April 7 9, 2016 issue

NCAA champs

Meet Allen Lee

A8

Richmond Free Press

VOL. 25 NO. 15

© 2016 Paradigm Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

www.richmondfreepress.com

ee Fr

Fr ee

B3

April 7-9, 2016

Reversal of misfortune Kemba Smith, whose prison sentence was commuted in 2000, dines with President Obama after meeting with White House aides

By Reginald Stuart Special to the Richmond Free Press

Pete Souza/Official White House photo

Kemba Smith, a former Henrico resident, hugs President Obama during a meeting March 30 in the Roosevelt Room of the White House with former federal prison inmates whose sentences have been commuted.

Governor vetoes bills ahead of April 10 deadline

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Richmond and other localities can still, if they choose, require employers with government contracts to pay workers a “living wage” that is well above the current $7.25 an hour federal minimum wage.

However, the state will Gov. McAuliffe not be creating an experimental, independent school system where students in kindergarten through 12th grade could take all of their classes on a home computer or laptop.

And businesses still will be unable to use a religious Please turn to A4

WASHINGTON When U.S. Sen. Barack Obama was making his initial bid to become president of the United States, Richmond native and 1989 Hermitage High School graduate Kemba Smith was among the thousands volunteering in his ambitious historymaking campaign.

Ms. Smith worked to get people to register to vote and go to the polls on Election Day, despite the fact her legal status as a felon barred her from voting in the 2008 election.

By 2012, with her voting rights restored, she was among the millions who helped President Obama win re-election to a second term.

A chance to vote for the nation’s president in 2008 may have seemed improbable to Ms. Smith in 1994. That’s when the former Hampton University student pleaded guilty to violating federal drug laws and was given a 24½-year federal prison sentence with no chance for parole, despite being a first-time, nonviolent offender. The idea of someday meeting a president face-to-face, with chat time and lunch to boot, was even harder to imagine.

Just last week, a dream came true.

Ms. Smith, now a Virginia Union University graduate and sentencing reform advocate, was in the nation’s capital as a White House guest participating in a discussion with four former federal prison inmates about life after their sentence commutations. The meeting was with a few top Obama aides, including the president’s senior adviser Valerie Jarrett and White House counsel Neil Eggleston. They were working on better understanding what help federal prisoners need after their sentences are commuted, as was the case with Ms. Smith and the other guests.

Please turn to A4

RPS threatens to close 5 schools

By Joey Matthews

“It’s ridiculous.”

That was the response Wednesday from Jakela Cannon, the mother of a John B. Cary Elementary School kindergarten student in the West End, to a cost-cutting plan introduced this

week by the Richmond Public Schools administration that seeks to close Cary, three other elementary schools and Armstrong High School.

The proposal would move those students to other existing schools in the district and consolidate three unidentified alternative schools into one.

Ms. Cannon and other RPS parents told the Free Press they are concerned the school closures and consolidation plan could lead to overcrowded classes, increased incidents of violence among students and leave adults struggling to find transportation for their children to more distant schools.

Another Barbara Johns?

Open High students plan citywide walkout to protest lack of funding

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Imagine all 5,600 high school students in Richmond walking out to protest the physical conditions of their buildings.

Then imagine them overflowing the Richmond City Council chambers a few hours later to bring their concerns to the nine-member governing body.

That’s the vision six Open High School students are trying to turn into a reality on Monday, April 11.

The intrepid band includes junior Christopher “Chris” Bowling, seniors Eva Chenoweth, Caroline McCaig, Emma Silverman and Michelle Strohecker and sophomore Naomi Thompson.

Using Facebook and other social media, the creators of the Please turn to A5

Photo by Joseph Miles

Six Open High School students are organizing the citywide high school walkout and protest Monday, April 11, under the banner “Students for RPS.” Seated, from left, are Eva Chenoweth, Emma Silverman and Caroline McCaig. Standing, from left, are Christopher Bowling, Naomi Thompson and Michelle Strohecker.

“This is a wonderful school,” Ms. Cannon said of Cary Elementary. “We have great teachers, staff and students here. If they have to go somewhere else, it’s going to be overcrowded and it’s going to be inconvenient because I live near here and I don’t want my son to have to ride the bus to school.”

Aishah Farrow, stepmother of a Cary first-grader, predicted worse could occur as she dropped the child off at school. “It could lead to more kids fighting because they’re forced to attend overcrowded schools.”

The plan was tendered by RPS assistant superintendents Tommy Kranz and Ralph Westbay at Monday’s Richmond School Board meeting at City Hall.

It also calls for the closure of OverbySheppard Elementary in North Side and Swansboro and Southampton elementary schools in South Side.

The plan was touted as a means to save the district money by closing schools with too many empty desks.

Overby-Sheppard students would move to Clark Springs Elementary, Swansboro students to Blackwell Elementary, John B. Cary students to Carver Elementary and Southampton students to Elizabeth D. Redd or J.B. Please turn to A5

City’s anti-poverty office losing director

By Joey Matthews

Carefree

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

As her friend looks on, Shaniy Smith, 6, maneuvers her skateboard down steps along a walkway in Richmond’s Gilpin Court as they joyfully played Monday in the sunshine. In the background, Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham and other officers walk through the public housing community meeting with neighbors to talk about their safety concerns. They later convened at the Calhoun Community Center to talk about a sudden spike in major crimes, especially gun violence, this year.

Chief Durham conducted a similar walk Tuesday in the Randolph community.

and make a significant community impact.”

Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones named Dr. WilThe city is looking for a new director to lead its liamson to the post in June 2014 to lead the new office anti-poverty effort through the city Office of Com- that he tasked with coordinating the city’s poverty munity Wealth Building. reduction and wealth building initiatives.

Thad Williamson announced he is resigning as The office was formed at the recommendation of an the director to return to his position as anti-poverty commission that Mayor Jones associate professor of leadership studies appointed in January 2013. Dr. Williamson at the University of Richmond. and then-City Council Vice President Ellen Dr. Williamson, 46, told the Free Press F. Robertson co-chaired the commission.

Wednesday his last day on the job will Its 50 community members were to come be May 27. up with proposals to aid Richmond, where “The university has been very supone in four residents lives at or below the portive of me taking professional leave at poverty level. this unusual time because they recognized Dr. Williamson took a two-year leave this was an opportunity to do something Mr. Williamson of absence from his UR post to head the of great significance in the community,” office and hired two full-time staff members, program Dr. Williamson said. management analyst Risha Berry and administrative “I feel like I have used my abilities to take it this far,” project analyst Christina Mastroianni. he added. “It’s been my privilege to work with Mayor In December, Dr. Williamson said, a city ordinance Jones and his administration to help get this thing roll- moved the Center for Workforce Innovation, which ing. It’s probably time for someone who’s able to make Please turn to A4 that long-term commitment to drive this thing forward

A2 April 7-9, 2016

Richmond Free Press

Local News

Henrico names new police chief Henrico County’s choice of a new police chief reflects the growing influence of the Latino community in the Richmond area.

The choice is Maj. Humberto “Hum” Cardounel Jr. His appointment was announced Tuesday by Henrico County Manager John A. Vithoulkas.

Maj. Cardounel, a 28-year veteran of the department, will be the first person with Latino roots to lead the Henrico police department and is possibly the first Latino chief in the Metro Richmond area.

He is the son of Cuban parents who immigrated to this country, according to the police department. He is a native of this country.

Maj. Cardounel will be sworn in Friday, April 15, as the 16th chief since the department was created in 1915.

As chief, Maj. Cardounel will oversee law enforcement for the Maj. Cardounel county’s 325,000 residents and a community covering 244 square miles.

His command will include 624 sworn police officers and a current budget of $69.2 million.

He will succeed Col. Douglas A. Middleton, who has been named deputy county manager for public safety following five years as chief.

Maj. Cardounel joined the department in 1988 as a patrol officer and medic with the SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) Team.

Rising through the ranks, he was promoted to major last year and currently serves as deputy chief for the Investigative Bureau and as a member of the department’s executive staff.

He previously served as deputy chief for the Patrol Bureau.

He also led the Criminal Investigations Section and developed and implemented the Homeland Security Section. He also has served stints with other divisions within the department.

A graduate of Henrico’s Douglas S. Freeman High School, he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Richmond and a master’s degree in public administration from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Council to CAO: Create plan to aid businesses impacted by BRT

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Restaurants and other businesses along Broad Street could receive financial help to survive the expected 15 months of construction of the GRTC’s Bus Rapid Transit system.

Richmond City Council has directed Mayor Dwight C. Jones’ administration to come up with a plan “that identifies potential adverse impacts of construction” and identifies “grants, loans and tax incentives … to mitigate any negative impacts.”

In a 9-0 vote, council issued the directive to Selena CuffeeGlenn, the city’s chief administrative officer, at the March 28 meeting, six weeks after giving the green light to the 7.6-mile, $53.8 million BRT system to be called GRTC Pulse.

Work on the Pulse is to begin during the summer.

Councilman Charles R. Samuels, 2nd District, said the city must be prepared to address business fears that customers will be chased away during installation work. That work includes removing street medians, improving traffic lights and installing 14 BRT stations, chiefly in the area between Thompson and 4th streets on Broad Street.

Three other council members, including Kathy C. Graziano, 4th District, Ellen F. Robertson, 6th District, and Michelle R. Mosby, 9th District, also were patrons of the legislation that seeks to have Richmond establish programs like those put in place in Cleveland, Salt Lake City, Portland and other cities when they installed BRT projects.

Separately, council approved 9-0 a nonbinding resolution at the March 28 meeting endorsing the Pulse, but with the “expectation that (GRTC) will conduct studies to ensure greater transit connectivity to the proposed Pulse route” from the East End and other neighborhoods, commercial corridors and areas of the city that are not near the Pulse line.

The resolution also calls for GRTC to seek public input for such studies and report the results to council by Nov. 1, or six months after the passage of the resolution.

Pulse is to run mostly on Broad between The Shops at Willow Lawn in the West End and Rocketts Landing in the East End. Part of the line would run on Main Street between 14th Street and Rocketts Landing.

Some utility work might begin in the coming weeks, but actual development of the BRT is to begin by July or August, according to the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation.

The state Department of Transportation has yet to choose the finalist to develop BRT. Three design-build teams are competing and VDOT could make its selection this month, according to GRTC. The BRT, like other buses, will run with other traffic between Willow Lawn and Thompson streets and between 14th Street and Rocketts Landing, according to GRTC. BRT is to run on dedicated curb lanes between 4th and 14th streets and then run in a dedicated median lane between Thompson and 4th, GRTC has stated.

The system is to cost about $49.8 million to install, mostly with federal and state funds, with the city contributing $7.9 million and Henrico County about $400,000. About $4 million was spent on preliminary engineering, GRTC has said, which puts the projected final cost around $53.8 million.

Cityscape Slices of life and scenes in Richmond

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Yellow tape now blocks the granite steps leading into the Richmond Public Library’s Main Branch in Downtown. Over the years, winter’s cold has cracked the steps, making them dangerous, according to Clay Dishon, interim library director. The city Department of Public Works is planning needed repairs so patrons can once again use the stairway at 101 E. Franklin St.

U.S. Supreme Court rejects conservative challenge in voting rights case Free Press wire report

WASHINGTON The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously upheld the method all states use to draw their legislative districts, rejecting a conservative challenge that could have given more clout to white, rural voters.

The eight justices on Monday rebuffed a case spearheaded by a conservative legal activist brought against the state of Texas over the manner in which it carved out voting districts for its state Senate, based on a count of every resident rather than just eligible voters.

The justices ruled that Texas, in drawing the districts, did not violate the longestablished legal principle of “one person, one vote” endorsed by the Supreme Court in the 1960s during the era of the Civil Rights Movement.

Writing for the court, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg stated that elected legislators “serve all residents, not just those eligible or registered to vote.” Justice Ginsburg said non-voters, including children, have “an important stake in many policy debates,” including education, and sometimes need help navigating government bureaucracy.

A victory for the challengers in the case Evenwel v. Abbott could have shifted influence in state legislative races away from urban areas that tend to be racially diverse and favor Democrats to rural ones, predominantly with white voters who often back Republicans.

The policy of counting all residents, and not just those who are eligible voters, boosts the electoral influence of locales — typically urban and heavily Hispanic places — with significant populations of people ineligible to vote. People ineligible to vote include legal and illegal immigrants as well as children and certain convicted criminals.

Nina Perales, vice president of litigation with the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund, described the ruling as a “clear and important vic-

tory” that “protects the right of all people across the U.S. to be represented by their officials and be counted when electoral maps are drawn.”

The chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, Rep. G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina, heralded the decision, noting that, “without this protection, 22 percent of the U.S. population under 18 would be left out of democracy.” He also said it would impact 30 percent of African-Americans.

“This reminds us that our voting system is at risk of returning to the old practices of oppression. We must continue to ensure that our system maintains the fabric of equal representation for all Americans,” he said. “We must protect and uphold the integrity of our democracy to ensure that no individual, regardless of their age, race or political affiliation, is marginalized.”

Two of the court’s conservatives, Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, concurred only in the judgment and did not sign on to Justice Ginsburg’s opinion.

The court is one justice short following the Feb. 13 death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, but the unanimous vote suggested his presence would not have substantially affected the outcome.

At issue in the case was whether equality of legislative representation necessitates equal numbers of all residents in voting districts regardless of whether they are eligible to vote, or equal numbers of eligible voters.

Adopting a new approach “would upset a well-functioning approach to districting that all 50 states and countless local jurisdictions have followed for decades, even centuries,” Justice Ginsburg wrote.

The ruling does not foreclose states trying different approaches in the future.

Two Texas voters, Sue Evenwel and Edward Pfenninger, were recruited by conservative legal activist Edward Blum to file the lawsuit. Ms. Evenwel was a member of the Texas Republican Party’s executive committee and Mr. Pfenninger

worked as a security guard. Both lived in rural voting districts.

“We are disappointed that the justices were unwilling to re-establish the original principle of one-person, one-vote for the citizens of Texas and elsewhere,” Mr. Blum said in a statement.

The challengers said the Texas state Senate redistricting map signed into law by a Republican governor in 2013 failed to equally distribute voters, improperly expanding the voting power of urban areas. They asserted that the state’s system violated the guarantee of equal protection under the law under the Constitution’s 14th Amendment.

Caroline Fredrickson, president of the liberal American Constitution Society, said the court “wisely rejected an effort to dilute the political representation of minorities and children.”

She added that it was important for the court to endorse voting rights at a time when Republican states have enacted new restrictions, including identification requirements, that Democrats say disproportionately affect minorities.

The dispute did not involve U.S. congressional districts. The Constitution requires seats in the U.S. House of Representatives to be distributed based on a state’s total population, not just eligible voters.

The Obama administration supported the Texas plan.

Mr. Blum’s group, the Project on Fair Representation, also orchestrated a lawsuit from Shelby County, Ala., that in 2013 led the high court to invalidate a portion of the 1965 Voting Rights Act mandating federal approval for election law changes in states with histories of racial discrimination.

It also backed another important case heard by the U.S. Supreme Court in December, a white woman’s challenge to a University of Texas admissions policy that considers an applicants’ race among other factors in an effort to enroll more minority students. The court has not yet ruled in that case.

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Honoring slain trooper

Trooper Dermyer

Angela Courteau and her daughters, Elara, 5, and Nina, 1, place flowers on the car of slain Virginia State Police Trooper Chad P. Dermyer last Friday at State Police headquarters in Chesterfield County. People from Metro Richmond and around the state and nation paid their respects to the 37-year-old Michigan native who was fatally shot during a counterterrorism training exercise last Thursday at the Richmond Greyhound bus station. Authorities said other troopers inside the bus station then shot and killed the gunman, James Brown III of Aurora, Ill. Two women were wounded, including an athlete from the University of Binghamton in New York who was headed to a track and field event in Williamsburg. They were hospitalized with injuries described as not life threatening. Gov. Terry McAuliffe and police officers from 20 states were among the thousands of mourners at Trooper Dermyer’s funeral Tuesday in Hampton. He was buried in Gloucester County.

Richmond Free Press

April 7-9, 2016

Your Health

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

A3

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

Advertorial

A Life Continued

Choosing Life

Imagine, one day you’re helping connect families in need of organ transplants with donors and the next day having to decide if your loved one, lost tragically and unexpectedly, would be a donor to save someone else’s life.

Unfortunately, that’s exactly where Peggy Schaeffer, the Director of Nursing and Transplant Administrator at VCU Health’s HumeLee Transplant Center at VCU Medical Center found herself years ago. Peggy has been an advocate for donor registration and donation since the 80s. It was the loss of a friend’s daughter, who then became a donor, which first piqued Peggy Schaeffer’s interest in the organ procurement process. Prior to joining VCU Health, she worked for an organ procurement organization in Washington, D.C. Organ procurement organizations, or OPOs, focus on increasing the number of registered donors and help coordinate the donation process when donors become available. It was while advocating for donor registration to help save lives, that tragedy struck home for Peggy—

Tim Schaeffer, her youngest son, died suddenly.

And in the midst of her heartbreak was a looming question, would Tim be a donor? “People would think that working in the field, I wouldn’t even think twice about donating parts of my son’s body,” says Schaeffer, “But I had to really sit back and ask myself, is this what he would have wanted?”

Knowing the outcome of the process and understanding the procedures didn’t make the decision any easier. “Tim was just 21, but he had an older brother and two older sisters who were also a part of the process,” she says, “for them, it was an automatic of course; that’s what he would have wanted, mom.” While dealing with the grief of such an unexpected and unbelievable loss, Peggy made her decision and Tim became a donor. “His life ended and that would not have been my choice, but that was a fact,” says Schaeffer, “but some of him still exists in the lives of other people and that really took the edge off of the pain.” Tim Schaeffer donated organs, bones from his arms and legs and his corneas.

Sometimes our biggest battles are hidden ones that become exposed by minor occurrences in our lives. This was the case for Jonetta Smith, a transplant patient at VCU Medical Center.

Jonetta is a Richmond native and graduate of Monacan High School. “Just your average girl next door,” she says with laughter. Unfortunately, she is no stranger to dealing with some of life’s tough circumstances. At the age of 11, she lost her mother due to liver failure from cirrhosis of the liver. Her late grandmother raised her. Jonetta, one of four children and the only girl, recalls her late grandmother being an example of faith, love and strength Before she ever found out about her kidney and liver issues, Jonetta, like many others, had no idea that she was sick. In 2010, a small accident brought her health issues to the forefront.

“I fell and broke my wrist. They had to put in a clip and 6 to 8 screws,” Jonetta says, “but for some reason my wrist wasn’t healing and during the process my skin was getting dark and my stomach was swollen.”

At the advice of her dad, Army veteran Earnest Lee Harris Jr., she went to the doctor and they discovered that her kidneys were working at 35 percent—and she was diagnosed with Lupus. She was immediately put on dialysis. While undergoing dialysis it was discovered that Jonetta’s liver was also in bad shape. It was cirrhosis of the liver; the same complication shared by her mother and younger brother. She met with the team at VCU Health’s Hume-Lee Transplant Center and was put on the transplant list. The doctor there was familiar with Jonetta’s family, as he had seen both her uncle and younger brother, who both died from the disease.

After arriving home and processing the information from her doctor’s visit, plus the reality

of being put on the donor list, Jonetta received a phone call from VCU Health. “They said that they found a donor for me. I had an hour to decide whether I wanted to take the available liver and kidney,” says Jonetta, “I called my dad, my favorite uncle and another uncle that’s a minister—got their opinions and after a quick prayer, I called VCU Health back and said, I’ll take it.”

With such a short time table, Jonetta had to move quickly. She wanted to speak with her daughter before she left, but she wasn’t answering her phone. “I tried with all my heart and couldn’t reach her,” she explained, “and then as I was walking out the door my daughter was walking in.” They had to do a quick update on the situation and deal with their emotions of excitement, hope and a little fear within just moments.

It was a long surgery, but a successful one.

Jonetta explains, “It was a lot to get used to, but my liver and kidney team was awesome.

They’ve stuck with me through the entire process.” Jonetta is now enjoying her new lease on life and expresses so much gratitude to her donor and donor family. She is in contact with them, sharing letters of appreciation and updates on her progress. “I hope to meet them one day soon,” she says, “I’m able to be with my grandbaby thanks to my donor. I am so blessed.

It is through them and through God that I am able to continue life.”

And she is doing just that—spending time with her daughter Jonesha, “a strong single mother,” according to Jonetta. Jonesha is a CNA, now working on becoming an LPN and blazing a path for her 4-year-old daughter to follow in her footsteps, just like her mom Jonetta did for her.

“Organ donations are a lifesaving gift.

We are the stewards of that gift, and it’s a great honor to be able to participate in that.”

– Peggy Schaeffer

Donate Life

Right now, over 120,000 men, women and children in America are waiting for an organ transplant that will save their life. That’s where Donate Life comes in. Donate Life is a not-forprofit alliance of national organizations and state teams across the United States, focused on increasing organ, eye and tissue donation.

The organization has a longstanding history with VCU Health, which has been at the forefront of transplantation since the 1960s. The kidney transplant program at VCU Health is the third oldest in the country. Before Donate Life existed, VCU Health was a founding member of the Southeastern Organ Procurement Foundation (SEOPF). This network developed into the more advanced, national organ procurement network known today as UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing).

Headquartered here in Richmond, UNOS manages the national transplant waiting list, matching donors to recipients. In 1992, UNOS helped establish the Coalition on Donation, now known as Donate Life. The partnership between Donate Life and VCU Health’s HumeLee Transplant Center is helping save lives according to Peggy Schaeffer. “We’re a transplant program and that’s our primary focus,” Schaeffer says, “but we know we wouldn’t be able to do that if we didn’t have the donations.”

The Hume-Lee Transplant Center, Donate Life and UNOS work in tandem and their success is built on donors. Schaeffer emphasizes, “We have to recognize the importance of the entire process—the continuum of the process.”

She attributes that relationship to being one of the reasons that VCU Health consistently has the largest number of donors within their OPO service area. “We’re very, very proud of our donation program here within the hospital,” says Schaeffer.

The Hume-Lee Transplant Center is focused on helping everyone it can, regardless of race,

April is National Donate Life Month

VCU Health kicked off the month with a very special tribute. A new flagpole was installed next to the American and State flagpoles at the Gateway Building. On April 1, the Donate Life flag was unveiled in a flag raising ceremony. The raising was the start of a new initiative for the hospital as Schaeffer explains, “Whenever there is an organ donation inhouse, and if the donor family approves, the flag will be raised in honor of the donation.

We are really excited.” The flag will be raised by a mixed group of volunteers made up of staff, donor recipients and members of donor families.

Peggy Schaeffer, Director of Nursing and Transplant Administrator VCU Health religion and economic status. It seems that the key to getting help is simply making a trip to see your doctor. “Our healthcare system in this country is not perfect. I think more and more people understand that,” says Schaeffer, “so if a person needs a transplant, they have to be seeing a doctor who would recognize that they are sick enough to refer them to a transplant center. If they don’t go to the doctor, that’s never going to happen.”

The federal government has protocols in place to provide more support to dialysis patients.

Dialysis centers must now ensure that their patients have access to a transplant center. “It’s important for them to get this information. Once we can get them in the door we can usually find a way to help them,” according to Schaeffer.

Things to consider: • 30% of those waiting for an organ donation are African American.

• African Americans are the largest group of minorities in need of an organ transplant.

• In 2014, only 16 percent of all deceased donors were African American.

• More than 123,000 people currently need lifesaving transplants.

• Every 10 minutes another name is added to the national organ transplant list.

• An average of 21 people die each day because the organs they need are not donated in time.

• 90% of Americans say they support donation, but only 30% know the essential steps to become a donor.

Source: Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network; US Department of Health and Human Services

Richmond Free Press

A4 April 7-9, 2016

News

Photo by Joseph Miles

Kickoff of mayor’s race Dr. Claude G. Perkins, president of Virginia Union University, shakes hands with moderator Robert Holsworth as he welcomes 12 Richmond mayoral candidates to a forum Wednesday night in the university’s Allix B. James Chapel. The candidates attending the event are, from left, Brad Froman, Rick Tatnall, Michelle Mosby, Lawrence Williams and Lillie Estes.

To Dr. Perkins’ left are candidates Chris Hilbert, Joe Morrissey, Alan Schintzius, Bruce

Tyler, Jon Baliles and Chad Ingold. Jack Berry, who announced his plans to run Tuesday, attended the forum but is not pictured. Forum host L. Douglas Wilder, a former Richmond mayor and governor, is seated behind the podium. A standing room only crowd of more than 600 people listened as the candidates made their debut in the contest for the city’s top post. Richmond voters will choose the mayor in the November general election.

Kemba Smith dines with President Obama Continued from A1

As the candid discussion ended, a surprise guest entered the small room adjacent to the Oval Office.

It was President Obama himself — the nation’s president, a top world leader, the man!!!

Ms. Smith and her peers were nearly speechless.

As they sought to grasp the meaning of the moment, President Obama thanked them for sharing their time and thoughts with his aides. He shook each person’s hand and got a big hug from Ms. Smith and several others.

“I sure hope I’ve made you proud,” Ms. Smith said the president told them.

Then, adding to their surprise, President Obama invited the small group to lunch so they could talk more. Within a few minutes, Ms. Smith and the cadre of about a half dozen people were in White House vans, their presidential motorcade zipping through busy downtown Washington streets with sirens blaring en route with President Obama to a private lunch at a popular local restaurant.

“I still can’t believe I’m having lunch with the president,” Ms. Smith said in an interview after her White House visit on March 30. “It was just like meeting with family. He was very himself — down to earth,” said Ms. Smith.

She had much to say when President Obama asked her to talk about her experience in prison and afterward, when President Bill Clinton commuted her sentence in December 2000 to the six and a half years she had served.

“I told him our parents are our heroes,” Ms. Smith said, referring to her mom and dad, Odessa and Gus Smith of Henrico, who raised her son, Armani, during her time in prison. She said they sacrificed their careers and much of their lives to save their only child from more than two

decades behind bars. Other former inmates in the group echoed Ms. Smith in talking about the value of family ties while in prison and later, after their release.

As Ms. Smith talked to the president about her son, who is set to gradate next month from Washington & Lee University in Lexington, she sensed she might be gloating too much. She said she offered a polite apology if she seemed to be talking too much about her 20 year-old, who was born while she was incarcerated in Richmond awaiting trial. She is now married and lives in Hampton Roads with her husband, an air traffic controller, her son and her younger daughter.

“President Obama said, ‘You go ahead. That’s what Mamas do,’ ” Ms. Smith recounted the president saying with a friendly smile.

Before the lunch meeting fully soaked in, Ms. Smith and her peers were back at the White House, with President Obama wishing them well and thanking them again for their input.

The magic of the moment didn’t eclipse the purpose of Ms. Smith talking about life after prison and making a case for commuting the sentences of more people. She said she and the others urged President Obama to do more before leaving office next January, asserting it was a necessary move to reverse a generation of harsh public policy incarcerating people who played marginal roles in illegal drug activities.

That same morning, the White House announced President Obama granted commutations to 61 federal prisoners — including a Charlottesville man — who were serving time under “years of out-dated and unduly harsh” sentencing laws.

The next day, as part of its focus on criminal justice reform that President Obama calls “Second Chance,” the White House hosted a briefing on

Pete Souza/Official White House photo

President Obama talks during an informal lunch last week at a Washington restaurant with top aides and four individuals who previously served time in prison, including Kemba Smith who grew up in Henrico County.

“Life After Clemency.” It included Ms. Smith and the three other former federal prisoners.

It was a tearful, public coming to grips that reminded everyone listening of the terrible damage a conviction and harsh prison sentence impose on more than just the person convicted of a crime.

“For me, it was phenomenal,” Ms. Smith

said of the meeting with President Obama, his aides and the three other former inmates. She noted that the president had stepped beyond the ranks of those who assert people who have been to prison are “scum.”

“He wanted to show people that we’re regular people,” Ms. Smith said.

Governor McAuliffie vetoes bills ahead of April 10 deadline Continued from A1

pretext to refuse services to samesex couples.

Those are just some of the ways that Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe has used his veto pen to block a Republicandominated General Assembly from altering the civic, social and educational landscape in Virginia.

More vetoes are expected during the next few days as Gov. McAuliffe rushes to meet the Sunday, April 10, deadline to reject, amend or sign into law the bills the legislature passed, including the state’s 2017-2018 budget.

The General Assembly will return Wednesday, April 20, to deal with the governor’s actions. Most of the vetoes are expected to stand. Virtually all the legislation the governor rejected passed the General Assembly with less than a two-thirds majority — 67 votes in the House of Delegates and 27 votes in the Senate — the fraction needed to override a veto.

On the “living wage” front, the legislature sought to block localities from raising the minimum wage in specific instances. Currently, localities don’t have the authority to raise the minimum wage generally. Gov. McAuliffe rejected legislation that would have removed local authority to set a higher minimum wage for companies submitting bids on projects for a county or city.

“Companies not inclined to participate at these wage levels needed not contract with the localities,” the governor stated in his veto message, calling the legislation an attempt to “restrict wage growth and impede … labor agreements. Virginia’s efforts should be focused on increasing wages … rather than placing artificial restrictions on their future growth.”

Only a few localities, most notably Alexandria and Arlington, set a minimum wage on contracted jobs.

Currently, bidders must agree to pay at least $13.13 an hour in both communities in bidding on local government projects.

Richmond has never extended its “living wage” to private companies doing business with the city. City Council always brushes off calls from advocates to do so, responding that such action would raise the cost of projects.

This year, Richmond’s minimum wage is $11.66 an hour, but that applies only to permanent full-time or part-time city employees. It does not apply to employees of private companies or to employees of companies doing business with the city.

The governor also wielded his veto pen to kill the legislature’s proposal to create a new state Board of the Virginia Virtual School that was to govern full-time, online education programs, stripping students and dollars from local public schools.

He objected to creating a new board that he said would operate outside the jurisdiction of the state Board of Education and local school divisions, disrupting “the established constitutional framework.”

Gov. McAuliffe also stated that the resources the legislature planned to steer to the board “would be insufficient to run a new state agency,” putting the education of students at risk.

He said the planned virtual school also is unnecessary given the development of “high quality online virtual learning opportunities” through the existing Virtual Virginia program that the state Board of Education oversees.

The governor also wielded his veto to kill Senate Bill 41, which would have shielded from civil suits businesses that discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people if they did so on religious grounds.

“Although couched as a ‘religious freedom’ bill, this legislation is nothing

more than an attempt to stigmatize,” Gov. McAuliffe stated in rejecting the legislation that is similar to bills that recently became law in North Carolina and Mississippi.

He stated that the federal and state constitutions and other laws already provide “legitimate protections” for religion.

This legislation, he stated, “prefers one religious viewpoint — that marriage only validly exists between a man and a woman — over all other viewpoints.”

That is not only “unconstitutional, it equates to discrimination under the guise of religious freedom,” he said.

He noted that “businesses and job creators do not want to locate or do business in states that appear more concerned with demonizing people than with creating a strong business climate. … (It) would damage Virginia’s reputation for common sense, pro-business government (and engender) a sense of fear and persecution.”

The governor also rejected two other bills that he stated would undercut public education.

He rejected House Bill 518 that would have required the state Board of Education to select 12 failing schools and require “those schools to provide all enrolled students with the option to transfer to another public school.”

He called it an effort to undermine the authority of local school boards to assign students.

He also killed House Bill 389 that would “remove state funds from our public school systems and redirect those funds to Parental Choice Education Savings Accounts to pay for educational services for (students with disabilities) outside the public school system.”

The governor also has rejected legislation that would: • Have allowed school security officers to carry firearms; • Prevent state funding from going to Planned Parenthood. Tens of thousands of women in Virginia receive health care services and programs from the agency.

• Overturn his executive order and

allow people to openly carry guns into state office buildings. The governor also killed another bill that would have permitted state employees to keep guns in their cars while at work even if their positions do not require weapons.

• Require voter registrars to reject applications to vote because of minor errors, such as a failure to check a box stating the individual was over 18.

• Continue “corporate welfare” to coal mining companies and electricity generators like Dominion Virginia Power that use coal.

The legislature voted to extend subsidies and tax credits aimed at boosting employment in coalfields, ignoring a report the governor cited showing the subsidies have not worked since being created in 1988.

Gov. McAuliffe noted that the report found that, during the past 28 years, Virginia has spent $610 million on subsidies for coal-related businesses, while employment in that sector has dropped from 11,106 to 2,946 people.

City’s anti-poverty office losing director Continued from A1

focuses on job training, under the Office of Community Wealth Building umbrella, adding eight more full-time employees to the agency.

As he nears the end of his term, Mayor Jones has asked for about $1.2 million in his budget proposal for fiscal year 2017 to fund the agency.

He praised Dr. Williamson’s efforts in leading the anti-poverty initiative in its infant stages.

“Thad’s leadership has been the glue that has pulled together my vision for a comprehensive approach to mitigating poverty in the city of Richmond,” the mayor said in a statement to the Free Press.

“I could not be more pleased with the work we have accomplished together and the direction that we’ve set for the continued work needed to reduce poverty in the city,” he added.

Dr. Williamson said he’s proud of the partnerships the

agency has developed with Richmond Public Schools, Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority and other groups to help the needy.

He cited initiatives that his office has helped spearhead such as the BLISS, or Building Lives to Independence and Self-Sufficiency, program that connects families in public housing to jobs, wraparound services and more permanent housing. He also mentioned the RVA Future Career and College Asset Centers at the city’s public high schools that help connect students to college and career opportunities.

Dr. Williamson said, ultimately, the city would have to provide more funding and resources to reach its goal of reducing poverty by 40 percent overall and 50 percent for children over the next 15 years.

“I hope this is something people in Richmond are proud of,” he said of his office’s efforts to find solutions to poverty. “We’ve gotten some recognition for our efforts, but everyone has to understand that tackling poverty over the long haul does not have one simple solution.”

Richmond Free Press

April 7-9, 2016 A5

Local News

Black Lives Matter co-founder brings message to Richmond

By Joey Matthews

The court “put Trayvon Martin on trial for his own murder,” Ms. Tometi said of the trial.

Opal Tometi, a co-founder of Black Lives Matter, said she Alarmed by Mr. Zimmerman’s acquittal, Ms. and other leaders of the movement consider slogans, marches Tometi collaborated with activists Alicia Garza and rallies for just treatment for African-Americans to be critiand Patrisse Cullors to create the Twitter hashtag cal, but it’s more important “to move to systems that protect #BlackLivesMatter. and affirm black life.”

It soon went viral on social media and has “We need to shut down and divest from many of these systems” developed into an international movement for that put black people’s lives and well-being at risk, she said. criminal justice reform and social justice.

Speaking to an audience of 1,000 people last Thursday at The movement galvanized further after Mr. Virginia Commonwealth University’s Siegel Center, the eloBrown was shot and killed by Officer Wilson quent 28-year-old New York City resident cited as an example in the street in Ferguson, Mo., in August 2014. a proposal last year in the Big Apple to provide $100 million Demonstrations and civil unrest followed in to hire 1,000 more police officers to combat crime.

Ferguson and around the country.

She said she and others in the city organized a group, Safety Beyond Ms. Tometi scoffed at critics who ask why the Policing, calling for the money to be steered into other “systems and group only proclaims that “Black Lives Matter.” projects that could keep our people safe and alive,” such as hiring Some people have asked her, ‘“You actually more social workers, teachers and mental health professionals. believe that all lives matter?’ ” she said.

“We need to define safety on our own terms” in black people’s Her response: “Yeah, duh.” lives so they “don’t live in dilapidated housing, have lead in Noting, however, the centuries-long campaign their water” and have to fear “dozens of police” stopping and of police brutality and economic injustice waged frisking them in their communities, she said. in the United States and around the world against Ms. Tometi was invited to Richmond through the VCU School black people, Ms. Tometi emphasized, “We can’t of Social Work. The event was coordinated by the School of be silent about people whose lives are being Social Work Black Lives Matter Student-Faculty Collective. systemically disenfranchised.”

“As the Black Lives Matter movement grew, we felt it was James Carter, a 2000 VCU graduate and payroll important for us to join them in taking a stand against injustice,” specialist, said he attended the Black Lives Matter VCU assistant professor Stephanie Odera told the Free Press. event “to hear what the message is from someone “I’m here as a cheerleader, to encourage you to keep the fight who started the movement, and to support it.” going,” Ms. Tometi told the attentive audience.

Seated nearby, 38-year-old social worker Wendy Steven Casanove/VCU University Marketing She described herself to the largely youthful audience as a Dickerson noted, “This stuff has been happening Black Lives Matter co-founder Opal Tometi addresses the audience last community “organizer and abolitionist for the 21st century,” say- Thursday at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Siegel Center. for years and years. You wouldn’t think black ing, “At times like this, you don’t get to sit on the sidelines. men would be treated the way they are now, not She also lashed out at the mass incarceration ofAfrican-Americans, in 1956 or now in 2016.”

“If you aren’t actively part of the movement, you are on the the heavy police presence in black communities that cause residents side of injustice,” she added.

Jazzmin Reid, a senior at the University of Richmond who In addition to her work with Black Lives Matter, Ms. Tometi, to fear for their safety and inequitable economic opportunities. is interested in public policy analysis and aspires to run for “It’s your civic duty to call it out and do something about political office one day, said, “It’s important for us to attend the daughter of Nigerian immigrants, is the executive director it,” she said. of Black Alliance for Just Immigration. events like this” to “understand that black people in general Ms. Tometi said she wakes up every morning and asks, “What have been systematically targeted by the police” and to find Ms. Tometi spoke of being motivated to help start Black Lives Matter in the wake of recent highly publicized slayings can I do for Black Lives Matter” today. ways to alleviate social injustices.

She said she works for the movement because of her “love” of unarmed young black men, including 17-year-old Trayvon Martin by night watchman George Zimmerman in Sanford, Fla., for her 14-year-old brother and other young African-American and 18-year-old Michael Brown Jr. by police officer Darren males who she fears could be executed like Trayvon.

Trayvon was gunned down in February 2012 by Mr. ZimWilson in Ferguson, Mo. “The system’s working as it was designed — to systematically merman, who later was acquitted of second degree murder by a jury in July 2013. undermine and get rid of black lives,” she told the audience.

The Richmond Chapter of Concerned Black Men is looking for more men interested in mentoring youths.

The program is holding its next orientation sessions for mentors Thursday, April 7, and Thursday, May 5, at the organization’s University of Virginia alumni will The Money, The Music and The People.”

Tickets are $50, with proceeds sup- office, 2025 E. Main St. Both sessions will be 6 to 8 p.m. host a scholarship benefit next week The movie combines a documentary about porting the Richmond Ridley Clarence The Richmond program is part of the CBM Cares National at the Bow Tie Cinemas Movieland at the historic African-American neighbor- Cain Scholarship Fund, which provides a Mentoring Initiative. Mentors commit to dedicate eight hours Boulevard Square in Richmond featur- hood with a drama about a fictional 1929 $12,500 a year, four-year scholarship to a each month to mentoring. ing a screening of a locally made short murder on 2nd Street. high-achieving Richmond area resident to Currently, the Richmond chapter provides year-round, onefilm about Jackson Ward, it has been The event also will feature a special attend U.Va. on-one and group mentoring that pairs boys in grades 6 through announced. guest, Morgan Moses, an offensive tackle The Cain Scholarship is named for Dr. 8 with African-American mentors. The group currently works Scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, April for the Washington NFL team and former Walter N. Ridley, U.Va’s first African- with 50 boys from Franklin Military Academy in the East End 13, the event being staged by the Richmond U.Va. gridiron star. He will take part in American graduate in 1953. and Henderson Middle School in North Side.

Further information and tickets: Alex Ridley Chapter of U.Va. alumni will include a reception that will precede the showFor more information, contact Maurice Robinson at (804) a showing of Richmond writer Rebekah L. ing, organizers said. The film is to start Taylor at alextaylor@alextaylorlaw.com 783-1975 or email mauricerobinson@cbmnational.org. — or (804) 400-9473.

Pierce’s short movie, “Black Wall Street: around 7 p.m.

JOEY MATTHEWS

Men’s group seeking mentors for middle school boys

U.Va. alumni sponsor fundraiser, film screening April 13

RPS threatens to close Armstrong High, 4 elementary schools Continued from A1

Fisher elementary schools.

Additionally, the proposal calls for the closure of Armstrong, one of the first high schools in the state to be founded for African-American students in the early 1870s.

Mr. Kranz and Mr. Westbay indicated the proposal was not set in stone and was only a possible worst-case-scenario solution if the city fails to provide additional funds sufficient to meet the district’s current needs.

City Council must approve the appropriation for schools by May 15, according to state law, but usually does so at least a few days earlier.

School Board Vice Chair Donald Coleman, an Armstrong High alumnus whose 7th District includes the school, lamented the economic realities that have the board considering closing the historic school that has served as the educational foundation and springboard for such esteemed alumni as former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, banker Maggie L. Walker and William Ferguson Reid, the first African-American elected to the Virginia General Assembly in the 20th century.

“We’ve come to a situation where probably the most historic African-American school in the city of Richmond” is being considered for closure, Mr. Coleman said. “The thought that the name would no longer be on a functioning building is very sobering.

“And from a fiscal perspective, this helps us recognize the urgency of trying to figure out the fiscal piece of this that has us considering closing a school like Armstrong. It’s going to have to be fully justifiable that we couldn’t figure out a way around it.”

Cheryl Richardson said her son in prekindergarten became distraught when she explained to him that his school, Overby-Sheppard Elementary, could be closed.

“After I told him, he got mad and started kicking the backseat of the car and yelling, ‘No! No! No!’ ” she recalled.

“What upset me,” she added, “is that I wanted my son to have a stable education from pre-K through the fifth grade. I don’t want to uproot him from his friends and teachers, those who know he has ADHD, and know what helps him.”

Tiffany Anderson, an Overby-Sheppard PTA member whose third-grade daughter is in the gifted and talented program known as SPACE, or Special Program for Academic or Creative Excellence, took a more neutral position.

“I’m not for or against it,” she said outside

schools.

They are seeking costcutting measures to close a $18 million budget gap for fiscal year 2017 in order to fully Ms. Cannon Ms. Richardson Ms. Anderson Ms. Farrow fund Superinthe school Wednesday. tendent Dana T. Bedden’s academic improve“It may be necessary,” she said of the cost ment plan and provide pay raises for teachers cutting, “because you may have to do with less and other staff. money.

They are proposing the reduction steps after “It’s not about the building,” she added. “It’s Mayor Dwight C. Jones proposed level fundabout what’s inside the building, the quality of ing for the district in his budget proposal and the teachers, the behavioral programs they offer City Council members indicated they could not and other educational tools they offer.” provide an additional $18 million in funding to RPS officials have estimated they could save the district for operations. $3 million by closing and consolidating the In recent weeks, RPS leaders also have proposed

other cost reduction measures, such as increasing the student-to-teacher ratio in classes, privatizing custodial services, closing some administrative sites and eliminating inefficiencies.

“We find ourselves in a very, very dangerous game of chicken with the City Council,” School Board Chair Jeffrey M. Bourne said at Monday’s meeting. “It would be a dereliction of duty if the School Board waited until the City Council” acted before opening “the difficult dialogue,” he added.

Richmond Education Association President Charlotte Hayer praised Mr. Bourne for addressing the seriousness of the budget discussion.

“All things considered, I will say that I am glad that Mr. Bourne expressed the need for them to be proactive and start looking at options now, as opposed to waiting to see what City Council will give them,” she said. “That would take precious time that we really don’t have.”

Open High students plan walkout to protest lack of funding Continued from A1

ad hoc “Students for RPS” are telling everyone they can reach online about their plans for the walkout.

“And we’re enlisting students at other schools to pass out fliers” to spread the word, Caroline said.

The group’s plan is to have all students walk out at 2 p.m. and then reassemble at 5 p.m. on the front steps of Richmond City Hall, 900 E. Broad St., to join teachers and parents in a public protest, followed by a parade into the Council Chambers on the second floor to speak after the City Council meeting begins at 6 p.m.

“We want a chance to make our case” that the council needs to spend more on schools, Caroline said.

“It’s really not fair for us young people 14 to 18 to have to watch their school system crumble before our eyes,” she said. “Adults who are in charge just don’t seem to care, and we have to make them care.”

As yet, the group has no idea how many students will take part. They believe most students at Open High will take part but, as Caroline put it, their school officials are supportive, while that may not be the case at the other schools.

“We’re hoping at least a handful of students from each of the other schools will join in,” Emma said.

This will be the second time in recent years that Open High students have led a protest over school conditions. Two years ago, at least 150 students shocked the city when they left their school and marched en masse to City Hall to address City Council about the decaying condition at their school on Pine Street in Oregon Hill.

Such efforts recall the high school walkout that Farmville student Barbara Johns engineered in 1951 to protest the deplorable conditions at Moton High School to which all AfricanAmerican students were assigned — a protest that ultimately led to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1954 outlawing segregated public schools in Brown v. Board of Education.

“Students for RPS” has become a bigger deal than Caroline anticipated when she came up with the name as part of her senior project on advocacy.

“I wanted to learn more about advocacy,” she said, appropriate given that her mother, Wendy McCaig, is founder and executive director of Embrace Richmond, an outreach ministry that promotes community betterment on North Side.

But amid the uproar over the condition of the public schools, the lack of raises for teachers and other issues, Caroline said she, Emma and Eva saw “Students for RPS” as an ideal vehicle to create a real advocacy group

through which students could voice their opinions. Christopher, Michelle and Naomi quickly joined the effort.

The walkout plan took on more urgency and importance following Monday’s School Board meeting where Superintendent Dana T. Bedden and his staff unveiled a drastic solution to help close a $18 million budget shortfall. The shortfall is the difference between the amount of local funds that Mayor Dwight C. Jones has proposed to spend on public education in the 2016-17 budget and the amount the School Board is seeking to provide pay hikes for teachers and other staff and to pay for an academic improvement program.

The drastic proposal calls for the School Board to close Armstrong High and four elementary schools and to relocate three specialty high schools into one unspecified building.

The closings are projected to reduce building operating costs by $3 million, which could be shifted to Dr. Bedden’s academic improvement program.

So far, Dr. Bedden has not said which specialty programs would be impacted nor has he said what school building might be used. But Caroline said she and her fellow students are worried that Open High might lose its independent space.

“Everyone was freaked out,” she said after the proposal was made public.

Richmond Free Press

Dandelion

Editorial Page

A6

April 7-9, 2016

Protection paramount We join the Greater Richmond community in mourning the death of Trooper Chad P. Dermyer of the Virginia State Police.

The 37-year-old husband and father of two was fatally shot last week during a training exercise at the busy Greyhound bus station on the Boulevard.

In Trooper Dermyer’s case, he approached an Illinois man who had stopped in Richmond en route from Raleigh to Chicago. Authorities said James Brown III was traveling with 143 rounds of ammunition and two partially loaded 30-round clips in his luggage. When he was approached by Trooper Dermyer, authorities said, Mr. Brown pulled out a .40-caliber handgun and shot Trooper Dermyer in the chest.

Mr. Brown then was shot to death by other troopers involved in the bus station exercise.

Two women from New York and North Carolina were wounded in the hail of bullets. Authorities have not said who fired the shots that harmed them.

We deplore the death of law enforcement officers at the hands of gun-toting maniacs, just as we deplore the death of young African-Americans at the hands of gun-toting, maniac cops.

This tragic situation, which terrified scores of innocent travelers and workers in and around the Greyhound station, alarmed people across the city and beyond. Richmond was tagged and showcased on national news because of the violence.

If Richmond is to be highlighted and elevated for something positive, perhaps we can lead the way in closing the gap uncovered by this serious incident.

That gap: Virginia State Police aren’t required to wear bulletproof vests while on the job. Col. W. Steven Flaherty, head of the State Police, said the policy only recommends that vests be worn by troopers; it doesn’t mandate it.

This is a fatal flaw, as we witnessed last week. There is some thought that Trooper Dermyer might have had a chance at survival had he been wearing his bullet-proof vest.

We believe all state troopers — and, indeed, all law enforcement officers — should be required to wear bullet-proof vests.

Like body cameras, they are vital to safety and possible survival.

According to a January report, “Body Armor for Law Enforcement Officers: In Brief,” issued by the Congressional Research Service, armor vests have saved the lives of more than 3,000 law enforcement officers during the past 30 years.

While an increasing percentage of police departments across the nation have instituted “mandatory wear” policies, the report so aptly states that “armor vests can only save lives when they are actually worn.”

Since 1998-99, Congress has put up money through a matching grant program to enable state, local and tribal governments to purchase bullet-proof vests for law and court officers.

That amount previously ranged from $25 million to $30 million a year, but has been reduced during each of the last four years, according to the report, to less than $23 million annually.

We think it is taxpayer money that is well spent.

We urge law enforcement agencies in Richmond and across the state to move to policies mandating that officers wear bullet-proof vests. It’s proven protection. While it won’t bring Trooper Dermyer back to his family and his job, it may save someone else’s life.

Stealing the show The 17th Annual Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10K is this weekend.

Even though participants may be running in cold and rainy conditions along a route laden with statues of vanquished icons of the Confederacy, the event typically provides a fun, healthy and wholesome experience for runners, walkers and observers alike.

However, we question changes made by organizers in recent years that have transformed the complexion of those in the winners’ circle.

Runners from Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia have won the men’s and women’s events — and their small purses — for 14 years, often setting course records.

But no more.

The elite East African runners rarely have come to Richmond for the Monument Avenue 10K since 2014, when a rules change dedicated prize money solely to competitors who are members of the Collegiate Running Association. Membership, while free, requires athletes to be enrolled in at least one college class.

The CRA’s new rules have the effect — if not the intent — of excluding some of the best runners in the world from the Richmond race.

Last year’s winners included runners preparing for Olympic trials. While that’s commendable, they lacked the quality competition that could help improve their skills and their times.

That’s a great loss for a city that strives to consider itself world class.

So, as you watch runners loop around the Confederate losers this weekend, remember you’ll be seeing only part, but not the whole picture.

Ready or not People turned out by the hundreds at Virginia Union University on Wednesday night to get an initial glimpse of the 12 announced candidates who want to become Richmond’s next mayor.

It was the first forum for the candidates, hosted by L. Douglas Wilder, Richmond’s former mayor and a former Virginia governor.

We are heartened by the level of citizen interest and engagement in this critically important contest that is only seven months away.

But like the presidential race that started with a cast of dozens and has devolved at times into a hate-fest, we hope that the mayor-wannabes in this crowded field act with aplomb and respect — both for themselves and for the voters — while articulating a clear vision for Richmond’s future and possible solutions to the myriad of issues we now face.

Personality politics has no place in this election.

We look forward to seeing how the mayoral campaign progresses and who will emerge as the next leader for Richmond.

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Demand economic justice This year’s presidential primaries have highlighted the importance of people of color to the Democratic Party coalition.

Hillary Clinton’s lead in the party’s nomination race comes almost entirely from her strength among African-American and Latino voters.

When people of color favor one candidate by large margins, they make the difference.

That will be true in the general election as well. Democratic nominees win if people of color vote in large numbers.

If turnout is down or the vote is split, Democrats — who regularly lose the majority of white voters — will lose.

This reality means that African-Americans, Latinos and Asian Americans can make political demands. Politicians must compete to win our votes.

The power of this can be seen with the Dreamers and the Democrats’ embrace of comprehensive immigration reform, with Black Lives Matter and Democratic candidates putting criminal justice reform at the top of their agendas. Voting rights and equal rights under the law also are gaining traction.

Missing, however, is any concerted demand for economic justice, even though AfricanAmericans and Latinos still face a stark economic divide. African-Americans lost the most wealth in the Great Recession

Jesse L. Jackson Sr. and have recovered the least.

They were the most targeted and harmed by the fraud committed by mortgage peddlers. The gap between black and white household wealth has tripled in the past quarter-century, with African-Americans’ median income level at $11,030 while the median for white people is $134,230). Black unemployment remains higher and incomes remain lower.

African-Americans and Latinos are more likely to be in poverty. Thirty-eight percent of black children are in poverty, as opposed to 11 percent of white children. Worse, black people and Latinos are much more likely to grow up in neighborhoods of concentrated poverty.

Concentrated poverty — what scholars term the “double burden” — digs children into a deeper hole of unsafe streets, impoverished schools, inadequate health facilities, poor markets, poor mass transit, lousy parks and more.

We need a movement that does for economic justice what Black Lives Matter has done for criminal justice. We need to develop a plan for targeted investment in neighborhoods of concentrated poverty — many of which are rural and white.

We need a summit on urban reconstruction that brings together the relevant agencies of government and lays out a plan. Movements like the fast food workers calling for a $15 minimum wage and unions need to gain real support from elected political leaders.

Some say targeted investment is inappropriate, even discriminatory. Somehow it is legitimate to target AfricanAmericans for voter registration, legitimate to target us for getting out the vote. Yet targeted investment based on need draws objections. That doesn’t make sense.

Some say a rising tide will raise all boats, but we know that is not true. Some boats are stuck on the bottom. Those who came here on ocean liners as immigrants came looking for a job.

Those who were brought here on slave ships found themselves up for sale. The former worked for wages and, with struggle, were able to build wealth. The latter worked for the lash and were stripped of any wealth they helped to create.

High court needs a black woman Scholars often opine that women in decision-making positions of authority would make more positive change in the future of the nation than men. With complete optimism, I believe that a genuine black woman in a decision-making position of authority would bring even more positive outcomes to our future.

In contrast, we haven’t had a genuine black jurist on the U.S. Supreme Court since 1991. When Justice Clarence Thomas was nominated to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Justice Thurgood Marshall, I allowed myself to believe that a confirmed Justice Thomas would bring a balanced judgment created by surviving an upbringing in the segregated South. That’s among my life’s biggest mistakes!

Since then, as we’ve seen justices added who increase diversity of experience and opinion on the court, we still lack a black female justice. I held hope that the death of Justice Antonin Scalia would present the opportunity for the selection of a black female justice, but I’ve been disappointed by the racist and political motivations shaping the impending selection process. With talk of the critically important role of black women in the 2016 presidential election, I hope the “right” president-elect

will wisely consider bringing the sensibilities of a black woman to the high court.

From whoever becomes president, I am unequivocal in my demand for greater respect of the needs and opinions of the community of AfricanAmerican women. In that regard, I speak for more than a symbolic gesture. Seek the

E. Faye Williams nomination and selection of a black female justice, undertaken without political malice or preference, and complete deliberation made to assure meritorious selection. Future Supreme Court decisions must be made with the guarantee of thoughtful consideration of the interests of black women and those persons and issues circumscribed within the parameters of the black female experience. And, lest someone attempts to minimize or suggest otherwise, the experience of the black female is an integral and consequential part of our national experience. Fairly considered by the president and U.S. Senate alike, the selection of a black woman to the Supreme Court should be a done deal.

If the subsequent vacancy is to be filled by a black woman, black women must lay our cards on the table and demand the selection mandated by our participation in the life and history of the nation. No truer axiom exists than “the squeaky wheel gets the grease.” We cannot wait

for “right to prevail” or express our wishes after the fact. The black women with whom I talk understand the importance of the U.S. Supreme Court, know our story is best told by us and realize that no one can make our case as well as we can. The imperative of a black female Supreme Court justice is more than a priority; it is a matter of life and death.

Supreme Court decisions have been pivotal in our history. They have provided for the expansion of civil rights to larger numbers of citizens or have codified and concretized laws that restrict the full realization of the rights of citizenship.

The recent decision that tore the teeth from the federal Voting Rights Act is a clear example. Instead of having voting laws, procedures and actions cleared by the U.S. Department of Justice for potential discriminatory impact, many states have imposed them with impunity. Consequentially, the Supreme Court decision eliminates any relief from negative impact. This has resulted in citizens waiting for hours to vote. Jurisdictions limit or reduce early voting, Sunday voting, easy registration and impose procedures that make voting more difficult rather than easier.

It’s time for women to exercise our power. We must vote and make our demands clear. We cannot stop until we have seated a black female on the Supreme Court.

The writer is president of the National Congress of Black Women.

The Free Press welcomes letters The Richmond Free Press respects the opinions of its readers. We want to hear from you.

We invite you to write the editor. All letters will be considered for publication. Concise, typewritten letters related to public matters are preferred. Also include your telephone number(s). Letters should be addressed to: Letters to the Editor, Richmond Free Press, P.O. Box 27709, 422 East Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23261, or faxed to: (804) 643-7519 or e-mail: letters@richmondfreepress.com.

African-Americans and Latinos remain the most optimistic about America. We are far more likely to believe our children will do better than we have. Part of this comes from the progress African-Americans have witnessed, with ancestors who came over on slave ships and parents who grew up in segregation, and now an African-American in the White House.

That appreciation should not, however, stop us from pushing for economic justice.

It is clear that Democrats can’t win without the enthusiastic support of people of color.

Surely, we should insist on an agenda commensurate with the size of our problems from those who want our support. We now have the political opportunity that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. dreamed of to demand justice.

The question is whether we have the will.

The writer is founder and president of the National Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

Richmond Free Press 422 East Franklin Street Richmond, VA 23219 Telephone (804) 644-0496 FAX (804) 643-7519 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 27709 Richmond, VA 23261 ______________

Founder Raymond H. Boone President – Publisher Jean P. Boone Managing Editor Bonnie V. Winston bonniewinston@richmondfreepress.com

Vice President – New Business Development Raymond H. Boone Jr.

jrboone@richmondfreepress.com

Vice President – News Enhancement Jeremy M. Lazarus Vice President – Production April A. Coleman Staff Writers Fred Jeter, Joey Matthews Frances Crutchfield Hazel Trice Edney Photographers Sandra Sellars James Haskins, Rudolph Powell and Clinton A. Strane ______________

Vice President – Administration Tracey L. Oliver Advertising Traffic Coordinator Cynthia Downing Advertising Fax: (804) 643-5436 e-mail: advertising@richmondfreepress.com classifieds@richmondfreepress.com

National Advertising Representative EPMG ______________

Distribution Reed Marshall LLC ______________

Richmond Free Press is published weekly by Paradigm Communications, Inc. Copies of the Richmond Free Press (one copy per person) are free of charge at outlets in the Richmond area. Back copies are available at the Free Press office at $3 per copy. Bulk orders can be made prior to any upcoming edition at special rates.

A Publication of

PARADIGM COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

422 East Franklin Street Richmond, VA 23219 Telephone (804) 644-0496

Richmond Free Press

April 7-9, 2016

A7

Letter to the Editor

‘Friendly fire’ an excuse to explain away black man’s death

The next quarterly GRTC Pulse (Bus Rapid Transit – BRT) Project Public Informational Meetings are scheduled. The purpose of these meetings is to provide an informal project update and a status report of the Design-Build procurement process. 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. The public comment period for this project closed in February 2016.

I find it troubling that another young black man has been shot and killed by the police and so little attention has been given to it by the news media. In Maryland, a plain clothes black police officer was killed March 13 by what was reported to be “friendly fire.”

First, I’d like to remind you that no fire is friendly.

But we accept the excuse that it was a “friendly fire” and considered an accident to explain away the murder of another young black man. The truth is a black man with a gun at a crime scene was shot and killed without posing any threat. This is becoming all too acceptable by our police and government leaders.

Until we begin to speak up and make some noise about these systematic killings, they will continue. I did not name the murdered police officer because he is just one of many that ‘Texas Tornado’ Dr.to McCreary died the same way. It is not illegal for a black man possess goes and goes mourned a gun, especially if it is his occupation. It is obvious that it is acceptable training by our police to shoot any black man with Richmond Free Press a gun, regardless of weather any threat is posed.

Lynch “friendly,” I’m sure he was Because the shooter is considered confirmation Newtoboss delayed not punished in any way and allowed to return work. at VSU until 2015?

Hampton provost to take reins So I and my fellow black men must be aware that this killer is still on the loose. One of us just might be next.

YOU CAN STILL FILE

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Get rid of debts that you can’t pay.

“Get A Fresh Start” Keep paying on your house and car as long as you owe what they are worth.

Also Chapter 13 “Debt Adjustment” STOPS FORECLOSURES, GARNISHMENTS AND HARASSING PHONE CALLS

OTHER LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDED: Divorce, Separation, Custody, Support, Home Buy or Sell

Start with as little as $100

www.richmondfreepress.com

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

MAY 8-10, 2014

Pamela V. Hammond is on track to become the first woman to lead Virginia State University in the school’s 132-year history, the Free Press has learned.

School sources said Dr. Hammond, the current provost or chief academic officer at Hampton University, has emerged as the board of visitors’ choice to become interim Introducing Better Futures —a whole new kind of investment with a greater Above, Martin “Marty” president to replace Dr. Keith return than money. When you invest, it helps kids go to college. Because Cobb, 8, was killed while T. Miller, who submitted his mindbeloved is a terrible thing to waste but a wonderful thing to invest in. defendinga his resignation Oct. 31.

12-year-old sister during Invest in Better Futures at UNCF.ORG/INVEST The sources said Dr. Hama sexual assault on her mond is scheduled to meet with last Thursday on South the board this Thursday, Nov. Side; right, grieving 13 — the date the board set for children comfort each ©2013 UNCF choosing an interim leader for other at Saturday evening’s the university in Ettrick. community vigil to honor Marty.

If all goes well, the board is expected to vote approval and introduce her as the choice for interim chief executive during the session, the sources said.

JOB: ADC-UCF-N92111C The sources said Dr. HamDOCUMENT NAME: 3C71978_ADC_c4.1_sc.indd DESCRIPTION: Adrian: Historic mond is expected to serve while BLEED: None the board conducts a national TRIM: 11.5" x 10.5" SAFETY: None search for the school’s 14th GUTTER: None president. She would be rePUBLICATION: None ART DIRECTOR: Alan Vladusic 8-4572 garded as a potential candidate, COPYWRITER: Bruce Jacobson 8-3119 sources said, depending on her ACCT. MGR.: Sarah Blechner 8-4490 ART PRODUCER: Veronica Reo 8-3459 work as interim.

PRINT PROD.: Tom Stocks 8-3941 Her start date could not be PROJ. MNGR.: Linda Holmes 8-4121 This advertisement prepared by Young & Rubicam, N.Y. learned, but it could be soon

By Joey Matthews Marty had a special affinity vived and is recovering at a after Jan. 1. for keys of any type, the pas- local hospital.

3C71978_ADC_c4.1_sc.indd Dr. Miller is to officially Eight-year-old Martin “Martor added.

Marty died from severe head CLIENT: Advertising Council, Inc. TMG #: 3C71979 HANDLE #: 10 JOB #: ADC-UCF-N92111C BILLING#: ADC-UCF-Y91597 leave the post Dec. 31. DOCUMENT NAME: 3C71978_ADC_c4.1_sc.indd PAGE COUNT: 1 of 1 SCALE: 100% his 12-year-old INDESIGN VERSION: ty” PRINT Cobb and In CS5 a tragic event that has cap- trauma, police later reported.

A former nurse educator, STUDIO ARTIST: Sc LAST SAVE DATE: 4-29-2013 4:56 PM CREATOR: dockeryk 4-22-2013 5:49 PM sister had a special bond. CREATION DATE: tured the nation’s heart, Marty Neighbors reported the attacker Dr. Hammond will take over DOCUMENT PATH: TMG:Volumes:TMG:Clients:YR:Ad Council:Jobs:2013:3C:3C71978_ADC-UCF-N92111:Mechanicals:3C71978_ADC_c4.1_sc.indd They were by all accounts now is being fondly remembered struck Marty in the head with FONT FAMILY: Helvetica Neue (57 Condensed), Champion (Featherweight), DIN Schrift (30640 Neuzeit Grotesk Bold Cond) a public university grappling LINK NAME: 3B71817_ADC_h1_w_BW.tif, 3B71817_ADC_k3_grid_BW_w.ai, 3B71817_ADC_j2_BW_40_w.ai, ADCouncil_KO_yr1.eps, inseparable as UNCF_tag_ko_yr1.eps siblings, best as a courageous hero. a brick. with major budget troublesINKasNAME: a Black friends and playmates.

Local and national media are Last Saturday evening, about result of an enrollment drop of “They were never apart,” telling the heart-rending story of 200 family members, friends, more than 1,000 students. The said the Rev. Theodore L. how Marty died last Thursday neighbors and other community problems led to cuts in student Hughey, the pastor at Abundant afternoon bravely trying to members somberly gathered services and could force faculty Life Church of God in Christ, protect his beloved sister from outside Abundant Life to honor and staff layoffs. the family’s church. a sexual predator as they played the endearing child with the She will arrive as VSU exThey would ride bikes and near railroad tracks behind the small frame, indomitable spirit periments with a new schedule big wheelers together, play side family’s home in the 200 block and warm, loving smile. by side with children in their of Brandon Road.

Prior to the vigil, loved ones Please turn to A4 South Side neighborhood and A 16-year-old boy was ar- assembled around a sign in brag about their mother’s fine rested Saturday and charged Marty’s yard that read: “Martin: down-home cooking, he told with Marty’s murder and the A real hero lived, fought and the Free Press. attack on his sister, who sur- died here.”

HEADED FOR HISTORIC GAINS.

8-year-old hero

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Coach Michele Drayton enjoys being back with her players and assistant coach Wade Ellegood in the Albert H. Hill Middle School gymnasium Tuesday.

Training Offered TO richmOnd residenTs

By The Office Of emergency managemenT Ben Jealous in new position

By Joey Matthews

“I felt loved and appreciated,” Coach Drayton told the Free Press Wednesday.

“It was a special feeling for me to be back and get such a welcome.

“It was like coming home,” she added.

Parents of the players, along with her Albert Hill colleagues, walked over and welcomed her back with more hugs and well wishes.

Although still weak from the stroke, Coach Drayton sat on the gymnasium bench and watched as her assistant, Wade Ellegood, coached Albert Hill to a win over Elkhardt in the Richmond Public Schools middle school playoff opener.

“I felt like taking over, but he did a good job,” a happy Coach Drayton said afterward of her anxiety of having to watch,

instead of coach.

Albert Hill lost its next game to the team from Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School last Thursday in the playoff semifinals.

But the Albert Hill players and Coach Drayton have much to be proud of. The team completed an 11-1 season, which included a 10-0 regular season.

Under Coach Drayton, Albert Hill has recorded four consecutive unbeaten regular seasons and won the middle school league championship in 2011, finishing 13-0.

Coach Drayton, 46, said she knew something was seriously amiss just prior to suffering the stroke. She had been experiencing a series of headaches and felt

Quarterback sacked by DUI charge

Free Press staff, wire reports SAN JOSE, Calif.

Just months after stepping down as head of the nation’s largest civil rights organization, former NAACP President Benjamin Jealous is changing his career from an East Coast political activist to a West Coast venture capitalist. It’s a switch he hopes will help further his goal of growing opportunities for black people and Latinos in the booming tech economy.

“My life’s mission has been leveling the playing field and closing gaps in opportunity and success,” Mr. Jealous, 41, said. “I’m excited about trying a difMr. Jealous ferent approach.”

The Northern California native and selfconfessed computer geek will be joining entrepreneurs Mitchell Kapor and Freada Kapor Klein at their venture capital investment firm that backs information technology start-ups committed to making a positive social impact.

Fred Turner, who studies culture and technology as an associate professor at Stanford University, said it’s “fascinating that a person of his caliber and experience would move into this space.”

Mr. Turner said there’s a deep question going on in the U.S. about how to accomplish positive social change.

“In the Silicon Valley, they approach it entrepreneurially. In Washington, they approach it politically,” Mr. Turner said. “These are two very different modes.”

Mr. Jealous said he and his family will remain in Silver Spring, Md., but he’ll commute to the West Coast about once a month.

Mr. Jealous was named to the NAACP’s top post in 2008 after Free Press Editor/Publisher

By Fred Jeter

where he, too, resides.

There is no evidence that Mr. Myers pushed the sale of the property in the 500 block of Fleet Street to Mr. Phipps.

Petersburg council records also support Mr. Myers’ assertion that “I had no involvement” in the vote approving the sale.

Mr. Myers is listed as abstaining from the otherwise unanimous vote of support for the recommendation from City Manager William Johnson III to sell the Fleet Street property to Mr. Phipps without any strings attached.

But even if there was no connection to Mr. Myers, this sale exemplifies the shortcomings of the program whose goal is to rev up development and job creation in a city that

Virginia State University is heading into its biggest game of the season minus a key component — quarterback Tarian Ayres.

Mr. Ayres, a 20-year-old sophomore from Dillwyn, has been suspended from playing in the CIAA championship game Saturday against Winston-Salem State University, school officials announced.

The school-mandated suspension stems from Mr. Ayres’ arrest Sunday, Nov. 9, on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, underage possession of alcohol and speeding.

He was arrested 2:05 a.m. Sunday about 25 miles southeast of Ettrick in Waverly, where he was stopped on U.S. 460.

Mr. Ayres was clocked driving 52 mph in a 35 mph zone, and was spotted crossing the highway’s double solid line near Main Street.

Waverly Police Officer C.M. Washington said he determined Mr. Ayres was intoxicated after administering sobriety checks, including a breathalyzer test.

There were two passengers in Mr. Ayres’ car at the time of the arrest. He is scheduled to appear Nov. 18 in Sussex County General District Court.

Please turn to A4

Please turn to A4

Raymond H. Boone advocated on his behalf.

He replaced former Verizon executive Bruce Gordon, who resigned under pressure from the NAACP board of directors in 2007 after Mr. Boone led a campaign showing Mr. Gordon favored corporate interests over those of the NAACP. Mr. Jealous was widely credited with improving the NAACP’s finances, donor base and outreach.

He said he will never completely drop out

April 9, 16, & 23, 2016 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Petersburg man lost dream, but made $45,000 Department of Fireprofit & Emergency Services Headquarters 201 E. Franklin St., Richmond, VA

Please turn to A4

Please turn to A3

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Montague D. Phipps had big dreams three years ago when he bought a derelict duplex from the City of Petersburg for the rock-bottom price of $5,000.

But when his dreams fell apart, he still came out ahead.

He recently sold the still-ramshackle building for $50,000 — a far different outcome than he and the Petersburg government envisioned when Mr. Phipps was approved to buy the property in 2011.

His case is attracting attention in part because he was able to flip the property for a profit and because of his ties to Petersburg City Councilman W. Howard Myers, who defeated a challenger Nov. 4 to win a second term as the Ward 5 representative.

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

‘Marty’ Cobb slain while defending 12-year-old sister

Heartwarming return Mayor Dwight C. Jones for Albert Hill coach Coach Michele Drayton walked into the Albert H. Hill Middle School gym for the first time since suffering a stroke last month.

The players on her girls’ basketball team excitedly ran over, showering her with hugs.

Surrounding her, they applauded and yelled, “Let’s win this one for Coach Drayton!”

Putting their hands together in a team huddle, they yelled, “Do it for Coach Drayton! One! Two! Three!”

It was a heartwarming homecoming for the longtime Albert Hill hoops coach, who returned to the team Nov. 4. She suffered a stroke Oct. 2 at her North Side home.

Please turn to A4

“Little Marty is a hero,” stated City Council member Reva M. Trammell, who spoke at the vigil and represents the 8th District where the grieving family lives.

“He was there when his sister needed him the most,” she added in response to a Free Press query.

“Marty’s beautiful smile and his love for his sister will always be with us. Marty will always be in our hearts, and he will never, ever be forgotten.”

Charles Willis, executive director of the Citizens Against Crime group that has helped lead vigils for more than 20 years in the city, said the turnout reflects a caring community.

“Even though a crisis of this nature happens, this shows the strength of not only the city, but of the community,” Mr. Willis said. “When trouble comes to any community, we will respond in a positive fashion.”

He described Marty’s mother, Sharain Spruill, as “very, very, very upset as well as hurt and trying to wrap her mind around why this happened her son.”

Major Steve Drew, who directs Support Services with the Richmond Police Department, praised neighborhood residents

Young foodie

Adilrah Johnson, 8, enjoys fresh-cut fries held by her mother, Shoshana. Mother and daughter tasted their way through Sunday’s GRAZE on Grace, a foodie’s delight. The first-time event featured nearly 30 restaurants and specialty food providers celebrating local and seasonal cuisine — from oysters on the half shell to banana tacos.

Location: East Grace Street, between North 4th and North 7th streets.

James Haskins/Richmond Free Press

This is a view of the decaying property Montoya D. Phipps bought from the City of Petersburg for $5,000 and recently sold for $50,000. Location: 530-32 Fleet St., just across the Appomattox River from Virginia State University.

business out of an apartment he leases from Mr. Myers. The apartment is in a five-unit building that Mr. Myers owns and

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

Please turn to A6

www.richmondfreepress.com

OCTOBER 9-11, 2014

for providing information that resulted in the quick arrest.

“The community really came together to seek justice for little Marty, the hero,” he said.

Police said Marty’s sister first reported the attacker to be a white male, but later recanted and identified a black, 16-yearold neighbor as the attacker.

She told police the teenager had threatened to hurt her if she told on him.

It has been reported the suspect’s name is Mariese Washington. He has a history of violent behavior that includes a 2010 attack in the Mosby Court housing community on a 3-year-old boy. He hit the boy in the back of the head with a hammer.

Th attack required the child to receive 100 staples and a metal plate in his head. The boy has spent four years in recovery, according to his family.

The alleged killer of Marty made his first appearance in Richmond Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on Monday in front of Judge Ashley K. Tunner.

Authorities have declined to identify the suspect because

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

By Joey Matthews

Will Mayor Dwight C. Jones be throwing out the first pitch at a new Shockoe Bottom baseball stadium two years from now?

Not likely, if a City Council revolt against the stadium succeeds.

Five members, led by Jonathan T. Baliles, the 1st District representative and potential 2016 mayoral candidate, undertook the revolt.

They did so by removing from the proposed budget $12.6 million that was considered essential to creating a new home for the minor league Richmond Flying Squirrels in the low-lying area of Downtown where the city was born and that later became infamous as the largest slave market north of New Orleans.

Sending shockwaves through City Hall, the five began the revolt against the stadium last Thursday as the nine council members worked to craft the next capital budget, the spending plan for city construction.

The stadium money was earmarked to redo underground piping for flood control. Without the money, the work to meet federal regulations for building in a flood plain could not be done.

The stadium site near 17th and East Broad streets is defined as being in the flood plain.

Mr. Baliles was joined in the decision to remove the $12.6 million and reallocate it to other city needs, such as improvements for aging school buildings, by Council President Charles R. Samuels, 2nd District; Chris A. Hilbert, 3rd District; and the two staunch stadium foes, Parker C. Agelasto, 5th District, and Reva M. Trammell, 8th District.

The four members who wanted to keep the stadium money in place included: Council Vice President Ellen F. Robertson, 6th District; Kathy C. Graziano, 4th District; Cynthia I. Newbille, 7th District, and Michelle R. Mosby, 9th District.

The move is the first clear evidence that the mayor and his legion of business supporters

Shamika Fauntleroy accompanied her father Tuesday morning from their hometown of Tappahannock to the VCU Medical Center, where he was to undergo surgery.

“My father looked at me when we got there and told me to go take care of my business first,” Ms. Fauntleroy told the Free Press.

She and her longtime partner, Kristea Thompson, then drove the short distance to the John Marshall Courts Building in Richmond’s Downtown, where they bought a marriage license around 10 a.m.

The two Tappahannock residents became the first African-American couple and 12th overall to purchase a marriage license from the Richmond Circuit Court Clerk’s Office after the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for same-sex marriages in Virginia and four /A6 other states Monday.

They told the Free Press they plan to wed as soon as they can make the arrangements.

The partners of 10 years already had celebrated their union at a Sept. 6 commitment service with family and friends at a home off Riverside Drive on South Side.

“We already had that bond, but we wanted to take care of it legally as well,” Ms. Fauntleroy said.

On Monday, the Supreme Court effectively allowed same-sex marriage to proceed in Virginia when it refused to take up a 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that overturned the same-sex marriage ban.

Gay and lesbian couples hurried to Virginia courthouses shortly after the news.

Edward F. Jewett, clerk of the Richmond Circuit Court, said his office anticipated the change and, in August, changed gender references on marriage licenses to refer instead to spouses rather than husband and wife.

Ms. Fauntleroy, 28, said she was on her job as an assistant manager at a Hardee’s restaurant in Warsaw when she heard the news that the marriage ban had been lifted.

“I was like this,” she said, gleefully raising her arms with a mile-wide smile. “We had waited so long for this moment.”

She called the Essex County Circuit Court about a license, “but they had no idea what had happened and could not help us,” she said.

That’s when she and Ms. Thompson formulated plan B — to buy a license in Richmond.

“This brings me the happiness I always wanted, to be able to legally say I’m going to share my life with her,” Ms. Fauntleroy said, sitting outside the John Marshall building with her future wife.

“It’s a blessing,” Ms. Thompson, 30, an employee at June Parker Oil Co. in Tappahannock, added. “This shows things are Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press changing in each and every way.”

Area ministers weigh in on gay marriage

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Shamika Fauntleroy, left, and Kristea Thompson are planning a wedding ceremony after obtaining a marriage license Tuesday at the John Marshall Courts Building in Downtown.

Court ruling moves Va. to historic change

By Jeremy M. Lazarus and Joey Matthews

Virginia joined the tidal wave of historic change this week, with the U.S. Supreme Court opening the door for same-sex marriage in the commonwealth.

The nation’s highest court at its opening session Monday refused to take up a ruling by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that overturned Virginia’s same-sex marriage ban.

By leaving intact Virginia’s lower court ruling striking down a ban on gay marriage, as well

Upcoming Free Health Seminars Please turn to A4

Please turn to A6

Nicole Pries, left, and Lindsey Oliver kiss after an impromptu ceremony outside the Downtown courthouse Monday. They became the first same-sex couple to wed in Richmond.

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Two years ago, the Republican-controlled General Assembly was accused of creating new congressional districts that packed Democratic-leaning black voters into the 3rd House District, reducing the influence of black voters on congressional elections in adjacent districts.

This week, a divided federal court panel upheld critics’ complaints in finding that black voters were illegally overloaded into the district represented by

Please turn to A4

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

¿Qué Pasa? in Richmond

Latin Ballet members Monte Jones and Ana Ines King deliver a flashy dance move Saturday at the lively ¿Qué Pasa? Festival in Downtown. The event’s name translates to “what’s happening” in English, and there was plenty happening at this spring showcase of Latin American culture, music, art and food.

Location: The Canal Walk near 14th and Canal streets.

Please turn to A6

Federal judges order redrawing of Scott’s district

Free Press wire reports

The CERT Program educates citizens about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and train them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help.

Mr. Phipps, an adjunct design instructor at Virginia State University, also makes his home and operates his interior design

wrenched from their homelands, raped and abused, as Africans.

Being black is not a choice, and neither is being gay.

Our Constitution was intended to protect the rights of anyone to pursue the realization of any right given to them by birth.

If a person is born with the right from their

© 2014 Paradigm Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

VOL. 23 NO. 41

Chris gets better news

Richmond residents can register to receive free training in basic survival skills during an emergency.

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

FR ee

FR ee

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

lesbians the right to the majority do not get a Commentary marry. vote in the issue, regardIronically, it was less of their discomfort Virginia which, in 1967, had its ban on inter- about interracial relationships. racial marriage overturned. Loving v. Virginia Is gay the new black? No one can say with said that every citizen has the basic human right honesty that gays, like blacks, are not oppressed. to marry who they might choose. The state and Gays, though oppressed, were never enslaved,

ee FR

JAMES T. BATES Richmond

© 2014 Paradigm Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

VOL. 23 NO. 19

NOVEMBER 13-15, 2014

Dr. Hammond

President Obama has set yet another precedent with his choice to succeed U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.

Loretta Lynch, a 55-yearold Greensboro, N.C., native and Harvard educated lawyer, would be the nation’s first African-American female attorney general if confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

As the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York since 2010, Ms. Lynch has worked on numerous high-profile cases involving Ms. Lynch police brutality, bank fraud and money laundering.

Sources close to the Obama administration said they expected Ms. Lynch would generate little controversy, making for a smooth Senate confirmation process.

The Senate twice previously has confirmed her nomination to federal prosecutor jobs, most recently in 2010.

But senior Senate Democrats and White House aides said Ms. Lynch’s confirmation likely would be delayed until the new session of Congress starts in January. Her nomination then will rest in the hands of Republicans, who will control the upper chamber as a result of the Nov. 4 elections.

Known for her low-key personality, Ms. Lynch has stirred little controversy during two tenures as U.S. attorney. She served in the position under President Bill Clinton from 1999 to 2001, before leaving for private practice. President Obama appointed her to the post once again in 2010.

A Republican-majority Senate confirmed her 1999 appointment, while a Democraticmajority Senate confirmed her in 2010.

Mr. Holder is the only attorney general to serve under President Obama, holding the job since 2009. He is the first African-American to hold the

Is gay the new black? Have gays and lesbians supplanted African-Americans as the most oppressed American minority?

Several African-Americans have asked me if the recent opinions granting gays and lesbians the right to marry will have any impact upon African-American civil rights.

On Oct. 6, 2014, Virginia granted gays and

A6

T:10.5"

Free Press staff, wire reports

www.richmondfreepress.com

Don Sterling L.A. Clippers team owner

ee FR

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

By David P. Baugh

Dan Snyder Washington team owner

T:11.5"

A4

© 2014 Paradigm Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

VOL. 23 NO. 46

Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at 12:00 – 1:00 pm Main Street Station, 1500 E. Main Street This location is conveniently accessible from the GRTC bus system (Routes 11, 52 & 53) and is near the Temporary Transfer Plaza. Free parking (unmarked spaces) is permitted in the east parking lot on Main Street. Entrance is accessible between Main Street Station and 17th Street.

Free parking is also available at the Plaza located between Is gay the new black? Main and Cary Streets directly across NFL should follow NBA to end D.C. pro team’s fromracism Main Street Station (enter from Main or Cary).

Meeting locations are accessible to persons with disabilities. GRTC strives to provide reasonable Richmond Free Press Press accommodations and services Richmond for persons whoFree require assistance to participate. For special assistance, contact Ashley Mason at 804-474-9364 or email amason@ridegrtc.com at least Stadium plan near death?

Virginia 72 hours prior GRTC now Transit System’s CARE and CARE Councilto the public informational meeting. opposition forJubilant allcouples lovers Plus services provide curb-to-curb Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransit services to threatens head mayor’s to courthouse for marriage licenses residents ofdream the Richmond Region.

ee FR

FR ee

B8

Tuesday, April 26, 2016 at 6:00 – 7:00 pm Armstrong High School, 2300 Cool Lane This location is conveniently accessible from the GRTC bus system (Route 44). Parking is available in the school parking lot.

LOS ANGELES R&B superstar Chris Brown finally got some good news.

A Los Angeles judge has said that the Tappahannock, Va., native could be released as early as this week from jail if attorneys can agree to terms for his release.

The news comes as the pop star deals with criminal cases on the East Coast and West Coast.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge James Brandlin had earlier indicated Mr. Brown could be facing anywhere from a few months to more than a year in jail.

Unfortunately for him, Mr.

Virginia’s lone black congressman, Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott.

Rep. Scott, a Democrat, has represented the district for 22 years. The district includes parts of Richmond, Newport News, Hampton and Norfolk and the counties of Henrico and Prince George, and all of Petersburg and Portsmouth and the counties of Rep. Scott Charles City and Surry.

In a 2-1 decision, the panel deemed the current map in violation of the U.S. Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause and ordered the state legislature to redraw the boundaries of the district by April 1. If not, the federal court panel will redraw the lines.

Tuesday’s decision is expected to have a ripple effect and require redrawing the boundaries of the adjacent 2nd and 4th House districts and possibly others to rebalance populations.

The 2nd and 4th districts are represented by Republican Reps. Scott Rigell and J. Randy Forbes, respectively.

But the upcoming congressional elections scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 4, will go forward with the current district lines.

Along with writing the opinion for the panel’s majority, Judge Allyson K. Duncan of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also issued a separate order allowing the November elections to “proceed as scheduled under the existing redistricting plan,” but she barred future elections until a new redistricting plan is adopted.

She and U.S. District Judge Liam O’ Grady, who joined her opinion, deemed it too late to do anything for the current round of elections.

The third member of the panel, U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne, found no reason to overturn the redistricting plan.

on a Richmond radio talk show.

“We’re going to work through the challenges we have today and come out of this a bigger, a better and a stronger university,” Dr. Miller told the audience of “The Jack Gravely Show.”

In addition, Dr. Miller has announced he will hold separate meetings for students and faculty to provide more information on the school’s fiscal outlook and on the steps the university is taking to overcome what it now lists as a $19 million shortfall in revenue.

He is slated to hold the town hall-style sessions

Free Press wire reports DALLAS The first person diagnosed with Ebola in the United States died Wednesday morning in a hospital here.

The case of Thomas Eric Duncan, a Liberian who came to the United States on Sept.

20, put health authorities on alert for the deadly virus spreading outside of West Africa.

About 48 people who Mr. Duncan had direct or indirect contact with Mr. Duncan since his arrival were being monitored, but none have shown any symptoms as of Wednesday evening, according to health officials.

Mr. Duncan’s case has led to expanded efforts by U.S. authorities to combat the spread of Ebola at its source in West Africa — and raised questions about the effectiveness of airport screening and hospital preparedness.

Mr. Duncan, 42, became ill after arriving in Dallas to visit family. He went to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital on Sept. 25, but initially was sent home with antibiotics. His

Please turn to A4

Please turn to A4

Please turn to A4

VSU president sets town hall meetings

Miller fighting to retain control

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Paulette Singleton/Richmond Free Press

Happy face

Leoné Brunswick parties Saturday with balloon character SpongeBob SquarePants at the 26th annual 2nd Street Festival in Jackson Ward.

Thousands of people turned out to enjoy the twoday festival. Please turn to B2 for more photos.

Please turn to A4

Dr. Keith T. Miller is pushing back against perceptions that he has been secretive and lacks the leadership skills to overcome Virginia State University’s financial woes.

Facing student protests, faculty grumbling and alumni concerns about the university’s money troubles, Dr. Miller is taking fresh steps to open lines of communication and to quell efforts to force him to resign.

Last week, he appeared with Hyisheem Calier, president of VSU’s Student Government Association,

First Ebola patient dies in Dallas

Don't Miss One Word

Call Rudy McCollum at (804)218-3614 24-7. Talk to an attorney for free

To register, call 804-646-2504 or visit our website at: http://www.richmondgov.com/fire/emergencymanagement.aspx Registration ends Friday, April 8, 2016 at 5 p.m.

and get legal restrictions, fees, costs and payment terms.

Rudolph C. McCollum, Jr., Esq. McCollum At Law, P.C.

Mail to: P.O. Box 4595, Richmond, VA 23220 422 E. Franklin St., Suite 301, Richmond, VA 23219 (Franklin & 5th Sts.) We are a federally designated Debt Relief Agency under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and we help people file for bankruptcy.

VCU Hea th w be offer ng the fo ow ng free hea th sem nars at Lew s G nter Botan ca Garden s Ke y Educat on Center ocated at 1800 Lakes de Avenue Reg strat on s recommended Free park ng ava ab e

Tuesday, Apr 5

5:30 p.m

Using Your Body Movement as Medicine

Web Address: McCollumatLaw.com E-mail: rudy@mccollumatlaw.com

Av d runner or wa ker but your knees egs and o nts are start ng to bother you? n order to stay hea thy and strong t s suggested to keep your body mov ng at a ages of fe Jo n Dr Kather ne Dec as she d scusses ways to keep your body n mot on

INVITATION FOR PUBLIC COMMENT APRIL 5 – MAY 19

Tuesday, Apr 19

Richmond Regional Transportation Organization Tea Ce ebratPlanning ng RRHA Leadership mns y Mother s Day Public Participation Plan

Wendell Scott NASCAR Hall of Famer B2

5:30 p.m

Federal appeals court gives workers greater protection against racial harassment

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

complaint involves only one or two incidents.

In a decision issued May 7, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that even isolated incidents of racial abuse such as the one Ms. Boyer-Liberto faced can be enough to allow workers to seek damages and also to create a cause of action against employers who terminate a worker for reporting such abuse.

Essentially, the court sent a message that racial bigotry has no place in the workplace.

All 15 sitting judges of the court participated in hearing the

case that dismantles a requirement that employees must show a persistent pattern of racial hostility in order to get their day in court and protection from being fired.

Twelve judges joined in the majority opinion, which revived Ms. Boyer-Liberto’s lawsuit against the Clarion Resort Fontainebleau Hotel in Ocean City, Md., and its owner who fired her.

A lower court and a panel of the 4th Circuit had tossed out her lawsuit on the grounds the racial slur she was subjected

Weight Loss Surgery Gaining and Acceptance Richmond Free Press Richmond FreePopularity Press for the Metropolitan ■ Transportation Planning Process Richmond Free Press Press End the inconvenience of empty Richmond Richmond Free Press Anewspaper most one out ofRichmond everyboxes, fiveFree teens sfighting obese accord ng to theFree NatPress ona Somanath in

Goolsby out

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

www.richmondfr

© 2015 Paradigm Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

VOL. 24 NO. 6

S

B

ga

Please turn to A4

NFL shou d o ow NBA o end D C p o eam s ac sm

D McC ea y mou ned

T

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

www.richmondfreepress.com

FR ee

VOL. 24 NO. 19

T

FEBRuARy 5-7, 2015

School success

S

© 2015 Paradigm Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

VOL. 24 NO. 20

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

he new b ack

ee FR

© 2015 Paradigm Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

FR ee

ee FR

FR ee

B8

A Maryland waitress who was fired after reporting that a manager twice called her “a porch monkey” has become a key figure in bolstering protections for workers who face racial harassment and abuse on the job.

A federal appeals court in Richmond is using the civil rights lawsuit that Reya C. Boyer-Liberto filed against the resort hotel where she worked in 2010 to bolster efforts of workers who seek legal redress for a hostile workplace — even when their

www.richmondfreepress.com

MAY 14-16, 2015

m The Richmond Regional Transportation Planning Organization (RRTPO), the federally Stadthum anoverwe near death? nst tutes for Hea Bepng ght or obese as a ch d can other E New boss at VSU Carver Elementary V rgead n a to now m fosters designated organization for transportation planning in the Richmond Region, invites the Hamp on p ovos hea o teamwork ake th e nsre ated ssues nto adu thood Jo n Dr Dav d Lann ng as he ta ks about for a overs rewards for students Community leaders, residents public to review an amendment to the Public Participation Plan (PPP). The amendment march in Mosby Court for peace the benefits of ado escent bar atr c surgery ■ A new describes theT public comment process for amending the Long Range Transportation Plan ga he new b ack NFL shou d o ow NBA top cop T D McC ea y o end D C p o eam s ac sm mou ned in town and Transportation Improvement Program.

Tuesday, Apr 26 5:30 p.m Richmond Free Press Richmond Free Press Richmond Free Press 8-year-old hero TELL USRayvon WHAT YOU THINK Owen Is This TheM End of Chronic Tendon Disease?

Stad um p an near death?

New boss at VSUhometown rgngn a Hea waVm e unow n ‘Idol’ Hamp on p ovoscan o ake nsHe ang o Ronline The draft PPP document beereviewed (www.richmondregional.org); select o A beforHa coach hmond Bo Cho overs Chron c tendon d sease — p antar fasc t s tenn s e bow and oo a en o na ona age the Publications menu and click on the Draft RRTPO Public Participation Plan. The umper s knee — s pa nfu because of a bu dup of scar t ssue rather w w Mayor touts anti-poverty efforts in city address draft plan is also available at the RRPDC office; phone 323-2033 or e-mail than act ve nflammat on Jo n Dr Jeff E b ch as he shares a new Advocacyto groups planthe housing, MPOPublicComment@richmondregional.org.

New city CAO Pe e sbu g man os d eam m n ma y nvas ve outpat ent procedure treat scar t ssue gets $5,700 raise services safety net for foster youths bu made $45 000 p ofi 8-year-old hero before job start ce Dep ga on Dubinsky, by fax, mail Please submit all comments in writing byJus May 19, opens 2016 nves to Tiffany M n o G ay s dea h o fice s cha ged M Hea wa m ng e u n or e-mail (MPOPublicComment@richmondregional.org).

Hearing impairedPetersburg citizens jailcan Register online at vcuhealth.org/seminars or to close o A be H coach call the Virginia Relay Center at 1-800-828-1120.

Don't Miss volunteer subscription Don't Miss One Word One Word

the weather and hunting down back copies.Stop the violence Also, support the Free Press. We’re always working for you. m

By Joey Matthews

James Haskins/Richmond Free Press

Deputy Chief Durham

By Joey Matthews

m

Please turn to A4

m

The Richmond Police Department has stayed free of public accusations of police brutality as “Black Lives Matter” demonstrations grow locally and across the nation to protest atrocities by white police officers in the black community.

The nearly 740-officer force has garnered mostly praise for its community policing efforts to gain closer ties with neighborhoods in the city it serves.

Incoming Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham vows to take those efforts up a notch.

“There’s always room for improvement,” the 51-year-old Washington native and current Richmond Police deputy chief of administration said Monday after he was introduced by Major Dwight C. Jones as the city’s next police chief in a news conference at City Hall.

The mayor named his new top cop as a national furor grows over killings by white police officers of unarmed black men such as Eric Garner in New York City in July; Michael Brown Jr. in Ferguson, Mo., in August; and Rumain Brisbon in Phoenix in December.

In Richmond, young people in recent weeks have demonstrated and staged “die-ins” in Downtown and in the Fan District to draw attention to the police killings and the overall neglect of the black community.

“I want to acknowledge that

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Carver Principal Kiwana yates gives kindergarten student Jajuan Dickerson a high-five for a job well done.

By Joey Matthews

Mayor Dwight C. Jones spoke of “a tale of two cities” in his State of the City address.

“Right now, one part of town is vibrant, prosperous and forward-looking,” he told an attentive audience of about 300 people Jan. 29 in the auditorium at Huguenot High School on South Side. “And then when you cross the Martin Luther King Bridge, you find another Richmond — one that has largely been ignored, overlooked and shunned.

“The old Richmond allowed a generation of Richmonders to believe that they don’t have a chance to succeed,” he added. “Leaders made a decision to create public housing projects and push thousands of poor people into them.”

The mayor spoke of a “resurgent” city early and often in his 22-minute speech that was greeted with

“We take an all-hands-on-deck approach to educating our children.”

That’s how George Washington Carver Elementary School Principal Kiwana Yates enthusiastically describes the full community involvement approach she and her staff utilize.

With it, they have achieved academic success against tall odds in the largely impoverished community served by the school at 1110 W. Leigh St. “Each school faces different challenges,” the third-year Carver principal told the Free Press. “A kid is a kid, and it doesn’t really matter where they come from. It takes a level of excellence from the teacher and the ability of the school to meet the needs of each child.”

Carver is among only 11 of Richmond’s 44 public schools to earn full accreditation from the Virginia Department of Education after surpassing state standards in four core Standards of Learning tests administered last spring.

Carver, with 95 percent of its 592 students in kindergarten through fifth grade being African-American, scored an average of 90 in science, 88 in English and 84 each in math and history.

At least 75 percent of a school’s students must pass English and at least 70 percent must pass the other three tests in order for the school to be fully accredited.

Carver also has been recognized as a Title I Distinguished School by the Virginia Department of Education. To qualify, a disadvantaged school receiving additional federal aid must meet all state and federal accountability requirements for two years and achieve average reading and mathematic SOL scores at the 60th percentile or higher.

The school’s theme this year is “The Jewel of the Carver Community.”

Early in the school year, Ms. Yates and her staff organized an “SOLabration,” a day of creative learning activities capped by a family fun night to recognize their accreditation. Staff wore “SOLabration” shirts to mark the day.

applause about a dozen times.

However, he bluntly told the audience of city officials, politicos, community advocates and ordinary citizens, “We’ll reach our full potential only when we move beyond the tale of two cities.”

He cited some of his administration’s povertyfighting efforts.

Among those: • Opening the new Office of Community Wealth Building last June to spearhead the city’s anti-poverty initiatives.

• Building new schools such as the $63 million Huguenot High School, the first new high school in the city since 1968.

• Reducing concentrated pockets of poverty in the East End by transforming public housing communities into mixed-income neighborhoods.

• Attracting new businesses, such as Stone Brewing Company in the Fulton neighborhood, to expand the city’s tax base and provide jobs.

• Increasing workforce training.

• Landing a $25 million federal grant for bus rapid transit along Broad Street from Rocketts Landing in the East End to Willow Lawn so people can get to jobs.

• Opening the new Richmond Justice Center in Shockoe Valley and the Day Reporting Center in Downtown to provide more opportunities for offenders to gain rehabilitative services and decrease their prospects of returning to jail.

m

By Joey Matthews

Photos by Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Joyce Kenney holds an image of her grandson, Ra’Keem Adkins, 22, who was shot and killed in the Mosby Court public housing community May 7. Right, more than 200 people, including Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham, march from Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School to Mosby Court calling for an end to the violence.

Please turn to A4

For most of her adult life, Joyce Kenney has been an advocate for people living in the Mosby Court public housing community and other poor neighborhoods in the city.

In that time, she has lobbied for more resources for people in disadvantaged communities. She also has attended countless vigils to comfort those mourning the deaths of their loved ones due to violence in the streets.

On Tuesday night, it was Ms. Kenney’s turn to be consoled by community members.

Her grandson, Ra’Keem Adkins, 22, was one of five shooting victims in Richmond May 7. He was shot multiple times and died on the sidewalk in the 1900 block of Redd Street shortly after 10 p.m. in Mosby Court in the city’s East End. Earlier in the day, Sylvester Nichols, 24, was fatally shot in the parking lot of the Family Dollar Store in the 6500 block of Midlothian Turnpike on South Side. A third man also was shot that night about three miles away and taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Angered by the ongoing black-on-black violence in the city, community activist J.J. Minor said he began planning an anti-violence rally last Saturday with the Mosby Court Tenant Council and fellow activist Charles Willis, who grew up in Mosby Court.

“I’m tired and frustrated by the blackon-black crime,” Mr. Minor told the Free Press prior to the rally as he and other volunteers prepared hamburgers and hot dogs to serve along with potato chips, soft drinks and water to rally attendees.

He pointed to a decrepit basketball court a few yards from where Mr. Adkins was killed. The baskets had bent rims and no nets.

“Look at that,” he said, shaking his head.

“The city needs to step up to the plate and put more resources in impoverished communities.”

He said he plans to contact community members, city officials, educators, business leaders and faith leaders to convene Please turn to A5

No charges filed against Wisconsin police officer in teen’s death Free Press wire reports

MADISON, Wis. A Wisconsin police officer who fatally shot an unarmed biracial teenager in March, prompting several days of peaceful protests, will not be charged, a prosecutor said Tuesday.

Officer Matt Kenny used justified lethal force in the March 6 shooting of Tony Robinson, 19, Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne said.

Mr. Ozanne said Officer Kenny shot Mr. Robinson after the teen struck him in the head and tried to knock the officer down a staircase.

“I conclude that this tragic and unfortunate death was the result of a lawful Please turn to A5

For your convenience, the Richmond Free Press offers you the call (804) 828-0123 for more information. opportunity to receive the Richmond Free Press in the mail.

Please turn to A4

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

w

until the Petersburg City Council decides whether to build a new The Petersburg City Jail is holding facility at a projected going to be shut down in March cost of $5 million.

— forcing Petersburg Sheriff Sheriff Crawford, who has Vanessa Crawford to lay off the been fighting the decision, almajority of her staff of 98 depuready has warned that Petersburg ties and civilian employees. would have to pay Riverside Petersburg Mayor W. Howard nearly $3 million a year to house Myers announced Monday that the city’s inmates. That’s about the decision is final. as much as the city now spends Sheriff Crawford Saying Petersburg cannot afto operate its own jail. ford the $22 million to replace its antiquated The city also would incur a bigger bill for jail, Mayor Myers said that effective March prisoner transportation expenses and would 1, all new arrestees would be housed at the tie up police officers who will have to travel Riverside Regional Jail, located about 10 farther to book prisoners, she said. miles away in Prince George County.

Sheriff Crawford said the decision would Current inmates would be transferred on force her to lay off at least 55 of her 78 or about March 15 to the regional facility deputies. She also will have to eliminate a that opened in 1997, was expanded in 2010 major share of the department’s 20 civiland can house up to 2,000 inmates. ian employees.

The Petersburg jail, which houses about She and the remaining staff would be 200 inmates, dates to 1968. limited to providing security at the holding Petersburg is one of seven localities facility and the courthouse and serving civil that built and manages Riverside Regional papers. She noted that salaries of the half Jail. The city’s women prisoners already dozen deputies she would need to staff are housed there. the lockup would have to be paid by the After the transfer is complete, the city. The state only picks up the salaries mayor said the jail’s only use would be of deputies assigned to a jail. as a temporary lockup for inmates going Please turn to A4 to court or awaiting transfer to Riverside

w

By Joey Matthews

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Selena Cuffee-Glenn just received a $5,700 salary bump — from $203,000 a year to $208,700 — though she will not start work as the city’s top administrator until Monday, May 18.

Her benefits package also has been sweetened with a $5,700 increase in a retirement benefit paid by the city.

City Council asked no questions about the unexpected pay hike in voting 9-0 Monday to confirm the former Suffolk city manager as Richmond’s new chief administrative officer.

In mid-April when Mayor Dwight C. Jones announced Ms. Cuffee-Glenn Ms. Cuffee-Glenn as his choice for the No. 2 post at City Hall, he said she would start at $203,000 a year.

His staff even produced the offer letter she signed stipulating her salary and a host of other benefits, including a $950 monthly car allowance and $15,000 a year in deferred compensation, essentially a retirement savings plan.

Her new starting pay of $208,700 is listed in the ordinance that council members approved without public comment. Her deferred pay now is shown as $20,700 a year, with a $1,000 increase for each year of service, according to the ordinance.

One thing that was eliminated in the altered package is the $950 monthly car allowance, which would have totaled to $11,400 a year.

Apparently, Ms. Cuffee-Glenn traded the car allowance for improved starting pay and an increase in deferred compensation.

Asked about the changes, Tammy Hawley, the press secretary for Mayor Jones, responded that the mayor and Ms. Cuffee-Glenn “ended up renegotiating some things.”

James Haskins/Richmond Free Press

Mayor Jones at State of the City address.

“It’s new for all of us,” Mayor Jones said. “It’s never happened in my lifetime or yours. But I know this: If we unite together and look forward, and invite our neighbors to join us, then we’ll continue to shape the city and the region we all want to call home.”

The mayor kicked off his address touting the RichPlease turn to A4

State Dems hit with voting rights suit

Janeva Smith has seen many of her friends in foster care suddenly become homeless when they turn 18. They have nowhere to go, few life skills and little hope for the future.

“I’ve had many friends who tried to commit suicide,” said Ms. Smith, who was 18 months old when she initially was placed in foster care in Plainfield, N.J. She was 14 when she entered foster care in Virginia, moving between foster families, group homes and shelters.

Related story on B3

“I’ve tried to commit suicide multiple times,” she said. “I’ve had many friends who face homelessness, have been incarcerated, many who don’t graduate from high school and others who got pregnant.

“Life’s rough when you don’t have any support,” she continued. “Imagine not having anybody to call on Mother’s Day.” Now 22, Ms. Smith lives in Hillside Court in South Richmond. She spoke with a Free Press reporter last week at the West End headquarters of the Children’s Home Society of Virginia, an organization that she credits with providing her with services and guidance.

The organization is collaborating with the Better Housing Coalition in Richmond to provide housing and supportive services to young adults being booted out of foster care on their 18th birthday.

The Possibilities Project, as the collaboration is called, would start by housing 20 young people early next year, then add more

young adults as the project develops.

In Virginia, children automatically “age out” of foster care when they reach age 18. According to the Children’s Home Society, about 700 young people fall into that category Ms. Smith each year in Virginia.

Within two years, according to the organization, one in four of those young people will be incarcerated, one in five will be homeless and fewer than one in six will graduate from high school.

Advocates point out that housing is an

especially critical need for this young and vulnerable population. They provided sad and gripping accounts of how some teens in foster care are packed up and taken to homeless shelters when they turn 18.

One available option is independent living programs that are coordinated through local social services departments in Virginia.

Youths no longer eligible for foster care can get housing until age 21 as long as they adhere to a contract requiring they are enrolled in school, working or in a counseling or treatment program. The contracts are personalized, designed to meet the specific needs of the young person.

While under contract, they can receive Please turn to A4

Like father, like son

Don't Miss Don't Miss One Word volunteer One Wordsubscription Don'tsubscription Miss volunteer Don't Miss One Word Don't Miss One Word volunteer subscription Don't Miss Mob e home e den

a ege

a on

Richmond Regional Transportation d m na o Planning n HUD omp aOrganization n Pe e sbu g man os d eam bu made 000 p ofi c/o$45Richmond Regional Planning District Commission 9211 Forest Hill Avenue, Suite 200, Richmond, VA 23235 Phone: (804) 323-2033 Fax: (804) Just 323-2025 take a

minute

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Did the Democratic Party of Virginia violate the U.S. Constitution and the federal Voting Rights Act in choosing its nominee to compete in a recent special election for a House of Delegates seat?

Yes, say three African-Americans, who are taking their case to federal court.

The trio allege the party trampled on their voting rights and those of thousands of Democrats like them in its zeal to eliminate Henrico Delegate Joseph D. “Joe” Morrissey as a nominee in the election he went on to win Jan. 13 as an independent.

David M. Lambert, Gary G. Hill Sr. and his sister-in-law, Linda D. Hill, filed the suit Friday.

According to their suit, the Democrats’ method of nomination intentionally excluded them and other African-American voters living in the majority-black 74th House of Delegates District, which includes Charles City County, 26 precincts

in eastern Henrico County and a single precinct in Richmond’s North Side.

The lawsuit charges that the party, fearing such voters “might use their First Amendment rights to support a candidate the DPVA and other local party officials didn’t want to win the Democratic nomination,” imposed rules that “intentionally disenfranchised them all.”

The suit seeks to bar the party from ever using any procedure to “disenfranchise and discriminate” against African-Americans and other party members in the selection of its nominees, which the suit describes as “a critical element of the electoral process.”

The case, which is assigned to senior U.S. Judge Robert E. Payne, is one of the most significant involving voting rights in recent years in Virginia.

The suit also is a huge embarrassment for

Justin White holds two of his proud accomplishments — his son, Jeremiah, and his newly earned degree from Virginia Union University. The father and son celebrated in cap and gown Saturday at the university’s 117th commencement ceremony at Hovey Field. Please see article, more photos on Page B4.

End the inconvenience of empty newspaper boxes, fighting and out and the hunting coupon below: thefill weather down back copies.

■ Also, support the Free Press. We’re always working for you.

■

M

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Celebration of hip-hop film and music at Gallery 5 in Jackson Ward/B2

Please turn to A4

$99.00 for ainconvenience 12-month subscription (Firstnewspaper class mail) boxes, fighting End the of empty $50.00 for a 12-month subscription (Third class mail) volunteer subscription the weather Check or money and orderhunting enclosed.down back copies.

For your convenience, the Richmond Free Press offers you the ■ Bill my: Also, support the Free Press.

We’re always working for you.

■

160331 F eeP ess ndd 1

3 23 16 3 51 PM

opportunity to receive the Richmond Free Press in the mail.

Card number (please record Expiration date all digits) C b a ngJust take a minute and fill out the coupon below: T mn

W

RRHA

Mo h Day m $99.00 for a 12-month subscription (First class mail) Richmond Free Press Richmond Free Press ■ $50.00 for a 12-month subscription (Third class mail) Check or money order enclosed. School success Bill my: m

Cardholder's name (please print)

Richmond Free Press End the nconven ence of empty newspaper boxes fight ng the weather and ngcard down back cop esStop the violence Cardholder's signature (required forhunt credit purchase) ■ number (please record all digits) Expiration date A so supportCardthe Free Press We re a ways work ng for you For your convenience, C b a ng Mo h Day Cardholder's name (please print) For your convenience, the Rayvon Richmond Free Press offers you the ______________________________________________________ Owen Cardholder's the Richmond Free Richmond Free PressName Richmond FreePress Press offers signature (required for credit card purchase) ■ hometown do Richmond Free Press End the nconven ence of emptyto newspaper fight ng Address _____________________________________________________ you the opportunity to receive opportunity receiveboxes the Name Richmond Free Press in the mail.

School success ______________________________________________________ Stop the violence the weather City andthe hunt ng down back cop es Address _____________________________________________________ ____________________________ State _________ Zip _________ Richmond Free Press City ____________________________ State _________ Zip _________ ■ A so support the Free Press We re a ways work ng for you in the mail. Free Press, P.O. Send Box to: Richmond Free Press, P.O. Box 27709, VA Richmond, VA 23261 Send to: Richmond 27709, Richmond, 23261 Forand your convenience, the Richmond Free Press offers you the Just take a minute fill out the coupon below: Rayvon Owen hometown do opportunity to receive the Richmond Free Press in the mail. $99.00 for a 12-month subscription (First class mail)End he nconven ence o emp y newspape boxes figh ng Just take a minute andhefill the hun coupon below weaout he and ng down back cop es $50.00 for a 12-month subscription (Third class mail) A so suppo he F ee P ess We e a ways wo k ng o you For your convenience, theorRichmond Free Press offers you the Check money order enclosed.

■ $99.00 for a 12-month subscription (First class mail) End the nconven ence of empty newspaper boxes fight ng Bill my: opportunity to receive the Richmond Free Press in the mail.

subscribe

m

A

T mn

RRHA

W

H

m

A

w

w

m

R

m

C

m

M

N w

w

w

G

C O

A

D

P

m

H

R

m

C

M

m m

m

M

■

N w

G

D

P

C O

A

One Word m

■

W

Richmond Free Press

A8 April 7-9, 2016

Sports Stories by Fred Jeter

Dramatic finales at NCAA

Ecstatic teammates mob Villanova’s Kris Jenkins (2) after he shot the winning three-point basket to upset the University of North Carolina 77-74 and secure his school’s first NCAA men’s Division I hoops championship since 1985. Just four-tenths of a second were left on the clock when the game-ending shot left his hands. His shot came just 4.3 seconds after UNC’s Marcus Paige hit an off-balance 3-pointer to tie the game, seemingly sending it to overtime.

Robert Deutsch/USA Today Sports

Brother versus brother

Jenkins’ buzzer beater gives Villanova the NCAA championship It’s hard saying what will be remembered most about Kris Jenkins — his game-winning shot or the background story making it all possible.

Jenkins swished a 22-foot buzzer beater, giving Villanova (aka “Thrillanova”) a 77-74 victory for the NCAA championship over favored University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill on Monday night in Houston.

The 6-foot-6 Wildcats’ junior joins Michael Jordan, Lorenzo Charles and Keith Smart on the brief list of players who drained game winners in the waning seconds of NCAA finals.

Jenkins’ shot, off a pass from Final Four MVP Ryan Arcidiacono, created both ecstasy and agony — surprisingly within the same family.

Playing for the UNC Tar Heels was junior guard Nate Britt II, who just happens to be the person Jenkins calls “my brother.”

“As my brother, I’m sad for Nate. But as a competitor, I want to win and I’m glad it went in,” Jenkins said in a postgame news conference.

In 2007, after Jenkins’parents, Felicia and Kelvin Jenkins, separated, he was taken in by the family of Melody and Nate Britt Sr. of Maryland.

The Britt and Jenkins families had grown close through AAU basketball connections. After Jenkins went to live with the Britts, the young men played together at Gonzaga High School in Washington. Both were recruited by Villanova University Coach Jay Wright, but Britt opted for UNC after a postgrad season at Oak Hill Academy in Virginia.

On his Villanova bio, Jenkins’ legal guardians are listed as Nate and Melody Britt, and his siblings are listed as Nate II and Natayla Britt.

So at this tense and exciting NCAA Tournament

final, Jenkins, a forward at Villanova, found himself playing against his brother Nate of UNC. Jenkins’ unforgettable winning shot came just four seconds after UNC’s Marcus Paige had knotted the contest at 74-all with a doubleclutch 3-pointer.

Arcidiacono, in his record 144th career game for Villanova, said he heard Jenkins’ calling for the ball as the final seconds ticked away.

“I heard Kris say, ‘Arch, Arch, I’m open,’ ” Arcidiacono told the media.

On his confident, in-stride game winner, Jenkins said: “I believe every shot is going in.”

In the end, one brother was happy, while the other was blue.

Added Jenkins: “A lifetime of bragging rights.”

Only on a few occasions since the inception of the NCAA Basketball Tournament in 1939 has the championship boiled down to a final dramatic bucket.

Here’s a sampling: 1982, Superdome, New Orleans: Michael Jordan, who would become famous for brilliant basketball and his “bald is beautiful” look, still had a head full of hair when he fired a 15-footer with 16 seconds left in University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill’s game against Georgetown University.

Jordan’s smooth jumper, launched left of the lane, slithered through the nets and the disoriented Hoyas turned the ball over on their final possession, with no shot.

Final score: UNC 63, Georgetown 62.

1983, The Pit, Albuquerque, N.M.: Looked like North Carolina State and Houston were headed for overtime when Dereck Whittenburg’s desperation heave was well short of the bucket.

But wait … hulking Lorenzo Charles snatched the air ball against a flat-footed Houston defense (feeling time had run out) and punched in a winning dunk as the horn sounded.

Final score: N.C. State 54, Houston 52 1987, Superdome, New Orleans: Indiana Coach Bob Knight didn’t like signing junior college transfers, but he made an exception in the case of Keith Smart, out of Garden City Community College in Kansas.

With 4 seconds left in the final against Syracuse, Smart sank a hotly contested jumper from the deep corner. In those days, the clock didn’t stop on a made basket and time expired.

Final score: Indiana 74, Syracuse 73.

2016, NRG Stadium, Houston: Villanova had blown a 10-point lead against UNC, and the Tar Heels had momentum after Marcus Paige tied the game 74-74 with an improbable jackknifing 3-pointer with 4.6 seconds left.

That was all the time Kris Jenkins needed.

As the clock dwindled to all zeroes, Jenkins’ jumper from a full stride behind the arc found its bulls-eye.

Final score: Villanova 77, UNC 74.

Runners readying for 10K race on Saturday

The annual Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10K is an event long on local appeal but short on local champions.

Don’t expect that trend to change with Saturday’s 17th running of Richmond’s springtime endurance test.

Approximately 30,000 runners are signed up to compete on what weather forecasters say will be a rainy, cold and possibly snowy morning.

While a majority of people registered to participate live within an hour’s drive of Downtown, the overall winners likely will be members of the Collegiate Running Association (CRA) from out of state.

For the third straight year, the Monument Avenue footrace and festival also will serve as the CRA’s 10K National Road Race Championship.

Overall prize money — starting with $2,000 checks to men’s and women’s first place champions — will be awarded only to the collegiate group.

To be eligible for CRA, an athlete must be enrolled in at least one college class.

In almost all cases, these are part-time or graduate students because active college athletes are not permitted to accept cash payments beyond personal expenses.

Last year’s winners were Tyler McCandless of Boulder, Colo., a former Penn State runner, and Kellyn Johnson Taylor of Flagstaff, Ariz., a former Wichita State University runner.

While their times were slower than most previous Monument Avenue 10K champs, both McCandless and Taylor went on to qualify for U.S. Olympic marathon trials.

The 2014 tape breakers were Taylor and Paul Chelimo, a former athlete from the University of North CarolinaGreensboro.

The CRA estimates that nearly 5,000 of its members from across America competed in the 2014 and 2015 Monument

17th Annual Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10K schedule Saturday, April 9 6:45 a.m.: Dress-Up & Run. 8 a.m.: Virginia 529 Kids Run (One mile, starting at Cathedral Place and Laurel Street).

8:30 a.m.: 10K starting in waves at Broad and Harrison streets; finish near Franklin Street and Monroe Park.

9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Subway Post-Race Festival at Monroe Park, featuring music, food and beverages, spirit groups, vendors and awards presentations.

Walk-up entry: $30, April 7 and 8 at Race Expo, Arthur Ashe Jr. Athletic Center, 3001 N. Boulevard.

Race course: The Monument Avenue 10K trail extends about 3 miles west before reversing eastward and heading Downtown.

Avenue 10K events.

This college connection represents a sharp contrast to the first 14 years of the event in which a touring contingent of Eastern African runners dominated.

Lithe, long-legged striders from Kenya, Ethiopia and

Somalia won every men’s race from 2001 to 2013. Once they discovered they were ineligible for the prize money, many of the African runners scratched RVA off their racing schedule.

All of this is of little concern to the overwhelming percentage of folks who are expected

to participate Saturday. For the masses, the race is about maintaining a healthy lifestyle, camaraderie and perhaps setting a personal record.

About the best a local runner can hope for is to compete for age group honors and perhaps try for the Richmond Region crown, which is for area runners only.

As long as financial incentives exist, even the most gungho local recreational runners will be enormous underdogs.

There is a blistering, less than 5-minute mile pace at the head of the men’s pack that few can maintain for a mile, or fraction of a mile, much less a 6.2-mile grind.

Kenyan Reuben Chebii set the course record of 28:07 in 2004. Another Kenyan, Magdalene Makunzi, ran 32.24 in 2007, setting the women’s standard.

The times have slowed a bit during the transition from the African professionals to the

U.S. collegiate group.

Still, the pace is beyond reality for anyone not training full time in a highly structured, subsidized program such as a college scholarship or Olympic development program. The front of the pack essentially is off limits to the working adult athlete.

The closest a local resident has come to winning was former Mechanicsville resident Robert Reynolds, who placed third in the 2014 race at 30:00. Reynolds ran for Lee-Davis High School before becoming a standout distance runner (4:14 mile) at George Mason University.

The best local female runner was 2000 champ Alisa Harvey, who ran at Jefferson High School of Alexandria before going on to star at the University of Tennessee, where she was the 1986 NCAA 1,600-meters champion.

Now 50, Harvey still holds the Virginia high school record for 1,600 meters (4:50).

Moncrief swinging for the stars with Flying Squirrels There is a pot of gold waiting at the end of the baseball rainbow. But it sure can be hard getting there.

Consider the quest of Carlos Moncrief.

The left-handed hitting outfielder has played on 15 different minor league teams in 11 leagues representing four nations — United States, Mexico, Venezuela and Puerto Rico — in pursuit of big league fame and fortune.

Richmond’s Flying Squirrels, the AA affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, will be the 16th different uniform the Jackson, Miss., native has worn since turning pro in 2008 at age 19.

While Moncrief has become a high mileage performer, he insists that at 27, several years older than the average Class AA player, there is plenty of petrol left in the tank.

“I’m the Satchel Paige type — I don’t age,” he said with a chuckle, referring to Paige who was 42 when he made his big league debut.

“I feel great — better than

Baseball on the Boulevard The Richmond Flying Squirrels begin their seventh season at The Diamond on Thursday, April 7, against the Hartford Yard Dogs, an affiliate team of the Colorado Rockies.

Here is the schedule for the opening home stand: Thursday, April 7: 1:05 p.m.

Friday, April 8: 7:35 p.m.

Saturday, April 9: Doubleheader starting at 2:05 p.m.

For ticket info, call 804-359-FUNN (3866) The Flying Squirrels will return to The Diamond on April 14 to begin a seven-game series against the Altoona Curve and the Reading Fightin’ Phils.

Carlos Moncrief

ever,” added Moncrief.

Signed as a power pitcher out of Chipola College in Florida, Moncrief converted to the outfield in 2010 and had spent his entire career in the Cleveland chain until now.

He is a former Eastern League All-Star with Akron and has played as high as Columbus, the Indians’ AAA farm team.

Moncrief’s low ebb came last fall when he was released

by Cleveland following a difficult tenure in Columbus.

There was no time for self pity. He went straight back to

work, south of the border.

He was a free agent with Navojoa in the Mexican League last winter when his agent informed him of a new beginning with San Francisco.

“I’ve never gotten discouraged,” said the robust 6-foot, 220-pounder.

He has combined power (76 homers, 316 RBI for U.S. teams), speed (78 career stolen bases) and a phenomenal throwing arm (74 career assists, including 21 with Columbus in 2014 and 16 with Akron in 2013).

“Sure, the big leagues are my dream,” he said. “But the worst that can happen is that

I’m playing a game I love … and buying food for my wife and three children.”

Moncrief ’s wife, native Californian Brandy, and his three sons reside in Goodyear, Ariz. He says he eventually wants to coach baseball once his playing days end.

As a youngster, Moncrief dabbled in basketball and football, but baseball was always No. 1 on his sporting menu.

It helped that his dad, Homer Moncrief, was a pitcher in the Detroit and Chicago White Sox chains from 1980 to 1984.

Homer Moncrief rose as high as the AA Glens Falls, N.Y.,

team in the Eastern League.

Carlos Moncrief comes from an athletic family. His brother, Corey Moncrief, was a defensive football lineman at Ohio University.

“Even if my father hadn’t played, I think I’d have picked baseball,” he said. “You can get hurt playing football, and basketball season kind of went straight into baseball season.”

Moncrief’s peak season was with Akron in 2013, when he terrorized the Flying Squirrels from the visiting dugout.

In earning All-Star honors, he hit .284 with 17 homers, 26 doubles, seven triples and 15 stolen bases.

Moncrief is the lone African-American on the Flying Squirrels’ opening day roster, although there are numerous players of color from the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. The Squirrels’ first-year manager is Mexican Miguel Ojeda.

Rooming with Moncreif are two Dominicans, 6-foot-7 relief pitcher Joan Gregorio and shortstop Rando Moreno.

The Squirrels’ outfielder suggests a third generation of baseball-playing Moncriefs is in the making.

“My oldest son, Carlos Jr., is 4 and he can already hit. Like me, he bats left and throws right.”

With a smile the proud papa added: “Only I think Carlos Jr. will be faster than me. There’s a lot of speed on his mother’s side.”

Meet sexy friends who really get your vibe...

Try FREE: 804-278-6045 More Local Numbers: 1-800-811-1633

vibeline.com 18+

Richmond Free Press

April 7-9, 2016

THE ALL-NEW OUTPATIENT CHILDREN’S PAVILION

HEROES WELCOME

And fairies. And ninjas. Here, kids can still be kids.

With specialists in every care category, the new outpatient Children’s Pavilion is equipped to do what it takes to keep kids out of the hospital. With extensive amenities and ample parking, parents will have a truly remarkable experience as well.

Take a virtual tour of the Children’s Pavilion at chrichmond.org/pavilion

B1

Richmond Free Press

B2 April 7-9, 2016

Happenings NFL quarterback Russell Wilson gets hometown welcome

By Joey Matthews

Seattle Seahawks All-Pro quarterback Russell Wilson scored a touchdown with a hometown crowd of 4,500 people at the Richmond Forum, where he was the special guest and speaker Saturday night at the Altria Theatre.

Wearing his trademark million-dollar smile and accompanied by his stylish fiancée, Grammy Award-winning singer Ciara, Mr. Wilson talked about his youth and other life experiences as Harvard professor Henry Louis “Skip” Gates Jr. unveiled Mr. Wilson’s family and ancestral lineage for the program called “Roots of a Champion.”

“To be here is really, really special,” Mr. Wilson, a former three-sport standout at Collegiate Schools in Henrico County, told the audience that responded with enthusiasm and delight.

“Our city couldn’t ask for a better ambassador,” Charlie Agee, the Richmond Forum’s director of corporate citizenship whose son, Marshall, attended Collegiate with Mr. Wilson, said in his introductory remarks.

Mr. Wilson, 27, was moved by the information presented by Dr. Gates, who is in his third season of hosting the popular PBS show “Finding Your Roots.”

Their conversation at the Richmond Forum will air locally 9 p.m. Thursday, April 14, on WCVE-TV, channel 23, said Bill Chapman, executive director of the Richmond Forum.

The two began by discussing Mr. Wilson’s childhood playing football, basketball and baseball on weekends in the backyard of his family’s Henrico County home with his older brother, Harry, and neighborhood friends.

“If you hit the tennis ball over a neighbor’s house, it was a home run,” Mr. Wilson recollected, laughing.

He recalled the games as being very “competitive.” And he said he is “grateful” that Collegiate required students to participate in at least two sports each year.

He said his life today is guided by his deep Christian faith. His parents, he said, fueled his early spiritual growth by requiring him and his siblings to go to church every Sunday.

He said his favorite Bible verse is Matthew 33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Mr. Wilson credited his parents with instilling in him the tenets of “commitment and dedication.”

After high school, he earned a scholarship to North Carolina State University, where he excelled in football and baseball. He transferred to the University of Wisconsin in 2011 and led

James Haskins/Richmond Free Press

With a large screen illuminating their onstage presence Saturday, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson talks about growing up in Richmond with Harvard University professor Dr. Henry Louis “Skip” Gates Jr. at the Richmond Forum.

the Badgers to the Big 10 championship and a berth in the Rose Bowl.

He said he chose to concentrate on football exclusively after the Seahawks drafted him in the third round in 2012. He called giving up his quest to play baseball professionally “one of the hardest decisions of my life.”

Before he and Dr. Gates delved into the “Book of Life” and his ancestry, Mr. Wilson glowingly acknowledged Ciara, who accepted his marriage proposal in March, and a bevy of family members that included his mother, Tammy, his older brother and his younger sister, Anna, who will attend Stanford University on a basketball scholarship in the fall.

He said he regretted that his father was not there. His father is the late Harrison B. Wilson III, a former Richmond attorney whose office once was located in the Imperial Building, home of the Richmond Free Press. He also was a former twosport college athlete who died in 2010 at 55 after a lengthy and difficult battle with diabetes.

Mr. Wilson also praised his grandmother, Carolyn Wilson, and grandfather, Harrison B. Wilson Jr., who served as Norfolk State University’s second president from 1975 through 1997 and was a winning basketball coach at Jackson State University in Mississippi with a record of 340 wins and only 72 losses.

As they discussed his family roots, Mr. Wilson was wide-eyed and repeatedly shook his head in wonderment as he learned of a heritage that

included enslaved and freed black people and white ancestors.

“I knew it!” Mr. Wilson exulted at one point as he stood and shook his fist in delight to applause after Dr. Gates informed him his ancestors included King Henry II of England who was born in 1133; Charlemagne, king of the Franks, who was born in 782; and Saint Arnulf, the bishop of Metz, who was born in 582.

He also learned about his maternal grandfather, Alexander B. Jackson, a renowned painter and teacher who became the first full-time AfricanAmerican professor at Old Dominion University in 1967. He died in 1981. President Lyndon B. Johnson purchased some of his artwork.

Mr. Wilson also learned that some of his perseverance could be traced to Charity Southgate, his paternal great-great-great-great-grandmother.

She was born free to a white woman and black man and should have remained that way, according to the law at that time, but she later was enslaved, Dr. Gates said.

She fought for her right to be free starting as an 18-year-old in 1824, but it took 23 years and two lawsuits before she and her family finally gained their freedom.

Dr. Gates showed Mr. Wilson a pollbook from 1967 that showed that his maternal greatgreat-great-great-grandfather, Britton Turner, and his son, Washington, had registered to vote two years after the end of the Civil War. At the end of the forum, Mr. Wilson told the audience, “Some of our ancestors may have grown up as slaves. Some may have been slave owners. We forget we’re all human.”

What it comes down to now, he said, is “really loving people.”

“Sometimes, you have to forget what a person looks like, forget what a person believes in, forget what a person does have or does not have …

You have to look deep inside and love.”

After a brief pause, he laughed and added, “Because you’re probably connected” in some way.

YWCA hosts public series for Sexual Assault Awareness Month

The YWCA of Richmond is presenting several events as a part of its April recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Three lunch discussions are scheduled. The first is “Responding to Survivors: The Importance of Language” from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, April 7, at the YWCA of Richmond, 6 N. 5th St., Downtown.

The second is “Start by Believing: Your Role as a Friend or Family Member” from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, at Virginia Commonwealth

TEDxRVA slated for April 8 at Carpenter Theatre

University’s Oliver Hall, Room 2124.

The third is “Teaching Consent Early and Often” from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 19, at the Bon Air Library, 9103 Rattlesnake Road in Richmond.

Other community events include: • Bystander intervention training before, during and after acts of violence, 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, at the Virginia League for Planned Parenthood, 201 N. Hamilton St., in the West End. • Screening and panel discussion of the film “The Hunting Ground,” 6 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, April 14, at the Libbie Mill Library, 2100 Libbie Lake

East St. in Henrico County. The film focuses on college sexual assault.

• Training sessions, “Stewards of Children Training,” at 2 or 5 p.m. Thursday, April 21, at the YWCA in partnership with Greater Richmond SCAN, Stop Child Abuse Now, on how to recognize, react to and prevent child sexual abuse.

The events are free and open to the public. Registration is required.

For details, registration and information on purchasing food, go to www.ywcarva. eventbrite.com.

For more information, contact Ryan E. Morris at rmorris@ ywcarichmond.org.

The Weldon H. Smith Scholarship Foundation & The Xi Delta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. PRESENT

The Celebration of Life Concert:

Virginia State University President Makola M. Abdullah, African dance scholar Dr. Elgie Gaynell Sherrod, special needs advocate Pam Mines, human rights advocate Jonathan Dau, musician Gull, and advocate Sheila Battle are among 20 presenters at the 4th Annual TEDxRVA 2016 event Friday, April 8, at the Carpenter Theatre at Dominion Arts Center, 600 E. Grace St., in Downtown.

The theme for the event, which is to begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 5 p.m., is “Artful.”

Tickets are $50 and available at the Carpenter Theatre box office.

TED, a nonprofit devoted to “Ideas Worth Spreading,” offers short talks on a variety of subjects to inspire people.

The Richmond event is an independently organized affair licensed by TED. For more information: www.

TEDxRVA.com or call the box office at (804) 592-3330.

The Sound of Gospel

Featuring the Artistry of:

The Celebration Male Chorus and The Richmond Boys Choir Sunday April 17, 2016 4:00 p.m.

EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH 216 WEST LEIGH ST., RICHMOND, VA 23220

Tickets: $10 To puchase tickets, please contact Ryan Bell at 804-928-2135 or Jim Mason at 804-874-6384 You can also purchase tickets online at WWW.WELDONHSMITH.COM

BEGINS IN 2 WEEKS!

www.xdl1906.com

ent

Hosea Productions pres

April 19 – May 8

©Disney

Groups (10+): 804-592-3401

RICHMOND/ C M Y K 5.418”W X 10.5”

JA RULE u KID ‘N PLAY u DOUG E. FRESH ROB BASE u CHUBB ROCK u BIG DADDY KANE

MAY

Saturday

BroadwayInRichmond.com 800- 514 -3849

7th 2016

8PM \ Doors 7PM

601 E. Leigh Street | Richmond, VA On Sale March 18th

Tickets: sweetFrog Coliseum Box Office, online @ Ticketmaster.com, area Ticketmaster outlets or charge-by-phone @ 800-745-3000. Info 804-780-4970

91234 / QUARTER PAGE / RICHMOND FREE PRESS RUN DATE: THURSDAY, APRIL 7

Richmond Free Press

April 7-9, 2016

Happenings

Personality: Allen S. Lee Spotlight on winner of LEO Award for lifetime achievement in IT “I was stunned. I couldn’t believe it,” Allen S. Lee, a professor of information systems at Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Business, says was his reaction to learning he was the recipient of the LEO Award for Lifetime Exceptional Achievement in Information Systems.

The award is given to distinguished members of the research community whose contributions have changed the field and influenced others, according to the Association for Information Systems, which presents the award.

The award is named after one of the world’s first commercial applications of computing — the Lyons Electronic Office.

Dr. Lee, who also serves as an adviser to graduate students in the doctoral program, was presented the award at the 36th annual meeting of the International Conference on Information Systems in Fort Worth, Texas, in December.

“I thought my time had passed,” Dr. Lee humbly says of winning the award. “My belief was that others were, and are, more qualified than I am to deserve the award.”

He was recognized for a distinguished career that includes impacting the lives of hundreds of students, publishing articles in top peer-reviewed journals, making presentations at international academic conferences and formerly serving as editorin-chief of the prestigious MIS Quarterly, a journal that reports on the development of information technology-based services.

“My field’s recognition of me inspires me to continue working hard and to do even more for the field — not just my own work, but also mentoring younger colleagues,” Dr. Lee says.

Dr. Lee credits much of his success in life to the lessons he learned from his parents, who came to the United States from China.

“They instilled in me the cultural value that to be a teacher is to hold one of the most noble positions in society,” he explains.

To demonstrate to students at VCU that success has not come easily to him, on the first day of class each semester, the engaging professor presents to his students a slideshow of pictures from his childhood spent in a small apartment on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.

And Dr. Lee, now in his 17th year of teaching at VCU, challenges his students to aim high in their aspirations.

“I tell all of my students that, eventually, in their lifetimes, their achievements must exceed my own or else knowledge does not grow,” he explains of his teaching philosophy.

Here’s a look at this week’s exceptional Personality, Dr. Allen S. Lee: Date and place of birth: Oct. 14 in Brooklyn, N.Y. Current home: North Chesterfield.

Alma maters: Cornell University, bachelor’s degree; University of California at Berkeley, master’s degree; Massachusetts Institute of Technology, doctorate.

Family: Husband, Michael L. Trancynger.

Technology: My opinion on technology is captured in a title on a paper I am working on with a co-author, Dionysios Demetis.

The title: “When Humans Using the IT Artifact Becomes IT Using the Human Artifact.” In other words, we are in danger of becoming instruments used by technology instead of the other way around.

Advice to aspiring students: Companies do not practice the fundamentals of good information systems design, implementation and management. This means that there will always be technological messes in companies that the companies will always need to hire people to solve.

Definition of an information system: An information system

is made up of not only the information technology, but also the people and the data.

The three interact in ways that continually transform one another. What emerges as the resultant information system can therefore change, even day to day.

Information systems are important because: They are not only the lifeblood of companies and government agencies, but also the emancipator of individuals. Consider the information system made up of cell phones, YouTube, citizens and visual information on police brutality. Information systems can, and do, save society.

How I got interested in information systems: Because I had to. When I was looking for a job, the jobs were in information systems, so I became “interested” in information systems.

How I got involved in field: One of the members of my doctoral dissertation committee told me that business schools in universities were hiring into professor positions scholars with backgrounds in computers and statistics, even if they did not have doctorates in business. So I applied for a position in a business school and, luckily, one was offered to me. One could not do this today.

What I studied in school or by myself to learn about information systems: After I became a professor in what was a new field for me, I went to the library and started reading about information systems.

I retooled myself for a new field. It was risky; there was always the chance that I could not retool myself adequately and not publish sufficiently in time to get tenure.

What information systems were like when I entered the field: In 1983, personal computers had not even been invented. Mainframe computers were dominant. Minicomputers were an innovation. All the thinking was technology driven; the role of people in an information system was only secondary, an afterthought.

What they are today: In businesses and other large organizations, the role of people in an information system is, unfortunately, still considered secondary. They see people as “users” to be “trained.” In university research on information systems, however, people are considered a key component of an information system.

My contributions include: Perhaps my most significant contribution is being a teacher to undergraduate students, especially at VCU. Also, many years ago, as the editor-in-chief of MIS Quarterly, the top research journal in my field, I made the contributions of (1) integrating qualitative research into the study of information systems, (2) promoting the acceptance of design science research, in addition to the predominant behavioral research, (3) helping to found a journal for practitioners, MIS Quarterly Executive, and (4) bringing about equal representation on the editorial board for women and increasing the number of editorial board

members from outside of the United States.

Future of information systems: The interactions among information technology, people and data are unpredictable, so the future of information systems is unpredictable. Perhaps the greatest impact will be in developing countries.

Young people need to consider this field because: Plenty of jobs in information systems are available. A job in information systems can be a good springboard to a career outside of information systems, too.

An information systems education teaches one how to think logically — a great skill for any profession and a great skill in life in general.

What makes me tick: Everyday is a gift. Now that today is given to me, I think about what I can do for others to show my gratitude.

If I could have my wish, it would be: The realization of racial equality in my lifetime.

Prized possession: An awardwinning photograph taken by my father in China before he came to the United States.

Nobody knows: As a youth, I chose to be baptized against my parents’ wishes.

Best late-night snack: Häagen-Dazs ice cream.

Quality I most admire in another person: The ability to listen.

Best time of my life: The two years (1975-77) I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, during which I explored and indulged in being Asian American and gay.

Outlook at start of day: To be on the lookout for coffee.

How I unwind: It used to be Scotch. Now, it’s Netflix.

The best thing my parents ever taught me: You always have to be on your best behavior because what you do reflects on all other Chinese people.

The book that influenced me the most: “The Face of the Fox” by Frederick O. Gearing, about an anthropological ethnography of a Native American

tribe. It taught me about the universality of culture and social structure, regardless of race and ethnicity.

What I’m reading now: “Introduction to Social Systems”

by Niklas Luhmann.

My next goal: To choose what to accomplish in retirement (at least four years from now).

B3

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

www.wallErjEwElry.com

NEWLY RENOVATED MODERN PRIVATE OFFICE SUITES! at ting r a t S

$

125 onth per m

• RECEPTIONIST • CONFERENCE ROOM • 24 Hour secure electronic access

1618 Hull St. | Call Ms. Lisa Smith Hicks: 804.301.6986

CHARCOAL FABRIC KING HEADBOARD WAS $1135 NOW $599.99 ITALIAN WARDROBE WITH SLIDING DOORS WAS $4655 NOW $2299.99 6-PIECE Modern private of�ice suites: Receptionist, Conference Roo secure electronic access starts at $199. 12 month lease, last m CALIFORNIA BEDROOM SET QUEEN SIZE WAS $7474 NOW $3999.99 1618 Hull St. Call Ms. Lisa Smith Hicks 804 303 14 WHITE METAL ROOM DIVIDER WAS $1059 NOW $499.99 ESPRESSO WOOD BARSTOOL W/ GREEN SEAT WAS $549 NOW $89.99 OAK & EBONY CHEST WITH VANITY WAS $5465 NOW $1599.99 SOLID CHERRY COFFEE TABLE WAS $1399 NOW $799.99 SMOKE STAINED CHERRY TV DRESSER WAS $1781 NOW $999.99 68” TEAK BENCH WAS $999 NOW $649.99 SCANDINAVIAN OUTDOOR CHAIR WAS $1879 NOW $999.99 ITALIAN 2-PIECE MOTION BACK SECTIONAL WAS $17569 NOW $9999.99 GREY VELVET ARMCHAIR WAS $649 NOW $399.99 SQUARE ACTIVITY TABLE WAS $332 NOW $229.99 63X35” OUTDOOR METAL TABLE WAS $915 NOW $499.99 SILVER & GLASS BAR WAS $999 NOW $349.99 BALANS OFFICE CHAIR WAS $420 NOW $299.99 LIVE-EDGE COFFEE TABLE WAS $1199 NOW $699.99 4-DRAWER COFFEE DRESSER WAS $89.95 NOW $59.99 COGNAC LEATHER CHAIR & OTTOMAN SETWAS $1999 NOW $1299.99 MILO BAUGHMAN LEATHER CHAIR WAS $3339 NOW $2299.99 MAHOGANY STUDENT DESK WAS $465 NOW $229.99 KING PLATFORM BED BLACK WOOD WAS $599 NOW $379.99 SKOVBY WALNUT SIDEBOARD WAS $2874 NOW $1699.99 OUTDOOR CERAMIC CUBE WAS $469 NOW $249.99 CONCRETE & METAL END TABLE WAS $409 NOW $249.99 RED LEATHER POWER RECLINER WAS $1899 NOW $1199.99 SET OF 6 WHITE & GOLD DINING CHAIRS WAS $3594 NOW $2299.99 FOOSBALL TABLE WAS $6399 NOW $3499.99 WALNUT & BLACK ROUND COFFEE TABLE WAS $599 NOW $299.99 1 DRAWER OAK LAMINATE NIGHTSTAND WAS $59.95 NOW $34.99 FABRIC SWIVEL RECLINER WAS $1385 NOW $899.99 OUTDOOR TEAL & WHITE CHAISE WAS $1299 NOW $699.99 IVORY LEATHER WING CHAIR WAS $1638 NOW $799.99 TEAK & STAINLESS 118” OUTDOOR TABLE WAS $6402 NOW $4999.99 SELECT STORAGE OTTOMANS WERE $189.95 NOW $139.99 CHARCOAL HURRY, THE BEST FABRIC SOFA WAS $899.95 NOW $699.99 BROWN LINEN QUEEN PLATFORM BED WAS $749.95 NOW $549.99 IVORY & ESPRESSO DINING CHAIR WAS DEALS WON’T LAST! $229.95 NOW $169.99 KARTELL TOP TOP DINING TABLE WAS $2950 NOW $899.99 ROBLE WOOD OUTDOOR LOVESEAT WAS $1785 NOW $599.99 ITALIAN WALNUT SIDEBOARD WAS $2799 NOW $1999.99 KAJA OFFICE CHAIR WAS $249.95 NOW $169.99 RECYCLED TEAK CONSOLE TABLE WAS $999 NOW $599.99 ITALIAN LEATHER CURVED SOFA WAS $9399 NOW $6499.99 SHADOWBOX END TABLE WAS $575 NOW $399.99 ARMLESS ULTRASUEDE LOVESEAT WAS $5065 NOW $699.99 WHITE LACQUER

APRIL 1ST – 10TH SAVE 20-70% STOREWIDE On HUNDREDS of select clearance items

OPEN: TUES-SAT 10-6, SUN 12-5 SHOP: 125 S 14th St, RVA 23219 BROWSE: ladiff.com CALL: 800-642-5074 FREE PARKING

Dr. ClauDe G. Perkins PresiDent anD CeO, VirGinia uniOn uniVersity COrDially inVites yOu tO tHe 4tH annual VirGinia uniOn uniVersity

ScholarShip Gala &

MaSQUEraDE Ball

Hosted by MayOr DWiGHt C. JOnes FriDay, april 15, 2016 rEcEption 6:00 p.M. – ElEGant DininG 7:00 p.M. thE richMonD Marriott hotEl 500 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia

Live entertainment | Dancing | raffLe a BLack-tie affair, mask OptiOnaL reserVeD seatinG fOr sPOnsOrs inDiViDual tiCkets $200 ($75 tax-DeDuCtible) fOr MOre infOrMatiOn: WWW.Vuu.eDu | 804.342.3938

Presenting sponsor:

MARRIOTT | KINGS DOMINION | THOMPSON HOSPITALITY | BANK OF AMERICA DR. LUCILLE BROWN | ANTHEM BCBS | WELLS FARGO CEDAR STREET BAPTIST CHURCH OF GOD

Richmond Free Press

B4 April 7-9, 2016

Faith News/Directory

President Obama urges people of faith to stand strong Religion News Service

WASHINGTON President Obama hosted his last Easter Prayer Breakfast with Christian leaders, pausing to reflect on what he called a “bittersweet” occasion.

“Since 2010, this has become a cherished tradition,” he told 140 Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox leaders, including denominational heads and prominent pastors at the March 30 event.

As he usually does, he used the occasion to speak openly about his faith within the context of world events, such as the recent terrorist assaults in Belgium and Pakistan. “(T)hese attacks can foment fear and division,” he said.

“They can tempt us to cast out the stranger, strike out against those who don’t look like us, or pray exactly as we do. And they can lead us to turn our backs on those who are most in need of help and refuge.

“That’s the intent of the terrorist, is to weaken our faith and weaken our best impulses, our better angels.”

But he said people of faith should remain strong. “(I)f Easter means anything, it’s that we don’t have to be

afraid,” President Obama said. “We drown out darkness with light, and we heal hatred with love, and we hold on to hope.”

He also used the breakfast to shed light on his own Christian perspective. “(O)ur faith changes us. I know it’s changed me,” he said. “It renews in us a sense of possibility. It allows us to believe that although we are all sinners, and that at times we will falter, there’s always the possibility of redemption. Every once in a while, we might get something right, we might do some good.”

Other than his annual remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast, chaired each February by members of Congress, the Easter Prayer Breakfast has been one of the few regular opportunities to hear President Obama speak about his personal faith.

Here’s a roundup of some of what he has said: 2015: ‘I fall short so often’ “Today we celebrate the magnificent glory of our risen savior. I pray that we will live up to his example. I pray that I will live up to his example. I fall short so often. Every day I try to do better.”

2015: ‘Less than loving expressions by Christians’ “On Easter, I do reflect on the fact that as a Christian, I am

Freeman’s ‘God’ series asks bigger questions about religion Religion News Service

CHICAGO It all started about seven years ago when actor Morgan Freeman visited the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.

Noticing the mosaics of Jesus inside the museum, Mr. Freeman asked his tour guide, who was Muslim, if the tiles had been covered when the building, originally a Greek Orthodox church, was used as a mosque.

No, the guide said, because Muslims view Jesus as a prophet.

Mr. Freeman never had heard that. And if the actor — who has said he is fascinated

by God and even has played the deity in the movies “Bruce Almighty” and “Evan Almighty” ­­— was unaware, how many others were, too? What else didn’t he know?

Those and a few other questions — “Who is God?” and “Where do we come from?” — led him on a personal journey to 20 cities in seven countries around the world. They’re questions Mr. Freeman explores as host of the six-part television series “The Story of God” that premiered 9 p.m. last Sunday on the National Geographic Channel.

“In some places I found answers, and others led to more questions,” Mr. Freeman said in a statement from the National Geographic Channel.

“The constant through it all is that we’re all looking to be part of something bigger than us. If there’s one thing I’ve

Matthew Paul Turner/National Geographic Channels

Mr. Freeman

learned it’s that we are.”

Each episode of “The Story of God” explores a different question, and Sunday’s premiere started with one of the biggest: “Where do we go after we die?”

“Beyond Death” took Mr. Freeman to the pyramids in Egypt, to Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico and to a spot on the Ganges River in India where Hindus believe they can die and be cremated and end the cycle of reincarnation.

Another episode, “Apocalypse,” asks why people draw comfort from the idea of an end of days ­— and it brought Mr. Freeman to a science lab in Chicago, where the episode screened last week.

Afterward, a panel of faith leaders from Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu and Christian traditions discussed their religions’ apocalyptic beliefs and the

Sixth Baptist Church

Triumphant

Theme for 2016: Becoming a Five-Star Church of Excellence With Mission, Growth, Prayer, Purpose, Vision We Are Growing In The Kingdom As We Grow The Kingdom

with Word, Worship and Witness

Sunday, April 10, 2016

10:45 AM – Male Chorus Anniversary 11:00 AM – Divine Worship Message by: Pastor Bibbs Pastor’s 15th Pre-Anniversary 3:00 PM – Service

Special Guests: Dr. R Neal Siler and First Shiloh Baptist Church

New Sermon Series:

Your Life Matters – Church Life Matters Part Two Invitation To All! Twitter sixthbaptistrva

Rev. Dr. Yvonne Jones Bibbs, Pastor

Facebook sixthbaptistrva

400 South Addison Street Richmond, Va. 23220 (near Byrd Park) (804) 359-1691 or 359-3498 Fax (804) 359-3798 www.sixthbaptistchurch.org

episode’s approach.

Azam Nizamuddin, co-chair of the Interfaith Committee at the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, expressed disappointment the show focused on the so-called Islamic State rather than on centuries of Islamic theology. And Rabbi Frederick Reeves of KAM Isaiah Israel in Chicago said the Jewish beliefs shared in the episode didn’t represent “the Jews who live down the street from you.”

Bishop Wayne Miller of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America pointed out that not only is there a great diversity of beliefs among world religions, but also within each religion.

“I’ve always found that one of the great values of a piece like this is not that it answers all the questions but that it invites us to open the questions and continue the conversation,” he said.

James Younger, who produced the series with Mr. Freeman and Lori McCreary, said “The Story of God” isn’t meant to be a theological treatise, but a reflection of Mr. Freeman’s “personal journey” and a response to “this apparent discord and disconnect between different faith traditions around the world and even within the United States.”

That includes atheists and agnostics, as well — both people of faith and no faith are asking these big questions, the producer said.

Baptist Church

2003 Lamb Avenue Dr. Arthur M. Jones, Sr., Pastor (804) 321-7622 Church School - 9:30 a.m.

Worship Service - 11:15 a.m.

Bible Study: Tuesday - 9 a.m.

Wednesday - 7 p.m.

Communion - 1st Sunday

Rev. Dr. Kirkland R. Walton for

FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2016 AT WILLOW OAKS COUNTRY CLUB 6228 FOREST HILLS AVE., RICHMOND VA.

Dr. Kirkland R. Walton, Pastor

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

20th Anniversary Celebration Rev. Dr. Paul A. Coles, Pastor and First Lady Mrs. Rebecca Coles

Sunday, april 10, 2016 Theme: “ A Beacon Light”

All Services at Varina High School 7053 Messer Road, Varina, VA

No 8:00 a.m. Service 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Morning Worship Speaker: Rev. Ronnie Fleming

3:30 p.m. Sermonettes Rev. Pernell Johnson, Rev. Samuel Barnes and Rev. Curtis Ballard Music by: Reunion Choir

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) 6:30 PM Prayer Meeting

Come and Join us in Worship as we Honor & Celebrate

31

Years of Pastoral Service Sunday, April 17, 2016

Worship Service at 10:00 am

Dr. & Mrs. Walton

Preached Word delivered by:

Dr. Ralph Reavis Pastor Emeritus,

Riverview Baptist Church & Former President of Virginia University of Lynchburg

Ministry of Music by The SPBC Silver Strings Ensemble, The Senior Choir, and The S. H. Thompson Memorial Choir

For more in formation

MINISTER GWEN TUCKER 804-232-8601

Richmond-based Hope Christian Ministries has added its name to the list of area congregations and civic groups sending water to aid the lead-poisoned residents of Flint, Mich.

The 120-member, West End congregation collected 24,000 bottles of water in a monthlong drive, and volunteers set off Wednesday to truck the water to Michigan.

Pastor Mark Vereen and Michael Reid, a congregation member, led the water drive for the church at 5300 W. Marshall St. The initial goal had been to provide at least 10,000 bottles of water, but the drive provided more than double that amount, according to Shaun Lindsey, a volunteer administrator for the church. The final result was “pretty unbelievable,” she said.

Dr. Sylvester T. Smith, Pastor “There’s A Place for You”

Come Join Us As We Recognize

For 25 Years of Dedicated Service

Hope Christian Ministries sends water to Flint

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

St. Peter Baptist Church

APOSTLE MICHAEL BENNETT AND PROPHETESS TERESA BENNETT

supposed to love. And I have to say that sometimes when I listen to less than loving expressions by Christians, I get concerned.

But that’s a topic for another day.”

2014: ‘We’re all children of God’ “(W)e have to keep coming together across faiths to combat the ignorance and intolerance, including anti-Semitism that can lead to hatred and to violence, because we’re all children of God,” he said after the shooting deaths at two Jewish facilities in Kansas. “We’re all made in his image, all worthy of his love and dignity. And we see what happens around the world when this kind of religious-based or tinged violence can rear its ugly head. It’s got no place in our society.”

2013: ‘He is eternal’ “I was reminded that while our time on Earth is fleeting, he is eternal,” he said, recalling his recent trip to the Holy Land, including stops at sacred places in Jesus’ life such as the Church of the Nativity.

“His life, his lessons live on in our hearts and, most importantly, in our actions. When we tend to the sick, when we console those in pain, when we sacrifice for those in need, wherever and whenever we are there to give comfort and to guide and to love, then Christ is with us.”

2012: ‘Remember Christ’s own doubts’ “We all have experiences that shake our faith. There are times where we have questions for God’s plan relative to us … but that’s precisely when we should remember Christ’s own doubts and eventually his own triumph.”

2011: ‘It calls me to pray’ “This magnificent grace, this expansive grace, this ‘Amazing Grace’ calls me to reflect,” President Obama said. “And it calls me to pray. It calls me to ask God for forgiveness for the times that I’ve not shown grace to others, those times that I’ve fallen short.”

2010: ‘I commit my spirit’ “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. These words were spoken by our Lord and Savior, but they can just as truly be spoken by every one of us here today. Their meaning can just as truly be lived out by all of God’s children.”

Good Shepherd Baptist Church

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

Every Wednesday 8 p.m.

THE CHURCH OF GOD IN RICHMOND

Theme:" Apostle and people growing together in faith" Eph. 4:11-14

Jacquelyn Martin/Associated Press

President Obama speaks to about 140 religious leaders March 30 during an Easter Prayer Breakfast in the State Dining Room at the White House. It was his last such annual event as president.

2040 Mountain Road • Glen Allen, Virginia 23060 Office 804-262-0230 • Fax 804-262-4651 • www.stpeterbaptist.net

Mount Olive Baptist Church Rev. Darryl G. Thompson, Pastor

2016 Theme: The Year of Restoration



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

11:00 AM Mid-day Meditation

Broad Rock Baptist Church 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.

Radio Ministry: Sunday: 9:30 a.m. {1540 AM}

“MAKE IT HAPPEN” Pastor Kevin Cook

Ebenezer Baptist Church 1858

“The People’s Church”

216 W. Leigh St. • Richmond, Va. 23220 • Tel: 804-643-3366 Fax: 804-643-3367 • Email: ebcoffice1@comcast.net • web: ebcrichmond.org 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. 7:45 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

Richmond Free Press

April 7-9, 2016

B5

Faith News/Directory

Former ROC seeing renewal, growth after scandal and leadership change

By Joey Matthews

Dr. Robert J. “Pastor Rob” Rhoden said he has seen a sprinkling of former members of the Richmond Outreach Center return over the past few months to attend worship services since he quietly was named as the church’s new senior pastor in January.

The church also was renamed Celebration Church and Outreach Center last June.

“These are people who have wonderful hearts and loved serving here and they’re beginning to come back,” the 46-year-old Richmond native and longtime Assemblies of God said Tuesday from the church at 5501 Midlothian Turnpike.

He said the church also has welcomed about 10 new visitors each week to its Saturday night worship service.

Dr. Rhoden The affable pastor is aware that many community members are watching to see how he leads the church, formerly known as the ROC, in the wake of the sex scandal involving its former minister, Pastor Geronimo “Pastor G” Aguilar, that shocked congregants and rocked the city’s faithful.

Mr. Aguilar was sentenced in October 2015 to 40 years in prison after a Fort Worth, Texas, jury convicted him of sexually assaulting two children in the 1990s while he was a youth pastor at their church and living in their family’s home.

Mr. Aguilar and three other pastors resigned from the former Richmond Outreach Center megachurch in June 2013, about a month after he was formerly charged with seven felony counts in the sex abuse cases.

“The church was not on trial,” Dr. Rhoden said of the repercussions on the church that once drew high praise from other faith leaders, politicians, police, educators and others. “Geronimo was on trial. The people who went to church here were hurting.”

In June 2015, the church’s board of directors voted to change the church’s name and to hire Pastor Rob’s father, Dr. H. Robert Rhoden, as its interim senior pastor through the transition.

A longtime Assemblies of God minister and leader, the elder Rhoden has spent the past several years helping numerous churches during difficult times of transition in pastoral leadership.

At Celebration Church, Dr. Rhoden and Pastor Rob alternated leading worship services.

Pastor Rob said he was “on loan” for six months from Richmond’s Commonwealth Chapel, where he was its executive pastor. He said the Celebration Church’s leadership approached him during that period and asked if he would consider taking the full-time position as senior pastor.

“God was already stirring that in my heart,” he said of the eventual spiritual partnership that was sealed with Commonwealth Chapel’s blessing.

Pastor Rob knows he, his staff and leadership team have lots of work ahead as they seek to regain the trust of the community.

At its peak, about 10,000 people came each week to the church that was founded in 2001 and had more than 100 ministries in addition to its worship services.

Those attendance numbers fell dramatically in the aftermath of the sex abuse case.

Today, Pastor Rob said, about 700 people come to the church on its primary ministry day on Saturday through its Whosoever Bus

Ministry for Kids that brings inner-city children to services, the Chosen Youth Service and regular Saturday night worship service.

The church also still owns and operates two “Love of Jesus” thrift stores — one next to the sanctuary and one in Henrico County — as well as residential homes for drug-addicted persons and others in need.

Pastor Rob said his father is serving in a consulting role. Pastor James Reid, who serves as character coach with the Meadowbrook High School football team through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, is the only other full-time pastor on staff.

“Maybe the most important thing is that God has a way of writing a new chapter in the life of a church,” Pastor Rob said.

“It reaches a point where a line is drawn in the sand and God opens a new door. We’re really just trying to focus on what that new season holds for us.”

He said his focus in leading the church is to help people one person at a time, to have the leadership be more team driven than personality driven and to “be generous as a church.”

The new pastor and his wife, Jennifer, have been married for more than 20 years. They have two children, Avery and Miles.

Pastor Rob earned a doctorate of ministry degree from Union Presbyterian Seminary in 2004.

Coalition hosts conflict resolution workshop April 9 Three Richmond area crime prevention groups are presenting a Citywide Violence Prevention Conflict Resolution Workshop.

The workshop will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 9, at the Royal Manchester Event Center inside the Richmond Christian Center, 1173 Wall St., in South Side.

Pastor Robert Winfree of New Life Deliverance Tabernacle in South Side is the keynote speaker.

Workshop topics are to include “Whatz up!” (conflict and conflict resolution), “It ain’t over!” (how to deal with embarrassment and disrespect), “You ain’t my Mama!” (effective communication style), “You don’t know who you messin’ with

Mosby Memorial Baptist Church

“A Community Committed to Loving, Listening and Learning While Launching into our Future.”

April 10, 2016

cuz!” (trauma) and more.

Registration will open at 9 a.m. at the event that is being organized by United Communities Against Crime, Mothers Against Violence and J.D.N.C.A. For more information: Charles Willis, (804) 399-1111; Shemika Howard, (804) 405-4943; or Kim Morgan, (804) 5230380.

Star Fellowship Baptist Church ★

★

2223 Keswick Ave., Richmond, Virginia 23224 • 804-233-0059

You Are Invited To

A Rocking Chair Rally Saturday, April 16, 2016 – 4 p.m.

Join us for worship!

Upcoming Events Good Medicine for the Soul Saturday, April 9 @ 4:00 P.M. Men’s Bible Study Thursday, April 21 @ 7:00 P.M. DDT Day & Ushers Anniversary Sunday, April 24

Weekly Worship: 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.mosbymemorial.org Rev. Dr. Price L. Davis, Pastor

Special Guests: Lois and Melvin Vaugham with James Bell on Piano Contact: Hazel Hobson - (804) 512-2456 Free Admission

Rev. Larry D. Barham, Sr., Pastor

New Deliverance Evangelistic Church

1701 Turner Road, North Chesterfield, Virginia 23225 (804) 276-0791 office (804)276-5272 fax www.ndec.net

Women With Mission and Purpose Conference 2016!

Hosea Productions presents

Rev. Dr. Price L. Davis, Pastor

★

★

Thursday, April 14, 2016 through Saturday, April 16, 2016

Theme:

3601 Dill Road – Richmond, VA

Sun., Apr. 24th 2016 - 4pm -

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

Monday March 7, 2016 Corporate Prayer Attendance - 167

Sunday

$25 Adm.

8:00 a.m. Sunday School 9:00 a.m. Worship Service

Wednesday Services HOSTS

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

Attendance - 70 Sanctuary - All Are Welcome!

Wednesday Evening Bible Study 7 p.m.

Attendance - 101

Dr. Johnny Dr. Cavell Branch Phillips

Dr. & Mrs. Joe Ellison, Jr., Senior Pastor & Founder

Sundays

Sunday School - 10:00 am Pre-Worship Prayer - 10:45 am Worship Service! - 11:00 am

Every 4th Saturday

1:00-3:00 pm.

Free Community Groceries Distribution Laburnum Elementary School (Parking Lot)

Saturday

Family & Friends Service Church Membership, Communion, Celebrating Monthly Birthdays (Free Dinner!).

All Are Welcome!

Laburnum Elementary School 500 Meriwether Avenue | Henrico, Virginia 23222 Church (804) 937-1356 | www.cityparkchurch.org

Thirty-first Street Baptist Church C

o

8:30 a.m. Intercessory Prayer

Every 4th Sunday

everence e with e evanc R ing Dr. Morris Henderson, Senior Pastor bin ❖

SUNDAYS Church School 9:30 a.m.

Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. ❖

WEDNESDAYS Bible Study 12:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.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

Info: 804-746-5509 Barky’s Record Shop

18 W. Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219

Trinity Family Life Center

3601 Dill Rd., Richmond, VA 23222

ETIX.com

Altria Theater Carpenter Theater

Riverview

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

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

Moore Street Missionary

Baptist Church

1408 W. Leigh Street • 358-6403

Dr. Alonza Lawrence Pastor

Sundays

Church School 8:30 A.M. Morning Worship 10:00 A.M.

Tuesdays

Bible Study 12 noon

Wednesdays

New Mercies Ministry 6:00 A.M. Youth Bible Study 6:00 P.M. Adult Bible Study 6:30 P.M.

BK Music

2833-A Hathaway Rd., Richmond, VA 23225

You can now view Sunday Morning Service “AS IT HAPPENS” online!

Also, for your convenience.

In His Presence - "Striving for Total Wellness" - Mind, Body & Spirit

Breakfast

Saturday, April 16, 2016 9 A.M. - Doubletree Hotel For more information and to register visit

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

Thursday & Friday Radio Broadcast WREJ 1540 AM Radio - 8:15 a.m.- 8:30 a.m.

THE NEW DELIVERANCE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (NDCA)

ENROLL NOW!!!

Accepting applications for children 2 yrs. old to 3rd Grade Our NDCA curriculum also consists of a Before and After program.

Now Enrolling for our Nursery Ages 6 weeks - 2yrs. old.

For more information Please call (804) 276-4433 Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm

Richmond Free Press

B6 April 7-9, 2016

Legal Notices/Employment Opportunities Continued from previous column

City of Richmond, Virginia CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the City of Richmond Planning Commission has scheduled a public hearing, open to all interested citizens, on Monday, April 18, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. in the Fifth Floor Conference Room of City Hall and the Council of the City of Richmond has scheduled a public hearing on Monday, April 25, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber on the Second Floor of City Hall, located at 900 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, to consider the following ordinance: Ordinance No. 2016-102 To authorize the conditional use of the property known as 100 South 14th Street for the purpose of authorizing a nightclub, upon certain terms and conditions. The Richmond Downtown Master Plan designates this property as an Urban Center Area.

“Shockoe Slip is also an example of a classic urban center condition, with a dense mix of office space, apartments, and retail located in four to six-story brick buildings that front the street. Pedestrians have an active presence in these neighborhoods (p. 3.26).”

Ordinance No. 2016-103 To authorize the special use of the property known as 1326 North 26th Street for the purpose of permitting a single family detached dwelling, upon certain terms and conditions. The B-2 Community Business District does not permit single family dwelling units and therefore the applicant is requesting a special use permit. The City of Richmond’s Master Plan speaks of Land Use policies and strategies within the East Planning District. It states that infill development of like density and use is appropriate. In addition, the predominate land uses in the district are residential in nature, and these uses should be preserved. In general the plan shows that it is in keeping with traditional residential development patterns for the district in regards to density and land use.

Ordinance No. 2016-104 To rezone the properties known as 423 Hull Street, 501 Hull Street, 505 Hull Street, 521 Hull Street, 601 Hull Street, 609 Hull Street, 490 Bainbridge Street, 500 Bainbridge Street, 600 Bainbridge Street, and 20 West 6th Street from B-7 MixedUse Business District to B-5 Central Business District. The Richmond Downtown Plan designates the property as part of the Urban Center Area, which is characterized by higher density, mixed-use development, typically arranged on a fine-grained street network, with wide sidewalks, regular tree planting, and minimal setbacks. No residential density is specified for the Urban Center Area.

Ordinance No. 2016-105 To close, to public use and travel, a portion of North 12th Street and Governor Street from its intersection with East Broad Street to its intersection with Bank Street, consisting of 50,337± square feet, upon certain terms and conditions, and to repeal Ord. No. 2005-162-152, adopted Jul. 25, 2005, and Ord. No. 2005-231-209, adopted Oct. 10, 2005.

Interested citizens who wish to speak will be given an opportunity to do so.

Copies of the full text of all ordinances are available by visiting the City Clerk’s page on the City’s Website at www.Richmondgov. com and in the Office of the City Clerk, City Hall, 900 East Broad Street, Suite 200, Richmond, VA 23219, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Jean V. Capel City Clerk

City of Richmond, Virginia CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the Council of the City of Richmond has scheduled a public hearing, open to all interested citizens, on Monday, April 11, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber on the Second Floor of City Hall, located at 900 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, to consider the following ordinances: Ordinance No. 2016-115 To amend Ord. No. 201582-72, adopted May 4, 2015, which authorized the Chief Administrative Officer to submit a Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as an application for the receipt of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) funds, Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds and Housing Continued on next column

Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) funds; accepted funds from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in the total amount of $6,622,947; and appropriated $6,622,947 for various projects, for the purposes of re-appropriating unexpended funds and appropriating additional funds in the total amount of $458,605 and of reallocating funds for various projects. (Committee: Finance and Economic Development, Thursday, April 21, 2016, 3:00 p.m., Council Chamber) Ordinance No. 2016-116 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to submit a Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as an application for the receipt of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) funds, Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) funds; to accept funds from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in the total amount of $6,362,297; and to appropriate $6,562,297, consisting of the accepted funds, $98,535 in CDBG prior year surplus funds, and $101,465 in CDBG program income, for various projects. (Committee: Finance and Economic Development, Thursday, April 21, 2016, 3:00 p.m., Council Chamber) Interested citizens who wish to speak will be given an opportunity to do so.

Copies of the full text of all ordinances are available by visiting the City Clerk’s page on the City’s Website at www.Richmondgov. com and in the Office of the City Clerk, City Hall, 900 East Broad Street, Suite 200, Richmond, VA 23219, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Jean V. Capel City Clerk

Divorce VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF CHESTERFIELD JOSE ALFREDO HERNANDEZ, Petitioner, v.

MARTA ARASELY ASENCIO, Respondent.

Chancery No. CL16-738 ORDER OF PUBLICATION 3/25/16

The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the Bond of Matrimony from the Respondent on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation or interruption for a period of more than one year, and with the Petitioner’s intent to terminate the marriage.

It appearing from the Affidavit that due diligence has been used by and on behalf of the Petitioner to ascertain in what county or city the Respondent is without effect, it is ORDERED that the Respondent appear before this Court on or before the 17th day of May, 2016 to protect her interests herein.

An Extract, Teste: WENDY S. HUGHES, Clerk L. Wendell Allen, Esquire (VSB# 43413) 4906 Fitzhugh Avenue, Suite 200 Richmond, Virginia 23230 Telephone: (804) 358-0368 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER SHEENA HUGHES, Plaintiff v.

DARYL WHITFIELD, Defendant.

Case No.: CL16000868-00 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.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, whose whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 4th day of May, 2016 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 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER NATHANIEL LEWIS, Plaintiff v.

CAROL LEWIS, Defendant.

Case No.: CL16000867-00 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.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, whose whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 4th day of May, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. and protect her interests.

Continued on next column

Continued from previous column

Continued from previous column

Continued from previous column

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

WILLETTA MOORE, Plaintiff v.

ANTHONY MOORE, Defendant.

Case No.: CL16000657-00 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.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, whose whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 20th day of April, 2016 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

virgiNia: iN thE JuvENiLE aND DOmEstic rELatiONs District cOurt Of the City of Richmond Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Shantae BOISSEAU, Juvenile Case No. JJ078220-12, 13, 14 OrDEr Of puBLicatiON

The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“RPR”) of Sean Wilson, (Father), Unknown, (Father), Shantae Yolanda Boisseau (Mother), Shantae Boisseau, child, DOB 12/18/2007, “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 defendants Sean Wilson (Father), Unknown (Father), Shantae Yolanda Boisseau (Mother), appear at the above-named Court and protect his/her interest on or before June 1, 2016 at 11:40 AM, Court Room #5.

Diane Abato, Esq. 730 E. Broad St., 8th Floor Richmond, Virginia 23219 804-646-3493

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND Andrea Jane Pforter, Plaintiff, v.

Jeremy Lee Pforter, Defendant.

Case No.: CL16-1070-4 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 separation for over one year.

It appearing from an affidavit that diligence was used by or on behalf of the plaintiff, without effect, to ascertain the location of the defendant, Jeremy Lee Pforter, and that he cannot be found, it is ordered that the defendant appear before this Court before June 16, 2016 at 9:00 a.m., and do what is necessary to protect his interest herein.

A Copy: Teste: Edward F. Jewett, Clerk Mark H. Schmidt (VSB # 44521) COMMONWEALTH DIVORCE PLLC 41 Welford Lane Newport News, Virginia 23606 Telephone: (804) 525-0826 Counsel for the Plaintiff VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER SHARON HOLLAND, Plaintiff v.

REGINALD HOLLAND, Defendant.

Case No.: CL16000730-00 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.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, whose whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 28th day of April, 2016 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 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE COUNTY OF CHESTERFIELD PHILLIP M. SAMPLE, Plaintiff v.

ANDREA LYNN SAMPLE, Defendant Case No.: 041CL15002757 ORDER OF PUBLICATION 2/26/2016

The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the Defendant on the grounds that the parties have lived separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for more than one year. An Affidavit having been filed that Defendant, Andrea Lynn Sample, is not a resident of the State of Virginia and that her last known address is 205 VFW Road, Lot 4, Grovetown, Georgia 30813, it is ORDERED that the Defendant appear before this Court on or before the 21st day of April, 2016 at 8:30 a.m., to protect her interest in this suit.

An Extract, Teste: WENDY S. HUGHES, Clerk Earl J. Gee, (VSB # 20043) McEachin & Gee, P.C. 211 East German School Road Richmond, VA 23224 (804) 864-5291 (phone) (804) 864-5292 (fax) Counsel for Plaintiff VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER MIRIAM DELGADO, Plaintiff v.

JOSEPH LUDWIG, Defendant.

Case No.: CL16000712-00 ORDER APPOINTING GUARDIAN AD LITEM

It appearing that the defendant, Joseph Ludwig, Inmate #1004888, is currently incarcerated in Greensville Correctional Center, 901 Corrections Way, Jarratt, VA 23870, and as such, is considered a person under a disability, on motion of the plaintiff, and pursuant to Virginia Code Section 8.01-297, the Court does appoint Theodore M. Galanides, Esquire, 262 East Williamsburg Road, Sandston, Virginia 23150, a discreet and competent attorney at law, as Guardian ad litem for the said Joseph Ludwig in this divorce proceeding and directs that the Guardian ad litem file such responsive pleadings on behalf of Joseph Ludwig as are deemed advisable within twenty four days of his receipt of this Order.

Let the Clerk certify copies of this Order to all Counsel of record and the herein appointed Guardian ad litem.

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 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER Continued on next column

CUSTODY virgiNia: iN thE JuvENiLE aND DOmEstic rELatiONs District cOurt Of the City of Richmond Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Clarence McCutchen Jr., Juvenile Case No. JJ083630-11, 12 OrDEr Of puBLicatiON

The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“RPR”) of Clarence McCutchen Sr., (Father), Shantae Yolanda Boisseau, (Mother), Clarence McCutchen Jr., child, DOB 06/30/2010, “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 defendants Clarence McCutchen Sr., (Mother), Shantae Yolanda Boisseau (Mother), appear at the above-named Court and protect his/her interest on or before June 1, 2016 at 11:40 AM, Court Room #5.

Diane Abato, Esq. 730 E. Broad St., 8th Floor Richmond, Virginia 23219 804-646-3493 virgiNia: iN thE JuvENiLE aND DOmEstic rELatiONs District cOurt Of the City of Richmond Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Sha’Keem Criss, Juvenile Case No. JJ90309-06, 07, 08 OrDEr Of puBLicatiON

The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“RPR”) of Cokeia Criss, (Mother), Shasha May (Father), &Unknown, (Father), Sha’keem Criss, child, DOB 09/18/2014, “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 defendants Unknown (Father), Shasha May (Father), Cokeia Criss (Mother), appear at the above-named Court and protect his/her interest on or before June 29, 2016 at 2 PM, Court Room #5.

Diane Abato, Esq. 730 E. Broad St., 8th Floor Richmond, Virginia 23219 804-646-3493

virgiNia: iN thE JuvENiLE aND DOmEstic rELatiONs District cOurt Of the City of Richmond Commonwealth of Virginia, in re TADIYAH BOISSEAU, Juvenile Case No. JJ056949-14, 15 OrDEr Of puBLicatiON

The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“RPR”) of Shantae Yolanda Boisseau, (Mother), Unknown, (Father), and Tadiyah Boisseau, child, DOB 01/31/2006, “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 defendants Unknown (Father), Shantae Yolanda Boisseau (Mother), appear at the above-named Court and protect his/her interest on or before June 1, 2016 at 11:40 AM, Court Room #5.

Diane Abato, Esq. 730 E. Broad St., 8th Floor Richmond, Virginia 23219 804-646-3493 virgiNia: iN thE JuvENiLE aND DOmEstic rELatiONs District cOurt IN the COunty of Chesterfield Commonwealth of Virginia, in re KALIAwn JOVOAN ALEXANDER, CHARLENE & JAMES ALEXANDER v.

Unknown father & KEISHA ALEXANDER Case No. JJ087366-01-02-00 OrDEr Of puBLicatiON

The object of this suit is to: Determine custody of Kaliawn Jovoan Alexander, (DOB: 5/6/2014),whose mother is Kiesha Alexander and whose father is unknown, pursuant to Section 16.1241(A3) of the Code of Virginia.

It is ORDERED that the defendant the unknown father appear at the above-named Court and protect his interests on or before May 16, 2016 at 9:00 A.M. virgiNia: iN thE JuvENiLE aND DOmEstic rELatiONs

Continued from previous column

District cOurt IN the COunty of Chesterfield Commonwealth of Virginia, in re KENDRICK JAYLON ALEXANDER, CHARLOTTE ALEXANDER-PRYOR & RICHARDO PRYOR v.

Unknown father & KEISHA ALEXANDER Case No. JJ070871-03-00, 04-00 OrDEr Of puBLicatiON

The object of this suit is to: Determine custody of Kendrick Jaylon Alexander, (DOB: 7/15/2009),whose mother is Kiesha Alexander and whose father is unknown, pursuant to Section 16.1241(A3) of the Code of Virginia.

It is ORDERED that the defendant the unknown father appear at the above-named Court and protect his interests on or before May 16, 2016 at 9:00 A.M. virgiNia: iN thE JuvENiLE aND DOmEstic rELatiONs District cOurt IN the COunty of Chesterfield Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Ky’RELl J ALEXANDER, CHARLOTTE ALEXANDER-PRYOR & RICHARDO PRYOR v.

TYRELL D. MOORE Case No. JJ060284-04-01 OrDEr Of puBLicatiON

The object of this suit is to: Amend custody of Ky’rell Jovoante Alexander, (DOB: 8/29/2005),whose mother is Kiesha Alexander and whose father is Tyrell D. Moore (last known address 8120 Bradbury Road, Henrico, VA 23231), pursuant to Section 16.1-241(A3) of the Code of Virginia.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Tyrell D. Moore appear at the above-named Court and protect his interests on or before May 16, 2016 at 9:00 A.M.

Properties VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND JOHN MARSHALL COURTS BUILDING CITY OF RICHMOND, Plaintiff, v.

Case No.: CL16-756-4 JAMES R. MARCHAND, et al., Defendants.

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 1303 Willis Street, Richmond, Virginia, Tax Map/ GPIN# S007-1180/008, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owner of record, JAMES R. MARCHAND.

An Affidavit having been filed that any heirs, devisees, assignees, successors in interest, successors in title and/or any creditors with a current or future interest in said property, have not been identified and/or served despite diligent efforts to do so and are defendants to this suit by the general description of “Parties Unknown.”

IT IS ORDERED that PARTIES UNKNOWN, come forward to appear on or before _MAY 19, 2016, and do what is necessary to protect their interests in this matter.

An Extract, Teste: Edward F. Jewett, Clerk Gregory A. Lukanuski, Esq. City of Richmond, Office of the City Attorney 900 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219 804-646-7940

Continued on next column

Continued on next column

Claudius Crozet Park, located in Crozet, VA, invites all qualified contractors to submit proposals for the development of the Park’s 0.76-mile paved perimeter trail. The closing date/time for receipt of SEALED bids is Thursday, May 12th at 3PM to Claudius Crozet Park, 1075 Park Road, Crozet, VA 22932. Proposals may be dropped off at the YMCA front desk.

The project is being performed in accordance with the Virginia DCR Recreational Trails Program, the FHWA, and the Compliance Guidance in the United States Department of Transportation regulations in 49 CFR and applicable parts 18, 19, and 26, as amended. Funding in part is made available through the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) program. The successful bidder must comply with all requirements and certifications as set forth in the Bidding Documents, including, but not limited to, the Equal Opportunity Report Statement; Form FHWA-1273; VDOT “Buy America” Specifications; President’s Executive Orders #11246 prohibiting discrimination in employment regarding race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; Executive Orders #12432, #12138, and #11625, regarding utilization of DBE firms by contractors and subcontractors in the performance of the contract; and the provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

DBE firms are encouraged to bid.

A non-mandatory on-site pre-bid meeting will be held at the project site (address listed above) Friday, April 22nd at 8:30AM. Information about the project along with bidding requirements and project schedule can be found at: http://www.crozetpark.org/IFB-perimeter-trail

Drivers:

CDL – A 1 yr. exp., Earn $1,250 + per week, Great Weekend Home time, Excellent Benefits & Bonuses, 100% No Touch/70% D & H

888-406-9046

NCLEX REviEw NCLEX PN/Review NCLEX RN/Review Small groups (1-6 Attendees)

Sessions held in Chester Contact Dr. Booker

{

}

to reserve your seat!

Dr. Corliss Booker, APRN, FNP,-BC

cvbooker@gmail.com (804) 239-4758

Mt. Olive Baptist Church

is seeking a Financial Treasurer.

Candidate qualifications should include an Associates degree in Accounting and software knowledge in Quick books, MS Office and Spreadsheets. Please send resume to mobctrusteeministry@gmail.com

To advertise in the

Richmond Free Press call

644-0496

Batten & Shaw, Inc. is currently seeking bids from qualified subcontractors and suppliers for construction of the HCA TriCities Free-Standing ER located in Colonial Heights, Virginia. Colonial Heights and surrounding area businesses are invited to learn more about opportunities associated with this upcoming project.

Batten & Shaw, Inc. and the facility are strongly committed to the development and inclusion of minority and women-owned businesses.

When: Tuesday, April 19, 2016 5:00 – 6:30 PM Where: Johnston-Willis Hospital - Stalker Auditorium 1401 Johnston-Willis Drive, Richmond, VA 23235 Bid Packages Include: Site Work | Paving | Landscaping | Concrete | Masonry | Steel | Casework | Roofing |EIFS | Doors, Frames, Hardware | Glass & Glazing | Drywall | Flooring | Acoustical Ceilings | Painting | Specialties | Signage | Window Shades | Plumbing | HVAC | Fire Suppression | Electrical To RSVP for the Meet & Greet, please call Rachael Treadway, Marketing Coordinator, at 615.292.2400 or email rachaeltreadway@bsinet.us For information regarding the bid documents for this project, contact Michael Lukens, Estimator at 615.292.2400 or email michaellukens@bsinet.us Refreshments will be provided!

The City of Richmond is seeking to fill the following positions: Utility Plan Operator — Water Treatment Public Utilities 35M00000367 Apply by 4/03/16 ****************** 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

Coordinator, Center for Faculty Engagement (Position #FA399) (J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, Richmond, VA) Master’s degree in higher education, educational leadership, or a related field. Completion of the Commonwealth’s Statement of Economic Interest and preemployment security screening required.

TYPE OF APPOINTMENT: Full-time, twelvemonth professional faculty-ranked appointment.

Salary range: $60,457-$119,039. Approximate maximum hiring salary: $89,748. Additional information is available at the College's website: www.reynolds.edu.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Review of applications will begin JUNE 9, 2016, and will be accepted until the position is filled.

AA/EOE/ADA/Veterans/ AmeriCorps/Peace Corps/Other National Service Alumni are encouraged to apply.

Nursing Instructor Mental Health (Position #FO265) RE-ANNOUNCEMENT

(J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, Richmond, VA) Master’s degree in Nursing from a nationally accredited college or university. An unrestricted Registered Nurse’s license. Minimum of two (2) years of mental health nursing experience or its equivalent within the past five (5) years. Preemployment security screening is required.

TYPE OF APPOINTMENT: Full-time, ninemonth teaching faculty-ranked appointment. Salary commensurate with the education and experience of the applicant. Salary range: $42,501-$71,595.

Additional information is available at the College's website: www.reynolds.edu.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Application reviews will begin JUNE 2, 2016 and will be accepted until the position is filled.

AA/EOE/ADA/Veterans/ AmeriCorps/Peace Corps/Other National Service Alumni are encouraged to apply.

St. Peter Baptist Church A progressive suburban church is seeking grant writers and a video media technician. Interested persons please forward resumes to spbcoffice@verizon.net. Salaries are negotiable.