URCH H H C I SEPTEMBER 2015 E L COMMUNITY H L T NEWSLETTER A SS N OCIATIO IN THIS ISSUE p 17 Bellvue Elementary School News p 3 President’s Letter p 20 UCI Hill Challenge p 4-5 Letters to the Editor p 22-23 UCI Races Preparation p 10 CHA August Picnic p 25 Flag Order Form p 11 East End Community Collaboration p 26 Market Commentary p 16 James River Writers p 28-29 Meeting Minutes p 30 Financial Report Find out more about the association and neighborhood p 31 CHA Expenditures vs. Budget p 32-33 Proposed Budget for 2016 Where Richmond Began p 35 Referrals at www.churchhill.org 322 N 25th St Richmond, VA 23223 (804) 644-8200 OUR SERVICES Types of animals treated at Our treatment specialties: On-site specialized equipment: Church Hill Animal Hospital: · General medicine · Digital radiography · Dogs · Routine dental cleaning · In-house lab · Cats · Surgical extractions using · Dental equipment · Small mammals advanced dental equipment · ECG · Birds · Soft tissue surgery · Pulse oximetry · Reptiles 2 September 2015 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT It’s September and the 2015 UCI World Race Championships are almost here. You’ll find information and our CHA plans to welcome the world (estimated at over 4 million viewers) to our beloved Richmond, and specifically to our Church Hill, elsewhere in this newsletter. In preparation for the race, the Chair of the CHA/UCI Welcoming Committee and I had the privilege of touring the entire Sunday September 27th men’s race route with Cynthia Newbille and other community leaders. It starts out at the University of Richmond, goes through Carytown, down Monument Avenue to the Bottom, on to the Libby Hill cobbles and then up 23rd Street and on to Broad Street. We learned that in addition to all of the work we have already observed on the Hill and around the city, a massive clean-up is going to occur before the races begin on September 19th. Graffiti will be removed on the historic Richmond Hill walls and weeds will be cut all along the route. We pointed out the need for stop signs around our schools and the lack of crosswalks at the bottom of the Soldiers and Sailors staircase to Councilwoman Newbille during our tour. These are two important safety issues in our community. Let your Councilwoman know they are important to you too. I want to ask all of our Church Hill community to pitch in to dress up our neighborhood before the September races Richmond2015.com. We’re center stage and this event will promote our city beyond anyone’s dreams. So let’s get the trash picked up, clean up after our pets, add those touches of paint you’ve been meaning to get to, plant some nice fall flowers and fly high your American flags and Church Hill banners (two sizes). We have plenty available! Just go to our website, ChurchHill.org, and get your order in now. Also elsewhere in this newsletter you’ll see how to sign up to volunteer for our Church Hill welcoming committee. Please show your community spirit and take a two-hour shift at the information booths or as a roaming concierge sometime during the three days the race will center on Church Hill. And then beyond the Race, we can look forward to Church Hill’s Hogtober at Libby Hill Park. This is our annual big fundraiser sponsored by Style Weekly. Log on to volunteer and enjoy this great fall event on October 3rd: Hogtober.com. As we look even further into the year, we are now preparing for the winter holidays. We need homes for the Holiday House tour. Contact me at [email protected] to have your home included in this fairy tale event. There will be more to come soon about the many CHA holiday activities. And finally, I want to remind everyone that at the September 15th CHA Membership meeting, we’ll be voting on the proposal to transition our association to a tax exempt and tax deductible association like the many other neighborhood associations in Richmond. Regardless if you support this proposal or not, let’s all come to the meeting to vote! To have a strong association we need to hear everyone’s voice. It’s only together that we can preserve our history and shape a positive future for our historic neighborhood. As always, take some time to enjoy the incredible VIEW! The silos are down!! Tom Wilds CHA President [email protected] ChurchHill.org | 3 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor, My husband, Antonio Masullo, and I support the transition of the Church Hill Association (CHA) from a 501C4 to a 501C3 entity. We have followed the discussions and studied the many articles on this topic that have clarified the benefits and requirements of the 501C3 status. For all practical purposes, CHA’s activities have been consistent with this status, but with- out the benefit of receiving donations which are tax-deductible. As a 501C3 organization, CHA could seek tax-deductible donations not only for the various Church Hill organizations and special events, but also for the betterment of our won- derful Libby Hill Park which is has many needs that cannot be met by the City but could addressed through donations. Improvements which will benefit our community and the many park users are unlikely to happen without extra resources. CHA could become a 501C3 entity and still retain its voice of advocacy, based on the experience of other civic organiza- tions. The Fan District Association (FDA) and other Richmond civic associations have operated as 501C3s for years. Matthew Stanley, President of FDA, stated that his district has been engaged continuously with Richmond City Council, other City Boards and agencies, and others and has never experienced any issue with [their]tax-exempt designation (CHA August 2015 Newsletter). Much can be gained by changing CHA to a 501C3, following Tom Wilds’ detailed and clear path for this. Let us take that step into the future and realize the benefits for our Church Hill community. Sincerely, Barbara Cotter Editor, CHA Newsletter: As Treasurer last year, I know several of the solicited “sponsorships” of the Ball thought they were making a donation that they could deduct on taxes, but donated anyway in spite of finding out that they could not deduct their donation. We are already a 501c4, I see no reason not to follow multiple other neighborhood organizations in Richmond and become a 501c3. I can’t see CHA getting thousands of dollars from large corporations for donations, but the neighbors would most likely appreciate the opportunity not only to donate, but to use it as a tax deduction. This designation is in place in several other Civic Groups, such as Fan District, Museum District, and Ginter Park Residents Association, in Richmond. Presently both the Fan District and Museum District Associations are involved with the proposed bus rapid transit, and have been quoted on multiple occasions in the media, to no ill effect that I am aware of. (See also the Letter in the August newsletter from Matthew Stanley, President of Fan District Association). I respect the concerns and corporate cautionary history of certain long-term members, but also trust the leadership currently in place, who ran this sort of organization as a successful career. I support the change. Respectfully, David Cooley Dear Editor: Healthy discourse is a sign of an involved neighborhood – and Church Hill is nothing if not involved. Howard and I are on the side of having the CHA become a 501-c(3). This opinion is based on years of experience with other 501-c(3)’s that con- tinue to enjoy active interaction with their elected representatives. Understanding the many, diverse projects and celebrations on which our Association spends time, I am not at all concerned that the percentage of time spent lobbying a single issue would be enough to put our designation at risk. Don’t forget that we would still be fully capable of packing City Council and letting our individual voices be heard. Advocacy is not disal- lowed and, traditionally, that has been one of our greatest strengths. Our elected officials will always need to hear from their constituents. I do not see a hired lobbyist in our future. Some other non-profits -501-c(3) - that regularly speak out to council and developers include Scenic Virginia, Historic Rich- mond Foundation, the Museum District Association, Ginter Park Community Association, and the Fan District Association. Developers would continue to make presentations to the CHA; we would still quiz them thoroughly, and give plenty of feedback. That is not lobbying. Whichever way this goes, let us all remain vigilant and involved. Thank you, Eugenia Anderson-Ellis Howard Ellis 4 September 2015 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (CONTINUED) Editor, As president of Les Boulefrogs of Church Hill Pétanque Club I must respond to Jean McDaniel’s letter in August’s Newsletter which contains many factually false allegations and statements. Ms. McDaniel’s Statement: “The Club Members (Petanque, AKA Les Boulfrogs [sic]) built two courts in Chimborazo Play- ground…. which is actually an untrue statement. “ Fact: This allegation is factually false. The pétanque club did build two single courts in Chimborazo Playground in 2006-7. Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities provided the materials and prepared the sites. The pétanque club did every- thing else. Ms. McDaniel’s Statement: “Since the standard size of a Petanque Court should be 13 X 9 feet each, …” Fact: “13 X 9 feet” is definitely not the standard size of a pétanque court.