Ginter Park Weekly Gazette
Friday, November 25, 2022
The GPRA Board and Communications Team hopes that you enjoyed joyful Thanksgiving Day gatherings with families and friends. Are you decking the halls this weekend? Are you ready for the on-rushing of the merry, merry month of December? GPRA, in line with our mission to promote neighborly connections, announces the following festive events. Something for the bakers, something for the children and families, and an evening cocktail party for the grownups! We hope that you will join us!
Ginter Park Holiday Cookie Exchange!
Sunday, December 4, 2:00 to 4:00 pm
Ginter Place Club Room, 1350 Westwood Avenue, Richmond
Hosted by Susan Rebillot, Ginter Place, and Event/Social Chair, Prudence Justis
Click on this link to Signup Genius to view details and to sign up to exchange cookies, confections, to share afavorite holiday appetizer to nibble on, or to volunteer to help with this festivity.
What better way to kick off the holiday season then swapping cookies and confections with your friends and neighbors? Bake 4 dozen of the same favorite cookie or sweet to swap on December 4th. Bring them on a platter with a copy of the recipe to share.
Thank you, Carrie Vuori, for helping to create this event.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409084aa8aa28aaf49-cookie
GPRA Holiday Selfie Scavenger Hunt Competition, Sunday, December 4, Kick-Off!
Competition Kick-off is Saturday, December 4!
GPRA is sponsoring a Holiday Selfie Scavenger Hunt competition. Solve the clues or do the tasks, while donning your holiday attire, and take a CREATIVE family, group orself selfie – prizes for best photos!!
Bring the family, pick up your scavenger hunt list, enjoy a treat and check out your selfie competitors!! You will have several days to complete your scavenger hunt selfies. Rules and instructions provided with scavenger hunt list. Holiday selfies will be posted on Facebook, displayed at the GPRA Holiday Happy Hour and winners will be announced on December 11th.
Don’t miss this fun GPRA selfie competition!
*Pick up a Scavenger Hunt list *Check out your competition* Enjoy a holiday treat *
December 4, 2022 12:30– 1:30 PM
Ginter Place Community Garden
1350 Westwood Avenue(west side parking lot area)
Questions? – send email to: treasurer@ginterpark.org
GPRA Holiday Jingle and Mingle Cocktail Party!
Saturday, December 10, 5:30 to 8:30 PM
Best Chili Awarded, and GPRA 2023 Board Elected at Annual Meeting
Ginter Parkers gathered on a chilly Novemberr 17 evening to enjoy five delicious variuations on Chili, and judges, Council Members Ann-Frances Lambert and Katherine Jordan, and RPD Fourth Precinct, Lt. P:icard, awarded Best Chili to Julie O’Kelly, a Ginter Parker who is known for her cooking prowes and for her hospitality. Her Chili was Texas-style-chunks of tender beef and no beans, spiced just right! Thank you to all who attended and who provided Chili, side dishes and desserts.
The GPRA 2023 Board was elected by voice vote of members in attendance. District 2 and 3 Council Members, Katherine Jordan and Ann-Frances Lambert, highlighted 2022 accomplishments and current legislation in process. Lt. Picard discussed the most prevalent crime issues for Ginter Park, which are catalytic converter thefts and car burglaries. Please keep your vehicles locked at all times; do not leave valuables in your vehicles; and please do not store guns in your vehicles. Scroll dfown for information about Catalytic Converter Crack-Down program. Thefts of packages from porches are on the rise, so give thought to arranging for packages to be delivered where they can be received upon delivery.
The GPRA 2022 Board was recognized, and appreciation was expressed for their dedication and service. Year-end reports were provided. Treasurer, Julie O’Kelly noted that dues-paying membership has increased to 300, and increase from 200.
GPRA 2023 Board of Directors
President: Melody Imburg
Vice President: Norma Murdoch-Kitt
Secretary: Robyn Houser-Bridges
Treasurer: Julie Davis O-Kelly
Communications Chair: Susan Rebillot
District Representatives Chair: Prudence Justis
Events/Social Co-Chairs: Melissa Oefelein and Prudence Justis
Membership Chair: Carrie Vuori
Mermber-at-Large: Candace Blydenburgh
Member-at-Large: Shawn Smith
Newsletter Editor: Anne Thorn
Planning and Zoning Chair: Stephen Weisensale
Public Safety: Open, but we have a candidate who presented at the meeting. Stay tuned.
Non-Board Positions
Advertising Manager, Communications Team, Dave Foster
Beautification Team Co-Chairs: Steve Welton, Daniel Lawrence
Tree Team: Susan Rebillot, Teresa McGurn-Davis
Traffic Safety Committee Chair: Jonathan Oliver
Welcome Coordinator: Susie Burtch
December 15 Blood Drive!
This holiday season, Give the Gift that Saves Lives!
As we celebrate the holidays, let’s Give the Gift that Means Something!
- Holiday fun can push blood donation to the bottom of the to-do list. Winter weather and seasonal illness can also impact the blood supply.
- We need donors to shake up their holiday plans and make giving blood a priority this season to ensure we can meet the needs of patients all winter long.
- [FOR DRIVES NOV. 28-DEC. 15] Give a gift, get a gift! All who come to give Nov. 28-Dec. 15 will receive a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card by email, thanks to our partners at Amazon. Terms apply, see rcblood.org/together.
- [FOR DRIVES DEC. 16-JAN. 2] To show our thanks, all who come to give Dec. 16-Jan. 2 will receive an exclusive Red Cross long-sleeved T-shirt, while supplies last.
- Save time with RapidPass®. Complete your pre-donation reading and health history at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or with the Blood Donor App before your appointment.
- Eligibility questions? Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org.
City News
Three Zoning Changes Update: In August, we shared information on three proposed citywide zoning changes from the Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review.
- Phase 1, initial outreach, is complete. View the Phase 1 public survey results.
- Phase 2, focus groups, is complete. View the Phase 2 focus group summary report.
- For Phase 3, Planning and Development Review will share draft recommendations for the three proposed zoning changes and gather community feedback at these public meetings:
- Tuesday, December 6, 12:00 p.m. virtual meeting
- Thursday, December 8, 6:00 p.m. virtual meeting
- Tuesday, December 13, 6:00 p.m. in-person meeting, Main Public Library, 101 E Franklin Street
Please contact Brian Mercer at the Department of Planning and Development Review at Brian.Mercer@rva.gov or (804) 646-6704 with questions or comments on the three zoning changes
Operation “Catalytic Converter Crackdown (CCC)”
As catalytic converter thefts rise in central Virginia, law enforcement agencies are partnering with local stakeholders to help combat this crime. Midas Auto Repair stores of Richmond, NAPA Auto Parts, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), and the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) are assisting law enforcement in launching operation “Catalytic Converter Crackdown (CCC).” The operation is designed to deter thieves from stealing catalytic converters from vehicles.
Residents within the region have the opportunity to have their catalytic converters spray-painted and marked for free, at one of five Midas locations on
· Sunday November 13th,
· Sunday December 11th and
· Sunday January 8th, 2023
The free painting will be hosted by law enforcement agencies at participating Midas locations between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Registration is required to have your catalytic converter marked and is now open by clicking here . Reserve your time slot and choose from various locations in Richmond, Henrico, Chesterfield and Colonial Heights.
The goal of the operation, inspired by efforts in other regions, is to reduce the number of catalytic converter thefts by making the parts less attractive to thieves and scrap metal dealers. Most catalytic converters do not have serial numbers, making it difficult for law enforcement to prove a catalytic converter is stolen. Overtly marking your catalytic converter with paint associates it with a jurisdiction and proactively aids in deterring theft. The markings also alert scrapyard and recycling businesses the catalytic converter may have been stolen.
click here to read the press release and click here to see an NBC 12 news story on catalytic converter thefts.
Leaves, Leaves, and More Leaves!
Got leaves? The City of Richmond Department of Public Works offers these leaf disposal options:
- Leave up to 10 bags for collection with your supercan for weekly trash pickup. Recyclable plastic bags are preferred.
- Leave an unlimited number of bags on your regular trash day from Monday, November 28 through Saturday, December 10 only.
- Schedule at-the-curb vacuum collection for a $30 fee. There are some rules.
- Or do it yourself:
- Take your leaves to any of the three sites listed here
- Compost or mulch your own leaves. Email AskPublicWorks@rva.gov to order a compost bin.
Richmond Public Schools Update
Regular clkasses resume Monday, November 28. Monday, November 28.
Read Superintendent Kamras’s latest RPS Direct newsletter, with updates abiout 2023 Open Enrollment.
Watch for the GPRA December Newsletter. The Communications Team is always happy to hear your feedback and suggestions. Please contact Susan at communications@ginterpark.org
