February 5 7, 2015 issue

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Richmond Free Press

VOL. 24 NO. 6

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RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

www.richmondfreepress.com

FEBRuary 5-7, 2015

School success Carver Elementary teamwork fosters rewards for students

By Joey Matthews James Haskins/Richmond Free Press

Deputy Chief Durham

A new top cop in town

By Joey Matthews

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 Please turn to A4

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

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

Please turn to A4

Mayor touts anti-poverty efforts in city address

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

Petersburg jail to close

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

“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.

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

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.

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

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 Please turn to A4

Richmond Free Press

A2 February 5-7, 2015

Local News

Natural gas getting cheaper in Richmond

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Heating and cooking with natural gas just got a little cheaper in Richmond.

Effective with February’s bills, the cost of the fuel is being lowered again, saving the average residential customer about $6 a month, the city Department of Public Utilities just announced.

It’s more good news for consumers who also are enjoying cheaper gasoline prices to fuel their vehicles.

The lower natural gas bills will result from an additional cut in one element of the bill — the purchased gas cost (PGC), or the amount the department charges customers for the fuel it purchases on the wholesale market, according to DPU Director Robert Steidel.

Despite recent heavy snows up North, natural gas use is down, while production has risen, according to the federal Energy Information Agency.

Mr. Steidel The result: A collapse in the wholesale ZVRI (z18) Richmond Free Press price, according to the information agency. The drop in wholesale Slices of life and scenes in Richmond price allows communities, electric plants and other natural gas users to buy natural gas at a cheaper rate and pass the savings on to retail customers.

Natural gas prices are expected to stay low for the foreseeable future, the agency stated in its most recent report.

Natural gas is sold in cubic feet. Converted to gallons, the February 4 – February 10, 2015 new PGC charge means customers will be paying less than $1.30 a gallon when all the bill elements are figured, including a distribution charge, a customer charge and taxes.

That’s a bargain compared with heating oil for furnaces that is still selling for more than $2.80 a gallon, a weekly report on Virginia fuel prices indicates. Some people are still paying as much as $3.09 a gallon in Richmond.

The new, reduced PGC charge almost wipes out the 31.5 cent increase that went into effect in August, when DPU faced a deficit.

As a result of stronger than expected sales and lower prices, DPU started rolling back that increase in November when Mr. Steidel cut the PGC rate from 81.5 cents per 100 cubic feet of gas to 65 cents per 100 cubic feet.

He stated the new PGC price beginning this month would be 57.5 cents per 100 cubic feet, down 7.5 cents from the November PGC charge.

All Varieties - All Natural The current charge is still 15 percent higher than a year ago Nature's Place Hand Trimmed Chicken when DPU’s PGC charge was 50 cents per 100 cubic feet or Without MVP Card Regular Retail 7.5 cents less.

Based on the current outlook, Mr. Steidel might well cut off DPU’s PGC charge again in May. He is now reviewing the PGC charge every three months instead of waiting a full year.

Cityscape

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Round and round it goes. The Chrysalis Outdoor Labyrinth presents an elaborate network of paths for nature lovers to navigate. Location: The park on the grounds of Union Presbyterian Seminary at the corner of Westwood Avenue and Loxley Road on North Side.

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City eyeing sale of parking operations to raise millions

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

City Hall has been considering using its parking operations as a way to raise $150 million for school construction, street paving, sidewalk development and other unaddressed capital needs.

Norman D. Butts, the city’s top financial officer, confirmed that there have been discussions about awarding a long-term concession to an undisclosed private group willing to pay big bucks for a 30- to 40-year concession to operate the city’s 20 parking lots and garages.

There had been some buzz that Mayor Dwight C. Jones might highlight the proposal during his State of the City speech, but that did not happen.

That may be because, as Mr. Butts put it, “the talks have stalled” in recent months, leaving the proposal in limbo.

The city has not received all of its requested information, said Mr. Butts, whose Mr. Butts official title is deputy chief administrative officer for finance and administration.

The opportunity to consider this kind of plan developed because the city is a big player in parking. The city now owns and operates 5,463 parking spaces in its 20 lots and garages, along with more than 1,400 metered spaces on the street, according to information on its website.

The idea of cashing in on a revenue generating asset like parking is not new, said Mr. Butts, who joined Mayor Jones’ administration in June after serving as director of finance for the Town of Leesburg in Northern Virginia.

Numerous localities have sold or leased toll roads, water plants and other assets to raise funds, pay down debt and fund projects without raising taxes.

The economic collapse in 2008 tamped down interest in such projects, but the improving economic outlook appears to be reawakening interest, according to the National League of Cities.

Richmond was more interested in this idea when Byron C. Marshall served as the city’s chief administrative officer.

Sources said he was pushing the proposal before he lost the confidence of Mayor Jones and departed in mid-September.

Mr. Butts is among those who are not enthusiastic. He said this is the kind of proposal that cities not as financially strong as Richmond pursue.

He cited Chicago and Detroit as examples of governments that have sold or leased public assets. In 2005, for example, Chicago gained $1.8 billion by selling its Skyline toll road to an Australian firm.

“We’re a city with a double A credit rating,” Mr. Butts said.

“I’m not sure this is something we need to consider.”

Richmond, though, has plenty of unmet construction needs and is nearing its self-imposed borrowing limit.

Along with fresh dollars, supporters liked the proposal Mr. Marshall was pursuing because it would have required the private operator to relieve the city of the cost of maintaining the lots and garages and to make contributions to support city efforts to promote business growth in depressed neighborhoods.

“Parking is not a core mission for the city,” said one insider at City Hall, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “This seems like a creative way to raise money for projects we cannot afford while getting rid of a responsibility we don’t need.”

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Richmond Free Press

DOMINION LINEMAN JUSTIN WOEHRLE HELPS POWER THE TECHNOLOGY BUSINESSES POWERING VIRGINIA. With the highest concentration of tech workers in the entire U.S., Northern Virginia has been called “the epicenter of the Internet.” In fact, more than 50 percent of the world’s Internet traffic passes through our state daily. At Dominion, we’re proud to help power this important sector—a major driver of Virginia’s economy. And with 5.2 million square feet of data center space today, and 10 million projected by 2020, Virginia likely will become the largest data center market in the country—making it all the more important for us to keep the lights on and the data flowing.

dom.com

February 5-7, 2015

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Richmond Free Press

A4 February 5-7, 2015

News

State Dems hit with voting rights suit Continued from A1

the DPVA, which has trumpeted its support for expanding voting rights and has blasted the rival Republican Party for imposing voter identification and other requirements that create barriers to voting.

So far, “no comment” has been the only response from the state party to the suit that also names Dwight C. Jones, the party’s chairman and mayor of Richmond, and Cathy Woodson, chairwoman of the 74th House District Committee. Because of the party-imposed restrictions, fewer than 50 people were allowed to participate in selecting a party nominee.

The suit was served Tuesday on the party’s attorney, Marc Elias, after the plaintiffs’ attorney, J. Paul Gregorio of the Innsbrook Law Group in Glen Allen, agreed to extend the party’s time to respond to March 20, according to Paul Goldman, Delegate Morrissey’s law partner and a former DPVA chairman who was involved in

Mr. Lambert

Ms. Hill

Mr. Hill

preparing the suit.

The case stems from the whirlwind of events that began with Delegate Morrissey being convicted Dec. 12 of contributing to the delinquency of a minor because of a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old receptionist in his law office.

In the wake of his conviction and amid calls from his Democratic colleagues to step down, Delegate Morrissey, then a Democrat, resigned the House seat he had held for seven years, triggering a special election. He then opted to run for the vacancy he had created.

Seeking to block Delegate Morrissey from gaining the Democratic nomination, the party’s district committee — with state party permission — allowed only Democratic committee members in good standing who live in the House district to participate, instead of opening the nomination process to the more than 35,000 eligible Democratic voters as the state party’s own plan requires.

Fewer than 50 people were eligible to participate, the DPVA later acknowledged, with about half from Charles City County and the rest from Henrico County. No one from Richmond qualified because none of the members of the Richmond Democratic Committee lives in the House district’s sole city precinct.

In the end, just 42 people voted in the party’s unassembled caucus or “firehouse primary.”

The winner, farmer and former labor leader Kevin J. Sullivan of Charles City, won with just 24 votes.

Delegate Morrissey defeated Mr. Sullivan and

a Republican candidate in the Jan. 13 special election and now is serving in the legislature.

Mr. Lambert, 45, a lifelong Democrat and son of the late state Sen. Benjamin J. Lambert III, a longtime Richmond optometrist, said he is involved because voting rights are too important.

“I just saw the movie ‘Selma,’ and that really brings home what people went through to secure the right to vote,” said Mr. Lambert, who is working on his optician’s license. He lives in Henrico and said he plans to run for the Morrissey seat this year.

“My father always told me, ‘Do what’s right,’” Mr. Lambert said. “This is what’s right.”

“I am in this suit because I’m outraged as a Democrat at this so-called process,” said Mr. Hill, 57, a law enforcement officer and Henrico resident. He said the DPVA’s action represents a direct attack on the right to vote.

Ms. Hill, 59, who lives in the Richmond precinct, called the party’s actions “just plain wrong.”

Alfred Durham new top cop in town Continued from A1

at this time, as we know, many cities across this country are struggling with poor police relationships between the police officers and their communities,” said Deputy Chief Durham. “Richmond has been spared thus far, but I strongly believe it’s because of our belief in community policing.”

Deputy Chief Durham will serve in his current position until Chief Ray Tarasovic, 66, officially leaves his post Feb. 20.

The incoming chief said he would like to add body cameras to the police force, if and when funding is provided, to help prevent incidents of police brutality.

“I think body cameras are important because they capture that engagement with the community and I think it’s an accountability tool,” he said. “When there’s a camera in place, you’re going to put on your best face. I think it benefits the community and how we conduct ourselves.”

He also said he would push for a more diverse police force.

Recent data supplied by the police department show more than 31 percent of the city’s police force, or 232 officers, are African-American in a city with an African-American population slightly higher than 50 percent.

“Richmond is doing it right, but it’s my job to make sure we continue to move forward to have diversity that’s representative of the community we serve,” Deputy Chief Durham said.

The incoming chief, whose salary will be $165,000 annually, pledged to keep the department moving forward in its community engagement efforts.

“That’s what solves problems. That’s what makes communities safer,” he said.

He said he is formulating a 100-day plan to get his administration off to a smooth start and he plans to become a fixture in the community.

“I’m a hands-on guy,” the deputy chief said. “I don’t believe in sitting behind a desk. I believe in management by walking around. I will be in those communities. I will have those officers walking around with me, telling me people they know.”

The mayor said he has tasked Deputy Chief Durham with two goals: To keep crime rates low and to continue community policing policies.

“We’ve had five straight years of violent crime reduction, with rates the lowest in the 40 years I’ve been in Richmond, and that’s helping to fuel the ‘Richmond Resurgence,’ ” the mayor said, using the phrase he used in his State of the City speech four days earlier.

Rumors of Deputy Chief Durham’s imminent promotion to become the city’s new top cop began flying after Chief Tarasovic named him to his leadership team in November.

Deputy Chief Durham had retired a month earlier from the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, where he most recently served as assistant chief. He was responsible for day-to-day

operations of the D.C. police force. He first joined the force in 1987.

Chief Tarasovic has served as Richmond’s police chief for the past two years. He came out of retirement to follow Chief Bryan T. Norwood, who essentially was fired in the wake of the Chris Brown community service scandal.

Chief Tarasovic and Deputy Chief Durham are former colleagues of former Richmond Police Chief Rodney Monroe, who served as Richmond’s chief from 2005 to 2008, and is credited with initiating community policing efforts when he created 12 policing sectors with three sectors assigned to each of the four precincts. Both men served under Chief Monroe in Richmond.

The mayor said he moved to hire the new chief “quickly” from within the ranks of the department.

The interview panel, according to the mayor’s office, included Chief Tarasovic; Chief Monroe, who now leads the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Department; and city officials Christopher Beschler, interim chief administrative officer; Grant Neely, the mayor’s chief of staff; and Debra Gardner, deputy chief administrative officer.

“We looked only at leaders within the city of Richmond, those that have deep experience in the Richmond community,” Mayor Jones said.

The candidates also included the two other deputy chiefs — Eric English, deputy chief for operations; and John Buturla, deputy chief for support services.

“As a veteran of the D.C. police force, Chief Durham knows how to handle major events,” the mayor said.

“He planned the Presidential Inauguration in 2005. …This experience gives me great confidence as we prepare for the World Championships of Cycling in September. I know we’ll be ready for the biggest event Richmond has ever seen.”

Deputy Chief Durham has maintained a home in Southern Barton Heights for a decade.

“I would like to thank Mayor Jones for the opportunity to lead what I feel is one of the finest police departments in the country,” said Deputy Chief Durham. “Policing is a noble profession, a profession that I have dedicated my life to. Over the course of my career, I’ve realized incredible rewards, but being named police chief for the City of Richmond tops the list of those rewards.”

Mayor Jones said the new chief brings a wealth of experience to his new job.

He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. He holds an associate degree in corrections administration from the University of the District of Columbia.

He served in the Marine Corps for 17 years. He said he enlisted in October 1982 as an infantryman after watching the movie “An Officer and a Gentleman.”

In 1986, Deputy Chief Durham left active duty and joined the reserve forces while enrolled in the police academy.

Petersburg jail to close Continued from A1

Mayor Myers expressed confidence that there are enough council members to block any attempt to halt the decision. He represents Ward 5. One of the seven council seats is vacant because of the recent death of Vice Mayor Carl “Mike” Ross.

The fight over the jail has been ongoing since 2012 when Sheriff Crawford urged the council to provide money to fix failing air conditioning, elevators and other equipment.

Since then, the city has been weighing its options after the Petersburg Circuit Court began considering ordering improvements.

The fate of the jail appears to have been sealed Dec. 9 when, without warning or notice to the sheriff or the public, the council took up the issue and voted 4-3 to close the jail.

Mayor Myers, who voted with the majority, said the decision responds to the “sheriff’s request to house inmates in modern accommodations with strong inmate re-entry programs.”

Despite the job impact, he noted that building a new jail would set back funding for other needs, such as development of a field house for schools and other school construction projects.

Carver Elementary teamwork fosters rewards for students Continued from A1

Another family fun night is scheduled in March.

Carver also has hosted four “chat and chew” informational sessions prior to school with parents and other guardians to discuss a range of issues affecting their children.

At one, parents were goodnaturedly provided genderspecific refreshments, muffins for the five mothers, donuts for the two dads.

Ms. Yates said a big reason for the school’s SOL success is, “We align our curriculum” with the Virginia Department of Education to ensure teachers and students are in sync and fully prepared for the tests.

She touted VDOE’s enVision MATH instructional materials as “phenomenal,” the use of vocabulary flashcards at every grade level, benchmark

literary reading programs and SOL preparatory tests available online for children to take.

Ms. Yates also praised the school’s Carver Promise Mentoring program. It pairs volunteer mentors with students in first through fifth grades for an hour each week to work on academic and social activities.

“We have the largest mentoring program in the state and maybe in the nation,” program coordinator Casey Rogers said.

She said the program currently has about 370 volunteers, enough to have one-on-one mentoring for every student in first through fifth grades.

The program, in operation since 1992 and partnered with Communities in Schools of Richmond since 2009, won the state’s Chairman’s Award in 2013 for its sustained commitment to mentoring, Ms.

Rogers noted.

The Carver Promise is funded through private and corporate grants and donations, she said.

Ms. Yates accompanied a Free Press reporter and photographer to a kindergarten class taught by Deborah Pendleton.

Enthusiastic children were playing letter and word games.

Ms. Pendleton pointed to a pumpkin patch reading board on one wall.

She said one of her chief tasks is to aid some children who enter Carver with “more of a limited ability to read.”

The seventh-year Carver teacher, who previously taught 12 years at affluent, predominately white private Collegiate School in Henrico County, emphasized the importance of parents reading with their children at home.

Ms. Pendleton, who is assisted each week by community volunteers Bob Lipper and Morgan Bartolini, praised the staff at Carver for going beyond the call of duty.

“Carver is really filled with dedicated teachers who continue to learn on their own to explore what the best practices are to fill the needs of the children,” she said. “We have teachers who are here until 6:30 at night, who show a high level of dedication.”

She said teachers care for the students like they are family members.

“We treat students like they’re our own,” Ms. Pendleton said.

“We ask, ‘What would we want our child to learn?’ ’’ Ms. Yates said teachers “focus on kinesthetic (movement) learning and visual and auditory learning.”

She said cross-grade teach-

Mayor Jones touts anti-poverty efforts Continued from A1

mond 2015 UCI Road World Championships scheduled for Sept.

19 through 27. It is expected to draw tens of thousands of people to Richmond and a huge worldwide television audience.

Christopher Jones, a graduate student at Virginia Commonwealth University and USA Cycling Collegiate Road Nationals time trial winner last May in Richmond, told the audience it was a great opportunity for the city to showcase itself to the world.

“This year, as we prepare for 300 million people to watch us on television, the City Council, the School Board and I aim to shape the solution together,” the mayor said, echoing the theme new City Council President Michelle R. Mosby, 9th District, made in her acceptance speech Jan. 5.

“I know we all share a commitment not only to cooperation, but to action. And while I can’t speak for them, I can say that my goal is not to win unanimous votes, but to get things done and move this city forward quickly.”

The mayor skirted around what, if any, plans he has to reintroduce his pet project — building a new minor league baseball stadium in Shockoe Bottom for the Richmond Flying Squirrels.

“I won’t have an update until the time is right,” he said.

The leaders of the city’s two governing bodies endorsed the mayor’s call to unified action.

Ms. Mosby said afterward, “Working together is how this city is going to continue to move forward. When we get on one accord, the city will move like it should move.

“I like the idea that all four corners of the city will be getting attention. I think that’s an awesome thing.”

Other council members who attended the address were Cynthia I. Newbille, 7th District; Parker C. Agelasto, 5th District; Christopher A. Hilbert, 3rd District; Jonathan B. Baliles, 1st District; and Kathy C. Graziano, 4th District.

School Board Chairman Donald L. Coleman, 7th District, sounded a similar note.

“I was very encouraged,” he said. “The mayor made it very clear that it takes partners and collaboration. I’m convinced when the School Board, City Council and the mayor’s administration really come together, great things can happen. We all want this city to succeed, and I think we’re moving in the right direction.”

He was joined at the speech by fellow board members Jeffrey M. Bourne, 3rd District; Derik Jones, 8th District; Vice Chairwoman Kristen Larson, 4th District; and Mamie Taylor, 5th District.

Other officials attending the State of the City address included outgoing Police Chief Ray Tarasovic, Sheriff C.T. Woody Jr. and Virginia Union University President Claude G. Perkins.

About 20 uniformed police officers and fire fighters attended as well.

ing also is encouraged, where a teacher from one grade may fill in for a teacher in another grade.

The principal said enrichment specialists make sure struggling students are brought up to speed in subjects in which they need help.

She said teachers also take students to one of two school computer labs to work on assignments.

Ms. Yates said the school encourages teachers to attend workshops to show them creative ways to keep up with the latest teaching techniques.

En route to Evanique Donaldson’s first grade class, Ms. Yates told how parents earn honor roll certificates from the school for participating in field trips, parent-teacher conferences and other community events.

“We are very family oriented,” Ms. Yates said.

She also said the school gives a trophy at each grade level to the class with the best student attendance.

Students held hands, clapped and sang along with Spanish teacher Sobeyda Rivera as music played in Ms. Donaldson’s class.

“Hola amigo (Hello my friend). Como esta usted (How are you)?” they merrily sang.

Standing nearby, Ms. Donaldson watched, wearing colorful oversized glasses and a huge smile.

“It’s a cool way for us to get the students excited about the day,” she said of her eyecatching glasses.

The tour concluded at Jo Anne DiMaggio’s second grade class. (Yes, she was named after the former Yankees great, Joe DiMaggio.)

The teacher has “looped up” with her students from kinder-

garten to first grade and now to second, Ms. Yates said.

She quizzed the attentive students on words with long vowel sounds, such as roar, sounds and goat.

The walls of her room were filled with word games designed to help students learn, such as weather words and a continents song.

Ms. Yates also touted Richmond Public Schools’ participation in the federally funded Community Eligibility Provision, which provides free breakfast and lunch to all students — regardless of family income — to enhance their ability to learn.

“Students who are fed with nutritious meals are best equipped to learn,” she said.

In the school office, Tassy Mason, a fifth-grade Carver teacher, offered her formula for educational success.

“I have a relationship with my children,” she said. “I make sure my children know I care about them, first and foremost, then we go into the educational part.”

Toyinette Tuck, whose grandson is a Carver kindergartner, said she’s appreciative for the school’s work. “It’s an excellent academic school,” she said. “They have excellent reading programs and excellent after-school programs. And they communicate real well with us.”

Those words are music to the ears of Ms. Yates and other Richmond educators led by Superintendent Dana T. Bedden, who are at the forefront of efforts to turn around other struggling city schools.

“Everyone believes we can do it,” Ms. Yates said of Carver unity. “We all pitch in to help each other. We all believe we can do great things here.”

Richmond Free Press

February 5-7, 2015

A5

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Editorial Page

A6

February 5-7, 2015

Your voice, your vote Next Tuesday is “Cross-over Day” at the Virginia General Assembly.

That means it’s halftime for the 2015 legislative session.

By the end of the day Tuesday, the Senate and the House of Delegates must finish any action on bills that were introduced by each chamber’s members, with the exception of the budget bill.

Then on Wednesday, the chambers swap. The House considers bills that originated in the Senate, while the Senate considers bills that were introduced in the House.

When the General Assembly adjourns at the end of February, the life of every man, woman and child in Virginia will undergo some impact or change because of the action — or inaction — of the 140 state lawmakers meeting now at the State Capitol in Downtown.

Let’s take a quick look at some of the action to date.

The House has killed bills that would: • Raise the minimum wage in Virginia to help low-income workers escape poverty.

• Limit the interest rate payday lenders can charge consumers.

• Establish a compensation fund for surviving victims of the state’s involuntary sterilization program from 1924 to 1979.

• Prohibit police departments from setting quotas for arrests or summonses in a specific timeframe, or using such quotas in evaluating a police officer’s job performance.

• Pay triple damages to employees who have suffered pay discrimination based on gender.

The Senate has killed bills that would: • Limit handgun purchases to one a month.

• Close the “gunshow loophole” that allows private owners to sell guns without requiring purchasers to undergo a criminal background check.

• Reduce the number of Standards of Learning tests required of Virginia public school students from 29 to 17.

• Lift the ban on starting the school year before Labor Day without a waiver from the state Board of Education.

• Eliminate jail time for marijuana possession in favor of a maximum $100 civil penalty.

• Remove restrictions on same-sex marriage under the state Constitution and in the Code of Virginia.

While the picture seems bleak for Virginians who support fairness in many areas affecting our lives and opportunities, there are some bright spots: The Senate and House have approved bills, either in committee action or floor action, that would: • Require a majority vote for a winner to be declared in state elections. If no candidate gets more than 50 percent of the votes cast, a run-off election must be held between the top two vote getters. (Remember the special election in House District 74 on Jan. 13 in which Delegate Joseph D. Morrissey was re-elected with only 42 percent of the vote?)

• Prohibit discrimination in public employment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

• Allow a marijuana derivative to be used by patients with seizures.

• Establish some type of ethics review panel to investigate complaints against public officials, but there is disagreement on the details.

House or Senate panels also blocked attempts to keep undocumented immigrant students from qualifying for instate tuition at Virginia’s public colleges and quashed a bill allowing anyone holding a state license (i.e., doctor, contractor, mortician, barber, beautician, etc.) to deny services to gay people without facing disciplinary action.

As Yogi Berra said, and Lenny Kravitz sang: It ain’t over ’til it’s over. That means there’s still time for each and every Virginia voter and resident to impact the process. There’s still time to call your representative in the House of Delegates and in the Senate to voice your opinion on legislation before the General Assembly.

All 140 seats in the General Assembly are up for election in November, giving your opinion just a little more clout in asking that your elected official vote a certain way on legislation.

The website VirginiaGeneralAssembly.gov offers a quick and handy reference for looking up bills and resolutions and where they are currently in the legislative process. It also provides names and phone numbers of the 100 members of the House and 40 members of the Senate.

It’s your time. It’s your voice. It’s your vote.

Use it.

A true winner One of the closest things we have to a hero is Russell Wilson.

The 26-year-old Seattle Seahawks quarterback, who grew up in Richmond and learned well the lessons of his athletic attorney father and educator grandfather, has been a source of pride and inspiration for people well beyond his hometown.

In the exciting AFC championship game Jan. 18, as well as last Sunday’s heart-stopping Super Bowl XLIX, his team was down several points in the fourth quarter with barely enough time left on the clock to breathe, and what did Wilson do?

He didn’t choke. He didn’t sweat. He simply played out the game the best he could.

All of America — and most of the world — knows by now how both games turned out.

Yet, despite the disappointment of not winning back-to-back Super Bowls, Wilson was the epitome of grace.

“Every setback has a major comeback,” he posted Monday on Twitter.

“At 26 years old I won’t allow 1 play or 1 moment define my career. I will keep evolving,” he later tweeted.

He never pinned the loss on others.

While many of us still would be hiding under the covers in a darkened room, Wilson showed up smiling Tuesday for his weekly visit with youngsters at Seattle Children’s hospital.

The only thing missing was his long hair and beard, which he had clipped and shaved and showed on Instagram.

He leaves us all with incredible lessons: Never give up.

And never give in.

No matter what, Wilson will always be a winner.

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Let’s keep making black history The best way to celebrate Black History Month is to make more black history. Black History Month is now celebrated around the world. We are grateful for the visionary leadership of noted historian and scholar Carter G. Woodson for being the founder of what was known as Negro History Week in 1926 that, 44 years later, evolved into Black History Month.

It is also important to note that this year marks the centennial celebration of Dr. Woodson’s founding of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). The mission of ASALH is to “promote, research, preserve, interpret and disseminate information about black life, history and culture to the global community.”

Established in 1915, the association has no peer in the preservation of our rich history.

ASALH continues to extend the legacy of Carter G. Woodson, “speaking a fundamental truth to the world — that Africans and peoples of African descent are makers of history and co-workers in what W.E.B. Du Bois called, The Kingdom of Culture.” Yes, it is clearly of the greatest necessity for all of us to support and spread

knowledge about the accomplishments of Dr. Woodson, which included his landmark, The MisEducation of the Negro. Written in 1933, the book is as timely today as it was 82 years ago.

We must not allow anyone or anything to diminish or to dismiss the uninterrupted relevance and importance of black American history, culture and intellectual genius. The “fundamental truth”

Benjamin Chavis Jr. about the glorious and triumphant history of peoples of African descent needs to be retold and appreciated by all people throughout the world.

We are a proud people. We are an African people. We are the black family, community, nation and global community.

We are a people of the centuries long struggle for freedom, justice and equality. Our history did not begin or end with the tragedy and holocaust of transatlantic slavery. The history of African people begins with God’s creation of humanity. We are the original people. Human civilization had its birth and evolution in the cradle of the heart of Africa.

When I hear people today say that black Americans have a challenge with science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) academic courses and disciplines, I ask: Why? We are the origina-

tors of math and science. One of the reasons Black History Month is so important is because it forces us to remind ourselves that high achievement and excellent academic performance are vital components of our historical evolution. Being skilled in science and math is not tantamount to “acting white,” whatever that is. Rather, it’s thinking black in the finest of traditions.

In a real sense, Black History Month is Black Achievement Month. We must do a better job in defining and controlling the narrative about black Americans in the past, currently and the future.

The so-called “mainstream” media is still full of negative stereotypes and debilitating caricatures when it comes to reporting news, sports or about the cultural arts of people of African descent.

Here are my five recommendations for properly celebrating this 2015 Black History Month: • #Black Lives Matter: We endorse the national social media campaign to assert the value of all black American lives and to confront and stop racially motivated police brutality.

• Let’s strengthen black-owned businesses this month not only by buying black, but by encouraging the mentorship and development of a new generation of young entrepreneurs.

• Financially support historically black colleges and universities, whether an individual

No hooray for Hollywood

“Diversity is basically a description of independence. Diversity is what moves the ball for me, and I thought ‘give people a chance that have different points of view. Let the audience decide whether they like it or not. But give those voices a chance to be seen and heard.’” – Robert Redford, actor, director, and co-founder of Sundance Film Festival.

Hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the 87th annual Academy Awards ceremony, better known as the Oscars, will either best be remembered for the uproar incited by this year’s homogenous nominations or as a seminal moment for change in the Academy’s long, non-inclusive history.

For the first time since 1998, the stage has been set for our nation to celebrate its least diverse Oscars. In a year that saw Oscarworthy turns from several actors of color, none were nominated in the acting categories, with all 20 acting nominations going to white actors. But the story doesn’t end there. Not a single woman stood among the five directors and 14 screenwriters nominated in those categories.

In a nation where nearly 51 percent of the population is female, how can formidable directors like Ava DuVernay for “Selma” and Angelina Jolie for “Unbroken” find themselves on the cutting room floor of the nomination selection? In a nation where, according to a 2014 Pew Research Center survey, “some

43 percent of millennial adults are non-white, the highest share of any generation,” how can the academy’s nominees not reflect

Marc H. Morial Hollywood’s audience base or the nation in which we live?

In response to the outcry surrounding this year’s Oscar nominations, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, the first African-American and third female president of the academy, spoke to the Associated Press and pointed to progress in the Academy’s efforts to reflect our nation’s diverse, movie-going audience.

She noted, “In the last two years, we’ve made greater strides than we ever have in the past toward becoming a more diverse and inclusive organization through admitting new members and more inclusive classes of members,” adding, “I would love to see and look forward to see a greater cultural diversity among all our nominees in all of our categories.”

I share her vision, but the question remains of when those words will be put into a plan of action — and championed by the broader industry.

A much-cited 2012 survey of the academy by the Los Angeles Times demonstrates the crux of the problem. According to the survey, the estimated 7,000 academy members are 94 percent white, 77 percent male and have a median age of 62 – hardly a reflection of the nation.

While my role is not to question the film credentials of the academy’s members, I do question the ability of such a homogenous body to reflect the perspectives, lives and stories of a diverse pool of

moviemakers — and moviegoers.

I would also question the ability of the academy to monitor itself and become a more inclusive body without the pressure of public scrutiny and advocacy.

Here are a few things to note about academy membership.

Membership is “limited to film artists working in the production of theatrically released motion pictures. The academy’s membership process is by sponsorship, not application. Candidates must be sponsored by two academy members from the branch to which the candidate seeks admission.

Additionally, Academy Award nominees are automatically considered for membership and do not require sponsors. The Board decides which individuals will receive invitations.”

The academy’s membership requirements are both an indictment and call to action. When women and minorities are snubbed at the Oscars, it means much more than wounded gender or ethnic pride. It means that we, as a nation, have lost an opportunity to reflect our unique diversity via a medium that touches so many of our lives. It means we have lost another seat at the proverbial Oscar table.

I would be remiss not to acknowledge the strides the academy has begun to make to address its diversity issues. Hiring Ms. Isaacs as its president was an important step on the road to diversifying, and her decision to remove a cap on the number of academy members and push for academy members to invite a more diverse pool of people to apply are the first of many important steps that must be taken on the journey toward inclusion.

Marc H. Morial, former mayor of New Orleans, is president and CEO of the National Urban League.

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.

college, or through the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, the United Negro College Fund or the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund.

Make a contribution to support HBCUs this month.

• Subscribe to a black-owned newspaper this month for yourself and for a relative. #OurVoice75 Support the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s 75th anniversary throughout this year.

• Let’s prepare to reassert our demand for the protection of the voting rights of all people and, in particular, for black Americans as we approach in the next few weeks the 50th Anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery March.

Let’s make more history together. Our future will be determined by what we do today. Let’s make this Black History Month a time of both reflection and action to advance the interests of black America and all African people everywhere.

Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. is president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association.

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Richmond Free Press

February 5-7, 2015

A7

Letters to the Editor

Not re-appointing Judge Jamison sets precedent Judge Birdie Jamison has been a judge on Richmond’s General District Court for more than 23 years. She has had no allegations of any unethical actions and no allegations of illegalities. And, certainly, no one can question Judge Jamison’s competence or integrity.

You should not remove a judge because you don’t like her style

or because you disagree with her rulings. Judicial independence is the cornerstone of the judicial system. Judges should not be forced to win popularity contests with prosecutors and lawyers. This is what the anonymous surveys by lawyers promote.

While I am glad that Judge Jamison is being replaced by an

African-American female judge, this still does not make it right. Not re-appointing Judge Jamison sets a terrible precedent.

TONNIE VILLINES, ESQUIRE Henrico County

President Johnson doesn’t deserve credit for Selma

Joseph Califano’s statement that Selma was President Lyndon B. Johnson’s idea is patently false. Although the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee had come to Alabama earlier to organize to obtain the right to vote, the Alabama Right to Vote movement began for me the day the four little girls were killed in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham.

That was Sunday, Sept.

15, 1963, before Mr. Johnson became president. James Bevel, my then-husband, and I believed that a man and a woman should not allow those four little girls to be murdered

and do nothing.

On that fateful Sunday, in Edenton, N.C., in Golden and Mrs. Frinks’ living room (Golden Frinks was a Southern Christian Leadership Conference staff person.), James Bevel and I conceptualized and wrote the plan that became the Selma Right to Vote movement. We believed that if Negroes in Alabama could vote, they could better protect their children from things like the church bombing.

Mr. Bevel and I resolved that, no matter how long it would take, we would get the right to vote in Alabama. We took the plan to the SCLC and subsequently, the SCLC,

including us as staff persons, began organizing in Alabama for the right to vote.

When Jimmie Lee Jackson was killed — he died Feb. 26, 1965 — Mr. Bevel said we should take his body to Gov. George C. Wallace and present to him the results of his racist policies. Within a day or so, Mr. Bevel apparently recognized that Mr. Jackson should be buried and modified his proposal.

He called for the Selma-toMontgomery March.

Lyndon Johnson was president — the executive branch of the federal government. It was his job to enforce the law. He should not have waited until

No taxing college savings plans Just last week, we found out that the Obama administration plans to pay for “free” community college by taxing money set aside in 529 college savings plans.

When governments get desperate for cash, they come for the middle class because that’s where the money is. I know thousands of Virginians have been saving diligently for their children’s education using these plans.

Changing the rules now and taxing those who have been planning ahead — in many cases to benefit those who haven’t — is just wrong.

Call your representatives and demand they oppose any efforts by the Obama administration to tax 529 college savings plans.

STEPHEN LEE Mechanicsville

Rest in peace, Ernie Banks Ernie Banks, Mr. Cub, died at 83. Mr. Banks became the Cubs’ first black player on Sept. 17, 1953, six years after Jackie Robinson broke the modern day color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1977.

Mr. Banks played 19 seasons with the Chicago Cubs. He is considered by many to be the greatest power-hitting shortstop of the 20th century. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award from President Obama in 2013.

Mr. Banks was known as an eternal optimist. He would always state everything was just fine whether there was 2 feet of snow on the ground or he was feeling ill. By all accounts, he had a very positive demeanor and it was infectious. The fans of Chicago loved him and it was reciprocated. President Obama and his wife, Michelle, called Mr. Banks “an incredible ambassador for baseball and for the city of Chicago.”

He was considered a giant among men, and that never changed once he retired from baseball. He continued to make appearances and be the darling of Chicago.

Ernie, you can now rest your baseball shoes and bat because you have served mankind well. Job well done thy faithful servant.

Rest in peace and thanks for the memories.

ERNEST PARKER JR. Richmond

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Jimmie Lee Jackson’s, James Reeb’s and Viola Liuzzo’s lives were taken. He should not have waited until people were beaten and bloodied on the Edmund Pettus Bridge before he enforced the Negroes’ right to vote in the South. I appreciate President Johnson enacting and signing the Voting Rights Act. But I wish he had been a self-starter when it came to our right to vote so it would not have been necessary to go to the lengths that we did — organizing a mass movement

and risking our safety — in order to get the vote.

It was the courage, work, thoughtfulness, sacrifice, discipline and determination of citizens of the United States that obtained our right to vote.

Historically, inventions, musical innovations and many more accomplishments and contributions developed by descendants of enslaved Africans in America have been misappropriated. We learn about presidents, battles and dates. The impression too often

perpetuated in history books and in popular culture is that you have to be a president, someone special or a white person to have an important idea or to achieve major accomplishments. This is an idea that disempowers citizens and should not be propagated further.

DIANE NASH The writer is a founder of SNCC, who worked with SNCC and the SCLC from 1961 through 1965.

TransiT sysTem

Notice of Public Meeting On Wednesday, February 25, 2015 A public meeting will be held to gather feedback about proposed changes to Route 4 – Robinson St/S Belmont.

GRTC has developed three proposals that will reduce or eliminate bus trips on Robinson St via Route 4.

A customer survey will be conducted on-board after the meeting to discuss the routing options. The survey will be available online beginning on Thursday, February 26th and will remain active through Sunday, March 15th.

Public Comments and survey results will assist GRTC in making proposed changes to Route 4 – Robinson St/S Belmont.

Get rid of debts that you can’t pay.

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The public meeting will be held: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Building 2300 West Broad Street, Richmond VA 23220

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

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If you are unable to attend this meeting, please submit your comments until Friday, March 13th, 2015, to: Planning Department, GRTC Transit System, 301 East Belt Boulevard, Richmond, VA 23224 planningcomment@ridegrtc.com or 804-358-3871.

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Interstate 64 Bridge Replacement over Nine Mile Road Henrico County Public Information Meeting Tuesday, February 17, 2015, 5–7 p.m.

Sandston Public Library 23 East Williamsburg Road Sandston, VA 23150 Come see and hear about plans replace the eastbound and westbound bridges on Interstate 64 over Nine Mile Road/Route 33. Construction is anticipated to begin in winter 2015. Minimal interstate traffic will be impacted as two lanes will remain open in both directions. Nine Mile Road may be detoured during some overnight hours.

Give your written comments at the meeting or submit them no later than February 27, 2015 to Winston Phillips., project manager, Virginia Department of Transportation, 2430 Pine Forest Drive, Colonial Heights, VA 23834-9002 or Winston.Phillips@VDOT.Virginia.gov.

VDOT ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you have questions or concerns about your civil rights in regards to this project or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, contact the project manager listed above VDOT ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you need more information in regards to your civil rights on this project or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, contact the project manager at the telephone number listed above. * In the event of inclement weather on February 17, this meeting will be held February 24 at the same time and location above.

State Project: 0064-043-746,C501, B603, B604 Federal Project: BR-064-3(487), BR-064-3(487), BR-064-3(487)

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General Assembly A message from Senator Donald McEachin

The names ”Eric Garner” and “Michael Brown” and too many others are etched in our minds. The movie Selma evokes ferocious and upsetting memories for those of us of a certain age and, for others, reminds them of a struggle many years in the making and not so long ago. For many decades, encounters with police have been frightening and fearful.

While we have made enormous progress, the deaths of young unarmed men reminds us of the hurdles that still exist. Misunderstandings on both sides occur all too often and, unfortunately, it is the unarmed youth who too frequently lies dying at the conclusion.

Improving communication and relationships between public safety officers and citizens is of paramount importance. Richmond already has made strides in this direction with community policing.

By assigning an officer to a limited geographic area, he or she has the opportunity to meet and know members of the community so he can assess whether any perceived threat is real or violent or dangerous. At the same time, community members can build a rapport with the officer so they can trust him and come to him when they see crime or hear about it. They can know that the officer will treat them fairly and is there to truly help.

Henrico County has also recognized the seriousness of the problem and is working to ameliorate dangerous situations. Their police officers have taken sensitivity training to become more aware of unintended (and intended) slights and how to avoid them.

The county is ordering body cameras for officers to augment the sensitivity training.

Last week at the General Assembly, Delegate Futrell (D-Prince William) and I introduced the Community Policing Act. This legislation, if passed, would initiate a database of incidents of racial bias or inappropriate behavior which would be reported annually to the governor, the Attorney General and the General Assembly. Departments with consistent problems would have to obtain and employ body cameras.

Body cameras create an opportunity for both the police officer and the individual he stops. A picture is worth a thousand words and recording the stop helps to know what really happened.

This bill is not an attack on the police by any means. It is not an assumption that the police are guilty. Body cameras would protect a policeman who is falsely accused. The video from a body camera could help officers learn to rectify situations less dangerously for both themselves and involved citizens. An officer who is attacked would have the footage to demonstrate that he was behaving in a defensive posture, not attacking someone.

Eyewitness accounts are notoriously unreliable. Unfortunately, sometimes the person in uniform is given undue deference when two sides are just telling their stories. Body cameras would help with this as well. Videos don’t choose sides; they don’t care who is the officer and who is the supposed criminal. They are simply objective recordings that provide another tool as we work to ensure safe and secure communities. We need communities where residents and the police have a trusting and ongoing working relationship, where citizens are not living in fear, afraid of gangs in their neighborhoods, and where officers can prevent crime before it happens and can stop youth from making serious mistakes. While the Community Policing Act cannot singlehandedly create these types of safe and secure neighborhoods they can be a significant step in the right direction.

I want to hear your thoughts on this and any other legislation. Please feel free to contact me about the General Assembly or any way I can be of assistance. I can be reached at 698.7509 or district09@senate.virginia.gov.

Richmond Free Press

A8 February 5-7, 2015

Sports

Wilson resilient after heartbreaking loss in Super Bowl David Goldman/Associated Press

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson glances back Sunday after throwing the decisive interception near the end of Super Bowl XLIX.

Free Press staff, wire reports GLENDALE, Ariz.

Less than 36 inches separated former Richmonder Russell Wilson and his Seattle Seahawks teammates from their second consecutive Super Bowl title and talk of a dynasty.

Anticipation was high that Seahawks coach Pete Carroll would call on bulldozing running back Marshawn Lynch to plow the ball into the end zone on second-and-goal with 26 seconds to play and one timeout left in Super Bowl XLIX. Already, in this game against the New England Patriots, Lynch had logged a total of 102 yards for the game, including an earlier touchdown.

Instead, in what many pundits are calling one of the worst play calls in NFL history, Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell called for Wilson to deliver a risky quick slant pass to receiver Ricardo Lockette, who would break across the field into the end

From fast food to fast hands

Butler gives Patriots a super win

By Fred Jeter Malcolm Butler ranks among the most unlikely heroes in Super Bowl history.

In 2010, Butler had been suspended from college and was working part time at Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen chicken restaurant in his hometown of Vicksburg, Miss.

From that humble point, he has become the toast of New England and Patriots fans everywhere.

Butler’s end zone interception of Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson’s pass with 20 seconds left enabled the Patriots to defeat the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 in Super Bowl XLIX in Glendale, Ariz.

Butler’s first NFL interception may become the most talked-about pick in NFL annals, turning what looked like a probable loss for the Patriots into a jaw-dropping victory.

Some background: Butler played part of the 2009 football season at Hinds Community College near Jackson, Miss., before being discharged from the team.

He spent 2010 working at Popeyes while trying to regain his eligibility at Hinds — a school whose alumni include singer Faith Hill, current Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant and a host of NFL players, including Leon Lett, Fred Smoot and Anquan Boldin.

Butler returned to Hinds in 2011, played admirably and transferred to Division II University of West Alabama, where he was a standout in 2012 and 2013.

Undrafted, Butler signed with the Pa-

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports/Reuters

New England’s Malcolm Butler (21) intercepts a pass intended for Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ricardo Lockette (83) to clinch Super Bowl XLIX for the Patriots on Sunday.

triots last summer as a free agent.

This season, he had played in just 190 defensive snaps leading up to the Super Bowl.

On the pre-game depth chart, Butler was a regular on special teams but is listed as a third-string cornerback.

Who could have predicted the former fast food restaurant employee would figure into the biggest play in the biggest game of the season.

On second and goal from the 1 yard line, Wilson tried to hit receiver Ricardo Lockette on a crossing pattern. Instinctively, Butler stepped in,

picking off the pass and returning it to the 2 yard line.

One play later, New England was Super Bowl champ and NBC sideline reporter Michele Tafoya was chasing Butler down — literally — for postgame comments.

“I had a vision I would make a big play,” he told Tafoya.

Later in the press room, he said: “I’m pretty sure he (Wilson) knows I’m a rookie and who wouldn’t try a rookie. I was ready.”

Even Popeye himself, after a can of spinach, couldn’t have done more.

Weber ends VCU career with rough injury

By Fred Jeter If Virginia Commonwealth University is to persevere and achieve its basketball goals this season, it must do so minus catalyst Briante Weber.

The dynamic senior point guard was scheduled to undergo knee surgery following a college career-ending injury during the Rams’ stunning 64-55 home loss last Saturday to the University of Richmond.

Weber, once described as the “epitome of Havoc” by VCU coach Shaka Smart, tore the anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament and meniscus in his right knee with a little more than 3 minutes left in the game.

The devastating injury means Weber will not become the NCAA’s all-time leader in steals — a title he seemed destined to attain.

With six steals against UR, Weber finishes with a career total of 374. That leaves him third all-time behind two Providence players — John Linehan (385 steals) and Eric Murdock (376).

Weber finishes the season averaging 8.1 points and team-high totals of 4.3 assists and 3.9 steals.

The loss snapped VCU’s 12-game winning streak and marked the first home loss to UR since 2001.

Overall, VCU leads in the crosstown series 45-27.

Starting the week, the Rams (17-4 overall and 7-1 in the Atlantic 10 Conference after the UR loss) still held first place in the A-10, with one less loss than Rhode Island (15-5, 7-2) and Dayton (16-4, 6-2).

Losing to the University of Richmond dropped VCU from fourth to eighth in the allimportant Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) that determines NCAA tournament seeding.

VCU has No. 2 strength of schedule, behind only Kansas.

The Weber-less Rams were to play at George Mason University in Fairfax on Wednesday

night. Next up is a trip to Allegany, N.Y., Saturday to face St. Bonaventure University (11-8, 4-4). That game, which starts at 2 p.m., will be televised by the NBC Sports Network.

Weber’s injury ranks with the worst in VCU annals.

In 1975, senior Richard Jones from Richmond’s Maggie L. Walker High School took a nasty spill at the Richmond Coliseum in a game against Texas A&M and was hospitalized with a head injury. Jones played only 14 games that season.

Another local star, Kendrick Warren from Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond, suffered a season-ending knee

injury in 1993 and played just 19 of the 30 games his junior year.

Weber was averaging a productive 27 minutes per game. His duties likely will be divided among sophomore JeQuan Lewis and freshman Jonathan Williams.

It remains to be seen if “Havoc”— a swarming style of full-floor defense — will pack the same wallop without Weber’s harassing style.

Weber was “Havoc’s” eye of the storm the past four years.

For the season, VCU has a 363-221 advantage in forcing turnovers and a 217-119 lead in steals.

James Haskins/Richmond Free Press

Virginia Commonwealth University basketball star Briante Weber grimaces as coach Shaka Smart, second from right, and others assist him moments after his injury during Saturday’s game against the University of Richmond at the Siegel Center.

zone from the right side.

Wilson, a standout at Richmond’s Collegiate School, took the snap, stepped forward and rifled a pass just high and to the right of the speeding Lockette. But rookie Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler leaped in to intercept the pass.

The sensational play secured the Patriots’ 28-24 win before a worldwide television audience of about 185 million people and clinched the fourth Super Bowl title in 14 years for New England quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick.

Seattle’s coach Carroll defended the call as the right one to make because New England had stacked the defensive line in anticipating a running play.

“We were going to run the ball to win the game — just not on that play,” Carroll said.

Wilson, showing the class that has earned him acclaim, refused to pin the blame on anyone else.

“I put the blame on me — I’m the one who threw it,” he said.

“It’s something you learn from, it’s something you grow from.”

Wilson had connected with receiver Jermaine Kearse on a falling, juggling, bouncing reception on his back for a 33-yard gain that set up first-and-goal from the 5-yard line with 66 seconds to go.

“I’m proud of our guys about the way we got down the field there in that situation,” Wilson said. “We had so many great plays, and we’re right there.”

Brady shook off two interceptions to throw four touchdown passes, including the 3-yard game winner to Julian Edelman with 2:02 left, as the Patriots erased a 24-14 fourth-quarter deficit.

“It was a lot of mental toughness,” said Brady, who was named the Super Bowl’s Most Valuable Player and tied Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw as quarterbacks with four Super Bowl wins. “Our team has had it all year. We never doubted each other, so that’s what it took.”

Despite Seattle’s heartbreaking loss, the future is bright for the resilient Wilson, who vowed to bounce back and work harder to win another Super Bowl.

He’s expected to gain a handsome pay raise in the offseason as he prepares to enter his fourth NFL season.

“Every setback has a major comeback,” he tweeted early Monday morning.

Later, he posted, “At 26 years old I won’t allow 1 play or 1 moment define my career. I will keep evolving. #Motivation” He also posted on Instagram before-and-after photos of the haircut and shave he received Monday after the Super Bowl loss.

He had not shaved or had a haircut during the team’s playoff run to the Super Bowl.

Wilson also announced he will visit the Texas Rangers pro baseball training camp this spring to work out with the team again.

He made a brief appearance there last March.

Wilson played two summers with the Colorado Rockies’ Class-A minor-league baseball team in 2010 and 2011 after he was drafted.

Serena wins 19th major title Reuters MELBOURNE Ann ill Serena Williams gave Maria Sharapova another serving of grand slam heartbreak Saturday, Jan. 31, to win the Australian Open and bolster her claims to be the all-time greatest player with her 19th major title.

Though wheezing, coughing and forced off court by illness during a rain break, Serena’s serve stayed in the rudest of health and her athleticism astonished in a nerve-shredding 6-3 7-6(5) victory under the lights of Rod Laver Arena.

In sealing her sixth title at Melbourne Park, Serena surpassed Martina Navratilova, the woman who handed her the trophy, and Chris Evert in grand slam title wins, while drawing level with fellow American Helen Wills Moody, third on the all-time list.

At 33, the oldest Australian Open winner in the profesThomas Peter/Reuters sional era and still the boss, Serena left few in doubt that Serena Williams shows off the pursuit of Steffi Graf’s 22 the Daphne Akhurst Memorial titles and Margaret Court’s 24 Cup on Sunday, a day after winning the women’s singles would continue.

“I would love to get to 22,” title in the 2015 Australian the top seed told reporters, Open. The photo session took her voice still raspy from a place at the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne. weeklong cold.

“Nineteen was very difficult to get to. Took me 33 years to get here. So I would love to get there. But I have to get to 20 first, and then I have to get to 21.

“There are so many wonderful young players coming up, so it will be a very big task.”

In her 19th match against Sharapova, and after defeating 19-yearold American Madison Keys in the semifinals, it was Serena’s 18th ace that sealed the match on the third match point.

She bounded around the court like a woman possessed, squealing in delight as Sharapova, 27, sat quietly in her chair, nursing the pain of a 16th straight defeat by Serena and a third loss in grand slam finals to the American champion.

Steamrolled in the opening set, the five-time grand slam champion was magnificent in the second as she dragged herself off the canvas and staved off defeat twice on match points with crunching winners that teased the lines.

A 2008 winner at Melbourne Park, but runner-up to Serena in the 2007 tournament and again at Roland Garros in 2013, Sharapova’s last win over the American came in 2004, when she was a 17-yearold sensation still finding her feet.

Richmond Free Press

February 5-7, 2015

B1

c y

WILLIAM HARVEY CARNEY — SOLDIER

JAMELLE SMITH WILSON — EDUCATOR

SHEILA R. BAXTER — MILITARY OFFICER

c y

FOR SOME, BEING THE FIRST OR THE BEST IS NOT ENOUGH.

c y

BETH ANNE BROWN — ASTROPHYSICIST

LOTT CARY — COLONIAL LEADER

EARL FRANCIS LLOYD — BASKETBALL PLAYER AND COACH

JAMES “PLUNKY” BRANCH — BANDLEADER

ALONZO HARDING “ZO” MOURNING, JR. — BASKETBALL PLAYER AND PHILANTHROPIST

These African-American Virginians were the first or the best at what they did. But they all had their eyes on something bigger: The people around them and the young leaders coming up behind them.

Dominion and the Library of Virginia are proud to honor the 2015 Strong Men & Women in Virginia History. Each honoree put their personal accomplishments to work helping others in science, music, education, medicine, sports, and the military.

The Strong Men & Women in Virginia History program is sponsored by Dominion and the Library of Virginia to honor the contributions of influential African-American leaders. The program also helps prepare future leaders by providing student scholarships and grants, as well as resource materials for schools. To learn more about the program, its honorees, and available resource materials, visit lva.virginia.gov/smw.

STRONG MEN & WOMEN IN VIRGINIA HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS OF 2015 HONOREES

1821

— LOTT CARY, who purchased his own freedom from slavery, sets sail for the new West African colony of Liberia, becoming an early Liberian leader and helping others start new lives of freedom.

1863 — WILLIAM HARVEY CARNEY, though wounded, heroically

carries the American flag high for his fellow soldiers to see throughout the ferocious Civil War battle depicted in the movie Glory, becoming the first African American awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

1950

— EARL FRANCIS LLOYD, after attending segregated schools as a child, is the first African American to play in a National Basketball Association game and goes on to serve as the NBA’s first African-American assistant coach.

1998 — BETH ANNE BROWN, the first African-American woman to

receive a doctorate from the University of Michigan, later joins NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center as an astrophysicist, inspiring women and minorities to pursue careers in science.

2003 — SHEILA R. BAXTER receives the promotion that makes her

the first African-American female brigadier general in the Army Medical Service Corps, then develops the screening and health assessment program for returning troops that becomes a model for the Army.

2011 — JAMELLE SMITH WILSON is tapped to become the first

African-American superintendent of the Hanover County Public Schools division, as well as the first woman in that post, and helms the school system to full accreditation by exceeding critical benchmarks.

2013

— JAMES “PLUNKY” BRANCH, saxophonist and bandleader known for promoting the cultural significance of music here and abroad, is named one of the Richmond Public School system’s “Living Legacies” for expanding children’s musical horizons.

2014

— ALONZO HARDING “ZO” MOURNING, JR., is inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame after an award-winning career in the National Basketball Association and a gold medal Olympic performance, and uses his fame to help inner-city youth and fellow sufferers of kidney disease.

SM&W 2015 FreePress_4c.indd 1

1/28/15 10:34 AM

Richmond Free Press

B2 February 5-7, 2015

Happenings NASCAR inducts Danville’s Wendell Scott into Hall of Fame Free Press staff, wire reports

Mr. Scott became the first African-American enshrined in the NASCAR Hall of Fame at a Wendell Scott, the Danville native who got ceremony held Jan. 31 in Charlotte, N.C., where his start in auto racing by running moonshine in Bill Elliot, Fred Lorenzen, Joe Weatherly and the 1940s, has been inducted posthumously into Rex White also were inducted. the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Mr. Scott’s sons, Wendell Scott The trailblazing stock car racer Jr., and Franklin Scott, accepted the was the first African-American to induction on his behalf. break into the previously all-white “Wendell Scott fulfilled his desworld of NASCAR when a part-time tiny, and now we can proudly say steward granted him a NASCAR that he is the first African-American license at a race in 1953 at the old inducted in the NASCAR Hall of Richmond Speedway.

Fame. We must carry his legacy From there, Mr. Scott went on to even greater heights,” Franklin to win more than 100 races at local Scott said. tracks before making his debut in He emphasized that his father NASCAR’s premier series in 1961. overcame many obstacles to achieve He competed in the top series for 13 his goals. years, finishing in the top 10 spot 147 “Daddy was a man of great honor.

Mr. Scott times in 495 Sprint Cup events.

He didn’t let his circumstances define In 1963, he became the first African-American who he was. to win a NASCAR premier series race when he “Daddy realized that life has a generational took the checkered flag at the Jacksonville 200 component and he predicted a lot of what is at Speedway Park in Jacksonville, Fla. happening. He would be delighted and happy He died of cancer in Danville in December that there is evidence of more opportunities for 1990 at age 69. diversity and inclusion.”

Paulette Singleton/Richmond Free Press

Wendell Scott’s children bask in the glory of their father’s posthumous induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame during a ceremony Jan. 31 in Charlotte, N.C. They are, from left, Sybil Scott, Wendell Scott Jr., Deborah Davis and Franklin Scott.

He concluded his remarks with a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to describe his father’s character.

“The ultimate measure of a man is not

where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy,” he said. “Wendell O. Scott Sr. stood the test of time.”

Bobby Brown maintains constant bedside vigil over Bobbi Kristina Free Press wire reports

ATLANTA The daughter of late pop star Whitney Houston and singer Bobby Brown was placed in a coma to stop brain swelling after she was found facedown and unresponsive in a bathtub in her Georgia home last weekend, family friend and gospel singer Kim Burrell told “Access Hollywood.”

Bobbi Kristina Brown, 21, was moved Monday to Emory University Hospital from a hospital in the Atlanta suburb of Roswell, where she was taken after being discovered in the tub by her husband, Nick Gordon, on Saturday.

In a statement Monday, her family said they were by her side as she fights for her life.

According to reports, her father, Bobby Brown, maintains a constant vigil by her bedside.

“He’s so upset. He can hardly put one foot in front of the other,” it’s been reported.

Reports also have said she suffered an accidental drug overdose and that authorities found drugs in Bobbi Kristina’s apartment home while performing a second search of her residence.

Meanwhile, police say her former boyfriend, Maxwell Lomas, also was in her apartment when she was found unrespon-

sive. He had been hoping that it’s just arrested last month not a reflex. We’re on drug distribution hoping that it’s a charges. conscious choice.”

The 24-year-old The circumstanctree removal crew es are reminiscent of member was arrestMs. Houston’s death ed last month and nearly three years charged with posago. The megastar session of marijuana pop singer and acwith intent to distribtress drowned in a hoMs. Brown ute, possession of tel bathtub in Beverly the anti-anxiety drug Xanax Hills, Calif., on Feb. 11, 2012. and possession of a firearm or Authorities said cocaine use knife during the commission and heart disease contributed of or attempt to commit certain to the six-time Grammy Award felonies, Fulton County Jail winner’s death at age 48. records show.

Ms. Houston won accolades He was released on bail Jan. for hit songs, including “I Will 18 on a $15,000 bond, three Always Love You” and “I days after he was booked on Wanna Dance With Somebody the charges.

(Who Loves Me).”

Ms. Burrell told the enterShe divorced Bobby Brown tainment television program on in 2007 after a stormy 15-year Monday that Bobbi Kristina’s marriage during which both loved ones were hoping for the spouses struggled with subbest after doctors put her in a stance abuse. Mr. Brown, also a medically induced coma.

Grammy Award winner, started “Her eyes did move a little his career as frontman for the bit,” Ms. Burrell said. “We’re R&B group New Edition.

Photos by James Haskins/Richmond Free Press

Shiver in the river

Local residents wade into the freezing James River water last Saturday for Shiver in the River, a fundraising event organized by Keep Virginia Beautiful. Participants wearing bathing suits, athletic attire and colorful costumes splash water during the plunge. Participant Kinesha Allen, left, traveled from Smithfield for the event, which also featured a cleanup along the river bank before the dip near Historic Tredegar in Downtown.

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Friday, Feb. 6 – Sunday, Feb 8, 2015 Marriott West

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Planning Committee members are: (left to right) Linda McCullough, Angel Johnson, Carolyn Williams (back row, left to right) William Holmes, Terry Debnam, Ronald Carey, James Clark and Millard Stith (not pictured)

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Richmond Free Press

February 5-7, 2015

Happenings

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Personality: Rosa A. Jiggetts

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Spotlight on mission to proclaim ‘Be Kind Wednesdays’

Rosa Annie Jiggetts is always ready to help.

Her idea of a perfect day is one in which she can do at least one good deed.

For the past 30 years, the 65-year-old Richmond native has run the Helpline out of her Providence Park home on North Side, with the assistance of her sister, Lydia.

The Jiggetts take calls from people needing advice or a kind word.

They also get calls from desperate people seeking help with unpaid utility bills, worried people facing eviction or anxious people seeking a companion for an elderly family member.

The response to such calls is always the same: “Let me see what I can do.”

And often she will come up with a solution for the problem — whether it’s money or a place to stay or helpful information.

She also has been a volunteer extraordinaire for peoplehelping groups such as Boaz & Ruth on North Side that offers jobs and hope to people seeking to start over after release from incarceration.

Her enthusiasm and spirit are among the reasons she was honored as the state’s Outstanding Volunteer in 2004 by then-Gov. Mark R. Warner.

Thus, the retired nurse who began providing in-home hospice care in Richmond more than 35 years ago brings plenty of credentials to her latest venture — to boost the amount of kindness in the world.

She’s on a quest to have every Wednesday do double duty as “Be Kind Wednesday.”

Ms. Jiggetts has started an online petition drive on Facebook asking people to join her in urging President Obama to proclaim Be Kind Wednesdays.

She also has contacted the United Nations about the project and now is working to get a Be Kind Wednesdays proclamation on the U.N. General Assembly’s agenda.

In her view, the world would be a better place if people took time to smile at strangers or to offer a helping hand to others — at least one day a week.

She believes that if the kindness approach became ingrained, fewer people would wind up behind bars for committing what she calls “unkind acts” and fewer children would be suspended from school for misbehavior.

Ms. Jiggetts already has made a start on creating Be Kind Wednesdays. Last year, Richmond City Council approved a resolution that designates Wednesday as a day for residents “to do something kind for a friend or a stranger, to give generously and donate to a good cause, to be kind to family or to reach out to someone having a hard time or a bad day.”

She also is using the Be Kind slogan to undertake other projects, including asking people to give her their mothballed musical instruments so she can donate them to Richmond’s elementary schools.

Now she’s seeking 20,000 signatures on the petition for the president to spread the concept across the country.

Ms. Jiggetts says she is just following in the footsteps of her late father, Forrest Jiggets Sr., who operated a market in the Washington Park community.

“He would give you the shirt off his back,” she says. She found that out when she looked at the books of the grocery story he operated in the Washington Park neighborhood on North Side.

She discovered that his cusLooking for a

Spring Fling?

tomers owed him $100,000 for all he had allowed them to buy on credit when he shut the door for the last time in the early 1970s after the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority took the store by eminent domain.

“He never worried about collecting the money,” Ms. Jiggetts said. “That was just his way. He never turned anyone down.”

Ms. Jiggetts says her father had the right approach. “If I don’t help people, there will be no one to help me when I fall down.

There is just one world, and we are our brother’s keeper.”

A close-up of this week’s Personality, Rosa A. Jiggetts: Place of birth: Richmond.

Education: Graduate of Maggie L. Walker High School; attended nursing school at the University of Virginia.

Family: Two brothers and my sister, Lydia, who lives with me.

Occupation: Retired privateduty nurse. I provided in-home hospice care for terminally ill people for more than 35 years. I retired in 2008. For years, I also sold candy at John Marshall High School and was known as “The Candy Lady.” I also pioneered food vending in Richmond. I operated a bus from which I sold fresh vegetables and fish.

In the 1970s, I got City Council to approve a law allowing this kind of selling to end police harassment.

What I like most about retirement: The extra time it gives me to volunteer and be involved in the mission of helping others.

Other volunteer efforts: My sister and I volunteer with Boaz & Ruth in Highland Park. I helped Martha Rollins to bring this resource to our community to assist people returning from jail to start over. I started the Neighborhood Watch in our community.

Current top volunteer project: Be Kind Wednesdays.

Meaning: To encourage people

to smile and do acts of kindness at least once each week.

Progress to date: Secured passage of a City Council resolution in 2014 that encourages every citizen to do random acts of kindness on Wednesday.

Council members Ellen F. Robertson and Parker C. Agelasto co-sponsored the resolution.

Top accomplishment: Collecting donated musical instruments for elementary schoolchildren in Richmond. Be Kind instruments already have been donated to Linwood Holton and Ginter Park elementary schools. I am now seeking instruments to donate to the other elementary schools for students who want to learn to play.

How I came up with the idea: I came up with the idea some years ago while attending a community meeting on a Wednesday. ThenRichmond Police Chief Marty Tapscott spoke about the need to defuse the time-bomb of anger so many people walked around with and that too often explodes into fights and even killings. I thought why not designate one day a week as a day of kindness to help with that problem.

How I got City of Richmond officials involved: I told them what I was doing and asked for their support. Past Mayors Rudy C. McCollum and L. Douglas Wilder issued proclamations to support Be Kind Wednesdays.

But I realized that something more was needed since proclamations end when a new mayor takes over. That’s why I sought to get a resolution passed that would last forever.

What motivated me to get involved in community service: I come from a family of givers. My grandfather, the Rev. William Edward Trent, went door to door to raise money to build Trinity and Greater Mount Moriah churches.

He and my grandmother, Annie, also walked from Downtown to Mechanicsville to personally build Springfield Baptist Church.

My father, Forrest “Jack Crab” Jiggetts, offered credit in his market. He would put up his store to provide bail. When he turned off the lights on his store after 33 years, he had $100,000 in uncollected payments. He always said that if you have a loaf of bread, you have to share it.

Practicing acts of kindness involves: It’s pretty simple. Just treat people as you would want to be treated. You don’t have to do much if you don’t want to.

One example, just give someone a smile to cheer them up. Pitch in when you can to help lift someone up.

Best late-night snack: Shortbread cookies.

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If I could have one wish, it would be: That people will treat each other right every day, not just on Wednesdays.

I am most discouraged by: People who see where they could help, but do nothing. That grieves me.

Perfect day: When I have helped someone.

Person who influenced me the most: My sister, Lydia. She is my inspiration. She is the smartest person I know. She studied economics and math at Virginia State University and was a bank analyst. She has gone blind, but she is always doing something to help someone. That includes taking the calls on the Helpline at 321-8989.

Next goal: To make Be Kind Wednesdays an international way of life. Being kind is good for business. It is good for people.

Being kind would reduce our jail populations because every crime is an unkind act. Teaching our children to be kind would reduce unruly student behavior in our schools and mean more resources could go into education instead of being spent on dealing with misbehavior.

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Save the Date

Free Heart Health Seminars VCU Medical Center will be offering the following free seminars about heart health at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s Education and Library Complex, located at 1800 Lakeside Avenue.

Registration is recommended. Free parking available.

Register online at vcuhealth.org/seminars or call (804) 828-0123 for more information.

Thursday, February 5, 2015 | 5:30 p.m.

Everything You Wanted to Know About a Woman’s Heart Join Dr. Phoebe Ashley who will talk about the anatomy of a woman’s heart and how the risk factors and symptoms of heart disease in women are subtle and very different.

Tuesday, February 17, 2015 | 5:30 p.m.

Getting Back in Shape After a Heart Attack Join Drs. Zachary Gertz and Daniel Tang as they discuss the latest treatment options — from coronary stents to implantable heart pumps — that can help the heart recover.

Thursday, February 26, 2015 | 5:30 p.m.

New Treatment for Atrial Fibrillation VCU Medical Center is one of the few hospitals in the country to use a new procedure — hybrid ablation — that combines a surgical procedure and catheter ablation to treat a-fib. Join Drs. Kenneth Ellenbogen and Vigneshwar Kasirajan who will talk about hybrid ablation and its benefits.

James Baldwin’s

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Awarded the 2014 American Hospital Association-McKesson Quest for Quality Prize Visit VCUQuest4Quality.com for more information.

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Richmond Free Press

B4 February 5-7, 2015

Obituaries/Faith Directory

Charlie Sifford, golf trailblazer, dies at 92 Mr. Sifford challenged the clause and the PGA rescinded it in 1961.

He won the Greater Hartford Open in 1967 and the Los Angeles Open in 1969. He also won the 1975 Senior PGA Championship, five years before the Champions Tour was created.

His career was fully recognized in 2004 when he became the first African-American inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

“It’s not an exaggeration to say that without Charlie, and the other pioneers who fought to play, I may not be playing golf,” Mr. Woods, a four-time Master’s winner, told The Associated Press late last year. “My pop likely wouldn’t have picked up the sport, and maybe I wouldn’t have either.”

In his autobiography, “Just Let Me Play,” Mr. Sifford told of meeting Jackie Robinson in California about the time Mr. Robinson was trying to break the color barrier in baseball.

“He asked me if I was a quitter,” Mr. Sifford wrote. “I told him no. He said, ‘If you’re not a quitter, you’re probably going

Free Press wire reports

Charlie Sifford, who broke the color barrier in golf as the first African-American PGA Tour member, died Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015, at age 92, the PGA of America announced.

Considered the Jackie Robinson of professional golf, Mr. Sifford endured death threats, racial taunts and other harassment as he paved the way for Tiger Woods and other AfricanAmerican golfers in becoming the first AfricanAmerican player in a PGA tournament in 1952 at the Phoenix Open.

His journey and contributions were honored

by President Obama, who awarded him with the nation’s highest civilian honor — the Presidential Medal of Freedom — during a White House ceremony Nov. 24.

Recently, Mr. Sifford suffered a stroke.

Details of his death and funeral arrangements were not immediately available.

PGA of America President Derek Sprague called Mr. Sifford “an uncommon and faithful servant.”

“His love of golf, despite many barriers in his path, strengthened him as he became a beacon for diversity in our game,” Mr. Sprague said. “By his courage, Mr. Sifford inspired others to follow their dreams. Golf was fortunate to have had this exceptional American in our midst.”

Born June 22, 1922, in Charlotte, N.C., Mr. Sifford worked as a caddie and dominated the all-black United Golfers Association, winning five straight national titles.

He longed to play against the PGA’s best players, only to run into the same barriers that Teddy Rhodes and Bill Spiller faced — the Caucasian-only clause.

to experience some things that will make you want to quit.’ ” During the 1952 Phoenix Open, one of the few events that African-Americans could play, Mr. Sifford found human feces in the cup when he got to the first green. He received death threats over the phone at the 1961 Greater Greensboro Open and heard racial slurs as he walked the fairways. He finished fourth, and didn’t quit.

Mr. Sifford also received an honorary doctorate from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland for his career as a pioneer.

He often attended the Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone, not far from his home in Shaker Heights, Ohio. During an interview with the AP in 2000, Mr. Sifford said he was proud of the role in played in making the PGA Tour accessible to black golfers.

“If I hadn’t acted like a professional when they sent me out, if I did something crazy, there would never be any blacks playing,” he said.

“I toughed it out. I’m proud of it. All those people were against me, and I’m looking down on them now.”

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

Paulette Singleton/Richmond Free Press

President Obama congratulates Charlie Sifford, the first African-American golfer to play on the PGA tour, after awarding him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014.

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

Moore Street

Bernard L. Jones Sr., 94, community advocate Bernard L. Jones Sr. loved Richmond and did all he could to enhance it.

“He really liked seeing the community become better in every way,” his daughter, Dr. Badiyyah Waajid, said.

That’s the reason he joined the Astoria Beneficial Club Inc. in 1962 and remained a member for 53 years, she said.

“He liked their mission,” his daughter said.

Mr. That mission, according to the 114-year-old, Richmond-based organization, is to “uphold firm religious values, high moral standing, intellectual growth, and civic and social responsibility.”

Mr. Jones helped lead efforts with the club on many community improvement projects.

Among those: He joined 10 other Astorians to raise funds to commission the Bill “Bojangles” Robinson statue on June 30, 1973, at Leigh and Adams streets in Jackson Ward, to honor the great tap dancer, Broadway star and humanitarian. Their names are engraved on the back of the statue.

Mr. Jones also was a member of the Astorian committee that played an essential role in the placement of the Boatman Statue on Brown’s Island.

And he led efforts to establish the Astoria PALS Committee in 1991 to mentor Fairfield Court Elementary School students.

Mr. Jones is being remembered following his death Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015. He was 94.

His life was celebrated at a memorial service Friday, Jan. 30, 2015, at St. Phillip’s Episcopal Church on North Side.

“He was a very nice person,” said Bill Loving, who is the last living member of the original Astorians who planned the Bojangles statue.

Mr. Jones was born May 21, 1920, in Richmond, one of eight children. He attended Richmond Professional Institute in the 1960s, which is now Virginia Commonwealth University.

He met his future wife, Lozalia Banks Jones, in 1947.

They lived in Church Hill and were married for 65 years and raised two daughters — Dr. Waajid and Bernardette Howard; and one son, Bernard L. Jones Jr. Mr. Jones worked for more than 30 years for A.H. Robins Pharmaceutical, first as a custodian, then as a lab technician after furthering Jones his education.

He is a charter member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in the East End, where he served as a lay reader for two years in the absence of a priest.

He was involved in several Episcopalian organizations, including the Brotherhood of Saint Andrews.

“He loved serving in organizations,” his son recalled.

Mr. Jones served as a constitutional consultant to at least a half dozen organizations. He and his wife were registered parliamentarians with the Parliamentary Law Club of Richmond.

As a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Reindeer Inc., Mr. Jones served in various leadership posts, including as vice director and chairman of the board of governors of Richmond Lodge #12.

His son also recalls his father loved to do woodwork projects.

But, Mr. Jones’ first allegiance was to the Astoria Beneficial Club, where he served as president in 1975 and was re-elected in 1976.

He served in various other leadership posts as well. He was named Astorian of the Year in 1978 and was honored as Astorian of the Century in 2001. He was honored in 2012 for 50 years of membership in the club.

Mr. Jones is survived by his children; one sister, Deacon Elsie Mitchell; two granddaughters; one great-granddaughter; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Missionary

Baptist Church

1408 W. Leigh Street • 358-6403

Dr. Alonza Lawrence Pastor

Thirty-first Street Baptist Church

C

everence e with elevanc R g in Dr. Morris Henderson, Senior Pastor bin om ❖

Black History Month



Early Service 8:00 A.M. Church School 9:30 A.M. Morning Worship 11:00 A.M.

SUNDAYS Church School 9:30 a.m.

Morning Worship 10:30 a.m.

Zion Baptist Church

❖

WEDNESDAYS Bible Study 12:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.

2006 Decatur Street Richmond, VA 23224

�

Dr. Robert L. Pettis, Sr., Pastor

❖

MONDAY-FRIDAY Nutrition Center and Clothes Closet 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Sunday Service 10 a.m.

Church School 8:45 a.m.

Wednesday Bible Study 7p.m.

823 North 31st Street Richmond, VA 23223 (804) 226-0150 Office www.31sbc.org

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

Transportation Services 232-2867 “Reclaiming the Lost by Proclaiming the Gospel”

L.

Rev. Tyrone E. Nelson, Pastor

Founder’s Day celebrating the life and legacy of Rev. John Jasper

5

Pasto ral

Sunday, February 15, 2015 10:45 a.m.

for

Guest Preacher:

Rev. Dr. Marvin McMickle President of Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity school

Jasper Trailblazer Honorees:

Angela Patton, Camp DIVA George Martin, UVA Margaret Spencer, Retired Judge James Spencer, Judge



Meet us at The Mount!

th

Annivers ary Celebration

REV. DR. VERNON J. HURTE 2000 East Broad Street Richmond, VA 23223

Friday, February 6, 2015 7:00p.m. - Kickoff Concert featuring

The Sensational Gospel Tones of Williamsburg The Fox Sisters of Glenn Allen

Sunday, February 8, 2015

11:00a.m. – Morning Service Speaker: Rev. Alvin Armstead

1st Union Baptist Church, Dill Road

3:30p.m. – Afternoon Service Speaker: Rev. Robert Whitehead New Zion, Williamsburg

Visit our website: www.newlightbaptistchurch.org Facebook: “New Light Baptist Church-Richmond, VA”

For more information, call the church at (804) 788-9027 or email us at info@newlightbaptistchurch.org

Richmond Free Press

February 5-7, 2015

B5

Faith News/Directory

AIDS Awareness Day program Saturday Soul-searching songs, dramatic readings and powerful storytelling will fill 31st Street Baptist Church this weekend.

The event: “The 2nd Annual United Voices: Raising Awareness Through Song & Word” community gathering.

It is designed to commemorate the 15th National Black HIV/ AIDS Awareness Day. The free presentation is 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at the church at 823 N. 31 St. in Church Hill.

This year’s theme: “I Am My Brother’s and Sister’s Keeper.”

Community leaders and other guest speakers will share personal stories of people living with HIV/AIDS. Those storytell-

ers will include City Council member Cynthia I. Newbille, 7th District; Antoinette Essa and Lorenzo Hall of WTVR-6; “Miss Community” Clovia Lawrence of Radio One; the Revs. Micah Jackson of Seventh Street Memorial Baptist Church on North Side and Marlon Haskell of Chicago Avenue Baptist Church on South Side and Dr. Yvette Johnson-Threat of Bon Secours Richmond Health System.

Musical performers are to include The Gospel Gents, Levitical Priests, Trinity Baptist Church, the Rev. Carolyn Mosby and the Metropolitan Community Church Ensemble, Chicago Avenue Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of South Richmond’s

Seven Pines pastor elected head of Henrico Ministers Conference The Rev. Duane Hardy is the newly elected president of the Henrico Ministers Conference, it has been announced.

The 44-year-old pastor at Seven Pines Baptist Church in Sandston will lead the organization that represents more than 35 AfricanAmerican churches, said the Rev. Zynora D. Manson, associate pastor at Seven Pines.

Rev. Hardy succeeds the Rev.

Rev. Hardy

Deborah Simmons, who is the associate minister at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Glen Allen.

The conference’s theme this year: “Together Is Better.”

Rev. Hardy began his duties with the conference in January after being elected in December.

A native of Philadelphia, he earned his master’s of divinity degree from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia

Union University. He is pursuing his doctorate in theology at Virginia University of Lynchburg.

The conference was established in 1960. Dr. Andrew Mosley, pastor of Quioccasin Baptist Church in Henrico County, is one of the original founders.

The conference is scheduled to meet 9:30 a.m. Feb. 21 at Seven Pines Baptist Church, 516 E. Williamsburg Road.

Free organ and choral concert Sunday River Road Church, Baptist, will commemorate Black History Month with an organ and choral concert.

Organist Rasaan Hakiem Bourke of New York City will perform, along with The One Voice Chorus Ensemble of Richmond at the church at 8000 River Road.

The free concert is 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8.

Mr. Bourke, the director of music at First Presbyterian Church of Hackensack, N.J., is to perform works by Duke Ellington, J.S. Bach, Gerre Hancock, Gerald Near, Samuel Barber and Antonin Dvorak. He also will present a “Spiritual Triptych.”

The 35-voice choir, directed by Lynn G. Atkins Jr., will perform works by

Life in the

ine Fellowship

Sunday Service 11AM Wednesday Prayer/Bible Study 7PM

Herbert Pollard, Sr., Pastor & Gainell Pollard, Co-Pastor Manchester Middle School (Auditorium) 7401 Hull St., Richmond, VA 23235 •804-780-7862 Mission Statement: People of God developing Disciples for Jesus Christ through Preaching and Teaching of God’s Holy Word reaching the people of the Church and the Community.

“The Church With A Welcome”

Sharon Baptist Church Wednesdays Prayer Service 6:00 p.m.

Bible Study 6:30p.m.

FirstM iBaptist Church dlothian Sunday

Church School 9:45AM Worship 11:00AM

Tuesday

Bible Study 12 Noon 7:00PM Prayer & Praise 8:15PM

Van Transportation Available, Call 804-794-5583

Mount Olive Baptist Church



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.

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

Every Wednesday 8 p.m.

Communion - 1st Sunday

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

Sundays

8:00 a.m.

Early Morning Worship 9:30 a.m.

Sunday School 11:00 a.m.

Morning Worship

Faithful Fridays

at Tabernacle Baptist Church

Friday, February 13, 2015 Dr. Phillip M. Baldwin Bethlehem Baptist Church, Simpsonville, SC

Choir: Olive Branch Baptist Church Mass Choir

Friday, February 20, 2015 Dr. Anthony M. Chandler, Sr.

Cedar Street Baptist Church of God, Richmond, VA

Choir: Cedar Street Baptist Church of God Mass Choir

Noon Day Bible Study

Wednesdays

6:30 p.m.

Prayer and Praise 7:00 p.m.

Bible Study

Good Shepherd Baptist Church

Friday, February 27, 2015 Dr. Sedgwick V. Easley Union Baptist Church, Hempstead, NY

Choir: Trinity Baptist Church Mass Choir, Richmond 7:30PM Prayer and Praise and Mini-Concert • 8PM Worship Service

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

We’ve Come This Far by Faith

Dr. Sylvester T. Smith, Pastor “There’s A Place for You”

125th Pre-Anniversary Revival

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

11:00 AM Mid-day Meditation

Sixth Baptist Church Theme for 2015: Becoming a Five-Star Church of Excellence

It’s A Family Affair

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil. 4:13

Join The Family Sixth Baptist Church: A Church for the Entire Family Twitter sixthbaptistrva

Facebook sixthbaptistrva

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

Rev. Pernell J. Johnson, Pastor

Tuesdays

8775 Mount Olive Avenue Glen Allen, Virginia 23060 (804) 262-9614 Phone (804) 262-2397 Fax www.mobcva.org

Triumphant



Wednesday Youth & Adult Bible Study

2015 Theme: The Year of Moving Forward Thursdays Bible Study 1:30 p.m.

13800 Westfield Dr., Midlothian,VA 23113 804-794-5583 • www.fbcm1846.com

Service Times

Rev. Darryl G. Thompson, Pastor

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

SUNDAYS 8:00 a.m. ...... Morning Worship 9:30 a.m. ...... Church School 11:15 a.m. ..Morning Worship

Moses Hogan, André Thomas, William H. Smith, Rollo Dilworth, Rosephayne Powell and others.

The concert is being presented by the Richmond Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and the E. Carl Freeman Concert Series of River Road Church, Baptist.

For more information: (804) 288-1131.

Young Adult Choir and Seasoned Praise Dancers of First Union Baptist Church.

The event is being organized by The Renewal Projects, a Richmond nonprofit organization whose mission is to “provide a safe, nurturing, educational environment for high-risk individuals and people living with HIV/AIDS,” according to the group’s website.

Currently, more than 2,500 individuals in Richmond are living with HIV/AIDS, according to George Jones, a spokesman with the Richmond Health District.

For more information: (804) 353-0060.

Sunday, February 15, 2015 VUU DAY AND FRIENDSHIP MINISTRY ANNIVERSARY 11 a.m. Worship Service Message By: State Senator Rev. Donald McEachin, Attorney and Associate Minister St. Peter Baptist Church Message: “Wrestling with God” Genesis 32:24-32 4:00 p.m.

E.L. Fleming Gospel Chorus M.C. Dr. Johnny Branch

Tabernacle Baptist Church

St. Peter Baptist Church

418 Halifax Street, Petersburg, VA 23803 (804) 733 6541 ~ Email: TBCPTG@yahoo.com Website: www.tbcptg.org Dr. Robert A. Diggs, Sr., Pastor

Dr. Kirkland R. Walton, Pastor

Worship Opportunities Sundays: Morning Worship Church School Morning Worship

New Deliverance Evangelistic Church

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

1701 Turner Road, Richmond, Virginia 23225 (804) 276-0791 fax (804)276-5272 www.ndec.net

Unity Sundays (2nd Sundays) Church School 8:30 A.M. Morning Worship 10 A.M.

WMission Purpose

omen with

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

and

17th

2040 Mountain Road • Glen Allen, Virginia 23060 Office 804-262-0230 • Fax 804-262-4651 • www.stpeterbaptist.net

AnnuAl ConferenCe

Theme: “In His Presence”

Rev. Dr. Yvonne Jones Bibbs, Pastor 400 South Addison Street Richmond, Va. 23220 (804) 359-1691 or 359-3498

2300 Cool Lane, Richmond, Virginia 23223 804-795-5784 (Armstrong High School Auditorium)

Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 a.m.

Come Join Us! Reverend Dr. Lester D. Frye Pastor and Founder

To empower people of God spiritually, mentally and emotionally for successful living.

… and Listen to our Radio Broadcast Sundays at 10:15 a.m. on WCLM 1450 AM

Jesus went throughout Galilee teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

- Matthew 4:23

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

Sunday 8 a.m. Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship Service

Wednesday Services Senior Citizens Noonday Bible Study Every Wed. 12noon-1pm

April 17-18, 2015 For more information visit www.ndec.net Tune in on sunday morning to wTvr - channel 6 - 8:30 a.m. sunday Tv Broadcast wTvZ 9 a.m. Norfolk/Tidewater Thursday & Friday radio Broadcast wrEJ 1540 am radio - 8:15 a.m.- 8:30 a.m.

Bible Study Count: noonday Wednesday night 7 p.m. Prayer Sanctuary - All Are Welcome!

THE NEw DElivEraNcE cHrisTiaN acaDEmy (NDca)

Saturday

Our NDCA curriculum also consists of a Before and After program.

8:30 a.m. Intercessory Prayer You can now view Sunday Morning Service “AS IT HAPPENS” online!

Also, for your convenience, we now offer “full online giving.”

Visit www.ndec.net.

ENROLL NOW!!!

Accepting applications for children 2 yrs. old to 3rd Grade

Now Enrolling for our Nursery Ages 6 weeks - 2yrs. old.

For more information Please call (804) 276-4433 Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm

B6 February 5-7, 2015

Richmond Free Press

Legal Notices 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 Tuesday, February 17, 2015 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, February 23, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers on the Second Floor of City Hall, located at 900 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, to consider the following ordinances: Ordinance No. 2015-15 To conditionally rezone the property known as 2102 East Main Street from the M-1 Light Industrial District to the B-5C Central Business District (Conditional), upon certain proffered conditions.

The subject property is zoned M-1 Light Industrial District, which does not permit the proposed single-family residence on the second floor. A rezoning to B-5 is required to permit the proposed residential use. The Richmond Downtown Plan designates this property as Urban Center Area.

Neither the Downtown Plan or the B-5 zoning district establish residential density ranges.

Ordinance No. 2015-16 To amend Ord. No. 89356-90-14, adopted Jan. 8, 1990, which authorized the special use of the property known as 1125 West Clay Street for the purposes of converting the existing building into 47 single-room occupancy units plus a resident manager’s unit, to permit an additional 33 dwelling units, upon certain terms and conditions. The applicant is proposing to amend Ord. No. 89-356-90-14, which authorized fortyseven (47) single-room occupancy units. The proposed amendment includes renovation of the existing forty-seven (47) dwelling units and construction of an additional thirty-three (33) dwelling units for a total of eighty (80) dwelling units and one (1) resident manager’s unit. The property is zoned M-1 Light Industrial, which does not permit dwelling uses. The Master Plan designates this property as Multi-Family (medium-density), which establishes a density range of up to 20 units per acre. The proposal would be a density of 135 units per acre.

Ordinance No. 2015-17 To authorize the special use of the properties known as 1617 Grove Avenue and 120 North Lombardy Street for the purpose of a multifamily dwelling and parking area, upon certain terms and conditions, and to repeal Ord. No. 94-239-223, adopted Oct. 24, 1994.

The property owner that operated both multifamily dwellings under the current Special Use Permit has requested it to be repealed so that the two multifamily dwellings can be held under separate ownership and operated under the authorization of separate special use permits. 1617 Grove Avenue consists of 0.2 acres of land improved with a 7-unit multifamily dwelling, a density of 35 units per acre. The City of Richmond’s Master Plan recommends Singlefamily (Medium Density) land uses for the property.

The Master Plan defines the primary uses for this category as single-family and two-family detached and attached dwellings at densities of 8 to 20 units per acre.

Ordinance No. 2015-18 To authorize the special use of the properties known as 1621 Grove Avenue and 1617 Rear Grove Avenue for the purpose of a multifamily dwelling and parking area, upon certain terms and conditions, and to repeal Ord. No. 94-239-223, adopted Oct. 24, 1994.

The property owner that operated both multifamily dwellings under the current Special Use Permit has requested it to be repealed so that the two multifamily dwellings can be held under separate ownership and operated under the authorization of separate special use permits. 1621 Grove Avenue consists of 0.42 acres of land improved with a 21-unit multifamily dwelling, a density of 50 units per acre. The City of Richmond’s Master Plan recommends Singlefamily (Medium Density) land uses for the property.

The Master Plan defines the primary uses for this category as single-family and two-family detached and attached dwellings at densities of 8 to 20 units per acre.

Ordinance No. 2015-19 To authorize the special use of the property known as 26 North Morris Continued on next column

Street for the purpose of authorizing a restaurant with outdoor dining, upon certain terms and conditions. The property is currently zoned Urban Business and is in the Main Street/Uptown parking overlay district (PO-3), which permits outdoor dining as long as it is not within 100 feet of any property in an R (Residential) zoning district. The proposed outdoor dining is adjacent to Sydney Park, which is zoned R-6 (Single-Family Attached Residential). The Master Plan recommends “Community Commercial” uses for the subject property.

The Plan defines the primary use for this land use designation as office, retail, personal service and other commercial and services uses, intended to provide the shopping and service needs of residents of a number of nearby neighborhoods or a section of the City. There are no established residential density ranges for the subject property.

Ordinance No. 2015-20 To amend Ord. No. 201120-32, adopted Mar. 14, 2011, as amended by Ord. No. 2013-75-57, adopted Apr. 22, 2013, which authorized the special use of the property known as 310 North 33rd Street for the purpose of the conversion of an existing building to a multifamily dwelling with up to 50 units and principal commercial uses permitted on corner lots in the R-63 Multifamily Urban Residential District on the property, to authorize outdoor dining, upon certain terms and conditions. The property is located in the R-63 Multi-Family Urban Residential zoning district, which permits outdoor dining uses. However, the R-63 District requires no outdoor dining area be within 100 feet of any property in an R district.

The proposed dining area is approximately 65 feet from the R-8 District. The Master Plan recommends “Mixed Use Residential” uses for the property.

There are no residential density ranges established by the Master Plan and no additional density proposed in the special use permit.

Ordinance No. 2015-21 To authorize the special use of the property known as 3500 Kensington Avenue for the purpose of multifamily dwellings containing up to 50 dwelling units, upon certain terms and conditions, and to repeal Ord. No. 86-32-38, adopted Feb. 24, 1986, Ord. No. 91-361-331, adopted Nov. 25, 1991, and Ord. No. 92-41-47, adopted Mar. 9, 1992.

Currently, the subject property is zoned in the R-48 Multifamily Residential district, which allows multifamily use but does not allow the proposed residential density of approximately 38 dwelling units per acre. The City of Richmond’s Master Plan recommends Singlefamily (Medium Density) land uses for the property.

The Master Plan defines the primary uses for this category as single-family and two-family detached and attached dwellings at densities of 8 to 20 units per acre.

Ordinance No. 2015-22 To authorize the special use of the property known as 3729 East Broad Rock Road for the purpose of authorizing motor fuel sales, upon certain terms and conditions. The subject property is located in the B-2 Community Business District, which permits motor fuel sales.

However, the B-2 District requires no fuel sales be located on a property designated as a transitional site, which is defined as a lot or portion thereof located in a B district and situated within 50 feet and fronting on the same block as property in an R district. The adjacent property is zoned R-48 Multi-family Residential District. The Master Plan recommends Neighborhood Commercial uses for the subject property.

Neighborhood commercial uses as shown on the Land Use Plan map should be limited to those uses that provide goods and services generally used by the immediate surrounding neighborhood and are not intended to draw from a broader marker. There are no established residential density ranges established by the proposal or the Master Plan.

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, February 9, 2015 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. 2015-1 As Amended To [establish a program under which] designate certain street blocks in the city [shall be designated] with the name of a city resident whom the Council has determined to have made extraordinary contributions to AfricanAmerican history in the city of Richmond.

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 OF THE COUNTY OF HENRICO CANDICE SOLES HILL, Plaintiff v.

BRADLEY GLENN HILL, Defendant.

Case No.: CL14-2086 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground that the parties have lived separate and apart without cohabitation and without interruption for more than one year. It appearing from the affidavit that the defendant, Bradley Glenn Hill, cannot be found and that diligence has been used without effect to ascdertain his location, it is ORDERED that the defendant appear before this Court by March 27, 2015, at 9:00 a.m., and do what is necessary to protect his interest herein.

A Copy, Teste: YVONNE G. SMITH, Clerk I ask for this: Suzette L. Hutchens, VSB #22589 HUTCHENS & HUTCHENS, P.C. 2201 Libbie Avenue Richmond, VA 23239 (804) 282-1212 Fax: (804) 288-6222 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HENRICO DARRIN L. SIMON, Plaintiff v.

MARGUERITE Z. SIMON, Defendant.

Case No.: CL14-1643 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to grant Darrin L. Simon, the Plaintiff, a divorce from Marguerite Z. Simon, the Defendant, on the ground that the parties have lived separate and apart, continuously, and without any further cohabitation or interruption, since September 27, 2010, a period in excess of one year;

WHEREFORE,

An Affidavit having been filed that due diligence has been used without effect to ascertain the location of Marguerite Z. Simon, it is ORDERED that Marguerite Z. Simon, appear before this Court on March 23, 2015, at 10:30 a.m., to protect her interests herein.

A Copy, Teste: YVONNE G. SMITH, Clerk We ask for this: Rick A. Friedman, II, Esquire (VSB #46870) Kimberly L. Fitzgerals, Esquire (VSB #74883) Friedman Law Firm, P.C. 9620 Iron Bridge Road, Suite 101 Chesterfield, VA 23832 (804) 717-1969 (telephone) (804) 748-4161 (telecopier) rfriedman@friedmanlawva.com kfitzgerald@friendmanlawva.com Counsel for the Plaintiff VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER DIONA SHEFFIELD, Plaintiff v.

EQUINE SHEFFIELD, Defendant.

Case No.: CL14001083-00 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, who has been served with the Complaint by posted service appear here on or before the 9th day of March, 2015 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 Continued on next column

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Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER TERESA TATE, Plaintiff v.

JOHN TATE, Defendant.

Case No.: CL13003478-00 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 9th day of March, 2015 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 NATHAN MOORE, Plaintiff v.

PRINCESS MOORE, Defendant.

Case No.: CL14001411-00 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, who has been served with the Complaint by posted service appear here on or before the 9th day of March, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. and protect her 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

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parent after transfer of legal custody or guardianship of the person, including but not limited to rights of: vistation; adoption consent; determination of religious affliation; and responsibility for support.

It is ORDERED that the defendants Lisa RusterucciHickman and Deshawn Hardaway, appear at the abovenamed Court and protect his/ her interest on or before March 12, 2015 at 9:40 a.m.

Sarah M. Denham, Esq. 730 E. Broad St., 8th Floor Richmond, Virginia 23219 804-646-3493

who may be creditors with an interest in said property, who are not residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia, have not filed a response to this matter; and 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 TOWER BUILDING PROPERTIES, L. L. C., A Cancelled Virginia Limited Liability Company, JOEL FINE, As to part of a $20,000.00 Interest and LAURA FINE, As to part of a $20,000.00 Interest, who may be the holders of a $20,000.000 Interest in a certain Note secured by a Balloon Deed of Trust dated February 6, 2004, with respect to said property, recorded February 9, 2004, in Instrument No. 04-004039, the aforesaid Deed of Trust was assumed

by Tower Building Properties, L.L.C., a Virginia limited liability company, by deed of Assumption dated March 29, 2006 and recorded March 30, 2006, in instrument No. 06-10250, or their heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in title, ISAAC I. SILVER, As to a $20,000.00 Interest, who may be the holder of a $20,000.000 Interest in a certain Note secured by a Balloon Deed of Trust dated February 6, 2004, with respect to said property, recorded February 9, 2004, in Instrument No. 04-004039, the aforesaid Deed of Trust was assumed by Tower Building Properties, L.L.C., a Virginia limited liability company, by deed of Assumption dated March 29, 2006 and recorded March 30, 2006, in instrument No. 06-10250, assignment of Deed of Trust to Isaac I .

Silver as to $20,000.00 Interest in the above deed of trust recorded March 21, 2008 in Instrument No. 08-07612, or his heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in title, DAVID SEFCHOK and GERALYN SEFCHOK, who may be the holders of certain Note secured by a Balloon Deed of Trust dated March 29, 2006, with respect to said property, recorded March 30, 2006, in Instrument No. 06-10251, or their heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in title, SHERRIE BECKER, PATRICK BECKER, JAY S. SCHWARTZ, JAY S. SCHWARTZ, As Trustee for the JAY SCHWARTZ TRUST U/A 11/6/1992, RICHARD D. KRIDER, THEODORE SELLMAN, Who May Be Deceased, and the Heirs, Devisees, Assignees or Successors in Interest of THEODORE SELLMAN, DAVID F. KATZ, SHELLY A. KATZ, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before MARCH 10, 2015, 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

TRUST U/A 11/6/1992, JAY S. SCHWARTZ, As Trustee for the EDWARD J. BECKER MARITAL TRUST, who may be creditors with an interest in said property, have not been personally located and have not filed a response to this action; that THEODORE SELLMAN, Who May Be Deceased, and the Heirs, Devisees, Assignees or Successors in Interest of THEODORE SELLMAN, who may be creditor/s with an interest in said property, have not been located and have not filed a response to this matter; that DAVID F. KATZ and SHELLY A. KATZ, who may be creditors with an interest in said property, who are not residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia, have not filed a response to this matter; and 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 CLAYTON INVESTMENT GROUP, L. L. C., A Cancelled Virginia Limited Liability Company, CAPITAL FUNDING AND CONSULTING, L.L.C., A Cancelled Virginia Limited Liability Company, which may be the holder of a certain Note secured by a Deed of Trust, Assignment and Security Agreement dated August 22, 2008, with respect to said property, recorded August 26, 2008, in Instrument Number 08-23139, or its heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in title, TOM CLARK, As Manager, who may be the holder of a certain Note secured by a Deed of Trust, Assignment and Security Agreement dated August 22, 2008, with respect to said property, recorded August 26, 2008, in Instrument Number 08-23139, or his heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in title, ALAN KATZ, LYNN KATZ, JAY S. SCHWARTZ, As Agent for BERNICE SCHWARTZ, GREG WOOLWINE, HOPE WOOLWINE, RICHARD D. KRIDER, TIMOTHY M. KEILTY, SR., As Registered Agent for TRACE CAPITAL, LLC., SHERRIE BECKER, PATRICK BECKER, JAY S. SCHWARTZ, JAY S. SCHWARTZ, As Trustee for the JAY SCHWARTZ TRUST U/A 11/6/1992, JAY S. SCHWARTZ, As Trustee for the EDWARD J. BECKER MARITAL TRUST, THEODORE SELLMAN, Who May Be Deceased, and the Heirs, Devisees, Assignees or Successors in Interest of THEODORE SELLMAN, DAVID F. KATZ, SHELLY A. KATZ, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before MARCH 1, 2015, 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

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND

JOHN MARSHALL COURTS BUILDING CITY OF RICHMOND, Plaintiff, v.

Case No.: CL14-3685-1 CLAYTON INVESTMENT GROUP, L.L.C., A Cancelled Virginia Limited Liability Company, et al., Defendants.

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as “1405 Mechanicsville Turnpike”, Richmond, Virginia, Tax Map/GPIN# E000-0768/022, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owner of record, CLAYTON INVESTMENT GROUP, L. L. C.,

An Affidavit having been filed that said owner, CLAYTON INVESTMENT GROUP, L. L. C., A Cancelled Virginia Limited Liability Company, has not been located and has not filed a response to this action; that CAPITAL FUNDING AND CONSULTING, L.L.C., A Cancelled Virginia Limited Liability Company, which may be the holder of a certain Note secured by a Deed of Trust, Assignment and Security Agreement dated August 22, 2008, with respect to said property, recorded August 26, 2008, in Instrument Number 08-23139, or its heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in title, have not been located and have not filed a response to this action; that TOM CLARK, As Manager, who may be the holder of a certain Note secured by a Deed of Trust, Assignment and Security Agreement dated August 22, 2008, with respect to said property, recorded August 26, 2008, in Instrument Number 08-23139, has not been personally and has not filed a response to this action, or his heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in title; that ALAN KATZ, LYNN KATZ, JAY S. SCHWARTZ, As Agent for BERNICE SCHWARTZ, GREG WOOLWINE, HOPE WOOLWINE, RICHARD D. KRIDER, TIMOTHY M. KEILTY, SR., As Registered Agent for TRACE CAPITAL, LLC., SHERRIE BECKER, PATRICK BECKER, JAY S. SCHWARTZ, JAY S. SCHWARTZ, As Trustee for the JAY SCHWARTZ

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND

JOHN MARSHALL COURTS BUILDING CITY OF RICHMOND, Plaintiff, v.

Case No.: CL14-2775-1 CLAYTON INVESTMENT GROUP, L.L.C., A Cancelled Virginia Limited Liability Company, et al., Defendants.

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as “1320 North 22nd Street”, Richmond, Virginia, Tax Map/GPIN# E000-0615/002, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owner of record, CLAYTON INVESTMENT GROUP, L. L. C.,

An Affidavit having been filed that said owner, CLAYTON INVESTMENT GROUP, L. L. C., A Cancelled Virginia Limited Liability Company, has not been located and has not filed a response to this action; that ABNER SALKIN, As to $7,250.00 Interest, who may be the holder of a $7,250.00 interest in a certain Note secured by a Balloon Deed of Trust dated

June 30, 2005, with respect to said property, recorded July 1, 2005, in Instrument Number 05-021594, who is not a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia, has not been located and has not filed a response to this action, or his heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in title; that BEVERLY SALKIN, As to $7,250.00 Interest, who may be the holder of a $7,250.00 interest in a certain Note secured by a Balloon Deed of Trust dated June 30, 2005, with respect to said property, recorded July 1, 2005, in Instrument Number 05-021594, who is not a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia, has not been located and has not filed a response to this action, or her heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in title; that ALAN KATZ, LYNN KATZ, JAY S. SCHWARTZ, As Agent for BERNICE SCHWARTZ, RICHARD D. KRIDER, JAY S. SCHWARTZ, JAY S. SCHWARTZ, As Trustee for the JAY SCHWARTZ TRUST U/A 11/6/1992, JAY S. SCHWARTZ, As Trustee for the EDWARD J. BECKER MARITAL TRUST, who may be creditors with an interest in said property, have not been personally located and have not filed a response to this action; t hat THEODORE SELLMAN, Who May Be Deceased, and the Heirs, Devisees, Assignees or Successors in Interest of THEODORE SELLMAN, who may be creditor/s with an interest in said property, have not been located and have not filed a response to this matter; that DAVID F. KATZ and SHELLY A. KATZ, who may be creditors with an interest in said property, who are not residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia, have not filed a response to this matter; and 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 CLAYTON INVESTMENT GROUP, L. L. C., A Cancelled Virginia Limited Liability Company, ABNER SALKIN, As to $7,250.00 Interest, who may be the holder of a $7,250.00 interest in a certain Note secured by a Balloon Deed of Trust dated June 30, 2005, with respect to said property, recorded July 1, 2005, in Instrument Number 05-021594, or his heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in title, BEVERLY SALKIN, As to $7,250.00 Interest, who may be the holder of a $7,250.00 interest in a certain Note secured by a Balloon Deed of Trust dated June 30, 2005, with respect to said property, recorded July 1, 2005, in Instrument Number 05-021594, or her heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in title, ALAN KATZ, LYNN KATZ, JAY S. SCHWARTZ, As Agent for BERNICE SCHWARTZ, RICHARD D. KRIDER, JAY S. SCHWARTZ, JAY S. SCHWARTZ, As Trustee for the JAY SCHWARTZ TRUST U/A 11/6/1992, JAY S. SCHWARTZ, As Trustee for the EDWARD J. BECKER MARITAL TRUST, THEODORE SELLMAN, Who May Be Deceased, and the Heirs, Devisees, Assignees or Successors in Interest of THEODORE SELLMAN, DAVID F. KATZ, SHELLY A. KATZ, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before MARCH 10, 2015, 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

virgiNia: iN thE Richmond JuvENiLE aND DOmEstic rELatiONs District cOurt Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Shenika Lesha Blackman OrDEr Of puBLicatiON

The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“RPR”) of Walter Prescott Jones (Father), of Shenika Lesha Blackman, child, DOB 9/21/98 “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: vistation; adoption consent; determination of religious affliation; and responsibility for support.

It is ORDERED that Walter Prescott Jones, appear at the above-named Court and protect his interest on or before March 24, 2015 at 9:20 a.m.

Kate D. O’Leary, Esq. 730 E. Broad St., 8th Floor Richmond, Virginia 23219 804-646-3493

PROPERTY

virgiNia: iN thE Richmond JuvENiLE aND DOmEstic rELatiONs District cOurt Commonwealth of Virginia, in re JANELLE SIMONE RUSTERUCCI OrDEr Of puBLicatiON

The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“RPR”) of Lisa Rusterucci-Hickman (Mother) and Deshawn Hardaway (Father), of Janelle Simone Rusterucci, child, DOB 4/22/2013 “RPR” means all rights and responsibilities remaining with

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND JOHN MARSHALL COURTS BUILDING CITY OF RICHMOND, Plaintiff, v.

Case No.: CL14-3686-1 TOWER BUILDING PROPERTIES, L. L. C., a Cancelled Virginia Limited Liability Company, et al., Defendants.

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as “3013 Q Street,” TaxMap/GPIN# E000-0628/005, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owner of record, TOWER BUILDING PROPERTIES, L. L. C.

An Affidavit having been filed that said owner, TOWER BUILDING PROPERTIES, L. L. C., A Cancelled Virginia Limited Liability Company, has not been located and has not filed a response to this action; that JOEL FINE, As to part of a $20,000.00 Interest and LAURA FINE, As to part of a $20,000.00 Interest, who may be the holders of a $20,000.000 Interest in a certain Note secured by a Balloon Deed of Trust dated February 6, 2004, with respect to said property, recorded February 9, 2004, in Instrument No. 04-004039, the aforesaid Deed of Trust was assumed

by Tower Building Properties, L.L.C., a Virginia limited liability company, by deed of Assumption dated March 29, 2006 and recorded March 30, 2006, in instrument No. 06-10250, who are not residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia, have not filed a response to this action, or their heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in title; that ISAAC I. SILVER, As to a $20,000.00 Interest, who may be the holder of a $20,000.000 Interest in a certain Note secured by a Balloon Deed of Trust dated February 6, 2004, with respect to said property, recorded February 9, 2004, in Instrument No. 04-004039, the aforesaid Deed of Trust was assumed by Tower Building Properties, L.L.C., a Virginia limited liability company, by deed of Assumption dated March 29, 2006 and recorded March 30, 2006, in instrument No. 06-10250, assignment of Deed of Trust to Isaac I . Silver as to $20,000.00 Interest in the above deed of trust recorded March 21, 2008 in Instrument No. 08-07612, whose last know post-office address is 10905 Dominion Fairways lane, Glen Allen, Virginia 23056, has not been personally located and has not filed a response in this matter, or his heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in title; that DAVID SEFCHOK and GERALYN SEFCHOK, who may be the holders of certain Note secured by a Balloon Deed of Trust dated March 29, 2006, with respect to said property, recorded March 30, 2006, in Instrument No. 06-10251, who are not residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia, have not filed a response to this action, or their heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in title; that SHERRIE BECKER, PATRICK BECKER, JAY S. SCHWARTZ, JAY S. SCHWARTZ, As Trustee for the JAY SCHWARTZ TRUST U/A 11/6/1992, and RICHARD D. KRIDER, who may be creditors with an interest in said property, have not been personally located and have not filed a response to this action; that THEODORE SELLMAN, Who May Be Deceased, and the Heirs, Devisees, Assignees or Successors in Interest of THEODORE SELLMAN, who may be creditor/s with an interest in said property, have not been located and have not filed a response to this matter; that DAVID F. KATZ and SHELLY A. KATZ,

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VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF CHESTERFIELD TINA LYNN SHEETS, Petitioner, v.

MICHAEL BRADLEY SHEETS, Respondent.

Case No.: CL12-3670 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

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 23rd day of February, 2015 to protect his interests.

An Extract, Teste: WENDY S. HUGHES, Clerk I ask for this: Fred A. Dixon, Esquire 4906 Fitzhugh Avenue, Suite 200 Richmond, Virginia 23230 Telephone: (804) 358-0372 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER JOHN SAUNDERS, Plaintiff v.

ANDREA SAUNDERS, Defendant.

Case No.: CL14002905-00 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 13th day of February, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. and protect her 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

CUSTODY

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BIDS COUNTY OF HENRICO, VIRGINIA REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL RFP# 15-9722-1JK Architectural & Engineering Services, Fire House 19 Due 3:00 pm, February 27, 2015 Additional information available at: http://www.henrico. us/departments/purchasing/ bids-and-proposals/

To advertise in the

Richmond Free Press call 644-0496

Richmond Free Press

February 5-7, 2015

Legal Notices/Employment Opportunities Public Notice APPLICATION FOR NEW FREEDOM/5317 PROGRAM Senior Connections, The Capital Area Agency on Aging serving Virginia Planning District 15 intends to submit an application to the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) for the FY 2016 New Freedom/5317 Program. The intent of the application is to request funds for the Ride Connection Program to provide Mobility Management and Transportation Services for older adults and persons with disabilities. For further information, please contact: Mr. Patrick Hickey, Manager, Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) Senior Connections, The Capital Area Agency on Aging 24 East Cary Street, Richmond, VA 23219 804-343-3052 phickey@youraaa.org

Public Notice Availability of Environmental Document for Public Review Route 1343 (Carter Gallier Boulevard) New Roadway Parallel to Route 60 Powhatan County A Categorical Exclusion (CE), National Environmental Policy Act document, has been prepared to evaluate the environmental impacts of constructing a new roadway, Route 1343 (Carter Gallier Boulevard) parallel to Route 60 in Powhatan County.

Review the CE that was prepared in accordance with the Federal Highway Administration’s Environmental Impact and Related Procedures (23 CFR 771).

The CE is available for your review and comment at VDOT’s Richmond District Office located at 2430 Pine Forest Drive, in Colonial Heights, Virginia. Please call to schedule a time to review the documentation (804)524-6000.

Comments on the CE should be sent to Scott Chapman, Project Manager, at VDOT’s Richmond District Office, 2430 Pine Forest Drive, Colonial Heights, Virginia 23834 on or prior to February 11, 2015.

VDOT ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

If you have questions or concerns about your civil rights in regards to this project or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, contact the project manager listed above.

State Project: 1343-072-144, P101, R201, C501, C502 Federal Project: STP-5127(649)

S.B. Ballard Construction Company is soliciting bids from certified Small, Women, Minority, HubZone and Veteran Owned Businesses to participate as subcontractors and/or suppliers for the DLA Operations Center Phase 1, Richmond, VA on 2/13/2015 at 2:00 PM and the NSU Brown Hall, Norfolk, VA - Site, Concrete and Steel package on 2/17/2015 at noon. S. B. Ballard at 2828 Shipps Corner Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23453, 1-800-296-0209, or fax quotes or request for drawings to 757-451-2873 or chennig@sbballard.com SBBCC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Itinerant Teacher of the Blind or Visually Impaired – Posting # 00003048 For application and full job description, access www.richmond.k12.va.us.

Richmond Public Schools will conduct a background investigation, tuberculosis screening and drug/alcohol testing as a condition of employment. EOE.

The Richmond Free Press is seeking a reliable and creative person for a parttime graphics position. Enthusiastic individual must be proficient in Macintosh Creative Suite Design software (Indesign and Photoshop) to produce accurate, high quality camera-ready advertisements and news page layouts for print production.

Duties will include weekly website maintenance.

Meticulous attention to details. Ability to be flexible and work under deadline cooperatively in a team environment is essential.

Submit resumé and samples of work to address below.

Human Resources Richmond Free Press P.O. Box 27709 Richmond, Virginia 23261 No phone calls please

Assistant to Minister of Music and Business Administrator The positions of Assistant to Minister of Music and Business Administrator are available to qualified applicants at the First Baptist Church of South Richmond, 1501 Decatur Street, Richmond, Virginia 23224. Applicants must be Christian. For detailed job requirements and descriptions visit www.fbctoday.org.

Resumes are being received by email only at cgreen@fbctoday.org. No “walk-ins” or telephone inquiries.

Junior iTS ProJecT Manager Salary $40,000 - $45,000 Closes: February 8, 2015

GRTC Transit System in Richmond, Virginia seeks a skilled candidate to assist in the implementation of Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) projects, including application maintenance, support and process improvements. A bachelor’s degree in Information Systems is highly preferred, with 2 years in successful project management utilizing project management tools, systems development lifecycles and methodology.

Excellent communication and problem solving skills required. Candidates may apply online at www.ridegrtc.com. A pre-employment drug screening will be required.

GRTC is an equal opportunity employer with a drug-free work environment.

TransiT sysTem

TRANSPORTATION SUPERVISOR

Salary Range: $45,000 - $50,000 Closes: February 16, 2015 GRTC seeks a results oriented professional who excels in working in a fast paced environment.

This position is responsible for supervising and monitoring the activities of the bus operators on a daily basis. The ideal candidate will possess integrity, excellent problem solving skills, proven decision-making skills and excellent communication skills. High School diploma required, with a Bachelor’s Degree preferred. Previous experience in the transit industry highly desirable. Must be able to pass a background check, pre-employment drug test and DOT physical. A CDL Class B or higher with a Passenger endorsement is required. Those interested in the position may apply online at www.ridegrtc.com. GRTC is an equal opportunity employer with a drug-free work environment.

Administrative Program Support Assistant 05M00000053 Planning & Development Review Apply by: 2/15/2015 Business Management Officer 35M00000185 Public Utilities Apply by: 2/15/2015 City Transportation (Traffic) Engineer 29M00000144 Public Works Apply by: 2/15/2015

TransiT sysTem

Rising Mount Zion Daycare is now hiring for our Preschool and After School programs. Must have experience working in a daycare and/ or degree in early childhood education or related field. Please fax resume to 804-643-1020 Attention: C. Sayles

The City of Richmond is seeking to fill the following positions:

Communications Officer I (Multiple Openings) 87M00000001 Emergency Communications Apply by: 2/15/2015 Electronics Technician II 87M00000111 Emergency Communications Apply by: 2/15/2015 Engineer III, Water/Wastewater Plant & Pumping (Multiple Openings) 35M00000633 Public Utilities Apply by: 2/15/2015 Family Services Specialist, CPS 27M00000263 Social Services Apply by: 2/15/2015 Family Services Worker, Reunification & Permanency 27M00000145 Social Services Apply by: 2/15/2015 Maintenance Technician II 29M00000471 Public Works Apply by: 2/15/2015

VEHICLE SERVICE TECHNICIAN Richmond Ambulance Authority is currently seeking a Vehicle Service Technician. This position is located in the Logistics department and supports the mission with various duties. The candidate will serve as a vehicle service technician within the resource area and will support all operations in the Logistics Department while ensuring that all ambulances are “response ready” for the field crews coming in for their shift assignment, with the goal of reducing down time and increasing the quality and delivery of services to crews and patients. Responsibilities include cleaning and stocking all units, grounds, and facilities. The delivered product is a clean vehicle inside and outside with well-stocked shelves and functioning equipment. Candidate must be at least 18 years of age and possess a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record. The hours for this position will be a rotating twelve hour shift from 5:00PM to 5:00AM. Please visit our website at www.raaems.org to apply no later than 5PM February 6, 2015. EEO/AAP

Pipeline Technician I, Gas & Water (Multiple Openings) 35M00000448 Public Utilities Apply by: 2/22/2015 Senior Policy Advisor 21M00000037 CAO Continuous Social Enterprise Specialist 36M00000024 Economic Development Continuous Trades Supervisor I, Gas Maintenance 35M00000622 Public Utilities Apply by: 2/15/2015 Trades Supervisor II, Gas Distribution 35M00000239 Public Utilities Apply by: 2/15/2015 Utilities Instrument & Control Technician II Water Utilities Division 35M00000788 Public Utilities Apply by: 2/15/2015 ****************** 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

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B7

Richmond Free Press

B8 February 5-7, 2015

Local News

RRHA leadership changes under cloak of silence

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Adrienne E. Goolsby was described as a “proven leader … with a remarkable track record” when she was lured from Chicago in 2012 to take over as the chief executive officer of the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

But less than three years into her tenure, the 45-year-old Atlanta native is out and a retired Richmond development expert, T.K. Somanath, 69, has been installed temporarily as RRHA’s top official as the search for Ms. Goolsby’s successor begins.

RRHA’s board has remained mum on the reasons for removing Ms. Goolsby from the helm of the agency that serves about 10,000 residents in about 4,000 public housing units it operates.

Sam Young Jr., the board chairman, described Ms. Goolsby’s abrupt resignation only as a “mutual decision,” code words usually used to describe a dismissal.

In a message to tenants, RRHA went further, stating that “the entire board felt it was time to go in a new direction with the leadership of our organization.”

Previously a top executive with the Chicago Housing Authority, Ms. Goolsby’s only statement came in two sentences included in the RRHA announcement of her departure: “I’m proud of the work we have accomplished at RRHA under my leadership. I leave knowing that this organization is on the right path for the future.”

Tenant advocates such as Lillie Estes of Gilpin Court expressed disappointment, saying Ms. Goolsby represented “an uplift” for residents.

Marilyn Olds, who represents tenants on the RRHA board, would not comment on Ms. Goolsby’s ouster, but agreed that the departed CEO had received high marks from residents. “She was well regarded by tenants,” Ms. Olds said.

City Hall sources called her removal puzzling. One source said there had been talk that Ms. Goolsby was considered to be moving too slowly on several important initiatives.

The interim CEO, Mr. Somanath, is well known in development and affordable housing circles.

A civil engineer, he brings to the job 23 years of experience as president and CEO of the Richmond Better Housing Coalition. He led the nonprofit group’s development of 1,600 affordable homes and apartment units in Richmond and surrounding counties until he retired in 2013.

A native of India and one of the founders of the Hindu Center in Chesterfield County, he previously directed RRHA’s varied development projects for 18 years.

Mr. Somanath said Tuesday that he expects to serve as CEO about six months.

He said he plans to work with “a highly talented staff” to keep RRHA’s operations moving smoothly, to carry on with the five-year strategic plan that Ms. Goolsby developed with the board and to ensure projects on RRHA’s front burner move forward as expected.

That includes plans for the redevelopment of the Creighton Court public housing community in the East End — a top priority for Mayor Dwight C. Jones and a development in which Ms. Goolsby has been credited with playing an important role in securing the master developer.

Mr. Somanath, though, indicated that he would be advocating for the development to be “done right” rather than being rushed.

“This is an important undertaking,” he said. “It shouldn’t be done piecemeal.” He indicated at least $30 million to $40 million would need to be amassed to appropriately relocate tenants and begin the initial phases of the project.

He said he also would encourage Richmond Public Schools to be involved in the planning.

Mr. Somanath said he also would seek to ensure continued progress on another big development — replacement of the Fay Towers high-rise in Gilpin Court that is home to elderly and disabled people.

He said he plans to meet with public housing residents

to “listen to their concerns” and to see what improvements can be made.

Mr. Somanath will receive a monthly salary of $13,000.

Ms. Goolsby was among the highest paid city officials.

Her total compensation topped $193,000 a year, including her annual salary of more than

raising RRHA’s performance. $183,000.

In a goodbye statement, When she arrived, RRHA was rated as substandard by the U.S. RRHA Chairman Young thanked 136969_0 Ms. Goolsby for her dedication, Department of Housing and noting that “Ms. Goolsby has Urban Development. Under her guided this organization through management, HUD has raised the a number of significant accom- RRHA’s rating to standard.

Among other things, she shut plishments.”

Her achievements, according down the RRHA police force afto the RRHA board, included ter discovering misspending and,

according to tenant advocates, worked to improve conditions in public housing.

Just weeks before she was removed, Ms. Goolsby presided over a groundbreaking in Blackwell for new senior housing, considered the final piece in the 17-year redevelopment of public housing in that South

Side community.

And just a week before she left, RRHA celebrated efforts Ms. Goolsby backed to expand youth clubs offering hands-on learning activities in STEM fields — science, technology, engineering and math — for middle school students who live in RRHA housing.

THE CANCER IN DONNA’S LUNGS

HELD THE CLUES THAT TOLD OUR DOCTORS EXACTLY HOW

TO FIGHT IT. Donna Sarver never smoked, yet still developed a rare form of stage IV lung cancer. Barely able to breathe, she came to VCU Massey Cancer Center, an NCI-designated cancer center, where doctors discovered it had spread to other locations including her spine and liver. In a remarkable case of precision medicine, they performed a cutting-edge genetic test that mapped her cancer’s DNA and helped them determine the most effective drug with which to fight it. That was three years ago. And now, after several successful treatments, Donna is breathing freely again – and giving a huge sigh of relief. For more success stories, go to vcuhealth.org

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