Free press january 4 6, 2018 issue

Foremost wishes for 2018

Lady Panthers’ double trouble A8

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Richmond Free Press © 2018 Paradigm Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

VOL. 27 NO. 1

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

‘Jury still out’

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c e l e b rat ing our 2 5 t h A nniv e r s ary

JANUARY 4-6, 2018

Mayor Levar M. Stoney finishes first year amid ambivalence despite human touch

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney has probably shaken more hands, taken more selfies with city residents, issued more tweets and participated in more events, programs and festivals than any mayor in recent memory.

One year into his tenure, Richmond’s youngest chief executive appears to have kept his campaign promise to be a “hands-on, visible and engaged mayor.”

The 36-year-old mayor noted he has “completed hundreds of visits throughout the city that touched every district and school and police precinct.”

That kind of activity has impressed City Councilwoman Reva M. Trammell, 8th District, who frequently praises Mayor Stoney for the sharp contrast he provides to his predecessor, Dr. Dwight C. Jones, who was far less visible.

But despite Mayor Stoney’s public touch, it’s not clear if that has translated into concrete advancements for the city.

“I think the jury is still out,” said educator Jonathan Davis in a comment that appears to sum up the view of many in the city.

None of the members of City Council responded to a Free Press query asking for their view of the mayor’s first year for this article. There also was notable silence from the state senators and delegates who represent the city in the General Assembly.

A dozen private citizens and activists who follow city government and were queried during the past two weeks could name a single accomplishment of the mayor during the past year.

That might surprise Mayor Stoney, who believes he has made a strong impression during his first 12 months in office.

Please turn to A4

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Mayor Levar M. Stoney relaxes for a moment in Libby Hill Park on Dec. 28, 2016, just three days before taking office.

Neo-Confederates cost city another $30,000

By Saraya Wintersmith

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

View of Creighton Court where some residents are struggling to keep warm in unheated apartments where radiator systems failed. The landlord, Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority, is facing sharp criticism over its failure to move swiftly on repairs.

Creighton Court residents left in the cold

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Florence Washington knows how to deal with the bitter cold when she goes outdoors. On a walk to the store, she was bundled up with a hat, earmuffs, heavy coat and several layers of clothing.

The 55-year-old Richmonder only wishes that she didn’t have to bundle up the same way inside her apartment in the Creighton Court public housing community off Nine Mile Road.

“I’m not complaining,” she said. “It’s just that there is very little heat in my bedroom. I’ve lived here since 2012 and it has been the same every winter.”

She’s far from alone in coping with

the cold inside Creighton Court apartments.

Two years after the Free Press first reported on problems with heat in the housing complex that Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority operates, little has changed.

Congressman A. Donald McEachin, who represents portions of Richmond, issued a strongly worded statement Wednesday accusing RRHA of leaving Creighton residents in freezing cold apartments during Christmas despite being aware months ago that the heating

system would need repairs.

As it turns out, the same problems exist at other public housing complexes.

Creighton Court has received the most attention because of residents’ willingness to speak out.

“I have received numerous accounts of the hardships that families are suffering in Gilpin, Mosby, Hillside, Whitcomb, and Creighton regarding heat issues,” Omar Al-Qadaffi, a community organizer, stated in an email to the Free Press on Wednesday.

He alleged that RRHA is denying “basic shelter needs, such as heat when

The Richmond Police Department spent a little more than $30,000 in overtime and other costs for the rally last month by neo-Confederates at the statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee on Monument Avenue.

The Dec. 9 rally was the second organized by the Tennesseebased CSA II: The New Confederate States of America. The four-hour protest was held on a cold and snowy Saturday and drew about 15 neo-Confederates, several of whom carried assault weapons and rifles over their shoulders as they demonstrated their support for keeping the statues on Monument Avenue.

The small group was met by about 30 counterprotesters who called for the neo-Confederates to stop wasting city taxpayer dollars by holding such protests.

The police department shelled out more than $506,000 for equipment, operating and personnel costs during the neoConfederates’ first rally on Sept. 16.

At that initial rally, a handful of CSA II members were met by several hundred counterprotesters on Monument Avenue.

Nine other local agencies, including the city Department of Emergency Communications, the State Police, Capitol Police, Chesterfield County Police, the Richmond Department of Fire and Emergency Services and the Richmond Sheriff’s Office, Please turn to A4

Please turn to A4

FCC complaint filed over radio station change

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Preston T. Brown is hoping that Washington can provide some help in his battle with the new owner of a Richmond AM station formerly known as WCLM 1450 that’s now called WUWN. Mr. Brown has filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission claiming that Michael Mazursky listed him as a part owner of the company that bought WCLM with FCC approval, but has since eliminated him from any role.

Mr. Brown is requesting that the FCC investigate whether Mr.

Mazursky and Mobile Radio Partners Inc. filed misrepresentations in the application to take over the WCLM license.

According to Mr. Brown, Mr. “Mazursky has refused to complete a contract with me, but instead made contracts with other partners, leaving me out. I own more shares than both” of the other part owners, Jeffrey Treves and attorney Gary Schwartz.

“Loans were made. I know nothing of the loan arrangements, and now have been asked to help pay them,” Mr. Brown wrote Please turn to A4

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Greeting 2018 Nathaniel Butler-Jackson rings in the new year at the daytime and quirky version of the midnight ball drop at the Science Museum of Virginia’s “Noon Year’s Eve” celebration for youngsters last Sunday. Please see more photos of New Year’s Eve celebrations, B3.

Richmond Free Press

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Local News

Cold weather help available for city residents

By Ronald E. Carrington

Richmond’s brutal chill will get even more frigid as the temperature continues to drop into the single digits during the next few days.

The city’s Cold Weather Overflow Shelter will be open through Monday, Jan. 8, and each night when temperatures are forecast to be at 40 degrees or below. Located in the city’s former Public Safety Building at 501 N. 9th St., the shelter opens at 7 p.m. and closes the following morning at 10 a.m.

People who need overnight shelter must report first to Commonwealth Catholic Charities at 511 W. Grace St. for a comprehensive intake and referral. Shelter registration is from 7 to 9 p.m.

For individuals who are not eligible for existing shelters, or if all available beds have been filled, Commonwealth Catholic Charities will provide a referral to the city’s Cold Weather Overflow Shelter. Food is not provided and pets are not allowed in the city’s overflow shelter.

Senior Connections, the Capital Area Agency on Aging, can help elderly and disabled residents with cold weather needs through referrals to various agencies. Please call (804) 343-3000 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through

Friday.

Dominion Energy also has an EnergyShare program to help homeowners and apartment dwellers who have difficulty paying their higher than expected heating bills during extreme cold weather.

“EnergyShare can help with paying for gas, electric or oil,” Janell Hancock, senior communications specialist with Dominion Energy, told the Free Press. “Just call Dominion’s call center at (866) 366-4357 and talk to someone to determine eligibility.”

She said if electric customers are in danger of being disconnected, Dominion Energy also will work to establish a payment plan so residents can stay connected as they pay down the balance over time.

The company also is promoting energy conservation efforts as a way to control heating costs.

“If customers get weather stripping and seal up cracks and windows, or turn the thermostat down to keep temperatures lower during the day, that can save money,” said Ms. Hancock.

Dominion Energy also suggests people change their furnace filters regularly to help their heating systems work more efficiently, which will lower costs in the short and long term.

This usually bubbling fountain spotted Tuesday in Capitol Square offers icy evidence of the brutal cold that has gripped Richmond and much of the East Coast in recent days. Happily, a thaw is on the way. According to the National Weather Service, warming temperatures will arrive Sunday, sending daytime highs above the freezing mark. By next Monday, the forecast calls for the high to leap to around

Cityscape Slices of life and scenes in Richmond

50, although with a chance of evening rain. Daytime high temperatures are expected to be in the 40s most of next week, according to weather forecasts, with nights continuing to be cold. Looking even further ahead, Inauguration Day is expected to be relatively warm but potentially wet for incoming Gov. Ralph S. Northam.

The high is forecast to be around 50, with a 50 percent chance of showers as he takes the oath of office at noon Saturday, Jan. 13, on the south steps of the Capitol.

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

County official Lady Luck to decide House race chosen as new city auditor

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Richmond City Council this week tapped a veteran of Chesterfield County government to make City Hall operations more efficient and track down waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars.

Louis G. “Lou” Lassiter, deputy Chesterfield County administrator, was approved to be the new city auditor at a special council meeting at Free Press deadline Wednesday night.

He is to start Feb. 1.

Before the meeting, council sources earlier confirmed that Mr. Lassiter was the choice to fill the slot that Umesh Dalal held before he was forced to resign in July. His departure after 11 years was not only controversial, but also expensive. City Council approved a severance and retirement package for Mr. Dalal worth nearly $400,000.

Mr. Lassiter will take over from interim City Auditor William C. Barrett III, a certified public accountant and former assistant professor of forensic accounting at Virginia Union and George Mason universities. Mr. Barrett took over supervision of the 14-member staff in mid-September.

Like Mr. Dalal and Mr. Barrett, Mr. Lassiter initially will wear two hats — as the auditor and as the city’s inspector general — sources said ahead of the vote.

Those two jobs could end up being separated by July 1 if the General Assembly approves a councilrequested City Charter change. That would allow the council to hire an inspector general.

Also like Mr. Dalal, Mr. Lassiter will not be required to live in the city, usually a requirement for a senior executive in the city government.

A source said Mr. Lassiter’s family includes three adopted special needs children, Mr. Lassiter and council agreed to waive the residency requirement after he objected that a move would be too disruptive to their education.

Mr. Lassiter’s city salary was not immediately disclosed, but he is expected to earn more than Mr. Dalal, whose salary was around $150,000 a year when he was ousted.

Mr. Lassiter currently earns about $165,000 a year as deputy county administrator. Council sources said he is expected to earn more than $170,0000 in his new city post, which would place him among the 10 highest paid city officials. In Chesterfield, he ranked among the top 20 in pay, according to publicly issued salary lists.

Mr. Lassiter came highly recommended and was the top choice of the committee that reviewed résumés, council sources said, in part for his ability to work with others. Mr. Dalal was forced out based on concerns uncovered by a consultant about his management style, which included alleged bullying of the office staff that led to a constant turnover of personnel.

Mr. Lassiter brings substantial knowledge as well as experience. He is a certified public accountant and a certified government financial manager.

During his 20 years with Chesterfield, he ran the internal audit operation for 19 years even after earning a promotion to assistant county administrator, according to a council press release.

He moved up to deputy county administrator for finance and administration, where he supervises and coordinates the operations of the county administrator’s office and the clerk to the Board of Supervisors.

His role, according to the online post, is to ensure integrated support and interaction between the county’s top administrator, the board, county employees and residents.

His work as deputy has included oversight of budget, finance and purchasing operations and real estate assessment, all key areas of county government.

He also has been in charge of handling relationships with other government entities and managing the county’s public relations and media communications.

Mr. Lassiter earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from James Madison University and a master’s in Christian Leadership Studies from Liberty University.

Correction The JP JumPers Foundation was named for founder and president Pamela Mines’ son, who is now 13. Mrs. Mines daughter, Michelle, and adopted godniece, Sydnee, are 15.

Their ages were incorrect in a Personality feature on Mrs. Mines published in the Dec. 28-30 edition.

The Free Press regrets the error.

The ballot was conand the 86 voters whose faulty tested because the votassignment to another district Control of the House of Deler filled in circles for kept them from participating in egates is now in the hands of Lady both candidates, then the Thomas-Cole contest.

Luck and several judges. put a line through the Mr. Cole’s attorneys argue The luck of the draw is one for Ms. Simonds. that the state Board of Elecscheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday, Ordinarily, a ballot tions’ errors mean that the final Jan. 4. in which a voter has results are tainted and should That’s when a drawing is to voted for more than be thrown out in favor of a Ms. Simonds be held at the state Board of Delegate Yancey one candidate for an new vote.

Elections to determine the victor of the race office cannot be counted in the Virginia Attorney General for a Newport News House seat. tally for that office.

Mark Herring and his client, the state Board The drawing will determine if three-term The decision of a recount panel is final of Elections, is leaving it to the judge, Republican incumbent Delegate David E. and cannot be appealed to the state Supreme stating they would support any remedy Yancey keeps his seat or if Democratic Court, according to state law. he fashions to correct the acknowledged challenger Shelly Simonds becomes the new Separately, U.S. District Judge T.J. Ellis errors that could have affected the elecrepresentative for the 94th House District.

III is to decide on Friday, Jan. 5, whether tion’s outcome.

The drawing’s outcome also will de- to order a new election for another hotly However, attorneys for Mr. Thomas termine whether Republicans maintain a contested seat. This one is in the Fredericks- argue that Judge Ellis has no authority 51-49 majority in the 100-member House burg area in which at least 86 voters were to take such drastic action as a result of of Delegates or whether Republicans and kept from participating because they were “garden-variety errors” in a close election Democrats will share power on a 50-50 assigned to the wrong House district. for a state office. basis as last happened in 1999.

Officially, a recount found that ReThey note that past rulings have preDelegate Yancey and Ms. Simonds publican Robert Thomas Jr. captured 73 vented federal judges from getting involved officially tied with 11,608 votes each more votes than Democrat Joshua Cole in in state elections because mistakes were following a recount and a ruling from a the 28th House District race to succeed made, and they argue that state law allows three-judge panel that allowed a discarded retiring GOP House Speaker William J. Mr. Cole to take his case to the House ballot to be counted.

Howell, but the error has called the result of Delegates, which has the authority to Ms. Simonds was ahead by one vote into question. order a special election if it deems such after the recount, but the panel overseeing Judge Ellis is to consider a request from a remedy warranted. the recount determined that the contested Mr. Cole’s lawyers that Mr. Thomas be Mr. Cole has rejected that approach, but ballot should be counted for Delegate stopped from being seated and that a new Mr. Thomas’ attorneys are urging Judge Yancey, creating the tie. election be ordered. The request follows Ellis to avoid federal intervention in place The drawing is now set to go after the the discovery that 147 voters received the of the existing state remedy. They also panel on Wednesday turned down a request wrong ballots, including 61 from another argue that Mr. Cole’s argument does not from Ms. Simonds’ attorneys to reconsider district who wrongly were allowed to come close to meeting the high standard the decision to count the ballot. vote in the race for the 28th House seat required for an injunction.

Petersburg School Board to hold sessions on renaming Confederate schools

By Ronald E. Carrington

The City of Petersburg is poised to change the name of three elementary schools to reflect the community’s pride and erase past prejudices.

The three schools, Robert E. Lee, A.P. Hill and J.E.B. Stuart elementary schools, were named after Confederates between 1911 and 1924, when the city had a predominantly white population and lacked representation by African-Americans on the Petersburg School Board or City Council.

But times have changed.

“I have been throughout the communities in Petersburg and this is an issue,” School Board member Atiba Muse said. “We are ready to act on the community’s desire to rename these institutions.”

The city of Petersburg is now about 80 percent AfricanAmerican, with all seven members of the School Board and all but one member of City Council African-American.

Even though the schools were relocated in the 1960s during the height of the Civil Rights Movement, their old names remained.

The School Board decided to take up the issue in early December after receiving numerous comments from people about changing the schools’ names to no longer honor Confederates.

“We must look to the future, not the past, to achieve our mission of developing 21st century citizens able to effectively collaborate, communicate and innovate,” said School Board Chairman Kenneth L. Pritchett. “The board wants alumni, staff, students and parents to take part in the process.”

The board is holding a series of information sessions for the public, where membersalso hope to hear from the public about the proposed renaming. The next sessions are slated for Thursday, Jan. 4, at J.E.B. Stuart Elementary, 100 Pleasants Lane; Monday, Jan. 8, at A.P. Hill Elementary, 1450 Talley Ave.; and Tuesday, Jan. 9, at Robert E. Lee Elementary, 51 Gibbons Ave. The meetings will be held from 6 to 7 p.m.

Additionally, the board has scheduled a public hearing at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17, at Petersburg High School, 3101 Johnson Road. People may sign up at the meeting to speak for no more than 3 minutes.

“The board wants the students and parents to take pride in their schools,” Mr. Pritchett said. “I believe your school should reflect your community.”

The board has started a survey that residents can fill out at the public meetings or online asking whether the schools should be renamed, and if so, to what. If not, the board wants to know why people want the names to remain the same.

Mr. Pritchett said the cost to change the school names would be minimal because they are elementary schools and don’t have

athletic teams, sports uniforms or gymnasium floors with logos that would have to be changed.

All that would need to be changed, he said, is signs, murals and school stationary.

The actual cost is being researched by the schools’ facilities management department, Mr. Pritchett said.

He said after the board reviews all the data, the board will vote in February on whether to change the names. Any changes would go into effect in July, he said.

Hanover County also is considering changing the name of two schools named for Confederates – Stonewall Jackson Middle School and Lee-Davis High School, which is named for Robert E. Lee and former Confederate president Jefferson Davis.

The change in Hanover is being sought by school alumni, students, faculty and the Hanover County Branch NAACP. “The name change should reflect the diversity of the school system,” said Eddie Nelson, president of the county’s NAACP branch. “We think that it would be appropriate for the system to do this at this time.

“We know this School Board did not name these schools, but it is their obligation to correct this moral issue,” he said.

No timeframe has been given by the Hanover School Board to consider the issue.

Christmas tree disposal outlined

Need to dispose of your live Christmas tree?

Good news. City Hall has three ways to get it done.

On Saturday, Jan. 6, the city will host its annual “Bring One for the Chipper” event to turn trees into mulch, it has been announced.

From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., residents can bring trees to the recycling center at 1710 Robin Hood Road across from The Diamond. Residents also can dispose of small electronic items at the event.

Trees also can be put out next to your Supercan for collection through Friday, Jan. 18, according to the city Department of Public Works.

Residents also should contact the 311 Call Center to ensure the tree is picked up as part of the regular bulk and brush pickup.

The last method to dispose of a Christmas tree is to carry is the tree to the East Richmond Road or Hopkins Road transfer stations, according to the city.

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January 4-6, 2018

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Local News

Foremost wishes for 2018 Warner, Page and Hilbert tell them They respond to a special Free Press invitation

Mark R. Warner, U.S. senator representing Virginia and vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence investigating allegations of collusion by the Trump campaign and Russian officials to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election: My foremost wish in 2018 is for courage. I hope that Republicans and Democrats in Washington will have the courage to stand up to President Trump where we must, and to work together where we can.

For example, I hope that Republicans return to Washington in 2018 ready and willing to work with Democrats to strengthen and fix the Affordable Care Act. For years, they have trashed one of President Obama’s top accomplishments, and the Trump administration has done everything it can during the last 12 months to undermine the law and keep it from working.

After their latest failed attempts to repeal Obamacare, I hope that sensible Republicans will have the courage to ignore the partisan bickering and come together with Democrats to pass

legislation that will actually stabilize the health care markets, improve health care access and lower costs.

But equally important in 2018 is the health of our democracy.

As the White House and their allies launch unprecedented attacks on the FBI, on the Department of Justice and on Special Counsel Robert Mueller, I hope that most members of Congress, regardless of political party, will have the courage to stand up to the president. Should the president act to fire the special counsel, or interfere with his investigation in any way — such as issuing pardons to key figures or firing the deputy attorney general supervising the special counsel — it will be up to Democrats and Republicans alike to defend our Constitution and the rule of law in 2018.

Dawn C. Page, chair of the Richmond School Board: My wish for 2018 is that the top priority of our city remains providing our students with a quality education in Richmond Public Schools.

It is my hope that, collectively, we have a laser-sharp focus on creating educational excellence for all students, no matter their ZIP code, ethnicity or background.

It is my hope that we dream big, think audaciously and work urgently to develop top-tier learning environments where our youths can dream, discover, learn, create and grow without limits.

It is my hope that we continue to see the promise in the eyes of every child we serve, and that we do the work that is necessary to ensure that promise is realized.

Chris A. Hilbert, president of Richmond City Council: My biggest wish for 2018 is for peace in our city.

Peace from the violence that has risen in our city during the past two years. Peace to the families who have lost loved ones. Peace for the friends of those who have lost their lives. Peace for the people and their families who have been physically and spiritually injured by violence. Peace to our police officers who leave their homes to go to work and we join their families in prayer for their safe return.

Peace to the mothers of our city as they worry for the safety of their and our children. Peace to the members of the communities whose neighborhoods are plagued by violence. Peace to our children as they try to learn in our schools and that they be relieved from safety concerns.

I wish peace upon all of our citizens to be free from the reality and perception of violence. If this is achieved, then so many of our other problems can be addressed in a more meaningful way.

Peace be with you, Richmond, for 2018 and beyond.

New Year’s is a time when people review the past and make resolutions for improvements for the days ahead. The Richmond Free Press talked with people on the street and asked:

What are you hoping for in the new year?

Interviews and photos by Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Indee Jordan of Midlothian, entrepreneur: “My husband (pictured at right) and I are hoping for a healthy new spirit added to our family in 2018. The baby is due in February.”

Kudjo Jordan of Midlothian, vendor/ entrepreneur: “We are hoping to focus more on family, business and a home school collective that we are a part of.”

Mamie T. Johnson of Henrico, child care worker. “My hope for 2018 is to spend more time on myself — to love and give more to myself because I always give, give, give to others.”

Alex Russell of Hopewell, restaurant worker: “My hope for 2018 is to get a better job so that I can travel to California to see the town where I was born, Fallbrook. I also would love to get sponsored to skate or snowboard.”

Anita Pouncey-Young of Richmond, office coordinator: “I am hoping to keep a positive attitude in 2018. Three years ago, I got married. And we’re both hoping to continue to grow stronger and prosper in our relationship.”

Randy Young of Richmond, a country club locker room attendant: “I am hoping to continue a healthy lifestyle.

I’ve always been athletic so I work out daily. But after a health scare about six years ago, I started to eat a healthy diet. I hope to continue this in the new year.”

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News

Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

Mayor Stoney takes a look at new commercial developments along Brookland Park Boulevard near Richmond Community High School last February.

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Mayor Stoney cuts the ribbon on the new $9.4 million testing and office center for the Department of Public Utilities in mid-November.

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Mayor Stoney takes a selfie with a resident at the Richmond Christmas Parade in early December.

Mayor Stoney finishes his first year amid ambivalence despite human touch Continued from A1

Some of his most public achievements during the year involved finishing projects begun by his predecessor, Dr. Jones, including the installation of a statue of Richmond great Maggie L. Walker and gaining the funding to begin construction of new housing next door to Creighton Court on the site of the former Armstrong High School.

One item that is his own is the creation of a commission to discuss the future of the Confederate statues on Monument Avenue. Yet unlike other cities, but typical of Richmond, the often heated talks surrounding the statues’ removal has not translated into action.

In the year ahead and for the rest of his term, the mayor ambitiously hopes to do more.

His top goals include: • “Creating a sustainable and responsible funding solution for our school facilities and investing in teachers (to) ensure the greatest number of our children attend schools that are not only state-of-the-art, but also are academically high-performing,” and • “Continuing our efforts to combat poverty, not only through our Office of Community Wealth Building, but through steps to address affordable housing options, implement public safety improvements and create economic opportunity that will lift our families up and give their children their best chance to succeed.”

The second goal may be easier to accomplish given

the robust state of the city’s economy, the growth in jobs and the general decline in unemployment.

How well that translates into improvement in income and family life in struggling areas of the city remains to be seen.

Even now there is little evidence that the mayor has made a priority of ensuring the city’s own spending on goods and services is translating into job growth for city residents or into more business for AfricanAmerican and minority companies.

Asked about his three top accomplishments during his first year, Mayor Stoney said they include “restoring competence and confidence in the functioning of city government and the delivery of core services.”

As evidence, he points to “progress in such areas as the Department of Public Works, whose employees filled nearly 25,000 potholes and repaired 1,600 alleys” in the past 12 months.

Despite his claim, many rate City Hall as worse, particularly people involved with development, who have reported backlogs in trying to get permits to get construction underway.

Still, Mayor Stoney is proud of keeping his promise to undertake a performance review of City Hall departments and operations, but any changes remain a work in progress. At the end of November, the mayor released a 25-page document outlining improvements that are to be implemented.

He also touted “putting our financial house in

order by completing the CAFR (Comprehensive Annual Financial Report) weeks early, raising $2.4 million through a tax amnesty and saving the city $13.2 million over the next 15 years through bond refinancing.”

He also is proud of the work on the education front by “establishing a framework for cooperation and collaboration with our School Board and council through the RVA Educational Compact to advance the educational needs of our children.”

It also includes “addressing more immediate needs through public, private and nonprofit partnerships that are now providing all (Richmond Public Schools) students with eye screenings and glasses for those who need them and our partnership with Sprint to provide free tablets and internet access to incoming RPS freshmen for the next five years.”

Not mentioned was his dusting off of former Mayor Jones’ shelved proposal for replacing the aging Richmond Coliseum and putting the project out to bid. Proposals are due in February, but it could be months before anything is made public.

For Mayor Stoney, the Coliseum project may be important, but it ranks below “education, which is and will remain our first priority,” he said.

He has yet to say how he would find the money to build new schools, despite his commitment to do so.

He has promised to share his ideas when he presents the next budget in March.

Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

Mayor Stoney, a former high school track and football star, takes part in the Monument Avenue 10K last April.

Neo-Confederates cost city $30,000 Continued from A1

were a part of the city’s response, pushing the total cost to the city to $570,000.

Mayor Levar M. Stoney’s office did not clarify this week whether the Richmond Police Department was the only law enforcement agency involved in the Dec. 9 rally.

In response to a Freedom of Information Act request, officials said $30,117.22 was spent in overtime and logistical costs “preparing for and patrolling the Robert E. Lee” monument and Monument Avenue. The city incurred no food or quartermaster costs, according to William K. Shipman, associate general counsel for Richmond Police.

Confederate monuments have become more of a national lightning rod since the violent rally in Charlottesville on Aug. 12 by white supremacists, neo-Nazis and Ku Klux Klan members.

A 32-year-old woman was killed and dozens of others were injured when a white separatist sympathizer drove his car into a crowd of counterprotesters.

While Mayor Stoney appointed a Monument Avenue Commission in June to gauge public opinion and make recommendations on how best to add “context” to Richmond’s Confederate monuments, several cities throughout the nation opted to remove their statues outright following the Charlottesville bloodshed.

Mayor Stoney repeatedly has expressed a personal belief that the city’s Confederate statues are “shameful” commemorations of white supremacy that should be removed. However, he added removal of the statues as an option for the commission to consider only after the national outcry over the deadly rally.

Richmond City Council recently voted against an ordinance proposed by 9th District Councilman Michael Jones that would have asked the General Assembly to allow the city to remove its Confederate statues.

FCC complaint filed Continued from A1

in the complaint. “I have been refused the opportunity to see the company books and the partnership agreements between him and his two friends.

“Now they are requesting that I put up some money or they will buy me out for $1,000 and offer me a job as a salesman,” he continued.

Mr. Brown wrote that part of the deal allowing Mr. Mazursky and his new company, Mobile Radio Partners Inc., to buy WCLM included keeping on the air all of WCLM’s African-American and Spanish programming. All have since been removed from WUWN, Mr. Brown stated.

WUWN broadcasts music 24 hours a day and simulcasts on another station, WBTL 1540 AM, that Mobile Radio Partners also purchased.

The FCC has not yet responded to Mr. Brown’s complaint.

Mr. Mazursky also has not responded to Free Press requests for comment.

An article in the Dec. 28-30 edition of the Free Press on the station change incorrectly reported that WCLM was the last “independent, black-owned radio station” in Richmond.

WQCN “The Choice” 105.3 FM is an independent Richmond station with black ownership. The FCC lists WQCN’s owner as Faith & Love Fellowship Church, founded and led by Pastor Altony Foote and his wife and co-pastor Gloria Foote.

The Free Press also incorrectly reported the status of WREJ, which is still on the air. The Free Press described WREJ as defunct. The WREJ call letters are now used for radio broadcasts over 990 AM, formerly WLEE, and simulcast on 101.3 FM. The Free Press regrets the errors.

Ava Reaves

Swearing-in Richmond’s new city treasurer, Nichole Richardson Armstead, is sworn in last Saturday by Richmond General District Court Judge Jacqueline S. McClenney during a ceremony in Council Chambers in Richmond City Hall. Mrs. Armstead was elected to the $83,594 post in November, succeeding longtime treasurer Eunice M. Wilder, who retired. Her husband, Stafford L. Armstead, holds the Bible during the ceremony, while their children watch. They are, from left, Katrina, Richardson and Stafford II. Mrs. Armstead, a project management consultant, has 17 years of experience with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. She is the daughter of former Richmond City Councilman Henry W. “Chuck” Richardson.

Creighton Court residents left in the cold Continued from A1

it is 15 degrees outside.” He said that only adds a “greater physical and emotional impact on people already suffering.”

T.K. Somanath, chief executive officer of RRHA, was away from his office this week and could not be reached for comment.

At a special City Council meeting Wednesday, two members publicly called for Richmond Building Commissioner Douglas Murrow to take action to enforce state housing codes that require landlords to maintain heat.

Councilman Parker C. Agelasto, 5th District, expressed disappointment that Mr. Murrow is failing to act to ensure RRHA is providing adequate heating for tenants.

Councilwoman Kim B. Gray, 2nd District, also told council members that RRHA is raising the fire risk by putting high wattage space heaters in apartments with old wiring. She said Mr. Murrow had no problem condemning private apartments on Chamberlayne Avenue two days before Thanksgiving following a news report about about the lack of hot water, but appears to have closed his eyes to the situation in public housing. “He not only has authority to act, he has an obligation to do so,” she said.

Mr. Murrow could not be reached for comment.

In recent testimony before City Council, Mr. Somanath previously acknowledged that his agency is struggling to maintain heat in its public housing communities.

He focused on Creighton Court residents during his testimony in support of an additional $4.9 million for the first phase of a development project aimed at transforming Creighton Court into mixed-income housing.

He noted that the apartment community’s old pipes, radiators and boilers are falling apart, making it difficult for RRHA to keep the heat on. He blamed the problem on reductions in federal support for maintenance.

In his statement, Rep. McEachin said he was dismayed to learn last Friday, just before the New Year’s holiday, that Creighton residents were going “without heat because long overdue repairs had not been initiated.”

He said that RRHA since has informed him of plans “to secure multiple contractors to complete much-needed repairs. I am told bids for repair are due Friday, Jan. 12, and I sincerely hope the situation will be remedied very soon thereafter.

“While the process to correct this intolerable living situation finally has begun, I remain extremely disappointed that RRHA did not act to ensure all residents would have heat before winter began,” the congressman stated.

“Representatives at RRHA have known about this impending problem for months, and now residents are being forced to suffer through these dangerously frigid conditions without a reliable heat source.

“The question must be asked why did RRHA wait until the wintertime to address this condition?

“My constituents and I are deeply disappointed by RRHA’s response and demand better,” he concluded with a promise to monitor progress to ensure the repairs are done as quickly as possible.

The heating problem doesn’t affect everyone. Some residents in Creighton Court said they would like to dial back the heat a bit.

“It’s blasting in here,” said one woman.

But others are not so fortunate, as a reporter found in talking with more than a dozen residents. Indeed, many residents like Shenique Turner said they are happy to go to work because it is warmer at their jobs than in their apartments.

It is commonplace for residents in Creighton Court — and apparently at other RRHA complexes — to have to turn on stoves to generate heat.

RRHA has distributed space heaters to residents who complained, but turning on more than one at a time in an apartment can create another problem.

“If you put on two or more to stay warm, you blow the fuses,” said one Creighton resident who declined to give her name.

“It’s a mess.”

Inside one apartment, a young mother was frantically dialing RRHA’s maintenance number around 3:45 p.m. Tuesday after the heat conked out in her apartment. All she got was a recording telling her to leave a message and someone would get back to her.

“I have a newborn and it’s freezing in here,” she said, declining to give her name. “I’m really worried. It’s not right what’s happening.”

Richmond Free Press

January 4-6, 2018

A5

News

8.7M people signed up for Obamacare Free Press wire report

WASHINGTON More than 8.7 million people nationally signed up for coverage for 2018 under the Affordable Care Act, the health care law that was a hallmark of the Obama administration, the government reported last week.

The number or enrollees exceeded expectations, despite President Trump repeatedly pronouncing the program, known as Obamacare, “a disaster.”

The final tally for the 39 states using the federal www.

HealthCare.gov marketplace showed about 80,000 fewer sign-ups than an initial count provided before the Christmas holiday. A spokesman for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

said the slight dip was due to late cancellations.

Still, enrollment reached nearly 95 percent of 2016’s level, outperforming projections in a show of consumer demand, despite a shortened sign-up season and big cuts in the ad budget.

Ahead of open enrollment, analysts had predicted somewhere around 1 million to 2 million fewer people would sign up for subsidized private coverage through the Affordable Care Act. But the latest numbers indicate that new customers kept showing up as the Dec. 15 enrollment deadline closed. More than 66,000 new customers were added since the pre-Christmas enrollment report.

The dip in enrollment appears to be due to returning customers dropping out. Some of those dropouts are likely to be people whose current plans were canceled for 2018, and who were reassigned to coverage that they didn’t like.

A complete national tally may not be available until March, as states running their own health insurance markets are continuing to sign up consumers. In California and New York, enrollment season ends Jan. 31.

While President Trump says he will continue to try to repeal and replace Obamacare, prospects in Congress appear dim with Republicans losing a Senate seat in Alabama. A bipartisan bill to shore up the health law’s markets is also pending, but faces an uncertain outlook.

Obesity, poverty help explain higher diabetes risk for black Americans Reuters

Even though African-American adults are more likely to develop diabetes than white adults, the increased risk is largely due to obesity and other risk factors that may be possible to change, a new study suggests.

Researchers followed 4,251 black and white men and women starting when they were 18 to 30 years old; none of them had diabetes to start with. After an average follow-up of more than 24 years, 504 of the participants developed diabetes.

Compared to white women, African-American women were almost three times more likely to develop diabetes, researchers reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Black men, meanwhile, had 67 percent higher odds of becoming diabetic than white men.

However, there was no longer a meaningful difference in diabetes risk between black and white people once researchers accounted for a variety of factors that can contribute to this disease, including obesity, neighborhood segregation and poverty levels, depression, education and employment.

“Our work suggests that if we can eliminate these differences in traditional risk factors between blacks and whites, then we can reduce the race disparities in the development of diabetes,” said lead study author Michael Bancks, a researcher at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.

This isn’t an easy fix, Dr. Bancks acknowledged.

“To eliminate the higher rate of diabetes, everybody needs to have access to healthy foods, safe spaces for physical activity and equal economic opportunity to have enough money to afford these things and live in communities that offer this,” Dr. Bancks stated in an email.

“Prior research by our team has shown that black adults live in neighborhoods that have higher rates of poverty, fewer grocery stores and (fewer) safe places for physical activity,” Dr. Bancks added. “These neighborhood factors contribute directly

to the health behaviors, such as physical activity and diet, that can lead to obesity and diabetes.”

At the start of the study, participants were about 25 years old on average, and white participants were more likely to be married, employed full time and have at least some college education.

During the study, 189 white people and 315 black people developed diabetes.

This translates into 86 cases of diabetes for every 1,000 white people, compared with 152 cases for every 1,000 AfricanAmericans.

Among all of the risk factors that helped explain this difference, biological factors such as obesity and fasting blood sugar levels played the biggest role, the study found.

The study wasn’t a controlled experiment designed to prove whether or how various risk factors might influence the odds of developing diabetes or explain racial disparities.

Another limitation is that researchers relied on data from blood sugar tests or diabetes medication prescriptions to determine whether people had been diagnosed with the disease, the authors noted. Current definitions of the blood sugar levels that indicate diabetes are different than they were during much of the study, and prescription records don’t always offer a complete picture of who has been diagnosed with this disease, the researchers pointed out.

Even so, the results offer fresh evidence that long-documented racial disparities in diabetes rates in the United States might be reduced by focusing on risk factors that are File photo possible to change, said Dr. Daniel Lackland, a researcher at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.

“It is important for black patients and individuals to recognize the disease risk disparities and excess burden for African-Americans but also know these risks can successfully be reduced by knowing their blood pressure and blood glucose levels; taking medication as prescribed; not smoking; exercise; reducing excess body weight; and consuming a healthy diet,” said Dr. Lackland, who wasn’t involved in the study.

“These are interventions individuals could implement regardless of income level,” Dr. Lackland added, “for example, having blood pressure measured and knowing numbers; walking in safe areas such as shopping malls; and eating a healthy diet.”

2018 Virginia Gubernatorial Pre-Inaugural Reception Thursday, January 11, 2018 4:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

Hilton Richmond Downtown-River City Ballroom 501 E. Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219

Hosted by: Area Four NAACP branches in Richmond, Hanover, Henrico and Chesterfield

Third STreeT BeThel AMe ChurCh

Tickets: $125 individual | $200 per couple For more information and to purchase tickets: Call Mr. Barnette at 804-647-7087  Email: area4@vanaacp.org https://www.actionnetwork.org/ticketed_events/indiv-2018-virginia-gubernatorial-pre-inaugural Sponsored by Area Four NAACP

Richmond Free Press

Icy waterfall in Bryan Park

Editorial Page

A6

January 4-6, 2018

Mayor Stoney in review We have been intrigued by the energy and chutzpah of Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney, who has just completed his first year in office.

While he is still getting his city governance chops in order, we give him high marks for coming into the job with a balanced resolve to both listen to the needs of the people and to get things done.

During this first year, he presided over the unveiling of the Maggie L. Walker statue and plaza — an uplifting addition to the city — and started in earnest the arduous journey of upgrading Richmond’s decrepit public schools. By putting together the Educational Compact, a task as chaotic as herding cats, Mayor Stoney has the major players now — the city School Board, City Council and the city administration — all in the same room and hopefully on the same page in remedying this deplorable situation that has gone on for way too long to the detriment of Richmond’s children.

The next critical step is for Mayor Stoney, the City Council and School Board to find the money to renovate those school buildings worth saving or to plan for new, state-of-the-art facilities. The people of Richmond should not let Mayor Stoney, or any of the other elected or appointed officials, off the hook until they deliver on that promise.

To his credit, Mayor Stoney has led — or prodded — city staff to get Richmond’s latest comprehensive annual financial report in on time, something that the past administration hadn’t been able to do and which left the city unable to tell exactly how much money was available for priorities such as public schools and other health and safety programs.

The new mayor also instituted a tax amnesty program that will help the City of Richmond to collect millions in delinquent taxes that can boost city coffers.

His vigorous efforts to make government more responsive to the people have filled potholes, repaired alleys and started to streamline the permitting process for construction and other projects.

While there still is deadwood to be cleaned out of City Hall, Mayor Stoney has gone in with an even hand and a listening ear during his first 12 months. And we expect to see bigger changes during the next year.

Overall, while we believe Mayor Stoney has gotten off to a good start, we give him a “B-minus” on the first year of his four-year term in office.

Why? Chiefly because two of his major projects or proposals left us wondering, “What is he thinking?!”

In November, Mayor Stoney announced a plan to replace the Richmond Coliseum and to redevelop a wide swath around it for mixed-income housing and shops.

On its face, the plan may sound good. But in the end, Richmond would be giving away its Coliseum to private developers and later would be stuck with a multimillion-dollar bill to replace other city office buildings that would be razed for the transformation.

And how much would the city really get in return?

We believe Mayor Stoney is getting sucked in on this one by people and groups putting their own special interests ahead of the greater interests of the city. Whatever plans are brought to the table must be thoroughly scrutinized and examined for their immediate, future and hidden impacts.

Secondly, in June, Mayor Stoney announced the creation of a Monument Avenue Commission to put the statues of Confederate traitors into “context.”

Again, we say, there is no proper “context” to be added to statues venerating white supremacists and slave owners who were so committed to keeping black people in human bondage that they took up arms against the United States. They were traitors. And even in defeat, Confederate sympathizers in this city wanted to remind black people of their “place” by erecting statues to these lawless, vanquished villains.

The statues must come down. We have been made to kiss their feet long enough.

Whether the statues are sold to the state, donated to the National Park Service for placement on historic battlefields in Virginia or moved at private expense to museums about the Confederacy and the misguided, soulless men who led it, they need to be removed from Richmond’s Monument Avenue. And instead, monuments to true heroes need to be put in their place.

We acknowledge that Mayor Stoney’s views on the statues have evolved since June; he has put removal of the city’s Confederate monuments on the table.

But we hope that his thoughts — about that which is true, honest and just and what would be best to move this city forward from a deeply hurtful and divisive past — will continue to come into focus and lead to action that people in this city can take pride in and by which the city can be healed.

Taking the statues down would be a true hallmark and legacy of Mayor Stoney’s time in office. Tackling the Confederate monuments issue would give people the verve and buoyant spirit to tackle many other issues facing the city.

Reading in the new year Former President Barack Obama was in the news on New Year’s Eve with the list of his favorite songs and books of 2017.

Posting on his Facebook page, he wrote that he wanted to continue the tradition started during his presidency of sharing his reading list and playlists of the songs “that got me moving.”

The books on his list ranged from “Exit West: A Novel” by Mohsin Hamid to “Coach Wooden and Me” by Kareem AbdulJabbar. The music spanned generations and styles, from Jay-Z’s “Family Feud,” featuring Beyoncé, to “Millionaire” by country singer Chris Stapleton.

Hmmm ... wonder if President Trump has a reading list?

Probably not.

He’s too busy in a tweet war with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un over the size of their nuclear buttons.

What a dangerous airhead.

Here are a few from our reading list you might enjoy in 2018: “We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy” by Ta-Nehisi Coates.

“The Art of Death” by Edwidge Danticat.

“Defining Moments in Black History: Reading Between the Lies” by Dick Gregory.

“The Mother of Black Hollywood: A Memoir” by Jenifer Lewis.

“Dear Martin” by Nic Stone.

Let’s all read in the new year!

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Crumbling infrastructure takes backseat Our nation’s infrastructure is crumbling. Nearly 10 percent of our bridges are deficient or decrepit and a quarter of our schools are in fair or poor condition. More than half of all schools need major repairs before they can be classified as good, but 31 states spend less on school construction now than they did in 2008. Forty percent of our urban highways are congested, and traffic fatalities are up.

Fewer than half of us could get to a grocery store using public transportation.

The American Society of Civil Engineers produces a report card on our nation’s infrastructure, grading 16 categories, including roads, bridges, public transportation, levees, aviation, hazardous waste, dams, ports, energy and more. The 2017 report gives our infrastructure a D+, noting that our infrastructure has earned a “persistent D” since 1998.

Our railways earn the highest grade, B, despite aging infrastructure and insufficient investment in passenger railways. Ports, which receive most of our overseas trade, bridges (despite major failures, and

funding challenges) and solid waste all rise from the D swamp with C+ grades.

But the other 12 categories, schools, parks, drinking water, aviation, wastewater, dams, energy, inland waterways, hazardous waste, roads, transit and

Julianne Malveaux levees, earn a D or a D+.

Infrastructure is important in our nation’s economic development. For example, says ASCE, every dollar spent on highway improvement returns $5.20 in decreased delays, vehicle maintenance, fuel construction and increased safety. Poor maintenance of our ports costs us international trade, and the condition of our dams, levees and waterways probably compounded the damage from hurricanes in Texas and Florida.

When he campaigned, 45 promised to tackle infrastructure, and he had bipartisan support, although many wanted to know how he might approach infrastructure repair. Upon election, though, 45 abandoned infrastructures to pick a fight with enemies, real and imagined, fire the man investigating his Russian involvement and make several futile attempts to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act. He finally hit fool’s gold with the Tax Cuts and Jobs

Act of 2017 and inappropriately named a piece of legislation that would more accurately be named the Corporate Enrichment and Deficit Expansion Act of 2017.

Now that the Republican Congress has committed to $1.5 trillion more in national debt, 45 says he wants to tackle infrastructure, and he expects bipartisan support. He says infrastructure was an “easy” win, while tax “reform” was more challenging.

Where do we find $1 trillion, let alone the $2 trillion necessary for infrastructure repair? That’s the hoax in 45’s current embrace for infrastructure. Investing in infrastructure is more economically impactful than tax cuts, but it doesn’t necessarily give corporations a break. So, 45 put something that could make a major difference on the back burner so he could reward his supporters. Now he will have to both fight his own party and struggle to gain Democratic support for his infrastructure plan.

Why? While the President says he has prioritized infrastructure, House Speaker Paul Ryan wants to focus on “entitlement reform.” That means he wants to cut public assistance, food stamps, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

Other Republicans aren’t as interested in entitlement reform

Don’t let 2016 election results stand We now know beyond all doubt that Russia meddled in the 2016 U.S. elections to help Donald J. Trump and certain Republican congressional candidates win.

Although almost a year has passed since President Trump and newly elected congressional leaders took office, it’s still not too late for a revote. Redoing the 2016 federal elections is the only way to make things right for the American people.

There is nothing unique about my call for a revote of the 2016 primary and general elections. It is customary for contest winners, such as athletes who are victorious because of fraud or doping, to relinquish their title and medals.

Why shouldn’t we expect the same of politicians?

If the U.S. Supreme Court were to declare the 2016 federal elections unconstitutional, President Trump and newly elected congressional leaders would be forced to vacate their offices.

The ruling also would lead to an undoing of all federal laws, policies and judicial appointments accomplished during the Trump Administration.

Some view the call for a revote as wishful thinking. Others have taken a wait-and-see position, hoping that President Trump will be impeached and

removed from office or that he will succumb to defeat in 2020, as suggested by recent Democratic victories in Virginia and Alabama.

But the Revote Coalition’s goal is not to remove President Trump from office but

Jerroll M. Sanders to ensure that the American people — and not a foreign enemy — determine who our elected officials are.

Congressional and presidential actions undertaken during the Trump administration will change this nation for generations to come. Citizens, particularly minorities, will continue to rely heavily upon the federal judiciary to enforce laws and rights. Getting federal judges to rule favorably on discrimination claims and social injustices has been difficult in the past. But securing fair and balanced rulings in the future may prove far more difficult in federal courts stacked by President Trump with judges who stand ready to roll back social and racial advancements and to short-circuit policing and other protective reforms.

The Revote Coalition’s quest for a revote began days following the 2016 presidential election when I published a YouTube video calling for a new election.

I also shared my first revote legal brief with 2016 Virginia congressional candidate Shaun

Brown of Hampton Roads. Ms. Brown, a Democrat who ran for the 2nd District congressional seat, circulated the brief to various political camps. Soon, others joined our nationwide effort to find an attorney who would usher a constitutionally sound revote case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Unable to find an attorney, I, a non-lawyer, put pen to paper and drafted a legal brief based upon my newly devised legal argument, which asserts: The United States has many territories, including a cyber territory.

Article IV, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution says: “The United States shall guarantee to every state in this union a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against invasion.”

The U.S. government failed to protect each state’s cyber territory against invasion in 2016.

While the U.S. Supreme Court opted to not review our citizen case, members of the Revote Coalition are convinced the U.S. Supreme Court will entertain the case if it is filed by a state attorney general because our legal argument hinges on the federal government’s obligation to protect states from invasion.

Call, visit and email state attorneys’general. Insist they work to have the 2016 federal elections declared null and void.

The writer is an entrepreneur and originator of the Revote Project at www.revote.info.

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.

as they are in cutting the deficit they just committed to growing. They won’t be interested in any new programs, even if they are much-needed infrastructure programs.

So, 45, the Joker, is trying to trick us again. Anyone who has driven down a bumpy highway, been washed out by the flood waters of a hurricane or witnessed a bridge collapse will agree with ASCE that our infrastructure needs attention.

We might have had the money to tackle infrastructure before we committed to a pricey corporate giveaway. How will we way pay for infrastructure now? More debt? Program cuts? Profitgenerating toll roads that that enrich 45’s friends at public expense? Or perhaps we’ll be jolted into action when another bridge collapses?

The writer is an author and economist.

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Richmond Free Press

January 4-6, 2018

A7

Letters to the Editor

Residents should ‘no longer passively accept any bogus’ utility taxes Re “Tax law change to affect city utility customers,” Free Press Dec. 28-30 edition: Many thanks to Free Press staff writer Jeremy M. Lazarus for breaking the story that the new tax law change should reduce the federal income tax surcharge on city water and gas bills.

As first reported in the Free Press, the city currently charges the maximum corporate federal income tax rate of 34 percent on the water and gas bills and does not remit this tax to the feds but deposits million of dollars annually into the city’s general fund. This reprehensible tax now must be reduced to 21 percent, effective Jan. 1, 2018, in accordance with the lowered maximum federal corporate tax rate.

The city’s unseemly federal income tax surcharge on the water and gas bills is, of course, a bogus tax. The city charter

allows the city utility to charge customers a payment in lieu of taxes, or PILOT, that a business would pay the locality if the utility was privately owned.

But no private business pays federal income tax to the city, and, as pointed out in the Free Press article, no other locality in Virginia charges a federal income tax PILOT surcharge on the water and sewer bill.

Quite perversely, the counties are not charged the payment in lieu of federal income tax, and the utility sells more water to the surrounding counties than to city residents. It is left to city residents to pay the federal income tax PILOT charge on the more affluent counties’ water purchase.

It will remain to be seen how quickly the Richmond Department of Public Utilities adjusts its rates. Any charges

over the new maximum federal income tax rate of 21 percent will not be legal beginning Jan. 1. Already, DPU officials are scrambling to ascribe a portion of the existing 34 percent federal income tax surcharge to a state tax levy, but Virginia Code §58.1-300 prohibits any city from imposing any tax or levy upon incomes.

City residents should wake up and no longer passively accept any bogus and unconscionable federal income tax surcharge on our utility bills. This is certainly the most regressive means of funding the city since even impoverished families must pay higher gas and water bills.

CHARLES POOL Richmond

‘The school system cannot budget morality’ During my 12 years of basic education under segregated schools, churches, communities and city, the focus was on academics and the “it takes a village to raise a child” concept.

To a certain degree, parents and the local government had control of the school system, with no political tricks like “no child left behind.” Academics were a way of getting out of your family poverty situation and not becoming a ditch digger, which was the lowest form of hard, physical labor that required no formal education.

Parents and grandparents developed our norms at home before we arrived in the classrooms. Almost no violence ever occurred

in our classrooms or on school property, just a few fights over the cost of your school uniforms.

Has the Petersburg school uniform policy eliminated violence and fights and increased student aptitude?

Children come to school with disrespect for others, antisocial behavior or an acceptance of gang life and violence. For some students, its pressure from their parents to be No. 1 in sports rather than No. 1 on the honor roll with an idea or goal toward becoming a lawyer, doctor, engineer or other critically needed skilled vocation.

The school system cannot budget morality, fix lack of

motivation, honesty and self-esteem or the inherited negative patterns of social attitudes.

We should all agree that teachers need a salary increase and need to help change the morality issue in the homes. But I see no real student academic changes.

What will happen in Petersburg in 10 years?

Just think about the changes 45 and his political party are planning for 2018 that will directly affect the city and schools.

WALT HILL Petersburg

26 years and still

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Richmond Free Press

A8 January 4-6, 2018

Sports Stories by Fred Jeter

Double trouble awaits Lady Panthers’ opponents Just one McNeill freshman would be a nice addition to the Virginia Union University women’s basketball program.

Having two makes it twice as nice.

In a play off the VUU sports mascot, the Panthers, fraternal twin sisters Shameka and Shareka McNeill have come to be known as the “copy cats.”

Both have pounced as quickly as cats into the mainstream of Coach AnnMarie Gilbert’s CIAA and NCAA Division II powerhouse program.

“I’ve been coaching 23 years and have had a lot of good players,” Coach Gilbert said.

“But when it comes to freshmen, I’ve never had two any better than our twins.”

Answering to “Meka,” Shameka is a left-hander and wears No. 3. Right-handed Shareka, known as “Reka,” is No. 4.

Shameka is 5-foot-5; Shareka, 5-foot-6. Both weigh about 123 pounds. It takes a scrutinizing eye to tell Meka from Reka when they are off the court and out of uniform.

“Here’s how you can tell,” Coach Gilbert said. “Shameka has the tiniest little mole above her upper lip. Shareka has streaks (highlights) in her hair.”

Their nearly identical appearance — at least to outsiders — has led to some comical anecdotes.

Trying to hold back a laugh, Shareka relates this mistaken

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Lady Panthers and twins Shareka, left, and Shameka McNeill turned down offers from other universities to attend Virginia Union University together. They were born three minutes apart and remain inseparable.

identity story: “In high school, we were dating twins from another school. Well, we got mixed up and I kissed the wrong guy without even knowing it.”

The talented and spirited daughters of Michelle and George McNeill were born three minutes apart on Aug. 15, 1999, in Charlotte, N.C. They’ve been inseparable from

crib to college dorm.

“They do everything together,” Coach Gilbert said.

That includes starting for VUU’s defending NCAA Division II runners-up.

As freshmen, they’ve taken turns this season being named CIAA Rookie of the Week for the 11-1 Lady Panthers.

Starting every game, Share-

ka, primarily a shooting guard, averages 13.2 points with 55 3-point connections.

In more of a play-making role, Shameka, who became a starter six games ago, averages eight points with 34 3-point hits.

Both are active all over the floor — passing, rebounding, shooting and applying heated

pressure defense. Shareka has 25 steals and Shameka, 21.

“Both girls can play three different positions – the 1, 2 and 3,” Coach Gilbert said of point guard, shooting guard and small forward.

“They’re the total package.

On a given night, each is capable of scoring 20 points. They’re also excellent students.”

Each twin scored about 1,200 points during their careers at Harding University High in Charlotte, N.C. Coach Gilbert first learned of their talents through the CIAA’s outreach program during conference tournaments in Charlotte. During the annual weeklong event, each CIAA affiliate is assigned to attend a high school with the goal of promoting education in general and HBCUs in particular.

It just so happened that VUU was assigned to Harding University High two years in a row.

“Once we got film of the twins, we invited them to VUU for a campus tour,” Coach Gilbert recalled. “Right away, they showed so much energy and enthusiasm.”

Recruited separately, the twins passed up offers from Norfolk State University, Florida A&M University and their hometown school, Johnson C. Smith University, to enroll at VUU as a package deal.

“A few schools wanted one of us, but not the other,” Shameka said. “That wasn’t going to happen. We came to Virginia Union together and, eventually, we hope to play on the same pro team together.”

For the better part of the next four seasons, VUU’s “copy cats” figure to cause plenty of trouble for the Lady Panthers’ opponents.

Better make that double trouble.

Huguenot High’s tall, secret weapon: Eric Rustin Most people need a step stool or possibly a ladder to do things Huguenot High School senior Eric Rustin does with both feet flat on the floor.

He’s the teenager for the job if you need a ceiling light replaced, a ripe apple plucked from a high branch or, better yet, someone to assist in winning a basketball game. It sure helps when you stand 7 feet tall, can grip a basketball like it’s a softball and can nearly reach the rim of the basket on your tippy toes.

“I keep telling Eric he can do things no one else can do,” said Huguenot Coach Ksaan Brown.

The friendly but bashful Rustin who wears glasses off the court is among the tallest players in Richmond Public Schools history.

But he’s also slim at just 165 pounds.

He often plays with long pants and/or sleeves and wears a guard’s number—No. 10 — instead of a more traditional number in the 50s for a center.

A clear lack of weight and strength, along with normal growing pains, has delayed his hoops’ advancement.

It wasn’t until the Falcons’ Dec. 27 matchup against Prince George High School in the Tri-City Holiday Classic that Rustin blew out the candles on his varsity coming out party in his size 17 Adidas sneaks.

In a contest billed as the “Battle of the Bigs,” Rustin was matched on the low post with the Royals’ 6-foot-10, 370-pound Christian Chappell.

Rustin had 14 points, 10 rebounds and blocked five shots, including one on Chappell in the game’s final seconds to secure Huguenot’s 67-62 victory.

The right-hander also calmly swished four free throws down the stretch, keeping

the Royals at bay.

“Eric had a great game,” Coach Brown said. “He began playing with a lot of confidence. He hadn’t been starting for us.

But he has earned that right now.”

Chappell, an All-Conference 20 pick last year with a bruising inside style and soft touch, settled for 15 points, 10 of which came prior to the game’s intermission.

“I just kept my hands up,” Rustin said

Road Warriors Because of extensive water damage to its hardwood floor, the Huguenot High School Falcons will not be able to play games or practice this season at its Forest Hill Avenue campus.

Home games are being moved to Lucille M. Brown Middle School, 6300 Jahnke Road, and practices to Southside Community Center, the former Richmond Outreach Center on Old Warwick Road.

The home game scheduled for Jan. 20 against South Side rival George Wythe High School will be at Trinity Episcopal School, 3850 Pittaway Drive in Richmond.

of his determined effort.

Huguenot has a variety of scoring options, such as seniors DeShawn Ridley and Rayvon McKoy, junior Lance Monteiro and sophomore Jordan Parham.

Rustin views himself as mostly a rebounder and defensive intimidator with his pterodactyl like 7-foot-6 wingspan.

“My role is defense, blocking shots and rebounding,” said Rustin, who improved during off-season travel ball with Team Richmond/Garner Road under Del Harris.

Offensively, Rustin has surprising stamina and quickness and a nifty turnaround jumper from inside 10 feet.

“And don’t forget the hook,” Coach Brown told Rustin with a smile. “We like the hook because that eliminates problems with the footwork.”

Despite his extreme height, Rustin is a relative newcomer to basketball. He was more into swimming before high school.

“I’ve always been the tallest person everywhere I’ve been,” Rustin said. “I was at least 6 feet in sixth grade. I know it draws attention, but I’m used to it.”

Rustin has drawn NCAA Division I recruiting interest from the likes of Norfolk State, Hampton, High Point and Mount St. Mary’s universities. However, Coach Brown suggests his slender center may be better suited for a year at a prep school where he could add size and savvy.

Make no mistake; no one is saying Rustin is the next Ralph Sampson or Shaquille O’Neal. He’s a work in progress, with progress the key word in that phrase.

Tall tales: The tallest player in area history may have been 7-foot-3 Luke Minor, who played briefly at Mills Godwin High School in Henrico County in the 1990s before transferring to Blue Ridge School.

Minor went on to play at Hagerstown Community College in Maryland, the University of Southern California and Virginia Tech.

Another giant in local lore was 7-foot Charlie Nicholas who played a few games at J.R. Tucker High School in Henrico County in the late 1960s and signed with the University of Baltimore in 1972.

However, Nicholas never played college ball and became a popular vendor at the Richmond Coliseum.

Kwame Olds

Huguenot High’s 7-foot center Eric Rustin goes up against Prince George High’s 6-foot-10 Christian Chappell during the Tri-City Holiday Classic, dubbed the “Battle of the Bigs,” on Dec. 27. Huguenot won 67-62 in the game’s final seconds.

VCU’s ‘pass master’ Johnny Williams ranks among the nation’s top players in total assists Jonathan “Johnny” Williams is listed as a point guard in Virginia Heading to Philly Commonwealth University’s basketS a t u r d ay, Ja n . 6 : V i r g i n i a ball lineup, but passing guard better Commonwealth University plays defines his well-crafted skill set. at La Salle University at Tom Gola The 6-foot-1 senior is no stranger Arena in Philadelphia. to double-digit scoring, but it’s his Tipoff: 2 p.m.; televised on NBC creative, unselfish assists that draw Sports Network. the most respect on the floor and oohs and ahhs from the bleachers.

10 Conference in assists with 6.5 per To borrow a gym rat term, the na- Johnny Williams game, well ahead of runner-up C.J. tive Richmonder “spreads the sugar,” Anderson of the University of Masmeaning he gives sweet scoring chances to his sachusetts with 5.8 assists per game. teammates.

Williams ranks in the top 15 nationally for “If it’s open,” Williams said recently in a total assists and average per game. postgame interview about shooting, “I’ll shoot Much of VCU’s offense starts with Williams’ it. But I just like seeing others happy.” jet-like penetration into the lane, often leaving He went on to offer this self-description: “I’m defenders grasping at empty air. more of a pass first point guard, but speedy and He’s also making his mark among VCU’s allcan play defense.” time lead ball handlers. His current season assists Starting the new year for the 9-5 Rams, VCU’s average ranks third in the Rams record books “pass master” Williams was leading the Atlantic behind Dave Edwards (8.5 per game, 1971-72)

and Keith “Tiny” Highsmith (7.9, 1974-75).

VCU’s career assists leader is Eric Maynor with 674 from 2005 to 2009. Joey Rodriguez is the singlegame leader with 17 in the Rams’ 2010 win over the University of North Carolina-Greensboro.

Along with his clever passing and playmaking, Williams averages 10.1 points and 2.4 rebounds and hits 81 percent of his free throws. You foul him, you pay.

Williams has such command of the Rams’ high-tempo offense (78 points per game) that he’s almost like an assistant coach — albeit wearing jersey No. 10 — under first-year Coach Mike Rhoades.

“If Johnny’s going to talk in the huddle, or if Johnny’s going to talk in the locker room, I’m going to be quiet because (his team members) are going to listen to him,” Coach Rhoades said.

“The best coached teams are player-led teams, reaffirming the message from the coach.”

Williams also ranks with the most athletic Rams. He posted the squad’s best time (3.1

seconds) for the three-quarter floor dash and boasts a vertical leap of 41 inches.

The son of Sharon and Stan Williams grew up in Richmond as a VCU fan, but moved to New York with his family during his early teen years.

While in Richmond, his athletic and spiritual mentors included former VCU great Calvin Duncan, now pastor at Faith & Family Church on Walmsley Boulevard.

Williams went on to sparkle at St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark, N.J., drawing much college attention. On a recruiting visit to VCU, he was present March 2013 at the Siegel Center when the Rams routed Butler University 84-52.

It was a convincing performance if ever there was one.

Such New York area schools as Seton Hall, Fordham, Rutgers and Wagner pursued Williams at St. Benedict’s. But when it came time to choose, the “pass master” leaned toward Richmond.

Passing on his hometown school was one pass even Johnny Williams wouldn’t make.

January 4-6, 2018 B1

Richmond Free Press

Section

Happenings

B

Personality: Lamont Bagby

Spotlight on chair of Virginia Legislative Black Caucus Delegate Lamont Bagby takes his work seriously.

The 41-year-old director of operations for the Peter Paul Development Center from the 74th House District has represented the people of Charles City County and parts of Richmond and Henrico County since 2015.

In his added role as chair of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, Delegate Bagby will be representing the interests of an even larger constituency when the General Assembly starts on Wednesday, Jan. 10.

As leader of the 20-member caucus, Delegate Bagby will work to uphold the VLBC’s mission “to improve the economic, educational, political and social conditions of African-American and other underrepresented groups” and to use the “political and legislative process to influence change.”

“Our mission is to be the voice for the voiceless and those individuals on the margins across the commonwealth,” Delegate Bagby says. “This has been the group’s founding fathers’ passion and legacy.”

With all 20 members of the caucus being Democrats, and in a political position in 2018 to make changes during the legislative session, Delegate Bagby says the VLBC will focus on expanding health care for Virginians through Medicaid, boosting funding and other support for public schools and working for the restoration of voting rights and other rights for felons.

“It is time once and for all to make the restoration of rights an automatic process,” Delegate Bagby says. “This is an issue we will not lose sight of until it is done.”

He says Gov.-elect Ralph S. Northam is behind the effort to expand health care for the working poor and uninsured.

“What we call it is not as important as the substance and how many individuals we can potentially add on to the health care rolls,” he says.

He talks about the link between education and housing and the need for a strategic approach for more affordable housing in areas across the state.

“Placing affordable housing in mixed-income areas is a good strategy,” Delegate Bagby says.

“Continuing down that road by providing revitalization dollars for these housing communities is going to be critical. This will also improve the quality of education for prospective community schools and school systems.”

Another priority for the VLBC is to increase minority

entrepreneurship and access to state contracts and procurement across the commonwealth.

“The caucus must be at the table and have an impact on negotiations and help minority companies get an economic boost through state contracts,” Delegate Bagby says. Unfortunately, many African-Americans don’t know about many of the resources that exist to help business owners, he says, and some black-owned companies “have been denied access to those dollars” and contracts.

The caucus wants to change that.

“We are here to make sure all Virginians, especially AfricanAmericans, have economic equity, housing and a quality education,” Delegate Bagby says.

Meet this week’s Personality, VLBC Chair Delegate Lamont Bagby: Occupation: Educator and member of the Virginia House of Delegates representing the 74th District.

Community involvement: Chair of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus.

Date of birth: Dec. 21.

Current residence: Henrico County.

Alma maters: Bachelor’s degree in business education, Norfolk State University, and master’s in education leadership, Virginia Commonwealth University.

House committees: Commerce and Labor, Education and Transportation.

Why I accepted VLBC chairmanship: There are many caucuses of the Virginia General Assembly, but none with a legacy as rich as the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus. I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead the caucus during a dynamic session in 2018. We have a real opportunity to ensure equity for all Virginians.

When elected chairman: Dec. 20, 2017.

Length of term: The officers serve for two years.

The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus is necessary because: As state representatives, we work daily to advance the everyday concerns of our people at the state level. As long as black people and minorities disproportionately feel the negative impact of outdated or just plain bad legislation, there will continue to be a need for the VLBC. We provide a perspective that is often missing, a voice that historically goes unheard and continues to need amplification. We are passionately working to create change

all Virginians by expand- spected and are often solicited ing affordable health for their diversity of thought care coverage, ensuring and perspectives on a variety adequate housing and of policy matters. We’ve grown providing equitable edu- this year and hope to continue cation for all children. seeing more black delegates and Top three issues the senators in the years to come.

VLBC will focus on Politics is: Ruthless, which is this session: Like our not always a bad thing. That Democratic colleagues passion can result in good throughout Virginia, government when the people Medicaid expansion is a are woke and vocal. priority for the members What influenced me to beof the caucus. Addition- come involved in politics: I ally, many of the schools initially became involved in in our communities need politics when I ran for the Henadditional support in a rico School Board in 2007. I variety of ways. We’ll decided to run because, as a be tackling that issue on lifelong resident and teacher, I several fronts. Lastly, it wanted to be a voice for those is time once and for all who often are underrepresented to make the restoration and ignored. There was a real of rights an automatic opportunity not only to help process This is an issue guide the process to renovate for our districts and minorities we will not lose sight of Fairfield Middle School, Brookacross the state. until it is done. land Middle School and Henrico VLBC’s No. 1 objective: Our In the push for Medicaid High School, but also to usher No. 1 priority in 2018 is to expansion, the VLBC will: in action related to mentorship increase our community’s confi- Work in a bipartisan fashion to programs, family engagement dence in us by taking advantage expand Medicaid and increase and school discipline. of recent gains in the legislature. the number of individuals cov- A good political leader: Is We will push for new laws ered in Virginia while lowering accessible. That is key for that make the commonwealth costs. being able to listen to your better for all Virginians. Black What the VLBC can do to constituents and then work agvoters showed up at the voting advance economic justice: gressively to deliver improvebooth this year, and we will At the foundation of economic ments to them. make sure the General Assem- justice is ensuring that our com- How I unwind: I hang out at bly shows up for them. munity has the opportunity to the barbershop or cigar shop, Strategy for achieving it: It’s provide for their families and talking about sports, politics important for us as a caucus to they need equitable wages to and other current events. move forward with a unified do so. We will continue to Favorite food: Spaghetti. voice to ensure our communi- push for an increase in the I’ve started preparing it with ties are represented. minimum wage. Additionally, zucchini noodles. It’s defi Top issue facing the legisla- many entrepreneurs and small nitely not the same, but not ture in 2018: This year, we business owners come from bad either. will pass a budget, which is an the black community. Ensur- How I start the day: My opportunity to impact several ing they have equal access to mornings start with a protein issues, and we will fight to make capital, affordable health insur- shake from A New You Wellsure that the things that are most ance and bidding opportunities ness Center. I like to start there important to our community are is key to addressing systemic because of the diversity. The inequality. a part of the budget. other customers don’t hesitate View and influence of caucus Perception of VLBC by the to share how legislation impacts on this issue: The VLBC wants other members of legislature: them or their feelings about the Members of| Pub: the Richmond VLBC are Trim: 7.278” x 10” | Bleed x 10 1/4” | Color: 4cp FreerePress Monthly Ads | Insertion: Jan. 29, 2018 to see a budget that 7.528” supports current political climate. I love

the direct feedback.

Three quotes that I am inspired by: “We need leaders not in love with money but in love with justice and not in love with publicity but in love with humanity.” — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.” — Muhammad Ali “There’s always something to suggest that you’ll never be who you wanted to be. Your choice is to take it or keep on moving.” — Phylicia Rashad Person who influenced me the most: I can’t limit it to one person.

Bill Parker has been a faithful mentor to me since my freshman year of high school. There aren’t many moves I make without calling Tyrone Nelson (Henrico County Board of Supervisors) and/or Congressman Donald McEachin. My late grandfather, Emmett Thomas, taught me all the basics, including how to tie a tie, cut grass, wash a car, treat folk fairly, fish, play cards and tell corny jokes.

The political figure I admire most: Former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, a founding member of the VLBC. The book that influenced me the most: “We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy” by Ta-Nehisi Coates.

What I’m reading now: “Good to Great to Gone: The 60 Year Rise and Fall of Circuit City”

by Alan L. Wurtzel.

Best thing my parents ever taught me: Be quiet and listen, then act.

My next goal: Support members of the VLBC as we make every effort to champion legislation to improve the lives of our constituents in a divided nation, commonwealth and legislature.

There’s an energy here. It courses through us, powering our pursuit of new combinations, novel approaches, and stronger solutions. And it transforms our individual endeavors into the power to change the world.

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Richmond Free Press

B2 January 4-6, 2018

Happenings

Northam inauguration set for Jan.13 The inauguration of Virginia’s 73rd governor, Democrat Ralph S. Northam, is free and open to the public.

He will be sworn in at noon Saturday, Jan. 13, at an outdoor ceremony in Capitol Square.

Also being sworn in are Lt. Gov.-elect Justin Fairfax, the state’s second African-American elected to statewide office, and Attorney General Mark Herring, who was re-elected to a second four-year term.

Both also are Democrats.

The theme: “The Way Ahead,” signifying “a vision for leading a Virginia with bipartisan, common sense solutions that lift up all of its people,” according to the inaugural committee.

Tickets for the ceremony are available on a first-come, first-served basis by request at www.vainauguration2018.com/

ceremony-tickets.

The Inaugural Parade will follow the ceremony, with units representing Virginia’s diverse communities. Among the participants will be the Virginia State University Trojan Explosion Marching Band, the Charlottesville Cardinals Wheelchair Basketball Team and Bolivian dancers from Northern Virginia.

The parade is free; no tickets are required. The route runs east from Grace Street and will circumnavigate Capitol Square.

The Inaugural Ball will take place at 8 p.m. that evening at Richmond’s Main Street Station train shed. Tickets are $250 and available at www.vainauguration2018.com/inaugural-ball.

On Thursday, Jan. 11, the Richmond, Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover branches of the NAACP are hosting a pre-inaugural

reception for Gov.-elect Northam, Mr. Fairfax and Mr. Herring to meet members of many African-American organizations, churches and community organizations that played a significant role in their election on Nov. 7.

The reception will be held from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at the Hilton Richmond Downtown, 501 E. Broad St. Other sponsors include the Richmond Crusade for Voters, the Baptist General Convention, Third Street Bethel A.M.E. Church, Virginia Alliance Against Mass Incarceration, People Demanding Action, Food and Water Watch, Black Votes Matter and Every Vote Counts.

Individual tickets are $125, or $200 per couple. Details and ticket purchase: www.actionnetwork.org/ticketed_events/ indiv-2018-virginia-gubernatorial-pre-inaugural or call (804) 647-7087.

Rep. McEachin to speak at VUU’s 40th Community Leaders Breakfast Congressman A. Donald McEachin will be the keynote speaker at Virginia Union University’s 40th Annual Community Leaders Breakfast honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The event will be held 7:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 12, at the Richmond Marriott Downtown, 500 E. Broad St. Rep. McEachin of Henrico is a former member of the Virginia General Assembly and has represented Virginia’s 4th Congressional District since January 2017. In addition to his committee assignments, Rep. McEachin serves as co-president of the congressional freshman class and is a regional whip for

Rep. McEachin

House Democrats.

At the breakfast, Lifetime of Service Awards will be presented to the Rev. Tyler C. Millner Sr., pastor of the Morning Star Holy Church in Martinsville and a founding member of the Community Leaders Breakfast, and Vivian Wilson McNorton, a 1945 VUU graduate and retired educator.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Dr. King’s assassination in Memphis.

Tickets are $40 and may be purchased online at www.vuu.edu/ alumni/community-leaders-breakfast-registration or in room 208 of VUU’s C.D. King Building at Lombardy and Leigh streets.

Corey Powell

Holiday elegance The Richmond Chapter of Continental Societies Inc. hosted its annual “Elegance in Black & White Gala” last Friday at a Downtown hotel. More than 200 people enjoyed the black tie dinner-dance and auction featuring entertainment by the Katz Band and comedian Micah “Bam-Bamm White.” From left, Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, Continental President Nkechi George-Winkler, Vice President Beverly B. Davis and Dr. Ralph S. Northam, Virginia’s governor-elect, pause during the gala for a photo. The event raises money for the Continental’s annual programs, including winter coats for needy schoolchildren, dental screenings, Easter baskets for hospitalized children, scholarships for college-bound students and camp scholorships for inner-city youths.

Oprah sells majority control of her OWN network Free Press wire report

Oprah Winfrey has sold control of her 6-yearold cable network for $70 million.

In early December, the former talk show queen and media mogul sold a nearly 25 percent stake in OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network to Discovery Communications. Discovery had been a 50-50 partner with Ms. Winfrey in the network since she started it in 2008.

OWN went on the air in 2011.

After the sale of the 24.5 percent stake, Discovery will own 74.5 percent of OWN and be able to report the cable network’s results on its balance sheet.

Ms. Winfrey “Creating OWN and seeing it flourish, supported by Discovery and a rapidly growing group of the finest storytellers in film and television, is one of my proudest achievements,” Ms. Winfrey said in a statement.

Ms. Winfrey’s company, Harpo Inc., will retain a “significant minority interest” in OWN, and Ms. Winfrey will continue as chief executive. She also will work exclusively for OWN 2025.

Currently, Ms. Winfrey is a special correspondent for “60 Minutes” on CBS. OWN, which hit some early ratings speed bumps, has recently picked up steam thanks to relationships with producer Tyler Perry and producer/director Ava DuVernay.

In July, Discovery acquired Scripps Networks Interactive for a cash-and-stock deal valued at $11.9 billion.

The Scripps deal, which is expected to close in early 2018, will bring together Scripps’ largely female-targeted lifestyle channels such as HGTV, Travel Channel and Food Network with Discovery’s TLC, ID and OWN.

Celebrating Kwanzaa The community celebrated Kwanzaa at last Saturday’s 27th Annual Capital City Kwanzaa Festival held at the Dewey Gottwald Center on the campus of the Science Museum of Virginia.

Crystal Turner, right, participates in lighting the candles, each of which represents one of the seven principles celebrated by the holiday. The black candle in the middle represents Umoja, or unity, while the red candles represent Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujamaa (cooperative economics) and Kuumba (creativity) and the green candles represent Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Nia (purpose) and Imani (faith). The festival included a procession of drummers and dancers led by Janine Bell, bottom left, founder and artistic director of the Elegba Folklore Society that produces the annual celebration. Author Ronnie Sidney, a licensed clinical social worker, displays one of his children’s books at the festival marketplace, where a variety of wares and foods were available. Kelita Wooten, bottom right, paints the face of a youngster during the festivities that included speakers, workshops and children’s activities.

Photos by Courtney Jones

Richmond Free Press

Happenings

Ringing in the new year!

New Year’s Eve in Richmond was a day — and night — of celebration and looking ahead to 2018. Bottom left, hundreds of children and their families gathered early in the day for the annual Science Museum of Virginia’s “Noon Year’s Eve’ celebration for the family friendly bash complete with streamers and a ball drop welcoming 2018. Darius Robinson Sr., bottom right, had his hands full at the museum party, with his daughter, Mariah, 3, on his shoulders and year-old son, Darius Jr., out like a light on his arm. Later Sunday night, the 18-and-older crowd turned out for “Le Masque 007 NYE Celebration” at the Main Street Station train shed. About 250 people attended the party that had a James Bond Casino Royale theme.

Above left, Malekah Mason, left, and Myaira Mason, ring in 2018 with champagne and a selfie at the event. Below right, Joe Foster goes for an air of mystery and intrigue in his mask and bow tie. Above right, aerialist Joe Duerksen performs. Right, models dressed in the latest creations by renowned fashion designer Andres Aquino, leading the way, head out for the finale on the runway. Proceeds from the event were to benefit Single Mothers United.

Photos by Sandra Sellers/Richmond Free Press

January 4-6, 2018 B3

Richmond Free Press

B4 January 4-6, 2018

Faith News/Directory

Artistic salute to veterans

Photos by Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

This unique sculptural tribute to military veterans stands at the Virginia War Memorial near the Lee Bridge.

Dubbed the “Veterans’ Impact Project,” the three-part relief features the impressions of objects symbolic of military service, ranging from helmets and other gear to scissors, poker chips, stars, medals and a harmonica.

At a Dominion Riverrock festival in May 2014, 170 veterans and their family members used a Roman-style throwing machine to hurl the rubber-cast items into a 3,000-pound wall of clay. Others punched, kicked, poked or pressed items into the wall in what is believed to be the first crowd-sourced work.

The impressions were later cast with all-weather polymerized plaster to create the outdoor triptych.

Richmonders Kevin and Andrea Orlosky, founders and leaders of the nonprofit Art on Wheels, are credited with the idea. They worked with veterans and Richmond sculptor James Robertson of Richmond to produce the one-of-a-kind piece.

An explanatory statement about the piece describes the project as a “platform (for veterans) to communicate the depth of their experiences and the impact of service on their lives to a broader audience.”

Dr. Barber attends global conference at the Vatican

By Cash Michaels Special to the Trice Edney News Wire from the Wilmington Journal

Rome is more than 4,600 miles away from Raleigh, N.C. But when it came to “Moral Mondays,” the massive yet peaceful demonstrations held in North Carolina’s capital city led by the former president of the North Carolina NAACP, no distance was too far as far as admirers attending a recent international conference on labor at the Vatican were concerned.

“I was … surprised by how many leaders from around the world had been inspired by Moral Mondays and the Poor People’s Campaign plans,” Dr. William J. Barber II, leader of the social justice group “Repairers of the Breach,” said by text from the Vatican shortly after the visit in late November.

Dr. Barber was one of 300 participants from around the world attending the conference, which addressed the conditions of working people and the working poor. Representing the upcoming Poor People’s Campaign in the United States, Dr. Barber’s social justice reputation from the 12 years he led the North Carolina NAACP preceded him. Already, he has been extended an invitation to attend and preach at another world gathering on labor rights and the poor in Liverpool, England, in June. He also has been invited to Brazil next year.

As a birthday present, Dr. Barber took his 84-year-old mother on the trip to Rome, along with his wife and one of his sons.

Dr. Barber said during an interview that the global delegations of deeply committed religious and labor leaders spent two “long, intense eight-hour days” working together. Delegations were from nations such as France, Sudan and England.

Dr. Barber said he was greeted warmly by all.

Even the Vatican guards

saluted him because of his title of “bishop.”

During his presentation at the conference, Dr. Barber noted that Pope Francis has said “religious leaders must play a leading role in the struggle for justice in dialogue with all social and political actors.”

“We must articulate a way of thinking that brings together the complexity of the current situation and proposes an action strategy for the construction of a just society,” Dr. Barber said. “Not only is democracy at stake, but the well-being of the world itself.”

Dr. Barber told the gathering that five “moral diseases” must be addressed “if we are to be a people able to address the common good, promote the general welfare and ensure the common defense, with liberty and justice for all.”

“We must address systemic racism, systemic poverty, ecological devastation, the war economy and the immoral narrative of extreme religionism,” he said.

Dr. Barber said many of the points he and the delegation raised were included in the conference’s final document “as a guide to the way forward.”

His Thanksgiving Day meeting with Pope Francis, however, was canceled at the last minute because of challenges surrounding the pope’s trip to Malaysia and security risks.

Pope Francis issued a letter at the conclusion of the international conference warning participants of “the money god”

Riverview

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

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

TriceEdneyWire.com

Bishop William J. Barber II poses with the Vatican guards in Rome during his visit.

that leads to the exploitation of the working poor globally.

“Work must serve the human person,” Pope Francis said, not the other way around.” He added that “…every worker is the

hand of Christ who continues to create and do good.”

Dr. Barber presented one of the Vatican cardinals with gifts for the pope from the United States — a small stone from the

 

Zion Baptist Church 2006 Decatur Street Richmond, VA 23224 zbcoffice@verizon.net



1408 W. eih Sree  ichmo a. 0 804 5840



d



Dr. Robert L. Pettis, Sr., Pastor

Church School Worship Service

Sunday Service 10 a.m.

8:45 a.m.

10 a.m.



Church School 8:45 a.m.

ile Su

Wednesday Bible Study 7p.m.

1 p.m.



Transportation Services (804) 859-1985

e ercies iisr  a.m. ul ile Su :0 p.m.

“Reclaiming the Lost by Proclaiming the Gospel”

ie oore Sree o 

St. Peter Baptist Church

Dr. Kirkland R. Walton, Pastor

Worship Opportunities Sundays: Morning Worship Church School Morning Worship

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

Unity Sundays (2nd Sundays): Church School 8:30 A.M. Morning Worship 10 A.M. Thursdays: Mid-Day Bible Study 12 Noon Prayer & Praise 6:30 P.M. Bible Study 7 P.M. (Children/Youth/Adults) 2040 Mountain Road • Glen Allen, Virginia 23060 Office 804-262-0230 • Fax 804-262-4651 • www.stpeterbaptist.net

home of the late North Carolina civil rights leader Ella Baker and sand from the Rio Grande along the U.S.-Mexico border, where Dr. Barber walked with families traveling to see rela-

tives from Mexico they had not seen in years.

Dr. Barber’s Vatican presentation is available at https://thecashjournal.blogspot.com/p/ bishop-william-j-barbers.html

Ebenezer Baptist Church 1858

“The People’s Church”

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

11:00 a.m.

9:30 a.m.

Every 3rd Sunday 2nd Sunday, 11 a.m.

Mon. 6:30 p.m.

Tues. 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Wed. 6:45 p.m.

Wed. 4:30 p.m.

Wed. 6:00 p.m.

Thurs., 11:45 a.m.

Dr. Wallace J. Cook, Pastor Emeritus  Rev. Dr. James E. Leary, Interim Pastor

Triumphant

Baptist Church

2003 Lamb Avenue Dr. Arthur M. Jones, Sr., Pastor (804) 321-7622 Church School - 9:30 a.m.

Worship Service - 11:15 a.m.

Bible Study: Tuesday - 9 a.m.

Wednesday - 7 p.m.

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

Every Wednesday 8 p.m.

Communion - 1st Sunday

Richmond Free Press

January 4-6, 2018

B5

Faith News/Directory

On Emancipation Day

The fight continues Photos by Clement Britt

Roslyn M. Brock, chair emeritus of the national NAACP, sparks the crowd with her message during Monday’s Emancipation Proclamation Day Worship Service at Fifth Baptist Church.

By Leah Hobbs

“I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to go back to the good old days. I don’t want to go back to separate and unequal,” Roslyn M. Brock, chairman emeritus of the national NAACP, told a crowd on Monday at the Emancipation Proclamation Day Worship Service at Richmond’s Fifth Baptist Church.

“We pray, we labor and we wait, as we witness turmoil, turnover, chaos and controversy over the past year that has been promulgated from the highest office of the land through a series of irrational and irate daily tweets that systematically seem to try to roll back the clock on civil rights gains in an attempt to take us back to the good old days, or as some may say, to make America great again,” she said.

But during the New Year’s Day event sponsored by the Baptist Ministers’ Conference of Richmond and Vicinity, Ms. Brock encouraged the roughly 300 people in attendance to keep fighting injustice.

The Virginia Union University graduate, who also earned a master’s in divinity from VUU’s Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, drew parallels between Jesus’ teachings in the Bible to issues confronting the nation today, such as health care and immigration.

“Too many of us are locked in a room with the door wide open. Too many faith leaders and church folks remain silent about what Jesus talked so much about,” Ms. Brock said. “We need you to stand with us when we welcome the stranger, stand with our Muslim brothers and sisters with the travel ban or with Dreamers on immigration reform.”

Emancipation Proclamation Day celebrates Jan. 1, 1863, when the proclamation signed

by President Abraham Lincoln went into effect abolishing slavery in Virginia and other Confederate states.

Monday’s event is a New Year’s Day tradition to celebrate progress and encourage people

The Greater Metropolitan Choir performs during the event sponsored by the Baptist Ministers’ Conference of Richmond and Vicinity.

to continue the fight for freedom, according to the Rev. Emanuel Harris, vice president of the ministers’ conference.

“Our work is great,” Rev. Harris told the crowd. “Injustice still exists. The fight continues.

Stay engaged. The same God that liberated back then is liberating today.”

Emphasizing that point, Ms. Brock shared the story of Elmore Nickleberry, a sanitation worker in Memphis for more than 60 years. He was one of the workers who went on strike in 1968 to demand fair wages and safe working conditions when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. traveled to Memphis to support the workers and was assassinated.

Mr. Nickleberry, now in his 80s, still works a sanitation route, according to published reports, because he never received a promised pension from the city of Memphis.

Recently, the city granted the original striking workers a $70,000 pension payment, Ms. Brock said.

During the service, the crowd joined hands

to pray in a gesture of strength and unity similar to those who linked arms as they marched for civil rights. The Rev. Charles Baugham, interim pastor of St. Mark Baptist Church in Goochland, prayed, “God, we need your presence and your activity as we engage in issues and challenges of our time.”

“These are times that try men’s souls. We have been on the battlefield, but more than ever we need to be on the battlefield,” added the Rev. Delores L. McQuinn, who represents portions of Richmond, Henrico and Chesterfield in the Virginia House of Delegates.

“There are no ‘many sides’ for people to stand on when you’re discriminating, when there’s prejudice and hate and racism,” she said, referencing President Trump’s comments following the violent protest of white nationalists and neo-Nazis in Charlottesville in mid-August.

Ms. Brock referenced a letter from former slave and abolitionist Frederick Douglass to newspaperman and abolitionist William Lloyd

Broad Rock Baptist Church

“The Church With A Welcome”

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

Sharon Baptist Church 500 E. Laburnum Avenue, Richmond, VA 23222 www.sharonbaptistchurchrichmond.org (804) 643-3825 Rev. Dr. Paul A. Coles, Pastor

SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2018 8:30 a.m. ....Sunday School WEDNESDAYS THURSDAYS 10:00 a.m. ...Morning Worship 6:00 p.m. ..... Prayer Service 1:30 p.m.

Holy Communion 6:30 p.m. ..... Bible Study Bible Study

Early Morning Worship ~ 8 a.m.

Sunday School ~ 9:30 a.m.

Morning Worship ~ 11 a.m.

4th Sunday Unified Worship Service ~ 9:30 a.m.

Bible Study: Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m. & 7 p.m.

Sermons Available at BRBCONLINE.org

2018 Theme: The Year of Transition (Romans 8:28-29)



Tuesdays

Noon Day Bible Study

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

Wednesdays

6:30 p.m.

Prayer and Praise 7:00 p.m.

Adult Bible Study

Serving Richmond since 1887 Sunday 9:00 a.m. Sunday School 10:00 a.m. Worship Service

A 21st Century Church With Ministry For Everyone

Antioch Baptist Church

Come worship with us!

Sundays 10:45AM Worship & Praise New Church School Classes From Nursery – College Student Also Women’s & Men’s Classes 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

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

11:00 AM Mid-day Meditation

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

New Year’s Revival January 3 - 5, 2018 (Wednesday - Friday) 7:30 pm

All ARe Welcome

SERVICES

We Embrace Diversity — Love For All!

6:30 PM Prayer Meeting

WedneSday 12:00 p.m. Bible Study 7:00 p.m. Bible Study

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

Theme for 2018-2020: Mobilizing For Ministry Refreshing The Old and Emerging The New

Tuesday Sunday 10:30 AM Bible Study 9:30 AM Church School 6:30 PM Church-wide Bible Study 11:00 AM Worship Service 6:30 PM Men's Bible Study (Each 2nd and 4th) (Holy Communion Thursday each 2nd Sunday) Wednesday (Following 2nd Sunday)

3200 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia 23223• (804) 226-1176

“Redeeming God’s People for Gods Purpose”

Sixth Baptist Church

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



Rev. Darryl G. Thompson, Pastor

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

New Deliverance Evangelistic Church

Sundays

8:00 a.m.

Early Morning Worship 9:30 a.m.

Sunday School 11:00 a.m.

Morning Worship

Good Shepherd Baptist Church

“MAKE IT HAPPEN” Pastor Kevin Cook

Mount Olive Baptist Church

Garrison, written Jan. 1, 1846. In the letter, Mr. Douglass wrote, “In thinking of America, I sometimes find myself admiring her bright blue sky, her grand old woods, her fertile fields, her beautiful rivers, her mighty lakes and starcrowned mountains. But my rapture is soon checked, my joy is soon turned to mourning when I remember that all is cursed with the infernal spirit of slaveholding, robbery and wrong.”

“I am filled with unutterable loathing,” Mr. Douglass continued, “and led to reproach myself that anything could fall from my lips in praise of such a land. America will not allow her children to love her. She seems bent on compelling those who would be her warmest friends to be her worst enemies. May God give her repentance before it is too late, is the ardent prayer of my heart. I will continue to pray, labor and wait, believing that she cannot always be insensible to the dictates of justice, or deaf to the voice of humanity.”

Ms. Brock said these leaders from the past were different from some of today.

“These clarion leaders, who with fire in their belly for justice, stood flat-footed with an ancestral mandate to speak truth to power,” she said. “They were not like some of our wannabe justice, faith and community leaders who simply rush out to our communities for drive-by social justice faith tours.

“We need more ministers and lay leaders who will stand their ground and raise their voice, not only in the sanctuary, not only in the mosque, in the synagogue, in the temple, but … in the public square,” she said.

She talked about the biblical passage in Thessalonians describing convictions of steel.

“We need some leaders who have some steel in their convictions,” Ms. Brock said.

“What happens to us that we get so absorbed in our own places and houses of worship that we forget that we are to enter to worship but depart to serve?” she asked.

“Service to others is the rent we pay for the space we own.”

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

Sunday 8:00 a.m. Sunday School 9:00 a.m. Worship Service

Wednesday Services

DR. JAMES L. SAILES PASTOR

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

Attendence: 70 Sanctuary - All Are Welcome!

Wednesday Evening Bible Study 7 p.m. Prayer Attendence: 94

Saturday 8:30 a.m. Intercessory Prayer

You can now view Sunday Morning Service “AS IT HAPPENS” online!

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

Visit www.ndec.net.

Theme: “They Shall Ask The Way Back To Zion” Jeremiah 504-5 (KJV) 4 In those days, and in that time, saith the Lord, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the Lord their God. 5 They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.

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

THE NEW DELIVERANCE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (NDCA)

ENROLL NOW!!!

Accepting applications for children 2 yrs. old to 4th Grade Our NDCA curriculum also consists of a Before and After program.

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

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

Richmond Free Press

B6 January 4-6, 2018

Sports Plus

College football championship to be served Southern style

By Fred Jeter

If you like your pigskin served with biscuits and gravy, with a side of grits, then this year’s College Football Playoff National Championship is for you.

You might say this year’s grand finale is pretty as a peach, with the University of Georgia and the University of Alabama playing down in Atlanta.

Folks chanting “Roll Tide” and “How about them Dawgs” can almost hear the crowd roar. Atlanta is just 73 miles from the University of Georgia’s campus in Athens, and 202 miles from the University of Alabama’s campus in Tuscaloosa.

Both teams are members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). It just so happens that since 1998, SEC schools have 10 national football titles — Alabama, 4; Louisiana State University, 2; University of Florida, 2; and University of Tennessee and

But this is how they got there: Semifinals on Jan. 1: Georgia defeated the University of Oklahoma 54-48 in double overtime at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. And Alabama upended defending champion Clemson 24-6 at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

Event history: This is the fourth season of the College Football Playoff National Championship for schools in the NCAA Bowl Championship Subdivision (BCS).

The four-team bracket format includes two semifinals and the final championship game

College Football Playoff National Championship University of Georgia Bulldogs (13-1) versus University of Alabama Crimson Tide (12-1) Date: Monday, Jan. 8 Time: 8 p.m.

Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta Broadcast: ESPN television and radio.

Auburn University, one each.

And that doesn’t count the SEC’s kissin’ cousins, Clemson University, the University of Texas, Florida State University and the University of Miami, all teams that have won one national crown in that timeframe.

Some football fans pointing fingers from points north and west suggest something is wrong with this deep-fried recipe.

one week later.

Dr. Pepper has paid approximately $35 million to sponsor the event through 2020.

Past Results: 2014 (at Arlington, Texas): Ohio State 42, Oregon 20.

2015 (at Glendale, Ariz.): Alabama 45, Clemson 40.

2016 (at Tampa, Fla.): Clemson 35, Alabama 31.

Legal Notices/Employment Opportunities Divorce VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE CITY OF Richmond PATRICK MACCLENAHAN, Plaintiff v.

GWENDOLYN MACCLENAHAN, Defendant.

Case No.: CL17-4176-7 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of the above styled suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the Defendant on the grounds that the parties have lived separate and apart, without any cohabitation and without interruption, for a period of more than one year.

It appearing by affidavit filed according to law that the Defendant, Gwendolyn MacClenahan has no known permanent address in the State of Virginia and that the Plaintiff has used diligence in attempting to locate the Defendant without success.

It is therefore ORDERED that the Defendant, Gwendolyn MacClenahan, appear before this Court on or before the 12th day of February, 2018 and do what is necessary to protect her interest in this suit.

An Extract, Teste: EDWARD F. JEWETT, Clerk Eppa Hunton VI, Esq. 6720 Patterson Ave., Ste. D. Richmond, VA 23226 (804) 513-2595 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER TESHA GOODWINE, Plaintiff v.

KORY GOODWINE, Defendant.

Case No.: CL17003365-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground Continued on next column

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of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, whose whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 13th day of February, 2018 at 9:00 AM and protect his interests.

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

22560 In re: Arthur White Jr and Anita White v.

Jessica White v. LA’Rick white Case No. JJ006326 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of the abovestyled suit is to obtain a final custody and visitation arrangement for the minor child.

It appearing by affidavit filed according to law that the Respondent, La’rick White’s current address is unknown and that his last known address is 2807 Barton Avenue, Apt. 3, Richmond, Virginia 23222, it is therefore ORDERED that the said Respondent, La’rick White, appear before this Court on or before the 2nd day of April, 2018, at 1 pm, at which time I wll appear before this Court to request an Order be entered regarding the custody and visitation of the minor child to this suit, counsel fees and court costs, and do what is necessary to protect his interest in this suit.

appear before this Court on or before the 2nd day of April, 2018, at 1 pm, at which time I wll appear before this Court to request an Order be entered regarding the custody and visitation of the minor child to this suit, counsel fees and court costs, and do what is necessary to protect his interest in this suit.

02/07/2018, at 10:00 AM, Courtroom #5

and are defendants to this suit by the general description of “Parties Unknown.”

IT IS ORDERED that K E LLY JOH N S ON and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before JANUARY 25, 2018 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

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE CITY OF Richmond HARRY RAGLAND, Plaintiff v.

ANDREA RAGLAND, Defendant.

Case No.: CL17-2049-1 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 a affidavit that diligence has been used without effect, by or on the behalf of the plaintiff to ascertain in what county or city defendant is.

It is ORDERED that Andrea Ragland appear at the above-named court and protect his/her interests on or before the 6th day of February, 2018 at 9:00 a.m.

A Copy Teste: EDWARD F. JEWETT, Clerk

CUSTODY Virginia: In the Juvenile and domestic relations district court for Essex County 300 Prince Street Tappahannock, Virginia Continued on next column

Virginia: In the Juvenile and domestic relations district court for Essex County 300 Prince Street Tappahannock, Virginia 22560 In re: Arthur White Jr and Anita White v.

Jessica White v. Brian Fayne Case No. JJ006287 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of the abovestyled suit is to obtain a final custody and visitation arrangement for the minor child.

It appearing by affidavit filed according to law that the Respondent, Brian Fayne’s current address is unknown and that his last known address is 4235 Lamplighter Court, N. Chesterfield, VA 23234, it is therefore ORDERED that the said Respondent, Brian Fayne,

PROPERTY

VIRGINIA: IN THE JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Alex valentine Case No. J-062646-14-15 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“RPR”) Alex Valentine, Sr. (Father) and Unknown Father of Alex Valentine, child, DOB 06/27/2002, “RPR” means all rights and responsibilities remaining with parent after transfer of legal custody or guardianship of the person, including but not limited to rights of: visitation; adoption consent; determination of religious affiliation; and responsibility for support.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Alex Valentine, Sr. (Father) and Unknown Father to appear at the abovenamed Court and protect his/her interest on or before

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

KELLY JOHNSON, et al.

Defendants.

Case No.: CL17-4854 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 214 Minor Street, Richmond, Virginia, Tax Map Number N0000376/006, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owner of record, Kelly Johnson.

An Affidavit having been filed that said owner, KELLY JOHNSON, 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 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

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SECURITIES ATTORNEY (Richmond, VA) needed for law firm. F/T. Master’s Degree in law req’d; must be licensed to practice law in US. Responsibilities incl: public & private offerings of equity & debt securities; interaction w. Chinese auditors, legal counsels to facilitate offering process; assist in prep of offering documents for Chinese investors; M&A. Send resume to Jillian Marchant, Kaplan Voekler Cunningham & Frank PLC, 1401 E. Cary St., Richmond, VA 23219. No phone calls.

Seeking Full-Time Transit Bus Operators $28,808/year and Includes Full Time County Benefits Go to jobs.jamescitycountyva.gov to apply.

To advertise in the Richmond Free Press call 644-0496.

COORDINATOR Office of Strategic Engagement

School of Education, Virginia Commonwealth University The VCU School of Education seeks applications for the position of Coordinator in the Office of Strategic Engagement, with a start date of February 25, 2018. At VCU, we believe different perspectives and expertise enhance possibilities and solutions. This philosophy drives our recruitment process, so we welcome applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds, who will contribute to an already diverse community of faculty, staff, and students.

The mission of the Office of Strategic Engagement is to partner with regional stakeholders, particularly school divisions, along with national and international stakeholders to leverage expertise and resources to address identified needs and meet mutually established goals for the advancement of high-quality learning for educational professionals. The Coordinator will work closely with the Executive Director to promote, manage, and execute partnerships with external stakeholders and partners, especially school divisions, in development of mutually beneficial professional development agreements, degree and non-degree program cohorts, and collaborative agreements.

Questions may be directed to Dr. Tomika Ferguson, Search Committee Chair, at 804-828-9805 or via email tlferguson2@vcu.edu. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position closing date, January 15, 2018.

For a detailed job description, required skills, VCU/SOE information and to apply, please visit: https://www.vcujobs.com/postings/68424.

Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action university providing access to education and employment without regard to age, race, color, national origin, gender, religion, sexual orientation, veteran’s status, political affiliation or disability.

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immediately aVailable Downtown Richmond first floor office suite Call Now

5th and Franklin StreetS 422 east Franklin Street richmond, Virginia 23219

(804) 683-4232

RICHM Issue Size: Price: