April 6 8, 2017 issue by Richmond Free Press

Running to finish A8

Meet director of RBI program for MJBL B1

VOL. 26 NO. 14

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

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c e l e brat ing o u r 2 5 t h A nniv e r s ar y

April 6-8, 2017

April fools

Va. SCLC lauds racist U.S. attorney general for civil rights work on anniversary of Dr. King’s death By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Sending shockwaves through the civil rights community, leaders of the Virginia affiliate of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference used the anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a co-founder of the national group, to honor what many would view as his nemesis, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. The president of the state SCLC unit, the Rev. William Avon Keen of Danville, led a delegation to Washington this week to meet with Mr. Sessions and present him with a proclamation that he and the vice president, Andrew Shannon of Newport News, signed saluting the attorney general for his work on behalf of civil rights and his “dedication and service to humanity.” The presentation was made Tuesday, the 49th anniversary of Dr. King’s slaying in Memphis, Tenn., where he was supporting sanitation workers in their battle for better pay and working conditions. The SCLC leaders’ meeting came just a day after Mr. SesPhotos by Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

In memory and tears

GRTC board fires CARE van company

About 200 people gather at a prayer vigil Sunday in Mosby Court for Mikkaisha D. Smoot, 16, and Taliek K. Brown, 15. The two were found fatally wounded shortly after 1 a.m. March 29 in front of an apartment building in the 1900 block of Accommodation Street in Mosby Court. A third person, an adult, is expected to recover from her non life-threatening gunshot wounds. An investigation continues into their deaths, which police have ruled as homicides. Mothers of the slain teens were joined at the vigil by family, friends and classmates of their children. The group joined hands, prayed and then released balloons in their memory following the vigil. Danielle Bugg, left, mother of Mikkaisha, and Kennecia Williams, mother of Taliek, embrace. Taliek’s funeral will be 1 p.m. Thursday, April 6, at Walter J. Manning Funeral Home, 700 N. 25th St., while services for Mikkaisha will be 1 p.m. Friday, April 7, at Worship & Praise Church, 3006 E. Laburnum Ave. Anyone with information about the shootings is asked to call Richmond Police Detective Joe Fultz at (804) 646-3929 or contact Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000.

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

School Board wants City Council to release $8.3M surplus By Holly Rodriguez

The Richmond School Board is requesting that City Council hand over the $8.3 million budget surplus that became a source of contention last month when Schools Superintendent Dana T. Bedden disclosed existence of the funds at a City Council meeting. The School Board and Mayor Levar M. Stoney were not made aware of the

funds, leading to a public perception that the funds intentionally were hidden by top schools officials. At Monday’s School Board meeting, board members, parents and school advocates offered their ideas of how the $8.3 million should be spent. While parents wanted money to address bullying and behavior issues and providing direct services to students, school administrators and board members discussed using the money to pay down debt accrued from leasing 78 school buses and setting aside a portion for emergencies. After nearly two hours of discussion, the board voted 8-1 to ask City Council for the entire $8.3 million unspent from the 2015-2016 school year, and to use $995,000 of it to pay the bus lease for one year.

Please turn to A4

The board also decided to create a policy to deal with the remainder of the $8.3 million and any future surpluses. The lone dissent was from board member Jonathan Young, who represents the 4th District. “My frustration came from what makes a lot of sense — to pay off that bus lease ASAP, because if we do, we accrue annual savings. That is significant,” he said. He was referring to a proposal by T. David Myers, assistant superintendent of financial services, suggesting that $4.2 million of the surplus be designated to pay off the bus lease entirely. “We should have had that conversation in January, not in April as a subsequent revelation of this $8.3 million,” Mr.

Cora J. Dickerson’s complaints about the CARE van service that GRTC provides to elderly and disabled riders have produced unexpected results. Three weeks after the advocate gave Richmond City Council an earful about shoddy service that was detailed in a front page Free Press story, Ms. Dickerson, who uses a wheelchair, and other upset riders are about to see a change that GRTC hopes will be an improvement. At a special meeting Wednesday, the GRTC board fired MV Transportation of Dallas and agreed to hire First Transit Inc. of Cincinnati to take over CARE van service operations. The reason: The lack “of consistency in the operations,” said GRTC spokeswoman Carrie Rose Pace. She declined to elaborate. “Wonderful, wonderful,” Ms. Dickerson said after learning about GRTC’s decision. “It will take time before any major improvements happen, but this is a step in the right direction.” Please turn to A4

Medicaid expansion rejected for third time Petersburg’s Frank Mason III Free Press wire report

Virginia Republicans have rejected once again a bid to expand Medicaid, saying the state can’t afford to extend its public health coverage to thousands of poor adults. On Wednesday, the GOP-controlled Virginia House of Delegates rejected an amendment to the state’s budget that would have given Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe the ability to expand Medicaid. Thirty-one states have expanded their Medicaid programs under the Affordable Care Act, including some with Republican governors. Gov. McAuliffe has tried unsuccessfully for three straight years to expand Medicaid in Virginia. He renewed his push last month after President Trump’s failed attempt to overhaul the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare.

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rakes in the honors

He was named AP Player of the Year on March 30 and Petersburg’s Frank Mason III was presented the Oscar Robis creating a national stir. ertson Trophy as the national The 5-foot-11, 190 pound player of the year by the U.S. member of the Petersburg Basketball Writers AssociaHigh School Class of 2012 tion. Robertson, USBWA’s and starting point guard who first player of the year in led the University of Kansas 1959, presented Mason the to this year’s NCAA Elite award March 31 at a news Eight has won the prestigious conference at the University James A. Naismith Trophy as of Phoenix Stadium, site of Frank Mason National Player of the Year in the 2017 Final Four. college basketball. On Sunday night, Mason was announced The award was presented to Mason on as the National Association of Basketball Sunday at the Naismith Awards brunch at Coaches men’s college basketball player the Final Four in Arizona. of the year. It was Mason’s third of four national Please turn to A3 player of the year awards in four days. By Fred Jeter

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Shall we dance? Julius Jackson, left, and Tristan Albers perform the tango Monday at the Dancing Classrooms GRVA Colors of the Rainbow Team Match. The youngsters from Richmond’s Chimborazo Elementary School learned more than ballroom dance moves in the 10-week program. Please see more photos on A5.

A2 April 6-8, 2017

Richmond Free Press

Local News

Cityscape

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Wayne Floyd, left, and Jordan Wiles from Empire Granite So far, City Hall has yet to announce a date for the dedication work on the pedestal where the new statue of Richmond great as officials work with the Mrs. Walker’s descendants on the Maggie L. Walker is to stand. The plaza at Broad and Adams timing. Mr. Mendez said there has been talk about holding the streets is expected to be complete in four to six weeks. The Slices of life and scenes program on Saturday, July 15, Mrs. Walker’s birth date. This in Richmond bronze statue of Mrs. Walker “is finished,” sculptor Tony year would be the 153rd anniversary of the birth of the founder Mendez said Wednesday. It was completed two weeks ago, he said. He’s now and president of the first bank to be chartered by an African-American woman. awaiting instructions from the city about when it is to be delivered to the site. The total project cost: About $900,000.

Congressman McEachin to host town hall Saturday in Richmond Congressman A. Donald McEachin is holding a town hall meeting 1 p.m. Saturday, April 8, at Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church, 14 W. Duval St. in Jackson Ward. The town hall is designed for Rep. McEachin to hear from constituents about their concerns and needs in the 4th Congressional District, which includes Richmond, Petersburg, Hopewell and Colonial Heights, and parts of Henrico, Rep. McEachin Chesterfield, Powhatan, Amelia, Prince George, Dinwiddie, Greensville, Nottoway, Sussex, Isle of Wight and Southampton counties, and Chesapeake, Franklin, Emporia and Suffolk. Rep. McEachin also will talk about his first 100 days serving in the U.S. House of Representatives. For more information, contact Rep. McEachin’s Richmond office at (804) 486-1840 or go to www.mceachin.house.gov.

Henrico NAACP hosts substance abuse program The Henrico Branch NAACP is sponsoring “Substance Abuse, A Way Out,” a community program featuring panelists discussing substance abuse and ways to prevent it. The free program will be held 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 20, at Rising Mount Zion Baptist Church, 2705 Hartman St. Panelists include Dr. Joann Thomas-Wilson, a clinical psychologist; Rod Gore, a certified substance abuse counselor; Dr. Veronica Ayala-Sims, director of the VCU HIV/AIDS Center; Michael Zohab, founder and CEO of the Virginia Recovery Foundation; and state Delegate Delores McQuinn. Details: Marcus Randolph, (804) 273-9900, or www.facebook. com/henriconaacphealth.

Clarification Leroy Williams, a trustee of Pilgrim Baptist Church, said the church “is not making any plans” to sell its longtime home at 1900 Whitcomb St. Mr. Williams said he received calls from members concerned that the church was going to be sold based on the Free Press article in the March 30-April 1 edition about a stalled plan to begin the transformation of the nearby Whitcomb Court public housing community and the adjacent Eastview neighborhood. “The story did not say the church was for sale,” he said, but some people misunderstood an aerial photo of the area and believed that the church’s property could be part of plans to bring new development to the area. Richmond city officials and others, though, are eyeing the former city juvenile court and detention complex that sits west of the church across Mecklenburg Street as a potential site for new apartments so the area could follow in the model of Creighton Court on Nine Mile Road. There, new apartments and homes are in the process of being developed on the site of the former Armstrong High School. Some will be reserved for current residents of Creighton Court, and when they move to the new units, their vacant apartments can be demolished to make way for redevelopment of Creighton Court.

City Council besieged with requests for more money By Jeremy M. Lazarus

More money, please. As it wades into the details of city spending, Richmond City Council, as usual, is finding itself besieged with pleas for additional funding from departments that feel shortchanged by Mayor Levar M. Stoney’s spartan budget proposal. Police Chief Alfred Durham and interim Fire Chief David Daniels are putting on a hard-court press for $2.6 million in additional funds to improve salaries in order to stem the loss of veterans to other localities offering higher pay. While Mayor Stoney included $2.3 million in his budget plan to improve pay for police officers and firefighters, both chiefs are telling City Council that is not good enough — even though the mayor did not propose pay increases for any other city employees. Then there is the interim property assessor, Melvin Bloomfield, who said he needs about $170,000 extra to fill seven vacancies to keep up with the rising property values in the city. He already has hired three new people, but the mayor’s proposed budget does not include enough money to cover their salaries. And then there is the city auditor, Umesh Dalal, who also needs about $170,000 to fill two vacancies on his staff so he can do his watchdog job. Meanwhile, interim Director of Public Works Bobby Vincent is hoping that the council will approve a new $2.50 a month fee so he can buy new trucks and add at least 15 new people to the department’s workforce to improve trash collection. Plenty of other city department heads also are giving council an earful about the

important work they are doing and the extra funding that would help them keep up with demands for service. During the next month, the council will be considering changes to the mayor’s budget in a bid to address some of the concerns they have heard. Whether the council members can find extra money remains a question. Councilman Parker C. Agelasto, 5th District, said he is considering proposing taking some money from the city’s “rainy day” fund. He said city policy requires setting aside the equivalent of about 10 percent of the general fund. Based on the mayor’s proposal, that would translate to about $68.1 million. But in recent years, as the Free Press has reported, he noted that the fund’s balance has grown to 12 to 13 percent. He said the extra dollars in the rainy day account potentially could be tapped as a source of one-time funds. He suggested that such funds might be used to beef up the city’s underfunded retirement system or allow some money in the general fund to be shifted to other purposes. Meanwhile, the departmental lobbying continues. Chief Durham is clearly the most active. He has been traveling to community meetings and civic groups to make his pitch for at least $1.6 million in additional money for his department. The money is need to boost salaries of veteran officers, who did not get regular step increases during the Great Recession. As the result, some have “lost $18,000 a year in pay,” he said. Visiting a recent Saturday session sponsored by 6th District Councilwoman Ellen F. Robertson, he noted that by the time the next class of 18 police recruits graduates in June,

he will have lost at least 13 veterans. The result: Chief Durham is no closer to getting the department to its full authorized strength of 750 sworn officers. He noted that nearby departments offer at least $4,000 more in pay and perks such as take-home cars. “I have two officers who are leaving to join the VCU Police Department. They want to earn their master’s degrees and it won’t cost them as department members. I can’t match that.” He said the city force’s decline means that officers on patrol are less visible and need more time to respond. Currently, he noted Richmond Police has 725 sworn officers on the rolls, but with vacations, military service, injuries and disciplinary actions, only 654 officers are available. The largest department, patrol, is authorized for 501 officers, but only has 456 available, he reported. “We want to be proactive” in trying to get on top of the recent upswing in crime, but at the moment, “all we can do is react to calls,” he said. Chief Durham cited the example of Fourth Precinct, which is responding to 169 calls for service daily or 56 calls per eight-hour shift. “On average, there are 550 calls for service per day,” he said, which is overwhelming the officers on the ground. He said he has people on overtime just to maintain minimum staffing. Chief Durham will learn whether his campaign for more funding has succeeded when City Council gathers to finalize the spending plan. The council has scheduled its decision-making sessions between Monday, April 17, and Wednesday, April 26.

Jackson Ward development continues with proposed $27M apartment-retail complex By Jeremy M. Lazarus

A Jackson Ward parking lot soon could soon be home to a five-story, $27 million building featuring 167 apartments. Richmond area developer Eric Phipps reportedly is proposing to create the new project on a 1-acre parcel on East Marshall Street. The site is on the north side of Marshall between Adams and 1st streets. Mr. Phipps was not immediately available for comment. According to the online Richmond BizSense, Mr. Phipps plans to include restaurant and retail space on the streetfront as part of the development, following the model of previous residential developments. The proposed project, which is now undergoing review in the city Planning Department, could be underway by August if all goes well in the approval process. It’s the latest sign that City Hall’s longrunning efforts to bring new growth to the historic hub of the African-American community is starting to bear fruit. The Jackson Ward section of Richmond went through a long depression after Interstate 95 carved

up the community in the late 1950s. For more than 15 years, two AfricanAmerican developers, Ron Stallings and Kelvin Hanson, have dominated efforts to revive the area, often with support from the city. Mr. Stallings has transformed two former African-American insurance buildings into apartments. He also has renovated the Hippodrome Theater and developed new apartments and a restaurant on that property. With his partners, he also has built new apartments and homes north of Jackson Street in a redevelopment area the city created in the early 1990s as an effort to jump-start change. Mr. Hanson, who has renovated numerous houses into rental units, is now undertaking his biggest development, the 31-unit Eggleston Plaza at Leigh and 2nd streets. The popular Croaker’s Spot restaurant, which was born across the street and is now located in South Side, is in line to occupy the first floor with a new outlet. Now others like Mr. Phipps are seeing opportunity in an area that most developers once ignored.

In recent years, developers have turned several historic buildings, including the former A.D. Price Funeral Home on Leigh Street, into apartments. The Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority is working with a Washington-based nonprofit, Community Preservation and Development Corp., that is proposing a 194-unit complex in the block bounded by Jackson, Duval, 1st and 2nd streets. Others appear to be banking land in Jackson Ward for future projects. For example, Douglas Development of Washington, which recently redeveloped the former Central National Bank at 3rd and Broad streets into apartments and owns a chunk of other Downtown property, continues to amass properties in the block bounded by Broad, Marshall, 1st and 2nd streets, according to city records. Separately, a Philadelphia development firm, Parkway Corp., spent $2 million to buy a large parking lot at 200 E. Marshall St., city records show, and there are expectations that the company is making plans for its own mixed-use development.

Richmond Free Press

April 6-8, 2017 A3

News

GRTC gears up for route changes effective Nov. 12 By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Love it or hate it, GRTC is moving ahead with a major revamp of its city bus routes. The proposed changes to routes are expected to be finalized this week and go into effect on Sunday, Nov. 12, Amy Inman, the city’s transportation planner, told Richmond City Council on Monday. As part of the education process, she said GRTC plans to offer “trip buddies” to accompany riders and tell them what specific changes the new plan would make to their current routes. Ms. Inman said that riders would have three opportunities to ride with a trip buddy before the new routes go into effect. She said final tweaks are being made based on comments from riders and city residents from 14 community meetings that GRTC held in recent weeks. The goal of the revamp, according to GRTC, is to improve service without adding costs. The route changes also are aimed at better connecting regular bus service with the GRTC Pulse, the bus rapid-transit line being installed primarily along Broad Street that is anticipated to be in operation in October. The Pulse is to have only 14 stops, with buses running every

10 to 15 minutes on the 7 miles between Rocketts Landing and The Shops at Willow Lawn, or faster service than regular buses provide. Councilwoman Cynthia I. Newbille, who represents Church Hill, has faced some of the greatest concern over the changes as the largest number of bus riders live in her district. “I am looking forward to seeing whether the concerns that were raised were addressed,” Ms. Newbille said Monday. She said plenty of concern still is being expressed about the changes to be made, particularly to bus stops. She said a number of senior citizens are concerned they would have to walk extended distances to catch a bus when the changes are put in place. Councilwoman Ellen F. Robertson, 6th District, said she has not heard many concerns from regular riders in her district, but she said that she expects that if there are complaints, she’ll hear them after the changes go into effect. A review of the information about the route changes indicates that most of GRTC’s 25 routes will have buses running on 30- to 60-minute schedules. Only three will have faster 15-minute service, two to the Fulton area of the East End and one running between Whitcomb Court and Carytown.

However, it appears the revamp will end the practice of having every bus stop at the temporary transfer station near City Hall. According to route maps on GRTC’s website, www.RideGRTC. com, the plan calls for more direct service, with passengers who want to go to City Hall transferring to the Pulse. At least three routes will serve Church Hill in addition to the Fulton lines. The proposed routes appear to address a complaint that Church Hill would have reduced service and be harmful to public housing residents, the biggest group in the East End that is reliant on transit service. The proposal appears to show separate routes that would address the service needs of residents of three other public housing communities, Creighton, Fairfield and Mosby courts. All of the familiar route numbers also will be changed. Ms. Inman said once the plan is completed, GRTC will spend the time until November creating schedules, advertising changes to bus stops, educating the public and handling other details before changing the routes. GRTC initially balked at trying to get the service changes in place by November instead of waiting until 2018. However, after talks with Mayor Levar M. Stoney and the city administration and promises of additional funding, GRTC agreed to speed up the work.

Dr. King’s daughter urges people to rise above anger with Trump administration By Barrington M. Salmon TriceEdney News Wire

WASHINGTON The Rev. Bernice A. King electrified an audience of men and women at the National Press Club, challenging them to rise above bickering with people with whom they may have political and cultural disagreements and find common ground — including President Trump. In her speech “What Does the Black Lives Matter Movement and Trump Have in Common?” on March 31 closing Women’s History Month, she focused on the reality of the anger and animus on one side and the disgust, concern and fear of President Trump on the other. She said the way to move forward is to find common ground — though members of a panel later rejected her point of view. “We need people to rise above it and engage in conversation, real conversation,” Rev. King advised. “We’re not hearing each other right now because we’re not listening. We’re trying to react to what is said. We have to realize that that individual (with whom we disagree) is still of value. We have to win over people. The next generation is watching us for cues. “We must listen and hear even though we don’t want to,” she continued. “We should not be drawing the line, unfriending people on Facebook, disconnecting links on LinkedIn or dragging them on Twitter. We must resist

separation in the face of difference. We must love unconditionally…” The chief executive officer of the King Center in Atlanta, Dr. King was the keynote speaker at the 7th Annual Stateswoman for Justice Luncheon and Issues Forum sponsored by the TriceEdney News Wire. The event, which also celebrated the 190th anniversary of the Black Press, drew about 200 men and women to the National Press Club in Washington. The youngest daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King caused a stir and murmurs in the crowd as she prefaced her remarks by warning the packed ballroom that her comments about Black Lives Matter and President Trump might cause some discomfort. “Now I’m going to say some things that might be a little different and controversial,” she said with a wry smile. “I’m pushing the envelope. What do they have in common? They have awakened in us deep down divisions that, in many respects, we have tried to avoid, ignore, deny. I don’t know about you, but I’m very concerned about that.” The Spelman College graduate who has a law degree from Emory University went on to say that “there’s a deep polarization that exists in our nation and in fact, it’s potentially getting worse. “Dr. King tried to teach us how to live in

a world and co-exist with all of these different ideologies,” she said. “What he left is an important blueprint that we cannot escape if we’re going to create a just, equitable world. He gave us plans and a strategy: Chaos or community.” She offered African-Americans four policy and moral prescriptions to pursue if they hope to achieve the justice and equality for which her father fought and died: • Be willing to value and embrace all of the community and all aspects of justice; • Realize that we’re all on the same boat – that justice can’t be narrow and one-sided; • Join with people who ae working to forge an agency for justice and who value long-term strategic planning in that area; and • Value those involved in building the “beloved community.” However, panelists at a later forum titled “Listen Up America: Forging Our Agenda for Justice” pushed back. Dr. Julianne Malveaux, former president of Bennett College who is now a news commentator, drew laughter when she told Rev. King that she was not interested in reconciliation. “My sister, I’m a baby Panther and a cynic,” Dr. Malveaux said. “Even though my doctor said fisticuffs aren’t good for my health and my girlfriend said she’s going to let me stay in jail for 24 hours, I’m resisting. “I am a fighter,” she continued, “because in every good we saw in Dr. King, we’ve seen an erosion. As Rev. Willie Barrow said, ‘We’re not as divided as disconnected.’” Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil

Rights Under Law, also found the divide too great to bridge with the prospect that Judge Neil Gorsuch will soon be named to the U.S. Supreme Court. She described the judge as an extremist who will do harm to African-Americans in the realms of voting rights, health care and the death penalty. “We deserve a justice who will fairly interpret civil rights and Constitutional laws,” she said. And she is not prepared to accept Attorney General Jeff Sessions, saying he doesn’t have the character or compassion to properly serve the people, especially African-Americans. “The U.S. Department of Justice is led by a man who voted against hate crimes as a senator and is pro-police,” Ms. Clarke continued. Instead of reconciliation, “we need to bring pressure to let him know that he must put aside his personal and political views. Mass incarceration is an issue we cannot turn a blind eye to. He has supported the return to the use of private prisons, and he has abandoned police reforms.” Other panelists included Denise Rolark Barnes, publisher of the Washington Informer and chair of the National Newspaper Publishers Association; Dr. Lezli Baskerville, president and CEO of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education; and Dr. Barbara Reynolds, a journalist, minister and author of the autobiography of Coretta Scott King, “My Life, My Love, My Legacy.” Hazel Trice Edney, president and CEO of the news wire and a former Free Press reporter, organized the event.

General Assembly request holds up Boulevard Petersburg’s Frank Mason III development project rakes in the honors

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

The General Assembly wants more information before allowing the state’s liquor agency to borrow $104 million to develop a new headquarters and warehouse in a new location. And that decision has left on hold Richmond’s plans to choose a master developer to transform 60 acres on the Boulevard into offices, retail stores and apartments. The Diamond baseball stadium also is part of the tract. Richmond City Council President Chris A. Hilbert and Lee Downey, deputy chief administrative officer for economic and community development, separately have confirmed that the Boulevard project is going nowhere until the legislature decides the future of the state Alcoholic Beverage Control department property. That’s a blow to the city, which has invested around $19 million to move facilities off the land and clean up the property for what it has envisioned as a major development that could generate essential and much needed new revenue. The state ABC now occupies land at Robin Hood and Hermitage Roads, just east of the city’s property. Its warehouse is outdated and the department wants a modern facility. Under a deal OK’d by Gov. Terry McAuliffe, the ABC property was to become the site for a new stadium for the Richmond Flying Squirrels baseball team and Virginia Commonwealth University’s baseball team once the ABC relocates to new digs. That would allow The Diamond to be cleared away and open up almost all of the

Continued from A1

Winning the Naismith Trophy, Mason thanked his coaches, teammates and parents. In leading Kansas to the Elite Eight, Mason, wearing jersey No. 0, averaged 21 points and 5.2 assists while hitting 49 percent from the 3-point range. While at Petersburg High School, Mason scored 1,901 points — second all-time to Hall of Fame center Moses Malone. Twice under Petersburg Coach William Lawson III, Mason led the Crimson Wave to the state Group AAA championship

Clockwise from top, Virginia ABC complex, Sports Backers Stadium, The Daimond and the Arthur Ashe Jr. Athletic Center.

city’s Boulevard property for development. While the House of Delegates was supportive, the state Senate refused to go along with the plan given the huge cost, and in the end, the Senate prevailed. In the final budget, the legislature provided $500,000 for planning and included language telling the ABC and the Department of General Services, which handles state construction projects, to return no later than Nov. 1 with a full plan to provide “options for a new ABC warehouse and administrative offices.” According to the language, the proposal is to include “costeffective and efficient solutions to meet ABC’s operational and business requirements.” Such solutions could include state construction of a new facility, buying an existing facility or having a private party build a facility that the ABC would lease, avoiding the massive

upfront cost, according to the language. As part of creating the solutions, the legislature wants the ABC and the Department of General Services to see if surplus state property is available to use for the project, rather than buying private land. To the City of Richmond’s dismay, the language also states the legislature wants to see one option in which the ABC operation stays put and either updates or builds a new complex on the site. The city advertised for developers last year and hoped to begin sending out requests for proposals to firms that qualified this spring. Now the city must wait until November. Meanwhile, the Flying Squirrels, the San Francisco Giants’ Double A affiliate, continue playing at The Diamond, with the season opener on Thursday, April 6.

games at the Siegel Center in Richmond. He spent a postgraduate season at Massanutten Military Academy before enrolling at the University of Kansas and competing in 145 games for the Jayhawks. Mason is projected as a second-round selection in the NBA draft June 22. He would become the third Petersburg High School standout to reach the NBA, following Malone and another center, 6-foot-10 Mark West, who played in the NBA from 1983 to 2000. The Naismith Trophy is awarded by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

Upcoming Free Health Seminars We’ll be offering the following free health seminars at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s Kelly Education Center, located at 1800 Lakeside Avenue. Registration is recommended. Free parking available.

Wednesday, April 12, 2017 | 5:30 p.m.

Colon Cancer: Know Your Risk, Change Your History Wednesday, April 26, 2017 | 5:30 p.m.

The Biological Clock: Is It for Real? Register online at vcuhealth.org/events or call (804) 628-0041 for more information.

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Richmond Free Press

A4 April 6-8, 2017

News

GRTC board fires CARE van company Continued from A1

The change in operators is scheduled to take effect Sunday, April 30. MV Transportation’s three-year contract was to run through Nov. 30. First Transit, whose holdings include the Greyhound interstate bus service, will run the CARE van service under the current contract that MV previously signed with union drivers. GRTC has agreed to pay First Transit about $3.6 million to provide six months of service through the end of MV Transportation’s contract, including about $123,000 in start-up costs and an extra $176,000 above MV Transportation’s contract. According to Ms. Pace, First Transit also agreed to carry on the health insurance benefits that MV Transportation provided to drivers so there will be no break in their health coverage. At the same, she said GRTC plans to seek bids for the service that could result Mr. Montgomery in First Transit staying on or a new operator being in place Dec. 1. Under federal law, GRTC is required to put such contracted paratransit services out for bid at least once every five years.

Courtesy of U.S. Department of Justice Multimedia Section

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, center, accepts a proclamation from the Virginia SCLC honoring his alleged civil rights record during a meeting Tuesday in Washington that included York County officials. The contingent meeting with him includes, from left, York-Poquoson Sheriff J.D. Diggs; York County Supervisor Chad Green; the Rev. Dean B. Nelson of the Frederick Douglass Foundation; Virginia SCLC President William Avon Keen; Lisha Shannon-Bryant, SCLC member; and Andrew Shannon, Virginia SCLC vice president.

SCLC lauds racist Sessions for civil rights work Continued from A1

Photos by Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Cora J. Dickerson, who has complained to Richmond City Council about poor CARE van service, hopes the change in operators will make a difference. GRTC’s CARE van service provides transportation for the elderly and disabled.

For riders like Brian Montgomery, the board’s action is welcome news. “Maybe the service will run better,” said Mr. Montgomery, who like many others who use the CARE van service, believes it has gotten worse in recent years. Mr. Montgomery is a frequent rider who has used the service for 27 years. He talked about some of the problems he has experienced, which echo complaints lodged by Ms. Dickerson and others. He said he went to a community meeting last week and then had trouble getting home, which he said is all too commonplace. “I had to wait an extra two hours and 10 minutes to get my scheduled pickup,” he said. “This is not unusual, and it has created real problems for people trying to get to work, see a doctor or take care of other business.” Also confined to a wheelchair, Mr. Montgomery is among several thousand people in Richmond and Henrico County who rely on the service. Localities like Richmond and Henrico that use federal funds along with their own to run public buses are required to offer paratransit service as well. GRTC has been under pressure from Ctiy Council to improve CARE van service, which provides 1,100 to 1,200 trips a day. In the wake of complaints from Ms. Dickerson and others, transit company officials told a City Council committee last month that it had put 13 new vans into service and was doing all it could to recruit and train new drivers to address a persistent shortage. Whether the substitution of a new operator will bring improved satisfaction to riders remains to be seen. Frank Tunstall III, president and business agent for the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1220 that represents transit drivers in the Richmond area, is skeptical. In his view, GRTC should operate the CARE van service itself and quit hiring outside companies whose need for a profit adds to the cost of the service and whose operations often are panned by riders. He said changing the outside company does not solve the real problem — relatively low pay for drivers, which he said creates a constant turnover of experienced drivers moving to other companies that pay more. While the CARE service fleet now includes 80 vans and 100 full- and part-time drivers on the MV Transportation payroll who have completed GRTC driver training, Mr. Tunstall said MV Transportation managed to keep only about 60 vans in daily service mainly because of the driver shortage. Currently, he said pay for CARE drivers starts around $9 an hour and tops out at $12.86. Meanwhile, GRTC bus driver pay starts at $14.39 an hour and tops out around $22 an hour. Trucking firms and a host of other companies that need drivers, including private paratransit firms in the Richmond area, also offer higher pay than the CARE service, he said. “As soon as CARE drivers get some experience, they’re looking elsewhere,” he said. “That’s a GRTC problem, not an MV Transportation problem. Until drivers receive better pay, I don’t believe that will change.”

sions put a hold on all of the reform pacts that the U.S. Department of Justice signed with 14 police departments across the nation aimed at ending practices allowing the long-running abuses and killings of African-American adults and children. Mr. Sessions’ decision, announced on Monday, created alarm among the NAACP and other civil rights groups because it appears to signal a major pullback from the Obama administration’s past efforts to ride herd on an array of police departments notorious for mistreating AfricanAmericans, ranging from Baltimore to Cleveland, Chicago and Los Angeles. “It is not the responsibility of the federal government to manage non-federal law enforcement agencies,” Mr. Sessions wrote in outlining his efforts to comply with President Trump’s promise to restore “law and order.” Rev. Keen was reluctant to criticize Mr. Session’s decision to review the consent decrees in the wake of the meeting. “He wants to find out what is going on and that could be a positive,” Rev. Keen said. “We need to wait to see what happens” after the reviews are complete. The Virginia SCLC leadership appears to have acted on its own without seeking the sanction of the national organization. Charles Steele Jr., president and CEO of the national SCLC did not return several requests Wednesday for comment. The move to honor Mr. Sessions runs counter to the opposition that the NAACP and other groups mounted to his nomination, calling his record on voting rights and civil rights “deeply concerning,” even as supporters sang his praises. As many noted in seeking to halt his confirmation, Mr. Sessions, while a member of the U.S. Senate, opposed restoration of the Voting Rights Act after the U.S. Supreme Court gutted the law in 2013, refused to support equal pay for women and opposed the reauthorizing the Violence Against Women’s Act to fight sexual and domestic violence.

The reaction from the Rev. Rodney Hunter, president of the Richmond SCLC chapter, opposed the state SCLC decision. “I’m in total disagreement,” said Rev. Hunter, president of the Richmond Chapter of the SCLC and pastor of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church. “The attorney general’s record speaks for itself, and I haven’t seen any changes in his attitude since he took office. There has been no repentance or attempt at reconciliation. I haven’t seen anything that shows me that he is seeking change on justice issues or race relations.” According to Rev. Keen, the meeting was orchestrated by Andrew Shannon, state SCLC vice president, and the Rev. Dean B. Nelson, chairman of a pro-life, Republican Christian group, the Frederick Douglass Foundation. Rev. Nelson was among the members of the delegation that also included YorkPoquoson Sheriff J.D. Diggs and York County Supervisor Chad Green, an SCLC member and supporter of Mr. Sessions who apparently also reached out to him to schedule the meeting. Rev. Keen rejected the criticism of Mr. Sessions, saying it was misplaced. “I feel when we look at his record, we see that it stands for merit and support of civil rights,” he said. The 60-year-old pastor of Traynham Grove Baptist Church cited Mr. Sessions’ support while a U.S. senator for reducing federal sentences involving crack cocaine convictions, and his push as a prosecutor to seek the death penalty against a Ku Klux Klan member in Alabama for killing an African-American teenager. He also recalled then-Sen. Sessions’ support for providing the Congressional Gold Medal for Rosa Parks, the “mother of the Civil Rights Movement.” Mr. Sessions “deserves credit for what he has done,” said Rev. Keen. In addition, Rev. Keen believes the state SCLC chapter is doing what Dr. King would have done — to start talking to the people in power.

Rev. Keen noted that with Republicans in control of the White House and Congress, civil rights groups must begin to focus on building ties with the likes of Mr. Sessions and others in the Trump administration. “That’s what we need in civil rights,” he said. He said he was delighted that Mr. Sessions spent 45 minutes speaking with the delegation and was prepared to listen to their concerns. “He listened intently,” Rev. Keen said, to the issues he and his group raised. He said he was most pleased that he was able to bring to the attorney general’s attention a proposal by Virginia Congressman Bob Goodlatte, a Republican and chair of the House Judiciary Committee, to reinstate a rule that would allow people who file civil rights suits to be fined and forced to pay attorneys’ fees if their suit is dismissed as frivolous. He said he asked Mr. Sessions to oppose it. Rev. Keen said the leader of the Roanoke SCLC chapter, Dr. Pernella Chubbs-Wilson, led the fight to eliminate that rule years ago to ensure that people who seek redress “are not punished for going to court when their rights are violated.” “I told Mr. Sessions that poor people who cannot afford attorneys should not face such intimidation.” Rev. Keen said the group also told Mr. Sessions that more effort needs to be made to ensure that police officers properly use Tasers so people are not injured or killed. In addition, he said the group also urged Mr. Sessions to do more to address hate crimes and the infiltration of police departments by members of hate groups. “They can inflict a lot of damage once they are on the inside,” he said. The meeting, he said, was a first step to ensure the state SCLC gains a seat at the table of policy discussions. “Virginia sits on the border with the nation’s capital, but we are too often left out. Our goal is to be included.”

School Board wants City Council to release $8.3M surplus Continued from A1

Young said. He said he believes the board would have made different decisions about budget allocations had they known about the surplus, a sentiment previously expressed by board Chair Dawn Page, 8th District. Already, $1.5 million was included by the school administration in the $301.6 million 2017-2018 operating budget that was approved in late February by the board. Since the $8.3 million was disclosed, Mayor Stoney has allocated another $1.5 million of it for the city’s $6.1 million increased allotment to RPS. Mr. Myers suggested that another $1.1 million of the money be used for school security cameras. “Additional cameras are not the answer for our students. There needs to be a robust plan in place that addresses the schools’ culture because we will not be able to move forward academically until that is remedied,” said 6th District board member Felicia Cosby. Board member Linda Owen, 9th District, agreed. “More cameras is not going to make our children feel more safe,” she said, adding that something needs to be done to teach students conflict resolution and management. During the public comment period of Monday night’s meeting, several parents voiced concerns about disruptive behavior and student bullying in schools. They asked the School Board

to direct some of the money to remedy the problems. Janet Wright told the board her 8-year-old daughter complained about being targeted by a classmate because she was trying to help another student. “Everyday she comes home crying because she is tired from being beat up at school,” Ms. Wright said. “The teachers are tired and I am tired, and we really need some help.” Aristotle Cofield, an eighth-grader who used to attend Elkhardt-Thompson Middle School, has been home-schooled since March 23 because of bullying, said his father, Artis Cofield. He said funds should be spent on behavior modification, not security cameras. “My son is an honor roll student and brought home straight As on his last report card,” Mr. Cofield told the board. But targeted by bullies, his lunch was taken and he was physically assaulted, the father said. His son, he said, was told by a teacher that he “should do something about it.” Mr. Cofield was told the same thing by a school administrator who he said called him elitist because he did not want his son going to school in that kind of environment. Mr. Cofield said he is lobbying for his son to be transferred to a different school, but told the board that some of the $8.3 million should be allocated to address student behavior and the school culture that allows poor student behavior. The School Board has until April 11 to submit their request for the funds to City Council. The policy, and what to do with the money, would be determined at a later date.

Richmond Free Press

April 6-8, 2017

News

Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

Belmead, the Powhatan County mansion that was once home to St. Emma Military Academy for Boys, now is boarded up. Nuns who manage the property have moved to a smaller building as leaders of their religious order, Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, review bids to purchase the historic 2,200-acre property.

Religious order reviewing bids on former Powhatan boarding school property By Jeremy M. Lazarus

The future of a historic 2,200-acre property in Powhatan County, where thousands of African-American children once were educated in long-closed Catholic boarding schools, remains in limbo. Sheila King, spokeswoman for Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, the religious order based near Philadelphia that owns the property, said Tuesday that bids have been received for the site that once was home to St. Emma Military Academy for Boys and St. Francis de Sales School for Girls. “Currently, there are active negotiations with multiple parties regarding the Powhatan property,” Ms. King said. “All parties have agreed to confidentiality as the discussions proceed.” She called it the “silent period” and could not say when the winning bid would be announced. The Michigan-based consulting firm Plante Moran is assisting

the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in reviewing the bids nearly a year after leaders of the order announced in May 2016 it would sell the property. The firm did not respond to a request for comment. Dr. Demetrius D. Venable has his fingers crossed that the order will accept the bid from his group, Belmead on the James Inc. That is the nonprofit that he helped create and now leads in an attempt to preserve and protect the buildings and land for future generations. A Howard University physics professor, Dr. Venable would confirm only that his group did “submit a proposal,” but he would not comment further based on an agreement with the order to keep information on the bid confidential. The group has been seeking donations to further its efforts to buy the property. So far, according to the website, donations total slightly more than $109,000. Meanwhile, five caretaker nuns continue to live on the property. An official of the order, who requested anonymity, told the

Free Press that the remaining nuns are expected to move before June, leaving the property vacant. The Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament is best known for its founder, Saint Katharine Drexel, an heiress who used her wealth to create schools for African-Americans and Native Americans and whom the Roman Catholic church canonized as a saint in 2003. The order decided to sell the Powhatan property and its Bensalem Township, Pa., headquarters to fund its remaining missions and retired nuns and to get away from having to maintain real estate. The order has long been in decline from its peak of 600 nuns. It now has about 100 members, almost all of whom are of retirement age. Opened in the 1800s, the order’s Powhatan boarding schools together educated and trained in practical skills at least 12,000 African-American students before both closed in 1972. Belmead, the mansion that was home to the military academy, has been boarded up in recent months.

2-year-old teaches cashier lesson on beauty of all skin colors Free Press wire report

Photos by Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Masters of the dance

Right, fifth-grader Martierane Epps adjusts her medal, while Jahsai Fife admires his following Chimborazo Elementary School’s Blue Team winning 1st place Monday in the Dancing Classrooms GRVA Colors of the Rainbow Team Match. Students from Broad Rock, J.L. Francis, Falling Creek and E.S.H. Greene elementary schools in Richmond and Chesterfield County competed in the merengue, foxtrot, rumba, tango and swing at the event held at Huguenot High School in South Richmond. The 10-week social development program for students in fifth, seventh and eighth grades

uses dance to boost students’ social awareness, cooperation, communication, self-esteem and confidence, and respect

Area Four NAACP Town Hall Meeting & Community Forum Saturday, April 8, 2017 12:30PM - 4:00PM Virginia Union University 1500 N. Lombardy Street Wall Auditorium in Ellison Hall Across from football field on Lombardy

This event will feature a Town Hall Meeting with Central Virginia House of Delegate members (Richmond, Hanover, Henrico & Chesterfield all are invited)

who will be running for re-elections in November.

Attendees will have an opportunity to hear directly from their state elected officials to get an idea about this past General Assembly session and their re-election campaigns. This session will be a Community Forum to discuss TRUMP, preparing for November elections and the 2017 General Assembly — among other topics. NOTE: THIS IS A PUBLIC EVENT! Please invite all of you family, pastors, church members, neighbors and co-workers!

and treatment of others. The teams were cheered on by family, friends, other students and soldiers from Fort Lee.

CLOVER, S.C. Brandi Benner and her husband, Nick, took their 2-year-old, Sophia, to Target last week to let her buy a special gift for a major milestone — pooping on the potty for one month straight. Little did they know that what began as an innocent trip to the store would allow Sophia to teach a valuable lesson in tolerance. In a post with a photo that has since gone viral on Facebook, Mrs. Benner describes the unexpected turn when they got to the register. Apparently, the woman ringing them up was a bit puzzled as to why a young white child would want the doll Sophia chose — a black doctor doll. During checkout, “the cashier asked Sophia if she was going to a birthday party,” Mrs. Benner wrote. “We both gave her a blank stare. She then pointed to the doll and asked Sophia if she picked her out for a friend. Sophia continued to stare blankly and I let the cashier know that the doll was a prize for Sophia being fully potty trained. The woman gave me a puzzled look and turned to Sophia and asked, ‘Are you sure this is the doll you want, honey?’ Sophia finally found her voice and said, ‘Yes, please!’ “The cashier replied, ‘But she doesn’t look like you. We have lots of other dolls that look more like you.’ ” Her daughter, in a moment of wisdom beyond her years, broke it down for the cashier, the mother wrote. “Sophia responded with, ‘Yes, she does. She’s a doctor like I’m a doctor. And I’m a pretty girl and she’s a pretty girl. See her

Sophia Benner, 2, holds the new doll she chose in this photo posted on social media by her mother, Brandi Benner, after the incident last week with a store cashier in South Carolina.

pretty hair? And see her stethoscope?’ ” In response, the cashier simply said: “Oh, that’s nice.” Mrs. Benner said the cashier backed off and let the girl enjoy her doll in peace. “This experience just confirmed my belief that we aren’t born with the idea that color matters,” Mrs. Benner wrote. “Skin comes in different colors just like hair and eyes and every shade is beautiful.”

Trump to speak at Lynchburg school’s commencement Free Press wire report

President Trump will give the commencement address this spring at Liberty University in Lynchburg. “I look forward to speaking to this amazing group of students on such a momentous occasion,” the president said in breaking the news on March 22 to CBN News, the Christian Broadcasting Network in Virginia Beach founded by televangelist Pat Robertson. “Our children truly are the future and I look forward to celebrating the success of this graduating class as well as sharing lessons as they embark on their next chapter full of hope, faith, optimism and a passion for life.” The announcement follows the news Vice President Mike Pence will speak at President Trump the University of Notre Dame’s commencement. The May 13 speech at Liberty University’s football stadium will be President Trump’s first commencement address as president, but it won’t be his first at Liberty, which describes itself as the largest Christian university in the world. The then-presidential candidate spoke last year at the university’s convocation, promising, “I will protect Christians,” and famously stumbling over a reference to “Two Corinthians.” Late in the campaign, both Mr. Pence and Faith & Freedom Coalition head Ralph Reed made the case for President Trump

in separate appearances at Liberty’s convocation after the release of video of the candidate making lewd remarks about women. Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. was one of President Trump’s most outspoken evangelical Christian supporters during the campaign and since has taken a role heading a White House task force on reforming higher education. The two reportedly have become good friends, with the Falwell family paying a social visit to the White House in mid-March, according to David Brody of CBN News. The university’s association with President Trump hasn’t been without controversy. A group of students calling themselves Liberty United Against Trump spoke out against President Falwell’s endorsement of the president, President Falwell and Liberty board member Mark DeMoss resigned his position over it. But, in giving Liberty’s commencement speech, Mr. Brody said President Trump “is again showing that he has not forgotten evangelicals since he’s been president.” The network pointed to President Trump’s nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court, his reinstatement of a rule banning U.S.-funded groups around the world from discussing abortion and his failed plan to replace the Affordable Care Act. All are issues important to the evangelical Christians, who overwhelmingly voted for the president.

Richmond Free Press

Springtime along the James River

Editorial Page

April 6-8, 2017

Buffoonery We shudder thinking about the buffoonery of the Virginia unit leaders of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. The venerable civil rights organization was started by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1957. On Tuesday, the 49th anniversary of Dr. King’s death, the Rev. William Avon Keen of Danville, president of the Virginia SCLC, and Andrew Shannon of Newport News, the Virginia SCLC’s vice president, met with U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions in Washington and presented him with a proclamation lauding his civil rights record. What??? Mr. Sessions, the former U.S. senator from Alabama, has no civil rights record to speak of. In fact, as a senator, he consistently opposed many of the crucial laws and programs he now is responsible for enforcing as attorney general. He cheered the gutting of the federal Voting Rights Act provision that put Southern states with a history of racial discrimination and voter disenfranchisement under Justice Department oversight. During his confirmation hearing, he called the law “intrusive” and also said he doesn’t think voter ID laws are racially biased. Among others, he opposed the Violence Against Women Act, same-sex marriage and equal pay for women. In the 1980s, he led a failed prosecution of three civil rights workers for voter fraud. And when he was nominated by former President Ronald Reagan for a federal judgeship in 1986, he was successfully defeated after opposition by the national NAACP, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and People for the American Way. Even Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s widow, Coretta Scott King, wrote a letter opposing his nomination for the judgeship. It came out then that he’d made many racist remarks as a U.S. attorney, including joking that the Ku Klux Klan is “OK,” and calling an African-American attorney on his staff “boy.” At the time, he called the NAACP “un-American” and “Communist-inspired” and claimed that the organization “forced civil rights down the throats of people.” He also has accused the NAACP and other likeminded groups of teaching anti-American values, while he said the call to remove the Confederate flag from public buildings was an effort by “leftist groups” to “delegitimize the fabulous accomplishments of our country.” His confirmation as attorney general was challenged by civil rights groups and Dr. King individuals across the nation who believe he will do President Trump’s bidding in trying to turn back the clock on civil rights gains of the last 50 to 60 years. They were right. On Monday, Mr. Sessions put a hold on the U.S. Justice Department’s pacts with 14 police departments to end abuses and killings of African-American men, women and children. While Mr. Sessions calls it a temporary halt while his office reviews the pacts, he said it was necessary to ensure they do not work against the Trump administration’s goals of promoting officer safety and morale while fighting violent crime. A halt alone is anathema to civil rights and equal justice, principles Dr. King gave his life for 49 years ago. For the Virginia SCLC president and vice president to hijack the mantle of the organization of Dr. King and present a documented racist like Mr. Sessions with a proclamation saying he is a champion of civil rights is a slap in the face to Dr. King, Coretta Scott King and all those who marched with them and who died in the fight for civil rights. Dr. King must be turning over in his grave. Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Rep. Cedric Richmond of Louisiana offered this statement Tuesday on the anniversary of Dr. King’s death: “The bullets that tore through the body of Dr. King on this day 49 years ago tore through the heart and soul of the African-American community. And sadly, even after Dr. King and his family sacrificed so much, the country has not realized his dream. “Although we have made much progress since 1968, African-Americans still find themselves fighting the same battles. We face racial disparities in education, health care, housing, unemployment and many other areas of public life. We also face economic disparities such as wage discrimination, which is what Dr. King was in Memphis protesting. “African-Americans have fought and died to make this country a more perfect union, and on this day every year, we feel the truth of that statement more deeply. The gunman who shot Dr. King killed the dreamer, but he did not kill the dream, and the Congressional Black Caucus will continue fighting for Dr. King’s dream by pushing and prodding this country to live up to its highest ideals.” Don’t misunderstand: We have no quarrel with Rev. Keen and Mr. Shannon meeting with Mr. Sessions. Surely, the problems facing the African-American community and communities of color in this nation are vast and need redress. But what promises or payments were made for them to present Mr. Sessions with such a proclamation? We don’t need our leaders to make Stepin Fetchit moves. We need men and women of substance and backbone who can meet our detractors on our own terms. Whatever Rev. Keen and Mr. Shannon hoped to gain, they failed miserably.

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

49 years after Dr. King’s death Tuesday, April 4, was the 49th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Thousands of people planned to join Fight for $15 and the Movement for Black Lives to march in Memphis and in cities across the country on that day in the fight for decent pay and racial justice. Such demonstrations are more than a fitting tribute to Dr. King. They are taking up his unfinished agenda. Dr. King saw the Civil Rights Movement as a symphony with many movements. First came the victory that ended apartheid in America. Then came the victory to guarantee voting rights. In his last days, Dr. King was working feverishly on the third movement — the movement for economic justice — organizing a Poor People’s Campaign that would bring together people from across lines of race, religion and region to demand economic justice. Dr. King understood that what

he called the “giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism and militarism” had to be challenged to make America better. In the midst of this, Dr. King went to Memphis, Tenn., summoned by the courage and sacrifice of black sanitation workers striking for decent pay, job safety, respect and a union. They protested both the racial discrimination they faced on the job and the absence of decent

Jesse L. Jackson Sr. wages and conditions. They demanded a union so that they could stand together and bargain collectively. Dr. King responded to their call because he preached in his last speech that we need to develop a “dangerous unselfishness.” The question, he said, is not, “If I stop to help this man in need, what will happen to me?” The question is, “If I do not stop to help the sanitation workers, what will happen to them?” Now 49 years later, people are stirring once more. Fight for $15 began five years ago when fast food workers in New York

City went on strike demanding a $15 per hour minimum wage and a union. They were dismissed as “unrealistic,” even by Democrats. But the movement spread across the country. And now more than 22 million Americans have benefited from an increase in minimum wages, and some 10 million people are on a path toward $15 an hour as city ordinances step up wages. A $15 minimum wage is written into the Democratic Party platform and it is being written into law in more and more cities across the country. The Movement for Black Lives arose in protest against our criminal injustice system, in which black people suffer both mass incarceration and too often violence from those who are supposed to protect them. In stunning nonviolent protests across the country, the movement has propelled the cause of reforming the police and discriminatory sentencing practices. In the last address of his life in Memphis, Dr. King noted that he was happy that the Almighty had allowed him to live in the second half of the 20th century.

Confirmation would be blow to workers

Alexander Acosta, the 45th president’s nominee for U.S. Secretary of Labor, is up for confirmation by the U.S. Senate. He got narrow approval on March 30 from the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions by a 12-11 party line vote. I don’t blame the Democrats for opposing Mr. Acosta’s nomination. In his televised hearing, he was as slippery as U.S. Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch, dancing around questions and so exasperating U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts that she said, “This has really been frustrating. You have dodged every one of my questions. None of these were trick questions.” Sen. Warren tried to pin down Mr. Acosta on overtime rules. Presently, workers who earn more than $23,660 do not qualify for time and a half, or overtime, pay. Someone who earns that little is earning just over $11 an hour. They hardly qualify as “executives.” Former President Obama had proposed that the ceiling be doubled, so that anyone earning under $47,320 could collect overtime. Four million more workers would have overtime protection. Mr. Acosta said he would take the lead from his boss, the 45th president, but indicated that the ceiling should be less than $47,000. He prefers something in the $33,000 range. Will you stand up for workers, Sen. Warren asked him. That’s the purpose of the Labor Department. We have so many government departments who take care of corporations, but only the Labor Department takes

care of the little person. The department’s regulations on occupational safety and health, pay fairness and discrimination protect workers when employers are indifferent to their safety and welfare. But the 45th president’s “budget lite” proposes a 21 percent cut in the Labor Department budget. It would eliminate some job training programs, including

Julianne Malveaux the Senior Community Service Employment Program, close Job Corps Centers, eliminate parts of the Office of Disability Employment Policy and eliminate the Occupational Safety and Health Administration “unproven training grants.” This “America First” budget is disgraceful in its frequent use of words like “ineffective,” “unproven,” “inefficient” and “eliminate,” as if there has been any study done in the scant 60 days of this administration to prove inefficiency. Indeed, while we weren’t paying much attention, 45 signed legislation that took away occupational safety protections for those working for federal contractors. Former President Obama required companies competing for federal contracts to disclose and fix safety violations. But the U.S. Senate voted to revoke the Fair Pay and Safe Workplace Rule. Some Republicans said it “wasn’t fair” that companies with workplace violations couldn’t get federal contracts. Mr. Acosta doesn’t have the baggage that restaurant executive Andrew Puzder, did. The president’s first nominee for labor secretary was such a hot mess that he withdrew from consideration. Mr. Acosta is a lifelong public

servant and now dean of Florida International University’s law school and chairman of the board of the US Century Bank. Despite the fact that Mr. Acosta will be only the first Hispanic on the Trump cabinet and the fact that his background — undergraduate and law degrees from Harvard — seems impeccable, he is likely to be nothing but a disappointment for workers. Not only will he likely do less for overtime than former President Obama required, but he will likely limit rules that limit worker exposure to cancer-causing substances, and require financial advisers to work in the best interest of their clients. Essentially, he has indicated he will follow 45’s lead, and President Trump is notoriously anti-regulation. Mr. Acosta had to offer an apology for past behavior. As a former assistant attorney general, he had an employee who described conservatives as “real” Americans. The rest of us, apparently, are “commies and pinkos.” Never should have happened, he told the Senate committee. While the apology was appropriate, what does he really think of liberals? Will it affect his ability to enforce labor laws? Unlike his boss, Mr. Acosta at least has enough integrity to apologize when he is wrong. But his shillyshallying testimony suggests that he doesn’t have many opinions of his own, only President Trump’s. He doesn’t have a problem with the 45th president’s plans to shrink the Labor Department and he might support elimination of the Women’s Bureau. Mr. Acosta is bad news wrapped up in a slick package. His confirmation would be a blow to working people. The writer is an economist, author and founder of Economic Education.

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“Now that’s a strange statement to make,” he told those gathered, “because the world is all messed up. … Trouble is in the land. Confusion all around. … But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.” Dr. King was excited because people were on the move, a revolution in human values was beginning. He knew the road was long and hard. He knew there would be setbacks and reverses. But he believed that if “we will but make the right choice, we will be able to speed up the day, all over America … when justice will roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.” Today, this is a troubled nation. Inequality has reached obscene extremes. Economic and racial injustice still blights lives and stamps out hope. Yet, today, thousands of people are making the “right choice” and are on the move, sacrificing to make America a better nation. Surely Dr. King smiles down upon them. The writer is founder and president of the national Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

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Richmond Free Press

April 6-8, 2017

Letters to the Editor

Training needed on both sides Kudos to VUU Re â&#x20AC;&#x153;Unequal punishment: Rep. McEachin requests federal investigation into high suspension rates for AfricanAmerican students and those with disabilities,â&#x20AC;? March 30-April 1 edition: The situation of greater punishment statistics for minorities, in particular minorities with special needs, sounds like only the symptoms of the problem are being addressed and not the real problem(s). First, it appears that the teachers and administrators are not being hand-picked for their positions. And those who are, are not trained to deal with emotional situations. Perhaps this is akin to placing a Marine riďŹ&#x201A;eman as a crew member on a submarine. The riďŹ&#x201A;eman was trained to react

without thinking and shoot from the hip. A submariner is trained to react logically in a very calm, thoughtful manner. The submariner is hand-picked because of his abilities and receives incentive pay for his service outside of his comfort zone and natural environment. Can we expect our randomly picked teachers/administrators to do the job required without the emotional training and maturity to deal with emotional situations and without responding with unrestrained emotions? On the other side, are â&#x20AC;&#x153;at riskâ&#x20AC;? minority and/or special needs children provided with preschool and early school training to teach them the unwritten rules of acceptable behavior? Children coming from

broken or dysfunctional homes may never have the opportunity to learn these family taught values! Do teachers know each studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story? Are the minority and/or handicapped students acting out their own frustrations at not being treated as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;normalâ&#x20AC;? person? People given respect typically give back respect. It appears there are lessons of respect to be learned by both the teachers/administrators and minority/special needs students. It will pay us dividends tomorrow to give respect and recognition to both parties today. ERIC W. JOHNSON Richmond

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget your feetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

More than 29 million Americans have diabetes, according to the latest estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a pretty good chance either you or someone you know belongs to the 12 percent of people in Virginia who live with the disease. When it comes to living with diabetes, some of the common things doctors talk about are the importance of keeping a good diet, exercising regularly and taking all the right medication. But there is one thing that many people overlook: Proper foot care. As a practicing wound care clinician in Richmond, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen ďŹ rsthand how essential foot care is to prevent diabetic foot ulcers, or DFUs, serious complications that can result in amputation if not properly treated. DFUs start out innocently enough, usually as a simple cut, scrape or blister on the foot. But because diabetic patients often experience a condition called peripheral neuropathy, which numbs the extremities to pain, these minor injuries can go unnoticed. Poor blood circulation â&#x20AC;&#x201D; another common complication

or swelling. You should also keep your feet clean by regularly washing them with soap and warm water. Most importantly, never go barefoot â&#x20AC;&#x201D; even inside the house. You should always wear thick, comfortable socks and make sure you have properly ďŹ tting shoes that wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t rub or cause blisters. Even with proper care, DFUs still can occur. If you are diabetic and develop an open sore or wound, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to seek treatment quickly from a trained wound care specialist. That way, the wound can be treated in its earliest stages so that the wound has an optimal environment to heal on its own. If a wound fails to heal after several weeks of conventional healing methods, a physician may apply an advanced, FDAapproved wound healing product. These therapies are made from living cells and are specially designed to facilitate new skin production. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been clinically proven to encourage healing and act as a critical last line of defense against a devastating amputation. Living with diabetes is a daily challenge, but it only takes small steps to get into the right foot care

of diabetes â&#x20AC;&#x201D; can also prevent these wounds from healing as quickly as they should. In some cases, this leads to infection and requires amputation of a toe, foot or leg. As we recognize Limb Loss Awareness Month this April, now is the time to educate your loved ones about good foot health and to empower them to practice it so more lives and limbs can be saved. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not exaggerating when I say that proper foot care can save your life. Recent studies show that as many as 10 percent of people living with diabetes will experience a DFU at some point in their lifetime. And approximately 15 percent of those patients will eventually end up needing an amputation. Fortunately, DFUs are preventable. New advances in wound healing technology, as well as increased patient awareness about the dangers of DFUs, have been successful in many cases. Nonetheless, patients still need to be active participants in the prevention process. I often advise my patients to be vigilant foot inspectors. Take a few minutes every day to check your feet for any cuts, blisters

Â The next quarterly GRTC Pulse (Bus Rapid Transit) Project Public Information Meetings are scheduled. The purpose of these meetings is to provide a status update of the Project. Content of these meetings is identical; please plan to attend the meeting most convenient for your schedule. Members of the media are invited to attend.

Thursday, April 27, 2017 from Noon â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1 PM and 6 PM â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 7 PM Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Museum of Richmond Central 2626 W. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23220 This location is accessible from the GRTC bus system (Routes 1, 2, 6, 19 and 24). Free parking is available in the Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Museum of Richmondâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parking lot. Meeting locations are accessible to persons with disabilities. GRTC strives to provide reasonable accommodations and services for persons who require assistance to participate. For special assistance, contact Ashley Mason at 804-474-9364 or email amason@ridegrtc.com at least 72 hours prior to the meeting. GRTC Transit Systemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s CARE and CARE Plus services also provide origin-to-destination paratransit services under the guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for individuals with disabilities who many not be reasonably able to use GRTC fixed route bus service.

routine. So thisApril, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget your feet. By getting into a foot care routine, you can stay one step ahead of DFUs and prevent the risk of amputation. DR. JONATHAN BRANTLEY Richmond The writer is chief of podiatric medicine at McGuire Veterans Administration Medical Center.

Lady Panthers

Re â&#x20AC;&#x153;VUU women return home to cheers despite loss in NCAA ďŹ nal,â&#x20AC;? March 30-April 1 edition: Congratulations to the Virginia Union University womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basketball team and coaches for a ďŹ ne season. Even though you lost to Ashland University in the NCAA Division II final, you made us very proud. This historically black university team showed everyone they can compete on a high level. The game was broadcast on national television and the Lady Panthers played their hearts out. This shows that with the right players and good coaching, we can do well in any sport. Regardless of the ďŹ nal score, VUU gave their opponents all they could handle and more. You could tell that the VUU women were not awestruck by their opponents. The Lady Panthers felt as though they could win. To the VUU womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team, thanks for the great season and fond memories. I, along with others, must give you a standing ovation for your accomplishments this season. I know bigger and better things are on the horizon. Keep up the good work and continue to reach for the stars. ERNEST PARKER JR. Richmond

The Richmond Branch NAACP Will Hold Its Monthly Meeting On Tuesday, April 11, 2017 7P.M Military Retirees Club 2270 Sledd Street Richmond, Virginia 23222

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I-64 Bridge Replacements Over Airport Drive (Rt. 156) Henrico County Public Hearing Tuesday, May 2, 2017 5 7 p.m. Eastern Henrico Recreation Center, Strawberry Hill Ballroom 1440 N. Laburnum Avenue Henrico, VA 23223 Find out about the proposed Interstate 64 eastbound and westbound bridge replacements over Airport Drive in Henrico County. Project plans include increased vertical clearance over Airport Drive and permanent removal of two loop ramps. The existing full cloverleaf interchange will become partial cloverleaf interchange. Two lanes of through traffic in each direction along I-64 and Airport Drive will be maintained throughout the construction of the replacement structures. Review the proposed project plans and the National Environmental Policy Act documentation # # $ ! ! # )" "#! # located at 2430 Pine Forest Drive in Colonial Heights, 804-524-6000, 800-3677623, TTY/TDD 711. Please call ahead to ensure the availability of appropriate personnel to answer your questions. Property impact information, relocation assistance policies and tentative construction schedules are available for your review at the above addresses and will be available at the public hearing. Give your written or oral comments at the hearing or submit them by May 12, 2017 to Anthony Haverly, P.E., P.M.P., Project Manager, Virginia Department of Transportation, 2430 Pine Forest Drive, Colonial Heights, VA 23834-9002. You may also e-mail your comments to anthony.haverly@vdot.virginia.gov. Please ! ! 'I-64 bridge replacements over Airport Dr. #( # "$ # VDOT ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you need more information or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited " ! & # # )" % #" % " # -6091 or TDD/TTY 711. * In the event of inclement weather on May 2, this meeting will be held on Thursday, May 25 at the same time and location above. State Project: 0064-043-744, P101, C501, B618, B627 Federal Project: STP-604-3(477)

Richmond Free Press

A8 April 6-8, 2017

Sports Stories by Fred Jeter

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

L.M. Otero/Associated Press

Left, Dawn Staley, coach of the University of South Carolina women’s basketball team and a former University of Virginia basketball star, waves the freshly cut net to celebrate her team’s NCAA championship victory Sunday over Mississippi State University. Above, University of South Carolina forward A’ja Wilson holds the NCAA championship trophy aloft after the team’s 67-55 victory in Dallas.

Former U.Va. standout player Dawn Staley coaches South Carolina women to NCAA victory

Dawn Staley, who once represented Richmond on the basketball court, ranks with the greatest players in women’s hoops history. Now she’s making history as a coach, too. The former University of Virginia star guided the University of South Carolina to its first NCAA Division I women’s title with a 67-55 win over Mississippi State University last Saturday in Dallas. The 46-year-old Staley becomes just the

second African-American head coach to claim the NCAA women’s title. The first was Carolyn Peck, who coached Purdue University to the title in 1999. A three-time All-American, Staley led U.Va. to three Final Fours as a player, but the Cavaliers never won the championship. In 1996, she spurred the U.S. Olympic team to the gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

Staley was a WNBA first round draft pick in 1999 and was a six-time All-Star with the Charlotte Sting and the Houston Comets. During the 1996-97 season, Staley played for the Richmond Rage of the now defunct American Basketball League. The Richmond Rage, which was 21-19 in 1996-97, split home games between the Richmond Coliseum and the Robins Center at the

University of Richmond. In 1997-98, the team moved to Philadelphia. As a college coach, Staley has compiled a 393-160 record at Temple University and now the University of South Carolina, where she has been head coach since 2008. Her last three editions of the Gamecocks have gone 34-3 in 2015, 33-2 in 2016 and 33-4 this season.

6th NCAA crown for UNC

The University of North Carolina’s sixth NCAA basketball championship will be remembered for many things. Let’s start with redemption. With the Tar Heels defeating Gonzaga University 71-65 on Monday night in Glendale, Ariz., it was the fourth time a team has won the title after losing in the championship game the previous year. UNC was a “second-chance champ” also in 1982. Other secondchance champs are Duke University in 1990 and the University of Kentucky in 1998. UNC lost the NCAA title in 2016 to Villanova University on a long shot at the buzzer by Villanova’s Kris Jenkins. For the record: UNC finishes 33-7 (6-0 in the tournament) while Gonzaga, from Spokane, Wash., closes 37-2. With its 37 victories, the Zags fall one win short of the all-time mark of 38 set by Kentucky in 2012 and 2015. The University of Memphis won 38 games on the floor in 2008, but then forfeited those victories when star player Derrick Rose was ruled academically ineligible. Drought continues: Gonzaga was bidding to become the first non-football playing school to win the NCAA basketball title since Marquette University in 1977. At least Gonzaga got to play in a football stadium. Monday’s title game drew 76,168 fans at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, which is used by the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals. No pain, no gain: Playing on two wobbly sprained ankles, UNC guard Joel Berry II scored 22 points, earning the Most Outstanding Player award. Gritting his teeth for 37 minutes, Berry added six assists and hit four 3-pointers. Back and forth: The epic matchup of No. 1 seeds resulted in 11 ties and 12 lead changes during the title game. UNC put it away with a 9-2 run during the game’s final 2 minutes. Gonzaga’s last-gasp hopes faded with UNC star Justin Jackson’s breakaway dunk following a blocked shot by Kennedy Meeks in the closing

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

The University of North Carolina Tar Heels rush to the court in celebration Monday night after defeating Gonzaga University to clinch their sixth NCAA basketball championship.

seconds. Foul smell: Sharp-eyed officials called 44 fouls resulting in 52 free throws. However, the three-man crew may have swallowed their whistles with 50 seconds left and UNC up 66-65. CBS television cameras clearly showed UNC’s 6-foot-10 Meeks had a hand touching out of bounds while scrapping for a loose ball with the Zags’ Silas Melson. No call was made, play continued and Gonzaga was called for a foul seconds after. Perhaps worse for Gonzaga was the game-long foul trouble of 7-foot star freshman Zack Collins. After performing brilliantly in the Zags’ semifinal win Saturday, April 1, over the University of South Carolina, Collins was limited to 14 minutes against UNC. Collins is viewed as a potential lottery pick in the upcoming NBA draft. All-time champs: With its six crowns, UNC trails only UCLA with 11 titles and Kentucky with 8 NCAA championships. The Tar Heels have prevailed under three different coaches —

Frank McGuire (1957), Dean Smith (1982 and 1993) and now Roy Williams (2005, 2009 and 2017). Bird is the word: UNC won in the postseason without sophomore guard Kenny Williams from L.C. Bird High School in Chesterfield County. Before suffering a season-ending leg injury in February, Williams was averaging 6.2 points and 3.3 rebounds through 26 games. He also had 56 assists, 23 steals and had made 27 3-pointers. Williams isn’t the first area athlete to shine in baby blue togs. In winning the title in 2009, a key man for UNC was Ed Davis out of Richmond’s Benedictine High. A cloud: While the celebration continues, UNC continues to be under NCAA investigation for alleged academic fraud between 2002 and 2011 during the tenure of coaches Smith and Williams. Among the charges are failure to keep institutional control. The alleged offenses stem from activity within UNC’s Department of African, African-American and Diaspora Studies. While the NCAA’s hammer hasn’t fallen on Chapel Hill yet, it doesn’t mean it won’t.

Dash for Cash runner wins $2,500 in Monument Ave. 10K No one ran faster than Ryan Hagen. No one earned more money than Kathy Hoverman. No one drew more double takes than Mayor Levar M. Stoney. And it is likely no one was taller than Terry Davis. Those were just a few of 26,000 or so story lines from the April Fool’s Day edition of the Monument Avenue 10K. The 6.2 mile race-walk was held Saturday, April 1, under warm skies. In the 18th running of what has become a signature event in Richmond, Northern Virginia native Hagen was first to cross the finish line in 30 minutes, 37 seconds. The leading lady in 35.55 was Rachel Ward, who grew up in Albemarle County near Charlottesville. Both Hagen, a former Virginia Tech athlete now taking graduate courses at Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, and Ward, a graduate student at the University of Virginia, were awarded $2,000. Finishing times have become progressively slower since the sponsoring Richmond Sports Backers decided four years ago to award prize money only to members of the Collegiate Running Association. That meant Kenyan and Ethiopian runners who had dominated the Monument Avenue 10K from 2000 through 2013 scratched Richmond from their racing itinerary. Hagen’s time last Saturday was the second slowest winning mark on record. The slowest winner was Silas Frantz, who ran the course in 30.46 in 2016. Frantz, a former state champion distance runner from Henrico County’s Douglas Freeman High School, led this year’s race much of the way before fading toward the end and finishing third. The record of 28.18 was set by Kenyan Julius Kogo in 2013. The women’s record of 32.24 was set by Kenyan Magdalene Makunzi in 2007. Ward’s winning time last Saturday was 30 seconds slower than the previous slow winning standard of 35.55 established by Alisa Harvey in the first Monument Avenue 10K in 2000. None of this likely mattered to Hoverman, who

collected $2,500 for her victorious — albeit solo — run in the Dash for the Cash. Given a 2.6-mile head start on the entire field, she ran her slice of the race in 27.26, crossing the finish line more than 3 minutes ahead of first place finisher Hagen. The former soccer goalkeeper becomes the 11th Dash for the Cash winner since the inception of the event in 2005. Dash for the Cash participants are selected through a drawing. Mayor Stoney has become an event regular, although this was his first chance to show off his stride since becoming the city’s mayor. The fit, 36-year-old Mayor Stoney covered the course in 46.59, a bit off his personal best of 45:53 set a year ago. Mayor Stoney is a former football quarterback and standout middle-distance runner at Tabb High School in York County.

The tallest entry in this year’s event likely was Davis, a 6-foot-10 former Virginia Union University basketball standout who went on to play in the NBA from 1989 through 2001. The 49-year-old Chesterfield County resident used the event’s training to help him rehab a back injury. He finished in slightly more than one hour, running and walking with friends. Davis works out regularly at a Chesterfield County gym and is the father of Ed Davis, who plays with the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers. Reporting winners and times does not do justice to this gala event. With bands galore and a party atmosphere, the Monument Avenue 10K is the fourth largest event of its kind in the United States and the 22nd largest in the world in terms of participation. Numbers have dwindled slightly in recent years by design, to avoid parking chaos and confusion on race day.

Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

Sports Backers/Marathonfoto

This photo captures just a few of the more than 26,000 people participating in last Saturday’s 18th Annual Monument Avenue 10K that also draws people ready to have fun while they exercise. With a 2.6-mile head start, Dash for Cash runner Kathy Hoverman, right, makes her way to the finish line, where she beat the Monument Avenue 10K first place finisher and collected $2,500.

April 6-8, 2017 B1

Section

Richmond Free Press

DiamonDs • Watches JeWelry • repairs 19 East Broad strEEt richmond, Va 23219 (804) 648-1044

Happenings

www.wallErjEwElry.com

75Years

Personality: Tracy L. Causey

Samuel and Mayola H��

Spotlight on local director of MJBL’s RBI program Most people do not know about Tracy Causey’s love of baseball. The new local director of the Metropolitan Junior Baseball League’s Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities program says he never set foot on a baseball ﬁeld as a professional, amateur or even a student-athlete. “When I was in school, I was in the band,” the 48-year-old Mississippi native says with a laugh. While many baseball fans are introduced to the sport at a very young age, Mr. Causey says his love of the game was born out of boredom while stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. “When we had afternoons and weekends off, we were a group of guys looking for something to do, so we started going to Kansas City Royals games,” he says. Years later, his oldest son, Caleb, started playing baseball. Caleb’s enthusiasm for the game deepened his own, he says. Caleb is now 15 and has been playing baseball for 11 years. Mr. Causey got involved with the MJBL ﬁve years ago, volunteering for whatever the organization needed. In his volunteer role as the local RBI director, he is charged with continuing the MJBL’s participation in Major League Baseball’s RBI program and promoting its efforts to encourage youngsters of diverse backgrounds to play baseball. “I, too, have seen the need to increase African-American participation in baseball and the RBI program is an excellent pathway to encourage youths to play the game,” Mr. Causey says. “MJBL provided an early platform for inner-city kids to play baseball, and having an opportunity to participate in this mission is a honor.” The MJBL was founded in Richmond in 1966 when Little League was not open to African-American youths. The MJBL encouraged area youngsters’ interest and involvement in the sport. The Negro League teams were ending around that time. The door began opening for more African-American players with formerly whites-only MLB teams. In recent decades, interest in baseball in the Afrian-American community has declined. Today, less than 10 percent of professional baseball players are African-American. MLB started the RBI program in 1991 because of the decline in African-Americans in baseball and to rekindle the interest and participation of youngsters of color in the game, Mr. Causey says. Begun in Compton, Calif., RBI has a goal of increasing the number of minority ballplayers by giving young people an opportunity to play the game. The RBI program’s mission complements that of the MJBL to bring baseball to inner-city communities across America. “I think that many of our youths consider football and basketball as their opportunity to play a sport, and only a few look at baseball because there are not really many role models for them to follow,” Mr. Causey says. Currently, there are eight MJBL teams in Metro Richmond. Mr. Causey says he’s looking into starting a softball program. While team sports teach players important values, such as teamwork, relationship building, supporting one another and more, baseball takes a higher level of discipline, he says. “The value of being disciplined is a little more important and clear in baseball,” he says.

Why MJBL is needed: Because the experience, expertise and connections we are able to provide our youths is something most of our players would not have access to otherwise. Why I love baseball: Baseball is a team sport but it comes from individual effort. I really relate to that in my business life. We promote teamwork, but individual effort makes the team what it is. MJBL partners with: Major League Baseball and local area baseball programs. With the baseball season opening around the country this week, Mr. Causey says he wants to raise awareness of MJBL by coordinating with city and county recreation departments to offer youngsters an opportunity to participate in baseball. Meet this week’s Personality and youth baseball advocate, Tracy L. Causey: Occupation: CEO for the Capital Area Health Network. Top volunteer position: Director of the Metropolitan Junior Baseball League’s local Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) Program. Date and place of birth: Aug. 12 in Tylertown, Miss. Current residence: Glen Allen. Alma maters: Bachelor’s degree in biology, University of Mississippi; master’s in public health, Meharry Medical College; and MBA from Belmont University. Family: Wife, Doris Causey, and children, Caleb, 15, Jillian, 10, and Joshua, 8. Biggest challenge for MJBL in Virginia: Finding the support through funding and resources to offer a quality program so that we can develop our youths to be competitive with today’s players from across all sectors of the community. How I plan to meet it: Raise the awareness of the need to continue developing the game of baseball for inner-city youths and continue promoting the sport as an option to play just as much as other sports. Estimated number of youth players in Virginia: 150. How MJBL differs from Little League: Both organizations strive to serve youth baseball players, but MJBL particularly serves inner-city youths who may not ordinarily have an opportunity to play baseball.

Upcoming event: The 27th Annual MJBL Inner City Classic in Greensboro, N.C., July 14 through 18. We are expecting more than 45 teams from across the United States to participate. Richmond’s MJBL team won the 19u MJBL Inner City Classic in Chicago in July 2016.

of Henrico, Virginia

celebrated their

people the way I want to be treated.

Diamond Wedding Anniversary April 7, 2017

Book that influenced me the most: I like a lot of nonfiction, so there isn’t one particular book that has influenced me the most. I just finished reading “The Shack” by William P. Young that was made into a movie. It tells you how God wants you to have a relationship with Him and with other people.

They have two children (1 predeceased), 4 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

If I’ve learned one thing in life, it is: Everybody is different — and that’s a good thing. Quality I most admire in another person: Honesty. Kindergarten taught me: Fundamentals are important building blocks to success in life. Next goal: To develop city youths who are skilled and competitive in baseball so our high school programs have a pipeline of players who understand and love the game.

Definition of leadership: Recognizing “people are more important than things” — from “The Art of Leadership.” Favorite Major League Baseball team: Atlanta Braves. Favorite baseball player: Greg Maddux, a retired MLB pitcher who played for the Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres.

The University of Mary Washington’s Vice President for Enrollment Management, Kimberley Buster-Williams, cordially invites you to attend an upcoming Open House.

How young people perceive baseball: A sport that is not for them. Reason young people do not play: Lack of ﬁnancial resources to play, inadequate training, lack of physical resources, lack of adequate promotion to play the game, lack of quality instruction, lack of role models. Suggestion to get more youths involved with baseball: Be able to offer more quality baseball programs to our younger children to begin playing at a younger age.

Friday, April 14, 2017 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. RSVP at go.umw.edu/OH-17 UMW’s Open House will include the following opportunities: •

A welcome from new University President, Dr. Troy Paino

Outlook at start of day: It’s a new day with new opportunities, and I look forward to the day.

•

An admission process and financial aid overview

•

A student life panel

•

Tours of campus and an opportunity to visit a residence hall

How I relax and unwind: My idea of relaxing is doing nothing and letting my mind wander in any direction and to any place that it likes to go. It’s like an open canvas and more ideas populate as I relax.

•

An academic showcase of departments, majors, and student services

•

And many more opportunities to connect with students, faculty, and programs

If I had more time, I would: Travel, but not to tourist attractions. I like to see where the local people live wherever I go. Person who inﬂuenced me the most: My parents. They always said for me to treat

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Questions? Contact the Office of Admissions at 540-654-2000 • 800-468-5614 • admit@umw.edu. Mary Washington is a public liberal arts and sciences university located fifty miles south of Washington, D.C. in Fredericksburg, VA.

Richmond Free Press

B2 April 6-8, 2016

Happenings

Photographer Louis Draper’s work to be preserved by VMFA By Holly Rodriguez

The work of photographer Louis Draper, a Henrico County native who moved to New York City in 1957 to explore his passion, is internationally regarded for documenting the everyday lives of African-Americans and notable leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts acquired Mr. Draper’s archive of photographs, negatives and other materials in December 2015, the largest special collection ever purchased by the museum, VMFA officials said. Now the collection will be digitized by the museum, thanks to a $173,833 grant to the VMFA awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. “With the NEH grant, we can digitize (Mr. Draper’s) work to preserve it and put it online” for public access, said Sarah Eckhardt, the VMFA’s associate curator of modern and contemporary art. The project will begin July 1. “It is rare for a museum to have such a “Lou Draper #3,” comprehensive archive that tells the comtaken by Anthony plete story of an artist and illustrates his Barboza in the 1970s, brings a relevance in so many different contexts,” young Louis Draper said Paula Saylor-Robinson, director of from behind the audience development and community camera. engagement for the museum. “This is a critical conservation effort, as this archive represents the entire story of a photographer who … presented a perspective of African-American life that wasn’t found in media in the 1960s and 1970s.” According to the museum’s plans, Ms. Eckhardt will curate an exhibition in January 2020 that will include Mr. Draper’s photographs and works of other photographers who participated in the early years of the Kamoinge Workshop that Mr. Draper helped establish in New York in 1963. It was a collective of African-American photographers who gathered to participate in exhibits, operate a gallery and publish their work. The organization remains active today.

Louis H. Draper Preservation Trust

Mr. Draper’s “Boy with lace curtain” is part of the VMFA archive collection of Mr. Draper’s work, the largest special collection ever acquired by the museum.

Ms. Eckhardt said the goal is to have Mr. Draper’s digitized archive online when the exhibition opens. When completed, the archive will be available though a custom portal on the website

of the VMFA. Mr. Draper grew up in Henrico County and graduated from Virginia Randolph School. His father was an amateur photographer who took photos of many of the children in the neighborhood. While attending Virginia State University, Mr. Draper joined the Camera Club, although he had no previous interest in photography, according to his sister, Nell Draper Winston. What changed his mind was a book of photos in his dormitory, “The Family Man,” that captured his attention. He left Virginia State for New York City at age 22. At one point, he lived in a brownstone owned by poet and author Langston Hughes. He took classes at New York University’s Institute of Film and Television as well as the New School for Social Research, where he studied with the influential photographer Eugene Smith. He also established relationships with several major AfricanAmerican literary and artistic leaders. With the Kamoinge Workshop, he helped organize shows in the group’s gallery as well as exhibitions at the Studio Museum in Harlem and New York’s International Center for Photography. He died in 2002. Mr. Draper’s sister approached the museum in 2012 when her brother’s work was temporarily housed at the University of Virginia, but needed a permanent home. The following year, the museum purchased 10 of his works and Ms. Winston gifted three more pieces. The museum purchased the entire archive two years later. “I thought his work was incredible, but (everyone at) VMFA was in agreement that this body of work was of national and local importance and wanted to be able to tell this story,” Ms. Eckhardt said. Mr. Draper’s archive includes 2,822 photos, 42,116 negatives, 748 contact sheets, 4,378 color and black-and-white slides, 36 computer-generated images, 71 computer disks, camera equipment, documents and publications. While his work focuses on the everyday lives of AfricanAmericans, he also photographed historic icons such as Malcolm X, Fannie Lou Hamer and former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. The grant to the VMFA is from the NEH’s Humanities Collections and Reference Resources program and is one of only 39 awarded out of 224 applicants.

Rocking the runway Models and rocked the runway last Sunday at the 2nd Annual Legacy Media Institute Spring Fashion Showcase in the city’s Manchester District. Nearly 200 people attended the fundraiser that highlighted the creations of nine fashion designers from around the world. The event was put on by Tim Reid Productions in the Decatur Street headquarters of Mr. Reid’s nonprofit institute that brings together film and television professionals, actors and others to produce documentaries and films. The fashion show was a benefit for the institute. Above, actor-director-producer Mr. Reid, center, strikes a pose on the red carpet with his wife, actress and clothing

‘Just Mercy’ author to speak April 12 at VCU

Bryan Stevenson, author of “Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption,” will speak 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 12, at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Siegel Center, 1200 W. Broad St.- Mr. Stevenson’s visit is sponsored by the Focused Inquiry faculty of University College at VCU, and is free and open to the public. The book, a memoir of Mr. Stevenson’s early days in legal practices, tells the story of one of his first

cases involving a young man who had been convicted and sentenced to death for murder and his insistence of innocence. Mr. Stevenson is the founder of the Montgomery, Ala.-based Equal Justice Initiative that works to end mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States and combats racial and economic injustice. His book was chosen for the university’s yearlong, university-wide Common Book Initiative for the

Photos by Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

designer Daphne Maxwell Reid, right, whose designs also were featured in the show, and international model and event host Salome Autolino. Left, a model showcases a design by Alphadi Privé, pictured top left, of Niger. His work is inspired by the traditions of the

current academic year. Copies of the book were given to 3,500 first-year VCU students, who attended discussions and a course on the book and the issues it raises. In conjunction with his visit to Richmond, Mr. Stevenson also will speak at the Richmond City Justice Center, joined by VCU faculty and students. He also will meet with formerly incarcerated youth artists and tour an ART180 exhibit on display at VCU’s Cabell Library.

Songhai, Zarma, Mbororo or Wodaabe, Haoussa and Touareg people. Below, an ensemble by Congolese native and Hampton resident Fanny Mpwo Hickman is modeled on the runway, capturing the attention of the audience.

Nonprofit hosts 5th Annual Easter Egg Hunt and Celebration on April 8 Putting Communities Together Inc. will host its 5th Annual Easter Egg Hunt and Celebration from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 8, at the Blackwell Community Center, 300 E. 15th St. Youngsters must be accompanied by an adult and are asked to bring their own basket for the egg hunt at the free event. Food, prizes, the Easter Bunny and

city representatives are expected. The first egg hunt will be held at 2:30 p.m., while a second egg hunt will begin at 3:30 p.m. Putting Communities Together Inc. is a nonprofit working, in part, to create safe communities by cooperation between Richmond neighborhoods and the Richmond Police Department. The organization also works to support parents and children in need.

Richmond Free Press

April 6-8, 2017

Faith News/Directory Mission Statement: People of God developing Disciples for Jesus Christ through Preaching and Teaching of God’s Holy Word reaching the people of the Church and the Community.

Sharon Baptist Church 22 E. Leigh Street, Richmond, VA 23219 • 643-3825 thesharonbaptistchurch.com Rev. Dr. Paul A. Coles, Pastor

Sunday, April 9, 2017 8:30 a.m. ... Sunday School 10:00 a.m... Morning Worship Palm Sunday

Youth

WEDNESDAYS

THURSDAYS

6:00 p.m. ..... Prayer Service 6:30 p.m. ..... Bible Study

1:30 p.m. Bible Study

St. Peter Baptist Church Dr. Kirkland R. Walton, Pastor

Sundays:

Morning Worship Church School Morning Worship

Thursdays:

8 A.M. 9:30 A.M. 11 A.M.

Mid-Day Bible Study 12 Noon Prayer & Praise 6:30 P.M. Bible Study 7 P.M. (Children/Youth/Adults)

Unity Sundays (2nd Sundays): Church School Morning Worship

8:30 A.M. 10 A.M.

Palm Sunday Unity Worship Service

Sunday, April 9, 2017 10:00 a.m.•

Maundy Thursday

Good Friday

Worship Service

Sunday, April 13, 2017 7:00 p.m.

Friday, April 14, 2017 7:00 p.m.•

2040 Mountain Road • Glen Allen, Virginia 23060 Office 804-262-0230 • Fax 804-262-4651 • www.stpeterbaptist.net Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

Dr. Levy M. Armwood Jr. plans to preach his final sermon before retiring from Ebenezer Baptist Church in Jackson Ward on Sunday, June 25.

Dr. Levy Armwood to retire By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Ebenezer Baptist Church in Jackson Ward soon will be looking for a new pastor. Dr. Levy M. Armwood Jr. is retiring after nearly 15 years in the pulpit of the historic church that has occupied 216 W. Leigh St. since 1858, three years before the Civil War. Dr. Armwood said Sunday that he would preach his ﬁnal sermon to the nearly 600-member congregation Sunday, June 25, just before he celebrates his 77th birthday in July. His ﬁnal day as Ebenezer’s pastor is to be Friday, June 30, he said. The church’s ninth pastor since the church’s founding, he said he plans to rest and relax for a few months before focusing on collecting his sermons for publication. His decision to step down will wrap up his dual careers in education and church ministry that span 48 years. A Washington native and graduate of Howard University, Dr. Armwood spent 32 years as a music educator for Richmond Public Schools. Hired

Riverview

soon after he graduated from Howard in 1967, he taught at eight city schools, including Thomas Jefferson High and at the regional Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School. He retired from RPS in 2000. He also was an adjunct music professor at Virginia Union University for 12 years. He taught classes in voice and humanities and provided classes in music methods for elementary school teachers. Along with teaching in city

schools, Dr. Armwood started his career in ministry as director of Ebenezer’s Sanctuary Choir in 1968. Three years later, he became the church’s minister of music while continuing to direct the Sanctuary Choir, which he led until 1992. While heading the music ministry, he was licensed as a minister in 1982 and earned a master’s of divinity from VUU in 1988 in preparing for church leadership. In 1992, he got his ﬁrst op-

You are cordially invited to the

Installation Service of our Pastor

Rev. L. T. Edwards Saturday, April 8, 2017 3:00 P.M.

SUNDAY SCHOOL - 9:45 A.M. SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE 11:00 A.M.

e with Reverence elevanc R ing Dr. Morris Henderson, Senior Pastor bin v

Cub Scout Pack 414 Presents

Saturday, April 15, 2017 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Children and Youth Are Invited

SunDayS

ng i r p S ival Rev017 2

Church School 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. MOnDay-FriDay Nutrition Center and Clothes Closet 11:30 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. 823 North 31st Street Richmond, VA 23223 (804) 226-0150 Office www.31sbc.org

April 10th – 13th

“Showers of Blessings: Revive Us Again” Ezekiel 34:26

Monday April 10th REV. KEITH EDMONDS Koinonia Christian Church

Tuesday April 11th REV. KEVIN COOK

Broad Rock Baptist Church

Wednesday April 12th REV. DARRELL TAYLOR Fairfield Baptist Church

Established  1980 

Thursday April 13th REV. LARRY BARHAM

Star Fellowship Baptist Church

Baptist Church 2604 Idlewood Avenue Richmond, Va. 23220 (804) 353-6135 www.riverviewbaptistch.org Rev. Dr. Stephen L. Hewlett, Pastor Rev. Dr. Ralph Reavis, Sr. Pastor Emeritus

portunity to lead a church when Providence Baptist Church in Ashland called him to the pulpit. During his tenure there, he earned his doctorate from VUU. Dr. Armwood led the church for 10 years before he was called to serve as pastor at Ebenezer Baptist in 2002. He was ofﬁcially installed in 2003.

Thirty-first Street Baptist Church

The Deacons, Deaconess, Trustees, Choirs, and Ushers from the above named churches will serve on their respective nights.

Blessed Hope Baptist Church 2311 Ford Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23223 (804) 643-7317 Pastor’s Study Email address: bhbcrva@gmail.com Founder & Pastor – The Late Rev. Fred H. Hannah

Prayer & Praise service 7:30 p.m. Revival Worship 8:00 p.m.

Union

Baptist Church

1813 Everett Street Richmond, Virginia 23224 804-231-5884 Rev. Robert C. Davis, Pastor

Sunday, April 9, 2017 — Thursday, April 13, 2017

SIXTH MOUNT ZION BAPTIST CHURCH presents

The Whip, 

The Hammer,



and

SATURDAY APRIL 15, 2017

THE CROSS

12 Noon and 5 PM FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

s at

tu Mee 14 West Duval Street, Richmond, Va. 23220 Phone: 804.648.7511 Web: www.smzbc.org

Rev. Tyrone E. Nelson, Pastor

oun

M The

Richmond Free Press

B4 April 6-8, 2017

Faith News/Directory

Prison Fellowship launches ‘Second Chance Month’ to help convicts By Adelle M. Banks Religion News Service

A national prison ministry is joining forces with conservative and liberal groups to call on church leaders and politicians to give former prisoners a second chance at normal lives. “We believe people with a past can rise from their failure, repay their debt and restore and heal our communities that are affected by crime,” said Craig DeRoche, senior vice president of Prison Fellowship, as he launched the ﬁrst “Second Chance Month.” “There is no such thing as a throwaway person, and by granting second chances to those who have earned them, we will be contributing to the restoration of families, communities and our nation.” Speaking March 30 at the National Press Club in Washington, Mr. DeRoche and representatives of the NAACP, the Heritage Foundation,

the American Civil Liberties Union and Koch Industries called for a reduction in the more than 48,000 statutes that limit the rights of people with a criminal record. About 65 million Americans — or 1 in 4 adults — have a criminal record that can lead to reduced access to jobs and education and a restriction from voting. Casey Irwin, a former prisoner who served time for drug possession and assaulting a police ofﬁcer, spoke at the news conference about how ministries helped her with job leads, housing and transportation. “I made poor choices,” said Ms. Irwin, who now works as a manager of a KFC restaurant and attends a megachurch in Minnesota. “I’m still a normal human being and I need a place to eat and I need a place to sleep and I need a place to work.” Mr. DeRoche, a former Minnesota House speaker with a criminal record stemming from

Adelle M. Banks

Casey Irwin, a formerly incarcerated woman from Minnesota, speaks at the launch of the first “Second Chance Month” in Washington.

an alcohol addiction, said Prison Fellowship will mark the month of April with 5K runs in Denver and St. Paul, Minn. “Churches will host Second Chance Sundays to share the message of redemption and pray for the families impacted by crime,” he said. U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, a Ohio Republican,

introduced a resolution last week supporting the observance. More than 50 organizations are partnering with Prison Fellowship, the nation’s largest outreach to prisoners, including Bread for the World, Catholic Charities, Christian Legal Society and the Faith and Freedom Coalition.

Broad Rock Baptist Church

Christian leaders outside the U.S. Capitol pray and protest the federal budget cuts President Trump has proposed.

5106 Walmsley Blvd., Richmond, VA 23224 804-276-2740 • 804-276-6535 (fax) www.BRBCONLINE.org

Early Morning Worship ~ 8 a.m. Sunday School ~ 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship ~ 11 a.m. 4th Sunday Uniﬁed Worship Service ~ 9:30 a.m. Bible Study: Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m. & 7 p.m. Sermons Available at BRBCONLINE.org

“MAKE IT HAPPEN” Photo courtesy of Joseph Molieri/Bread for the World

Pastor Kevin Cook

Christian coalition protests Trump’s planned budget cuts WASHINGTON With ashes on their foreheads, sackcloth draped around their necks and the U.S. Capitol as a backdrop, Christian leaders used the words “evil” and “immoral” to describe the federal budget cuts President Trump has proposed and many Republican lawmakers favor. “It is a time for lamentation,” said the Rev. David Beckmann, explaining the symbols of grief the clergy brought last week to Capitol Hill. Rev. Beckmann, president of Bread for the World, a Christian nonproﬁt that works to combat hunger, gathered with more than two dozen representatives of national churches outside the Capitol complex on March 29 for a day of protest. They said their understanding of the Bible compels them to speak out against planned reductions in programs that protect the poor and the environment, provide foreign aid and fund the Justice Department’s civil rights division. How can we tolerate cuts to the civil rights division, asked the Rev. Barbara Williams-Skinner, co-chair of the National AfricanAmerican Clergy Network, “at a time when hate has gone on a rampage in America?” President Trump’s budget

blueprint, released in March, calls for deep cuts in social spending and for a signiﬁcant budget increase for the military. The spending bills that make up the actual federal budget are voted upon by the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. After taking turns at the podium, clergy and lay supporters walked to the Senate side of the Capitol, where they placed a waist-high wooden cross on the grass and prayed for the nation’s vulnerable and the strength to confront lawmakers with whom they disagree. “We ask that you would give us courage, that you would give us boldness, that you would help us to speak truth to power,” the Rev. Leslie Copeland-Tune prayed on behalf of the gathering. “There cannot be a budget that puts children in danger by defunding after-school programs,” continued Rev. Copeland-Tune, head of the Ecumenical Poverty Initiative. “Empower us as we leave this space and go forth to meet with our members of Congress.” Together, three times, the group sang the hymn “Ubi Caritas,” which translates to “Live in Charity,” and they lifted their arms toward the Capitol dome in a closing prayer. The coalition of faith leaders,

which calls itself the “Circle of Protection,” planned an afternoon of lobbying House and Senate members representing both parties. Several in the group — which includes representatives from Catholic, mainline Protestant, evangelical, Orthodox and African-American churches — noted that these denominations often differ from one another on doctrine and tone. But they are united on the biblical mandate to care for the vulnerable. Many times they recited from the Gospel of Matthew 25:3, “Blessed

are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Jim Wallis, editor of Sojourners magazine, thanked Democratic Rep. Joe Kennedy of Massachusetts, the only lawmaker to attend the event, for invoking the verse during the recent debate over the failed GOP health care bill. “In times of division and discourse in our government, our faith steadies us,” Rep. Kennedy, who is Catholic, told the gathered clergy. “It is our connective thread and a common compass.”

01 6 to 2

Friday, April 14, 2017 - 7:00 PM Pastor Michael R. Lomax in conjunction with Ministerial Staff 915 Glenburnie Road, Richmond, VA 23226 (804) 288-3224 Office • (804) 288-3223 Church

www.westwoodbaptist-va.org or Follow us on Disciples of Westwood Baptist Church

Sixth Baptist Church A 21st Century Church With Ministry For Everyone

We Embrace Diversity — Love For All!

Come worship with us! Sunday, April 9, 2017 Palm Sunday

“HeApril is Risen” 16, 2017 - 7:30 AM

Christ Kids And Christ Teens Worship Every Sunday Nursery During Church School and Worship

, Pastor

Twitter sixthbaptistrva

400 South Addison Street Richmond, Va. 23220

Facebook sixthbaptistrva

(804) 359-1691 or 359-3498 Fax (804) 359-3798 www.sixthbaptistchurch.org

(near Byrd Park)

April 9, 2017 10:30 A.M. Join Us for Worship!

Goo

Good Shepherd Baptist Church

“T T

Dr. Sylvester T. Smith, Pastor “There’s A Place for You” Tuesday Sunday 10:30 AM Bible Study 9:30 AM Church School 6:30 PM Church-wide Bible Study 11:00 AM Worship Service 6:30 PM Men's Bible Study (Each 2nd and 4th) (Holy Communion Thursday each 2nd Sunday) Wednesday (Following 2nd Sunday)

11:00 AM Mid-day Meditation

216 W. Leigh St. • Richmond, Va. 23220 Tel: 804-643-3366 • Fax: 804-643-3367 Email: ebcofﬁce1@yahoo.com • web: www.richmondebenezer.com Sunday Worship Sunday Church School Service of Holy Communion Service of Baptism Life Application Bible Class Mid-Week Senior Adult Fellowship Wednesday Meditation & Bible Study Homework & Tutoring Scouting Program Thursday Bible Study

11:00 a.m. 9:30 a.m. Every 3rd Sunday 2nd Sunday, 11 a.m. Mon. 6:30 p.m. Tues. 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Wed. 6:45 p.m. Wed. 4:30 p.m. Wed. 6:00 p.m. Thurs., 11:45 a.m.

Dr. Levy M. Armwood, Pastor  Dr. Wallace J. Cook, Pastor Emeritus



Rev. Darryl G. Thompson, Pastor

2017 Theme: The Year of Elevation 8775 Mount Olive Avenue Glen Allen, Virginia 23060 (804) 262-9614 Phone (804) 262-2397 Fax www.mobcva.org

Sundays

8:00 a.m. Early Morning Worship 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Morning Worship

Tuesdays

Noon Day Bible Study

Wednesdays

6:30 p.m. Prayer and Praise 7:00 p.m. Adult Bible Study

2017 201 1177

”

Play ~ April 15, 2017 20177 20

Easter Sun n

vice ~ April 16, 2017 17

Purchase Tickets at MMBC on Sundays or through our members.

1127 North 28th St., Richmond, VA 23223-6624 • Office: (804) 644-1402

6:30 PM Prayer Meeting

An afternoon of music, laughter laughter, spoken word and fellowship fellowship.

(Breakfast will be served after worship service.)



Fleming Memorial Male Chorus 16th Anniversary

Communion - 1st Sunday

Matthew 28: 1-10

(First Peter 5:6)

10:45 AM Divine Worship

Prayer Services: Wednesday (1st & 3rd ) 7 a.m. Every Wednesday 8 p.m.

Dr. Robert L. Pettis, Sr., Pastor

Mount Olive Baptist Church

Theme for 2016-2020: Mobilizing For Ministry Refreshing The Old and Emerging The New

Bible Study: Tuesday - 9 a.m. Wednesday - 7 p.m.

Easter Sunday Worship Service & Holy Communion

“The People’s Church”

7 18

Church School - 9:30 a.m. Worship Service - 11:15 a.m.

2006 Decatur Street, Richmond, VA 23224 • (804) 859-1985

1858

Seven LaSt WordS

2003 Lamb Avenue Dr. Arthur M. Jones, Sr., Pastor (804) 321-7622

Zion Baptist Church

Ebenezer Baptist Church present s

Baptist Church

6:00 A.M. at MMBC

W kl Worship: Weekly W hi Sundays @ 10:30 A.M. Church School: Sundays @ 9:00 A.M. Bible Study: Wednesdays @ Noon & 7:00 P.M. 2901 Mechanicsville Turnpike, Richmond, VA 23223 (804) 648-2472 ~ www.mmbcrva.org Dr. Price London Davis, Senior Pastor

New Deliverance

Mosby Memorial Baptist Church Evangelistic Church

“A Caring Community Committed to Listening, Loving, 1701 Turner Road, North Chesterfield, Virginia 23225 Learning and Leaning While Launching into our Future.” (804) 276-0791 office (804)276-5272 fax www.ndec.net

Holy Week Services 2017

Lenten Season

Wednesday, April 12 Friday, April 14 7:30 pm Nightly •

Sonrise Service Sunday, April 16 6:00 am

Resurrection Sunday Service

Bishop G. O. Glenn D. Min., Pastor Mother Marcietia S. Glenn First Lady

Sunday, April 16 10:00 am

(No Sunday School)

Rev. Dr. Price L. Davis, Pastor Sunday 8:00 a.m. Sunday School 9:00 a.m. Worship Service

Women 19thAnnual ission & Purpose

M Conference Upcoming Events ith

Theme: In His Presence Wednesday Services Black History Celebration

Religion News Service

Triumphant

Noonday Bible Study 12noon-1:00 p.m. Attendance

Sanctuary - All Are Welcome!

“Living For His Glory” ScripTure: February For in Him26, we2017 live, and move, During Morning Worship… and have our being.

17:28a NIV) We will have Black History moments,(Acts a presentation from our Creative Arts

Friday and Saturday, Wednesday Evening Bible Study Ministry and end the day with a shared meal. 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. April 21-22, 2017 - 9 AM Attendance For more information and to Register go to: www.ndec.net or call 1-844-699-4054 Saturday Doubletree Hotel Reservations: 8:30 a.m. Intercessory Prayer 1-800-222-8733 or 804-379-3800 {Reference New Deliverance Evangelistic Church} You can now view Sunday Morning Service “AS IT HAPPENS” online! Also, for your convenience.

Tune in on Sunday Morning to WTVR - Channel 6 - 8:30 a.m.

Richmond Free Press

April 6-8, 2017 B5

Legal Notices/Employment Divorce

PUBLIC NOTICE CITY OF RICHMOND 2016-2020 CONSOLIDATED PLAN & 2017 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN In accordance with HUD citizen participation requirements, a 30-day public comment period for the 2016-2020 Consolidated Plan and the proposed 2017 Annual Action Plan (City FY 2018) will begin on April 7, 2017, and will expire on May 22, 2017. By this notice the City of Richmond announces the availability of the second year of the five year 2016-2020 Consolidated Plan also known as the proposed 2017 Annual Action Plan Budget is ready for public review and comment. Notice is also hereby given that the Department of Economic and Community Development will hold a public hearing, as provided by the federal regulations and the citizen participation requirements of the Five Year Consolidated Plan, will be held on April 20, 2017, 6:00 P.M. at 101 E. Franklin Street, for the purpose of considering the proposed Five Year Consolidated and Annual Action Plans. Further notice is also given that on Monday, May 22, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers, the Richmond City Council will hold a public hearing on the Mayor’s 2016-2020 Consolidated Plan and proposed 2017 Annual Action Plan budget for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) programs. The HOPWA funds are allocated to the City to administer for the Richmond-Petersburg MSA. The Plan will serve as a comprehensive planning document discussing Richmond’s community development and housing needs with particular emphasis on the provision of decent housing, a suitable living environment, assisting and preventing homelessness, assisting special needs community, and the expansion of economic opportunities, particularly for low and moderate income persons. The funds below are federal entitlement dollars allocated to the City through the U. S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) to implement the housing and community development priorities and activities identified in the five year Consolidated Plan, which is consistent with City’s Focus Area Priorities. Please be advised that Congress has not approved a budget for entitlement funds for the City’s fiscal year 2018. As a result the City is proposing the following draft budget with contingencies based on the final award from HUD. CDBG Entitlement Grant: HOME Entitlement Grant: ESG Entitlement Grant: HOPWA Regional Entitlement Grant Total Funds Available for FY 2018

(includes prior year surplus):

$ 4,618,000 $1,296,518 $375,498 $813,475 $ 7,103,491

The following projects have been recommended for CDBG, HOME, ESG, and HOPWA allocations to undertake the following activities to preserve and revitalize the City’s neighborhoods and further the City’s economic growth for FY 2018: CDBG Projects Housing & Neighborhood Preservation 25th Street/Nine Mile Road Redev. Area 3200 W. Broad Street Baker School Church Hill Narrow Lot Homes Citywide Critical Home Repair Citywide Owner Occupied Home Repair Keystone Program City-wide DPA Lead Grant Reduction Activities * Matthews At Chestnut Hill * Mimosa Creek Model Block Development NIB Area Housing Code Enforcement Rebuilding Together Year Round * Section 108 Loan Repayment * The Hollands Townhomes at Warwick Phase II Venable Street Shell Rehab Sub-Total - Housing & Neigh Pres.

Project Description

Amount

Acquisition Mixed Use/Multi family Multifamily Development Single Family Construction Homeowner Repair Homeowner Repair Homeowner Assistance DECD/PH Single Family Construction Single Family Construction Single Family Construction Code Enforcement Homeowner Repair Loan Repayment Single Family Construction Multifamily/New Construction Single Family Rehabilitation

$ 250,000 $ 400,000 $ 100,000 $ 30,000 $ 400,000 $ 200,000 $ 200,000 $ 100,000 $ 150,000 $ 90,000 $ 35,000 $ 125,000 $ 90,000 $ 260,000 $ 300,000 $ 150,000 $ 70,000 $ 2,950,000

Economic Development Neighborhood Economic Development Sub-Total - Economic Dev.

ED Technical Assistance

$ $

275,000 275,000

Planning & Administration Block Grant Administration and Housing Fair Housing Support and Outreach Finance/Monitoring Historic Review Neighborhood Planning Sub-Total - Planning & Admin.

Administration Administration Administration Administration Administration

$ $ $ $ $ $

250,000 60,000 133,000 52,000 288,000 783,000

Public Services Housing Code Enforcement Counseling Housing Counseling & Information Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Pathways to Independence-PS Positive Paths Residential Support for Homeless Families River City Roots: Urban Horticulture Youth Build in Community Sub-Total - Public Services TOTAL CDBG BUDGET

Code Counseling Housing Counseling Health Services Housing Counseling Job Training Homeless Services Job Training Job Training

$ 90,000 $ 175,000 $ 100,000 $ 40,000 $ 25,000 $ 100,000 $ 30,000 $ 50,000 $ 610,000 $ 4,618,000

HOME Projects * Carver Affordable Homeownership Community Housing Empowerment NiB DPA Fair Housing Support and Outreach HOME Program Administration Model Block Development Revitalizing Blighted Properties Rose Corridor Affordable Housing Rose Corridor Development St. Luke Project * The Hollands TOTAL HOME BUDGET

PROJECT DESCRIPTION Single Family Construction Homeowner Assistance Administration Administration Single Family Construction Single Family Const./Rehab Single Family Const./Rehab Single Family Construction Multifamily Development Single Family Construction

AMOUNT $ 315,000 $ 150,000 $ 15,000 $ 85,000 $ 90,000 $ 180,000 $ 135,000 $ 180,000 $ 100,000 $ 46,518 $ 1,296,518

Emergency Solutions Grant ESG Financial Monitoring ESG Program Administration Emergency Financial Assistance Program Emergency Shelter Program Building Neighbors Rapid Re-Housing Program Homeward Community Information System Short Term Shelter and Rapid Re-housing Rapid Re-housing TOTAL ESG BUDGET

PROJECT DESCRIPTION Administration Administration Homeless Prevention Homeless Services Homeless Services Data Collection Homeless Services Homeless Services

Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Housing Assistance Program HOPWA CIS HOPWA Finance Monitoring HOPWA Greater Richmond HOPWA Program Administration Stratford House TOTAL HOPWA BUDGET

PROJECT DESCRIPTION Short Term Financial Assistance Data Management Administration Short/Long Term Financial Assistance Administration Residential Facility

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

AMOUNT 3,000 14,998 25,000 55,000 20,000 7,500 190,000 60,000 375,498

$ $ $ $ $ $ $

AMOUNT 90,000 20,000 4,000 479,475 20,000 200,000 813,475

If the City’s CDBG allocation is less than $4,082,806 the following proposed activities’ budgets will receive full funding since these are projects the City and HUD have determined must be completed. Project Name Subrecipient FY 2018 * Matthews At Chestnut Hill SCDHC $ 150,000 * Mimosa Creek SCDHC $ 90,000 * Section 108 2012 Loan Repayment Finance $ 260,000 * The Hollands SCDHC $ 300,000 All of the proposed Public Service Activities and Planning & Administration Activities will be proportionally decreased to prevent exceeding the Public Service of 15% cap and the Planning and Administration of 20% cap. Additionally all other proposed CDBG activity budgets will be proportionally decreased from the estimated funding levels to match actual allocation amounts. If the City’s CDBG allocation is greater than the proposed $4,082,806 then all proposed activity budgets will be proportionally increased from the estimated funding levels to match actual allocation amount. If the City’s HOME allocation is less than $1,096,518 the following proposed activity budgets will receive full funding since these are projects the City and HUD have determined must be completed. Project Name Subrecipient FY 2018 * Carver Affordable Homeownership PH $ 315,000 * The Hollands SCDHC $ 46,518 All the remaining proposed HOME activity budgets will be proportionally decreased from the estimated funding levels to match actual allocation amounts. If the City’s HOME allocation is greater the proposed $1,096,518 than all proposed activities’ budgets will be proportionally increased from the estimated funding levels to match actual allocation amount. All ESG Funds proposed activity budgets will be proportionally increased or decreased from the estimated funding levels to match actual allocation amounts. All HOPWA Funds proposed activity budgets will be proportionally increased or decreased from the estimated funding levels to match actual allocation amounts. Copies of the 2016-2020 Consolidated Plan and proposed 2017 Annual Action Plan are available for public review in the City Department of Economic & Community Development, 1500 E Main ST, Suite 400, or at the Main Richmond Public Library at 101 E. Franklin Street, and at www.yesrichmondva.com. The City of Richmond does not discriminate on the basis of disability status in the admission of, or access to, or treatment in its federally assisted programs or activities. Virginia Relay Center - TDD Users - 1-800-828-1120. Citizens and interested persons are invited to attend the public hearing and give their views regarding the use of CDBG, HOME, ESG and HOPWA funds for the Five-Year Consolidated Plan and proposed Annual Action Plan. The City will arrange for reasonable accommodations for non-English speaking persons or those persons with visual, hearing, or mobility impairments when notified within five (5) business days of a meeting. Those unable to attend the meetings may send their comments and views in writing to: Mr. Daniel Mouer, Project Development Manager of Economic and Community Development, 1500 E. Main Street, Suite 400, Richmond, VA 23219 or by e-mail to Daniel.Mouer@richmondgov.com. Comments may also be sent by facsimile (804) 646-6358.

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE COUNTY OF CHESTERFIELD MARQUITA LEWIS KELSAW, Plaintiff v. LOUIS ELBERT KELSAW, SR., Defendant Case No. 17-419 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this lawsuit is for the Plaintiff to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the Defendant because they have lived separate and apart, without cohabitation or the intention to resume cohabitation for more than one year. The Defendant shall appear and protect his interests before this Court before May 12, 2017 at 8:30 a.m., which is within 50 days of the date of the entry of this Order. An Extract Teste: Wendy S. Hughes, Clerk Robert L. Flax, P.C. 8 South Sheppard Street Richmond, VA 23221-3028 804 355-8425 office 804 355-9129 fax robertflax@flaxlegal.com VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE CITY OF RICHMOND APRIL BIANCA JAMES, Plaintiff v. GEORGE O’NEAL CRUMP, JR., Defendant. Case No.: CL13-3249-8 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit, brought by April Bianca James, is a complaint for divorce. It appearing from an affidavit that the Defendant, George O’Neal Crump, Jr., cannot be found, and that due diligence has been used without effect to ascertain the location of the Defendant; It is hereby ORDERED that the Defendant appear before this Court on or before the 9th of May, 2017 at 9:30 a.m. to protect his interests herein. A Copy, Teste: Edward F. Jewett, Clerk Cravens & Noll, P.C. 9011 Arboretum Parkway, Suite 200 Richmond, VA 23236 (804) 330-9220 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER STEPHANIE THOMAS, Plaintiff v. GREGORY THOMAS, Defendant. Case No.: CL17000574-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months. Continued on next page

Continued from previous column

It is ORDERED that the defendant, whose whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 25th day of April, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. and protect his interests. A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Dorothy M. Eure Counsel for Plaintiff VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667

Domestic Relations District Court of the County of chesterfield Commonwealth of Virginia, in re carter warner westbay Brian keith branch, tracy l. branch v. Unknown father Case No. JJ090846-01-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to: Determine custody o f Ca r te r Wa r ne r Westbay (DOB: 5/4/16), whose mother is Christina Ann Moore and whose father is unknown, pursuant to Virginia Code Section 16.1-241A3. Father’s whereabouts are unknown. It is ORDERED that the defendant Unknown Father appear at the abovenamed Court and protect his interests on or before 5/5/2017 at 9:00 AM

defendant Leticia Babette Luke (Mother) to appear at the above-named Court and protect his/her interest on or before 5/9/2017 at 2:00 PM Courtroom #2

CUSTODY VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF CHESTERFIELD BRANDON H. WALTON, Plaintiff v. PAYNE G. BRAVO, Respondent. In re: Noah Gabriel Bravo (D.O.B. 04/09/2015) March 15, 2017 Case No.: CL17-31 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to obtain an adoption of the minor child Noah Gabriel Bravo by the Petitioners. WHEREFORE, an affidavit having been filed by the Plaintiff that due diligence has been used without effect to ascertain the location of the Respondent, Payne G. Bravo, it is ORDERED that Payne G. Bravo appear before this Court on May 5, 2017 at 8:30 a.m. to protect his interests herein. A Copy, Teste: WENDY S. HUGHES, Clerk Mary Ashby Brown, Esquire FRIEDMAN LAW FIRM, PC 9401 Courthouse Rd., Suite A Chesterfield, VA 23832 (804) 717-1969 VIRginia: IN THE Juvenile and Continued on next column

VIRginia: IN THE Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court of the City of Richmond Commonwealth of Virginia, in re ANTONIO LUKE Case No. J-778958-06-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“RPR”) of Leticia Babette Luke (MOTHER) of ANTONIO LUKE child, DOB 11/23/2003, “RPR” means all rights and responsibilities remaining with parent after transfer of legal custody or guardianship of the person, including but not limited to rights of: visitation; adoption consent; determination of religious affiliation; and responsibility for support. It is ORDERED that the Continued on next column

License Cary Addison, LLC Trading as: Fresca on Addison 22 S. Addison Street, Richmond, Virginia 23220 The above establishment is applying to the Virginia D epartme n t of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) for a wine and beer on and off premises license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages. Jenna Sneed, co-owner NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www. abc.virginia.gov or 800-5523200.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL The University of Virginia seeks a firm to provide: Laboratory Casework, Fume Hoods and Accessories To view a copy of RFP # FM032917 go to Procurement Services Site: http://www.procurement. virginia.edu/main/ publicpostings/RFP.html, or email pur-rfp@virginia.edu REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL The University of Virginia seeks a firm to provide: University Trademark Licensing Plan To view a copy of RFP # SH032817 go to Procurement Services Site:http://www.procurement. virginia.edu/main/ publicpostings/RFP.html, or email pur-rfp@virginia.edu

The City of Richmond announces the following project(s) available for services relating to: RFP W170017510 Richmond City Justice Center Medical Services Program Receipt Date: Tuesday, May 2, 2017 at 3:30 PM Receipt Location: 900 East Broad Street, 11th Floor, Room 1104, Richmond, VA 23219 Mandatory Pre-Proposal Meeting: Tuesday, April 18, 2017 @ at 10:00 AM, at Richmond City Justice Center, 1701 Fairfield Way in Richmond, Virginia. Information or copies of the above solicitation is available by contacting Procurement Services, at the City of Richmond website (www. RichmondGov.com), or at 11th Floor of City Hall, 900 E. Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219. Phone (804) 646-5716 or faxed (804) 6465989. The City of Richmond encourages all contractors to participate in the procurement process. For reference purposes, documents may be examined at the above location.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES St. Peter Baptist Church Child Development Center is looking for qualified Teachers and Instructional Assistants with previous child care experience and who can be a Christian role model. These positions require multiple responsibilities; For further details contact Mrs. Lavasia Williams at (804) 262-6562.

Director, HCVP & Tenant Selection Exterminator Maintenance Specialist Senior Accountant Senior Office Support Specialist

Exciting Career Opportunities!

Join RRHA and make a positive difference in revitalizing communities and lives. Excellent benefits for full-time employees. Please visit the RRHA website www.rrha.com for complete details and to complete an on-line application. Drug Screen, background and DMV check required. EOE/D/V/F/M

GIS TechnIcIan Richmond

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) is actively recruiting a GIS Technician to join the Research Division’s GIS Team. VEDP is a marketing oriented agency; as such, the maps and other deliverables produced are often used in promotional materials and must compellingly tell the intended story to the viewer. The key responsibility of this position is to create cartographic products for internal and external clients. To that end, this position will also research and maintain data, digitize, geocode, and perform network and other spatial and logistical analyses. Secondary responsibilities include maintaining a small suite of internal reference maps and creating data visualizations for projects or marketing materials. At least 1-3 years of demonstrated experience in the field of GIS and a Bachelor’s Degree in GIS, Cartography, Geography, Information Systems, Urban Studies, or another related field preferred. Salary minimum: $36,500. All candidates must apply through our website www.yesvirginia.org/About_Us/Employment. aspx. An example of past work must be emailed to vedphr@yesvirginia.org upon submission of your application. If selected for an interview, a portfolio of past work will be required. Application deadline: April 14, 2017. EOE/M/F/V/D

To advertise

The City of Richmond is seeking to fill the following positions: Appraiser IV 08M00000038 Assessor’s Office Apply by 04/16/17 Construction Inspector II 29M00000561 Department of Public Works Apply by 04/16/17 Equipment Operator III – Stormwater Utility Program 35M00000854 Department of Public Utilities Apply by 04/16/17 Librarian II 03M00000081 Richmond Public Library Apply by 04/16/17 Maintenance Technician II 30M00000042 Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities Apply by 04/16/17 Maintenance Technician III 30M00000265 Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities Apply by 04/16/17 Maintenance Worker I – Cemeteries (Seasonal) 30TEMPCEM Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities Apply by 04/16/17 ****************** For an exciting career with the City of Richmond, visit our website for additional information and apply today! www.richmondgov.com EOE M/F/D/V

in the Richmond Free Press call 644-0496

Richmond Free Press

B6 April 6-8, 2017

Sports Plus

Eliezer Zambrano opens 8th season April 6 with Flying Squirrels By Fred Jeter

Eliezer Zambrano has become as much a part of Richmond’s baseball scene as peanuts, Cracker Jacks and fireworks lighting up the night above The Diamond. The 30-year-old, switch-hitting catcher from San Diego, Venezuela, begins his eighth season with the Richmond Flying Squirrels on Thursday, April 6, in the season opener against Hartford, Conn. Asked of the difference between this season and his rookie season in Richmond in 2010, he said, “I feel a little older.” Zambrano goes by “Z” to teammates and has been billed as “the original Squirrel” by team General Manager Todd “Parney” Parnell. “I love the guy,” Parnell told the Free Press this week. “I love his spirit as both a player and a person.” In addition to his role on the field, Zambrano has been the most active Flying Todd Parnell Squirrel behind the scenes. A year ago, he was awarded the franchise’s Community Service Award for making outreach appearances around town and especially for working with youth groups. “I was a kid, too, once,” he said, flashing his signature Hollywood smile. Asked about how many community outings Zambrano has volunteered for, Parnell said “countless.” Although plans can always change abruptly for a minor leaguer, Zambrano plans on spending this spring and summer living in the Short Pump area with his wife, Tamy, and 3-yearold daughter, Anarella.

Batter up!

The Richmond Flying Squirrels will open its 2017 Eastern League season on Thursday, April 6, at The Diamond. Here’s the schedule for the team’s seven-game home stand: • Thursday, April 6, vs. Hartford, Conn., 7:05 p.m., fireworks • Friday, April 7, vs. Hartford, 7:05 p.m., T-shirt give-away • Saturday, April 8, vs. Hartford, 6:05 p.m., fireworks • Sunday, April 9, vs. Hartford, 12:05 p.m., fleece blanket give-away • Monday, April 10, vs. Altoona, Pa., 6:35 p.m., Bark in the Park; Frisbee rope give-away • Tuesday, April 11, vs. Altoona, 6:35 p.m., outdoorsman cap give-away • Wednesday, April 12, vs. Altoona, 6:35 p.m., wine tasting The Hartford Yard Goats team is an affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. The Altoona Curve team is an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Photos by Regina H. Boone / Richmond Free Press

Eliezer Zambrano

“They always come with me,” he said. In fact, Anarella is this year’s “Miss July” on the Flying Squirrels scheduling calendar, where the youngster is pictured with “Nutzy,” the team mascot. “Anarella loves Nutzy,” said the proud father. In seven previous seasons, Zambrano has gotten to know the Richmond area, especially the restaurant scene. “Lots of good places to eat — Colombian, Dominican, Mexican,” he said. Asked for a favorite, he said Chicken Fiesta, a chain restaurant where the rotisserie chicken and rice keeps him coming back.

Patrick Ewing returns to Georgetown Free Press wire report

Patrick Ewing is returning to Georgetown University, and boy are the Hoyas happy! On Monday, university officials announced that Ewing, who as a player helped build the school into a national powerhouse in the 1980s, would be back on campus. After spending years grinding as an Sounds of the Squirrels NBA assistant coach, he will take over the Georgetown basketball program The Richmond Flying Squirrels’ games will be broadcast on Fox Sports Radio 910 AM, with Jay Burnham handling playthat has fallen on hard times during by-play and Sam Ravech supplying color commentary. the past two seasons. The new public address announcer at The Diamond will In announcing the hire, Georgetown be Anthony Opperman, succeeding Jimmy Barrett, a WRVA called Ewing “the greatest men’s basradio personality who had done the job since 2010. ketball player to ever don the Blue On the field, the “mistress of ceremonies” will be Megan (and) Gray.” Argstadt, who will coordinate the festivities between innings. He led the Hoyas to the school’s only Mike Murphy previously served in that role. national championship in 1984 and now he takes over from the son of the man who coached him at Georgetown. “My four years at Georgetown were the best of my life,” Ewing said in a statement issued by the school. “Georgetown is my home and it is a great honor for me to return to my alma mater and We can make a difference. serve as the next head coach. I have been preparing to be a head coach for many years and can’t wait to return to the Hilltop.” John Thompson III, the son of Big John Thompson, was fired last month Richmond Free Press after consecutive losing seasons. The People's Newspaper Ewing has been an assistant coach with the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets and had hoped for years to land a head coaching job in the pros. He also served as an We can make a difference. assistant for Washington, Houston and Orlando and spent every July coaching the Hornets’ summer league team, never acting entitled despite his Hall of Fame Patrick credentials. “Of all the players that have gone from superstardom to Richmond Free Press putting in the time and paying their dues to becoming a head The People's Newspaper coach, Patrick deserves this probably more than any player

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with your

dollars

That is, if we vote daily with our dollars.

tremendous economic clout. Economic clout so great that it determines whether most companies in the Richmond area make a profit — especially during these hard times.

Credible corporations and governmental entities that place advertising in the columns of the Free Press are sending the message that they appreciate our patronage and respect us as customers.

They also should respect and appreciate us and our hard-earned dollars — just as they do the readers of other media.

We urge our readers to think in economic terms and to use the advertising columns of the Free Press as a guide when making purchases and/or voting.

Let nobody fool you.

Our family of more than 130,000 Free Press readers holds

Zambrano feels he still has a chance to advance to the Class AAA Fresno Grizzlies in California or even to the Flying Squirrels’ parent San Francisco Giants, which he first signed with as a teenager in 2005. “As long as you are wearing a uniform, you always have the chance to go up,” he said. “I’m just a couple of steps away.” Normally, Zambrano plays winter ball in his native Venezuela. This past offseason, however, he played for San Francisco’s fall league team in Arizona. Zambrano figures to open this season as backup catcher to Matt Winn, the former J.R. Tucker High School and Virginia Military Institute standout. Zambrano’s value to the Flying Squirrels extends beyond his hitting and fielding skills. Speaking Spanish provides a huge advantage in counseling the team’s young pitching staff. Richmond will open the season with four pitchers from the Caribbean who speak Spanish as their first language. The ability to communicate with everyone also makes Zambrano a prime candidate to become a coach or manager himself once he hangs up his catcher’s mitt. “Z is a complete person — family man, ballplayer, great citizen” said Parnell. “Our life gets happier and better every day when he walks through the clubhouse door.”

Vote daily with your dollars to make a difference. Economic power is essential to freedom.

ever,” said Miami Heat President Pat Riley, who coached Ewing with the New York Knicks. “I am absolutely delighted for him and I think he’ll do a great job at Georgetown. Patrick Ewing was the first. He has come home.” Ewing was a three-time All-American at Georgetown, a fearsome presence in the paint who led the Hoyas to three straight national title games. His dominance and Big John’s tenacity made the program an intimidating one while paving the way for a long line of great centers including Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo. Thompson III coached Georgetown for 13 seasons, including a run to the Final Four in 2007 with future NBA players Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert. He went 278-151 with eight appearances in the NCAA Tournament, but was just 29-36 over the past two years, prompting the school’s proud and vocal fan and alumni base to advocate for his dismissal. Despite his father continuing to hold considerable clout within the university, Thompson III was fired. An extended search took place before school officials ultimately decided to hire Ewing, who will have to quickly acclimate himself to the complex web of recruiting and academic eligibility requirements that are not a part of an NBA coach’s concerns. Now it will be up to Ewing to restore Georgetown to the place in the college basketball landscape that he brought the Hoyas to as a player. “To hire a head coach with this depth of coaching experience and Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press personal achievements is tremendous,” Ewing Athletic Director Lee Reed said. “It is a thrill to have him come back to his alma mater and continue the legacy of tradition and success he had as a student-athlete on the Hilltop.”

Employment Opportunities Freelance Writers: Custodial Supervisors

TV Traffic coordinaTor WWBT/NBC12 Richmond, VA seeks positive, “cando” Traffic Coordinator to join our Sales Team. Ideal candidate should have excellent organizational skills, be detail oriented, be a problem solver, and be able to work quickly and accurately in a fast paced, deadline driven environment. Responsibilities include: Working closely with account executives, ad agencies, creative services, master control, and our traffic hub to secure advertiser commercials and traffic instructions. Experience with high volumes of data entry is essential. Knowledge of Wide Orbit traffic systems is a plus but not mandatory. Must be proficient in Outlook, Word, and Excel. . Qualified applicants only apply on line at https://careers-raycommedia.icims.com. Drug Screen required. EOE M/F/D/V. The Richmond Free Press is seeking a reliable and creative person for a part-time graphics position. Proficient in Indesign and Photoshop to produce accurate, quality camera-ready advertisements and creative news page layouts for print production. Meticulous attention to details. Must be able to be flexible and work under deadline in a team environment is essential. Submit resumé and samples of work to address: Human Resources, Richmond Free Press, P.O. Box 27709, Richmond, Virginia 23261. No phone calls please.

TransiT sysTem

Claims Consultant Salary: $38,000 - $45,000 Closes: April 17, 2017

GRTC Transit System in Richmond, Virginia seeks a full-time qualified candidate, at least 21 years of age, to be responsible for handling the investigation and settlement of workers’ compensation and transit liability claims. The successful candidate will have a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and/or equivalent experience. Successful completion of a background check and drug test is required. This individual’s main responsibilities include processing the investigation and settlement of bus liability claims presented against the company under the supervision of the Director of Risk Management. For a more complete job description and the ability to apply online, please visit www.ridegrtc.com. GRTC is an equal opportunity employer with a drug-free work environment.

CIRCUIT COURT CLERK’S OFFICE, CITY OF RICHMOND DEPUTY CLERK/RECORD ROOM/ CRIMINAL SECTION and PART-TIME UTILITY DEPUTY CLERK Two Full-time And One Part-Time Position Immediate opportunity for energetic, dependable and professional candidates to work in downtown courts building. Must be detail-oriented and possess excellent customer service and telephone skills. Prior experience working in a court environment is a plus. COVER LETTER, RESUME AND SALARY HISTORY ARE REQUIRED PLEASE SUBMIT ALL THREE TO:

CircuitCourtClerkEmployment@Richmondgov.com OR RICHMOND CIRCUIT COURT CLERK’S OFFICE PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT 400 NORTH 9TH STREET RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23219 NO WALK-INS OR PHONE CALLS, PLEASE EOE

All Shifts-Fulltime- Benefits **Experience Required** VCU Hospital/Richmond Apply online: careers. aramark.com Search: Richmond, VA Job Title: Custodial Job ID: 107005, 107001 or 112532 Or send resume to: stanton-karen@aramark.com EOE, M/F/Disability/Vet

Richmond Free Press has immediate opportunities for freelance writers. Newspaper experience is a requirement. To be considered, please send 5 samples of your writing, along with a cover letter to news@ richmond freepress.com or mail to: Richmond Free Press, P. O. Box 27709, Richmond, VA 23261. No phone calls.

Director of Finance

County of Henrico, Virginia IRC84530. Plans, organizes and is responsible for the administration and operations of the Department of Finance; does related work as required. For a more specific description of duties and qualifications and to apply, visit our iRecruitment site on the Internet at http://henrico.us/services/jobs/. Deadline 4/24/2017. EOE.