Richmond Free Press February 11-13, 2021 edition

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FEBRUARY 11-13, 2021

Keeping Kamras Richmond School Board votes 6-3 to extend Superintendent Jason Kamras’ contract for another 4 years

By Ronald E. Carrington

It’s official: Richmond Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras will stay on for another four years.

The Richmond School Board voted 6-3 Monday night to give Mr. Kamras a new contract, the details of which have not been released.

Mr. Kamras, whose current contract runs through June 30, is the highest paid school administrator in Richmond’s history, with a current annual salary of $250,000.

The board was under constant pressure from constituents and others who advocated that he remain at the helm of Richmond Public Schools for four more years to ensure continuity and progress, particularly during the pandemic. One group even held a car parade last weekend in South Side to show support for the superintendent.

Mr. Kamras told the board he would leave RPS if his contract was extended for only two years, according to sources.

The three members voting against a four-year renewal were Kenya Gibson, 3rd District; Stephanie M. Rizzi, 5th District; and Mariah L. White, 2nd District.

Following the vote, Mr. Kamras expressed his gratitude and said he loves all RPS students, families and staff.

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Kamras: RPS has too many obstacles to reopen safely

by March 15

By Ronald E. Carrington

Both houses still must reconcile their differences and pass a final version that can head to Gov. Ralph S. Northam for his signature. The governor submitted the initial bill and has promised to sign the finished product when it reaches his desk. Through his intervention, the legislature Gov. Northam has been granted 16 additional days to get through the final procedural hurdles on that bill and such equally high-profile bills including legalizing personal marijuana use and providing for the expungement of criminal records.

With final passage, Virginia would join 22 other states that already have done away with the death penalty and become the first former Confederate state to do so, according to national data.

A signal of the political change that has washed over the once stalwart conservative state, the vote also reflects the waning support for capital punishment

With all due respect, governor: No way, no how.

That’s the message the Richmond School Board and Superintendent Jason Kamras are sending in response to Gov. Ralph S. Northam’s call for public schools to reopen at least partially by March 15.

At a special board meeting Tuesday night, Mr. Kamras made it clear that RPS has no plans to comply with Gov. Northam’s call for reopening.

He told the board the governor has issued an expectation, distinct from an official executive order or mandate, that Richmond cannot and will not meet.

“This gives school systems latitude in how they respond,” Mr. Kamras informed the School Board in explaining why RPS plans to remain virtual and is turning a thumbs down to the governor’s request even as other area school districts already have reopened their buildings or have announced plans to do so.

Despite the governor’s call, Mr. Kamras noted that reopening does not enjoy wide support.

“The division has gone to great lengths to survey stakeholders, and their responses have driven the decision to remain virtual for the second semester,” Mr. Kamras reminded the board.

According to that data, 63 percent of families responding to an RPS survey said they did not want to resume in-person

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Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

The Erby family shows their support for Superintendent Jason Kamras and a four-year extension of his contract during an 80-vehicle, “#KeepKamras” parade last Saturday in South Side. They are Richmond Public Schools students, from left, Elijah Erby, 5; Christopher Erby, 13; and Lamar Erby, 11, with their mom, Tisha Erby.

Virginia is poised to eliminate the death penalty

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

The death penalty has been a staple of Virginia law since the first English settlers arrived in Jamestown.

But more than 412 years after an English ship’s captain became the first person to be put to death in Virginia for spying for Spain, the death knell is ringing for the death penalty itself.

With the governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general cheering them on, members of the General Assembly are hustling to eliminate the increasingly unpopular ultimate punishment that has long been

regarded as a tool of racial oppression.

In historic actions — a 21-17 vote in the state Senate on Feb. 3and then in a 57-41 vote in the House of Delegates on Feb. 5 — the legislature put itself on record to abolish Virginia’s death penalty that once had huge support as a crime deterrent but now is derided as an extension of lynching.

With slight variations, the approved bills would eliminate capital punishment and replace death with a life sentence from which the convicted could not be paroled, a move some political analysts are describing as a watershed moment for a state that has been a national leader in executions.

City plans $3.5M sale of Public Safety Building for new development

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Public Safety Building

Unveiled nine months ago, a $325 million plan to replace the city’s decaying Public Safety Building in Downtown is gathering steam.

Mayor Levar M. Stoney on Monday sent to Richmond City Council a finished proposal to sell the building for $3.5 million to a private partnership.

The purpose: To create a complex that would include two new high-rise buildings, two nonprofit hotels along with new retail and child care space, generate new tax revenue to fund public services and create job and business opportunities for city residents.

In a bid to ensure the required seven City Council members stay on board and Please turn to A4

Free COVID-19 testing Free community testing for COVID-19 continues.

The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following locations: • Tuesday, Feb. 16, 10 a.m. to noon, Diversity Richmond, 1407 Sherwood Ave., in North Side.

• Friday, Feb. 19, 1 to 3 p.m. Eastern Henrico Health Department, 1400 N. Laburnum Ave., in Eastern Henrico. Drivethru testing.

Appointments are encouraged by calling the Richmond and Henrico COVID-19 Hotline at (804) 205-3501 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or

by registering online at https://bit.ly/ RHHDCOVID. Testing will be offered while test supplies last.

The Chesterfield County Health Department also is offering free COVID19 testing at the following locations: • Second Baptist Church, 5100 W. Hundred Road, Chester, 1 to 3 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 15 and 22.

• St. Augustine Catholic Church, 4400 Beulah Road, North Chesterfield, 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17 and 24.

• Walmsley United Methodist Church,

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Neighbors want answers about planned GreenCity development

By Lyndon German

Rendering of GreenCity development

Barksdale Haggins Sr., 88, was shocked after reading newspaper accounts in early December that Henrico County officials were endorsing a massive 250-acre project to build an entertainment, housing, retail, office and hotel complex dubbed GreenCity near his home on quiet Scott Road.

Mr. Forrester “I really was surprised, very surprised,” Mr. Haggins said.

The project calls for a $2.3 billion investment in Scott Farms and the former Best Products headquarters building north of Parham Road and Interstate 95 to build a 17,000-seat arena for concerts and sporting events, 2,400 housing units, two hotels, about 2 million square feet of office space and 280,000 square

feet of retail space.

Mr. Haggins has lived for 40 years in the quiet Garden City community, a largely African-American neighborhood in an area surrounding the proposed GreenCity development. About 50 homes are along Scott Road, where there is concern that four homes closest to the Best Products building may be taken for the project, said William “Bill” Forrester Jr., Mr. Thornton president of the Garden City Neighborhood Civic Association. Another 15 homes along Scott Road may be impacted, as well, he said.

The neighborhood is made up of older people, he explained, retirees living on a fixed-income, people who are unsure about Please turn to A4

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February 11-13, 2021

Richmond Free Press

Local News

Presidents’ Day holiday closings In observance of the President’s Day holiday on Monday, Feb. 15, please note the following: Government offices State and federal offices: Closed City of Richmond offices: Closed County offices in Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover: Closed Courts State and federal courts: Closed Schools Richmond Public Schools: Open Henrico County schools: Students attend half day, professional learning day for staff.

Chesterfield County schools: Students and staff, half day.

Libraries Richmond Public Library: Closed Henrico County Public Library: Closed Chesterfield County Public Library: Closed Hanover County Public Library: Open Banks, credit unions and other financial institutions: Closed U.S. Postal Service: No delivery Trash and recycling: Regular schedule Department of Motor Vehicles customer service centers: Closed GRTC: Buses operate on a regular schedule Free Press office: Open

Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

Cityscape Slices of life and scenes in Richmond

The building on the northeast corner of Cary and Belvidere streets is now home to a place “where the future will be invented,” according to Dr. Michael Rao, president of Virginia Commonwealth University. That place is VCU’s new four-story Engineering Research Building, which formally opened Feb. 3 in a virtual ribbon-cutting ceremony. Begun in 2018, the $93 million facility expands laboratory space for advanced research and includes fully equipped space for students to test ideas and create prototypes. Officials said that, among other things, the center enables students from art, business and other disciplines to come together with engineering students and faculty to investigate real-world problems, invent solutions, build companies and impact the world beyond the campus.

Mayor to deliver Contract approval expected for GRTC drivers State of the City address Feb. 11

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

First, let’s get the vaccine out to everyone so we can get rid of the virus and the disruption it has caused.

Then, let’s craft a recovery that promotes healing and unity and pursues social and economic equity.

That’s the message Mayor Levar M. Stoney plans to deliver in his State of the City address, the first of his second term, according to a City Hall official who spoke with the Free Press on the condition of anonymity.

Now fully recovered from his personal battle with COVID-19, Mayor Stoney is scheduled to deliver the virtual address 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11. His speech also can be viewed on the city’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

The mayor was scheduled to deliver his address late last month but had to postpone Mayor Stoney it when he tested positive for the coronavirus and had to go into a 14-day isolation.

According to the official, the mayor will emphasize that the pandemic remains the city’s top priority and that the current focus is on ensuring that vaccines are available in every part of the city as well as assisting residents and businesses while the pandemic continues.

The mayor also will call attention to the city’s coming efforts to ensure that Richmond recovers the right way, with an emphasis on equity, the official said. That will include plans to improve accessibility to public transit and to tackle climate change, the official said.

The official said the mayor also will announce the creation of a City Hall office of public engagement to improve the city’s outreach to residents. The goal will be to increase opportunities for citizens to weigh in on everything from police reform to city services, job creation, police-community relationships and affordable housing development, the official said.

The official said the mayor views this speech as an important platform through which to deliver a message of hope and to announce actions that show the city has learned from the pandemic and the calls for racial justice.

Salvation Army delays move to new headquarters

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

The Salvation Army Central Virginia is keeping its headquarters and shelter at 2 W. Grace St. and has no immediate plans to move to North Side.

Nearly a year after buying 1900 Chamberlayne Ave. from Eternity Church for $1.8 million, the Salvation Army has set no timeline for relocating to the new site it has dubbed The Center of Hope.

The news is a boon for nearby businesses that unsuccessfully sought to block the relocation.

Instead of moving in as initially indicated, Salvation Army officials now have said the Christian group plans to invest about $6.5 million to renovate and refurbish the Chamberlayne Avenue property that is to Ms. Nieman include the organization’s offices and an expanded 95-bed shelter, up from the 55 beds now available at its current home.

Charlene Nieman, the Salvation Army’s director of development, confirmed that the organization is not rushing to get the space open.

In response to a Free Press query, Ms. Nieman stated, “The opening for The Center of Hope will be several years from now.

“The plan is to do extensive interior renovations to increase shelter bed capacity and social services,” she continued. “We want to take the time to do it right, while working with a sense of urgency to meet the need.”

Ending a stalemate, GRTC and its union have reached an agreement that will boost pay for drivers of regular and Pulse buses by 12.5 percent over three years. The contract also will upgrade pay for other blue collar employees and improve benefits.

The union already has voted its approval, and the GRTC board is expected to do so at its meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 16, according to company officials.

“I think we have an agreement that is a win-win for everyone,” said Maurice Carter, president and business agent for the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1220 that represents about 400 GRTC drivers, maintenance employees and bus cleaners.

The agreement comes as the company struggles to keep transit operations on track during the COVID-19 pandemic.

At least 12 employees reportedly are still in quarantine due to infection or contact with an infected person.

GRTC management has been frustrated that bus drivers, like mail carriers, rank further down on the state Health

Department’s priority list for COVID-19 vaccination despite the critical role public transit plays in ensuring people can get to work, see doctors and travel to other appointments.

City Councilman Michael J. Jones, 9th District, raised concern Monday about the failure to make GRTC employees a priority. But officials of the Richmond and Henrico health districts said they have no ability to override the priority list and move more quickly to get bus drivers vaccinated. The goal is to have drivers and others on the 1b priority list completed sometime in March.

GRTC’s management and union had been at odds over the company’s proposed change in language that would have allowed management, without union consent, to modify or eliminate policies and practices that are not codified in the contract but have become accepted through long use.

Mr. Carter said the agreement, on which negotiations began during the summer, came together quickly after Julie Timm, GRTC’s chief executive officer, dropped that proposal, ending the disagreement.

Once the three-year contract is approved, the pay increases will be retroactive to Oct. 1, 2020, the contract’s official starting date, Mr. Carter said.

Under the old contract, the pay ranged from around $15.90 an hour for new drivers to $23.84 an hour for veterans. When the new contract goes into effect, pay will range from about $16.53 an hour for novice drivers to $24.79 for veterans. In 2022, the final year of the contract, new drivers would earn about $17.88 an hour and top pay would hit $26.81 an hour.

Under the agreement, bus cleaners’ pay would rise from 50 percent of top pay to 57 percent of top pay, while maintenance employees’ pay is to increase from 50 percent of top pay to 65 percent of top pay. Drivers also must get 10 hours of time off before driving again, up from the current eight hours.

The company also agreed to increase its allowances for tools and uniforms.

The local union also gained a 1 percent increase in each of the three years in the contributions from its members and the company.

REAL LIFE program expanding

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

A Richmond-based nonprofit that provides services for the homeless, recovering addicts and former inmates returning to the community from jail and prison is expanding its housing operations.

REAL LIFE has already added one new residential space this month and will open another next week.

A new men’s home opened Feb. 2, and a new group home for women is scheduled to open Tuesday, Feb. 16, said Dr. Sarah Scarbrough, founder and director of REAL LIFE. Together, the two new locations will add 20 desperately needed beds to the 60 beds the organization has operated in six other group homes, she said.

Dr. Scarbrough credited two gifts with enabling the expansion—a $100,000 donation from the Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond and a $20,000 grant

from a partnership involving the state Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the Virginia Association of Recovery Residences.

She said REAL Dr. Scarbrough LIFE used the funds to open its sixth home in December and to open the two new homes this month.

Before the gifts, she said REAL LIFE already had grown from three group homes to five.

“This is a big addition at a time when so many need our services. Last year, we turned away almost 100 individuals, many newly released from jails or prisons, due to a shortage of housing,” Dr. Scarbrough stated.

She began REAL LIFE more than four years ago while working at the Richmond

Justice Center and has continued its operations after leaving her post at the city jail.

She said people admitted to the transition recovery homes don’t have to pay any initial fees or charges to get in, but are expected to become paying tenants.

The program offers a structured environment promoting transition from incarceration, substance abuse or homelessness to independent living. Residents are helped with securing employment and also get wrap-around services to support their sobriety and enable them to deal with other challenges.

As a result of COVID-19, REAL LIFE is offering most of its programming and classes virtually. The organization has shut down its community center on Main Street in Downtown.

Outside of the group homes, REAL LIFE is offering appointment-only services at 1111 N. 25th St., Dr. Scarbrough stated.

Vytal Studios to relocate its headquarters Richmond has snagged an Austin, Texas, developer of cutting-edge educational and training films and materials that expects to create 155 jobs when it opens its new home in South Side.

The company, Vytal Studios, plans to invest $6.8 million to refurbish a vacant building at 1802 Semmes Ave. for its new headquarters, studio and post-production functions, Gov. Ralph S. Northam announced Tuesday.

The building is expected to open in a year or so, adding to the growing base of video and film production companies that have sprung up in recent years, officials said.

Gov. Northam said that Richmond beat out sites in North Carolina and Florida to land the high-tech studio that incorporates virtual reality and simulated environments into its offerings. He noted that the Richmond area’s skilled tech services workforce was key.

“Our tech talent was a major driver in

Vytal Studios’ decision to relocate from Austin to Richmond and continue its fastgrowing momentum,” said state Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball.

“Virginia, specifically Richmond, has everything an emerging creative technology company wants,” said Jim Smith, chief executive officer of the company that was launched in 2018.

He said the city offers “access to talent and higher education institutions, a vibrant entrepreneurial culture, local and state governments that get it and just a super cool vibe that reminds me of Austin 10 years ago.

“I feel we can be a ‘Vytal’ member of the community and drive growth that draws the extended reality industry as a whole to a home in Virginia,” Mr. Smith said.

Mr. Smith said Vytal Studios intends to engage the local community and collaborate with Virginia Commonwealth University and local stakeholders to develop an extended reality cluster in Richmond through

a nonprofit organization called One Vytal Difference.

Mayor Levar M. Stoney said the company’s decision to move here from Texas shows that Richmond’s “emerging extended reality industry cluster” is attracting increased interest and is becoming a significant job-creator.

He also cited the company’s decision to retrofit an existing building as “another example of older industrial buildings in the city being transformed into unique 21st century work environments.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the city and the Greater Richmond Partnership to secure Vytal Studios, and Gov. Northam has approved a $500,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist the city.

Vytal Studios, which will take over a building once part of the Alleghany Warehouse complex, also is eligible to receive state benefits for locating its studio in a designated enterprise zone.

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School Board votes to extend Kamras’ contract for another 4 years Continued from A1

“Serving as superintendent for RPS has been the greatest honor of my life,” he told the board and the Zoom audience at the virtual meeting. “I am overjoyed to have the opportunity to continue to serve for the next four years.”

He acknowledged, however, that an enormous amount of work is to be done to deal with issues stemming from the coronavirus and to achieve the goals outlined in the district’s strategic plan, Dreams4RPS. “This can be achieved if we all work together,” he said. “We don’t have a choice because our students are waiting.”

Mr. Kamras also had the backing of Mayor Levar M. Stoney and Richmond City Council President Cynthia I. Newbille for a four-year contract extension. Mayor Stoney issued a statement Monday night applauding the School Board on its decision.

“Fixing decades of underperformance and dysfunction in RPS won’t happen overnight, but Superintendent Kamras has the right plan — Dreams4RPS — and after constant leadership shuffling, RPS families deserve the opportunity to let him see it through,” the mayor stated.

The board reportedly had reached an impasse on the contract,

with several members wanting to limit his contract to two years.

Several expressed concern over the lack of academic progress of RPS students, from graduation rates to SOL scores, which are below state norms.

Ms. Gibson acknowledged, however, that district stability is of critical importance.

“Right now is not the time to start over, and engage in an allor-nothing debate when we have so much at stake as a district,” she said, telling the board she would have supported a two- or three-year contract renewal.

Since January when the contract issue became public, parents, teachers, staff and other RPS stakeholders made their voices heard about keeping Mr. Kamras for four more years. More than 200 comments supporting him were submitted and read to the board at its January meeting.

On Feb. 6, more than 80 vehicles drove from Southside Plaza down Hull Street to Blackwell Elementary School during a “#KeepKamras” car parade. More than 1,700 people signed petitions organized by the group that were presented to the School Board Monday night. Around 600 were from people in the surrounding counties.

LaKeisha Williams, a parent, community advocate and teacher for 15 years at Broad Rock Elementary School, participated in the parade.

“I just want to advocate for what’s right for our children and stand up for families who are afraid to talk or speak up,” she said.

“When Mr. Kamras came in, the district was in shambles.

In the first eight months, he was cleaning up the mess from the previous administration,” she continued. “After that, he implemented his strategic plan. The pandemic has taken over a year and a half of that plan. Mr. Kamras had to go back to the drawing board to adapt to virtual learning.

“I truly support him. A lot of surrounding district adminstrations praised him for his work, which speaks for itself,” Ms. Williams said.

School Board Chair Cheryl L. Burke expressed pleasure with the amount of input from students about Mr. Kamras and the contract issue.

“I want that overall involvement to continue and be part of the solution,” Ms. Burke said. “We, the board and administration, have no other choice but to be held accountable.”

Kamras: RPS has too many obstacles to reopen safely by March 15 Continued from A1

learning.

The superintendent also spelled out the challenges that RPS would face in trying to get its buildings ready.

Many of the buildings are old and have outdated ventilation systems that need to be upgraded to ensure that students and teachers can be kept safe from the spread of germs.

Bipolar ionization is a method to improve air quality, and RPS plans to spend $6 in million federal CARES Act funds to install that equipment.

However, “at this point, no work has been completed on fixing air quality in school buildings,” Mr. Kamras said.

He noted that the spending to upgrade air quality in RPS buildings is one piece of a proposed three-year plan for using the $54 million in CARES Act money RPS has received and that is still awaiting board approval.

Once approved, the purchase and installation

of the equipment would take several months and could not be completed before this school year ends in late June, Mr. Kamras said.

He said RPS also has not completed the hiring of the 27 additional custodians that are needed to enable the school district to meet industry standards and ensure building cleanliness.

Mr. Kamras said the district is moving forward on completing RPS’ Bathroom Blitz project – upgrading and replacing sinks, toilets and toilet stalls and installing automatic paper towel dispensers. However, that work is being done on a schedule that contemplates schools reopening in late summer, he said.

Mr. Kamras said meal distribution now being done with school buses could be disrupted if RPS tries to start up partial in-person instruction as an option.

He and his management team said that buses are now distributing meals daily at 46 mobile stops and to four school-based sites, but that schedule could not be maintained if drivers have to start transporting students to and from school.

City plans sale of Public Safety Building Continued from A1

get the proposal passed as quickly as possible, the mayor’s team is highlighting elements of the deal that are expected to be popular.

Those include goals calling for 40 percent inclusion of Blackowned and minority-owned construction firms in building the complex, giving Richmond residents first opportunity to secure new construction jobs and ensuring city residents, particularly those needing jobs, are considered for job openings in operations that launch after the complex opens.

In addition, the deal would require the developers to formulate their project using the higher federal prevailing wage rate for Richmond and, for the first time, commit the development to ensuring that at least 40 percent of the work is done by unionized laborers and skilled tradesmen.

First offered to the city last May, the project is the brainchild of Capital City Partners, which includes visionary urban architect Michael Hallmark and developer Susan Eastridge.

This is the same team that spearheaded the $1.5 billion Coliseum replacement and Navy Hill redevelopment plan that was rejected by City Council a year ago and that has proposed the $2.3 billion GreenCity arena, office and residential development in Henrico County.

Just three months after the council killed the Downtown Navy Hill project, the HallmarkEastridge team was back at City Hall pitching their vision for

replacing the 56-year-old Public Safety Building, the one element of the Navy Hill plan most City Council members embraced.

By June, the council had given the Stoney administration the green light to begin negotiations with Capital City Partners, apparently enabling the city to avoid having to advertise for other proposals.

As outlined by Leonard Sledge, the city’s director of development, one highlight of the plan presented to the council calls for replacing the old building that opened in 1964 with two sleek 20-story office buildings, one to be occupied by VCU Health and a smaller one that would seek tenants. Those buildings would be on the Leigh Street side of the project area, which would include most of the block bounded by 9th, 10th, Clay and Leigh streets.

Closer to City Hall, the plan also calls for developing a 145room hotel for The Doorways, a nonprofit now at 7th and Marshall streets that houses VCU Health’s patients, families and caregivers and a 60-room hotel for the Ronald McDonald House, now on Monument Avenue, which mainly serves families of patients of Children’s Hospital at VCU. The proposal also would include 20,000-square feet of retail space, a VCU Health child care center and a 1,200-space parking deck.

Along with other items, the deal would require that up to 20 percent of the child care slots be available to city residents who do not work for VCU Health and that 200 spaces in

the parking deck are available for lease to city workers.

In addition, VCU Health, The Doorways and the Ronald McDonald House Charities would partner with the city’s Office of Community Wealth Building to recruit potential employees for jobs to be filled.

Mr. Sledge called the sale beneficial to the city, allowing it to shed nearly $400,000 in yearly costs to operate and maintain the building.

To make up the difference between the sale price and the $8.5 million appraised value, he told the council that Capital City Partners would spend $1.5 million on demolition and $3.5 million on improvements, including reconnecting Clay Street between 9th and 10th streets. The only cost to the city: Relocating city operations from the building, including the drug court, a day-reporting center and an element of the city Public Works Department. The deal became possible as a result of the 2018 relocation of the police evidence and property storage space to South Side.

According to an information chart Mr. Sledge included in his presentation to City Council, the project would generate $2 million to $2.9 million annually in real estate taxes, a big difference because the city-owned building generates no tax money. He said the city should gain more in business license and other fees and taxes, but added the staff has not yet projected the amount of revenue that might come from those items.

So far, no opposition to the project has surfaced.

In addition, a majority of Richmond teachers have yet to get their COVID-19 vaccination shots. As of Tuesday, only 30 percent of teachers and support staff had their first vaccine shot, the board was informed, with the Richmond-Henrico Health District reporting that supply shortages were slowing the inoculation process. Two doses of the vaccine are required for full protection against the virus.

The Virginia Education Association is advocating for full vaccinations for all teachers before a return to in-person learning.

As the district looks to reopen in the future, Mr. Kamras told the board that his team is

Va. poised to eliminate death penalty Continued from A1

among the public and among prosecutors.

According to abolition advocates, who had been building momentum for decades, two events made this possible.

First, Democrats who already were in control of the governor’s mansion and more supportive of abolition, won the majority of seats in both the House and Senate in 2019.

Then, amid the pandemic came the Black Lives Matter demonstrations and marches for racial justice in 2020 following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Richmond became the center of the Virginia protests that ultimately eliminated most of the racist Confederate statues that had dominated the landscape, put police brutality in the spotlight and made the government put top priority on criminal justice reform to end racial disparities.

The Rev. LaKeisha Cook, a justice reform advocate with the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, said those protests, along with the federal government’s spate of executions in the final months of the Trump administration, pushed “racial justice issues and capital punishment to the forefront of people’s minds and conversations.”

Michael Stone, executive director of Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, which has been working for abolition for 30 years, also credits the wave of racial justice protests with giving the final push for this change.

The protests appear to have influenced Gov. Northam, who has been seeking to make amends since facing accusations early in his term of wearing blackface as a medical student 30 years ago.

While he did not mention the Black Lives Matter movement, Gov. Northam used his State of the Commonwealth address to announce his support and became the first governor to submit legislation to eliminate death sentences.

He, like others, noted that the death penalty does not deter murder, reduce crime or bring closure to families of victims.

While removing the death penalty from state law would be huge, Mr. Stone and others noted that the death penalty essentially has been repealed in actual practice.

In most localities in Virginia, prosecutors do not seek the death penalty and the last conviction on a capital charge anywhere in the state occurred nine years ago.

The greater expense has been a deterrent, according to advocates. So has the state’s creation of regional capital defender offices that have provide defendants with better legal representa-

Neighbors want answers about GreenCity development Continued from A1

how their homes – and their property taxes— will be affected.

Several homeowners brought their concerns directly to Mr. Forrester.

After attending two virtual town hall meetings last month hosted by county officials with GreenCity developer Michael Hallmark, Mr. Forrester and the civic association members developed a list of questions for Henrico County Manager John A. Vithoulkas and Henrico Supervisor Frank Thornton, their Fairfield District representative on the county Board of Supervisors.

In addition to asking whether residents would be displaced by the GreenCity project, they wanted to know whether Scott Road would be widened from two lanes to four to accommodate the expected traffic; whether sound barriers would be built to minimize noise from the arena; and if the county would consider freezing, reducing or deferring real estate taxes for people who

remained in the area.

Mr. Forrester said residents are concerned that the development will cause property taxes in the neighborhood to skyrocket to the point that many of the residents, who are elderly and living on fixed incomes, will be forced to move because they can’t afford it.

They also asked in the letter if the county is willing to work with residents and the civic association to create a “neighborhood planning initiative” to address the residents’ issues and potential challenges stemming from the development.

The association is awaiting an answer.

“I’m just trying to do my job,” Mr. Forrester said. “These people asked me to be their president and I’m going to do the best I can to serve them.”

Mr. Thornton is holding a constituent meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17, to discuss the project. The developers, Mr. Hallmark and Susan Eastridge of GreenCity LLC, will be a part of the virtual meeting on WebEx. People also can

working on a plan to provide limited, in-person learning for English language learners as well as those enrolled in special education courses.

He indicated that a limited program that would allow students to voluntarily participate with parental approval is under consideration.

Board Chair Cheryl L. Burke, 7th District, and 3rd District Board member Kenya Gibson both agreed that the board would need to see a clear plan on how in-person instruction would be delivered to such students, as well as a plan for the safety measures that are to be installed to enable in-person instruction for the upcoming school year.

participate by phone by calling (415) 655-0002 and using the access code 180 695 4999.

Residents are encouraged to submit questions in advance to dav127@henrico.us or during the meeting in the video’s comment section.

“I realized some time ago that all that area would be developed,” Mr. Haggins said. “I just would have preferred a heads-up.”

Mr. Forrester said that Mr. Thornton has talked about the project in terms of the benefits it will bring to the county, but hasn’t specifically addressed the civic association members about the project’s impact on their neighborhood.

People are concerned and are looking for answers, he said.

“Right now we don’t have that much information,” Mr. Forrester said. “But I believe we should be the first to know since this is going on in our backyards.”

For more details about the meeting on Feb. 17, go to https://henrico.us/supervisors/fairfielddistrict/ or call (804) 501-4208.

tion, making it harder to get a death conviction.

A state Supreme Court decision also requires prosecutors to tell juries that the alternative to the death penalty is life imprisonment.

Currently, two men are awaiting execution in Virginia, Anthony B. Juniper, 49, who was convicted in 2005 of killing four people in Norfolk, and Thomas A. Palmer, 45, who was convicted in 2007 of killing a Norfolk police officer.

Since Virginia became a colony, nearly 1,400 people have been executed in the Commonwealth, including 113 since 1976 when the death penalty was reinstated by the U.S. Supreme Court. During the Jim Crow era, historical records show that Black people were particularly targets of state retribution.

Between 1900 and the early 1970s when the nation’s highest court temporarily suspended capital punishment after finding it was used unfairly, Virginia executed 73 Black people for crimes other than murder, including rape, attempted rape and robbery that did not involve death. No white people convicted of those charges were sentenced to death.

Heightened awareness of the role that race plays in death sentences has quietly gained public attention, with polls showing public support for the death penalty falling by 25 percentage points.

Free COVID-19 testing Continued from A1 2950 Walmsley Blvd., 10 a.m. to noon, Thursday, Feb. 11 and 25.

Testing is free, and no reservations or registration are necessary.

Details: Chesterfield County Health Department at (804) 318-8207.

Want a COVID-19 vaccine?

People who live or work in Richmond or Henrico County are asked to fill out a COVID19 vaccine interest form at vax.rchd.com, or call (804) 205-3501.

Residents of Chesterfield County are asked to complete a form on the Chesterfield Health District’s website at www.vdh.virginia.gov/ chesterfield/ or call (804) 318-8207.

Residents of Hanover, Goochland, New Kent and Charles City counties are asked to fill out a “CHD Vaccine Sign-up Survey” form at www.vdh.virginia.gov/chickahominy/ or call (804) 365-3240 or the state COVID-19 hotline at (877) 275-8343.

The Virginia Department of Health began this week its vaccination program through CVS pharmacy stores for Virginians age 65 and older who are eligible under Phase 1B. The program’s online signup at CVS.com fast became clogged as people snapped up appointments meant for those who already had registered with the state health department.

Officials are now trying to work out the system going forward, with CVS pharmacies in 33 Virginia localities participating. CVS is to receive 26,000 doses of the vaccine weekly.

As of Wednesday, 1,156,117 doses of the vaccine have been administered in Virginia, with 926,772 people, or 10.9 percent of the population, inoculated with at least one dose and 229,345 people fully vaccinated with the required two doses.

The state health department also reported Wednesday a cumulative total of 537,319 positive COVID-19 cases statewide, along with 22,470 hospitalizations and 6,932 deaths.

According to state data, African-Americans comprised 21.6 percent of cases statewide and 23.8 percent of deaths for which ethnic and racial data is available, while Latinos made up 17.5 percent of the cases and 7.3 percent of deaths.

As of Wednesday, Richmond reported a total of 13,632 cases, 643 hospitalizations and 144 deaths; Henrico County, 18,862 cases, 799 hospitalizations and 357 deaths; Chesterfield County, 21,131 cases, 731 hospitalizations and 216 deaths; and Hanover County, 6,211 cases, 222 hospitalizations and 104 deaths.

Richmond Free Press

February 11-13, 2021

Over 73% of burn injuries happen in and around your home.

Fortunately, Richmond is home to our Evans-Haynes Burn Center, the state’s only nationally verified burn center.

Safety and prevention at home: • Install smoke alarms in your home and test once a month • Never leave cooking unattended • Don’t overload outlets or use frayed electrical cords

TEST

REGULARLY

Improving safety for children: • Cook on back burners and turn handles to back • Install tamper-resistant electrical outlets or covers • Don’t warm baby bottles in the microwave

Have an escape plan • Know your exits from every room • Have an outside meeting place (like a tree, a telephone pole, or a neighbor’s house) • Practice your plan with everyone in your home (at least twice a year)

«

Evans-Haynes Burn Center

tree in Meet at house front of

Established in 1947 as the first civilian burn center in the United States, we have been caring for burn patients for more than 70 years. We are also the state’s only burn center nationally verified by the American Burn Association (ABA).

Nationally verified

In a burn-related emergency, call 911. For more information about the Evans-Haynes Burn Center, go to vcuhealth.org/burn. © 2021 VCU Health. All rights reserved. Sources: Evans-Haynes Burn Center at VCU Health; American Burn Association; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Federal Emergency Management Agency.

A5

Richmond Free Press

A6 February 11-13, 2021

Local News

Churches, apartment complex are latest sites for COVID-19 vaccinations

By George Copeland Jr.

A chance to avoid further danger and tragedy. A message from a trusted pastor or fellow church member. An opportunity to keep themselves, their friends and their families safe.

These reasons and others compelled seniors to get vaccinated against COVID-19 last Friday and Saturday during events held by the Richmond and Henrico health districts.

The events, held at sites ranging from local apartments to Black churches, were part of the health districts’ efforts to expand inoculation sites and diffuse criticism over inequitable distribution of the vaccine to African-American and Latino communities.

Maura Bryant, 87, didn’t hesitate at the opportunity to get her first shot

last Friday at the Fox Manor Apartments on West 27th Street in South Side. Several of her family members and friends have been infected with COVID-19, she said. Some have died, including her husband in May. “I’ve been waiting on this shot,” said Mrs. Bryant, who attended the event with her grandson and caregiver Antwoine White. “I wanted to take it as quick as I could.”

The Fox Manor Apartments effort was part of the health districts’ new mobile vaccination clinic to inoculate the roughly 7,000 people at an estimated 50 government-owned independent living facilities in the area not covered by the federal vaccination plan for long-term care facilities and who signed up with the health districts’ vaccine interest system.

That need to ensure all bases are

Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

People make their way inside Second Baptist Church of South Richmond, which was among five sites where people were being vaccinated against COVID-19 Saturday in events held by the area health districts in partnership with VCU Health, Bon Secours and the Baptist Minister Conference of Virginia and Vicinity. More than 100 people were inoculated at the church.

Randy Wilson new HomeAgain executive director Randy Wilson has spent the past 10 years leading the Hope, Unity and Freedom Center in providing supportive services to people with mental, emotional or behavioral challenges.

He will bring that experience to his new post as executive director of HomeAgain, one of Richmond’s oldest homeless services operations.

Mr. Wilson takes the helm of an organizaMr. Wilson tion that offers emergency shelter and other programs to assist families with permanent housing.

Started in 1980, HomeAgain assists more than 500 households annually and enables 180 individuals and families to secure stable housing.

In his new post, Mr. Wilson will oversee two emergency shelters that serve a total of 60 people, transitional housing for veterans and two programs that seek to provide permanent housing.

A graduate of Emory & Henry College who has a master’s from the University of Phoenix, Mr. Wilson participated in the Bonner and AmeriCorps programs.

He is a co-founder of RVA’s Feed the City, an annual festival to feed and clothe the homeless.

He also serves on the boards of Community 50/50, the Metropolitan Business League’s Junior Board and served as fund development chair for the Urban League of Greater Richmond Young Professionals.

Landlord must sell properties, undergo housing training in HOME settlement Free Press staff report

Richmond area landlord Teresa Vetter has agreed to sell her properties and give up leasing apartments for five years to end a lawsuit accusing her of discrimination against families with children and people with disabilities.

Ms. Vetter agreed to the settlement with fair housing watchdog Housing Opportunities Made Equal, which sued her last year for making discriminatory statements and for demonstrating a discriminatory intent in the terms and conditions of her properties.

The settlement, announced by HOME officials on Jan. 26, also calls for Ms. Vetter to pay $25,000 to cover the cost of the litigation and take a fair housing training course from the Virginia Fair Housing Office, according to HOME, which was represented by the Sands Anderson law firm.

HOME officials stated that the case sought to send a message to apartment owners, operators and agents after HOME began receiving a surge of complaints from people with children who had been turned away from rental housing. According to HOME, both federal and state housing laws bar discrimination based on family status.

“This case demonstrates that landlords and housing professionals cannot discriminate based on the presence of children in the household,” said Heather Crislip, president of HOME. “You can lose your license, you can lose your properties and you can be financially responsible for the cost. There must be equal access to housing whether you have kids, a disability or enjoy any other protected status under fair housing laws.”

According to HOME’s suit, Ms. Vetter also refused to accept Social Security Disability Income for rent payments, also a violation of fair housing laws.

Prior to the suit, Ms. Vetter boasted that as a “private landlord, I can subtly just disregard certain laws,” according to HOME.

covered is paramount, particularly because of the gap between the number of people of color receiving the vaccine and Caucasians in Virginia.

According to Wednesday’s figures for whom racial and ethnic data is available, white people accounted for 71.5 percent of the people receiving at least their first dose of the vaccine, compared to 12 percent for African-Americans and 5.59 percent for Latinos.

Richmond and Henrico health district officials said the disparity isn’t any better locally.

“The small amount of data that we do have suggests that Black and Latino (residents) are not getting the vaccine at the same rate as our white Richmonders,” said Catherine Long, public information officer for the Richmond-Henrico Health District.

“We’re doing events like these to make sure that everyone has access.”

A similar focus on the marginalized and overlooked motivated five small vaccination events each aiming to inoculate 100 to 125 people last Saturday. The sites included Second Baptist Church in South Side and First African Baptist Church in North Side. The events were held in partnership with VCU Medical Center, Bon Secours and the Baptist Minister Conference of Richmond and Vicinity.

The small interior space at Fox Manor Apartments made social distancing guidelines more difficult to follow, particularly as a crowd of seniors showed up early for the four-hour event that ended at noon.

Still, the health districts met its goal of vaccinating 40 people.

By contrast, Second Baptist Church was able to handle the prospect of 100 potential patients with no problem,

Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

Sylvia Jones, 68, watches as her husband, George Jones, 69, receives his first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. The couple, members of Second Baptist Church of South Richmond, were inoculated during a vaccine event held at the church by the Richmond and Henrico health districts.

thanks to the preparation of Pastor Ralph S. Hodge and about 40 volunteers from the church who helped health district staff and Virginia Medical Reserve Corps volunteers.

“Having your pastor call and tell you to get a vaccination is going to motivate you,” Rev. Hodge said.

“Whether people like churches or not, we’re credible messengers in the community.”

“It was a great atmosphere, everything was set up very efficient,” said George Jones, 69, a church member who attended the event with his wife, Sylvia. “It was like coming home, almost.”

Community leaders have questioned the state’s choice to provide vaccines through chain pharmacies, saying those vaccination efforts aren’t reaching the people most vulnerable to the virus.

Adding to these concerns, the planned CVS Health rollout fell apart on Tuesday as the attempt to give early

access to those age 65 and older who have pre-registered with the health department collapsed. Appointments were open to everyone, leading to mass confusion and official efforts to address the issue.

“CVS was very willing to explore opportunities with us, but they were not able to deliver a technological solution,” said Dr. Danny T.K. Avula, vaccine coordinator for the Virginia Department of Health, during a press conference Tuesday afternoon. “So, not an ideal rollout, but at the end of the day we are thankful. It’s a way to pull down more vaccines into Virginia.”

Still, three to five mass vaccination events are being planned weekly, officials said, with the goal of vaccinating about 1,000 people at each one.

Another four to eight weekly mobile events also are in the works, with each vaccinating about 100 people, along with events in partnership with faith communities.

Advocates frustrated by Democrats’ efforts on police reform

By Josephine Walker Capital News Service

Virginia has made headlines in recent months for criminal justice reform measures but advocates say more needs to be done.

They are disappointed lawmakers in both chambers of the General Assembly recently killed proposals to roll back qualified immunity protections for police officers.

State lawmakers so far this session have advanced bills to legalize marijuana, remove mandatory minimum sentences and abolish the death penalty. During the special session called last year, the General Assembly banned police from using noknock search warrants and chokeholds.

But qualified immunity shields police and government officials from civil liability while performing duties in their line of work as long as their actions don’t violate “clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known,” according to a Congressional Research Service report.

House Bill 2045, introduced by Delegate Jeff Bourne of Richmond, a member of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, would have given citizens the power to pursue damages in state civil lawsuits when their rights are violated by a law enforcement officer. The bill also placed a cap on an individual officer’s liability.

Delegate Bourne’s proposal was tabled 6-2 in a House Courts of Justice subcommittee.

Senate Bill 1440, sponsored by Sen. Scott Surovell of Fairfax was a narrower proposal that provided a path for lawsuits when an officer used excessive or deadly force and neck restraints. The bill died in the Senate Judiciary Committee on a 9-5 vote.

Qualified immunity is a federal doctrine established by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1982. A state legislature can’t repeal qualified immunity, but proponents of ending the practice have asked local and state governments to create legislation allowing citizens more freedom in pursuing lawsuits against police misconduct.

During a subcommittee hearing, Delegate Bourne questioned opponents of his bill who he said consider themselves to be proponents of constitutional rights and law and order.

“It seems when we’re talking about this, and when we’re talking about people getting hurt and their constitutional rights deprived by law enforcement officers, the story becomes different,” Delegate Bourne said.

Princess Blanding, who recently announced her candidacy for governor as an independent candidate, has advocated for criminal justice reform since the death of her brother, Marcus-David Peters, in May 2018. Mr. Peters, a 24-year-old high school biology teacher, was naked and unarmed when he was shot and killed by a Richmond Police officer near an entry ramp to Interstate 95 in Downtown as he was experiencing what has been described as a mental health crisis.

Mr. Peters charged Ms. Harris at the officer who deployed his Taser and then shot Peters at least twice.

Ms. Blanding said eliminating qualified immunity is a necessary step to end discrimination and achieve racial justice in the commonwealth.

“It’s like no matter what we do to prep our kids, our loved ones, it is still going to be our fate because of the pigmentation of our skin, coupled with the fact that there is no accountability,” Ms. Blanding said.

“To me, that’s the harsh reality.”

Kalia Harris, co-host of the podcast “Race Capitol” and co-executive director of the Virginia Student Power Network, or VSPN, said she was “extremely disappointed” when a Richmond judge on Jan. 21 dismissed her organization’s lawsuit against state and local police and government officials.

In the lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on VSPN’s behalf, VSPN alleged that law enforcement and city leaders violated their constitutional right to free speech, assembly and protest when they used tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets to disperse people at the group’s overnight “teach-in” on June 22 held in the street outside Richmond City Hall.

After several hours, the Richmond Police Department declared the event an unlawful assembly and discharged tear gas and rubber bullets at the peaceful demonstrators who had blocked off the street.

“That night is still on replay in my head,” Ms. Harris said during the House subcommittee meeting. “Words can’t explain the trauma that we experienced.”

Ms. Blanding said it’s difficult for victims of police brutality to get lawyers to take on a qualified immunity case due to the power of police unions and the relationship of prosecutors to officers.

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She said if the number of positive interactions the public has with officers outweighs the instances of police misconduct, the few suits alleging misconduct should not have an issue proceeding to court. It is important to recognize that police misconduct causes irrefutable damage and changes families lives’ forever, Ms. Blanding said.

“What we have to understand is that, when you take somebody’s life, you can’t take out the magic eraser and erase it and try it again,” she said. “You cannot press restart.”

Ms. Harris said the ability to sue law enforcement agents for misconduct was the “bare minimum” of a judicial system that works for everyone.

“It doesn’t mean that they’re going to all be convicted,” she said. “It does mean that folks are able to see their day in court.”

Police officers do not qualify for qualified immunity if they cannot demonstrate the actions that they took were reasonable, said Wayne Huggins, former Virginia State Police superintendent who now serves as executive director of the Virginia State Police Association. He said officers must prove they upheld the U.S. Constitution, the laws of the Commonwealth and the policies of their individual department.

“The word that needs to be focused upon and understood is ‘qualified,’ ” Mr. Huggins said. “We have to qualify for that immunity.”

Ms. Harris and Ms. Blanding said they hope to see legislation limiting qualified immunity protections introduced again.

This is the second time that Delegate Bourne’s measure has failed.

Ms. Harris said the “Democratic trifecta” of Democrats controlling the House of Delegates, the state Senate and the governor’s office means very little if Democrats don’t use their majority to pass progressive legislation that voters support.

All 100 seats in the House of Delegates are for election in November 2021. Ms. Harris said legislators unwilling to pass comprehensive police reform will face progressive challengers in primary elections this June.

“If they’re not passing meaningful legislation, then we have to really push what it means to be blue, and start to think further outside of the box,” Ms. Harris said.

Capital News Service is a program of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Robertson School of Media and Culture.

Students in the program provide state government coverage for a variety of media outlets in Virginia.

WRITE Richmond Free Press news@richmondfreepress.com

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Richmond Free Press

February 11-13, 2021 A7

Actions

Speak

Louder Words have value, especially when they are used to make a promise. But the most important thing about a promise is the action you take afterward. At Dominion Energy, we believe in taking action – to deliver on our commitment to help people, communities, and the environment.

COVID-19 Response and Support In response to the pandemic’s economic impact, Dominion Energy has stepped up to meet the needs of our customers. We suspended all service disconnections for non-payment to provide uninterrupted, reliable service 24/7. We have given more than $1 million to support coronavirus relief efforts by the American Red Cross and other nonprofits, to help our communities in need.

Social Justice and Higher Education At Dominion Energy, we believe higher education is critical to addressing centuries of institutional racism. That is why we have committed $35 million to our initiative supporting historically Black colleges and universities, and to minority student scholarships. In addition, we have allocated another $5 million to promote social justice and community building.

Solar and Wind Energy To build a cleaner energy future, we have added more than 3.5 million solar panels throughout Virginia, helping to make us America’s third largest in solar. In addition, we are developing the largest offshore wind project in the U.S., which will produce enough energy to power 660,000 homes by 2026.

EnergyShare® For years, our EnergyShare® program has helped our neighbors across Virginia, assisting individuals and their families with bill payment and energy saving upgrades. As of today, the program has helped more than 858,000 people. In 2020, we expanded the EnergyShare® program to assist those impacted by the coronavirus with an additional $500,000 to help provide energy bill relief for small businesses, nonprofits, and houses of worship throughout Virginia.

Lower Rates And to help residential customers, we have kept our rates more than 10%* below the national average.

Turning promises into reality is what defines us. That is why we are proud to invest in what we believe in, and what we know is important to you.

*Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, as of 1/26/2021

Richmond Free Press

Evergreen shrub in the East End

Editorial Page

A8

February 11-13, 2021

Equity We have grave concerns about the state’s COVID-19 vaccine efforts and how those disproportionately impacted by the potentially fatal virus seem to be last on the list to receive inoculation against it.

We are talking Black and brown people.

According to state Department of Health data Wednesday on the 764,493 people who have received at least one dose of the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, and for whom racial and ethnic information is available, 71.5 percent are white, while only 12.1 percent are Black and 5.59 percent are Latino.

No racial and ethnic data was available for 162,279 other people who also have received at least one dose of the vaccines.

State officials acknowledge that their data collection system is flawed. And Dr. Danny Avula, who now heads the state’s COVID-19 distribution efforts, acknowledged this week some of the problems that are preventing equitable access to the vaccine, particularly for people in low-income and rural communities.

The barriers are numerous. Congressman A. Donald McEachin, who represents a district that includes Richmond and Petersburg, enumerated many of them in a letter to Dr. Avula and Dr. Norman Oliver, the state’s health commissioner.

He said in the correspondence that he has received “multiple complaints” from constituents about difficulty trying to register on health departments’ websites to get the vaccine, as well as continuously busy call center lines and a lack of communication to those on waiting lists.

He expressed concern about the lack of resources available in Black and brown communities and a “lack of coordinated distribution and administration efforts” in rural communities and communities of color.

Last week, City Councilman Michael Jones roundly criticized the lack of access to vaccination sites for high-risk populations in South Side. He said four ZIP codes in the city that have had 60 percent of the city’s COVID-19 cases since mid-December were farthest away from the major vaccination sites at the Arthur Ashe Jr. Athletic Center in Richmond next to The Diamond and the Richmond Raceway in Henrico County.

Three of those ZIP codes are in South Side, an area that Dr. Jones represents; all four areas have the largest non-white populations in the city.

In the wake of Dr. Jones’ criticisms, Richmond health department officials quickly organized five small vaccine events last weekend to reach Black and Latino residents in South Side, the East End and North Side. At least two were at Black churches in South Side and North Side.

“Bringing vaccines directly to communities who may have difficulty finding or filling out our interest form is critical to our equitable vaccine distribution framework,” one official said.

Still, we continue to hear reports from Black people in Richmond and Hampton Roads questioning whether these events at Black churches are simply window dressing designed to provide a false sense of equity with the vaccine distribution.

Several noted that the churches only had a few slots open for church members to receive the vaccine. All other slots were already taken by people pre-registered and contacted by local health departments. They questioned whether Black churches simply are being used as clinics for the health department to vaccinate people who are not part of the community.

Similar questions are coming from pharmacies in Black communities that have doses of the precious vaccine to distribute, but who are not seeing their regular patrons and community members being served because the word isn’t getting out as quickly in Black and brown communities.

Many people, including elected officials, also questioned whether Black and brown people and seniors will be left out who don’t have access to computers or the internet.

Dr. Avula acknowledged that lack of technology is an obstacle.

We submit that these obstacles can be overcome.

While those in charge of the state’s vaccination program have expertise in medicine and public health, which is critically important, they clearly lack the skill and proficiency in logistics that has severely hampered the vaccine’s equitable and successful distribution.

We agree with Dr. Jones: No more excuses. “Everyone deserves easy access, a plan, to get the vaccine,” he said.

We urge state and local officials to engage additional people with new ideas based in experience and ability to get the job done.

Kamras, the schools and COVID-19 Richmond Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras got what he wanted this week when the Richmond School Board voted to extend his contract for four years.

With the problems and expectations facing the public school system, Mr. Kamras will be earning his $250,000 salary.

Richmond Public Schools will be under scrutiny by state officials, as Mr. Kamras and many others don’t believe the school system will be ready to reopen by the March 15 deadline Gov. Ralph S. Northam set for Virginia’s public schools to restart in-person learning, even if only in part.

COVID-19 has served to further highlight the dilapidated condition of Richmond’s school buildings that may be hazardous to students’, teachers’ and staff health in this pandemic with a potentially fatal virus that is spread through air particles. Even with the completion of three new school buildings last fall, Richmond’s largely aged school structures will need work on air quality systems, installation of classroom windows that open and bathrooms that provide adequate water and soap for hand-washing before students, teachers and staff can return safely.

Mr. Kamras told the School Board this week that schools won’t be ready to reopen until June. He said RPS also is awaiting federal CARES Act money to help pay for the changes.

He and the board also discussed other obstacles blocking immediate reopening, including transportation issues and incomplete but ongoing efforts to fully vaccinate teachers, staff and bus drivers.

We believe safety is paramount when it comes to reopening schools. And while we agree with Gov. Northam that children learn better in classrooms and we worry about the learning gap that may accompany this length of time in virtual learning, we believe RPS must ensure a safe and healthy environment for students before they can return.

The majority of the students attending RPS are Black and Latino, populations that have been disproportionately represented by COVID19 cases and deaths. RPS must be able to assure students and their families that attending school won’t be a daily superspreader event, with the dreaded possibility of taking the virus home.

We hope the state will see this as an opportunity to work with Richmond and other similarly situated school districts and provide the funding and help they need to meet the goal of reopening.

We call on Mr. Kamras and the School Board to set specific goals toward reopening and to keep all concerned — students, parents, teachers, Richmond taxpayers and others — apprised regularly of the progress.

The heroes within us

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Each February in schools across the nation, pictures of well-known Black historical figures are mounted on bulletin boards in commemoration of Black History Month.

These figures are presented to young American minds as Black heroes to be noted during the shortest month of the year, and then tucked away for the next 11 months.

As long as this annual exercise creeps along from year to year in its present form, it will inhibit the recognition of the “Black character” of America.

Black History Month, as it exists today, continues the practice of “othering” Black people in America.

To make sense of this, we need to consider the nature of heroes. Heroes, like many things in our lives, are social constructs. They are created to act as building blocks in our “nation building.” The hero defines who we are as a people and exemplifies our best and most desirable characteristics.

Heroes, in this sense, are not the builders of a nation; they are the building blocks of the “national spirit” or the “volksgeist” of a people.

George Washington has been so venerated as an American hero that the dome ceiling in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol depicts his deification in a painting titled “The Apotheosis of Washington.” He receives this hero worship despite the fact that he bought and sold human beings as chattel slaves. Many well-documented instances exist where he treated Black men and women as less than

human.

Davy Crockett also is counted among the pantheon of American heroes even though he met his death at the Alamo in 1836 trying to preserve slavery in Texas when it was still a part of Mexico. Mexico had officially abolished slavery in 1829 and Gen. Santa Anna marched to Texas — and the Alamo — in 1836 to finally rid it of that abomination.

I will abbreviate this list by

Oscar H. Blayton lastly naming Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, whose statue still stands in glory in Richmond, a city where, in 2003, condemnation of a statue to honor Abraham Lincoln reached a fever pitch by Confederate sympathizers.

Nations are built in the shadows of mythic heroes. White heroes who populate American mythology are legion. But they are men who are feted for slaughtering Indians, building infrastructure with Black labor under the lash and oppressing the Latinx people of our Southwest.

In the ethos of America, there has been little tolerance for heroes who promote true justice and equality. And Black folk are seldom raised up as “national” heroes because people of color are believed to have nothing to do with the building of the American spirit that most white people recognize.

Regardless of their courage or contributions to American society, Black heroes are constructed by America’s dominant social class to be figures who merely pleaded for the recognition of the humanity of Black people. But this construct denies these Black icons the one defin-

ing characteristic of a hero. A true hero faces, and strives to overcome, adversity.

Our greatest adversity, which is the core problem in America, is the denial of our humanity. A true Black hero does not plead for white people to stop denying our humanity. Our true heroes have faced this problem and struggled to overcome it.

Malcolm X, W.E.B. DuBois and Ida B. Wells, just to name a few, stood courageously against our greatest adversity and struggled mightily trying to end it in the face of condemnation and demonization. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., because of his courageous struggle, has been raised up as a Founding Father of the new America that can be.

But America is still a work in progress. And as we build this nation, there is still a need for new heroes. We must keep in mind that the construction of heroes is a social choice. For America to become the liberal democracy we pretend it to be, this country must admit that it has had a problem in choosing its national heroes.

It is easy for Black folk to see that America’s choice of heroes is a problem. We know what kind of nation we want. And we know what kind of hero we need to bring that nation into being. We want a nation that not only allows us to live, but one that allows us to BE. Unfortunately, it has always been the talent of the elites of this country to shape the narrative of the political question of the day to serve their needs.

And this requires a denial of the existence or severity of the problems of Black folk. For the past four centuries, Black folk have been so preoccupied with staying alive, precious few of

The need for unity As we continue in Black History Month, those who consider themselves Malcolm-ites and those who consider themselves Martin-ites have too often talked the talk but not walked the walk when honoring the legacies of the two great warriors in the war against white supremacy.

Fifty-six years after the assassination of Brother Malcolm X and 53 years after the assassination of Brother Martin Luther King Jr., we have done little, if anything, to follow their guidance about the crucial need for Black unity.

In a 1963 letter to eight civil rights leaders, including Brother Martin, Brother Malcolm wrote the following: “A united front involving all Negro factions, elements and their leaders is absolutely necessary. ... If capitalistic Kennedy and communistic Khrushchev can find something

in common on which to form a United Front despite their tremendous ideological differences, it is a disgrace for Negro leaders not to be able to submerge our “minor” differences in order to seek a common solution to a common problem posed by a Common Enemy.”

Brother Malcolm invited

A. Peter Bailey them to speak at a rally in Harlem sponsored by the Muslims.

“There will be no debating, arguing, criticizing or condemning. ... This rally is designed not only to reflect the spirit of unity but it also gives you a chance to present your views to the largest and most explosive elements in metropolitan New York,” he wrote them.

Brother Martin was equally forceful about the need for Black unity. This is clear in the following excerpt from his 1967 book, “Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?”

“Too many Negro organizations are warring against each other with a claim to absolute truth. …This plea for unity is not a call for uniformity. There must always be healthy debate. There will be inevitable differences of opinion. ... This form of group unity can do definitely more to liberate the Negro than any action of individuals (italics his). We have been oppressed as a group and we must overcome that oppression as a group.”

The strong appeals for Black unity by Brother Malcolm and Brother Martin were ignored at the time, except by the FBI. The appeals basically are still being ignored by most of us in February 2021.

If we continue to do so, especially those who consider ourselves Malcolm-ites or Martin-ites, we will continue to be unworthy of the supreme sacrifice made by the two great warriors and other 20th century ancestors who fought in the war against white supremacy.

The writer is an author and journalist based in Washington.

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.

us have engaged in the struggle to defend our right to BE. The task before us now is to remove America’s toxic heroes and to construct our own and see to it that they are given their rightful place in the pantheon of our nation.

In order to ensure that we have heroes to raise up, it is important that we all become the type of courageous, selfsacrificing person that should be honored and emulated. We have plenty of role models to go by, so we must become the heroes upon which our nation is to be built.

It is up to each of us to confront the adversity oppressing us all, be the heroes we are meant to be and make this nation what it can become.

The writer is a former Marine Corps combat pilot and human rights activist who practices law in Virginia.

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Richmond Free Press

February 11-13, 2021 A9

Commentary/Letters to the Editor

Who pays price for death penalty?

This week finds the Commonwealth of Virginia on the verge of eliminating the death penalty.

During the last two decades, Virginia, as with the rest of the nation, has been sentencing fewer and fewer defendants to death.

Since 1973, there have been 174 exonerations from various death rows. Even in cases where DNA has proven the defendant is innocent, prosecutors and family members continue to believe the defendant’s death will ease their grief.

It does not.

Just last week, The Washington Post noted that the issue of sentencing someone to death in America is racialized. States in the South have more death prosecutions.

Interestingly, the counties in various states that experienced the most lynching during the Jim Crow period are more likely

to impose the death sentence, according to the newspaper’s report. It is as though the legal death penalty has replaced lynching.

My reasons for favoring elimination of the death penalty are personal. Years ago,

David P. Baugh while defending only those charged in death penalty cases, I jokingly asked a commonwealth’s attorney in a rural area of Virginia not to bring any death cases in his county because there was not one decent restaurant in that county.

With a straight face, he reflected and said, “Don’t bring any death cases? How do you expect me to get re-elected?”

Equal opportunity For a year now, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused grievous conditions throughout our world.

COVID-19 does not consider race, age, gender, occupation, privileged or poor when quashing our normal way of life.

Since COVID-19 shows no favoritism to anyone as it inflicts its virus, once our world learns that same tolerance, it could mean complete equality for everyone.

While equality for everyone is awesome, doesn’t it appear sometimes that once it begins to feel inconvenient, a double-standard emerges? For instance, the men-only pamphlets picked up at the U.S. Post Office for draft registration of males who are turning 18.

Putting others first

Since President Biden has overturned the ban on transgender people serving in the military, it should provide opportunity to mandate law for draft registration of women who are turning 18.

As we eliminate whites-only signs, all of our oppressive and demeaning signage should be removed as an equiponderate.

Symptoms of COVID-19 are truly grim nowadays. However, once we overcome the pandemic struggle, and if we can learn how to accept each other, then we master our greatest knowledge—life without prejudice.

RICK KNIGHT Henrico

Book group welcomes others

I think we could have avoided the coronavirus pandemic.

We have become very selfish and want everything to go our way.

If we treat others with dignity and respect and help others in need, we will avoid the wrath of God. If we put others first, God will bless us.

What are we waiting for?

Re “Faith leaders issue BHM book challenge to Richmond area residents,” Free Press Feb. 4-6 edition: I read with interest about the citywide reading of “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents” by Isabel Wilkerson. A group of us started a slow read of “Caste” in January. We post any thoughts and additional information on our Slack channel #caste, which is on our Slack Account #neweyesonrace.

This is our third book. We began with “White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism” by Robin DiAngelo and followed that with “Richmond’s Unhealed History” by the Rev. Benjamin Campbell.

Anyone is welcome to join us if they want. All that is needed is an open heart and we can send an invite to join.

MORTON C. MILES JR. Williamsburg

KIM KREMER Richmond

Virginia Flood Awareness Week | March 14-20

Have you

or someone you know

been impacted

by flooding?

We need to hear from you.

Your story could save a life!

He believed that killing people might increase the likelihood of his re-election.

Humans are imperfect, and that includes judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys and jurors. Do you know what lawyers call a mistake or lie the jurors believe? The truth.

Humans are imperfect. We make mistakes.

Only the Creator knows if a life needs to be taken.

Just because man’s law gives us the right to play God does not mean we can be His substitute. Let us let Him do His job.

The writer, a defense attorney since 1975, was the capital defender for the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission’s central region from 2008 to 2012, representing indigent defendants facing the death penalty. He has tried or been involved in 36 death penalty or related cases.

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A Message from Senator Jennifer McClellan Mental Illness & Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Must Be Considered In Our Criminal Justice System In 2019, a constituent named Brian shared his concerns with me about how the criminal justice system interacts with individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Brian’s son with autism was convicted of a felony at age 19 that would stain his record for his lifetime, impacting where he could live or even whether he could get a job and lead a life independent of his parents. In one night, Brian and his family entered into a criminal justice system that was ill equipped to consider his autism. Unfortunately, this story is not unique to them.

In 2019, a 20-year-old young man named Matthew Rushin collided with another car in the parking lot. Matthew has autism and a traumatic brain injury, and the collision left him confused and disoriented. His overloaded sensory system left him in a panic and he left the scene. Matthew subsequently crashed into another vehicle head-on, resulting in serious injuries to one of passengers.

Still dazed, confused, and panicked, when asked by police if he was trying to harm himself by driving head-on into oncoming M b a 7 persuaded to sign a plea agreement that was not in his best interest. He was sentenced to 50 years with 40 suspended, leaving him to serve 10 years in prison. Matthew was recently pardoned by Governor Northam and will be released from prison in early March.

In instances such as these, courts and juries cannot even consider evidence of the impact that autism—or any intellectual/developmental disability or mental health illness may have had on a defendant, or whether it should be a factor in bail or sentencing decisions. That’s because since 1985, Virginia has explicitly barred defendants at trial from introducing evidence about their disability or mental illness—even when that condition may have seriously impacted their mental

J a 4 K edge of particular behavior, this information is directly relevant to guilt or innocence.

nal justice system is high. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 30% of people who have been incarcerated are reported to have a cognitive disability—meaning those in the criminal justice system are three times more likely to report having a mental disability than a non-incarcerated person. The National Alliance of Mental Illness reported that 2 million people with mental illness are booked in jail every year.

SB 1315 and HB 2047 will create a more just system by allowing defendants to introduce evidence about their mental illness or intellectual/developmental disability when it impacts their ability to form the necessary criminal intent. The bill also requires courts to consider such conditions at bail and sentencing stages, and adds training for court-appointed lawyers to help them understand the unique considerations of representing people with such conditions and disabilities.

This legislation will align Virginia with the practices of many other states and the American Bar Association’s Criminal Justice Standards on Mental Health.

As this bill is slated to cross over from the Virginia Senate to the House of Delegates, I look forward to seeing the General Assembly and Governor make this important reform to our criminal justice system. I also look forward to hearing from you. Please feel free to share your views on legislation with me at district09@senate.virginia.gov or p=8;q Ĥ>=i?@8>a 4

Twitter and Instagram @JennMcClellanVA or on Facebook @SenJenniferMcClellan.

It is past time that Virginia reformed the criminal justice system to consider mental illness and intellectual/developmental disabilities. This year with the help of parents like Brian, the ARC of Virginia, students in the University of Virginia Law School’s State and Local Government Policy Clinic, and

!

- J Bourne to help ensure Virginia’s criminal justice system accounts for the needs of persons with mental illnesses and intellectual/ developmental disabilities.

The likelihood of a person with a disability or mental illnesses interacting with the crimiPAID FOR AND AUTHORIZED BY FRIENDS FOR JENNIFER MCCLELLAN

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Richmond Free Press

A10 February 11-13, 2021

Sports Stories by Fred Jeter

Russell Wilson wins distinguished Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award recognizes a player’s excellence on and off the field.

No one this year filled that bill better than former Richmonder Russell Wilson, who has been the Seattle Seahawks’ quarterback since 2012. Not only has he led the Seahawks to two Super Bowls and eight playoff appearances in nine seasons, he has devoted much of his time and resources to helping others in the community.

Wilson was presented the Payton trophy Feb. 6 at the NFL’s awards banquet.

In his acceptance speech, Wilson paid tribute to his father, Richmond attorney Harrison B. Wilson III, who died at age 55 of complications from diabetes in 2010.

Russell was a junior at North Carolina State University at the time.

“Dad, I know one of your favorite Harrison Wilson III, athletes of all time was Walter Payton, father of Russell Wilson the player he was, but more important, the man he was — the leader, the giver, the person,” Wilson said.

“Man, Dad, I wish you were here for this award, this moment. Dad, I can remember you telling me in the car one day, ‘Son, love changes things.’

“Well, Dad, you were right. I wish you were here to tell the world that in the toughest of times; 2020 was the most difficult time in history.”

He talked losing sports icon Kobe Bryant and movie star Chadwick Boseman during the past year, along with “witnessing losing George Floyd right in front of our eyes,” the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery who was jogging in Georgia and shot to

death by white men and Breonna Taylor at the hands of police in Louisville, Ky., and the deaths of “so many in this monster pandemic called COVID-19.”

“We’ve lost so many things,” he said. “But, Dad, I wish you were here, here to tell the world that love changes things.”

Wilson then talked about love that shines through individuals and volunteers whose actions have done much to help others.

The 32-year-old quarterback has been involved in a variety of off-the-field charitable and community activities, including visiting with young patients at Seattle Children’s Hospital every Tuesday since entering the NFL in 2012.

He also has donated more than $9 million since 2014 to Strong Against Cancer to fund life-saving treatment.

As COVID-19 struck, Wilson and wife, Ciara, also embarked on several COVID-19 pandemic-relief endeavors. They donated more than 1 million meals to families in need at the start of the pandemic last year. Their partnership with an aviation company, Wheels Up, also resulted in more than 47 million meals for Feeding America, the national hunger relief agency.

In April, Wilson’s Why Not You Foundation worked with United Way, the Rockefeller Foundation and Door Dash to expand Ride United that provides food and critical supplies to vulnerable families.

On the social justice front, the couple also paid for the placement of billboards around the country stating “Black Lives Matter, Love Russell and Ciara” and mounted a voter registration campaign to stress the importance of voting to promote positive change.

In his acceptance speech, he said his Why Not You Foundation will continue its work to help others.

Wilson, a Collegiate Schools alumnus, was brilliant as usual on the field this season, passing for 4,212 yards and 40 touch-

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson shows off his trophy after winning the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award last weekend during the NFL Honors ceremony as part of Super Bowl LV.

downs and leading the Seahawks to the NFL playoffs.

As the winner of the distinguished Payton Award, the NFL is giving Wilson $250,000 to donate to the charity of his choice.

Each of the NFL’s 32 teams sponsored one candidate for the award. All the other finalists receive $40,000 for charity work.

Wilson is the second Seattle player to win the award, following Steve Largent in 1988.

The NFL Man of the Year award began in 1970, with Walter Payton’s name added following his death in 1977.

Tom Brady, G.O.A.T. quarterback, takes Tampa Bay to champions’ circle You can call them the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, or the “Tompa” oldest coach to win the Super Bowl.

Bay Bucs or “Brady’s Bunch,” or the golden oldies, but be sure to No stranger to football’s brightest stage, “Gronk,” who was also call them Super Bowl LV champions. lured out of retirement, had six receptions for 67 yards and two A dream that would have been unimaginable last March has touchdowns that he punctuated with perhaps the two hardest come true. With quarterback Tom Brady as the navigator, the spikes in NFL lore.

Buccaneers have driven—uphill it seems all the way—to footHuman stop sign: Coordinator Todd Bowles, one of three ball’s ultimate destination.

African-American coordinators for the Bucs, whipped up a The Bucs left the 2020 Super Bowl champion Kansas City scheme that kept Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes on the Chiefs without even a “what if?” in rolling to a look-at-me jittery run most of the night.

31-9 victory Sunday night on the Bucs’ home turf at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

“To have imagined this a year ago, I would have had to be smoking something illegal,” Coach Bruce Arians said.

Any Bucs discussion starts with Brady, who came to Tampa in March 2020, following a dazzling career with the New England Patriots.

In thwarting the favored Kansas City Chiefs, Brady hit 21 of 29 passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns and was sacked just once.

His passing rating of 125.8 was a charts buster, making him the clear MVP winner.

It was Brady’s seventh Mark Murphy/Associated Press Ashley Landis/Associated Press Super Bowl victory — his Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady first six were with the Patri- Tampa Bay Buccaneers inside linebacker Devin White makes an interception against celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after ots — and his record fifth Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce the team’s 31-9 Super Bowl LV victory over MVP award. during the second half of Sunday night’s the Kansas City Chiefs at Raymond James Age doesn’t matter: At Super Bowl LV. Stadium in Tampa.

43, Brady is the oldest Super Bowl winning quarterback in the sports annals. He breaks the Chased relentlessly, Mahomes was intercepted twice, sacked former old-age record of 41 — that he set himself in 2018. three times and limited to a measly 52.3 quarterback rating.

The only other non-kicker to play in a Super Bowl at age As usual, Tampa Bay linebacker Devin White was the ring40-plus was receiver Jerry Rice in 2003 with Oakland. master. The second-year star from Louisiana State University Coach Arians, too, deserves graybeard status on the sidelines. had 12 tackles — two for losses — and one of the team’s two The 68-year-old former Virginia Tech quarterback becomes the interceptions. Antoine Winfield had the other.

Former heavyweight champion Leon Spinks dies Free Press wire report

LAS VEGAS Leon Spinks, who won Olympic gold and then shocked the boxing world by beating Muhammad Ali to win the heavyweight title in only his eighth pro fight, died Friday, Feb. 5, 2021. He was 67.

Mr. Spinks, who lived his later years in Las Vegas, had been battling prostate and other cancers.

His wife, Brenda Glur Spinks, and a few close friends and other family members were by his side when he died.

Mr. Spinks beat Mr. Ali by decision in a 15-round fight in 1978 to win the title. He was unranked at the time, and picked as an opponent because Mr. Ali was looking for an easy fight.

He got anything but that, with an unorthodox Mr. Spinks swarming over Mr. Ali throughout the fight on his way to a stunning win by split decision.

“I’m not ‘The Greatest,’” a 25-year-old Mr. Spinks said afterward. “Just the latest.”

The two met seven months later at the Superdome in New Orleans, with Mr. Ali taking the decision this time before a record indoor boxing crowd of 72,000 and a national television audience estimated at 90 million people.

“It was one of the most unbelievable things when Ali agreed to fight him because you look at the fights he had up to then, and he was not only not a top contender, but shouldn’t have been a contender at all,” promoter Bob Arum said last Saturday. “He was just an opponent but somehow he found a way to win that fight.”

Mr. Spinks would lose the rematch to Mr. Ali in New Orleans and fought for the title only once after that, when he was stopped in the third round in 1981 by Larry Holmes. He continued fighting on and off into the mid-1990s, finishing with a record of 26-17-3.

Mr. Spinks, with a big grin that often showed off his missing front teeth, was popular among boxing fans for both his win

Leon Spinks

over Mr. Ali and his easygoing personality. But he burned through his earnings quickly, and at one point after retiring, was working as a custodian at a YMCA in Nebraska cleaning locker rooms.

He later was part of a group of ex-fighters who had their brains studied by the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas. Mr. Spinks was found to have brain damage caused by a combination of taking punches to the head and heavy drinking, though he functioned well enough to do autograph sessions and other events late in his life.

“He was a good soul,” said Gene Kilroy, who was Mr. Ali’s business manager when he fought Mr. Spinks and became friends with the fighter.

Mr. Spinks won the light heavyweight division at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, beating Sixto Soria of Cuba in an upset to become one of five U.S. fighters to win gold. His brother, Michael Spinks, who later would become heavyweight champion himself, won the middleweight gold, and Sugar Ray Leonard took the welterweight title.

Mr. Spinks was born July 11, 1953, in St. Louis, raised in poverty along with his brother Michael. After discovering boxing, both brothers became top amateurs, culminating in the 1976 Olympics where Leon won the light heavyweight gold and Michael won the middleweight gold.

After moving to Las Vegas, Mr. Spinks was married to Brenda Glur Spinks in 2011. The two were often seen at boxingrelated activities, including Mr. Spinks’ 2017 induction into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame.

Horsing around: When White isn’t wearing shoulder pads, he is likely to be found at the nearby horse stables, grooming and riding his beloved horse.

Considering where the Bucs are now and where they came from, it’s fitting to note the name of White’s horse — “Dream.”

Ryan Smith

Antonio Hamilton

2 HBCU athletes on rosters for Super Bowl teams Much has changed during the last 54 years regarding HBCU participation on Super Bowl Sunday.

Only two HBCU athletes were on the rosters for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the team’s resounding win last Sunday over the Kansas City Chiefs.

They are Tampa’s Ryan Smith, who attended North Carolina Central University, and Kansas City’s Antonio Hamilton of South Carolina State University. Both are reserve defensive backs.

That’s a far cry from January 1967, when the Green Bay Packers ousted Kansas City 35-10 in the inaugural Super Bowl at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

Kansas City fielded 12 HBCU alumni that day, led by current NFL Hall of Famers Willie Lanier of Morgan State University in Baltimore and Buck Buchanan of Grambling State University in Louisiana.

Green Bay had four HBCU grads, led by current Hall of Famer Willie Davis of Grambling State and running back Elijah Pitts of Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Ark. Pitts scored the first touchdown in Super Bowl history.

And providing the halftime show more than a half century ago in Los Angeles was trumpeter Al Hirt and the Grambling State Tiger Marching Band.

Local connection to Kansas City Chiefs There is a local connection between the Richmond area and last Sunday’s Super Bowl.

Since 2017, Michael Davis has served as the personnel executive for last year’s Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.

Davis is a former Highland Springs High and Virginia State University wide receiver.

He previously served as personnel executive with the Philadelphia Eagles from 2013 to 2016 and as the college scouting director for the New York Jets from 1997 to 2013.

Michael Davis, personnel executive for the Kansas City Chiefs, holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy the team won as the 2020 Super Bowl champions.

NSU opts out of football until fall

Norfolk State University, which was scheduled to play its first football game of the season next week, has now decided to opt out of its winter-spring football season because of health concerns linked to the pandemic.

Coach Latrell Scott’s Spartans will move forward with spring practices in March in preparation for the traditional 2021 fall season.

Prior to the decision, NSU was scheduled to play at South Carolina State University on Feb. 20. There was a four-game MEAC schedule to be followed by a MEAC championship game and possible NCAA playoffs.

NSU’s fall 2020 schedule was canceled because of the pandemic.

In 2019, the Spartans were 5-7 overall and 4-4 in the MEAC.

Section

B

February 11-13, 2021 B1

Love Stories Richmond Free Press

The Free Press proudly presents its annual Valentine’s Day feature sharing the Love Stories of four Richmond area couples.

Love across a crowded room

walked away. But she returned with her home I remember coming home to Richmond on Married and college dorm numbers written on a piece military leave after being stationed in Duluth, of paper.

Minn., for 18 months. I kept singing Wilbert I put her telephone numbers in my wallet Harrison’s song “Kansas City” because I was and forgot about them until one Sunday when being reassigned to Richards-Gebaur Air Force years my buddy asked if I still had her numbers. He base outside of Kansas City, Mo. suggested I call her and ask her to invite some If you know the words to the song, it states, “I’m going to Kansas City. Kansas City, here I come. of her girlfriends over and we could go visit them.

I called and she not only invited her girlfriends, but They got some pretty little women there and I’m gonna her parents and siblings were there, too. get me one.”

We talked all the time and dated occasionally.

While stationed in Kansas City, I was invited along I was discharged from the military under an “early out” with several other G.I.s to attend a party in the fall of 1967 at a civilian co-worker’s home whose daughter program in December 1968 and returned home to Richmond. I invited her to Richmond just after Christmas. was celebrating her 18th birthday.

She came and met my parents, saw Richmond and I went to the party and as I entered the basement of the home, I saw this cute girl across the room. She I asked her to marry me.

On June 1, 1969, we were married at her church in was with an older man who I later learned was her father. She and her parents were friends of the family Kansas City. A few days later, we returned to Richmond, hosting the party. She was a freshman at Avila College which has been our home ever since.

After 51 years of marriage, three children and six in Kansas City and had decided to attend the party with grandchildren, I think she’s still the cutest woman in her parents at the last minute. Good thing.

When her father left the gathering, she lit up a the room.

J. Maurice Hopkins is the retired founder and chief cigarette. But she really couldn’t smoke. My buddy and I watched her cough and choke. He bet me that executive officer of Merchandise Sales Corp. He curI couldn’t get her telephone number. I accepted the rently is president of the Oliver White Hill Foundation and president of the Maggie L. Walker High School challenge and went over and asked her to dance.

When the music ended, I told her that I’d like to Alumni “Mass Classes” Association.

Yvonne C. Hopkins is a cashier at Costco Wholesee her again and asked for her telephone number.

I thought she had ignored my request because she sale.

51

Yvonne C. and J. Maurice Hopkins

Love’s always in fashion A piece of advice: You don’t have to Suddenly I thought, “He’s kinda cute!”

Married be a fashion plate when you meet your I quickly pushed that thought out of my soulmate. head. Newly divorced, I was not looking When Lew and I first met in 1992 in for romance.

Pennsylvania, I was a 99-year-old granny We ended our brief but pleasant conyears woman. At least, I was portraying one. versation and went our separate ways.

I had traveled 350 miles from my home Turns out that random encounter was in Virginia to present a program at Hopewell the start of something new.

Furnace National Historic Site in Elverson, Penn., The National Park Service is a small agency. for Black History Month. There I was, clad in Our paths had come close to crossing before but an old, hand-me-down dress, “sensible” shoes, never had. It took a trip of hundreds of miles to a hair in a bun and hobbling on a walking stick à small little park for us to find the one who shared la “Miss Jane Pittman.” a love of parks and Black history.

After the performance, someone said there It took three more years, but in January 1995, was a person I should meet, a park ranger who we got married in another national park just 45 happened to be up there that day from his park minutes away from the one where we met. in Virginia. Marveling at that coincidence, we I still often think about the day we met almost sat down to talk.

30 years ago. I still have that granny dress and Mind you, I’m still in my granny-woman clothes, he still has the sweatshirt, although the aviator so I was not about impressing anyone. Plus, he glasses are long gone, thankfully. was no standout either, sporting a sweatshirt, jeans, And, yes, occasionally when we talk, I still white tennis kicks and aviator glasses, exuding an lean in, my heart skips a beat and I think, “He’s aura of 1990s, off-duty park ranger cool. sooooooo cute!”

He started peppering me with questions about Lewis H. Rogers Jr. is park superintendent of my park, the people there, about Black History. Petersburg National Battlefield.

I answered dutifully. But the longer we talked, Ajena C. Rogers is supervisory park ranger the more I found myself leaning into the con- at the Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site versation. in Jackson Ward.

26

Ajena C. and Lewis H. Rogers Jr.

Love through all kinds of weather We met in January 2010 at a neighbor’s party We moved in together on Parkwood Avenue, near Married in Jackson Ward.

Lamplighter Coffee Roasters Addison St. Café, Christie knew there was a spark when Evan lent on a scorching day at the end of June 2012. We her his mittens a few weeks later in February’s finished unloading boxes as a derecho knocked ‘Snowmageddon.’ down power lines across the city. years We saw each other during the next few months A few years later, Evan proposed under a ringed at gatherings and Slaughterama, an annual bicycle full moon on a record-warm Christmas Eve in and beer party on Belle Isle. At a party in April, we heard 2015 at Byrd Park, with a Brooklyn Lager to celebrate. that Hollywood Cemetery had caught fire, so we rode We bought a house in Maymont in July 2016 and started our bikes to the Oregon Hill Overlook and watched it the unending to-do list of homeownership. smolder. Christie asked Evan out the next day.

We were married on June 17, 2017, at Monumental Our first date was a bike ride to Byrd Park with a Church and celebrated on the rooftop at Havana 59 in soccer ball and some Brooklyn Lagers. We played some Shockoe Bottom. pickup, made out and got honked at, and then got dinner Evan started an architecture firm in September 2018, and at The Black Sheep restaurant — now closed, R.I.P. — Christie became a partner at Campfire & Co. in January on West Marshall Street in the Carver neighborhood. An 2020. During the pandemic, we’ve worked from home epic first date to say the least. together and learned new ways to care for each other and We spent the summer inseparable, days riding bikes ourselves. We are so incredibly thankful. to the river, nights out dancing.

Evan MacKenzie is an architect and founder of Field Work moved Evan to Washington, D.C., that next Janu- Parti, an architecture firm. ary. He caught the train back every other weekend.

Christie Thompson is a partner and lead strategist at A year later, we decided to give it a go in Richmond. Campfire & Co., a design studio.

3

Evan MacKenzie and Christie Thompson

Love filled with possibilities “I want people to know that I love together quickly, even in a pandemic.

Married you,” Jasmine told Rebecca on an We committed to each other publicly afternoon in late spring 2020. in September 2020 with four officiWe met because we both lived in ants, close friends and surrounded Richmond, where you’re bound to cross by love. months paths at least once.

We both desire that each other live Our friendship grew and deepened out our ancestors’ wildest dreams and after May 2018 when we were called to respond receive all the love this life is willing to ofto a catalytic event in our lives and that of fer us.

Richmond — the police murder of 26-yearWe have deep respect and trust with each old Black educator Marcus-David Peters. Mr. other and entered our committed relationship Peters, who was experiencing what has been openly, also referred to as polyamory. This described as a mental health crisis, was met path is not for the insecure or faint of heart, with lethal force at the hands of Richmond law of which we are neither. enforcement when he needed help.

We are excited to embrace and create a life We watched each other walk in integrity and love of our own making for as long as during challenging moments when we had no we will. We hope you know that love is filled romantic skin in the game. This deep friendship with possibilities. helped us see that fulfilling, romantic love was Rebecca Celosia-Wooden Keel is a statewide possible for us. community organizer.

We both have deep skills in pulling people Jasmine Celosia Leeward is a filmmaker.

5

Jasmine Celosia Leeward and Rebecca Celosia-Wooden Keel

Richmond Free Press

B2 February 11-13, 2021

Happenings Mary Wilson, the longest reigning original Supreme, dies at 76 Free Press wire report

LAS VEGAS Mary Wilson, an original member of The Supremes who is considered the force that kept the hugely popular trio together through the internal strife that mounted with their success, has died. She was 76.

Ms. Wilson died Monday night, Feb. 8, 2021, at her home in Nevada, said her publicist Jay Schwartz.

The cause of her death was not provided.

Ms. Wilson’s voice and talent, combined with Diana Ross and Florence Ballard in the 1960s, made up the first successful configuration of The Supremes, Motown’s first and most commercially successful female group. Their string of 10 No. 1 hits on the U.S. pop charts began with the June 1964 release of “Where Did Our Love Go?,” the million-seller that turned the Motown sound into an international sensation.

Touring at the time, Ms. Wilson said there was a moment when she realized they had a hit song.

“I remember that instead of going home on the bus, we flew,” she told The Associated Press in 2014. “That was our first plane ride.

We flew home. We had really hit it big.”

With the group under the eye and push of Barry Gordy Jr., founder of the Motown record label, it would be the first of five consecutive No. 1 hits, with “Baby Love,” “Come See About Me,” “Stop! In the Name of Love” and “Back in My Arms Again” following in quick succession. The Supremes also recorded the hit songs “You Can’t Hurry Love,” “Up the Ladder to the Roof” and “Love Child.”

Mary Wilson

Reflecting Mr. Gordy’s promotion of Ms. Ross, with whom he had been having a long affair, the group’s name was changed to Diana Ross and the Supremes in 1967.

Ms. Ballard left the group that year, under reports of alcoholism that made her unreliable.

She was replaced by Cindy Birdsong.

Two years later in 1969, the ambitious Ms. Ross left to launch her own solo career.

Ms. Wilson, the only original member left, kept the group together with Ms. Birdsong and Jean Terrell. Ms. Wilson then got to sing the lead on two lesser late hits “Floy Joy” and “Automatically Sunshine,” before the group officially disbanded in 1977.

Ms. Wilson, Ms. Ross and Ms. Ballard, who died in February 1976, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.

“I just woke up to this news,” Ms. Ross tweeted on Tuesday, offering her condolences to the Wilson family. “I am reminded that each day

is a gift,” she added, writing “I have so many wonderful memories of our time together.”

In a statement, Mr. Gordy said he was “extremely shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of a major member of the Motown family, Mary Wilson of the Supremes. The Supremes were always known as the ‘sweethearts of Motown.’ ” Born in Greenville, Miss., Ms. Wilson was an infant when her family moved first to St. Louis and then to Chicago. Because of family instability, Ms. Wilson was sent to Detroit to live with her aunt.

When her mother and siblings later moved to Detroit, Ms. Wilson lived with them in the Brewster Projects, a public housing community.

She attended the Baptist church led by the Rev. C.L. Franklin, and met his talented daughters who sang with the choir, Aretha Franklin and her sisters, Erma and Carolyn.

It was in the Brewster Projects where Ms. Wilson met Florence Ballard, a fellow competitor in a local talent show. They were neighbors, along with Diana Ross. They, and a fourth young woman, Betty McGlown, formed a group called The Primettes.

With Barbara Martin replacing Ms. McGlown in 1960, The Primettes made their first record for Lupine Records, a small Detroit label. They signed with Motown in 1961, were renamed The Supremes and had a string of misses. Ms. Martin left the group in early 1962, leaving the trio of Ms. Wilson, Ms. Ross and Ms. Ballard.

The writing and producing team of Eddie and Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier, known as

Holland-Dozier-Holland, gave them their first big hit in 1964.

“The world has lost one of the brightest stars in our Motown family. Mary Wilson was an icon,” Motown Museum Chairwoman and CEO Robin Terry said in a statement.

Ms. Wilson, in a YouTube video posted just two days before her death, said she was excited to celebrate Black History Month, her upcoming birthday on March 6 and teased fans with the announcement that Universal Music had plans to release some of her music.

“We’re going to be talking about The Supremes, yeah, 60th anniversary, and I’m going to be talking a lot about that mainly because I’ve finally decided how to work with Universal and they’re going to release new recordings, Mary Wilson recordings,” she said. “Yes! At last!

“Hopefully some of that will be out on my birthday,” she continued. “We’ll see. I’ve got my fingers crossed here. Yes I do.”

Following The Supremes’ disbandment, Ms. Wilson released the New York Times best-selling book, “Dreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme,” in 1986. She released her second book, “Supreme Faith: Someday We’ll Be Together,” in 1990.

Her last book, “Supreme Glamour,” was written with Mark Bego and was released in 2019.

Ms. Wilson also competed on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” in 2019.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a funeral service for Ms. Wilson will be private, according to a statement released. A celebration of her life is expected later in the year.

Black History Month events calendar this week

Compiled by Ronald E. Carrington

A variety of events are planned in and around Richmond for Black History Month.

The annual observance originated as “Negro History Week” in 1926 with Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a Virginia native, and the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History, which Dr. Woodson helped to found.

It has since expanded to a monthlong observation honoring the contributions and accomplishments of Black Americans.

Some of the month’s events include: Thursday, Feb. 11, 6 to 7 p.m., African-American Read-In. Literature and fine arts come together with notable figures from Greater Richmond giving prose and poetry readings in pairings with works by African-American artists. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Free, virtual program. Zoom registration required. Second of four Read-In days. Details: vmfa.museum or (804) 340-1400.

Thursday, Feb. 11, 5 to 6 p.m., National Museum of African American History and Culture, In Dialogue: Social Smithsonian Objects and Social Justice—Race and Medicine. Leslie P. Walker, head of the NMAAHC’s academic and social justice department, and Beth Evans, educator at the National Portrait Gallery, will give virtual talk on race and medicine as represented by objects in the collection. Free. Registration required: https://nmaahc. si.edu/events/upcoming.

Monday, Feb. 15, 6 p.m., “The True Status of Descendants of Enslaved Afrikans in America: A Lemon’s Legacies Porch Talk.” Attorney Jaaye Person-Lynn talks about the historical status of the enslaved population in the United States and their descendants under the law.

Sponsored by The Lemon Project at the College of William & Mary in conjunction with the Williamsburg Regional Library. Details and registration: https://events.wm.edu/ event/view/lemonproject/120708 Tuesday, Feb. 16, 6:30 to 8 p.m., “A Celebration of Black History Featuring Victoria Eady Butler,” sponsored by the Cavalier Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association. Virtual talk by Victoria Eady Butler, the great-great-granddaughter of Nearest Green, the first African-American master distiller on record and mentor to Jack Daniels.

Registration required. www.eventbrite.com (Cavalier ABWA-Celebrate Black History) Details: Sylvia at (804) 387-3702.

Tuesday, Feb. 16, 7 p.m., “Reality Pedagogy: Teaching and Learning from the Students’ Standpoint,” a Zoom keynote address by bestselling author Dr. Chris Emdin, associate professor of science education at Columbia University’s Teachers College. Author of “For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood and the Rest of Y’all Too.” Sponsored by the

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Education in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the RTR Teacher Residency program. Register at bit.ly/RTRkeynote.

Thursday, Feb. 18, 6 p.m., “Finding My People: African-American Genealogy Workshop.” Dr. Jajuan Johnson, a Mellon postdoctoral research associate at the College of William & Mary, will talk about resources to help research AfricanAmerican family history. Sponsored

by The Lemon Project at the College of William & Mary in partnership with the Let Freedom Ring Foundation. Details and registration: https://events.wm.edu/event/ view/lemonproject/120737 Saturday, Feb. 20, 2 to 3 p.m., Black History Month Highlights, The Valentine, 1015 E. Clay St. Take a live, interactive Zoom tour exploring highlights and stories from the museum’s core exhibit, This is Richmond, Virginia.” Free. Details and registration: www.thevalentine. org or (804) 649-0711 Saturday, Feb. 27, 3 to 7 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 28, 3 to 6 p.m., Black Book Expo, sponsored by Elegba Folklore Society, 101 E. Broad St. Featured author: Dr. Ronald A. Crutcher, president of the University of Richmond and author of the new memoir “I Had No Idea You Were Black: Navigating Race on the Road to Leadership.” Other celebrity guest authors will make presentations and sign their books. Entertainment and refreshments featured on Saturday. COVID-19 protocol in

place. Details: www.efsinc.org or (804) 644-3900.

Virginia Museum of History & Culture The museum is hosting a series of virtual events that are free, but registration is required. Details: virginiahistory.org/events.

Thursday, Feb. 11, noon, The Story of Virginia. Historian Ric Murphy, author of “Arrival of the First Africans in Virginia,” will talk about the arrival of the first 32 Africans in 1619 and how their arrival was shrouded in controversy because of colonialism, treason, piracy, kidnapping, enslavement, and English law. Part of Banner Lecture series.

Program will be livestreamed on the museum’s Facebook and YouTube channels.

Tuesday, Feb. 16, 7 p.m., “Searching for Black Confederates: The Civil War’s Most Persistent Myth,” an interactive Zoom presentation by guest historian Kevin Levin.

Thursday, Feb. 18, 7 p.m., “Hidden Figure of GPS,” a conversation with Dr. Gladys West, a trailblazing mathematician who helped develop GPS and other satellite mapping technology during her career at the Naval Surface Weapons Center at Dahlgren. She was one of the first two Black women to join Dahlgren in 1956.

Thursday, Feb. 25, 7 p.m., “Activism from Home 101,” a virtual panel discussion with changemakers featured in the museum’s recent exhibit, “Today’s Agents of Change.”

Panelists will offer insights from their experience and discuss how to tap into your passion, get involved in a cause and conduct advocacy work from home.

The Richmond Public Library presents a series of virtual events in celebration of Black History Month.

All events are free and require registration by going to RVAlibrary.org/ events or call (804) 646-4867.

Thursday, Feb. 11, 6 p.m., “The Other Side of the Coin: Race, Generations and Reconciliation,” a documentary screening and discussion about race in America with documentarian Frederick Murphy.

Tuesday, Feb. 16, 6 p.m., “Black Oscars,” a virtual talk with Dr. Frederick W. Gooding Jr., associate professor at Texas Christian University and author of the book, “Black Oscars: From Mammy to Minny, What the Academy Awards Tell Us About African Americans.”

Virginia State University and Chesterfield County present the 32nd Annual Black History Month Celebration, a variety of free, virtual programs. Register for any of the events below by going to www. chesterfield.gov/4256/CelebrationEvents Friday, Feb. 12, 10:30 to 11:15 a.m., Uncle Ty-Rone gets you laughing and dancing with music, friends and good vibes. Video is available for 14 days after premiere.

Saturday, Feb. 13, 2 to 3 p.m., Queen Nur: Sweet Potato Pie and Such. Folk tales from the African and African-American oral tradition. Program is designed for participation.

Monday, Feb. 15, 7 to 8 p.m., Dr. Vanessa Holden, professor in the departments of History and African American and Africana Studies at the University of Kentucky,

discusses her book, “The Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity.” Video available for 30 days after premiere.

Wednesday, Feb. 17, 7 to 8 p.m., An evening with Jason Reynolds and Dr. Ibram X. Kendi discussing their collaboration on “Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You,” a young adult adaptation of Dr. Kendi’s “Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America.”

Thursday, Feb. 18, 7 to 8 p.m., The Jazz of Plunky and Oneness.

Musician J. Plunky Branch gives a short talk on jazz and the Black experience followed by a performance with his band. Video is available for 30 days after premiere.

Friday, Feb. 19, 8 a.m. Chesterfield County Annual Scholarship Recognition. A virtual program to recognize six outstanding Chesterfield County high school seniors and the business community for their achievements and contributions.

Program can be viewed on Comcast Channel 98, Verizon Channel 28, and live streamed on www. chesterfield.gov and the county’s YouTube channel.

Saturday, Feb. 20, 2 to 3 p.m., Let it Shine! Bright Star Theatre introduces children to significant events and notable names of the Civil Rights Movement. Registration begins Feb. 6. Video is available for seven days after premiere.

50

Monday, Feb. 22, noon to 12:30 p.m., Tour of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. This virtual tour of the exhibits at the museum in Jackson, Miss., will provide information about the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi. Registration begins Feb. 8. Video is available for 30 days from premiere.

Through June, Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, 122 W. Leigh St. “VIRGINIA JAZZ: The Early Years,” a comprehensive exhibition highlighting seven decades of Virginia artists and their contributions to the development of jazz as an art form from the early 1900s through the 1960s. Visitors also may share their family stories and inspire a new generation to keep jazz alive. Details: www. blackhistorymuseum.org or (804) 780-9093.

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Richmond Free Press

February 11-13, 2021 B3

Happenings

Personality: Ryshonna T. Addison Spotlight on volunteer head of program administration with Community 50/50 For more than 10 years, Community 50/50 has worked to empower youths and families in the Greater Richmond area.

And for more than 10 years, Ryshonna Taylise Addison has been there as the organization strives to create positive ripples through community service.

Ms. Addison has been involved with Community 50/50 since it was founded by Zenobia Bey in 2009. It began as a program to feed the less fortunate and to help in community cleanup efforts.

Since then, however, Community 50/50 has expanded immensely. While it continues a community feeding program and a community clothes closet, Community 50/50 also now provides mentorship to youths ages 5 to 18 and their families and builds positive thinking through workshops and programs focused on social skills, the arts, education and family improvement.

The organization works with youths in various areas of the city, as well as several middle and high schools in Richmond.

“I’m not from Richmond, but serving the community is my passion,” says Ms. Addison, a native of Providence, R.I. “When Zenobia ran the idea by me, I was all in and have been ever since.”

As the volunteer program administrator, Ms. Addison manages operations, ensuring the quality of the programs and positive outcomes. Her strategy for success includes three simple tenets, she says, “Communication, collaboration and consistency!”

Community 50/50’s commitment to the community has continued in the midst of

COVID-19. Ms. Addison says their workshops and engagement activities with youths are now virtual. And the community feeding and clothes closet has continued with social distancing. The group also gives out personal protective equipment, or PPE, to those in need.

Ms. Addison says community support also has grown during the pandemic, with more donations to the clothes closet of gently used clothing. Distributions from the closet also have grown, she says.

“Community 50/50 Inc. believes that if we do 50 percent of the work and the community as a whole does 50 percent of the work, we will have an infinite impact on the problems we can solve together,” Ms. Addison says.

Meet a conduit for community service and this week’s Personality, Ryshonna T. Addison: No. 1 volunteer position: Volunteer head of program administration, quality assurance and compliance, Community 50/50.

Date and place of birth: Oct. 22 in Providence, R.I. Where I live now: Henrico County Occupation: Human resource generalist with the City of Richmond.

Education: Bachelor’s in general studies, Virginia Commonwealth University; master’s in management, University of Phoenix; and a licensed massage therapist.

Family: Three daughters, ages 24, 19 and 17.

Community 50/50 is: A grassroots community service organization founded to provide mentoring and outreach

programs designed to include youths and their families in programming that empowers and engages to foster an environment that encourages positive thinking through arts, social skills, health, education, prevention and overall family involvement.

When and why founded: Founded in 2009 to feed the less fortunate and conduct consistent community cleanup projects. That purpose has since evolved into many programs in a variety of settings.

Founder: Zenobia Bey. How Community 50/50 got its name: Think of when a raindrop hits a puddle of water.

There is a ripple effect. Community 50/50 believes that if we do 50 percent of the work and the community as a whole does 50 percent of the work, we will have an infinite impact on the problems we can solve together.

Location: Our programs are spread through Metro Richmond. We work with youths in Jackson Ward, North Side, Blackwell and several middle and high schools within the city of Richmond. Our main office is on Westwood Avenue.

How long have you volunteered with Community 50/50: I’ve been with the organization since its inception in 2009. I’ve been there since we fed our first group of people and hosted our first Hip Hop Critical Thinking workshop for youths and their parents at the Boys & Girls Club.

Why I accepted position: I’m not from Richmond, but serving the community is my passion. When Zenobia ran the idea by me, I was all in and have been ever since. I enjoy interacting with the recipients of our services and assisting the organization with consistent practices and creating ways to include our programs in a variety of settings.

No. 1 goal: To ensure service delivery continues with quality programs and positive outcomes.

Strategy for achieving goals: Communication, collaboration and consistency!

No. 1 challenge facing Community 50/50: Limited funding.

How Community 50/50 is impacted by COVID-19: We have not stopped operations. We have modified how we interact with youths in our workshops and engagement activities by going fully virtual. Regarding other programs, we still feed

the community in Blackwell every third Sunday, but socially distanced. We also give PPE to those in need. Our clothes closet donations and distributions have grown throughout COVID-19 and we still are able to connect resources with proper planning to ensure recipients in need get clothing and basic necessities by appointment.

Racial equity and Community 50/50: We believe in equity and inclusion. Many of our volunteers are from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds. We welcome anyone who wishes to lend a hand to join us (the ripple effect).

Upcoming events and how to get involved: Community Feeding — Every third Sunday from noon to 12:30 p.m. in Blackwell at 17th Street and Chicago Avenue. Bring cooked food, dessert, beverages, toiletries, gently used clothing. Anyone is welcome to participate. No advance notice required.

Community Closet — Donate gently used clothing for any gender or age. Every Wednesday noon to 4 p.m. and every other Saturday noon to 2 p.m. at Morning Star Storage, 1716 E. Cary St. Virtually participate in any of our workshops. Follow our FB/ IG pages @community5050.

How I start the day: Normal routine, put my feet on the floor and take on whatever comes my way for that day!

Carpe Diem!

Three words that best describe me: Loyal, compassionate and professional.

Best late-night snack: I’m trying to stay away from snacks, but if I could indulge, Southern Butter Pecan Talenti Gelato!

How I unwind: Binge watch any and everything on Netflix, Hulu and Fire Stick or listen to music. There’s lots available during the quarantine — Mad Skillz, 9th Wonder, D-Nice and many more.

Something I love to do that most people would never imagine: Sit on the beach on a brisk day bundled up in a warm and cozy blanket by myself to listen to my music in between listening to the waves crash!

Quote that most inspires me: “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” — Buddha At the top of my “to-do” list: Figure out my “next chapter.”

My baby is graduating from high school this year. I need to work on how my life will look without a minor in the household!

Best thing my parents ever taught me: My mom taught me to be strong and independent.

My dad taught me how to properly vacuum a floor. (You have to see the patterns of Vs and Ws or you didn’t vacuum properly!)

Person who influenced me the most: My grandmother.

Book that influenced me the most: “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey.

What I’m reading now: “Your Money or Your Life: Nine Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence” by Vicki Robin.

Next goal: To start investing in real estate. I’ve been getting educated since June 2020.

I need to take a leap of faith and acquire property by the end of 2021.

MEET AMY CABANISS For more than 18 years, Julep's New Southern Cuisine has been known for its award-winning favorites like shrimp and grits and fried green tomatoes. Located at 420 E. Grace Street, Julep’s temporarily closed in March 2020 to keep employees and customers safe, reopening in July. But, without the regular foot traffic of downtown workers and conventioneers, it’s been slow.

Said owner, Amy Cabaniss, “I like the feeling of downtown. People care for one another… look out for one another.” Amy is photographed here with bartender Hootan Hadavand (far left) and server Tony Fountaine (far right).

Downtown has hundreds of small businesses, non-profits, and cultural institutions that are open!

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Richmond Free Press

B4 February 11-13, 2021

Faith News/Directory

Opponents to Fourth Baptist Church’s incorporation tie up names with SCC

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

The rush to incorporate Fourth Baptist Church apparently has slowed after opponents temporarily claimed the church’s name along with eight variations.

According to State Corporation Commission records, John Lewis Taylor III and SAGEsse Consulting separately reserved the names Fourth Baptist Church, Fourth Baptist Church of Church Hill, Fourth Baptist Church of East End and Fourth Baptist Church of RVA. Other names that have been

reserved include Fourth Baptist Church of Richmond, Fourth Baptist Church of Richmond VA, Fourth Baptist Church of VA and Fourth Baptist Church of Virginia.

The SCC allows potential incorporators to reserve names for up to four months and blocks others from seeking to use names that have been reserved.

Some of the reservations expire at the end of April, while others expire at the end of May. The pastor, Dr. William E. Jackson Sr., has not responded

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to a request for comment.

Several opponents of incorporating the 162-year-old church have indicated that Dr. Jackson has promised to hold another congregational meeting this spring to further discuss the proposal before moving forward.

The proposal has split the 300-member congregation. Dr. Jackson has stated in a report to the church’s members that he received authorization to proceed with incorporation at a congregational meeting in mid-October.

But those seeking more time to consider the matter have alleged that all members were not notified that the vote would be taken, one-third of those who attended the virtual meeting had signed off by the time the vote took place, too little time was given to discussion and the reported 39-26 tally in favor was inaccurate.

Between 80 and 100 church members have signed a petition calling for more discussion before any additional action is taken.

The Reverend

Sunday School – 9:45 AM Sunday Services – 11:00 AM

1408 W. Leigh Street · Richmond, Va. 23220 (804) 358—6403

Also Visit Us On Facebook Sunday Service – 11:00 AM 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

Baptist Church

Dr. Alonza L. Lawrence, Pastor

1127 North 28th St., Richmond, VA 23223 s Office: (804) 644-1402 Dr. Sylvester T. Smith, Pastor “There’s A Place for You”

Due to the COVID-19 Corona Virus All regular activities have been suspended until further notice.

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3HARON "APTIST #HURCH 500 E. Laburnum Avenue, Richmond, VA 23222 www.sharonbaptistchurchrichmond.org (804) 643-3825 Rev. Dr. Paul A. Coles, Pastor

SUNDAYS Morning Worship 10:00 AM Drive-In Service in our Parking Lot

All church ac�vi�es are canceled un�l further no�ce.

Follow us on Facebook for “A Word from Moore Street’s Pastor” and weekly Zoom worship info.

Drive-thru giving will be available the 1st and 3rd Saturday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the church. (Bowe Street side) You also may give through Givelify.

Be safe. Be blessed.

Honoring God ... and serving people THANKS TO YOU for over 64 years and looking for 64 more years

Good Shepherd Baptist Church

Jasper and his growing congregation found a home at 14 West Duval Street in the summer of 1869. He reached the height of his career with his signature sermon, “De Sun Do Move, De Earth Am Square”, which was first preached in 1878. Praised by some, and ridiculed by others, the sermon was preached before thousands of citizens including the Virginia General Assembly. Jasper died in 1901 and is buried in Woodland Cemetery. A quilt celebrating the bicentennial of his birth hangs in the Richmond Convention Center along Third Street. Panels of a moving sun encircle the quilt.

The panels of stars represent the years John Jasper lived as a free man.

Moore Street Missionary

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St. Peter Baptist Church $R +IRKLAND 2 7ALTON 0ASTOR

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e with Reverence elevanc R ing Rev. Dr. Joshua Mitchell, Senior Pastor bin m ❖ o Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic All regular activities have been suspended until further notice.

Worship Opportunities

Please join us on

Facebook or YouTube

Join us for online streaming this Sunday at 10 AM. Visit our WEBSITE, look under “/NLINE 3ERVICES,” and access the “0ASTOR S -ESSAGE.”

10:30 a.m. Sundays 7:00 p.m. Wednesdays-Bible Study

Bible Study Opportunities Thursdays: Virtual Bible Study session via Zoom, every Thursday at 7 PM. Email request to spbcoffice@stpeterbaptist.net; A new Meeting ID and password will be emailed weekly.

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

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Ebenezer Baptist Church 1858

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216 W. Leigh St. • Richmond, Va. 23220 Tel: 804-643-3366 • Fax: 804-643-3367 Email: ebcoffice1@yahoo.com • web: www.richmondebenezer.com

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

For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.

(Jeremiah 29:11, NRSV)

“Due to the Corona Virus Pandemic, Services Are Cancelled, until further notice; but, please join us, by visiting BRBCOnline.org or YouTube (Broad Rock Baptist Church).”

Please visit our website Ebenezer Baptist Church Richmond, VA for updates http://www.richmondebenezer.com

“MAKE IT HAPPEN” Pastor Kevin Cook

See you there!

Thirty-first Street Baptist Church

Tithing Opportunities arsfor ofApple Chrisand Download the Tithe.ly devices. tianAndroid g givingyeapp Serv ratin Your gift is and goes directly to our church. ic lebsafe/secure

Broad Rock Baptist Church

1812 1901

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orn a slave on July 4, 1812 in Fluvanna County, Virginia John Jasper found his way to Richmond as a teenager and began working in tobacco factories for several white masters. After a religious experience, he began a career as a preacher, and became popular as a slave funeral preacher. His popularity grew and soon he was in demand around the state of Virginia. After the war, he organized his church, the Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church on September 3, 1867 in an abandoned confederate horse stable on Brown’s Island along the James River.

2IVERVIEW

"APTIST #HURCH

JOHN JASPER

Dr. Wallace J. Cook, Pastor Emeritus

Rev. Dr. Adam L. Bond, Pastor

Antioch Baptist Church

7M\XL &ETXMWX 'LYVGL 8LIQI JSV 1SFMPM^MRK *SV 1MRMWXV] 6IJVIWLMRK 8LI 3PH ERH )QIVKMRK 8LI 2I[ A 21st Century Church With Ministry For Everyone

We Embrace Diversity — Love For All! Come worship with us!

Sunday Service will not be held in our sanctuary.

Join us for 11:00 AM Worship by going to our website www.sixthbaptistchurch.org

Twitter sixthbaptistrva

Rev. Dr. Yvonne Jones Bibbs, Pastor

400 South Addison Street Richmond, Va. 23220

(near Byrd Park)

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

“Redeeming God’s People for Gods Purpose”

“Working For You In This Difficult Hour”

SERVICES

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1384 New Market Road, Richmond, Virginia 23231 | 804-222-8835

SUNDAY WORSHIP HOUR – 10:00 A.M. CHILDREN’S CHURCH & BUS MINISTRY AVAILABLE SUNDAY SCHOOL (FOR ALL AGES) – 9:00 A.M. TUESDAY MID-DAY BIBLE STUDY – 12 NOON WEDNESDAY MID-WEEK PRAYER & BIBLE STUDY – 7:00 P.M. A MISSION BASED CHURCH FAMILY EXCITING MINISTRIES FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH, YOUNG ADULTS & SENIOR ADULTS BIBLE REVELATION TEACHING DIVERSE MUSIC MINISTRY LOVING, CARING ENVIRONMENT

DR. JAMES L. SAILES PASTOR

Joseph Jenkins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. 2011-2049 Grayland Avenue Richmond, Virginia 23220 (804) 358-9177

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Joseph Jenkins, Jr., Founder (Dec. 19, 1938 - Dec. 9, 2006) Joseph Jenkins, III. • Jason K. Jenkins • Maxine T. Jenkins

Richmond Free Press

February 11-13, 2021 B5

Legal Notices Continued from previous column

To advertise in the

Richmond Free Press call

644-0496 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 22, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. to consider the following ordinances: Ordinance No. 2020-261 As Amended To amend and reordain City Code §§ 30-420.1, 30-420.1:1, and 30-420.2, concerning permitted uses in the R-73 Multifamily Residential District; 30426.1, 30-426.1:1, and 30-426.2, concerning permitted uses in the RO-2 Residential-Office District; 30-432.1, concerning permitted uses in the I Institutional District; 30-434.1 concerning permitted uses in the B-1 Neighborhood Business District; 30436.1, concerning permitted uses in the B-2 Community Business District; 30-438.1 and 30-438.2, concerning permitted uses in the B-3 General Business District; 30-440.1 and 30-440.2, concerning permitted uses in the B-4 Central Business District; 30-450.1, concerning permitted uses in the OS Office-Service District; 30-452.1, concerning permitted principal and accessory uses in the M-1 Light Industrial District; 30-1045.6, concerning specific conditions applicable to particular uses, and 301220, concerning certain definitions; to amend ch. 30. art. VI of the City Code by adding therein a new div. 15 (§§ 30-698—30.698.3), concerning specific conditions applicable to particular uses; and to amend ch. 30, art. XII of the City Code by adding therein new sections 301220.32:1, 30-1220.84:1, 30-1220.84:2, 301220.95:1, 30-1220.95:2, 30-1220.120:1, and 301220.122:1.

Ordinance No. 2020-275 To erect all-way stop signs at the intersection of Lamont Street and W i l m i n g t o n Av e n u e .

(COMMITTEE: Land Use, Housing and Transportation, Tuesday, February 16, 2021, 12:00 p.m.)

Ordinance No. 2021-020 To amend City Code §§ 26880, concerning beginner businesses, occupations or professions, and 26891, concerning the time of assessment and payment, penalties and interest, and rates of interest for license taxes, for the purpose of establishing a due date of March 1 of each license tax year instead of January 1 of each license tax year for business license taxes. (COMMITTEE: Finance and Economic Development, Thursday, February 18, 2021, 1:00 p.m.)

Ordinance No. 2021-021 To amend City Code § 24-111, concerning encroachment application and processing fees, for the purpose of extending the application deadline for use of a sidewalk for outdoor dining from October 31, 2020, to June 30, 2021.

Ordinance No. 2021-022 To amend Ord. No. 2020049, adopted May 11, 2020, which adopted the Fiscal Year 20202021 General Fund Budget and made appropriations pursuant thereto, by reducing total appropriations by $1,753,657, transferring funds from various agencies and nondepartmental programs and the Budget and Revenue Stabilization Contingency Reserve, and appropriating the transferred funds to various agencies and nondepartmental programs.

Ordinance No. 2021-023 To amend Ord. No. 2020049, adopted May 11, 2020, which adopted the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 General Fund Budget and made appropriations pursuant thereto, by re-appropriating a $656,995.00 portion of Continued on next column

the Fiscal Year 20192020 fund balance excess identified as an assignment of “Unspent Building Code Fees” in the City’s 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, and to appropriate these funds to the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 General Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department of Planning and Development Review by $656,995.00 for the purpose of supporting the functions of the Department of Planning and Development Review’s Division of Permits and Inspections in compliance with Va. Code § 36-105.

Ordinance No. 2021-024 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for an on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute the Development Agreement between the City of Richmond, Virginia, and Capital City Partners, LLC, for the purpose of providing for the private development of a mixeduse project located at 500 North 10 th Street and the construction and dedication of certain public improvements in the vicinity thereof.

(COMMITTEE: Land Use, Housing and Transportation, Tuesday, February 16, 2021, 12:00 p.m.)

Ordinance No. 2021-025 To direct the sale of the City-owned real estate located at 500 North 10th Street and known as the Public Safety Building to Capital City Partners, LLC, for $3,520,456.00 for the purpose of facilitating the redevelopment thereof.

Ordinance No. 2021-026 To declare a public necessity for and to authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept the dedication of right-of-way improvements consisting of 22,277± square feet and property consisting of 6,607± square feet for the purpose of facilitating the redevelopment of the property known as 500 North 10th Street.

This meeting will be held through electronic communication means pursuant to and in compliance with Ordinance No. 2020-093, adopted April 9, 2020, as most recently amended by Ordinance No. 2020-232, adopted December 14, 2020. This meeting will be open to participation through electronic communication means by the public and closed to in-person participation by the public. Less than a quorum of Richmond City Council will assemble in the Council Chamber on the Second Floor of City Hall, located at 900 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, and most Council members and other staff will participate by teleconference/ videoconference via Microsoft Teams.

Video of the meeting will be streamed live online at the following web address: https:// r i c h m o n d v a . l e g i s t a r. com/Calendar.aspx. To watch the meeting’s live stream at the web address provided, find and click the link that reads, “In Progress” in the farthest right hand column entitled, “Video”.

The agenda for the Richmond City Council meeting is accessible through the City’s legislative website at the following web address: https://richmondva. legistar.com/Calendar. aspx. To view the agenda at the web address provided, find and click the link that reads, “Agenda” associated with the February 22, 2021 Richmond City Council Formal meeting listed in the calendar.

Interested citizens who wish to speak at the Richmond City Council meeting will be given an opportunity to do so by following the “Formal Meeting Access and Public Participation Instructions” attached to the February 22, 2021 Richmond City Council Formal meeting agenda.

Citizens are encouraged to provide their comments in writing to CityClerksOffice@ r i c h m o n d g o v. c o m i n lieu of calling in. The person responsible for receiving comments in writing is Candice D. Reid, City Clerk. All comments received prior to 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 22, 2021, will be provided to Council members prior to the meeting and will be included in the record of the meeting.

Copies of the full text of all ordinances are available by visiting the City Clerk’s page on the City’s Website at https://www.rva.gov/ office-city-clerk.

Candice D. Reid City Clerk

City of Richmond, Virginia CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the City of Richmond Planning Commission has scheduled a public hearing, open to all interested citizens, on Monday, March 1, 2021 at 1:30 p.m. and the Council of the City of Richmond has scheduled a public hearing on Monday, March 8, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. to consider the following ordinances: Ordinance No. 2021-027 To amend Ord. No. 2020142, adopted Jul. 27, 2020, which authorized the special use of the properties known as 1705, 1707, and 1711 Westover Hills Boulevard, and 4922 New Kent Road for the purpose of retail, office, and commercial uses accessory to an existing church, to allow a sign, upon certain terms and conditions. The subject properties are in the R-5 Single-Family Residential zoning district. The Richmond 300 Master Plan recommends Residential land use for the properties, which is described as a singlefamily houses on large or medium-sized lots more homogeneous in nature.

Ordinance No. 2021-028 To authorize the special use of the properties known as 1031 Fourqurean Lane, 1031 Rear Fourqurean Lane, and 1101 Fourqurean Lane for the purpose of a multifamily development containing up to 56 dwelling units within up to 14 dwellings, community center, leasing office, open space, and a playground, upon certain terms and conditions. The properties are situated in a R-5 Single-Family Residential District. The Richmond 300 Master Plan recommends Residential land use for the subject properties.

Such areas are described as neighborhoods consisting primarily of single-family houses on large- or medium-sized lots more homogeneous in nature, at densities of 2 to 10 housing units per acre. The density of the project is proposed to be approximately 16 units per acre.

Ordinance No. 2021-029 To authorize the special use of the property known as 1518 Pulaski Street for the purpose of a personal fitness business within an accessory building, upon certain terms and conditions. The City’s Richmond 300 Master Plan designates a future land use for the subject property as Residential.

This category is described as single-family houses on large or medium-sized lots more homogeneous in nature. The current zoning for this property is R-6 Single-Family Attached Residential.

Ordinance No. 2021-030 To authorize the special use of the property known as 1919 Wilmington Avenue for the purpose of no more than one dwelling unit within an accessory building to an existing single-family dwelling, upon certain terms and conditions.

The property is situated in a R-5 Single-Family Residential District. The City’s Richmond 300 Master Plan designates a future land use for the subject property as Residential. This category is viewed to include singlefamily houses on large or medium-sized lots more homogeneous in nature at a density of 2 to 10 housing units per acre. Primary Uses include: Singlefamily houses, accessory dwelling units, and open space. The density of the proposed development is approximately 11 units per acre.

Ordinance No. 2021-031 To rezone the property known as 2902 North Arthur Ashe Boulevard from the M-2 Heavy Industrial District to the TOD-1 Transit-Oriented Nodal District. The property is situated in an M-2 Heavy Industrial District. The City of Richmond’s Master Plan designates a future land use category for the subject property as Industrial Mixed-Use. Primary uses are retail/ office/personal service, multi-family residential, cultural and open space.

No residential density is specified for this land use designation.

The meetings will be held through electronic communication means pursuant to and in compliance with Ordinance No. 2020-093, adopted April 9, 2020, as most recently amended by Ordinance No. 2020-232, adopted December 14, 2020. The meetings will be open to participation through electronic communication means by the public and closed to in-person participation by the public. Less than a quorum of Richmond Continued on next column

Continued from previous column

City Planning Commission members and Richmond City Council will assemble in City Hall, located at 900 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, and most members and other staff will participate by teleconference/ videoconference via Microsoft Teams.

The meetings will be streamed live online at the following web address: https://richmondva. legistar.com/Calendar. a s p x . To w a t c h a meeting’s live stream at the web address provided, find and click the link that reads, “In Progress” in the farthest right hand column entitled, “Video”.

The agenda for the Richmond City Council meeting is accessible through the City’s legislative website at the following web address: https://richmondva. legistar.com/Calendar. aspx. To view the agenda at the web address provided, find and click the link that reads, “Agenda” associated with the March 8, 2021 Richmond City Council Formal meeting listed in the calendar.

Interested citizens who wish to speak at the Richmond City Council meeting will be given an opportunity to do so by following the “Formal Meeting Access and Public Participation Instructions” attached to the March 8, 2021 Richmond City Council Formal meeting agenda.

Citizens are encouraged to provide their comments in writing to CityClerksOffice@ richmondgov.com in lieu of calling in. The person responsible for receiving comments in writing is Candice D. Reid, City Clerk. All comments received prior to 10:00 a.m. on Monday, March 8, 2021, will be provided to Council members prior to the meeting and will be included in the record of the meeting.

Copies of the full text of all ordinances are available by visiting the City Clerk’s page on the City’s Website at https://www.rva.gov/ office-city-clerk.

Candice D. Reid City Clerk

Divorce VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE CITY OF RICHMOND MARLON RAMON JOHNSON, Plaintiff v.

CHAKERA (DUDLEY) JOHNSON, Defendant.

Case No. 20-3921-00-6 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to: Obtain a divorce a Vincullo Matrimonii or From the Bonds of Matrimony.

It appearing from an affidavit that the defendant is: that diligence has been used without effect, by or on the behalf of the plaintiff to ascertain in what county or city defendant is and the last known address of the Defendant is as follows: L/K/A 2410 5th Ave., Richmond, VA 23222.

It is ORDERED that Chakara (Dudley) Johnson appear at the above-named court and protect his/her interests on or before March 29, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.

An Extract, Teste: EDWARD F. JEWETT, Clerk VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER MAYRA MARTINEZ DE GONZALEZ, Plaintiff v.

ENRIQUE GONZALEZ MARTINEZ, Defendant.

Case No.: CL20002359-00 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 is a nonresident, appear here on or before the 29th day of March, 2021 and protect his interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Dorothy M. Eure, Esquire VSB# 27724 Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER DEBORAH BLUE, Plaintiff v.

RON BLUE, Defendant.

Case No.: CL21000418-00 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 Continued on next column

Continued from previous column

Continued from previous column

Continued from previous column

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a period exceeding twelve months.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, whose whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 25th day of March, 2021 at 9:00 AM, and protect his interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. Dorothy M. Eure, Plaintiff’s Attorney VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667

ALEXANDER CEPHAS File No. JJ077702-09-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“TPR”) of Alexander Cephas (Father) of Ja-Mod Gardley-Cephas DOB 09/07/2007, child.

“TPR” means all rights and responsibilities remaining with parent after transfer of legal custody or guardianship of the person, including but not limited to rights of: visitation; adoption consent; determination of religious affiliation; and responsibility for support.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Alexander Cephas to appear at the above-named Court and protect his/her interest on or before 3/30/2021, at 9:00 AM, Courtroom #2.

Drive, Tax Map Number C009-0199/058, Richmond, Virginia, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owners of record, James E. Parrish and Linda B. Parrish.

An Affidavit having been filed that said owners, JAMES E. PARRISH and LINDA B. PARRISH, who have been served by posting and by mailing a copy of the complaint to their last known address, have not been personally located and have not filed a response to this action, 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 JAMES E. PARRISH, LINDA B. PARRISH, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before april 15, 2021 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 804-646-7949

to subject the property briefly described as 2409 Alexander Avenue, Tax Map Number S008-0815/054, Richmond, Virginia, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owner of record, Dorothy M. Woolford.

An Affidavit having been filed that said owner, DOROTHY M. WOOLFORD, upon information and belief deceased, or her heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in interest, have not been located and have not filed a response to this action; that SHARON HORSTKAMP, Registered Agent, for MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC, Beneficiary of a Deed of Trust filed in the records of the Richmond Circuit Court at Instrument Number 04-35916 on October 22, 2004, has not been located and has not filed a response to this action; 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 DOROTHY M. WOOLFORD, upon information and belief deceased, or her heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in interest, SHARON HORSTKAMP, Registered Agent, for MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC, Beneficiary of a Deed of Trust filed in the records of the Richmond Circuit Court at Instrument Number 04-35916 on October 22, 2004, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before april 15, 2021 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 804-646-7949

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER PAUL JONES Plaintiff v.

CRYSTAL POINDEXTER, Defendant.

Case No.: CL20004698-00 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 18th day of March, 2021at 9:00 a.m. and protect her interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Dorothy M. Eure, Plaintiff’s Counsel VSB# 27724 Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER BEVERLY CLARKE, Plaintiff v.

MICHAEL CLARKE, Defendant.

Case No.: CL20003983-00 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 8th day of March, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. and protect his interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Dorothy M. Eure, Esquire Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667 ,

Custody

VIRGINIA: IN THE JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND Commonwealth of Virginia, in re DE’ MIYAH MELTON RDSS v.

Robert Lee gregory File No. JJ094557-12 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“TPR”) of the Robert Lee Gregory (Father) of De’Miyah Melton DOB 05/17/2017, child.

“TPR” means all rights and responsibilities remaining with parent after transfer of legal custody or guardianship of the person, including but not limited to rights of: visitation; adoption consent; determination of religious affiliation; and responsibility for support.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Robert Lee Gregory (Father) to appear at the above-named Court and protect his/her interest on or before 4/26/2021, at 2:00 PM, Courtroom #4.

VIRGINIA: IN THE JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND Commonwealth of Virginia, in re DE’ MIYAH MELTON RDSS v.

UNKNOWN FATHER File No. JJ094557-11 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“TPR”) of the Unknown Father of De’Miyah Melton DOB 05/17/2017, child.

“TPR” means all rights and responsibilities remaining with parent after transfer of legal custody or guardianship of the person, including but not limited to rights of: visitation; adoption consent; determination of religious affiliation; and responsibility for support.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Unknown Father to appear at the above-named Court and protect his/her interest on or before 4/26/2021, at 2:00 PM, Courtroom #4.

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

ROBERT JONES, et al, Defendants.

Case No.: CL20-5887 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 805 Goodwood Court, Tax Map Number C005-0749/035, Richmond, Virginia, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owners of record, Robert Jones and Special Jones.

An Affidavit having been filed that said owners, ROBERT JONES and SPECIAL JONES, who have been served by posting and by mailing a copy of the complaint to their last known address, have not been personally located and have not filed a response to this action; that THE MAY DEPARTMENT STORES COMPANY, an entity listed as inactive in the records of the Virginia State Corporation Commission, has not been located and has not filed a response to this action; 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 ROBERT JONES, SPECIAL JONES, THE MAY DEPARTMENT STORES COMPANY, an entity listed as inactive in the records o f t h e Vi r g i n i a S t a t e Corporation Commission, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before april 15, 2021 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 804-646-7949 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND JOHN MARSHALL COURTS BUILDING CITY OF RICHMOND, Plaintiff, v.

LINDA ALEXANDER, et al, Defendants.

Case No.: CL20-4752 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 1242 Wallace Street, Tax Map Number W000-0437/060, Richmond, Virginia, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owners of record, Linda Alexander and Janice L. Alexander.

An Affidavit having been filed that said owner, LINDA ALEXANDER, who has been served by posting and by mailing a copy of the complaint to her last known address, has not been personally located and has not filed a response to this action; that said owner, JANICE L. ALEXANDER, who is not a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia, has not filed a response to this action; 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 LINDA ALEXANDER, JANICE L. ALEXANDER, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before april 15, 2021 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 804-646-7949

VIRGINIA: IN THE JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND Commonwealth of Virginia, in re JA-MOD GARDLEY-CEPHAS RDSS v.

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

JAMES E. PARRISH, et al, Defendants.

Case No.: CL20-6010 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 1612 Talbert

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

FORREST PROPERTIES, LLC, et al, Defendants.

Case No.: CL20-6015 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 4930 Old Midlothian Turnpike, Tax Map Number C0060450/022, Richmond, Virginia, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owner of record, Forrest Properties, LLC.

An Affidavit having been filed that said owner, FORREST PROPERTIES, LLC, Forrest Properties, LLC, an entity listed as inactive as of April 30, 2017 in the records of the Virginia State Corporation Commission, has not been located and has not filed a response to this action, 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 FORREST PROPERTIES, LLC, Forrest Properties, LLC, an entity listed as inactive as of April 30, 2017 in the records of the Virginia State Corporation Commission, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before april 15, 2021 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 804-646-7949 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND JOHN MARSHALL COURTS BUILDING CITY OF RICHMOND, Plaintiff, v.

NAPOLEON R. GODWELL, et al, Defendants.

Case No.: CL20-4614 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 3109 Barton Avenue, Tax Map Number N000-1041/019, Richmond, Virginia, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owner of record, Napoleon R. Godwell.

An Affidavit having been filed that said owner, NAPOLEON R. GODWELL, has not filed a response to this action, 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 NAPOLEON R. GODWELL, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before april 15, 2021 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 804-646-7949 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND JOHN MARSHALL COURTS BUILDING CITY OF RICHMOND, Plaintiff, v.

DOROTHY M. WOOLFORD, et al, Defendants.

Case No.: CL20-2665 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is Continued on next column

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

SHIRLEY M. NESMITH, et al, Defendants.

Case No.: CL20-2575 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 918 North 33rd Street, Tax Map Number E000-0805/010, Richmond, Virginia, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owners of record, Shirley M. Nesmith and David Wayne Schneider.

An Affidavit having been filed that said owner, DAVID WAYNE SCHNEIDER, who has been served by posting and by mailing a copy of the complaint to his last known address, has not been personally located and has not filed a response to this action; 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 DAVID WAYNE SCHNEIDER, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before april 15, 2021 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 804-646-7949 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND JOHN MARSHALL COURTS BUILDING CITY OF RICHMOND, Plaintiff, v.

SHIRLEY M. NESMITH, et al, Defendants.

Case No.: CL20-2574 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 916 North 33rd Street, Tax Map Number E000-0805/012, Richmond, Virginia, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owners of record, Shirley M. Nesmith and David Wayne Schneider.

An Affidavit having been filed that said owner, DAVID WAYNE SCHNEIDER, who has been served by posting and by mailing a copy of the complaint to his last known address, has not been personally located and has not filed a response to this action; 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 DAVID WAYNE SCHNEIDER, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before april 15, 2021 and do what is necessary to protect their interests in this matter.

An Extract, Teste: Edward F. Jewett, Clerk Gregory A. Lukanuski, Esq. Continued on next page

Richmond Free Press

B6 February 11-13, 2021

Legal Notices/Employment Opportunities Continued from previous page

City of Richmond, Office of the City Attorney 900 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219 804-646-7949 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND JOHN MARSHALL COURTS BUILDING CITY OF RICHMOND, Plaintiff, v.

SHIRLEY M. NESMITH, et al, Defendants.

Case No.: CL20-2573 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 914 North 33rd Street, Tax Map Number E000-0805/013, Richmond, Virginia, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owners of record, Shirley M. Nesmith and David Wayne Schneider.

An Affidavit having been filed that said owner, DAVID WAYNE SCHNEIDER, who has been served by posting and by mailing a copy of the complaint to his last known address, has not been personally located and has not filed a response to this action; 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 DAVID WAYNE SCHNEIDER, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before april 15, 2021 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 804-646-7949 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND JOHN MARSHALL COURTS BUILDING CITY OF RICHMOND, Plaintiff, v.

SHIRLEY M. NESMITH, et al, Defendants.

Case No.: CL20-2572 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 912 North 33rd Street, Tax Map Number E000-0805/014, Richmond, Virginia, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owners of record, Shirley M. Nesmith and David Wayne Schneider.

An Affidavit having been filed that said owner, DAVID WAYNE SCHNEIDER, who has been served by posting and by mailing a copy of the complaint to his last known address, has not been personally located and has not filed a response to this action; 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 DAVID WAYNE SCHNEIDER, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before april 15, 2021 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 804-646-7949

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Richmond, VA 23219 804-646-7949 Notice Judicial Sale of Real Estate Notice is hereby given that at least thirty days from the date of this notice the City of Richmond will commence judicial proceedings under the authority of Virginia Code Section 58.1-3965 et seq. to sell the following real estate for payment of delinquent taxes: 919 E 15th St S0000393009 1527 N 19th St E0000934039 1200 N 21st St E0000556018 1414 N 23rd St E0000708007 727 N 24th St E0000333033 1329 N 26th St E0000621032 18 E 35th St S0002610010 1106 N 35th St E0001106017 619 N 37th St E0001415002 1234 N 37th St E0001410022 240 Bartee Road C0060455046 2600 Belt Blvd C0090480028 4325 Britannia Road C0080390024 2119 Broad Rock Blvd C0090420014 3111 Broad Rock Boulevard C0080627046 4924 Bryce Lane C0080301014 2306 Burton St E0000427024 5006 Burtwood Lane C0080462014 516 Deter Road C0050852006 2105 Dinwiddie Ave S0000399013 8909 Elm Road C0010508010 1528 Floyd Ave W0000608035 2610 E Franklin St E0000439020 933 German School Road C0050681018 2204 Halifax Avenue S0000764008 1025 Halsey Lane C0050686024 2906 Hopkins Road C0090606014 2202 Hull Street S0000570011 1114 S Lombardy St W0000643021 2312 E Marshall St E0000296017 4105 Mckay Ave C0090423020 3028 Navarone Ave C0091059034 2825 Nine Mile Road E0000790011 1611 Oakwood Avenue E0001542013 423 Old Carnation St C0070128012 8900 Old Holly Road C0010508038 4713 Patterson Ave W0190215005 2204 Perry St S0000487013 6 S Robinson St W0001160017 4321 Saratoga Road C0010363016 3928 Stockton St C0060159038 6400 Stuart Ave W0210156011 3314 Tuxedo Boulevard E0003313005 6130 Ullswater Ave C0070378028 1226 Wallace St W0000437054 3624 Walmsley Blvd C0090948014 6110 Warwick Road C0060925016 4555 Welford Ave C0080627002 2000 Winder St W0000886016 The owners may redeem this real estate before the date of a sale by paying all accumulated taxes, penalties, interest and costs.

Gregory A. Lukanuski, Deputy City Attorney Office of the City Attorney for the City of Richmond 900 East Broad Street, Room 400 Richmond, Virginia (804) 646-7949

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

SHIRLEY M. NESMITH, et al, Defendants.

Case No.: CL20-2571 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 910 North 33rd Street, Tax Map Number E000-0805/015, Richmond, Virginia, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owners of record, Shirley M. Nesmith and David Wayne Schneider.

An Affidavit having been filed that said owner, DAVID WAYNE SCHNEIDER, who has been served by posting and by mailing a copy of the complaint to his last known address, has not been personally located and has not filed a response to this action; 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 DAVID WAYNE SCHNEIDER, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before april 15, 2021 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

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

CAROLYN R. HARRIS, et al, Defendants.

Case No.: CL20-6002 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 2012 Maplewood Avenue, Tax Map Number W0000892/022, Richmond, Virginia, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owners of record, Maria Riddick, Vernell McCall, Thelma James, Claiborne Johnson, and Pete Johnson, all upon information and belief deceased, and Carolyn R. Harris.

An Affidavit having been filed that said owner, CAROLYN R. HARRIS, who has been served by posting and by mailing a copy of the complaint to her last known address, has not been personally located and has not filed a response to this action; that said owners, MARIA RIDDICK, upon information and belief deceased or her heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in interest, VERNELL MCCALL, upon information and belief deceased, or his heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in interest, THELMA JAMES, upon information and belief deceased, or her heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in interest, CLAIBORNE JOHNSON, upon information and belief deceased, or his heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in interest, and PETE JOHNSON, upon

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information and belief deceased, or his heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in interest, have not been located and have not filed a response to this action; 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 CAROLYN R. HARRIS, MARIA RIDDICK, upon information and belief deceased or her heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in interest, VERNELL MCCALL, upon information and belief deceased, or his heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in interest, THELMA JAMES, upon information and belief deceased, or her heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in interest, CLAIBORNE JOHNSON, upon information and belief deceased, or his heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in interest, PETE JOHNSON, upon information and belief deceased, or his heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in interest, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before april 15, 2021 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 804-646-7949

S0080380029 City of Richmond v. Edna P. Queen, et. al.

CL20-1682 306 East Broad Rock Road S0001711003 City of Richmond v. Ivy Hussey, et. al.

CL20-1834 2312 Burton Street E0000427021 City of Richmond v.

Alexander Coleman, et. al.

CL20-935 5701 Campbell Avenue E0100227028 City of Richmond v.

Greanleafe Associates, LLC, et. al.

CL20-2091 5705 Campbell Avenue E0100227035 City of Richmond v.

Greanleafe Associates, LLC, et. al.

CL20-2091 5709 Campbell Avenue E0100227036 City of Richmond v.

Greanleafe Associates, LLC, et. al.

CL20-2091 5713 Campbell Avenue E0100227037 City of Richmond v.

Greanleafe Associates, LLC, et. al.

CL20-2091 5717 Campbell Avenue E0100227020 City of Richmond v.

Greanleafe Associates, LLC, et. al.

CL20-2091 1403 Stiff Street E0100227031 City of Richmond v.

Greanleafe Associates, LLC, et. al.

CL20-2091 1405 Stiff Street E0100227032 City of Richmond v.

Greanleafe Associates, LLC, et. al.

CL20-2091 1407 Stiff Street E0100227033 City of Richmond v.

Greanleafe Associates, LLC, et. al.

CL20-2091 1409 Stiff Street E0100227034 City of Richmond v.

Greanleafe Associates, LLC, et. al.

CL20-2091 1411 Stiff Street E0100227019 City of Richmond v.

Greanleafe Associates, LLC, et. al.

CL20-2091 5715 Campbell Avenue E0100227030 City of Richmond v. Sallie C. Day, et. al.

CL20-609 1401 Stiff Street E0100227029 City of Richmond v. Sallie C. Day, et. al.

CL20-609 1434 Carlisle Avenue E0002812002 City of Richmond v. Corrine E. Winn, et. al.

CL20-1839 1312 Chambers Street S0071182008 City of Richmond v. Delores S. Anderson, et. al.

CL20-3244 3312 Chapel Drive C0090096016 City of Richmond v. Joyce Criss, et. al.

CL20-1860 5210 Clarence Street S0060369001 City of Richmond v. L. R. T. Garret, et. al.

CL19-4243 2700 Clearfield Street C0080772032 City of Richmond v. P. Dawn Walker, et. al.

CL20-1935 2301 Coles Street S0090065035 City of Richmond v. Agnes V. Keilhacker, et. al.

CL20-2085 2603 Columbia Street S0080379013 City of Richmond v. Jack M. Matthews, et. al.

CL20-2664 3107 Columbia Street S0080631011 City of Richmond v.

Potomac Investors, LLC, et. al.

CL20-1983 1430 Decatur Street S0000151002 City of Richmond v. Sindy Hicks, et. al.

CL20-1984 2714 Edgewood Avenue N0000695004 City of Richmond v. Sarah L. Allen, et. al.

CL20-1091 1355 Evergreen Avenue C0060300026 City of Richmond v. Paul Washington, et. al.

CL20-1985 2603 Fairfield Avenue E0120318001 City of Richmond v. Harriett B. Davis, et. al.

CL20-337 2117 Ford Avenue E0000598025 City of Richmond v. Rosa L. Stokes, et. al.

CL20-2965 3423 Frank Road S0080854029 City of Richmond v. Richard Woolridge, et. al.

CL20-484 3019 Garland Avenue

N0000974034 City of Richmond v. Emma Tate, et. al.

CL20-2174 2012 Gordon Avenue S0000642003 City of Richmond v. Billy W. Person, et. al.

CL20-2966 2325 Halifax Avenue S0000645025 City of Richmond v. B & E Holding, LLC, et. al.

CL20-2088 2404 Halifax Avenue S0000767006 City of Richmond v.

Beatrice N. Williams, et. al.

CL20-2089 2408 Halifax Avenue S0000767004 City of Richmond v. Vincent G. Robinson, et. al.

CL20-906 1100 Hollister Avenue C0090093026 City of Richmond v.

Vanessa Moore, et. al.

CL20-911 3000 Hull Street S0001472010 City of Richmond v. CGC Investments Group, LLC, et. al.

CL20-907 405 Hunt Avenue N0001554003 City of Richmond v. Sallie Vernell Myers, et. al.

CL20-1322 2000 Ingram Avenue S0000861010 City of Richmond v.

Benjamin Edwards, Sr., et. al.

CL20-903 3609 Jefferson Davis Highway S0080884047 City of Richmond v. Ethel Davis, et. al.

CL20-250 3611 Jefferson Davis Highway S0080884046 City of Richmond v.

Archibald Jones, et. al.

CL19-4296 3613 Jefferson Davis Highway S0080884045 City of Richmond v. G & S Associates, et. al.

CL20-904 456 East Ladies Mile Road N0001664011 City of Richmond v. Donald Hunter, et. al.

CL20-678 3807 Larchmont Lane S0042914035 City of Richmond v.

Mahalia V. Moore, et. al.

CL20-2165 5308 Linwood Avenue C0080176028 City of Richmond v. Wright Choice 401K Plan, LLC, et. al.

CL20-2362 120 Lipscomb Street S0000150017 City of Richmond v. Paul Henderson, et. al.

CL20-2175 1321 Lynhaven Avenue S0071178022 City of Richmond v.

Randolph Boyce, et. al.

CL20-1684 4107 Lynhaven Avenue S0090224012 City of Richmond v. Agnes V. Keilhacker, et, al.

CL20-1650 4109 Lynhaven Avenue S0090224013 City of Richmond v. Agnes V. Keilhacker, et, al.

CL20-1650 410 North Madison Street N0000181013 City of Richmond v.

Camoliv Land Trust, et. al.

CL19-5186 1112 West Marshall Street N0000466028 City of Richmond v. Michael B. Bey, et. al.

CL19-4988 1401 Mechanicsville Turnpike E0000768020 City of Richmond v. Kamau Islam, et, al.

CL20-622 1423 Mechanicsville Turnpike E0000768031 City of Richmond v. Tara Johnson, Trustee Of The Gaymon Family Land Trust, et. al.

CL20-624 1709 Mechanicsville Turnpike E0120281004 City of Richmond v. Ava Cox, et. al.

CL19-6077 2718 Midlothian Turnpike S0001002001 City of Richmond v.

Herman Warren, et. al.

CL20-2252 601 Milton Street N0001366001 City of Richmond v. Elwood Ross, et. al.

CL20-2280 2114 Newbourne Street E0120286024 City of Richmond v. Rosa Lelia Fleming, et. al.

CL20-936 2006 Newman Road E0110126008 City of Richmond v. Louise T. Blake, et. al.

CL20-251 3209 North Avenue N0001134016 City of Richmond v. Byron Russell Walker, et. al.

CL19-5212 3307 North Avenue N0001356020 City of Richmond v. Eugene Becoat, et. al.

CL20-1630 3931 Old Brook Road N0180500012 City of Richmond v. Nathan Vice

CL20-61 2920 P Street E0000569021 City of Richmond v. Albert P. Brown, et. al.

CL18-5253 2625 Q Street E0000475013 City of Richmond v. Benson F. Woo, et. al.

CL20-2020 2106 Redd Street E0000665037 City of Richmond v. Sandra F. Underwood, et. al.

CL20-252 2617 Redwood Avenue E0120334018 City of Richmond v.

Maynard F. Bates, Jr., et. al.

CL20-1631 1414 Rogers Street E0000768012 City of Richmond v. Curtis L. Fleming, et. al.

CL20-849 2300 Royall Avenue S0071579010 City of Richmond v. Emily Jones, et. al.

CL20-1323 2409 Royall Avenue S0071528005 City of Richmond v. Marcos Antonio Garcia Gonzalez, et. al.

CL20-1632 917 Saint John Street N0000107035 City of Richmond v.

Theodore Issaac Knight, et. al.

CL20-2255 2106 Sale Street E0000665045 City of Richmond v.

Glorious Praise Ministries, et. al.

CL20-905 2108 Sale Street E0000665046 City of Richmond v. Hot Volt Electric, Incorporated, et. al.

CL20-253 2117 Selden Street E0120286008 City of Richmond v. Leon D. Parker, Jr., et. al.

CL20-369 2903 Stockton Street S0001341011 City of Richmond v. Harry Lee Smith, et. al.

CL20-124 1804 Sussex Street E0000755022 City of Richmond v. Russell B. Davis, et. al.

CL20-1832 2414 Terminal Avenue S0080560001 City of Richmond v. Larry L. Mason, et. al.

CL20-1092 2717 Terminal Avenue S0080521007 City of Richmond v.

Ellwood Henderson, et. al.

CL20-1589 2721 Terminal Avenue S0080521009 City of Richmond v.

Nathaniel Holliday, Jr., et. al.

CL20-370 4005 Tyrone Street S0090141015 City of Richmond v. Donald D. Spellman, et. al.

CL20-1633 4328 Warwick Road C0090551009 City of Richmond v. Patricia Morgan Flynt, et. al.

CL20-2462 1446 Whitehead Road C0070553047 City of Richmond v. Simon Green, et. al.

CL20-140 6107 Winford Lane C0050508012 City of Richmond v. Phyllis Hudson Hatch, et. al.

CL20-908

filed or inchoate, to include any information a survey or inspection of a property may disclose. It is assumed that bidders will make a visual exterior inspection of a property within the limits of the law, determine the suitability of a property for their purposes, and otherwise perform due diligence prior to the auction.

T h e S p e c i a l Commissioner’s acceptance of a bid shall not limit any powers vested in the City of Richmond. Additional terms may be announced at the time of sale. Individuals owing delinquent taxes to the City of Richmond, and defendants in pending delinquent tax cases, are not qualified to bid at this auction. Bidders must certify by affidavit that they do not own, directly or indirectly, any real estate with outstanding notices of violation for building, zoning or other local ordinances.

Questions may be directed to Gregory A. Lukanuski at greg.lukanuski @richmondgov.com (804) 646-7949, or to Christie Hamlin at christie.hamlin@ richmondgov.com (804) 646-

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC AUCTION SPECIAL COMMISSIONER’S SALE OF REAL ESTATE RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

Pursuant to the terms of Orders of Sale entered in the Richmond Circuit Court, the undersigned Special Commissioner will offer the following real estate for sale at public auction at Motleys Asset Disposition Group, 3600 Deepwater Terminal Road, Richmond, Virginia on Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 2:00 pm, or as soon thereafter as may be effected. The sale is subject to the terms and conditions below and any other terms and conditions which may be announced on the day of auction. Announcements made on the day of the auction take precedence over any prior written or verbal terms of sale.

1020 North 2nd Street N0000085003 City of Richmond v.

Kimberly R. Hall, et. al.

CL19-5773 1305 North 5th Street N0000233006 City of Richmond v. Patricia Talley-Allen et. al.

CL19-5651 3113 5th Avenue N0050999007 City of Richmond v. Mamie M. Elleby, et. al.

CL19-5650 3121 5th Avenue N0050999011 City of Richmond v. Benson F. Woo, et. al.

CL20-1830 1810 North 22nd Street E0001080006 City of Richmond v. Janice M. Wooten, et. al.

CL20-123 1702 North 23rd Street E0000940008 City of Richmond v. Morris J. Holden, Jr., et. al.

CL19-5444 1601 North 25th Street E0000862001 City of Richmond v. Emma S. Stafford, et. al.

CL20-1683 1810 North 25th Street E0001083009 City of Richmond v.

Lynwood Harris, III, et. al.

CL20-2570 1005 North 27th Street E0000476035 City of Richmond v.

Jonathan Bullock, et. al.

CL20-138 1615 North 27th Street E0000864060 City of Richmond v. Mary E. White, et. al.

CL20-1143 1323 North 30th Street E0000625031 City of Richmond v. Junious Lee Smith, et.al.

CL20-843 808 North 31st Street E0000630048 City of Richmond v. Marian B. Chambers, et. al.

CL20-1986 905 North 31st Street E0000724058 City of Richmond v. Robyn Moore, et.al.

CL20-1774 1105 North 32nd Street E0000803022 City of Richmond v. Oliver P. Johnson, et.al.

CL20-1838 121 East 33rd Street S0001874039 City of Richmond v. Eleanor R. Petrohovich, et.al.

CL20-1104 1203 North 35th Street E0001408002 City of Richmond v. George E. Underwood, et.al.

CL20-984 600 North 39th Street E0001554012 City of Richmond v. Clinton S. Jones, et.al.

CL20-1836 2217 Bainbridge Street S0000485027 City of Richmond v. Samuel T. Jones, Jr., et.al.

CL20-1835 706 Belt Boulevard C0060193002 City of Richmond v. The Wright Choice 401K Plan, LLC, et. al.

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TERMS OF SALE: All sales are subject to confirmation by the Richmond Circuit Court. The purchase price will include the winning bid plus 10% of the winning bid.

High bidders will pay at the time of the auction a deposit of at least 20% of the purchase price, or $5,000.00, whichever is greater. If the purchase price is under $5,000.00, high bidders will pay in full at the time of the auction. High bidders will pay the balance of the purchase price to the Special Commissioner, and deed recordation costs, by a date and in a form as stated in a settlement instruction letter. Time is of the essence.

If a high bidder defaults by not making these payments in full, on time, and in the required form, the Special Commissioner will retain the deposit, and may seek other remedies to include the cost of resale or any resulting deficiency. Settlement shall occur when the Richmond Circuit Court enters an Order of Confirmation. Conveyance shall be either by a special commissioner’s deed or a special warranty deed. Real estate taxes will be adjusted as of the date of entry for the Order of Confirmation.

Properties are sold “as is” without any representations or warranties, either expressed or implied, subject to the rights of any person in possession, and to all easements, liens, covenants, defects, encumbrances, adverse claims, conditions and restrictions, whether

SOLICITATION OF APPLICANTS INTERESTED IN SERVING AS SUBCHAPTER V TRUSTEES The United States Department of Justice, Office of the United States Trustee seeks resumes from persons wishing to be considered for inclusion in a pool of trustees who may be appointed on a case-by-case basis to administer cases filed under the Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019 (Subchapter V), which amended chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code (Bankruptcy Code). Those with business, managerial, consulting, mediation and operational experience are encouraged to apply. The appointment is for cases filed in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Virginia, and the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond, Newport News, and Norfolk Divisions, as appropriate. Subchapter V trustees may receive compensation and reimbursement for expenses, in each case in which they serve, pursuant to court order under 11 U.S.C. § 330. Trustees are not federal government employees. For additional information, qualification requirements, and application procedures go to http://www.justice.gov/ust/ eo/private_trustee/vacancies/11ad.htm Application deadline is March 5, 2021.

Forward resumes to the United States Trustee at the following e-mail address: R04EDWDVAsubchaptervapplications@UST.DOJ.GOV.

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6940.

Gregory A. Lukanuski Deputy City Attorney Special Commissioner 900 East Broad Street, Room 400 Richmond, Virginia 23219

BID COUNTY OF HENRICO, VIRGINIA construction bid

ITB #21-2110-1EAR Henrico Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court Roof System Replacement (Phase I) Due: March 4, 2021 at 2:00 p.m.

For additional information visit: https://henrico.us/finance/ divisions/purchasing/ COUNTY OF HENRICO, VIRGINIA construction bid

ITB #21-2115-2JOK Four Mile Creek Restroom Water/Sewer Project – UPC 110968 Due: March 4, 2021 at 2:00 p.m.

For additional information visit: https://henrico.us/ finance/divisions/purchasing/ solicitations/

Vice President, Operations and Finance Richmond, Virginia

The Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) is seeking a Vice President of Operations and Finance.

Reporting to the VTC President and CEO, this position is responsible for managing the organization’s general Administration, Fiscal, and Strategic Planning functions. The Vice President of Operations and Finance will manage the budget process, from developing appropriation requests to planning and executing the budget and monitoring/approving expenditures to ensure compliance with applicable state and vi`iÀ> wÃV> ÀiµÕ Ài i ÌÃÆ > ` `iÛi « procurement, travel, and other internal policies and ensure compliance. This position will develop and execute the organization’s internal controls as well as monitor and interpret external administrative policy directives and procedural requirements. In addition to Fiscal responsibilities, the Vice President of Operations and Finance will coordinate with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership HR Director Ài}>À` } Õ > ,ià ÕÀVià ÃÃÕiÃÆ Ài«ÀiÃi Ì VTC at in-state travel association meetings and >Ì > V viÀi ViÃÆ > ` } Ûi «ÀiÃi Ì>Ì Ã 6/ «À }À> Ã Ì vwV > ð Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter, and salary requirements through our website https://www.vatc.org/administration/ employment/. Application deadline: February 14, 2021.

VTC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, veteran status, political >vw >Ì ] }i iÌ VÃ] À >}> ÃÌ Ì iÀÜ Ãi µÕ> wi` ` Û `Õ> Ã Ü Ì ` Ã>L Ì ið Ì Ã 6/ ½Ã intent that its employment and personnel « V ià > ` «À>VÌ Vià V v À Ì > >«« V>L i federal, state and local laws and regulations Ài}>À` } ` ÃVÀ >Ì > ` >vwÀ >Ì Ûi action. Applicants requiring more information or requiring assistance may contact VTC Human Resources at 1-804-545-5634 or vtchr@vedp. org. TDD 1-800-828-1120

Thank you for your interest in applying for opportunities with The City of Richmond.

To see what opportunities are available, please refer to our website at www.richmondgov.com.

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ASSISTANT COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY The City of Richmond Commonwealth’s ƩŽƌŶĞLJ KĸĐĞ ŝƐ ĂĐĐĞƉƟŶŐ ƌĞƐƵŵĞƐ ĨŽƌ ĂŶ ƐƐŝƐƚĂŶƚ ŽŵŵŽŶǁĞĂůƚŚ͛Ɛ ƩŽƌŶĞLJ͘ dŚŝƐ ŝƐ Ă 'Z Ed &hE WK^/d/KE ǁŝƚŚ ƌĞƐƉŽŶƐŝďŝůŝƟĞƐ ĂƐ Ă ŵƵůƟͲũƵƌŝƐĚŝĐƟŽŶĂů /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ &ƌĂƵĚ WƌŽƐĞĐƵƚŽƌ ĚĞĚŝĐĂƚĞĚ ƚŽ ƉƌŽƐĞĐƵƟŶŐ ŝŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ĨƌĂƵĚ ĂŶĚ ƌĞůĂƚĞĚ ĐƌŝŵŝŶĂů ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ͘ ƉƉůŝĐĂŶƚƐ ǁŝƚŚ Ăƚ ůĞĂƐƚ ϰ LJĞĂƌƐ ŽĨ ĐƌŝŵŝŶĂů ƉƌĂĐƟĐĞ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ĂƌĞ ĞŶĐŽƵƌĂŐĞĚ ƚŽ ĂƉƉůLJ͘ ^ĂůĂƌLJ Ͳ Ψϴϳ͕ϰϮϱ ƉůƵƐ ďĞŶĞĮƚƐ͘ ^ĞŶĚ ƌĞƐƵŵĞƐ ƚŽ ďĞǀĞƌůLJ͘Ɛ͘ŚĂƌƌŝƐΛ ƌŝĐŚŵŽŶĚŐŽǀ͘ĐŽŵ͘ Resumes must be received by Monday, February 25, 2021.