Weekly Gazette – Saturday, August 27, 2022
Remember to click on the embedded links within this edition for important additional information or to communicate.
In this Edition
- Back to School, August 29, 2022!
- Submit “Gracie” Award Nominations
- Board News
- GPRA Membership Meeting September 15, Change in Agenda
- Fall Line Trail Public Meeting, Monday, September 19
- 3rd Annual Art Pop-Up, October 8, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm!
- Progressive Appetizer Night Announcement, October 22, Request for Hosts and “Chefs”
Back to School, Monday, August 29, 2022!
Come Welcome Ginter Park Elementary School students, their famlies, teachers, school staff back to school, 7:45 to 8:30 am Monday morning! “Where we teach with Love.” Join us for this community tradition! School colors are green and yellow – GO, Gators!
Seeking Nominations for 2022 “Gracie” Award
Celebration and Ceremony at Bloemendaal House, LGBG, by Invitation, October 11
At the centennial of the Ginter Park Residents Association, founded in 1909, the Grace Arents Benefactor Award was created in honor of Lewis Ginter’s niece, Grace Evelyn Arents. Grace (1848-June 20, 1926) was an heiress, an activist, businesswoman, and philanthropist who made remarkable contributions to the Ginter Park neighborhood and to Richmond. The “Gracie” has been awarded annually to an individual or group who have made a significant contribution to the neighborhood or to the Association.
Eligibility for the Award
- The nominee must reside within the Association Area.
- The nominee may not be a current GPRA Board Member.
- The nominee may not be a previous winner.
- The nominee should have made a substantial contribution to the neighborhood or to the Association through volunteerism.
To submit a nomination
- Submit your nomination in writing with a description of the contribution made by the nominee, some biographical information about the nominee, and your contact information to communications@ginterpark.org
- The full GPRA Board reviews nominations and selects the winner by vote.
- Deadline for submissions is September 10, 5:00 pm
- There will be an awards ceremony and celebration at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Bloemendaal House, and invitees will include prior award winners and guest speakers.
https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/dvb/bio.php?b=Arents_Grace
https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/items/show/225
Board News
- The Board has been at work drafting updates and revisions to the Bylaws, which wil be reviewed by the full Board beginning September 13.
- Members of the Board has been attending public meetings regarding the City-wide Re-Zoning proposals for Short Term rentals (STRs), Accessory Dwelling Units (ACUs), and Minimum Parking Requirements for development. The Board voted in favor of signing a RVA Coalition of Civic Association letter to the city Planning, Development and Review staff requesting that a focus group comprised of neighborhood/civic association leadership be created to provide input into the ordinance revisions. Please see an explanatory article about the issues in the September 1 edition of the GPRA Newsletter.
- The Board approved a proposal for an October fundraising event. See the article in this Gazette.
- Membership: while our Membership Campaign yielded an increase in Members to 323, our automated records indicate that 107 Members have not renewed their June 1, 2022 dues. If you are unclear about your status, please reach out to Julie O’Kelly, treasurer@ginterpark.org Your dues fund our communication tools, Beautification work on Brook Road and Chamberlayne Avenue, contributions to the traffic diverter islands on East and West Seminary Avenues, GPRA-sponsored garden at Ginter Park Elementary School, charitable giving to community organizations, and GPRA hosted socials, meetings and events. Thank you for your Membership!
- Next GPRA Board Meeting: Tuesday, September 13, 7:00 pm, Ginter Place Club Room, 1350 Westwood Avenue. Board Meetings are open to the public, but please submit any items for the Agenda and RSVP in advance to communications@ginterpark.org
Membership Meeting, Thursday, September 15, 6:30 – 8:00 pm, at UPSem Early Hall –
Would Love to See You There!
While the previously announced Candidate Forum has been cancelled, there will be a lively presentation by the City Emergency Communications team with some promised contests and prizes. The Board will provide updates on the following: GPRA finances and the budget Year-to-Date; Public Safety; neighborhood Traffic Safety; Zoning issues; Beautification Projects; October Progressive Appetiuzer Night; November Annual Meeting/Chili Cook-off; December Holiday Party. There will be plenty of time for you to share your concerns or interests with the Board and neighbors. It’s been awhile since we’ve been together-looking forward to seeing you!
Accessible venue, ample off-street parking. Map below.
An Invitation from the GPRA Board and Grady Hart, President of Rosedale Association
Fall Line Trail Public Meeting, September 19!
My name is Grady Hart, and I am reaching out in my role as the President of the Rosedale Civic Association. On behalf of the Rosedale Civic Association, the Historic Jackson Ward Association, the Hermitage Road Historic District Association, the Ginter Park Residents Association, Sherwood Park Civic Association and the Bellevue Civic Association, I am excited to invite you to attend and participate in a public meeting regarding the Fall Line Trail, the 43-mile regional north-south bike trail that will run from Ashland to Petersburg in a similar concept to the VA Capital Trail.
The meeting will take place on Monday, September 19th, from 6:30-8:00pm at Linwood Holton Elementary School in the cafeteria. I am working on an agenda and will plan to share that with you all in advance of the event. Please let me know if you are able to attend.
Please also share this event via the Facebook Event Page with your network via newsletters, social media, etc., as you see fit. Below is a draft blurb that you can use to share:
On Monday, September 19th, from 6:30-8pm at Linwood Holton Elementary School, the Rosedale Civic Association, Historic Jackson Ward Association, Hermitage Road Historic District Association, and Ginter Park Residents Association will host a public meeting on the Fall Line Trail, a 43-mile North-South bike trail that will run from Ashland to Petersburg in a similar concept to the VA Capital Trail.
The meeting will also be attended and led by the Second and Third District City Council Representatives, the City of Richmond’s Office of Equitable Transit and Mobility, Sports Backers, and other key partners. You may RSVP to attend the meeting via the event’s Facebook Page, and you can find additional information at the City’s webpage dedicated to the Fall Line Trail or at the broader regional website run by Sports Backers, falllineva.org. We look forward to seeing you there!
3rd Annual Art Pop-up, Saturday, October 8, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm!
Where? Funky deck and garden of Nancy Falcone and Mark Vasas, 1501 Wilmington Avenue. Plenty of on-street parking.
Come enjoy this traditionally-loved, festive event, viewing and shopping the arts and crafts of local artisans, in a lovely neighborhood andf garden setting. Vendors booths will be arranged in a back garden and funky deck setting. Jewelry, mosaics, garden ornaments, ceramics, hanging beads, potted succulents, and more. Support RVA Artisits!
GPRA Fall Event! Progressive Appetizer Night, Saturday, October 22, Reserve the Date & Volunteer to Host or to Be a Chef!
Travel throughout historic Ginter Park, nosh on appetizers with a rotating group of neighbors, enjoy a few libations and make memories with old and new friends!!
If all the pieces and parts fall into place, GPRA will have a Progressive Appetizer Night on October 22, 2022.
In order to make this happen, we are looking for 5 hosts that will open their house or outdoor spaces to around 100 neighbors, 20 to 25 people at a time. Also need 15 neighborhood “chefs” to make special appetizers (GPRA will cover up to $100 of food costs plus a free ticket) for serving at our host houses.
If you are interested in opening your house for a fun night or willing to make some fabulous nibbles for our evening, please send an email to Julie O’Kelly at treasurer@ginterpark.org no later than September 7, 2022.
Once we know the evening is a definite, tickets will go on sale through the website. There will be a limited number of tickets so purchase early once they are available! Tickets offered at a reduced price for Members of GPRA.
Again, if you are willing to host in your house or willing to “chef” up, please contact Julie O’Kelly at treasurer@ginterpark.org
A portion of the proceeds for this fundraiser will go to a selected charitable organization or project.
Thank you to Julie O’Kelly, Prudence Justis, Maggie Stewart and Nancy Falcone for creating this event!
