1

Membership Meeting Location: St. John’s Parish Hall Generally held on the third Tuesday of every month in St. John’s Parish Hall, 2401 E. Broad Street, at 7:00 pm. UPCOMING MEETING: NOV. 15 AND DEC. 20

If any member wishes to attend any Zoning or Board meeting they are most welcome, but please check with Bill Dinkin at president@churchhill.org for updated meeting times and dates.

Call for Photos What does Church Hill look like to you? Send us your iconic shots of the neighborhood and see your image in the Newsletter! Let’s find some new angles that show the changing Church Hill – or a new view of the old classics like Libby Hill Park.

Send images to: newsletter@churchhill.org


Letter from the President

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n October 18, 2016 the Church Hill Association held its monthly meeting. It was quite ordinary. We introduced new members, we received a report from Lieutenant Johnny McRoy with the good news that crime was low (but please don’t have packages delivered to your doorstep, an almost irresistible temptation for would-be thieves), and we introduced our slate of candidates for the 2017 Board of Directors (as I write this, the assistant secretary position is still open). It was also, however, quite an extraordinary meeting for two reasons. First, we engaged in a vigorous debate over whether to lend our endorsement to a proposed house on the 2400 block of Franklin Street. This project presents challenges on many fronts. The lot itself slopes precipitously down to Franklin Street from the alley running behind the south side of East Grace Street and the suggested siting of the home is near the top of the slope, with access to be gained from the alley. Just as challenging, the design is modern, reflecting the industrial glass and metal structures to the south, with but a nod to the historic architecture of Grace Street. Opinions regarding the proposal were strong and varied. Should the design better reflect its surrounding historic architecture? Should we encourage design to evolve – as it surely has over 200 plus years in our neighborhood from Federal, to Greek revival, Italianate, Second Empire, Queen Anne and more? What right do we have to design someone else’s house, one member asked. We should support the nearby neighbors who object to the proposed design and materials, another member responded. Most notably, however, with national political discourse careening off the rails of civility, our discussion was remarkably thoughtful and respectful of each other’s opinions and positions. One of the owners of the subject parcel was present at the meeting and should be lauded for seeking our organization’s input and willingness to redesign in response to community input. In the end, the membership narrowly voted to endorse the project. While there was bound to be disappointment for some, the ultimate winner in my opinion was the open and civil process of small-scale democracy on display by the membership of the Church Hill Association. The second extraordinary aspect of the October meeting was that this was our first full budget presented to the organization under our new 501(c)(3) designation as a charitable organization. While we have always, as an organization, made donations to worthy neighborhood causes, that goal has not always served as a primary organizing principle of our budgeting. The new budget, in contrast, explicitly seeks to raise funds that not only serve our members’ needs, but to generate a net reserve at year end that can then be donated back into the community. Our biggest fundraisers have been Hogtober and the House Tour. In an effort to have the holiday party to not only break even, but to raise money, the budget raised the proposed 2017 holiday party ticket price to $75 per ticket (we have lost money on the party almost every year in recent memory). Next year, at the higher price, we hope to make a portion of the ticket price be a tax-deductible donation and to expand the scope of the party/fundraiser to a larger segment of the Richmond community. Not everyone approved of this approach, but the budget passed and we will give it a whirl and see how things shake out. Lastly, it bears noting that the Board has developed a set of Giving Principles to guide the Church Hill Association in making our donations. The Principles are on the website, but in essence call for a process whereby potential recipients apply for grants (application also on-line). The application must describe the project, articulate the anticipated community benefit, identify the person who will administer the donated funds, and identify the time frame or dates the funded project will begin and end. Grantees must also provide a brief follow up report to the Board within 90 days of completion of project. We hope that this will give the greatest benefit to the community from our fundraising efforts. Bill Dinkin President, Church Hill Association ChurchHill.org |

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Conservative Clothing to Dreadlocks Bert Ashe is an English and American Studies professor at the University of Richmond. Born and raised in Los Angeles, he spent time in radio and television broadcasting, in sales, at a market research firm, as an actor, and as a freelance writer before completing a B.A. in Communication Studies at San Jose State University, an M.A. in English at Virginia Commonwealth University, and a Ph.D. in American Studies from the College of William and Mary. He teaches African American literature and popular culture, and has published widely on “postblackness,” black hair, basketball, and jazz. His work on black hair was collected in his 2015 book Twisted: My Dreadlock Chronicles. Bert participated in the October James River Writers Conference and was also a finalist for the Library of Virginia’s non-fiction award. James River Writers asked Bert about the best and worst parts of being an author. “Best part: when it’s rolling, when the words are flying out from under your fingers on into the computer and onto the white page in front of you, and it’s like you’re only a conduit, a channel, and the words are coming from somewhere else and your only job is to translate them into English prose and then work them into some semblance of sense. That feeling is absolutely glorious. Nothing better. Worst part? Finding a publisher when your work doesn’t fit neatly into recognized categories. Hearing from agents and editors, as a result, ‘This is great. I really like it. It’s not for us, unfortunately.’ Nothing worse.” Bert describes his book Twisted as a “…madcap, humorous tale of what happens when a mild-mannered, conservative-dressing college professor decides to lock his hair and comes close to losing his mind, and deals with the tension the only way he knows how: by going “in” on the history, the cultural resonance, and the media presence of dreadlocks while narrating the process of locking his hair.” The father of two children, he and his wife live in Richmond, Virginia. http://twistedthedreadlockchronicles.com

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ChurchHill.org |

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HOLIDAY HOUSE TOUR PREVIEW 2515 E. Broad, Built 1850 Walk up the grand granite staircase and through the large blue doors to access the first floor loft unit located in a former Presbyterian church built in 1850. The first floor boasts a small foyer, living room, dining room, and kitchen with original hardwood flooring. The grand original ceiling soars to 30' and allows the unit to feel airy and spacious. The three large original church windows are 5' W x 12' H, topped with original stained glass, and still function with their counterweight system. The original staircase leads to the old choir loft that has been converted into an office. Lean over the rail to look down into the dining room. Walk towards the bedroom and turn to the right to access a 2nd staircase that leads to the patio situated inside the belfry tower. 2610 E. Grace St., Built 1902 John Bagby built and resided in this Italianate style house. He was a partner of Pollard and Bagby, a local real estate company formed in 1894 and still in existence in 2016. The house has an elaborate false mansard roof and Eastlake porch with a diminutive mansard roof. This home is listed as a contributing structure to the St. John's Church Historic District on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places. It was completely renovated in 2015 and its new owners, from Santa Fe NM, have added a unique Southwestern flair to this beautiful old home.

801 N. 27th St., Built 1913 A Golden Hammer Award finalist, this historic home built in 1913, recently underwent a painstaking two year restoration, increasing the homes livability while maintaining its original character.

601 N. 27th St., Built 1900 This Victorian home was built in 1900 and has been completely renovated to fit a more contemporary lifestyle. With the majority of the home being renovated, you will still be able to find much of the historic charm still present today. With the original exposed brick and original heart of pine hardwood floors throughout, this home boasts loads of Church Hill character.

513 N. 27th St., Built in 1910 This home was originally the storefront of the local neighborhood grocery store. The fireplaces throughout the home are original and were used to burn coal during the winter months. Although you find many upgrades throughout, this home still boasts some of its wonderful original features. This home is a staple in the Church Hill neighborhood!

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407 N. 27th St., Built 1812 The crowning achievement of wealthy grocer merchant and property owner Capt. Charles Wills, this is the oldest house in Church Hill and once the only house on the block. Original layout consisted of two single floor wings with a two-story center section and various out buildings. The north wing (407-1/2) was made a separate residence in 1904 and second floors added to both wings. The home was restored in 1986. 3516 E. Broad St., Built 1910 This home was built by Philip Bagley. It was the childhood home to a future mayor of Richmond. The home was dubbed by locals the "Bagley Mansion". The home sits on a corner double lot at the northeast edge of Chimborazo Park. The home features three full living floors as well as a finished cellar basement. Interesting features of the home include intricate masonry work, a large wraparound porch, four staircases, and seven exterior doors. It is rumored that a basement side room once functioned as a speakeasy. The home underwent a significant restoration in 2001 after being abandoned for many years. A recent major renovation began in 2014 and is still ongoing. 3412 E. Broad St., Built 1900-1910 This frame house at 3412 East Broad Street is an eclectic mix of turn-of-the-century revival elements, and may have been constructed as part of a series of investment properties in the area by the historic Cowardin family. The wide front receiving hall and dramatic turning front staircase are atypical of Church Hill, but representative of the unexpectedly grand interiors of houses found immediately along Chimborazo Park. Urban Core and the current owners extensively renovated the house in 2014 after a long period of vacancy.

513 N. 24th St., Built 1895 Purchased in 2014, this historic row home underwent a cosmetic renovation to restore some of its original charm with a nod to the future. You will find that many original features such as four all-brick coal-burning fireplaces, aged wood floors and heart pine stairs blend cohesively with the owner’s quirky mix of contemporary and vintage furnishings. Last year it was featured in R-Home Magazine.

2401 E Grace St. First occupied 1891 This house was built on the west side of rental property (2403) owned by Mrs. Van Lew (spy for the Union during the Civil War). It combines both Italianate and Colonial Revival Styles. Raised, English basements were by then considered passé, and the contrast between this house’s single step above grade and the steep, long flights of steps on the older, neighboring pair of houses is striking.

Special thanks to WVCE Radio 88.9 FM our media sponsor.

ChurchHill.org |

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Churchhill Association of RVA Announces Improved Digital Presence CHA of RVA is working to optimize our digital footprint, and to make our community resources more accessible. We have launched a barebones Facebook Page (facebook.com/ chaofrva) and an Instagram (@chaofrva) and we hope to see you out “in the networks.� Over the next several months we will also be working on a website relaunch. We will distribute a brief survey by email to all digital subscribers, and taking feedback at member meetings to find out what community members would most like to see on the site. Please take part! We invite your ideas, talent and creativity! If you have any--especially high resolution--photographs of places, people, events or things in the community--current or archival, please send to chaofrva@gmail.com with related information and photo credit and help us to populate the new site with the stories of our neighborhood.

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A Big THANK YOU to the Volunteers and Patrons of

THE IRISH FESTIVAL for their Support of our Efforts to Fight and Prevent Crime in Our Thriving, Unique Urban Neighborhood The Church Hill Crime Watch


ChurchHill.org |

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Assassins Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Book by John Weidman

November 4 - 26 TICKETS QuillTheatre.org 804-340-0115

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Firehouse Theatre 1609 W Broad Street Richmond, VA 23220


AARealtor Your Neighborhood Neighborhood Realtor in in your When Amy Tesauro isn’t helping Richmonders buy and sell their homes, you might find her sitting on her porch on the Hill, or at Chimborazo park with her kids, or at Dutch & Co enjoying the Perfect Egg. We know Church Hill because we live Church Hill. Let us put our unique experience to work for you.

Amy Tesauro Associate Broker 804.467.1881

Catherine Gilmer REALTORÂŽ 804.338.5397

Erin King

Director of Operations

804.292.0852

linchpinrealestate.com linchpin@linchpinrealestate.com 804.292.0852 ChurchHill.org | 11


Church Hill, It’s never easy to start a revolution.

Presenting Patrick Henry Square 313 North 24th Street Richmond VA 23223

17 Apartments 6500 square feet of Commercial Space 2 Bedroom\2bathroom Live work Now leasing for August 2016 Occupancy Contact Joshua Bilder for more information 804.306.3089 Mobile 804-359-5018 Office (Website under construction) www.patrickhenrysquare.com Another quality Sterling Bilder LLC Development 12 November/December 2016


Sponsoring Church Hill Association of RVA CHA Friend $250

2 tickets to House Tour & 2 tickets to the Holiday Celebration ($120 tax deductible)

CHA Neighbor $500

2 tickets to House Tour & 4 tickets to the Holiday Celebration ($180 tax deductible)

CHA Family $750

4 tickets to House Tour & 4 tickets to the Holiday Celebration ($490 tax deductible)

CHA Patriot $1000 4 tickets to House Tour & Reserved table for 4 at the Holiday Celebration ($740 tax deductible)

All Sponsors will be acknowledged in writing on the CHA website, newsletter, and printed event materials if received before printing. CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP HISTORIC CHURCH HILL CANDLELIGHT WALK

$1500 The Candlelight Walk Sponsor - Provides the Church Hill Association of RVA with an opportunity to welcome the city to Church Hill; to savor an historic neighborhood and its history and to honor those who have served to protect it. Sponsorship at the $1500 level would provide the resources to pay for the Bagpipe and Drum marching band, candles, sheet music, and refreshments served at the sing along event at the end of the walk. This event has been growing in size over the past few years with several hundred in attendance. In addition to the above acknowledgements, your business would be recognized on the sheet music handed out to all walk participants and with a poster at the refreshment booth. CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP HISTORIC CHURCH HILL HOLIDAY CELEBRATION

$1500 Holiday Celebration Sponsor – Corporate sponsorship of the Historic Church Hill Holiday Celebration to be held under a tent at the ChildSavers Overlook would defray the cost of the venue and tent rental. This evening event has been a part of the Holiday Weekend for many years and provides a delightful beginning to the holiday season. In addition to the above acknowledgements, at the $1500 level your company’s name would be prominently displayed on posters at the event. CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP HISTORIC HOUSE TOUR TROLLEY SHUTTLE

$1500 Historic House Tour Trolley Sponsor - Alternatively, there is an opportunity to sponsor the Historic House Tour’s shuttle. The Historic House Tour provides an opportunity for the Church Hill neighborhood to highlight the many historic homes in the oldest residential neighborhood in the city. The tour averages over 500 participants annually. In addition to the above acknowledgements, at the $1500 level your company’s name would be prominently displayed on each of the vehicles that shuttle tour participants throughout the neighborhood.

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322 N. 25th St.

644-8200

www.ChurchHillAnimalHospital.com Our Treatment Specialties Include: · General medicine · Routine dental cleaning · Surgical extractions using advanced dental equipment · Soft tissue surgery

On-Site Specialized Equipment Includes: · Digital · Dental equipment radiography · ECG · In-house lab · Pulse oximetry

We treat Dogs & Cats

Thank you for letting us care for your pets! 14 November/December 2016


your neighbor, your contractor

john magor photography

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Church Hill Tree Stewards and Dream Team are Making Progress

You may have noticed some brush piles along 26th and 27th Streets. The Church Hill Tree Stewards and the Dream Team have been working hard to make your streets more walk-able. Richmond Tree Stewards Trish Bernal, Joel Cabot and Tom Layman have been working with the help of citizen volunteer Dave Woods pruning trees along Broad Street and the adjoining side streets since midSeptember. Our goals are simple, to create sidewalk clearance for pedestrians, clearing limbs from STOP signs and other street signs, and removing branches that interfere with parking and truck traffic. As of the writing of this article, we have “touched� close to 100 trees. As you can imagine all this pruning has created mounds of limb debris. Citizen volunteers Rick Semeraro (of Patrick Henry Pub & Grille) and John Murdern (of CHPN) have 16 November/December 2016

been a HUGE help, using their trucks to pick up the debris piles and taking them to the City Landfill in Oakwood. We will continue to work through the fall and hope to reach our goal at the end of the 3600 block of East Broad Street before winter. We are usually pruning most Tuesday mornings, Thursday afternoons and some Sundays at mid-day. If you are interested in helping out or want more information about our project, feel free to contact either Trish Bernal at 643-2420 or e-mail trishbernal@gmail.com or Joel Cabot at 644-8301 or joel.cabot@yahoo. com . To receive e-mail notifications about our project dates Joel is creating a Church Hill Dream Team e-mail group. Please consider providing him with your e-mail for future notices.

https://richmondtreestewards.org


Two Church Hill community groups, Les Boulefrogs of Church Hill and Church Hill Planters, have been approved to receive free trees for our neighborhood from the Richmond Tree Stewards’ Community Roots program. Les Boulefrogs, the local petanque club, will receive two trees to plant in the empty tree wells in Chimborazo Playground. The Church Hill Planters/ Friends of Libby Hill Park will receive three trees to plant in the empty tree wells on Franklin Street in the 2800 block along the perimeter of Libby Hill Park. To qualify for these trees, each group has agreed to obtain appropriate permits (with assistance from Tree Steward coordinators Trish Bernal and Joel Cabot), have a community planting “event”, and maintain the trees for the first two years after planting (i.e. watering, weed removal,

mulching etc…). Richmond Tree Stewards will deliver the trees to the planting location and provide tools and expertise on planting day.

Look for the planting event dates in future newsletters, on Church Hill Peoples News: http://chpn.net and on the new Church Hill Facebook page https://www.facebook. com chaofrva/?fref=ts

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Election of Officers Vice President: Genni Sasnett

Assistant Treasurer: Pam Lipscomb

Secretary: Ali Schneider

At Large: Christina Mastroianni

Assistant Secretary: Pam Masters Christina Mastroianni works for the City of Richmond’s Office of Community Wealth Building (OCWB). The OCWB is tasked with finding solutions to the barriers that have caused generational economic strife for far too many people living and working in Richmond. Prior to this, Christina spent 12 years as a full time mother and active participant in a number of community related organizations including serving as president of the Bellevue Elementary School Parent Teacher Association. Her background is in public administration, focusing primarily on system design and implementation of new initiatives. Christina has extensive experience in the workforce development arena, most notably as Director of the Philadelphia CareerLink Consortium, part of America’s Workforce Network, the federally-sponsored nationwide employment and training system. Christina received her Master of Government Administration from the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels Center of Government and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Transplants from Philadelphia, Christina and her husband George, son Makai and daughter Marissa have lived in Church Hill for four years. 18 November/December 2016

Ali Alligood Genni Sasnett moved to Church Hill in February 2014 after her retirement as the Chief Operating Officer for St. John’s Community Services in Washington, DC. St. John’s is a historic non-profit agency providing services to people with disabilities in DC, VA, TN and PA. The Office of Disabilities Employment Policy of the US DOL currently engages her as a national consultant. She works with several states supporting them to adopt best practice in the employment and general inclusion of people with disabilities in society and the economic mainstream. Genni lived in the historic Logan Circle community in Washington, DC before moving to Church Hill. That neighborhood developed rapidly, bringing wonderful amenities but also some unintended consequences. Through that experience, Genni learned the importance of balancing positive development with the preservation of the character and diversity of a community. She believes healthy communities are ones in which people are involved and caring towards others around them. In 2015 Genni chaired CHA’s successful World’s Cycling Championship Committee. It was that positive community experience that inspired her to accept the nomination for Vice President. Genni is especially excited about the influx of young people into the Church hill community and the future of CHA with their involvement.


Ali Schneider - Secretary While native to New York, I’ve lived in Virginia for over a decade now. I received my B.S. in Mass Communications with a concentration in Creative Advertising at VCU, and have since worked for Yelp, Altria, and a boutique event planning studio. I currently serve as the Marketing Assistant and Graphic Designer for the Richmond Symphony in Downtown Richmond. Just under a year ago I married my husband, Josh Rubin, and together we purchased our first home on 27thStreet in Church Hill. I was lucky to have a coworker introduce me to the Church Hill Association a few months back, and since then we’ve been working as a team to improve the CHA website and enhance the Associations’ digital presence. As a board member, I will work to overcome current communications obstacles, to make all of our neighbors feel welcome at Association meetings and events, and to ensure that the diversity of the Association itself reflects the diversity our neighborhood and city are known for.

Alli Alligood Eleven and a half years ago I tricked my husband into buying a house on Church Hill. Neither of us had a job here, and neither of us knew what we were getting into. He forgave my trickery, and we are both over-themoon to be a part of this very special community. We have been restoring the house that we love for these years, and I have continued my quest to live in and enjoy each moment, and not get annoyed with the “when will you be finished?’ questions. We were married beneath a tall Tulip Poplar, and considered it a good sign that our immediate street tree is one of these as well. We count ourselves lucky to live in an urban neighborhood that offers so much greenspace, and we treasure and continue to work to protect both our neighborhood and other city trees. My previous life included working as an advocate for the health of our environment and the Chesapeake Bay, as an assistant to a senior state senator, and helping with various election campaigns. The last thing I did before moving to Rich-

mond was work as an apprentice cabinet maker. We live with two special girl pups and a smallish litter of kitten-cats right on Broad Street in the middle of things. I would be happy to serve, if elected, on the board of the Church HIll Association. Pamela Lipscombe, Assistant Treasurer My husband Del and I have been Church Hill residents for over twenty years. We enjoy living in such a wonderful community. I have been involved in numerous organizations in various positions, including the Church Hill Association, American Legion Auxiliary, Women’s Emergency Shelter, Business and Professional Women’s League. As a current CHA board member, I have been active with the Fund Development committee. A graduate of Virginia Tech, I am a loyal Hokie football fan! I consider it an honor to serve on the Church Hill Association and look forward to continuing to make our neighborhood one of the best in RVA.

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Newsletter Content & Advertising The Editor would like to offer a reminder that your neighborhood newsletter is in need of monthly content, including: • Informative, educational, historical articles with a focus on Church Hill; • Photographs to go with articles and/or pictures that represent the neighborhood (will be printed in black & white, 300dpi, JPEG or TIF file, must be credited, and remain the property of the person submitting); • Environmental or safety information that pertains to the neighborhood; • Letters to the Editor (as space allows, 250 words); • And more!!

Editorial Policy Submissions for inclusion to the Church Hill Association’s newsletter are welcomed. Editorial Policy does not allow for personal attacks or inappropriate tone, profanity, or anonymous submissions. Submissions may be edited for space and editorials should not exceed 250 words. CHA will not print editorial letters that are abusive or nontruthful. It is only as a courtesy that we may occasionally print letters from non-members when they add value to the conversation. Final approval of all submissions rests with the Board of Directors. The Church Hill Newsletter is distributed by volunteers throughout the Church Hill neighborhood (North and South of Broad Street). We also distribute to several area merchants. A total of 1200 issues are distributed monthly. Due Dates Copy must be submitted by the 14th of each month to newsletter@churchhill.org. Ad submissions must be received before the 15th of each month for the upcoming issue.

What’s Next?

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Send Materials Only electronic submissions will be accepted. Send ad files to: newsletter@churchhill.org Ad Size, Pricing & Specifications Half-page: $60 at 7.5” x 4.75” Quarter-page: $45 at 3.5” x 4.75” Full-page: $115 at 7.5” x 10” Back cover: $125 at 7.5” x 10” Black and white art only File formats: 300 dpi, PDF, TIF or JPEG Files must be sized correctly Borders must fall within the size of ad space MSWord, .DOC or .DOCX files will not be accepted Payment 10% discounts for orders of 3 months or more. Payments for ad space should be received no later than the 15th of each month for the upcoming issue. No ads will run if payment has not been received. Payment by check only to: CHA Newsletter P.O. Box 8031 Richmond, VA 23223 Contact If you are interested in advertising in the Church Hill Newsletter, please check the website for ad specifications at ChurchHill.org, or email questions to newsletter@churchhill.org.

What corner of Church Hill’s history would you like to explore? Send suggestions for the next historic article to: newsletter@churchhill.org


Local Referrals LOCAL REFERRALS This listing of recommended local artisans is contributed by Church Hill Association members and other residents of Church Hill and surrounding neighborhoods. The recommendations listed below are not endorsed by the Church Hill Association, and it is in no way responsible for the quality of the work performed. Trade Referrals:

Company/Contact

Appliance repair - in home Appliance Services Unlimited Appliance repair - in home C.K.Appliance Repair Arborist True Timber Tree Service Architect Dana Moore Architect Mary Lorino Car servicing + tires Lotsey & Hardy Tire Co Carpentry and Renovations Rob Pate Carpentry, Cabinet Maker Opposable Thumbs Carpentry, custom design SteppOne LLC Carpentry,framing, trim Lindstrom Contracting Carpet cleaning (in-house) Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning Computer Doctor Bryan Brodie Contractor BTR Enterprises Contractor RBVa Contractor/Carpentry Jon Lillyman & Co Contractor/Carpentry NAAB Contracting, LLC Dry Cleaners, 2007 Venable St C Alexandra’s Electrician J.G. Taylor Corp. Electrician Electrical Installation & Repairs Fencing - new and repair Fencemeln Garden / Yard Care Howard Allen Garden/yard work/general clean-up Kenny Inglis Hardwood floor refinisher Quality Wood Floors Historic Tax Credit Applications Better housing Coalition Historic Tax Credit Auditor Howard Gills Historic Tax Credit Lawyer Spotts Fain PC Historic Tax Credit Purchaser Carlyle Associates Home Improvement Lewis Green Home renovation William Harris Home renovation Edward Britten Home Repairs Thomas Rawlings Home repairs +carpentry Jim. E Green Home-made baked goods Sweet Temptations by Teresa Horticulturist / garden designer Garden Keepers Ltd House Cleaning Adriana Bentes House Cleaning Sue Canales House Cleaning Gina’s Cleaning Service HVAC Systems Gundlach Plumbing & Heating HVAC Systems Dominion Heating & Air Cond. Ironwork - new Custom Ornamental Iron Ironwork- Repair Kirk.L.Powers Ornamental Iron Irrigation System Richmond Irrigation Jeweler Dransfield Jewelers Kitchen / Bath contractor Custom Kitchens, Inc Landscaping & hardscaping Land Designs Locksmith Mike Armstrong:Ex-Charlie’s Mantel’s Mantels by Meunier Mason Winn Masonry Mason Sun Coast Construction Mason McCauley and Son Masonry Painter Precise Touch Painter Mulberry Painting Painter - Interior only Cindy Porter Photographer- Real Estate Peak Photo Co. Photographer-Family, Portrait & Wedding kamgoodrichphotography.com Plantation Shutters, Blinds etc Affordable Window Treatments Plasterer Jay Gresch Plasterer Frank Geddings Plasterer Peter Headley Plumber Carroll Plumbing & Heating, Inc Plumber Advanced Plumbing Plumber Ronnie Grey Pool & Aquarium Services Thomas Aquatics Commonwealth Capital Property Management Jordon Waldrop Upholstery Re-upholstery, Furniture Phyllis and Dan Sisson Re-upholstery, Furniture Roofworks Roofer City Tin & Copper Roofer ANP Plumbing (+ does roofing) Roofer Curtis Jones Roofer Frank Nott Rug, carpet cleaning

Individual to call

Work Done

Recommended by:

Chad Ricks, 651-7391 Chris Keithly, 288-1199 Peter, 218-8733 Dana, 232-6504 Mary, 840-9415

Refrigerator repaired Repair: Asko washer & GE fridge Tree removal and pruning Residential renovation Renovation, extension+CAR application Full service + 4 new tires New bathrooms + porch repairs New gate & fence repair Custom Porch + others Porch repair,installed beam & b’board In-house carpet cleaning Repaired software, rebuilt system New Back Porch and Fence Front Porch - repair Historic Renovation, Porch repair New House Const. - 601 N.22nd Dry cleaning, repairs & alterations Upgraded elec.panel, rewired kitchen Repaired exterior lights Installed fence in rear of yard Garden clean up Yard, garden and manual labor Ground floor floors State & Federal tax credit application Certification of tax credits State & Fed. tax credit documentation Purchaser State Tax Credits Bathroom renovation Sheetrock / Roofing Framing, Drywall, finishing Roof, soffit & gutter repairs Painting & drywall repair “Thank you” gift baskets for staff Spraying shrubs for parasites Complete house clean Complete house clean Complete “green” house cleaning Heat Pump replacement New Heat Pump Side gate and hand rails Repaired cast iron gate Installation of Irrigation system Original Designs Matched+custom, quartz counters etc Landscaping and brick patio Relocked 6 doors Custom Wood fireplace Repointed side of house Repointing, building, repair Repointing & restor.-Turner House Power wash & painted porch + repairs Interior and exterior Removed paper, complete color change Real estate Photagraphy Drone shots from Libby Park Custom fitted plantation shutters Repair of original plaster Plaster repair/throughout home Repair replaced Drywall & Plaster Under house plumbing + kitchen work Replaced sewer & water lines Installed bathroom Garden pool cleaning Rental property management Re-upholstered 17 yr old chair & ottoman Re-upholstered 3 arm chairs Metal roof repair New copper roof, built-in gutters Patched & re-shingled roof Copper & TPO roofs + downspouts Oriental rug - hand cleaned

Marilyn Stroh, 648-2109 Debbie McGuire, 443-386-9039 John Whitworth, 644-6559 + others John Huddle, 788-4480 John Whitworth, 644-6559 Bryan Brodie, 591 0947 + 13 others Bill & Lee Ann Pickering, 643-1025 Kurt Stein, 649-1766 + others Elizabeth King, 307-8395 + others John Sieg, 410-507-2145 Geneva Smith, 780-0863 Laura Daab, 221-0492 Michael McPeak, 757 358-5566 Aimee, 647-3140, M Olgas,780-1246 Waite Rawls, 501-8436, Chuck & Mary Field, 269-0478 Mary Field, 269-0478 + others Debbie McGuire, 443-386-9039 John Meunier, 690-1977 John Sieg, 410-507-2145 Charlotte Kerr, 648-7035 Tom Wilds,202-271-5218 + others Diane Worthington, 447-3298 David Herring, 644-0546, ext. 110 John Whitworth, 644-6559 John Whitworth, 644-6559 David Herring (BHC), 644-0546, ext.37 Kirsten Taranto, 648-3939 Anica Mcray, 929-9245 Deanna Lewis, 467-9333 Brenda Giannini, 643-1011 Sandra & Larry Horton 780-1641 Marcee Adams, 740-6036 Malou Rawls, 649-9601 Cathy Hayden, 775-0125 B. Huff, 783-7777 K. Taranto 648-3939 Eugenia Anderson Ellis, 643-3915 ( +3) K & M Olgas, 780-1246 Michael McPeak, 757 358-5566 Paul Candido, 562-9649 John Sieg, 410-507-2145 Aimee Perron Seibert, 647-3140 Bill & Lee Ann Pickering, 643-1025 Debbie McGuire, 443-386-9039 John Sieg, 410-507-2145 John Whitworth, 644-6559 Cathy Hayden.775-0125, Trish B. 643-2420 John Whitworth, 644-6559 John Huddle, 788-4480 Deanna Lewis, 467-9333 Karen Jones 757-646-1151 + others Pohlig Box Factory - Holly, 377-9194 Trish Bernal, 643-2420 Darrin Higgins 517-930-1883 John Whitworth, 644-6559 Eric Huffstutler, 780-3804 John Whitworth, 644-6559 John Sieg, 410-507-2145 John Huddle, 788-4480 Debbie McGuire, 443-386-9039 Daniel Spivey, 349-7708 John Meunier, 690-1977 Susan Wynne, 782-8650 + others Keith West, 399-0925 Laura Daab, 221-0492 Eric Huffstutler, 780-3804 Trish Bernal, 643-2420 John Whitworth, 644-6559 Alex Nguyen, 366-6245 John Huddle, 788-4480 Diane Worthington, 447-3298

Sherman Burwell, 222-4404

Rob, 350-0969 Chris Chase, 502-2937 Eric Stepp, 370-1794 Erik Lindstrom, 543-4311 Will, 452-1112 Bryan, 591-0947 Derek, 513-8813 David Cooley, 649-2162 Jon, 301-6344 Bill Naab, 387-0812 Mariam, 658-4466 Gary Taylor, 750-2562 Troy Tipton, 691-5721 Kent Poulos 502-6678 Mack (a friend), 397-7315 Kenny, 477-9781 Ivor Davis, 458-7434 Bryan Townes 644-0546 Howard, 329-2818 Deb. Fourness, 697-2041 Marc Hirth, 377-0117 Lewis, 514-7482 William, 252-9650 Edward, 255-8492 Thomas, 878-3217 Jim, 908-2479 Teresa, 222-3365 Patrick Taylor, 335-4005 Adriana, 651-5038 Sue, 971-7560 Regina, 971-6071 Joey, 288-1951 Justin, 266-8577 Mike, 798- 1991 Kirk, 216-6162 Gilbert Turner, 271-8030 Don, 643-0171 Kyle Hendrick, 288-7247 John Land, 244-6226 Mike, 355-3406 John Meunier, 690-1977 Ben Winn, 704-3540 Russ, 536-5511 Leslie McCauley,914-3809 Tom Mcgranahan,283-1315 Chad Harris, 269-1633 Cindy, 359-0266 Katie, 592-6601 Kam, 564-6124 Steve, 757-879-7988 Jay, 966-1960 Frank, 836-5124 Peter, 874-4441 Office, 358-6322 Justin White, 358-1616 Ronnie, 221-2909 David Thomas, 355-0455 Sandra Brent, 648-4420 Jordon, 682-557-9995 Phyllis, 389-0420 Don Early, 370-7386 Ed Unser, 366 - 5844 Andrew Pauley, 212-9668 Curtis, 674-9539 Frank, 457-2636

ChurchHill.org | 21


Local Referrals Trade Referrals:

Company/Contact

Individual to call

Work Done

Recommended by:

Seamstress Shower enclosure Tile Work Wallpaper hanging Window Cleaner Windows - Historic restoration Windows, Storm: for historic homes Windows, Storm: for historic homes Yard care

Mariette Norbom Glass Services Todd Kohlbeck LLC Sam Palmer Stainless Window Washing Karnage Creations LLC Old House Authority Windows Dominion Window Co. Yard Care Plus

Mariette, 262-0601 Jack, 564-2322 Todd, 439-0948 Sam, 262-7772 Don Joiner, 502-2184 Mo Karnage, 300–0023 Dixon Kerr, 648-1616 Thomas Moon, 328-0500 Jeff Lloyd, 517-7269

window treatments, some alterations Custom glass shower Tiled two Baths Stripping, sizing and rehanging All windows, including fitted storm Refurbished 11 very old windows Front windows Installed Velv-A-Lume ( CAR approved) Full service care, flower beds, pruning

Benedicte Whitworth, 644-6559 John Whitworth, 644-6559 John Baltzegar, 644-1346 Mary Corley, 569-8198 Richard Taranto, 648-3939 Elaine Odell, elaineodell@gmail.com Aimee Perron Seibert, 647-3140 Laska Keller,703-509-1488+Kevin M.505-0106 Debbie McGuire, 443-386-9039

New Referrals: It is very important that you feel comfortable imputing your referral to the community, and are willing to answer specific requests for more details from your fellow constituents. If you use a referral and are not happy with the work or service please contact the person who recommended the particular company and express your concerns privately. If you wish to report sub-standard work or behavior - please don’t hesitate to contact Amy Beem (contact details above). If two adverse reports are received within 12 months we reserve the right to remove the referral.

RVA Clean Sweep is a Meetup group that gathers frequently around the Richmond area to pick up litter and coordinate the removal of bulk items. We have had numerous pick-ups in the Church Hill neighborhood and along the Williamsburg Rd. corridor. We are always looking for new folks that are interested in keeping Richmond trash-free. If you want to join a fun group of people working to keep our city beautiful, go to Meetup.com, then Groups, then search RVA Clean Sweep.

22 November/December 2016


2401 E. Broad St. Richmond, Va. 23223 www.saintjohnsrichmond.org The Rev. Laura Inscoe, Rector

Sundays at St. John ‘s Church

8:30 a.m. Holy Communion (no music) 9:40 a.m. St. John’s Forum, Parish House Parlor 11:00 a.m. Holy Communion Children’s Chapel, Keeper’s Cottage 12:00 p.m. Coffee Hour, Parish Hall Nursery available 8:15– 12:15 Once service only at 10:00 a.m. on October 23

Blessing of the Animals

All creatures great and small welcome Sunday, October 2, 4:00 p.m. in the Churchyard Refreshments following in the Churchyard Please leash or cage your pet.

We are a caring, spiritual community joyfully embracing and nurturing all, serving God, each other, and the community.

All Souls’ Commemoration of the Dead

A service to remember those we love and see no more Wednesday, November 2, 2016, 7:00 p.m.

Community Spaghetti Supper

Hosted by the St. John’s Young Adults Sunday, November 13, 6:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall Free (donations welcome)

St. John’s Church Foundation Tours: Mon. – Sat. 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. Sunday 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Last tour at 3:30 p.m. daily Visitor Center: 804-648-5015 www.historicstjohnschurch.org

“I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” —Patrick Henry

Fancy Me Mad

Tales from Edgar Allan Poe & Graveyard Tour October 22, 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. Listen to Poe spin his tangled web of stories inside St. John’s Church, featuring spirited organ music. Walk among the spirits in the graveyard: Eliza Poe, Edgar Allan Poe’s mother; George Wythe; Daniel Denoon & James McNaught; a soldier looking for Union spy Elizabeth van Lew, and more! Tickets $5.00 at the door, or purchase in advance at www.brownpapertickets.com. Type “Fancy Me Mad” in the Find an Event search box. ChurchHill.org | 23


Gather and Tiny Space Shop Talk: An Interview Between Church Hill’s Newest Retail Neighbors You may have noticed something new on the 27th hundred block of East Marshall. In the past few months “Tiny Space” and “Gather Home and Garden” have popped up, sandwiching the steadfast and lovable “Ben’s Barbershop”. While our shops are new, our friendships started many years ago. We thought that it would be nice to bring our neighbors some insight to our shops and friendships by asking each other a few questions... Gather: Describe Tiny Space in 3 words Tiny Space: handpicked and handmade goodies Gather: How do you decide what items to include when curating your shop? Your process of selection? Tiny Space: The duration of the space is the ”handpicked’ side. My husband Sam and I want to put forward things that spark joy in us. Then we get to enjoy watching the moment when that piece sparks the same joy in others. We seek items new and pre-loved that are life enriching, interesting, rare, and useful. For clothes, shoes, bags, and home goods we are drawn to things made in the USA and made of natural materi-

als mixed with statement pieces. The books we love are new and traditional cookbooks, philosophy, art, and biographies that inspire. Gather: you have a history of supporting local artists...how did that begin and how do you see Tiny Space continuing that effort? Tiny Space: The “handmade” side of the space is where I get to continue my passion of supporting the arts, crafts, and maker community of Richmond. My happiness is directly linked to surrounding myself with creativity. I learned a long time ago when I founded the Bizarre Market that providing a space for artists and makers is part of my soul. Tiny Space features works by local painters, printmakers, ceramicists, woodworkers, and writers. We will also host hands on creative events, seminars, and workshops. Gather: Tiny Space seems like a misnomer. Yes, the square footage is small, but it doesn’t feel tiny… Tiny Space: That’s funny. When we were working on the renovations it felt so small, but now that it is stocked it almost feels bigger. Part of that is that we have worked towards keeping everything modular so that the space can adjust to different events and merchandise. Also, when we are lucky enough to have beautiful weather, opening the garage door makes it feel huge.

Gather: Why Church Hill? Tiny Space: Church Hill fits into our ethos in so many ways. There is a balance of honoring history and fostering the growth of creativity up here (that can be the exact way we describe Tiny Space to a new friend. ) We were pointed to the availability of the space by longtime friends who are surrounding owners of small businesses on the block. It is thanks to the trust that you all had in us that we were convinced to create our first “Tiny Space.” I have to admit, you all were right- Church Hill is the perfect fit for us. We feel at home and connected to the community in a deeper way, more than ever. ____________________________ Tiny Space: What is the vision behind Gather? Gather: I wanted to be able to offer a space within the city’s limits that could offer plants and basic gardening supplies, so that you wouldn’t have to go to a “big box” store. I wanted to offer a place that felt good entering, better than it felt walking into a Lowes or Home Depot. There is certainly a time and place to seek out those places, but if you can walk around the corner for a few seeds or a bag of potting soil, that seems more enjoyable to me. Tiny Space: It seems like destiny that Gather was born. Can you tell


us about the path that lead you to this beautiful space? Gather: My husband and I had sought out farmland after our apprenticeship on an organic farm in Maine. We settled on a small piece of land in Varina and started putting to practice a little of what we had learned. We did a pop-up plant sale in front of Seven Hills Studio on 25th, selling vegetable seedlings we had started for spring and summer gardens. The connections we felt with the neighbors of Church Hill during that sale was a strong indication that these were our type of people...growers and gardeners. Shortly after that, I was talking with my co-worker at Dutch and Company, Diana Matthews. She owned ERA Vintage and confided that she would be leaving it, but wanted to make sure something really exciting took its place. I commented “it should be a plant shop...the light is great”, which immediately turned into “I should have a plant shop!”. She was so supportive and excited about the idea. I had already been working in Church Hill for 3 years, and had fallen in love with the vibe up here. My husband Frayser was very supportive of the idea and plays a big role in selecting garden materials and grows a lot of the plants. Tiny Space: The best advice I have received from you is to remember that “things want to grow.” Can it really be that simple? Can you help the novice green thumb succeed?

Gather: I use that quote a lot... it is something that my farming boss always said during my apprenticeship on his farm in Maine. I would get so analytical about how all the plants were doing, if they were getting enough of this or that...Geof would always squash my anxiety by saying “things want to grow”. I think it helps to keep that quote handy because smothering a living thing with love, even with best intentions, can be just as harmful as neglect. Worrying too much robs us of the enjoyment. And it is true! By their very nature, plants WANT to grow! It is certainly our goal to help the self proclaimed “brown thumbs” rebuild their confidence towards plant ownership. Everyone can keep a plant alive...they just need to find the plant that is right for them and their lifestyle...their spirit plant. I enjoy helping with that. Tiny Space: What other services and experiences can we look forward to from Gather? Gather: We are currently reaching out to really creative and skilled people to host various workshops ranging from themes as simple as “how to properly re-pot a plant” to subjects a bit more complex, such as various flower arrangement techniques and terrarium building. There is so much to know about plants...I am learning everyday. It is one of those great art forms, like cooking, where you get a lot of great information from other experienced people.

So much of it is trial and error and small “tricks” that you only discover by doing. Growing is one of those beautiful practices where the sharing of knowledge among people can be more fruitful than a book or the internet. It is a nice way to connect. Tiny Space: With the Holidays around the corner, and shopping local as a priority, can you speak to what it means from a small business owner’s perspective? Gather: Someone recently shared a photo, I think it was from a coffee shop’s chalkboard, and it said something like “when you buy from a small business, you’re not helping a C.E.O buy a 3rd holiday home...you are helping moms and dads put food on the table”. That image hit home with me, hard...it is really true! I feed my son from your purchases. I have worked for small business owners since I finished school, including my own family, and you really see how directly your money as a consumer affects the lives of those closest to you...your family, your neighbors, your friends. Small business owners, the ones I have worked for, they work really hard, extremely hard. And they are always giving back to the community. They feel so reliant upon the community, that they are the first to be generous towards the community. Richmond is a special, unique place for having so many small businesses and it is important to keep these places going, in order to keep this city special.

ChurchHill.org | 25


26 November/December 2016


ChurchHill.org | 27


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