Southampton Citizens Association

SOUTHAMPTON
CITIZENS
ASSOCIATION

Email the SCA

SCA meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of every Month @ the SRA building

The Southampton Citizens Association serves the Southampton/Stratford Hills community by promoting initiatives that preserve and improve the livability, economic value and welfare of our neighborhoods and valued community resources.

Our stewardship includes the James River, green spaces, roadways, churches, retail centers and recreational facilities.

We meet on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at the Southampton Recreation Center at
3201 Chellowe Road.

The meetings start at 7:15 and are always open to the public.

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

City schools postpone Jan. 30 testing for IB testing
Richmond Public Schools has postponed its January 30 testing session for students interested in applying to the district’s International Baccalaureate program housed at Thomas Jefferson High School.
School officials opted to postpone the test due to the forecast of a major winter storm to hit Richmond this weekend.
Testing has been rescheduled for Feb. 13 beginning at 8:45 a.m. at Thomas Jefferson High School, 4100 W. Grace St.
For more details, contact Rodney Fout at 780-7805.

SCA Highlights 2008-2009
Letter from the SCA President. Click here

Real Estate Assessments
Real Estate assessments will arrive in the mail about the end of the month. The deadline for appeal is March 1. Click here for the form by which a property owner can appeal.

Richmond Public School Applications/Early Enrollment
Applications to attend open enrollment schools in Richmond will be available to parents beginning 1/11 at any Rich. City school or from the district’s Office of Pupil Personnel Services located on the 13th floor of City Hall.

Students may apply to attend a maximum of two schools. Applications may be submitted to the Office of Pupil Personnel Services from 2/2 - 16. No applications will be accepted after 4:30 p.m. on 2/16.

Students already attending an out-of-zoned school through open enrollment must complete the “Intent to Return” form and also list any siblings living within the residence who also wish to attend the school. RPS will not provide transportation for open enrollment students.

Parents will be sent notification listing their application number by 2/24 and will receive notification of their lottery position by 3/22. Parents will be notified of their school choice acceptance or placement on a waiting list by 4/15. Parents will then have 2 weeks to accept open enrollment placement and register their children.

For more information, call 780-7811

SCA is now on Facebook
If you're on Facebook you can now join the SCA Facebook group and get timely news and neighborhood updates. Click here.

SCA Awarded
Council President Kathy Graziano presents

Richmond Community ServiceAward to Mary Argenteanu and Mary Blanchard for the support and commitment to the Southampton Learning Garden Project

Leaf Pickup Update (12/08/09)
Please be advised that due to inclement weather conditions, the city’s leaf vacuum program schedule has been pushed back by one week. Adjust all dates on any documentation you have accordingly to reflect that 7 day delay.
To view the unadjusted schedule see link below in 4th District Updates or click here

Waste Reduction News
Click here for the CVWMA December newsletter and read the latest waste reduction news, including tree recycling tips and 2010 recyclying schedules.

Southampton School's Outdoor Lab and garden project

Mary Argenteanu of the Richmond Audubon Society (RAS) and students from Southampton Elementary School work on the creation of a new garden area at the school. The program, sponsored by the school staff and RAS, is an all-volunteer effort to create an outdoor learning experience for the students as well as to beautify the school and the neighborhood. With help from the Audubon Society, Southampton Principal Linda Bennett and her staff, and community volunteers, the group laid out an ambitious plan to use gardens as a teaching tool, and a way to beautify the school and the Southampton neighborhood. The improvements this fall call for the creation of a native plant garden and raised plant beds. The program is supported solely by contributions.
The SCA, Audobon Society and a generous gift from a neighborhood resident have all help to provide financial support to first phase of this grassroots program.

Police Blog
Visit our sector's police blog for up to date information on crimes in and around our area, alerts and crime prevention tips. http://www.sector311.blogspot.com/

New Theatre proposal
Stony Point Fashion Park is seeking approval of an ammendment to the SUP to allow them to put a dinner theatre establishment in the Cheesecake Bistro building. The theatre would also include a few other vacant building next door. The building would have 6 small theatres that would show first run major motion pictures as well as some classics. Only ages 21 and over would be allowed. Alcohol and food would be available.

Rules for Trash Pickup
a) All refuse to be collected by the City shall be limited to containers approved by the Director of Public Works or to bulk or brush items.
b) Refuse receptacles must be City – Provided ninety (90) or (95) gallon mobile containers which weigh no more than one hundred eighty (180) pounds when filled and placed for collection. Bagged refuse and boxes will be collected as part of the weekly collection.

Recycling Bin
Southampton School will have a large red recycling bin in place on school property. They are inviting neighbors to recycle with them. The bin is only for paper. Call the school if you have any questions at 320-2434.

Fraud Squad
Report City Goverment waste, fraud and abuse. Click Here to open a digital file with more information and phone number.

**Crime Watch
Petty crimes, such as change and small items being stolen from unlocked cars, still occur sporadically in the neighborhood. If this happens to you be sure to report it to the police.
Remember to always make sure to lock your car doors no matter how short your absence.

Other tips from the police include:
Never "hide" keys on your vehicle. They can always be found.
Never leave change or mail in view.
Do not leave your car registration in the vehicle.
Keep the interior of your car empty of possessions.

Crime Report/ Feb 2009
Click Here

4th DISTRICT UPDATES
(from Councilperson Kathy Graziano's office)

Leaf Collection Schedule
Due to winter storms the leaf pickup was delayed. As of now we are not sure when the 2nd pickup will begin.

Seniors 2009 Free Weatherization Kit Giveaway
Date: Friday, Oct. 23, Pleasants Hardware, 2024 W. Broad Street, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Kit includes switch and outlet sealers, fluorescent light bulb, toilet water tank insert for conserving water ("toilet tummy"), door and window weather stripping

Other services onsite for this event:
Pleasants Hardware staff to explain what the items in the kit do and how to install them
Department of Social Services to accept fuel assistance applications
ElderHomes representative to answer weatherization questions
Senior Connections representative to provide resources information
Utility Buddy for photos and refreshments

To qualify, participants MUST BE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND AND 65 OR OLDER

This event is sponsored by the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities

City Council Passes James River Park Easement 2/24/09

Richmond City Council has passed and sent to Mayor Dwight Jones and Governor Tim Kaine a proposed conservation easement for James River Park.

The easement is believed to be the first of its kind for an urban park in the United States. It was proposed and shepherded through an almost four year process by Richmond City Council President Kathy Graziano. The easement will provide permanent protection for the park in its natural state and will prevent any future city government from selling the park or developing any part of it for commercial, industrial or residential purposes.

It leaves ownership of the park in city hands, and allows the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities to continue to manage the park in its present state.

“I believe the James River Park and the river are our most precious treasures,” Council Member Graziano said “and I am so pleased Richmond City Council and Mayor Jones’ administration have worked together to make sure that future generations can enjoy this park. “ “Men can make a playground or a ball field, but no-one can craft something as vital and important as our park,” she continued.

The easement will be held by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Capital Region Land Conservancy and the Richmond Recreation and Parks Foundation.
The idea for the easement came after a previous city administration attempted to sell a portion of Great Shiplock Park to a developer for a waterfront development in 2004.

FREE home safety survey
Has your home been inspected for fire hazards? Do you have enough smoke detectors in your home and are they placed properly? Is your space heater in a safe place?

All of these question and many more can be answered by a Richmond Firefighter. Call 646-1526 now and schedule your FREE home safety survey. A Firefighter from your local fire station will come to your home for to perform a FREE home safety inspection. Firefighters will also install FREE smoke detectors if needed and change batteries in your current detectors.

Household Hazardous Waste
The City of Richmond now accepts household hazardous waste items at the East Richmond Road Convenience Center (3800 E. Richmond Rd). This free service for city residents will be available on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Items that will be accepted at the facility include:
>Solvents (mineral spirits, paint thinner, turpentine, acetone)
>Paints (oil or latex, polyurethane, tung oil, stains, varnish, shellac, tints, lacquer thinners, paint reducers, primers, varsol)
>Fuels (gasoline, gasoline additives, #2 fuel oil, kerosene, diesel, chain saw fuel, motor boat fuel, oil additives)
>Propane tanks
>Car fluids (motor oil, transmission fluid, antifreeze)
>Car batteries (lead acid batteries only)
>Household cleaners and drain openers
>Herbicides and pesticides
>Cooking oil

Tax relief for the elderly
As you may know, Richmond has a tax relief program to assist seniors and disabled on low incomes with the costs of real estate taxes. The link below includes a statement from Mrs Grazinao related to this years relief that includes essential information concerning the program.
Click here for additional Tax Relief information

Above information on 4th District provided by Council member Kathy Graziano's office.

PAST SOUTHAMPTON INFO

Wooden Guard Rails Replaced Near Riverside
It was recently called to the SCA's attention that there were numerous rotten and missing poles along Rattlesnake Creek where Stratford meets Riverside Drive. The SCA addressed this with the City and they have recently been replaced with new wooden rails. 4/15/09

Cell Tower Vote 6/17/2008
(2nd vote on issue after plan was resubmitted.)
The SCA voted against supporting the NTelos plan for a cell tower ( at the Southampton Baptist Church) in the community . The vote was 8 members against and 2 members abstaining. The meeting was well attended by neighbors who mostly opposed a cell tower. Some of the reasons expressed included: it being inappropriate for a residentiial area, visual concerns, the effect it will have on property values, and a feeling that there was sufficient cell coverage in the neighborhood already. Since our last meeting in May the SCA recieved approximatly 44 emails and letters from neighbors opposing a tower. There were 8 cards of support from a mailing NTelos sent to existing customers.
We again notified City Council as well as City Planning about our decision

Cell Tower Vote 12/07/07
- After many meetings and discussions the SCA voted to oppose the Ntelos cell tower (which requires a Special Use Permit on the R-2( residential) zoned land) at Southampton Baptist Church , near Cherokee and Comanche. It was a difficult vote considering the income it would give the church, but after taking in other considerations as well, including the fact that the tower would only benefit a limited area of Ntelos subscribers, it's effect on residential property values and the precedent a commercial tower in a residential neighborhood would set, the SCA ultimately decided that cell towers in our neighborhood weren't appropriate.

We did notify City Council about our decision, but the Ntelos proposal never went before Council.

Bulk Trash Pick-up
Residents can get free regular pickup of bulk items such as old mattresses, tree limbs,and other large items that won't fit in a supercan.

The collection schedule for our zip code (23225-23235) is the 3rd week of every month.
Pickups will not cover items like refrigeraters and stoves( "white goods" ). You can still contact the city to pick these items up for a $50.00 charge.

The minutes to the SCA Board meetings are now available online. Click on the "About" button in the menu bar at the top of this page and then go to the "Minutes" link.

2007 Riverfest/ RiverRun photos- Click here.