Issue Number 4 / May 2014

Ginter Park Residents Association News

House and Garden TourSaturday, May 1711a.m. - 4 p.m.

Board MeetingTuesday, May 20 7:00 p.m.LGRA BuildingHawthorne & Walton

Yard SaleSaturday, May 318 a.m. to noon

Dates to Remember...

continued on Page 3

LATE SPRING BRINGS BETTTER BLOOMSBy Jonathan M. Murdoch-Kitt

The hard winter has given us prettier than usual flowers. But let’s not hide them all in the back yard.The annual Scene from the Street competition means beautifying Ginter Park one lot at a time. It is part of what makes our neighborhood beautiful and attractive to homeowners, guests and potential new home buyers. That curb appeal also improves our property values.There will be four prizes awarded, one for each District in GPRA (see map p.2) and a Grand Prize winner. So grab that garden trowel, get the wheelbarrow out of the garage,

2014 Ginter Park Yard Sale – May 31st!By Kate MartinHave you started spring cleaning and wonder why you’ve saved something or have questioned what to do with some of your things? I think it’s time to bring back the neighborhood yard sale!If you are interested in making a little extra spending money for yourself by getting rid of your unwanted or unneeded ‘treasures’, let me know.The big day will be Saturday, May 31st from 8am to noon. We are planning to do some advertising through various means and put together a map showing all homes/addresses of those who choose to participate. All yard sale participants should have paid their 2014 dues.Please respond if you are interested in joining in on the fun! Spread the word... the more, the merrier! katemartin10@yahoo.com

This newsletter is produced by: Ginter Park Residents Association

P.O. Box 25374 Richmond, Virginia 23260-5374

Published monthly except January and August

President Christina Shelor president@historicginterpark.org

Vice President vacantSecretary Deborah Bowser secretary@historicginterpark.org

Treasurer Sharon Pohlmann treasurer@historicginter park.org

Past President Rebecca Dodson pastpresident@historicginterpark.org

Public Safety Dick Stone Committee safety@historicginterpark.orgFinancial Chair Rick Fox finance@historicginterpark.orgProgram Chair Karen Beasley programs@historicginterpark.org | 303-6770

Membership Heather Earl barnettha@gmail.comPlanning & Zoning Stephen Weisensale planning@historicginterpark.orgYahoo Group Annette Foster 274-0175

District RepresentativesA Louise Wenzell districta1@historicginterpark.org Trish Poupore districta2@historicginterpark.org

B Cathy Yohai 321-1659

C Beth Perdue districtc1@historicginterpark.org | 387-6063

D Sidney Bland rwebrweb@aol.com Jay Johnson districtd2@historicginterpark.org

Member-at large Meg LawrenceNewsletter Editor Anne Thorn 353-9363Advertising Will Benton wtb@alumni.duke.edu | 536-1957

Advertising and copy deadline is the second weekend of each month. Send comments, corrections and articles to:

Editorial Committee, P.O. Box 25374 Richmond, VA 23260©Copyright GPRA 2008

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LABURNUM

WESTWOOD

BROOKLAND PKWY

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Visit our website to view a detailed map of

the GPRA districts.

www.ginterpark.org

May 2014

bulletinWElcomE committEE

Notify us of new neighbors

Please send an email with the new neighbors name and address to welcome@historicginterpark.org

Flags

Pre-orders being taken until May 31.

Contact Christina shelorpresident@historic ginter park.org

additional information Page 5

Saturday, May 1711a.m. - 4 p.m.

3May 2014

and plant shrubs and flowers that can be seen from the street. You could win a $25 or $50 gift certificate to Ginter Park’s favorite lawn and garden store, Azalea Garden Center. The front garden that knocks our gardening shoes off with greenery and floral beauty will be our Grand Prize winner. All winners must be current dues-paid members of the GPRA. Almost every year a fantastic garden must be disqualified because the owner has not paid his dues.Lois Sisk and Jonathan Murdoch-Kitt are chairing this competition. The 2013 district winners will help judge the competition this year.

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Take Care OfThem.

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Proper Pruning

Root Invigoration

Cabling and Bracing

Insect and Disease Control

Fertilizing

Lightning Protection

Appraisals and Evaluations

Tree Preservation

A fulltree care company

taking care ofRichmond’s

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í Voted Best ícontinued from page 1LATE SPRING BRINGS BETTTER BLOOMS

TUTU5/31/2014

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May 2014 4

The GPRA/ Sherwood Park task force appreciates the many responses to the Seminary’s Westwood property proposal, as presented on April 8. Chair Stephen Weisensale has received numerous calls and e-mails, plus many comments at the April mass meeting.The committee is carefully researching several alternatives to the master plan as it was originally presented by UPS, mindful of the current R-53 zoning which would permit in excess of 1000 units and building heights of up to sixty feet. The committee will continue a dialog with the Seminary and its developers in hopes of modifying the original plan.Over the next several weeks, committee members will be researching a number of alternatives to the preliminary master plan which was presented to the committee in March, and which the committee then presented to the neighborhood in April.

The committee’s goals are to: • significantly reduce the number of rental units from

the 348 originally proposed• remove the single-family component currently shown

along Rennie and Loxley Avenues• preserve as much open space as possible• preserve and develop a use for the McGuire House• re-orient the location of, and revise the massing of

the new buildings so they are more compatible with existing nearby structures.

The committee will keep the associations informed through more public meetings, newsletters and Yahoo groups as details emerge.

WESTWOOD UPDATEcommittee to continue a Dialog

- See Page 5 for related story to Westwood Development

KELLEHERSince 1968

ElectricalPlumbingCoolingHeating

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Heating OilGas FurnacesOil FurnacesHeat Pumps

Office (804) 649-7501Direct (804) 643-2206

Fax (804) 788-0848jmkelleher@kelleherhvac.com

5May 2014

ADD TO YOUR GARDEN[ED. NOTE: Since we ran this notice in the April newsletter, pre-orders have been flooding in. Time to indicate your interest NOW before they are all claimed!]

The GPRA has partnered with Evergreen Enterprises, a Richmond-based international flag manufacturer, and our neighbor Margaret Buchanan, Buchanan Design, to create a flag that represents Ginter Park.The flag features our Chamberlayne median historic district sign, the tree lined streets, steles, and the swallows that dive down the chimneys at the Seminary.The flag also represents our neighborhood pride and will be used as a fund raiser.Evergreen will manufacture a one-time quantity of 250 flags which will be sold for $16.00 per flag or 2 for $30. Since this will be a one-time bulk order, we are asking neighbors first if there is an interest in purchasing the flag(s) prior to placing the order.If interested please email Christina Shelor at president@historic ginter park.org with your name and quantity of flags that you would be interested in. The Board’s decision to order will be made May 31.

contact christina Shelor | president@historicginterpark.org

PROTEST GROUP FORMEDSave Westwood committee

[Your editor received word from Trudi Alcott (370-0681) on April 26 of formation of a protest group of interested parties from Northside neighborhoods. Part of her message follows:]

“Many residents in the neighborhood view this proposal as an extraordinary threat to property values and the quality of life in the historic neighborhoods. . . . (While) a neighborhood Task Force . . . is working with the Seminary to contain the density and appearance of the proposed development . . . a group of concerned citizens is forming a parallel movement to support their efforts by galvanizing opposition to the plan.This group is extremely concerned with the scope of this project, its density, and the rapidly approaching date of the initial ground breaking. The group is also very

concerned that many of the neighbors, including those bordering this property, are completely unaware of the proposed development.

The “Save Westwood Committee” is looking for volunteers to help fight this proposed development. Please reach out to SaveWestwood@comcast.net for more information. Help us alert our neighbors, open this proposal to public view, and make neighborhood views known.”

For More Information or to Volunteer • email SaveWestwood@comcast.net

“ galvanizing opposition to the plan ”

6 May 2014

When I was in my early twenties, I had the opportunity to attend Mardi Gras in New Orleans. It was, to say the least, an eye opening experience. I was in awe of the parades, music, costumes, masks, beads, food, the amount of people, and perhaps their ability to party for days on end. Needless to say, I did not have to travel to New Orleans this year to relive my experience.This time, with my own mask, boa and beads I was able to celebrate right here in Ginter Park. This year’s sold-out Mardi Gras themed progressive dinner started at the stellar home of David & Sharon Pohlmann for hors d’oeuvres. Joy Voss, committee chair, did not disappoint our palates with her organization of an array of edibles of carrot canapes with creole smoked oyster spread, salad nicoise endive cups, pistachio rolled goat cheese sun dried tomato skewers, cucumber cup and veggies with white bean lemon dip, andouille sausage buttermilk cornbread with honey butter, crab stuffed mushrooms and jalapeno poppers and ginger shrimp balls.Yes, we were all afraid to try everything, in fear of ruining our appetites for the rest of the evening, but by the looks of the empty plates, I think we all decided to get in the Mardi Gras spirit of overindulgence. A gracious thank you to Joy Voss, Chef Michele Humlan of The Good Eats Company, Bert Arens, Meg Lawrence, Debbie Welch for their contributions, as well as, to David Berv and David Voss for getting the party started by welcoming guests and pouring libations from Once Upon a Vine.

OVERINDULGED, BUT FUNBy Stephanie Berv

7May 2014

photos courtesy of David Berv

In progressive dinner style tradition, we then disbursed into smaller groups of eight or ten. Some of us still masked, and all of us beaded, continued our culinary adventure to the lovely homes of Jonathan and Norma Murdoch-Kitt, Rick Fox and Owen Sharman, Nelson and Mary Melton, Sheena Mayfield and Michael Sue-Ling, and John and Karen Beasley for our second course. A variety of salads greeted our guests, including Epiphany’s pasta salad with shrimp and Shannon’s cheese straws, mixed greens with oranges, matchstick pears with hot goat cheese, cabbage,edamame and pineapple salad, Mardi Gras salad with cider vinaigrette dressing. Completely satiated with green deliciousness, we then continued to our entree house. In the spirit of the theme, we were all treated to the finest of Louisiana fare. Catfish, N’awlings stuffed peppers, cajun potato casserole, shrimp and andouille sausage with asiago grits, crawfish & shrimp creole, traditional cajun sausage with red beans and rice, and creole shrimp & seared cajun pork belly over southern butternut mash and brussel sprouts were a sampling of the wonderful entrees prepared by our talented hosts: Maggie Stewart and Hilton Phillips, Christopher and Jamie Graham, Tim Wenzell and Louise Catrambone, Michelle Welch, and Jason and Bindya Savedoff.For the true definition of overindulgence, one must proceed to the home of Richard and Vicky Wells for the grande finale. Just when you thought you could not partake of another bite of food or sip of anything, we all

enjoyed bonding together for one last rally of camaraderie. Champagne flowing, coffee brewing, desserts of banana foster cupcakes, praline bars, cheesecake, cream cheese squares being savored, all contributed to the smiles on everyone’s faces as they shared the last course of the evening. We all had fun meeting, mingling, laughing, hugging, sharing stories, learning and getting to know ourselves and our neighbors, once again, just a little better. These decadent sweets were prepared by Chef Michele Humlan, Mary Frances Hobbs, Debbie Welch, Mandy Szkotak, and Sherry Peterson.I want to thank again all the incredible hosts, hostesses, and volunteers. This year was particularly special, not just because I got to relive my twenties and wear my mask and boa. It was because several of our hosts who just moved to Ginter Park were looking for another way to meet their neighbors. They thought it would be great to sit down at a dinner and be able to have a nice meal and conversation. Hence, the true purpose of a progressive dinner. For those of you who were brave enough to host an entree for the first time and for all of the hosts that have supported this event upon its inception four years ago, I appreciate you. Thank you for allowing me to bring our community together.A special thank you to Sheena Mayfield who always surprises me at the last minute with her incredible talent (among many others she has) to design an award-winning invitation.

See you in the fall of 2014. Stay tuned.

May 2014 8

St. Thomas Episcopal Church3602 Hawthorne Avenue (corner of Hawthorne and Walton Avenues)Phone: 804-321-9548 | www.stthomasrichmond.org

Summer Worship Service:Holy Eucharist Sunday 10:00 am Candle Light Eucharist Wednesday 5:30 pmBluegrass Mass first Sunday 5:30 pmFall worship services at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. will resume September 8, 2013

Ministers:The Reverend Mary Sulerud, Interim RectorThe Reverend Rock Higgins, Assistant RectorDr. David McCormick, Director of Music

St. Thomas’ Day School offers a weekday morning program for children,

ages 2 through pre-kindergarten September through May.

Director: Mrs. Kelly Kane | Phone: 804-329-1117

SAINT THOMAS’ CHURCH

Bellevue Cleaners1201 Bellevue Avenue • 264-8010

Dot’s BaCk Innwww.dotsbackrichmond.com4030 MacArthur • 266-3167

kIDs Grow!5524 Lakeside Avenue • 402-1627

lewIs GInter BotanICal GarDenwww.lewisginter.org

1800 Lakeside Avenue 262-9887

lIttle House Green GroCerywww.littlehousegreengrocery.com

1227 Bellevue Avenue 262-7474

luCky GInGer stuDIowww.luckygingerstudio.com

683.6173

nICola Florawww.nicolaflora.com

1219 Bellevue Avenue • 261-1060

onCe upon a vInewww.onceuponavine.us

4009 MacArthur Avenue • 726-9463

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4023 MacArthur Avenue • 716-1196

ZouZou’s BaseMentwww.zouzousbasement.com

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If you’d like to notify us of new neighbors to welcome, please send an e-mail containing their name and address

to: welcome@historicginterpark.org.

sends a HUGE Thank You to the following local merchants who have generously contributed to our new neighbor welcome bags!

The Ginter Park Welcome Committee

The word “volunteer” means a person who freely undertakes or expresses a willingness to provide a service without getting paid to do it.

I would like to personally extend a special thank you to all of the volunteers within the Ginter Park community who work without getting paid!

Volunteers are paid in six figures... S-M-I-L-E-S. ~ Gayla LeMaire

ThanksTo All Our Gracious GP Volunteers From President christina ShelorTo name a few of our “unsung heroes”

ê Holiday Party chairs & workers ê Scene from the Street judgesê Ginter Park Plaque distributersê Former Spring Clean-up workers

ê GPRA Board membersê GPRA Committee chairs & participantsê General Meeting presentersê Progressive Dinner hosts & chefs ê Yard Sale organizers & participants

9May 2014

“caters the GPRA Holiday Party”

Stephen A. Schick Robert A. Butsavage

112 South Second StreetRichmond, Virginia 23219

Phone: (804) 643-1000Fax: (804) 643-0013

Toll Free: 1-800-355-1642

www.cateraide.com

� � � � � � � � � � � �

May 2014

10 May 2014

GPRA 2014 Dues Coupon

Ginter Park Residents Association • P.O. Box 25374 • Richmond, VA 23260

Name _______________________________________________________________________

Address _____________________________________________________________________

Zip Code _________________ Phone ____________________________________________

Email Address ________________________________________________________________

Check# __________________ date _______________________________________________

❏ Household member ❏ Other (e.g. church, business, etc.)

Dues for the 2014 calendar year are $25 per household. Checks should be written to the Ginter Park Residents Association and mailed with this form to the above address. Thank you very much.

✁

✁

Pay Dues with Paypal â www.ginterpark.org/join.php

The membership stats are in through March 31st and the following Districts are ranked by the highest percentage of paid dues:

District C1 (Laburnum to Brookland Park, Brook to Chamberlayne) ................... 23.3%

District A3 (Westminster to Laburnum, Brook to Chamberlayne) .........................21.7%

District B1 (Laburnum to Westwood, Chamberlayne to Moss Side) ......................21.6%

District D-2 (Laburnum to Westwood, Gloucester to Brook) ................................ 18.97%

District A2 (Triangle of North, Chamberlayne, Laburnum) .................................. 16.9%

District C2 (Westwood to Ladies Mile, Chamberlayne to Moss Side) .................... 15.3%

District D1 (Laburnum to Westwood, Hermitage to Gloucester) ...........................14.7%

District A1 (Westminster to Azalea, Brook to Chamberlayne) .............................. 11.3%

District B2 (Moss Side to Edgewood, Laburnum to Ladies Mile) ........................... 7.3%

Membership update

Membership figures do matter. Paid membership influences those at City Hall, institutions we are negotiating with, and our relative importance compared to other civic associations.You can pay your $25 membership dues now through PayPal without having to set up an account! The link to PayPal is on the Ginter Park website located at http://www.ginterpark.org/join.php

We are getting good feedback on the ease of using PayPal. 19.6% of dues paid this year have been received through PayPal instead of mailing a check!

~ Christina Shelor

%%

11May 2014

$15.00 for maximum of 25 words. Clip the coupon below and send with your completed ad and check or money order. GPRA reserves the right to edit for space constraints. No personal ads.

Place your classified ad here! ClASSifiEdS

Send To: Ad manager c/o Ginter Park Residents Association P.o. box 25374 Richmond, VA 23260

Name __________________________________________________

Address _______________________________________________

Phone ___________________ Email ________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

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Ginter Park Residents AssociationP.O. Box 25374Richmond, Virginia 23260

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