Richmond Free Press March 31-April 2, 2022 edition

Who won? B2

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VOL. 31 NO. 14

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

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Meet this week’s Personality B3

MARCH 31-APRIL 2, 2022

Signs of the times University of Richmond campus buildings honoring slaveholders and segregationists are getting new names after years of pushing Board of Trustees to make changes

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Six buildings on the University of Richmond’s campus are being cleansed of the names of slaveholders and champions of segregation, including a building named in honor of the university’s founding president, the Rev. Robert Ryland.

“What a great day,” enthused Christopher Wiggins, a 2003 UR graduate and freelance journalist who has advocated for the name changes at the predominantly white private school. “It is beyond time that the University of Richmond takes this step forward toward healing the scars of its past.”

The university’s Board of Trustees, which last year balked at removing two controversial names, voted unanimously last Saturday to immediately change the buildings’ names. The dramatic action went largely unnoticed until Monday, when the university’s new president, Dr. Kevin F. Hallock, issued a letter to the campus community as workers began removing or covering the names of the now tarnished honorees on six buildings, most of whom were instrumental in the school’s development.

Topping the list of changes is Ryland Hall, an academic building on the National Register of Historic Places named for Rev. Ryland, a slaveholder who rented the people he purchased to the school and collected money for their labor. He was president of the school beginning in 1841. He also served as pastor of First African Baptist Church when state law required white pastors of Black churches.

One wing of the building is named for Rev. Ryland and the other wing for his nephew, Charles H. Ryland, who served as trustee, treasurer and librarian of the college from 1873 to 1914.

The building now will be called the Humanities Building.

A dormitory named for the late Richmond newspaper editor, Confederate apologist and segregation crusader Douglas Southall Freeman, a longtime UR trustee and rector of the board, is now Residence Hall No. 3.

Mr. Freeman, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian of the Confederacy and its military leaders, spread his belief in racial segregation and the bogus science of racial purity or eugenics Please turn to A4

Biden signs historic Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act Free Press wire, staff report

Laura Knouse

Crews at the University of Richmond waste no time in covering the names of slaveholders and segregationists on campus buildings following approval last week of the UR Board of Trustees. Here, ladders were raised to cover the name of Puryear Hall, an academic building named for Bennet Puryear, a slave-owning UR chemistry teacher and faculty leader. The building’s new name is Fountain Hall.

Marker recognizing city’s liberation by Union troops near Civil War’s end damaged in East End

By George Copeland Jr.

An accident or act of intentional vandalism?

Officials with the state Department of Historic Resources are unsure of the cause, but told the Richmond Free Press on Wednesday that the historical marker recognizing the Union Army’s liberation of Richmond from Confederate control on April 3, 1865, leading to the end of the Civil War had been knocked down recently and “damaged beyond repair.”

The marker still has not been replaced days before the 157th anniversary of the event and a celebration marking when and where the Union troops, led by African-American units, entered the city.

“There’s no question we’re going ahead with the program on Sunday,” said Phil Wilayto of the Virginia Defenders for Freedom, Justice and Equality. “It’s the site that’s important, not the marker.”

The Virginia Defenders, along with the Sacred Ground Historical Reclamation Project, organized the anniversary celebration Please turn to A4

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Hand in hands Year-old Deilani Bland-Murph holds on to the hands of her mother, Tyshell Bland, right, and that of a Richmond SPCA volunteer at last Saturday’s 20th Annual Dog Jog and 5k to benefit the pets in the care of the local SPCA. People and their pets came from all over the region to participate in the event held at the SPCA, 2519 Hermitage Road near The Diamond. The day was packed with games and activities for people of all ages. Deilani’s mom and the volunteer helped her on the “Little Paws” Fund Run for the youngest of all.

The day kicked off with a 5K run/walk for people, followed by a leisurely mile-long Dog Jog for people and their dogs.

In a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden, President Biden sat at a small desk and put his signature on the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act that now makes lynching punishable by up to 30 years in prison.

“Lynching was pure terror to enforce the lie that not everyone belongs in America, not everyone is created equal.

Terror to systemically undermine hardfought civil rights,” President Biden said to the audience of civil rights leaders, Congressional Black Caucus members and other elected officials and guests.

The new law is named for Emmett Till, the Black 14-year-old from Chicago who in 1955 was visiting relatives in Money, Miss., when he was accused of whistling at a white woman. He was kidnapped, beaten and shot in the head. A large metal fan was tied to his neck with barbed wire and his body was thrown into the Tallahatchie River.

His mother, Mamie Till, insisted on an open casket at his funeral to show the brutality he suffered.

Photos published in JET magazine at the time propelled the story about the teen’s death to national attention, galvanizing public outcry that helped spark the Civil Rights Movement.

Associated Press

It was more than 120 years in the making, but President Biden on Tuesday signed into law the first federal legislation to make lynching a hate crime, addressing a history of racist killings in the United States.

Two white men, Roy Bryant and his half-brother J.W. Milam, were charged with the teen’s murder, but were acquitted by an all-white male jury. The two later told a reporter that they kidnapped and killed the teen.

At Tuesday’s ceremony, President Biden was joined by the Rev. Wheeler

Parker Jr. of Chicago, a cousin of Emmett Till who was with him in the grocery store when Emmett allegedly whistled at Carolyn Bryant. Rev. Parker also is the last living witness to Emmett’s abduction at gunpoint from his great-uncle’s home

Training program for released convicts faces shutdown

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Rodney Brown had just served a six-year sentence in prison in 2018 when he found his way to the nonprofit Adult Alternative Program at 4929 Chamberlayne Ave. in the city’s North Side.

The Richmond native said the 90-day re-entry program that contractor Kenneth Williams created proved “life changing” for him.

Describing himself as aimless and jobless when he arrived, Mr. Brown said the program helped him give him focus; taught him life skills; enabled him to gain basic training in HVAC, the acronym for heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems; and linked him to his first full-time job ever.

Four years later, the 36-yearold said he is still working full time, owns a car, pays his rent and is preparing to get married in September.

“Before I got into the pro-

gram, I could not imagine that happening for me,” Mr. Brown said.

That’s the kind of success story Mr. Williams envisioned when he started the program for former male and female inmates in Richmond Public Schools’ vacant REAL School building at Chamberlayne and Azalea avenues on the border with Henrico County.

A former convict himself, Mr. Williams, 73, said he got a second chance by learn-

ing building trades and then starting his own construction business. He said he started the program to give others the same opportunity – a prospect that gained momentum after RPS authorized him to use the building in 2016, about two years after the REAL School moved out.

He said he finally got the first floor of the building in shape with help from a variety Please turn to A4

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

The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following location: • Wednesday, April 6, 4 to 6 p.m.—Southwood Pool House, Southwood Parkway and Clarkson Road.

Walk-up testing is provided, though appointments may be set by calling (804) 205-3501 or going to www.rchd.com.

Call the Richmond and Henrico COVID-19 Hotline at (804) 205-3501 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for more information on testing sites, or go online at vax.rchd.com.

The Virginia Department of Health also has a list of COVID19 testing locations around the state at www.vdh.virginia.gov/

Please turn to A4

Please turn to A4

VSU hoping to get mileage, exposure on NASCAR circuit

By Fred Jeter

With some strong backing from Virginia State University, Rajah Caruth is revved up and ready to hit the gas.

The 20-year-old sophomore at Winston-Salem State University will be competing Saturday, April 2, in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Richmond Raceway.

It will be the first NASCAR race for Caruth, a native of Washington D.C. He will be driving the No. 44 car bearing the VSU logo and orange and blue colors as he speeds around the track in the Toyota Care 250.

He is being sponsored by Please turn to A4

Richmond Free Press

A2 March 31-April 2, 2022

Local News

A home to celebrate Plenty of reasons to celebrate. That’s the Habitat is one of 83 local Habitat for Humanity situation for the Richmond Metropolitan Habitat affiliates across the country sharing in Ms. Scott’s for Humanity, a local nonprofit that works to total donation of $436 million. create more affordable housing.

“Access to affordable housing is at a crisis For one, this home at 2014 Newbourne St. level,” Mary Kay Huss, chief executive officer in the city’s East End, is one of the first two of Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanin Richmond Habitat’s new affordable rental ity, stated in a news release announcing what program. The program caps rent on homes at 25 she called a “transformational donation” that percent of a family’s income. will help the organization to The nonprofit housing deachieve its goal of doubling veloper held a ribbon-cutting the number of income-limited March 24 to showcase the new Slices of life and scenes families becoming owners of home and the program. homes or paying low enough rent in Richmond Richmond Habitat also is to build a nest egg to become celebrating the completion of two new homes in future owners.

Highland Park, at 2008 and 2010 5th Ave., that “We are stunned by this generosity,” Ms. are being sold to two people who provided “sweat Huss stated. “It is truly incredible. Over the next equity” by participating in the construction work. five years Richmond Habitat plans to leverage Richmond Habitat also is celebrating its the money to acquire additional properties and biggest gift ever — $4.5 million from author construct homes at a faster pace, as well as to and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. Richmond expand the home rental program.

Cityscape

Valentine Museum to host panelists on monuments The Valentine Museum’s “Controversy/History series “conversation will be held on April 5 at 5:30 p.m. on Zoom.

The invited panel will explore recent changes to Richmond’s monumental landscape as well as the future of public art in the city.

The panelist includes: Marland Buckner, interim executive director, Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia; Paul Farber, director, Monument Lab; Maritza Pechin, deputy director for Equitable Development, City of Richmond; Kelli Lemon (moderator), entrepreneur and consultant; and, Bill Martin, director of the Valentine.

Mr. Bucker, co-founder and principal of Washington D.C. based Solutions LLC, a public policy strategy and impact development firm, brings a unique combination of academic and professional experiences to the role.

In late 2021, ownership of the city’s Confederate monuments were transferred to the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia in 2021. Their task is to better spin the “Myth of American History.”

The event’s panelists will share research and creative work being done on monuments across the country and discuss the challenges and opportunities Richmond has to tell the true story of the city versus the centuries of confederate myths.

Controversy/History is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact our E. Claiborne Robins, Jr. Director of Education & Engagement Liz Reilly-Brown at lreillybrown@thevalentine.org or 804.649.0711 ext. 319.

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

City Council rejects turning over design funding for new George Wythe High

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Will a new George Wythe High School ever get built?

In the latest twist in the yearlong battle for control of the school’s construction, City Council on Monday rejected a proposal to transfer funds needed by the Richmond School Board to begin the replacement of the decrepit Wythe building that every elected official and virtually every community member has said cannot wait.

After four months of debate, meetings and continuances, City Council failed to muster the six votes needed to amend the budget and move $7.3 million from a city account to Richmond Public Schools so it can hire an architect to start design of the replacement building and advance the goal of starting construction within a year.

Essentially, the council sent a message that the School Board must comply with

start of the fiscal year.

Despite two previously fruitless meetings, the council planned to request another meeting with the School Board in a bid to gain agreement on the school’s size and end the impasse. But Tuesday, the School Board rejected another meeting, saying that the discussion would merely rehash the same issue with no results. The School Board called on the council to transfer the $7.3 million as quickly as possible.

But if the council does not use the budget option, any movement on a new Wythe could be put on hold until the 2024 elections for City Council and School Board. The lack of progress on the George Wythe replacement building could be a major issue for candidates.

Capping more than an hour of debate and public comment on Monday, the council, with two members absent, could muster only four votes in support of the

City Council gives green light to new $13M apartment development at former funeral home site The historic home of the A.D. Price Funeral Home at 212 E. Leigh St. in Jackson Ward will soon gain more apartments.

City Council has cleared the way for development of a $13 million, five-story apartment building on the former funeral home’s parking lot at 2nd and Leigh streets.

The council on March 14 approved a special use permit authorizing Baker Development to undertake the development for the owner, City & Guilds, that is led by David Gammino.

The new building is to house 63 apartments – 44 one-bedroom and 19 two-bedroom, a clubroom on the top floor, a rooftop deck and 39 parking spaces and storefronts on the ground floor.

A.D. Price was Richmond’s first Black funeral home. Alfred D. Price launched the operation on the site in 1883 and then built a more modern, three-story building in 1902 that fronted Leigh Street.

The Price family continued to own the funeral home into the 1990s. Two attempts to revive the funeral business ultimately failed. The main building was converted into 14 apartments around 2010, and a carriage house on the property, a 1913 replacement for the original funeral home, has since been converted to eight apartments.

The only reminder of the funeral home is a state historic marker remembering A.D. Price, his business and his contributions as a prominent businessman.

Mr. Gammino purchased the property, including the two apartment buildings, in 2020 for around $3 million, and now uses a portion as headquarters for his development and property management firms.

The development will add more housing to a traditionally AfricanAmerican section of Downtown that has seen significant change in the past two decades, including a dramatic expansion in apartments during the past 10 years. — JEREMY M. LAZURUS

Richmond Public Schools moves out of 14th floor in City Hall Richmond Public Schools is starting to give up floors in City Hall.

The departure is happening quietly, without any of the drama that occurred 14 years ago when then-Mayor L. Douglas Wilder tried and failed to evict RPS from the building.

RPS already has given up the 14th floor, RPS spokeswoman Sarah Abubaker stated, in agreeing to a request from Mayor Levar M. Stoney’s administration.

That is one of the six floors the school system has occupied in the 18-story government building at 9th and Broad streets since the skyscraper opened 50 years ago.

Ms. Abubaker said the academics central office staff has been moved from the 14th floor to the former Albert V. Norrell Elementary School building on Fendall Avenue in North Side that now houses a variety of school offices.

The Stoney administration has not disclosed which city department or departments would move onto the floor RPS has given up.

RPS still occupies floors 12, 13, 15, 16 and 17, where the office of Superintendent Jason Kamras is located, Ms. Abubaker said.

However, additional space is to be cleared, according to Michelle Hudacsko, Mr. Kamras’ chief of staff.

While there have been no moves yet, Ms. Hudacsko stated in an email that “other central office shifts to move some folks from City Hall to Norrell are in process.”

Ms. Hudacsko said that a specific timetable has not been set for any additional moves of personnel from the Downtown office building. – JEREMY M. LAZARUS

George Wythe High School

the council’s demand to build a larger school building or the money would not be forthcoming.

The larger building would accommodate 2,000 students, while the School Board believes a 1,600-seat building would be the right size, in large part because of pending plans for development of a second 1,000-seat high school in South Side that would focus on career and technical education.

The council vote came on the same night that RPS launched a three-week series of community engagement meetings seeking input from students, parents, teachers, community residents and anyone else about what they want to see in the new building. The meetings are scheduled to continue almost nightly through Friday, April 15, at various locations.

Based on the council’s rules of procedure, unless waived or amended, only one option remains for the governing body to restore momentum to the project to replace the 61-year-old high school building in South Side in which nearly 1,300 students are enrolled.

The council is now reviewing Mayor Levar M. Stoney’s proposed budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year and, according to interim City Attorney Haskell C. Brown III, the council would have authority through May 31 to move the $7.3 million so it would be available to RPS at the July 1

Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

transfer proposal Mayor Stoney introduced in November. That was two votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to pass a budget amendment. The three other council members present abstained from voting.

The Stoney administration supported rejection of the money transfer.

The pro-transfer votes came from City Council members Katherine Jordan, 2nd District; Ann-Frances Lambert, 3rd District; Kristen Nye, 4th District; and Stephanie A. Lynch, 5th District.

Ms. Nye, a former School Board member, once again urged her colleagues to allow RPS and its board to proceed on a project that is solely theirs to handle.

Ms. Lynch, who supports a larger school, said that stopping the development process would be the worst outcome.

“There are far bigger things that council and the School Board need to work together on than arm wrestling about school construction.”

The three council members who abstained from voting were Andreas D. Addison, 1st District; Council President Cynthia I. Newbille, 7th District; and Reva M. Trammell, 8th District.

Before the meeting, Mr. Addison tried and failed to win majority support for continuing the matter until April 11, when the two absent council members, Council Vice President Ellen F. Robertson, 6th District,

and Dr. Michael J. Jones, 9th District, are expected to be present.

The key issue for the abstainers is the size disagreement that began after a fivemember majority of the School Board wrenched control from the city of new school construction in April 2021.

The School Board’s majority has argued that development of the second technical and career high school would ensure the 1,600-student George Wythe was large enough. The board also has noted that current enrollment has dropped at the school since 2019, with the current enrollment of nearly 1,300 being down at least 100 students from three years ago.

Mayor Stoney and the majority of the council have insisted that a new George Wythe building for 2,000 students is the only way to meet the projected population and student enrollment growth expected for South Side, though Mrs. Robertson last week offered a compromise of having the new school built for 1,800 students.

Monday’s council vote followed a disclosure from Lincoln Saunders, the city’s chief administrative officer, that he was notified

by School Board Chair Shonda HarrisMuhammad, 6th District, that the board’s majority had rejected the compromise.

Two members of the School Board, Cheryl Burke, 7th District, and Dawn Page, 8th District, who support a 2,000seat school but have been outvoted, were among the speakers Monday urging the council to halt the money transfer until the School Board majority gives in.

The lone citizen voice supporting the money transfer was Kristin Reed, a school advocate with Richmond for All, who noted that a new George Wythe has been talked about for 20 years and that halting the transfer would mean the Wythe community would enter its third decade of waiting for a replacement building.

Mr. Addison said that a school for 1,600 would be too small for a growing city.

“We need to build for the future,” he said, noting that a new George Wythe would remain in use for 40 to 50 years.

Dr. Newbille agreed with the mayor that the School Board’s push for a smaller school could ensure the building, projected to enroll 1,700 students by 2027, would be overcrowded when it opened. She said employing trailers to add space would be unacceptable.

“I am certainly hopeful that the School Board will revisit the numbers at this point,” Dr. Newbille said. “I have reservations about moving forward with this.”

After the vote, Dr. Harris-Muhammad expressed disappointment that the capacity issue dictated the outcome after she said she received assurances that would not be the case.

School Board member Kenya Gibson, 3rd District, who supports the smaller school, stated in an email: “City Council has passed on another opportunity to transfer funding allowing us to move forward with a new George Wythe. As such, the council also passed on supporting democratically governing schools.”

New funding to add amenities, volleyball court and walking trail to Hillside Court playground Free Press staff report

Another $150,000 is being poured into playground improvements at Hillside Court.

City Council approved spending the city tax dollars to make the playground more usable for the more than 500 children and youths who live in the public housing community located off Commerce Road in South Side.

The playground, dedicated to 3-year-old Sharmar “Simba” Hill Jr., who was fatally shot in February 2020 while playing outside his Hillside residence, reopened in November with new basketball courts and other improvements.

The new funding is to be used to add a children’s playground and other amenities, including a walking trail with exercise stops, a volleyball court and picnic table, according to Nicholas J. Cooper of Citizen HKS, a nonprofit

Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

Officials cut the ribbon last November to formally open new basketball courts in the Hillside Court public housing community.

that joined with residents to create the design for the playground at 1500 Harwood St. Work to add the latest additions is to

begin this spring, Mr. Cooper said when the playground was reopened with its new courts and a dramatic mural.

The city funds add to $150,000 that the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority has pledged to provide.

Tavares Floyd, legislative aide and citizen liaison for 6th District Councilwoman Ellen F. Robertson, said plans are to invest an additional $300,000 into recreation infrastructure in Hillside Court.

Mr. Floyd, who is credited with spearheading fundraising for the playground, said he has secured donations and pledges for $300,000 in funds and donated materials and services from various companies.

He said a second phase of improvements, still in the early design stages, would create even more recreational opportunities for children and families.

Richmond Free Press

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A4 March 31-April 2, 2022

Richmond Free Press

News

Marker recognizing city’s liberation by Union troops near Civil War’s end damaged in East End

Overdue honor

Continued from A1

slated for 8 a.m. Sunday, April 3, at East Main and Nicholson streets near the riverfront where the sign used to be.

A news release announcing the event instructed people to meet at the sign. But on Tuesday, a Free Press photographer went to the site and found no sign.

The Free Press and Mr. Wilayto contacted the state Department of Historic Resources, which manages the state highway marker program.

Jennifer R. Loux, who manages the program, responded Wednesday that her office received a report on March 7 that the marker, titled “Union Army Enters Richmond,” had been knocked down.

“Richmond Public Works retrieved the marker and determined that it was damaged beyond repair. We do not know whether the damage resulted from the marker being struck by a vehicle (the most common reason for markers to be knocked down) or whether it was a case of vandalism,” she stated in an email.

This is the second time the marker has been damaged in recent years, Ms. Loux stated.

“We hope to replace it, but that will take some time,” she stated.

The marker was first placed at the site in 1994 to recognize the historical importance of Union troops, including Black soldiers, arriving to liberate the enslaved and a city that Confederates set ablaze as they fled.

Nearly 40 blocks of the city were destroyed, from the James River to Capitol Square. Union troops put out the fires and restored order in the city, which had served as the capital of the Confederacy.

Just days later on April 9, 1865, Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant formally accepted the surrender of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox, effectively ending the bloodiest conflict in American history in which more than 600,000 people were killed.

For many years, Richmond’s Black community and its allies held an annual Liberation Day celebration that attracted thousands, Mr. Wilayto noted.

This year’s event will feature a recounting of eyewitness accounts of that day in 1865. People also are asked to share their thoughts about what Liberation Day means to them.

A week of programs hosted in part by the American Civil War Museum are planned from Saturday, April 2, to Saturday, April 9, including a Civil War Emancipation Day Program hosted by the Elegba Folklore Society from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the American Civil War Museum, 480 Tredegar St. Details, including free registration: www.cwedrva.com/ programs.

Free COVID-19 vaccines Continued from A1

coronavirus/covid-19-testing/covid-19-testing-sites.

Want a COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot?

The Richmond and Henrico health districts are offering free walk-up COVID-19 vaccines at the following locations: • Friday, April 1, 9 to 11 a.m.—Southwood Pool House, Southwood Parkway and Clarkson Road; 1 to 2:45 p.m.—Fairfield Court Resource Center, 2506 Phaup St., Pfizer and Moderna.

Children ages 5 to 17 may only receive the Pfizer vaccine.

Vaccinations and booster shots are available for all eligible on a walk-in basis. No appointment is needed. However, appointments may be scheduled online at vaccinate.virginia.gov or vax.rchd.com, or by calling (804) 205-3501 or (877) VAX-IN-VA (1-877-829-4682).

VaccineFinder.org and vaccines.gov also allow people to find nearby pharmacies and clinics that offer the COVID-19 vaccine and booster.

Those getting a booster shot should bring their vaccine card to confirm the date and type of vaccine received.

RHHD now offers at-home vaccinations by calling (804) 205-3501 to schedule appointments, which are typically available within two weeks.

On Tuesday, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended a second COVID-19 booster shot for adults ages 50 and older. This follows authorization by the federal Food and Drug Administration for second booster shots of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for those ages 50 and older.

The FDA also authorized second boosters for the immunocompromised, with the Pfizer booster approved for those ages 12 and older, and a second Moderna vaccine booster approved for those ages 18 and older.

The omicron subvariant BA. 2, also known as stealth omicron, is now the dominant COVID-19 strain in the United States, according to CDC data, and accounted for nearly 55 percent of all new infections last week.

BA. 2 has led to COVID-19 surges in China, Europe and other countries. While there is no difference in severity between omicron and BA.2 infection, BA.2 is more difficult to detect through testing.

On Wednesday, the Biden administration announced that a new website, COVID.gov, will provide information on vaccines, tests and more for those in the United States. The website includes a Test-toTreat locator to help people find pharmacies and community health centers for testing and treatment nationwide.

A total of 798 new cases of COVID-19 were reported statewide Wednesday for the 24-hour period, contributing to an overall state total of 1,668,087 cases of coronavirus since the pandemic’s outbreak.

As of Wednesday, there have been 448,442 hospitalizations and 19,673 deaths statewide. The state’s seven-day positivity rate dropped to 3.2 percent on Wednesday. Last week, the positivity rate was 3.6 percent.

On Wednesday, state health officials reported that 72.7 percent of the state’s population has been fully vaccinated, while 81.4 percent of the people have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

State data also show that more than 2.9 million people in Virginia have received booster shots or third doses of the vaccine.

Among those ages 5 to 11 in Virginia, 307,108 children have received their first shots, accounting for 42.4 percent of the eligible age group in the state, while 261,596 children, or 36.1 percent, are fully vaccinated and 500 have received a booster shot or third dose.

As of Wednesday, fewer than 138,700 cases, 846 hospitalizations and nine deaths have been recorded among children.

State data also shows that African-Americans comprised 22.4 percent of cases statewide and 23.2 percent of deaths for which ethnic and racial data is available, while Latinos make up 12 percent of cases and 5.1 percent of deaths.

As of Wednesday, Richmond reported a total of 44,212 cases, 1,067 hospitalizations and 488 deaths; Henrico County, 64,128 cases, 1,404 hospitalizations and 903 deaths; Chesterfield County, 72,400 cases, 1,386 hospitalizations and 750 deaths; and Hanover County, 21,649 cases, 526 hospitalizations and 277 deaths.

Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

Retired Army Lt. Col. Jona McKee, 93, receives a pin Tuesday honoring his service during the Vietnam War from Craig Crenshaw, right, state secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs. The Henrico County resident was one of hundreds of veterans of the war awarded the Virginia pins at the ceremony held on National Vietnam War Veterans Day at the Virginia War Memorial in Downtown. He was the standout. Gov. Glenn A. Youngkin, who delivered the keynote address, noted that Lt. Col. McKee also had fought in World War II and the Korean War and is in the National ROTC Hall of Fame for doubling enrollment in the military training program at his alma mater, Virginia State University, during the five years in the 1970s that he taught military science there. During his tenure, more than 260 VSU students were commissioned as officers, a record at the time. More than 230,000 Virginians served in the armed forces during the Vietnam conflict. Today, Virginia is home to more than 710,000 veterans.

UR campus buildings honoring slaveholders, segregationists are getting new names Continued from A1

in his role as a newspaper editor and radio commentator.

Sarah Brunet Memorial Hall, honoring a slave-owning Baptist property owner and donor to the school, is returning to its original name, the Refectory, while Jeter Hall, named for another slave-owning school founder and minister, Jeremiah Bell Jeter, is now Residence Hall No. 1.

Puryear Hall, an academic building named for Bennet Puryear, a slave-owning UR chemistry teacher and faculty leader, is now Fountain Hall.

And another dormitory, James Thomas Jr. Memorial Hall, named for a slaveowning board president who saved the school from bankruptcy after the Civil War, is now Residence Hall No. 3.

“We recognize that not all members of our community will agree with these decisions,” stated Dr. Hallock, who took over last summer from the school’s first Black president, Dr. Ronald A. Crutcher, and is to be inaugurated Saturday, April 8, as the school’s 11th chief executive. “And

we recognize that the university would not exist today without the efforts of some whose names we have removed.

“The board’s decision to adopt the principles and remove building names, while ultimately unanimous, was extremely challenging,” he continued. “The discussions were candid, thoughtful and constructive.

In the end, the board concluded that the decisions outlined above are the best course of action.”

The decision to follow in the footsteps of Virginia State University, Virginia Commonwealth University and other schools to eliminate the names of those associated with racial bigotry represents a major triumph for UR’s Black Student Coalition and other student and faculty supporters, who got more then they asked for. For nearly two years, they had advocating for the board to change the names of just two buildings, Ryland and Freeman halls.

Two of the buildings that were renamed, Ryland Hall and Jeter Hall, are among the first five buildings that were constructed in 1911 when the university moved to the current campus off River Road.

According to Dr. Hallock, the decision to rename came after the board received and adopted the March 25 report from a nine-member commission the board created spelling out principles to guide decisions on naming buildings and removing or modifying building names.

The commission, which spent nearly a year and received comments from more than 7,500 people associated with UR, stated in its report that the board should eliminate the names of former slaveholders from buildings and also encouraged the board to remove the name or names of anyone who advocated for racial discrimination or racial segregation.

According to the commission, building names should reflect the values of the university, honor those who have made significant contributions, celebrate major milestones for the school or recognize excellence.

The board also adopted another recommendation and plans to create an advisory board to receive and review building name ideas and to make recommendations to the board on future name changes.

Biden signs Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act Continued from A1

four days later.

Also at the ceremony for the signing was Michelle Duster, great-granddaughter of newspaper editor and anti-lynching crusader Ida B. Wells, along with Vice President Kamala Harris and Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney.

“I was overwhelmed with emotion witnessing this historic milestone as President Biden made lynching a federal hate crime,” Mayor Stoney wrote afterward on Instagram. “What happened to Emmett Till and the over 6,500 murdered Black Americans should never happen again.

Today after over 200 attempts, America stepped up. Thank you, @POTUS.” Congress first considered anti-lynching legislation more than 120 years ago. But until March of this year, it had failed to pass such legislation nearly 200 times, beginning with a bill introduced in 1900

by Rep. George Henry White of North Carolina, the only Black member of Congress at the time.

Vice President Harris was a prime sponsor of the bill when she was in the

U.S. Senate.

President Biden in his remarks thanked the civil rights leaders, Congressional Black Caucus members and others who kept pushing for the law for “never giving up, never ever giving up.”

He stressed that forms of racial terror continue in the United States, demonstrating the need for an anti-lynching statute.

“Racial hate isn’t an old problem — it’s a persistent problem,” President Biden said.

“Hate never goes away. It only hides.”

More than 4,400 Blacks died by lynching between 1877 and 1950, mostly in the South, he said, noting that the law is not just about addressing history.

“It’s about the present and our future as well,” he said, mentioning the racially motivated shotgun death of 25-year-old Black jogger Ahmaud Arbery by a white father and son in February 2020 in Georgia, and the rally of white nationalists in Charlottesville in 2017.

The new law makes it possible to prosecute a crime as a lynching when a conspiracy to commit a hate crime leads to death or serious bodily injury, according to the bill’s champion, Democratic

Congressman Bobby Rush of Illinois. The law lays out a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and fines.

The U.S. House of Representatives approved the bill 422-3 on March 7, with eight members not voting, after it cleared the U.S. Senate by unanimous consent.

Rep. Rush had introduced a bill in January 2019, but it stalled in the Senate after the House passed by a vote of 410-4.

The NAACP began lobbying for antilynching legislation in the 1920s. A federal hate crime law was passed and signed into law in the 1990s, decades after the Civil Rights Movement.

“Today we are gathered to do unfinished business,” Vice President Harris said, “to acknowledge the horror and this part of our history, to state unequivocally that lynching is and has always been a hate crime and to make clear that the federal government may now prosecute these crimes as such.”

“Lynching is not a relic of the past,” she added. “Racial acts of terror still occur in our nation, and when they do, we must all have the courage to name them and hold the perpetrators to account.”

Training program faces shutdown VSU hoping Continued from A1

of other contractors and construction material suppliers and started up. Since 2017, Mr. Williams said, 109 people have graduated from the program.

When the pandemic struck in early 2020, Mr. Williams was forced to shut down. He also has struggled with health challenges, including a brain aneurysm that required surgery and a long recovery.

Mr. Williams said he has been gearing up to restart the program in April, with 60 people registered and more calling every day.

But instead of beginning new classes, he’s now facing losing the space. For the past few weeks, he has had to tell applicants that the program is headed for a shutdown.

The Richmond School Board voted last year to mark the building as surplus and return it to the city.

Thursday, March 31, is the day that is supposed to happen. On Thursday, RPS officials are coming to collect the building’s keys from him.

Mr. Williams said he is hoping city officials will allow his program to keep going. But that remains uncertain, as does the program’s funding.

A Richmond Free Press query to City Hall on March 25 about the program’s continued use of the building has yet to garner a response.

The city has been supportive in the past.

The Richmond Police Department, then under Police Chief Alfred Durham, became the first

to provide a grant. Mayor Stoney and City Council also provided $175,000 in funding for the program over the two-year period between July 1, 2018, and June 30, 2020.

But no further funding has come in from the government, and none is proposed for the 2022-23 fiscal year that will begin July 1, according to the budget proposal now before City Council.

Mr. Williams said he has his fingers crossed that City Council members who know about the program will support his effort to remain in the building, and also will amend the budget to include the $100,000 he would need at a minimum to operate.

His plan for raising money to support the program has not worked out. He thought he could cheaply buy tax-delinquent properties from the city, use them as classrooms for trade trainees as they rehab them under the supervision of licensed contractors, sell the completed homes and use the proceeds from the sale to pay for operations and to create a pool of capital to buy more such properties.

But since he began, Mr. Williams has not been awarded any of the tax-delinquent properties the city has provided to nonprofits, though he said he has applied repeatedly. Government grants and his savings have provided the program’s main support.

“This program has been important in offering hope and opportunity,” he said. “I just have faith that others will see the value and allow us to continue.”

to get mileage, exposure on circuit Continued from A1

VSU and Alpha Prime Racing.

“At VSU, we are known for being a conduit for trailblazers,” VSU President Makola M. Abdullah said in a statement.

“That’s why we are pleased to support our fellow HBCU student who is expected to make history this weekend.”

Caruth becomes only the third African-American to race in the Xfinity Series.

Race time is 1:30 p.m.

“We take pride in providing a pathway to greater for our VSU students, and we expect that the VSU-sponsored No. 44 car will be Mr. Caruth’s literal vehicle to continue on his road to greater successes,” Dr. Abdullah said.

Richmond Free Press

March 31-April 2, 2022 A5

Each year, over 135,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with colon cancer.

Colorectal cancer disproportionately affects African Americans, who are about 20% more likely to develop colorectal cancer and about 40% more likely to die from it than most other groups.

Why is screening for colorectal cancer so important?

About 12% of colorectal cancers – about 18,000 cases – will be diagnosed in people under the age of 50 in the U.S. • Almost all colorectal cancers begin as precancerous polyps (abnormal growths) in the colon or rectum that can be present for years before invasive cancer develops • Precancerous polyps may not cause any symptoms, especially early on, but can be found during a screening and removed • Most colorectal cancers occur in people with no family history of the disease

Who should be screened for colorectal cancer… and why?

Talk to your health care provider about your level of potential risk for colon cancer.

• People with no symptoms should begin regular screenings starting at age 45 • People with a family history (first-degree relatives) of colorectal cancer should begin screenings sooner or have the tests performed more frequently • Additionally, a personal or family history of inflammatory bowel conditions or ulcerative colitis; prior radiation to the abdomen; changes in bowel habits, constipation or abdominal discomfort may indicate a need for screening

What types of screening tests are available?

You and your health care provider should discuss your individual preferences for screening: • Colonoscopy – Recommended every 10 years for those at average risk • Computed tomography (CT) colonography – Recommended every 5 years for those at average risk • Flexible sigmoidoscopy – Recommended every 5 years (or every 10 years with a yearly fecal immunochemical test) • Stool tests – Recommended every year.

There are different stool tests that can detect signs of cancer.

To schedule an appointment for colorectal cancer care, call 877-4MASSEY.

© 2022 VCU Health. All rights reserved.

Sources: VCU Health; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; American Cancer Society.

Richmond Free Press

A6 March 31-April 2, 2022

News

State lawmakers create the Virginia Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Historic Preservation Fund

By Monica Alarcon-Najarro Capital News Service

A new state fund could give the Patawomeck Tribe a chance to reacquire tribal land and help protect battlefield sites throughout the state where Black soldiers fought and died.

“If there were any way that we could ever get anything back, we would want to see about getting a piece of that tract of land … where our main village was,” said Minnie Lightner, administrative assistant of the Patawomeck Tribe.

The tribe wants to acquire land in Crow’s Nest, in Stafford County, Ms. Lightner said.

Delegate Delores L. McQuinn of Richmond introduced House Bill 141, which lawmakers passed unanimously at every step in each chamber. The measure establishes the Virginia Black, Indigenous and People of Color Historic Preservation Fund.

Money from the fund will go to eligible state and federally recognized tribes, nonprofits and localities. The fund will be made up of state money, gifts and donations.

Former Gov. Ralph S. Northam had proposed $10 million over two years in his outgoing budget to bolster the conservation fund. The final state budget has not been finalized. Lawmakers are returning to Richmond next week for a special budget session on Monday, April 4.

The historic preservation fund will protect cultural and historic lands. Such lands range from hunting grounds to sacred sites and villages around the Chesapeake Bay. The bill also helps groups preserve schools, churches and archeological sites. The grants from this fund will be managed by the state Board of Historic Resources, according to the bill.

“It will impact the tribe in allowing the tribe to protect sites that need to be protected. And that is huge for the tribal people and future generations of those tribes,” said Chief G. Anne Richardson of the Rappahannock Tribe, located on the tribal land Indian Neck in King and Queen County.

A proposed water pump station in Rassawek, the capital of the Monacan Tribe, was one catalyst for the creation of the bill, according to Chief Richardson. The Monacan Tribe uses the land, located about an hour’s drive west from Richmond, for gatherings and ceremonies.

The James River Water Authority proposed in 2014 the water pump station in Rassawek. The authority announced plans earlier in March to locate the station elsewhere after opposition from tribes, citizens and preservation organizations, according to the nonprofit National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The fund also could be used to preserve sites where Black

VCU Capital News Service

Chief G. Anne Richardson of the Rappahannock Tribe testifies before a General Assembly committee on a measure sponsored by Delegate Delores McQuinn of Richmond that will create a special historic preservation fund for Virginia’s Black, Indigenous and People of Color and their communities.

soldiers fought and died during wars, include the Civil War, the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, according to Alexander Macaulay, a lobbyist for the American Battlefield Trust, an organization that preserves battlefields and educates the public.

The sites are not properly protected and more needs to be done, he said, and the fund will help.

The state legislature doesn’t have a grant dedicated to preserving culturally historic sites for communities of color, Delegate McQuinn said. The General Assembly previously has created similar funds regarding preservation of farmlands and outdoor areas, including the Virginia Land Conservation Fund, the Virginia Battlefield Preservation Fund and the Virginia Outdoors Foundation Preservation Trust Fund, according to Delegate McQuinn.

Sen. Ghazala F. Hashmi of Richmond introduced an identical bill in the state Senate, which also was approved by both chambers. It passed unanimously in the House, while the vote in the Senate was 30-10.

Delegate McQuinn’s bill would help sites that cannot compete or do not meet the qualifications for many existing grant programs, according to Elizabeth Kostelny, chief executive officer of Preservation Virginia, a group that seeks to protect historic communities.

The Patawomeck Tribe in Stafford County currently is building a tribal center and museum on Little Falls, which is slated to open in mid- to late July, according to Ms. Lightner. The space will house artifacts that the community can view and allow for

an experiential interpretation of history akin to Jamestown, Ms. Lightner said. The Patawomeck Tribe is thankful for the legislation but is prioritizing the need to be federally recognized, which has taken about four years, according to Ms. Lightner.

As chief of the Rappahannock Tribe, Chief Richardson oversees administrative, programmatic, political and social issues.

She testified in favor of the bill before a House subcommittee.

The archaeological and historical sites in her tribe’s villages and towns along the Rappahannock River have been plowed over and there is a need to preserve those lands as they are part of Virginia’s history, she said.

The Virginia Department of Historic Resources created Virginia’s Comprehensive Historic Preservation Plan for 2022-2027, which outlines the department’s goals for the upcoming years on preserving lands with historic and cultural significance.

Chief Richardson was grateful to the legislators who helped pass the bill in both chambers.

“It shows one that they respect us as people, that they honor the legacy and what we’ve contributed to this country and that our ancestors lie in those lands – their bones,” Chief Richardson said. “It’s a respect to them that we have for a long time been overlooked. They’re acknowledging that and they’re willing to help us protect those places.”

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

Pressure grows for Justice Thomas to recuse himself from cases involving Jan. 6 insurrection probe Free Press wire report

Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press

In this file photo, U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, right, meets with Sen. Susan Collins of Maine on March 8 on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Collins 1st GOP senator to support Judge Jackson for U.S. Supreme Court Free Press wire report

WASHINGTON Republican Sen. Susan Collins announced Wednesday that she would vote to seat Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on the U.S. Supreme Court, delivering President Joe Biden a bipartisan vote for his first high court nominee.

The Maine senator is the first Republican to support the president’s bid to make the highly regarded federal appeals court judge the first Black woman to serve on the country’s most powerful judicial body.

The senator disclosed her decision after meeting with Judge Jackson for a second time Tuesday. Sen. Collins praised Judge Jackson as possessing the “experience, qualifications and integrity to serve on the Supreme Court,” while bemoaning the increasing partisanship of the confirmation process.

The announcement came as the 22-member Senate Judiciary Committee prepares to vote on Judge Jackson’s confirmation on Monday, April 4.

Sen. Collins is not a member of the committee, which is split between 11 Democrats and 11 Republicans, and is anticipated to deadlock.

In a signal that a committee deadlock is likely, Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who is a member of the Judiciary Committee, disappointed Democrats by publicly stating Wednesday that he would vote against confirming the judge, citing what most legal observers see as a bogus concern that she “may legislate from the bench.”

To move the nomination to the full Senate, Democrats are expected to seek a vote to discharge the judge’s nomination from the committee in the following days and send it to the full Senate for a vote.

While the Senate also is divided 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats, Sen. Collins’ vote would ensure a clear 51-vote majority for Judge Jackson, raising expectations the final confirmation vote could come as early as Friday, April 8.

Judge Jackson, who could be confirmed now without the need of a tie-breaking vote from Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, is to join the court after retiring Justice Steven Breyer steps down. He has said he would stay until the court completes its current term in June and recesses for the summer.

Sen. Collins was widely viewed as the most

likely GOP vote for Judge Jackson, and President Biden had called the senator at least three times to encourage her to support confirmation.

Five other GOP senators also are seen as potential supporters, according to political insiders, Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Roy Blunt of Missouri, Rob Portman of Ohio and Richard Burr, the other senator from North Carolina.

Sen. Murkowski was among the three Republican senators who backed Judge Jackson when she was nominated to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals last year. The others were Sen. Collins and Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who is expected to oppose the confirmation.

Sen. Blunt, who has a track record of bipartisanship and also is retiring, has said he “really would like to vote for the first Black woman to go on the court,” but has not committed to doing so.

Separately, Sen. Portman has not committed, but has described Judge Jackson as “qualified” and also has a track record of voting for President Biden’s initiatives 68 percent of the time.

Another prospect is Sen. Romney, who opposed Judge Jackson’s elevation to the D.C. Appeals Court last year but has expressed distaste for the questioning she faced during the committee hearings. He has broken with his party before.

He has remained mum about his vote, as has retiring Sen. Burr, who generally votes along party lines, but did vote to impeach President Trump and might back this history-making nominee.

In her statement of support, Sen. Collins noted that the role the U.S. Constitution clearly assigns to the Senate is to examine the experience, qualifications and integrity of the nominee. “It is not to assess whether a nominee reflects the ideology of an individual Senator or would rule exactly as an individual Senator would want.”

Sen. Collins has voted for six of the nine sitting U.S. Supreme Court justices. She opposed former President Trump’s nominee, Justice Amy Coney Barrett, citing the proximity to the 2020 election.

The senator stated that she favored giving deference to the president’s choice, even if she disagrees, so long as the person is qualified.

“This approach served the Senate, the court and the country well,” Sen. Collins stated. “This is the approach that I plan to continue to use for Supreme Court nominations because it runs counter to the disturbing trend of politicizing the judicial nomination process.”

Kaine of Virginia.

“Justice Thomas was the WASHINGTON sole member of the Supreme Suspicions are growing that Court who would have allowed the lone Black justice on the records from Trump, Meadows, U.S. Supreme Court used his et al to be withheld from House court position to try Jan. 6 Committee. He to protect his wife did not explain his from being exposed reasoning. We need as a champion of answers,” Sen. Kaine Donald Trump’s bostated in a tweet. gus claim that he beat Mr. Meadows alJoe Biden in the 2020 ready had turned over presidential election some records to the and should still be committee, but had Justice Thomas urged the high court president.

Such suspicions are fuel- to block the committee from ing calls from Democrats in getting those held by the archive, Congress for Justice Clarence despite acknowledging that the Thomas to step aside from archive likely had relevant items hearing any cases involving that had not been disclosed. the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democrat Capitol, which sought to halt from Oregon, is among those the certification of President urging Justice Thomas to avoid Biden’s victory. participating in any more apJustice Thomas, 73, has a peals of Jan. 6 cases in light the lifetime appointment. Like other text messages traded between justices, he is not subject to Mrs. Thomas and Mr. Meadows the judicial canons and ethics after the 2020 election. rules that bar lower court fed“Justice Thomas’ conduct eral judges from participating on the Supreme Court looks in cases in which they have a increasingly corrupt,” the senapersonal interest or could appear tor stated. “Justice Thomas to have a conflict of interest. participated in cases related The conservative justice has to Donald Trump’s efforts to not responded and could not rig and then overturn the 2020 be stopped from participating election, while his wife was in such cases unless he was pushing to do the same,” Sen. removed from office through Wyden said. impeachment in the U.S. House In the senator’s view, Justice of Representatives and convic- Thomas is so tainted that he tion in the U.S. Senate, an would need to recuse himself unlikely prospect given the nar- from “any case related to the row division in the House and Jan. 6th investigation, and Senate between Republicans should Donald Trump run again, and Democrats. any case related to the 2024 Still, the calls reached a election.” crescendo this week after pubThe text messages that were lished and broadcast reports on disclosed were shocking to Sen. March 28 revealed that Justice Wyden and other Democrats, Thomas’ wife, Virginia “Ginni” though Republican lawmakThomas, had repeatedly texted ers, who have mostly backed former President Trump’s chief Mr. Trump’s claims, saw little of staff Mark Meadows to urge cause for alarm. him to challenge his boss’ loss In some of the text mesin the election. sages — copies of which were Those texts appeared to obtained by The Washington some to explain why Justice Post and CBS News — Mrs. Thomas was the lone dissenter Thomas urged Mr. Meadows when the court, in an 8-1 deci- and Mr. Trump to follow the sion, refused to block the Jan. lead of lawyer Sidney Powell, 6 committee from obtaining who made wild claims of voter Trump White House records fraud that she never backed up from the National Archives and with any evidence.

Records Administration earlier In one such text message, this year.

Mrs. Thomas urged Mr. MeadAmong those voicing sus- ows to “release the Kraken picions of Justice Thomas’ and save us from the left takconduct is Democratic Sen. Tim ing America down,” the Post

reported.

U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu, a California Democrat, also was vocal about the need for Justice Thomas to step aside from cases related to the insurrection.

“Ginni Thomas can do whatever crazy things she wants,” he stated. “But Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas cannot rule on a case that would disclose the crazy things Ginni Thomas was doing. That is a clear conflict of interest.”

While some justices are scrupulous about recusals, Justice Thomas has long been listed among the justices who are not.

Republican leaders did not express any such concerns.

Asked if Justice Thomas should recuse himself from Jan. 6 cases, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican, told reporters, “No, I think Justice Thomas could make his decisions like he’s made every other time. It’s his decision based upon law,” continued Rep. McCarthy, who panicked during the insurrection but allowed members of his party to continue to attack the legitimacy of Mr. Biden’s election.

“If you spent any time studying the Supreme Court justice, he’s one who studies correctly and I mean, from all the way through. If he sees it’s not upholding the Constitution, he’ll rule against it,” Rep. McCarthy said.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky took a similar stance.

“Justice Thomas is a great American and an outstanding Justice. I have total confidence in his brilliance and impartiality in every aspect of the work of the Court,” Sen. McConnell stated in a release.

In contrast, Sen. Mazie Hirono, a Democrat from Hawaii, said Justice Thomas’ decision on the White House records shows that it is time for Congress to close the loophole that allows members of the Supreme Court to avoid being subjected to the federal code of judicial conduct.

“This is an example,” she said, “of why a clear code of conduct is necessary for every member of the judiciary, including the Supreme Court.”

Richmond Free Press

March 31-April 2, 2022 A7

Local News

Lawmakers opt for study over elimination of jail, prison fees

By Safia Abdulahi Capital News Service

Incarcerated people and their loved ones will continue to pay fees that advocates and some lawmakers say are too stiff.

Senate Bill 581, introduced by Sen. Joseph D. “Joe” Morrissey of Richmond initially proposed to eliminate jail fees related to the costs of an inmate’s keep, work release or participation in educational or rehabilitative programs. Additional costs include telephone services, commissaries and electronic visitation systems.

Paulettra James, the co-founder of Sistas in Prison Reform, said she spent thousands of dollars providing funds for her son and husband, both of whom are incarcerated. Her husband is currently incarcerated at Deerfield Correctional Facility in Southampton County and her son is at Coffeewood Correctional Center in Culpeper. The fees go toward commissary expenses, phone calls, stamps and taxes, Ms. James said.

“One thing statistics and science have Sen. Morrissey shown is that individuals who have constant contact with their loved ones are less likely to recidivate,” Ms. James said. “It’s important for families to stay in touch with their loved ones. It gives them a sense of hope, a sense of stability and a sense of being loved.”

Findings from the nonprofit research and advocacy group Prison Policy Initiative back that up. Incarcerated people, along with their families and loved ones, also have better health and improved school performance when they have familial contact.

Delegate Patrick Hope of Arlington introduced a companion bill with identical objectives to Sen. Morrissey’s measure, but it added language incorporating prisons.

Lawmakers made several amendments to Delegate Hope’s bill, which resulted in the development of a workgroup study led by the state Department of Corrections.

Sen. Morrissey’s amended bill established a workgroup led by the State Board of Local and Regional Jails, which will involve law enforcement organizations and advocacy groups.

“Although a workgroup was not the ideal scenario, I look forward to reviewing the outcome of the published study,” Sen. Morrissey stated.

The Senate bill was drafted by Shawn Weneta, a policy and advocacy strategist with the Virginia ACLU. Mr. Weneta served approximately 16 years on a 30-year embezzlement conviction and was pardoned by former Gov. Ralph S. Northam.

The measure would have cut hidden taxes, increased public safety and kept families connected, according to Mr. Weneta.

“The people that can’t afford to send the least to somebody that is incarcerated are having to pay the most,” Mr. Weneta said. “It’s predatory profiteering off the backs of people who can least afford it.”

The incarcerated are a “captive market,” which gives the state government control over the price of goods and services, according to legislative liaison Ben Knotts with Americans for Prosperity in Virginia.

“When we told the committee that in some cases they were charging $40 for 100 count of Advil in some of these jails, I mean their mouths literally hit the floor. They were shocked,” Mr. Knotts said.

Sen. Morrissey said he introduced the bill to regulate and decrease costs within jails, including costs related to phone calls, emails and commissary items.

“These high-priced items and services do not simply burden those incarcerated. These costs fall mostly on the shoulders of an inmate’s family and loved ones,” Sen. Morrissey stated in an email. “We, as members of the General Assembly, cannot let these practices continue.”

A commission is earned from commissary sales, which include items such as toothpaste, feminine products and food.

Benjamin Jarvela, deputy director of comDelegate Hope munications with the Virginia Department of Corrections, stated that the department takes a 9.5 percent commission from commissary sales. The rate is expected to drop to 9 percent by this summer.

VADOC commissions “are among the lowest in the country,” according to Mr. Jarvela, who stated that commissary commissions in several other states exceed 30 percent, or more than triple Virginia’s rate.

Commissary sales fund programs and “quality of life services” for inmates, including travel assistance for families of inmates who qualify, according to Mr. Jarvela. The funding also helps cover cable TV and recreation equipment costs, he stated.

VADOC takes about a 5 cent commission for every email sent, according to Mr. Weneta.

The email fees are used to supplement funding for inmate post-secondary educational programs and vocational education, according to Mr. Jarvela. There are glaring disparities between jails across the state in how much inmates are charged for a 15-minute phone call, according to the Prison Policy Initiative.

Hampton City Jail and the William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center charge about $11 for a 15-minute call. Many other Virginia jails charge around $4 or less, according to 2019 data from Prison Policy Initiative. Inmates housed in jails around Virginia that use the telephone provider service Securus often pay the highest rates, the report shows.

Telephone service providers collect about $2 for phone calls to Hampton City Jail while family and friends of inmates are charged about $10. This leaves the sheriff to collect about $8 per 15-minute call, according to Mr. Weneta.

“What’s happening is that the sheriff is artificially quintupling the price of a phone call and collecting an 800 percent commis-

sion on that call,” Mr. Weneta said.

Advocacy groups such as the Humanization Project, Worth Rises and Americans for Prosperity researched where the imposed fees went.

“We discovered that in the last five years, the sheriff’s offices in Virginia have collected over $183 million in commissions, yet only spent about $9 million of that in programs to benefit people who are incarcerated,” Mr. Weneta said.

The Virginia Sheriffs’ Association supported the legislation and will take part in the workgroup to “address any issues that are documented which reflect excessive charges,” stated Executive Director John W. Jones. The authorized fees allow jails to provide inmates with virtual visits from families and support inmate work programs, which allow sheriffs to locate employment opportunities for the formerly incarcerated, according to Mr. Jones.

“All of the money collected under the Code are used exclusively for the benefit of inmates in the care of sheriffs,” Mr. Jones stated in an email.

Some fees are targeted to harm the people who cannot afford them, Mr. Weneta said. For example, it costs $6 to deposit $25 into an inmate’s trust account, but only $10 to deposit $300, he said.

The introduced legislation proposed that fees charged when depositing to an inmate’s account could not exceed 3 percent of the amount received.

Prison vendors take advantage of families with low incomes and limited financial means, according to Bianca Tylek, executive director of Worth Rises. The nonprofit organization is focused on dismantling what it said is a multibillion-dollar exploitative industry. Ms. Tylek has led several campaigns to make jail phone calls free.

“We know that people often don’t have $300 to put on an account, and so typically those who are making deposits that are in much smaller amounts are getting exploited the most,” she said.

Many families of the incarcerated deal with financial burdens to communicate through email and phone calls. More than a third go into debt attempting to pay the correspondence fees, according to the Who Pays Report. The report was a national community-driven research project with multiple partners.

“What we found in our research is that one in three families go into debt just trying to stay in contact with an incarcerated loved one, and those fees were most egregious in the jails,” Mr. Weneta said.

Mr. Knotts said that a woman in his congregation helped raise her incarcerated daughter’s son.

“She can barely afford diapers. We’ve had to help her cover the cost of diapers and essentials,” Mr. Knotts said. “One of the things that she really struggles with is the amount of money it costs to talk to her daughter.”

The study report is expected to be completed in December.

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

Richmond Free Press

Tulips in The Fan

Editorial Page

A8

March 31-April 2, 2022

Break the impasse We call on members of the Richmond School Board and Richmond City Council to end this ridiculous impasse that threatens to tank the sorely needed replacement of the dilapidated George Wythe High School in South Side.

Both the School Board and the City Council seem to have dug in their heels on their notions of how big a building should be constructed, i.e. whether the school should be sized to hold 1,600 students as the School Board demands, or 2,000 students as the City Council insists as it holds up $7.3 million Richmond Public Schools needs to get started on the new school’s design work.

We don’t understand why both bodies have turned this into an intractable situation. It is not.

But no progress can be made if either side refuses to come to the table. Nor can progress be made if each side refuses to budge from their position.

Councilwoman Ellen F. Robertson, 6th District, last week offered a reasonable compromise for a 1,800student capacity school. But that has been rejected by the School Board. Now neither side wants to return to the table for talks.

If this is any indication of how the School Board and City Council are going to handle tough issues that call for dialogue and flexibility, then we shudder to think what will happen when both bodies start dealing with contract and salary negotiations for city employees and school teachers who just recently have been granted collective bargaining rights. That may be a future mess in the making.

At this point, it would be wise for City Council and the School Board to bring in an independent mediator or arbiter who can help the two bodies come to some agreement.

George Wythe High sits on a 27-plus acre site between Crutchfield Street and Midlothian Turnpike. Can a new high school be designed for that site that would include a 1,800-student-capacity building for near-term use, along with specific details for the building’s expansion to accommodate perhaps 2,500 students or more if needed in the next decade or so?

The School Board and City Council must end this impasse, and we call on members of both bodies to get to work.

What is clear is that School Board and City Council members, by their inaction, are making Richmond’s students the biggest losers. Yes, the thousands of Black and Brown youngsters and families in South Richmond who have been waiting nearly two decades for a new George Wythe will bear the brunt of this logjam as they are forced to remain in decrepit classrooms in a rundown, 62-year-old building.

Richmond voters elected School Board and City Council members to be problem solvers, not problem creators.

And the voters won’t care whose fault this is when the November 2024 School Board and City Council elections roll around. But they may be fed up enough with this nonsensical stalemate that harms our city’s children to throw everyone out of office.

Kudos We send hearty congratulations to new University of Richmond President Kevin F. Hallock for the bold actions taken last week by the university’s Board of Trustees to remove the names of slaveholders and segregationists from six campus buildings.

This is a giant step for the university and the board, which just last year, refused to take down the names of the racists honored by the buildings.

And it is a significant victory for University of Richmond students, including the Black Student Coalition and several student government groups, who in April 2019 – long before the nationwide racial justice demonstrations following George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis in May 2020 — passed resolutions calling for a name change on two buildings honoring Rev. Robert Ryland and Douglas Southall Freeman.

Rev. Ryland, the first president of the school, was a slave owner who profited also by renting out some of his slaves to the university. He invested his money in Confederate war bonds and convinced the college to use its endowment to do the same. He and the school nearly ended up bankrupt when the South surrendered, ending the Civil War, and the bonds became worthless.

Mr. Freeman was a UR alumnus and later a trustee and board rector who was a staunch segregationist and supporter of the eugenics movement. He won the first of two Pulitzer Prizes in 1935 for his four-volume biography of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. A Richmond newspaper editor and radio commentator, he spread his racist views in the community for more than three decades.

These two men, while instrumental in the history of the university, don’t reflect the values espoused by the university or its students, and their names are being removed from the buildings along with those of four others who didn’t believe in the humanity and equality of Black people.

This is a major win, not just for the private university tucked away in the West End, but for the university’s alumni and the city as a whole. Both UR and the city will be viewed as more progressive places, stepping up to acknowledge the sins of the past; to respect the humanity of all, including Black people and other people of color; and to embrace the strength of diversity of today and tomorrow.

We applaud the UR community. The change was overdue.

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Not letting anyone steal our joy A congressional meeting room might be the last place people would expect to find joy.

But joy was in the air on the opening day of the confirmation hearings for U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. Joy was in my heart and in the hearts of so many friends and colleagues who were in the room that day.

Why were we feeling joyful?

We were joyful because this brilliant judge is about to become the first Black woman ever to serve on this country’s highest court.

We were joyful because we could feel the love and pride from Judge Jackson’s parents, brother, husband and daughters.

As a father, I was joyful

because my Black daughter can look to a new role model. She has a new reason to believe that her dreams, talents and hard work can take her wherever she wants to go.

We all knew that the week ahead would be a difficult one for Judge Jackson. There would

Ben Jealous be grueling 12-hour days. There would be disgraceful lies. There would be examples of barely concealed racism.

All of that happened. And none of it broke Judge Jackson’s spirit or calm professionalism.

In the face of smears and false accusations, she gracefully explained the truth about her record and her commitment to applying the law fairly.

She showed Americans a strength grounded in faith. She demonstrated self-confidence ,built over years of perseverance and accomplishment.

She spoke about her love for our country and for the U.S. Constitution.

We live at a time when the court is dominated by judges who do not share a commitment to justice for all. We live at a time when white nationalism and bigotry are openly promoted by powerful politicians and pundits.

Judge Jackson’s nomination gave us a reason for renewed hope that our country can and will continue to make progress toward the ideal of equal justice under law and equal opportunity for all Americans.

It also was a reminder that millions of Americans played a part in making this moment possible.

Millions of us voted to replace former President Trump with President Biden, who made a commitment to putting a Black woman on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Millions of us contributed to the effort to elect Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff in run-

Ukraine invasion, Tulsa Massacre from same playbook Looking at the events unfolding in Ukraine, it is not hard to compare them to what occurred during Nazi Germany’s invasion of Poland in 1939, especially when you see how two dictators — Adolf Hitler and Vladimir Putin—followed the same playbook.

That invasion marked the start of World War II. Then, as now, both invasions were unprovoked attacks against innocent people.

When you consider the reasons behind the attack on Ukraine, they are like the motives behind the Tulsa Massacre in 1921.

It shows how acts of hatred and evil are timeless. Erasing them from history books doesn’t prevent similar human rights violations from occurring now or in the future.

With Russia invading Ukraine to “keep the peace,” the world witnessed a lying dictator in action. One day after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into separatist-held parts of Eastern Ukraine, the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba was straightforward about Russia’s long-term objective. “His ultimate goal is to destroy Ukraine,” Mr. Kuleba said of Mr. Putin. Mr. Putin “wants the idea of Ukrainian statehood to fail. This is his objective.”

Mr. Putin is scared to death of democracy. He hates that NATO was founded to provide defense of democracies on both sides of the Atlantic and provide effective opposition to any power that seeks to dominate Europe. Mr. Putin’s fears about NATO are not centered on any expected military aggression from the West, but rather the optimism and hope that democracy offers.

The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 and left in its place 15 independent states. Mr. Putin aims to restore Russia as a world superpower while reining in those nations that previously turned away from Moscow. These goals become personal and more complex when former Soviet republics like Ukraine and the former

David W. Marshall Warsaw Pact members aspire to become free democracies.

If Ukraine had successfully transformed into a democratic, unified and prosperous state that achieved European Union acceptance along with NATO membership, the credibility of Russia’s ruling dictatorship would be on the line. An independent, democratic, economically stable and internationally integrated Ukraine exposes Mr. Putin’s lies and potentially threatens his hold on power. A successful Ukrainian model would show the Russian model as a failure and sham while showing what true democracy offers. It would inspire other regions, including Russia’s citizens, to seek greater control over their own destiny.

The Ukrainian model is being destroyed in real-time.

Compare that to the Greenwood district of Tulsa, Okla., in 1921.

Greenwood, a prosperous Black community, functioned independently by having its own school system, post office, bank, library, hospital and public transit. It was a prosperous city within a city with luxury shops, restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, jewelry and clothing stores, movie theaters, barbershops and salons, pool halls, nightclubs and offices for doctors, lawyers, and dentists.

Black people living in homes, driving cars, women wearing furs and just achieving and enjoying the benefits of economic success did not sit well with white people

who were not as successful economically. The prosperity of Greenwood residents scared them. It was intolerable to those who live to defend white supremacy.

If the area known as the “Black Wall Street” and others like it were allowed to thrive unchallenged, it would have been a successful model for other Black communities to not only accumulate wealth but to transfer it generationally. It discredits the notion that Black people are inferior people incapable of achieving the “American dream” at levels far exceeding their white counterparts. As an economic powerhouse, Greenwood would prove the idea of white superiority as a sham with no credibility.

Today, the people of Ukraine, just like the 11,000 citizens living in the Greenwood district, deserve to have peace and the pursuit of happiness. Defending power and superiority has no humane limits for certain individuals throughout history.

In 1921, the Tulsa Massacre started with an “alleged assault” and ended in a deadly invasion by a lynch mob. They, too, followed the playbook, which begins with a lie and eventually ends in a deadly attack to destroy what they see as a threat to their power and control.

Before the Trump administration took office, we never had an American president hold a Russian dictator in such high esteem. As the world reels in shock and sadness over Russia’s unprovoked attack on neighboring Ukraine, it really should be no surprise that former President Trump described Mr. Putin’s justification for invading Ukraine as “savvy” and “genius.” As for the playbook, Mr. Trump fully recognizes it and supports its use.

The writer is the founder of the faith-based organization TRB: The Reconciled Body.

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.

off elections in Georgia. Those elections kept Republicans from controlling the U.S. Senate. They kept Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Senate GOP leader, from being able to abuse his power to prevent President Biden’s nominees from even getting a vote, as he did so often with former President Obama’s judicial nominees.

All of us who donated time and money, knocked on doors, made phone calls or sent texts to potential voters, and who cast our ballots — we all helped bring about that joyful morning on Capitol Hill. And we can all look forward to celebrating when she is sworn in as Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.

The writer, a former national president and chief executive officer of the NAACP, serves as president of People for the American Way. He also teaches leadership at the University of Pennsylvania.

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Richmond Free Press

March 31-April 2, 2022 A9

Letters to the Editor

Richmond, not Petersburg, should have new ONE Casino + Resort

My family has built a successful multimilliondollar business empire over 70 years, starting in 1963 with Jet Bargain Stores (six locations), Hawk’s BBQ & Seafood (five locations), Indian Head Hair Grease 1965, Mascot Gas & Oil (six locations) and Crawley’s Nursing Home and Crawley’s Funeral Home. In my business and professional opinion, I was impressed after reading the proposal for ONE Casino + Resort.

Richmond City Council voted 8-1 to approve RVA Entertainment Holdings LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Urban One, as the casino and resort developer. They are offering the City of Richmond $25 million up front for schools, infrastructure and other needed improvements. These funds would be made available to the city immediately prior to the construction of ONE Casino + Resort.

The resort will feature a four-star hotel, upscale

restaurants, shops and clothing stores, resort-style swimming pools, a world-class spa, lavish meeting and reception spaces, a 3,000-seat auditorium featuring 200 live shows per year, along with radio and television production studios and a 15,000-square-foot sound stage onsite.

ONE Casino + Resort would foster economic growth for the residents of Richmond by providing job opportunities to local contractors, employee benefits with salaries averaging $55,000 annually, on-the-job training and profit sharing, which is unheard of in the industry.

In addition to employee and workforce benefits, Cathy Hughes, founder and board chair of Urban One, has agreed to provide contributions to Virginia Union University, Reynolds Community College, The Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, the Armstrong-Walker Classic and Evergreen

these two countries don’t unite, because vocalizations from snowflakes, sentimentalists and the mollycoddled will not provide the necessary shelter to shield humankind from a thermonuclear punch should these two superpowers forge any type of an allegiance.

Cemetery.

Richmond can’t afford to lose $25 million along with all of the benefits and tax revenues that will increase the city’s funding for years to come.

However, state Sen. Joseph D. “Joe” Morrissey and Sen. Jennifer L. McClellan of Richmond are blocking Richmond’s second referendum on the $565 million casino project by pushing a provision in the state budget calling for a study of an alternative site for the casino in Petersburg. They have turned their backs on Richmond, $25 million and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for residents to participate in improving their city and their future.

To all of the concerned residents, citizens and students of Richmond, call your senators and delegates and state budget conferees and ask them to vote “no” on Petersburg and “yes” to Richmond being the home of ONE Casino + Resort.

To find the names and phone numbers of your senators and delegates, visit www.famousbrownshow.com.

We would like to thank the Richmond Free Press, P.T. Brown, Gary Flowers, Pastor Robert A. Winfree and everyone else who has supported and worked toward the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to offer Richmond residents what they truly deserve — empowerment and entertainment all in one!

RICK KNIGHT Henrico County

MELVIN CRAWLEY SR. Richmond

Russia, China alliance over Ukraine spells danger

In numerous recent published reports, the public seemed pretty courageous when debating what sanctions should be taken against Russia’s genocide in Ukraine.

But I wonder how heroic people would feel if China forms an alliance in Russia’s barbarism?

I think we all need to keep our fingers crossed on both hands, carry an amulet for luck and pray that

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NOTIFICACIÓN PÚBLICA A partir del lunes 4 de abril de 2022, el Departamento de Reurbanización y Vivienda de Richmond (Redevelopment and Housing Authority, RRHA) cerrará todas sus listas de espera. Se dejarán de admitir solicitudes para viviendas de cualquier cantidad de dormitorios en cualquiera de las listas de espera después del 4 de abril de 2022.

Este cierre NO afecta a quienes hayan enviado su solicitud a cualquiera de las listas de espera anteriores al 4 de abril de 2022. El cierre es necesario debido al período de espera actual que supera los 24 meses. Para ver cuáles son las listas de espera que se cerrarán, consulte los estados; para actualizar información, visite el sitio web www. rrha.com e inicie sesión en su portal de solicitante. Para conocer más detalles, puede comunicarse con el centro de información al 804-780-4200.

Conforme a los reglamentos del Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano (Housing and Urban Development, HUD) de EE. UU., no se requiere una audiencia pública para habilitar y cerrar las listas de espera.

3RU OR WDQWR VH SURSRUFLRQDUi XQD QRWL¿FDFLyQ S~EOLFD GH DFXHUGR FRQ OR HVWDEOHFLGR HQ HO &yGLJR GH 3UiFWLFD Aprobado (Approved Code of Practice, ACOP) y la política administrativa actuales.

RRHA, a través de los fondos recibidos del Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano de EE. UU., administra y mantiene viviendas públicas para familias de bajos ingresos, adultos mayores y personas con discapacidades que reúnen los requisitos. La política del Departamento de Reurbanización y Vivienda de Richmond consiste en brindar servicios sin distinción de raza, color, religión, origen nacional, ascendencia, edad, sexo, situación de familia, orientación sexual, identidad de género ni discapacidad o minusvalía.

We stand

for Equality Justice Opportunity Freedom

and we fearlessly fight for Equality Justice Opportunity Freedom

Richmond Free Press The People’s Paper

& 'SBOLMJO 4USFFU 3JDINPOE 7JSHJOJB r

Richmond Free Press

A10 March 31-April 2, 2022

Sports Stories by Fred Jeter

The Final Four When: NCAA semifinals Saturday, April 2; championship game Monday, April 4 Where: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans; 73,432 seating capacity for basketball Semifinal matchups: Villanova vs. Kansas, 6:09 p.m.; Duke vs. North Carolina, 8:49 p.m.

Broadcast: Games to be televised on TBS

This year’s NCAA men’s Final Four might be billed as the Blueblood Four.

Duke, Villanova, the University of North Carolina and the University of Kansas represent basketball royalty, with 17 national titles between them and a stunning 59 Final Four appearances.

That said, the school that drew the most conversation during the 2022 NCAA Tournament might have been giant-killer St. Peter’s University of Jersey City, N.J. The unheralded Metro Atlantic Conference champion St. Peter’s Peacocks upset Kentucky, Murray State and then Purdue to be the first 15 th-seed to reach the Elite 8.

Cinderella wore peacock feathers before the stroke of midnight came last Sunday with St. Peter’s 69-49 loss to North Carolina in the Eastern Region final in Philadelphia.

It was all an uphill climb for the team that finished 22-12. St. Peter’s basketball budget of about $1.6 million (as of 2021) was dwarfed by the tournament’s high rollers.

For example, Kentucky’s annual hoops budget is about $20.2 million. Purdue sits at $9.6 million.

Richmonders remember the Peacocks. St. Peter’s opened this season in November with a 57-54 loss to Virginia Commonwealth University at the Siegel Center.

With success comes consequences. By most reports, Peacocks Coach Shaheen Holloway is leaving St. Peter’s to become head coach at his alma mater, Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J.

Down to the Final Four Duke University Blue Devils Record: 32-6 Coach: Mike Krzyzewski aka “Coach K” (43rd season, 1,129-308) Conference: Atlantic Coast Conference Road to New Orleans: Duke defeated Cal State-Fullerton 78-61; Michigan State 85-76; Texas Tech 78-73; Arkansas 78-69.

NCAA titles: 1991, 1992, 2001, 2010 and 2015 Final Fours: 17 Blue Devil legend: Grant Hill, 1990 to 1994; became seventime NBA All-Star Current headliner: 6-foot-10 freshman Paolo Banchero, averages 17.1 points, 7.7 rebounds; a likely NBA lottery pick.

Virginia connection: Mark Williams, 7-foot-1 sophomore, is from Virginia Beach and attended Norfolk Academy.

Basketball budget (2021; Source: Department of Higher Education website): $22.2 million

University of Kansas Jayhawks Record: 32-6 Conference: Big 12 Conference Coach: Bill Self (19th season, 553-124) Road to New Orleans: Defeated Texas Southern 83-56; Creighton 79-72; Providence 66-61; Miami 76-50.

NCAA titles: 1952, 1988 and 2008 Final Fours: 16 Jayhawks legend: Wilt Chamberlain, 1956 to 1958; 13-time NBA All-Star; four-time MVP. Current headliner: Senior forward Ochai Agbaji; the Big 12 Player of the Year averages 19 points and five rebounds.

Virginia connection: David McCormack, senior 6-foot-10 center, is from Norfolk and played at Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson.

Basketball budget (2021): $12.5 million

Villanova University Wildcats Record: 30-7 Coach: Jay Wright (21st season, 516197) Conference: Big East Conference Road to New Orleans: Defeated Delaware 80-60; Ohio State 71-61; Michigan 63-55; Houston 50-44.

NCAA titles: 1985, 2016 and 2018 Final Fours: 7 Wildcat legend: Paul Arizin, 1947 to 1950; went on to be 10time NBA All-Star Current headliner: Graduate student guard Collin Gillespie, averages 16 points, has 120 assists; hits 90 percent at foul line, 41 percent of 3-pointers.

Virginia connection: Starting forward Brandon Slater is from Centreville and played at St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly.

Basketball budget (2021): $14.4 million

University of North Carolina Tar Heels Record: 28-9 Coach: Hubert Davis (first season, 28-9) Conference: ACC NCAA titles: 1957, 1982, 1993, 2005, 2009 and 2017 Final Fours: 20 Road to New Orleans: Defeated Marquette 95-63; Baylor 93-86 (OT); UCLA 73-66; St. Peter’s 69-49.

Tar Heels legend: Michael Jordan, 1981to 1984; 14-time NBA All-Star; six-time MVP; six-time NBA champion.

Current headliner: Brady Manek, a 6-foot-9 transfer from Oklahoma, scores inside and out and has a hand in most everything that turns out well for UNC. Virginia connection: Armando Bacot, from Trinity Episcopal High in South Richmond, was the ACC runner-up Player of the Year and East Region MVP, averaging 17 points, 13 rebounds; UNC roster also includes walk-on Jackson Watkins from Collegiate School.

Basketball budget: $11.2 million.

5 John Marshall Jordan Peebles to play players named in HBCU All-Star Game in New Orleans to All-State teams

Just as it dominated the state competition on the floor, the John Marshall High School boys’ basketball team dominated the All-State voting.

Four Justices were named to the eight-man, Class 2 All-State basketball team and John Marshall Coach Ty White was named Coach of the Year.

A fifth player, the Lady Justices’ Jaedyn Cook was named to the Class 2 All-State girls team.

Selected All-State by the Virginia High School League were Justices Dennis Parker Jr., Reggie Robertson, Damon Thompson and Steve Stinson.

The John Marshall boys’ team won the Class 2 state title by defeating Radford High School on March 12 in the state championship.

The Lady Justices, who ended the season 17-7, lost to Luray High School in the state semifinals March 7.

Jordan Peebles isn’t putting away his sneakers anytime soon.

The former Virginia Union University hoops star has been selected to play in the HBCU All-Star Game Sunday,April 3, in New Orleans.

CBS will televise the game at 4 p.m. as part of the NCAA Final Four activities.

The 6-foot-7, All-CIAA forward from Emporia will suit up for Team “Big House” Jordan Peebles Gaines (CIAA and SWAC athletes) against Team John McLendon (SIAC and MEAC athletes).

In four seasons under Coach Jay Butler, Peebles scored 827 points, grabbed 489 rebounds and was always a crowd favorite with his signature alley-oop dunks.

Peebles has split training of late between the hardcourt and the track. He recently won the triple jump at the University of Richmond Fred Hardy Invitational.

Longtime NSU coach and AD William ‘Bill’ Archie dies at 92 William “Bill” Archie, a legendary coach and athletic director at Norfolk State University, died Saturday, March 19, 2022.

He was 92.

Following an outstanding athletic career at West Virginia State College, now University, and coaching stints at his alma mater and at Southern University, Mr. Archie moved to NSU where he served in various capacities.

He was the NSU Spartans football coach from 1961 to 1966 and later served as NSU’s athletic director from 1970 to 1984.

During his tenure, Mr. Archie built the Spartans into an NCAA Division II track and field powerhouse. His teams won the 1973 and 1974 NCAA titles and accumulated 16 CIAA crowns.

His athletes include Steve Riddick, who went on to run the anchor leg of the U.S. Olympic team’s gold medal-winning 4x100 relay team at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.

In 1961, Mr. Archie started the first swim team at NSU while contributing to the planning and construction of the pool the students use today.

Mr. Archie was inducted into the CIAA Hall of Fame, the NSU Hall of Fame and the National Association of Directors of Collegiate Athletics Hall of Fame.

Survivors include his wife, Mayola “Bird” Archie; a son, William L. Archie Jr.; a daughter, Pamala K. Archie-Jones; and six grandchildren.

Coach Agugua-Hamilton

‘Coach Mox’ now heading U.Va. women’s team

The University of Virginia’s new women’s basketball coach has her fingerprints all over the Commonwealth.

Amaka Agugua-Hamilton, or “Coach Mox” for short, has been named to replace Tina Thompson, who was fired March 3.

Coach Mox, 38, starred as a player at Oakton High School in Herndon and has been an assistant coach at Virginia Commonwealth University and Old Dominion University.

Most recently, she posted a 74-15 record as head coach at Missouri State University, helping the Bears to two Missouri Valley Conference tournament championships. She was conference coach of the year in 2020 and 2021.

Coach Mox becomes U.Va.’s second straight Black coach for the women’s team. Thompson, who also is Black, was 30-63 in four seasons in Charlottesville.

Ryan Turell could be NBA’s first Orthodox Jewish player

Ryan Turell is out to make history He has submitted his name to the June 23 NBA draft with hopes of becoming the league’s first Orthodox Jewish player.

The 6-foot-7 native of Los Angeles led the NCAA Division III in scoring this season (27.1 points per game) for Yeshiva University of New York. He shot 47 percent from 3-point range.

Ryan Turell Turell, who wears a yarmulke while playing, accumulated 2,158 career points in 90 games for Yeshiva while being named this seasons’ Division III College Hoops Player of the Year.

While no Orthodox Jews have played in the NBA, there were many Reform Jewish players in the 1950s and 1960s, most notably stars Dolph Schayes and Larry Brown, and Boston Celtics Coach Red Auerbach.

MVP and NBA titles within grasp for Joel Embiid Joel Embiid’s NBA career was slow in getting off the launching pad, but now he’s rocketing toward a possible MVP. Heading into the home stretch of the regular season, the Philadelphia 76ers’ 7-foot, 280-pound center is probably the leader for the league’s most coveted individual honor.

His stiffest competition might come from Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, the 2021 MVP. Embiid finished second to Jokić a year ago.

Through games of March 26, Embiid was averaging 29.8 points, 11.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.5 blocks per game while hitting 49 percent from floor, 37 percent from beyond the arc and 82 percent at the foul line.

In addition to his power play in the paint, Embiid is among the best shooting centers from the distance in NBA annals.

Despite his talents, Embiid was anything but an overnight success, missing all of his first two seasons (2014-15 and 2015-16) with foot injuries.

Since then, he has been a five-time NBA All-

Star and among the NBA’s most physically imposing athletes with a 7-foot-5 reach, size 17 sneakers and hands that stretch a full foot from tip of thumb to tip of pinkie.

He is well compensated for skills. His 2021-22 contract is for $31.58 Joel Embiid million.

Embiid’s play has helped the Sixers to a 47-26 record. The team is tied for second—with the Milwaukee Bucks—in the NBA Eastern Conference behind the Miami Heat (46-27).

Defenses will not be permitted to gang up on Embiid now that James Harden, among the top scorers in the history of the game, has been acquired from Brooklyn.

Embiid and Harden, with a career 24.6 points scoring norm, might be the premier one-two tandem on the planet.

Born in Cameroon, Embiid moved to the

United States when he was 15 and played high school hoops at Montverde Academy and The Rock School in Florida before signing with the University of Kansas. After one season with the Kansas Jayhawks, he was the third overall NBA draft pick in 2014 behind Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker.

Embiid is the third athlete to come to the NBA from Cameroon following Ruben BoumtjeBoumtje and Luc Mbah a Moute.

Embiid is fluent in English, French and Basaa, a Bantu language.

Should he win this year’s MVP, Embiid would become the third straight foreign-born player to do so following Jokić from Serbia and Giannis Antetokounmpo from Greece.

Television viewers are never far from Embiid, even if they don’t watch much of the NBA. He’s a popular and comical character on Coca-Cola, Mountain Dew and Hulu commercials, as well as having endorsements from Under Armor, Amazon, Fanatic and Electronic Arts.

The 76ers were born in 1963 when the Syra-

cuse Nationals moved the franchise to Philadelphia. Since then, the team’s only championships were in 1967 with Wilt Chamberlain and in 1983 with Moses Malone and Julius Erving.

Now it’s Embiid’s turn to try and join Wilt, Dr. J, Mo and Allen Iverson as Philly legends.

Both the MVP and NBA titles are within his huge grasp.

Richmond Free Press

March 31-April 2, 2022 B1

Congratulations to these outstanding principals, recognized by the

2022 R.E.B. Awards for Distinguished Educational Leadership These educators exemplify leadership by supporting their teachers, inspiring their students and building positive relationships between their school and community.

Natalie Bare W.W. Gordon Elementary School Chesterfield

Tonya Holmes Harvie Elementary School Henrico

Nikea Hurt Linwood Holton Elementary School Richmond

Justin Roerink The Hanover Center for Trades and Technology Hanover

The following candidates were selected as runners up: Anthony McLaurin G.W. Carver Middle School, Chesterfield Christopher Martinez Patrick Henry High School, Hanover Michael Jackson Hermitage High School, Henrico Melissa Rickey Binford Middle School, Richmond

Together, we do more good To learn more about the program and 2022 honorees, visit: www.cfrichmond.org/rebprincipals Community Foundation for a greater Richmond | 3409 Moore Street, Richmond 23230 | 804.330.7400

Richmond Free Press

B2 March 31-April 2, 2022

Happenings

Chris Pizzello/Associated Press

Will Smith, right, walks onto the stage and slaps presenter Chris Rock on Sunday night after Mr. Rock made a joke about Mr. Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, during the Oscars awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The audience initially thought it was part of the act. Above, Jada Pinkett Smith, left, and Will Smith confer during the Oscars ceremony Sunday from their seats near the front of the audience. Ms. Pinkett Smith has spoken publicly since 2018 about her struggle with alopecia, a medical condition that causes hair loss.

Motion Picture Academy condemns Will Smith’s actions, launches inquiry Free Press wire report

LOS ANGELES It has been called “the slap heard around the world.”

But it also may be the smack—televised worldwide at Sunday night’s Academy Awards show—that gets popular actor Will Smith sanctioned, despite an apology he issued Monday evening saying he was “out of line.”

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences on Monday condemned the actions of Mr. Smith during Sunday night’s Oscars presentation and launched an inquiry into his slapping of comedian and presenter Chris Rock during the show.

In a statement Monday, the film academy said: “The Academy condemns the actions of Mr. Smith at last night’s show. We have officially started a formal review around the incident and will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our bylaws, standards of conduct and California law.”

The fallout from Mr. Smith’s onstage assault continued Monday, as Hollywood and the public continued to wrestle with a moment that stunned the Dolby Theatre crowd and viewers at home, and may have passed all others — even that gold-standard flub, EnvelopeGate — in Academy Awards infamy.

Mr. Smith stunned the Dolby Theatre crowd and viewers at home when he took to the stage during Mr. Rock’s remarks after the comedian made a joke about Mr. Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Mr. Rock said, “Jada, I love you. ‘G.I. Jane 2,’ can’t wait to see it.”

The joke touched a nerve. Ms. Pinkett Smith, whose head is shaved, has spoken publicly about her alopecia diagnosis.

Mr. Smith strode on stage and slapped Mr. Rock across the face. Back in his seat, Mr. Smith twice shouted for Mr. Rock to “keep my wife’s name out your (expletive) mouth.” His words echoed clearly throughout the Dolby Theatre, though ABC television cut the audio for about 15 seconds.

Within an hour, Mr. Smith won the Academy Award for best actor for his role as Richard Williams, the father of tennis phenoms Venus and Serena Williams, in the film “King Richard.”

During his teary acceptance speech, Mr. Smith apologized, but only to the academy and to his fellow nominees.

On Monday, he issued a stronger apology — specifically mentioning Mr. Rock—in a statement released by his publicist and posted on Instagram: “Violence in all its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally.

“I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.

Chris Pizzello/Associated Press

Samuel L. Jackson accepts an honorary award at the Governors Awards on Friday, March 25, at the Dolby Ballroom in Los Angeles.

“I would also like to apologize to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world. I would like to apologize to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family. I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us.

“I am a work in progress.

“Sincerely, “Will” Ms. Pinkett Smith responded Tuesday with a graphic on Instagram that read: “This is a season of healing and I’m here for it.” She offered no further comment.

After the show Sunday night, the academy posted a statement condemning violence and called a board of governors meeting Monday to discuss the incident.

The Los Angeles Police Department said Sunday it was aware of the incident but was not pursuing an investigation because the person involved declined to file a police report.

Some academy members, including writer-producer Marshall Herskovitz, called for the academy to take disciplinary action against Mr. Smith.

“He disgraced our entire community tonight,” Mr. Herskovitz wrote on Twitter.

Whoopi Goldberg, a member of the Academy’s board of governors, said Monday on her show, “The View,” “We’re not going to take that Oscar from him. There will be consequences, I’m sure.”

A sense of disbelief hung in the air at the Dolby Theatre after Mr. Smith’s assault, and it didn’t dissipate Monday. Not only was it a hard-to-fathom break with decorum on live national television — an incident so dramatic, even movie-like, that many initially assumed it was a staged bit — it seemed wildly out of character for one of Hollywood’s most relentlessly upbeat stars.

Richmond Night Market to kick off new season April 9 in Shockoe Bottom

The Richmond Night Market will return for its fourth season on Saturday, April 9, after inperson absences for two years because of COVID-19.

The market will kick off from 5 to 9 p.m. at the 17th Street Market in Shockoe Bottom, and will feature more than 30 vendors selling art and various wares, interactive stations for people to make things or participate in activities at the Makerspace and live music as well as a DJ.

“We are looking forward to the Richmond Night Market returning to the 17th Street Market to assist with the growing Downtown arts and culture scene and continuing to provide a platform of commerce for our small business and artisan community, Adrienne Cole Johnson, co-founder of the Richmond Night Market, stated in the announcement of this season’s kickoff.

Grammy-nominated artist and DJ Mad Skillz will provide

music during the April 9 opening, along with jazz band Chan Hall. The featured visual artist in Makerspace will be Justice Dwight.

The market will be open every second Saturday of the month, with a revolving group of vendors, artists and musicians.

Details about the market and featured artists: Melody Short, co-creator and media manager, at melodyjoyshort@gmail.com or (212) 518-4776.

All of this less than an hour before Mr. Smith Smith got all dressed up to choose chaos.”

The drama overshadowed some historical wins reached possibly the climactic moment of his career, winning his first Oscar, for best actor at an Oscars. The deaf family drama “CODA” became the first film with a largely deaf cast to for “King Richard.”

“In a way, I feel bad for Will Smith, too, win the Academy Award for best picture. For the because I think he let his emotions get the bet- first time, a streaming service, Apple TV+, took ter of him, and this should have been one of Hollywood’s top honor, signaling a profound the great nights of his life,” said former Oscar shift in Hollywood and in moviegoing. Ariana host Jimmy Kimmel on Bill Simmons’ podcast. DeBose of “West Side Story” became the first “And now it’s not. Was there anyone who didn’t Afro-Latina and the first openly LGBTQ actor like Will Smith an hour ago in the world? Like to win best supporting actress.

Musician Questlove also won the best docuno one, right? Now he doesn’t have a single mentary feature Oscar for “Summer of Soul,” comedian friend — that’s for sure.”

Some questioned whether Mr. Smith should which he directed, about the 1969 Harlem Cultural have been allowed to continue to sit front and Festival known as the Black Woodstock.

And actor Samuel L. Jackson, 73, received an center after smacking Mr. Rock. Several stars rushed to counsel and calm Mr. Smith, including honorary Academy Award for lifetime achieveDenzel Washington, Tyler Perry and Bradley ment at the Governors Awards in a non-televised Cooper. But the timing also was awkward be- ceremony last Friday. It was presented by actor cause the best actor category was due up soon Denzel Washington, who was nominated for best after, and Mr. Smith had long been considered actor—the same category as Mr. Smith – for his role in “The Tragedy of MacBeth.” a lock for the award.

As stunning as Mr. Smith’s slap was, it “I know we’re all still processing, but the way casual violence was normalized tonight by a col- wasn’t shocking that such a pivotal moment lective national audience will have consequences in the actor’s life would play out in the public that we can’t even fathom in the moment,” wrote eye. Particularly in recent years, Mr. Smith has Janai Nelson, president and director-counsel of been among the most candid of stars, publicly acknowledging last year that he and Ms. Pinkett the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, on Twitter.

The joke that provoked Mr. Smith was not Smith have an “open marriage.” part of Mr. Rock’s routine during the rehearsals leading up to the show, according to two sources close to production who were not authorized to speak publicly.

The show’s producer, Will Packer, was criticized as being too flippant for posting a tweet Sunday that read: “Welp … I said it wouldn’t be boring #Oscars.” But Mr. Packer took to social media again Monday following overwhelming public criticism for Mr. Smith, in part, for wrecking a show produced by a Black man.

“Black people have a defiant John Locher/Associated Press spirit of laughter when it comes Ariana DeBose and Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson attend to dealing with pain because the Governors Ball after the Oscars on Sunday. Ms. there has been so much of it. DeBose, star of “West Side Story,” is the first Afro-Latina I don’t feel the need to eluci- and first openly LGBTQ actor to win best supporting date that for you,” Mr. Packer actress. Questlove won the award for best documentary feature for “Summer Of Soul: (...Or, When The Revolution tweeted. “But also don’t mind Could Not Be Televised).” being transparent and say (sic) While Ms. Pinkett Smith’s Facebook series that this was a very painful moment for me.

“Red Table Talk” has been a platform for airOn many levels.”

Mr. Rock had joked about Ms. Pinkett Smith ing family drama, Mr. Smith has chronicled his before. He hosted the 2016 Oscars, when some own journey in the YouTube series “The Best were boycotting the ceremony over the #Os- Shape in My Life,” which included one episode carsSoWhite group of nominees, including the documenting Mr. Smith discussing his regrets Smiths. Said Mr. Rock: “Jada boycotting the as a parent with his children.

Mr. Smith also penned, with personal-growth Oscars is like me boycotting Rihanna’s panties. author Mark Manson, the memoir “Will,” pubI wasn’t invited.”

In the press room backstage on Sunday, where lished earlier this year. It rocketed up Amazon sales winners take a few questions from the media, rankings Monday to No. 32. In it, he described how the academy tried to stifle questions about the he was molded by his loving but hard-drinking and incident, at one point stopping actress Jessica militaristic father. In one chapter, he recalls as a Chastain, who won an Oscar for best actress for 9-year-old seeing him hit his mother. Guilt at not her role in “The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” from protecting his mother, Mr. Smith wrote, left him with complicated feelings that he connects with talking about it.

But that didn’t prevent the moment from over- fueling his own rise in show business. When his whelming talk at the Oscar after-parties and beyond. father was elderly and confined to a wheelchair, Some came to Mr. Smith’s defense, including Mr. Smith confessed feeling an impulse to push actress-comedian Tiffany Haddish, who co-starred him down a staircase.

“My personal journey into the depths of with Ms. Pinkett Smith in “Girls Trip.”

“Maybe the world might not like how it went the joys and traumas of my past are definitely down, but for me, it was the most beautiful thing helping me to expand and build out a greater I’ve ever seen because it made me believe that emotional toolbox that will allow me to portray there are still men out there that love and care more complex characters,” Mr. Smith said last fall about their women, their wives,” Ms. Haddish in an interview with The Associated Press.

For Mr. Smith, playing Richard Williams in told People magazine.

Mr. Smith, meanwhile, merrily posed for “King Richard” brought together all of these photographs Sunday night with his family outside deep-rooted emotions — and it won him the the Vanity Fair party. Inside, cell phone videos Oscar. It also might have compelled his actions captured him dancing to “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It” on Sunday.

“Art imitates life,” Mr. Smith said in acceptwhile clutching his Oscar. Their son, Jaden, tweeted: “And That’s How We Do It.” On Ins- ing the award. “I look like the crazy father, just tagram, Mr. Smith posted: “Me ’n Jada Pinkett like they said about Richard Williams.”

Ceremony April 3 to mark anniversary of Richmond Liberation Day A public ceremony at 8 a.m. Sunday, April 3, will mark the 157th anniversary of the Union liberation of Richmond from slavery-defending Confederates near the end of the Civil War, it has been announced The ceremony is to be held at the intersection of East Main and Nicholson streets. This is the location where Union soldiers, led by Black units, first entered the city on April 3,1865, ending

Richmond’s role as the capital of the southern rebellion to keep Black people in bondage.

According to organizers, federal troops “tore open the slave jails and held a mass rally on Broad Street” in restoring freedom to the city. The U.S. infantry and calvary units also fought the destructive fires that the Confederates set as they left the city.

Two groups are hosting the event, the Virginia Defenders for

Freedom, Justice and Equality and the Sacred Ground Historical Reclamation Project.

The Liberation Day Celebration was once an annual event in Richmond, representatives of the two groups noted.

Details: (804) 644-5834 or DefendersFJE@hotmail.com.

Details about additional events taking place on Saturday, April 2, and Sunday, April 3, are available at www.cwedrva.com/programs.

Richmond Free Press

March 31-April 2, 2022 B3

Happenings

Personality: Dr. Regenia A. Perry Spotlight on groundbreaking art historian and collector of African-American folk art Growing up poor in Clarksville, Dr. Regenia A. Perry was regarded as a lost cause by some teachers in the community, unlikely to amount to much because of her outspoken and inquisitive nature.

But Dr. Perry, who at age 24 became the first AfricanAmerican woman to earn a Ph.D. in art history, became a trailblazer in the art world, finding and documenting the work of African-American folk artists whose work was unmatched and overlooked.

Her collection at its heyday held more than 3,000 pieces of African-American art, and she has amassed mounds of information about African-American folk art and fine art that she, at age 81 (her birthday was March 30), is packing up and sending to an African-American archival library at Emory University in Atlanta.

“With the passing (in 2020 of artist, curator and scholar) David Driskell, I am the senior surviving art historian who knew all of the Old Masters,” Dr. Perry says.

Her research, collecting, scholarship, curating and exhibiting of the work of AfricanAmerican artists, including photographer James Van Der Zee, have helped preserve sectors of African-American history.

In tribute to Dr. Perry, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has established a curatorial position named for Dr. Perry and endowed by the Jessie Ball duPont Fund. The position, the Regenia A. Perry Assistant Curator of Global Contemporary Art, is now held

by Alexis Assam, who will help build the museum’s collections and develop exhibitions for the museum’s diverse audiences.

In its strategic plan, VMFA is committed to dedicating a third of its acquisition funds to African and African-American art.

Dr. Perry was shocked and thrilled to learn of the tribute by the VMFA, which provided her with a fellowship in 1961 that enabled her to attend what is now Case Western Reserve University and earn a master’s in art history when she was 21.

“This is an honor that is generally bestowed upon someone after their death,” Dr. Perry says.

Because of her scholarship, she has taught at several colleges and universities, including Howard University. But the majority of her professional career was spent at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she taught art history for 25 years.

She has published several books on African-American art, including “James Van Der Zee, Photographer,” “The Folk Tradition in Black American Art,” “Free Within Ourselves: African-American Artists in the Collection of the National Museum of American Art” and “Harriet Powers Bible Quilts.”

Preserving and exhibiting the work of African-American artists is something she views as deeply important for the community it reflects.

“History is so important for current and future generations,” Dr. Perry says, “especially for African-Americans because so much of our history has been lost.”

For those entering into the profession, she offers advice based on the lessons she has learned in a storied career: “Work hard and strive to be the best,” Dr. Perry says. “Never worry about public opinion of yourself if you are confident about what you are doing.”

Meet a trailblazer in the art world who both documented and made history, Dr. Regenia A. Perry: Latest honor: Creation of the Regenia A. Perry Assistant Curator of Global Contemporary Art, an endowed position at

the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

many of my peers thought that I was crazy.

Occupation: Retired professor of art history after 25 years at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Significance to me of this honor: It is indescribable!

I am not sure that I deserve it! This is an honor that is generally bestowed upon someone after their death.

I am so thankful that I had the foresight to document African-American folk art during the heyday of the1980s and 1990s.

Sadly, all of the Old Masters are dead.

Date and place of birth: March 30, 1941, Granville County, N.C. Where I live now: Richmond and New Orleans.

Education: Virginia State College, B.S. in fine arts education, May 1961; Western Reserve University, now Case Western Reserve University, M.A. in history of art, June 1962; University of Pennsylvania, 24Ph.D. course credits, 1963-1964; Western Reserve University, Ph.D. in history of art, June 1966; Yale University, post-doctoral studies in AfricanAmerican art, 1969-1970; in addition, many post-doctoral training and special experiences, academic appointments, fellowships and awards.

Family: One niece, Dr. Lynn Perry Wooten, president of Simmons College in Boston.

The Regenia A. Perry Assistant Curator of Global Contemporary Art is: A position to collect and document contemporary art worldwide.

How I received initial news of this endowed position: I was googling my name on the internet.

My reaction: Complete surprise — shock. I am eternally indebted to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts for providing the fellowship that enabled me to receive my master’s degree at age 21.

First person to fill this position: Alexis Assam, who previously worked as the Constance E. Clayton Curatorial Fellow

in the Contemporary Art department at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Advice I give this first person honoring my name: Always strive to be the best that you can be and realize that you have to strive “extra hard” as a minority. At VCU, where I taught for 25 years and was one of the first three full-time African-American professors, I had to nominate myself for promotion to full professor.

Why I think the VMFA decided to honor me: My groundbreaking work in the field of African-American folk art and my groundbreaking exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 1976.

What I am most known for in the art world: I am the foremost authority in AfricanAmerican folk art. In order to understand it, you must live among the artists. I began collecting during the 1980s when

What would my hometown say? My hometown of Clarksville, Va., population 1,200 today, has few people who would still remember me as I was 16 when I left to attend Virginia State University in Petersburg. Growing up in abject poverty , many of my teachers predicted that I “would not amount to anything” because I was too outspoken and inquisitive.

Collecting and learning about artists and their art is important because: History is so important for current and future generations, especially for African-Americans because so much of our history has been lost.

Most memorable moment in my career: When I was guest curator in 1976 of the exhibition “Selections of 19th Century Afro-American Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. It remains the only comprehensive exhibition of African-American art to be held at the Metropolitan Museum.

My art collection during its peak included: More than 3,000 African-American folk artifacts previously unknown to the general public.

Advice to students interested in entering the art curatorial and history profession today: Work hard and strive to be the best. Be willing to travel abroad to see world-famous monuments. Never worry about public opinion of yourself if you are confident about what you are doing. So many of my colleagues called me “crazy” because of my early interest in African-American folk art.

A perfect day for me: Browsing thrift shops and working on my papers to send to Emory University.

What I am learning about myself during the pandemic: I can complete many overdue projects as I self-isolate.

Something I love to do that most people would never imagine: Browse flea markets and antique shops to discover new artifacts. My endless curiosity makes me stop.

Quote that inspires me: Be the very best that you can be.

Friends describe me as: Outspoken and loyal, basically a “loner.” I enjoy my solitude.

At the top of my “to-do” list: Place the remainder of my artifacts in museum collections.

Best late-night snack: Fruitflavored yogurt.

Best thing my parents ever taught me: To respect my elders.

Person who influenced me the most: Mrs. Lola H. Solice, superintendent of Granville County, N.C., Negro Schools in the 1950s.

Book that influenced me the most: “Roots: The Saga of an American Family” by Alex Haley.

Next goal: About 10 years ago, the Coca-Cola Co. in Atlanta gave the Woodruff/Rose Library at Emory University $10 million to establish an African-American archival library. The Woodruff Library has agreed to purchase “all” of my paper works and many artifacts from my collection.

My files are vast. I have been providing information for several years and have mailed 40 boxes of materials and have more to send — both fine and folk art. I have been a pack rat of information on fine and folk African-American art. With the passing of David Driskell, I am the senior surviving art historian who knew all of the Old Masters.

METRO RICHMOND AREA CHAPTER NATIONAL CONGRESS OF BLACK WOMEN Presents

“Food Talks T� Yo�” A Free Youth Program

Saturday, April 30, 2022 10:am – 2:30 pm Virginia Center Commons Mall

Featuring

Registration Deadline-Friday, April 8, 2022 Students must be accompanied by 1 parent/guardian MASKS Required

Celebrity Executive Chef Ausar Ariankh

Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/food-talks-to-you-youth-eventtickets-291764664967?aff=ebdssbdestsearch For additional information Email us at: ncbwmetrorichmond@gmail.com

NOVEMBER THEATRE ARENSTEIN STAGE

APRIL 8 - MAY 15

Created by Larry Gallagher

A celebration of the powerful female voices of the ’60s – including Aretha Franklin, Carole King, Diana Ross, Janis Joplin, and Tina Turner!

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April 1&3

Dominion Energy Center For more information and to buy tickets visit vaopera.org/figaro or call 866.673.7282

Richmond Free Press

B4 March 31-April 2, 2022

Obituaries/Faith Directory

Brenda Howlett Melvin, retired educator, dies at 76

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Brenda Eulalia Howlett Melvin, a retired educator described by her family as “a ray of sunshine” and a person “who loved to celebrate everything and everyone,” died Monday, March 21, 2022, in a local hospital.

Mrs. Melvin taught and served as a guidance counselor for 33 years, mostly at Southampton Elementary School in Richmond. She was 76.

Family and friends celebrated the Richmond native’s life Monday, March 28, at First Baptist Church of South Richmond, where she was an active member and participated in the Book Club.

Known to friends as “Cal” or “Caledonia,” Mrs. Melvin grew up in South Richmond and began her education career after graduating in 1968 from Virginia Union University, where she also joined Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.

Mrs. Melvin started teaching elementary grades at Southampton Elementary, where she earned Teacher of the Year honors. She later Mrs. Melvin became a guidance counselor after earning her master’s in counseling from Virginia State University.

The mother of two, Mrs. Melvin “loved her students as her own and served as a mentor and role model to all of them,” her

Gurtha ‘Gil’ Gilchrist Jr., longtime Armstrong phys ed teacher, dies at 83

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Gurtha “Gil” Gilchrist Jr., who taught physical education and health at Armstrong High School for 30 years, has died.

Mr. Gilchrist succumbed to illness Saturday, March 19, 2022, in Raleigh, N.C., his family reported. He was 83.

Funeral arrangements were not immediately available.

Born in Rocky Mount, N.C., Mr. Gilchrist began his education career after serving in the

Navy and graduating High School, retiring from North Carolina in 2000.

Central University in He and his wife 1963. of 58 years, Harriett He spent about Gilchrist, relocated seven years teaching to Raleigh two years and coaching basketago. ball at high schools Mr. Gilchrist was in North Carolina a member of Omega Mr. Gilchrist before moving to Psi Phi Fraternity.

Richmond around 1970. He During his years in Richspent his career at Armstrong mond, he also was an active

Worship With Us This Week!

5th Sunday Of Lent Virtual Worship April 3, 2022 @ 10:00 A.M.

Riverview Baptist Church Sunday School 9:30 A.M. Sunday Services 11:00 A.M. Via Conference Call (202) 926-1127 Pin 572890# In Person Sunday Service also on FACEBOOK and YouTube 2604 Idlewood Avenue Richmond, Va. 23220 (804) 353-6135 www.riverviewbaptistch.org

Triumphant

Baptist Church

member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church in South Side.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Gilchrist is survived by two sons, Gerald Gilchrist Sr. of Richmond and Gregory Gilchrist of Lawrenceville, Ga.; a daughter, Gennine Gilchrist of Middlesex, N.C.; a sister, Helen G. Brake of Fayetteville, N.C.; three grandchildren; and a great-grandson.

2003 Lamb Avenue Richmond, VA 23222 Dr. Arthur M. Jones, Sr., Pastor (804) 321-7622 OPEN FOR IN PERSON WORSHIP Morning Worship - 11 am Conference Calls are still available at: ( 503) 300-6860 PIN: 273149 Facebook@:triumphantbaptist

Moore Street Missionary

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Join us for worship online this week!

A 21st Century Church With Ministry For Everyone

As we move through the 40 days of Lent together, we would love for you to share a part of your journey with us.

Join us online at mmbcrva.org or Facebook.com/mmbcrva.

We Embrace Diversity — Love For All!

Baptist Church

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

Dr. Alonza L. Lawrence, Pastor

Come worship with us!

Back Inside Sundays Join us for 10:00 AM Worship Service

Additional Opportunities to Engage with Us:

Live on Facebook @sixthbaptistrva Live on Youtube @sixthbaptistrva Or by visiting our website www.sixthbaptistchurch.org

*Faith Formation/ Church School (Sat. @ 9:00 AM) Zoom Meeting ID: 952 9164 9805 /Passcode: 2901 *Bible Study (Wed. @ 7:00 PM) Zoom Meeting ID: 854 8862 2296 *Give Via: http://mmbcrva.org/give Or through Givelify 2901 Mechanicsville Turnpike, Richmond, VA 23223 (804) 648-2472 ~ www.mmbcrva.org Dr. Price London Davis, Senior Pastor

family said. “Her infectious love for education impacted every student and person she encountered.”

She retired around 2001 after 33 years.

She was active in the Richmond, Virginia and National Education associations.

Prior to joining First Baptist Church, Mrs. Melvin had been active in Swansboro Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School and served as a Girl Scout troop leader.

Survivors include her husband, Matthew L. Melvin Sr., two children, Matthew L. Melvin Jr. and MiVida M. Parham; sisters, Portia H. Turner and Eva H. Williams; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

400 South Addison Street Richmond, Va. 23220

(near Byrd Park)

Rev. Dr. Yvonne Jones Bibbs, Pastor

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

“Your Home In God’s Kingdom”

Ramadan for All People a solution for Mankind “Mecca” House Abraham and Ishmael Built

T

*Faith Formation/ Church School (Sat. @ 9:00 AM) Zoom Meeting ID: 952 9164 9805 /Passcode: 2901 *Bible Study (Wed. @ 7:00 PM) Zoom Meeting ID: 983 8639 0975/ Password: 012563 *Give Via: http://mmbcrva.org/give Or through Givelify

he people of the Abrahamic faiths fast. Ramadan is coming.

Prophets throughout the ages fasted as commanded for spiritual nearness to God, people of Abrahamic Worship With Us This Week faiths fast to gain control over the forces of destruction to our hearts and minds that separate us from God and the true nature in which we were created to be. There are 80 suicides a `>Þ Ì i 1°-° / i i> Ì Li iwÌÃ v Weekly Worship: Sundays @ 10:30 fasting for the body are well known.

A.M. >ÃÌ } Li iwÌÃ v À Ì i ` > ` Ã Õ Church School: Sundays @ 9:00 A.M. Thursday Facebook Live Check in With Pastor bl d d d are not so commonly known. Fasting 8:00 P.M. Via http://Facebook.com/mmbcrva and prayer in Ramadan increases the effectiveness of our prayers it is a shield against the hell in our lives and the storm of evil without and within us. Fasting is Sunday Morning Virtual Worship an effective way to develop the feelings of nearness to God, strengthen unity and 10:30 A.M. Via http://Facebook.com/mmbcrva charity in communities, and turns us to the Almighty for help.

Or http://mmbcrva.org/live The prophets fasted. Prophet Moses fasted for forty days on Mount Sinai and was >vÌiÀ µÕ> wi` Ì ÀiVi Ûi Ì i ÀiÛi >Ì v `° iÃÕÃ Ì i à v >ÀÞ Ài > i` the forest fasting for forty days and forty nights as commanded by his Lord where he was strengthened against the persuasions of Satan. Prophet Muhammad’s iÜ Ã Ü vi v>ÃÌi` Ƃà ÕÀ> Ü V LÃiÀÛià *À « iÌ Ãià > ` Ì i ÃÀ>i Ìi½Ã iÃV>«i from Egypt. Prophet Muhammad joined her in observing this fast and millions of Õà à LÃiÀÛi Ì Ã v>ÃÌ Ü Ì iÜ Ã V Õ Ì iÃ Ì À Õ} ÕÌ Ì i Ü À ` Ì `>Þ° à v «i « i v Ì i à > V > Ì Ü v>ÃÌ v À Îä `>Þà > } Ü Ì vÀ i `à v Ì i v> Ì `ÕÀ } Ì i à > V V> i `>À Ì v ,> >`> Li} } Ƃ«À Ó >Þ Ó° Fasting begins with a light breakfast before the dawn and ends at sunset each day for thirty days. Each night community prayers are held at mosques and Muslims pray through the night in their homes and at mosques for the Almighty’s mercy, forgiveness, and help.

For more information about Ramadan in the Richmond metro. ƂÀi> V Ì>VÌ\ nä{ Î{Ç Èx£ À i > \ w ` ÕÃi° >Ã `J} > °V

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

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

“MAKE IT HAPPEN” Pastor Kevin Cook

“The Church With A Welcome”

Good Shepherd Baptist Church

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

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

Sharon Baptist Church

Sundays Morning Worship 10:00 A.M.

Back Inside

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

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https://youtu.be/qqzhnIEQyQc for inspirational messages from Pastor Smith

Spread theWord

To advertise your church: 7 Àà «Ê-iÀÛ ViÊUÊ Ã«i Ê ViÀÌ 6>V>Ì Ê L iÊ-V ÊÊ iV }ÊUÊ,iÛ Û>

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Richmond Free Press The People’s Paper.

Richmond Free Press

March 31-April 2, 2022 B5

Legal Notices

City of Richmond, Virginia CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the Council of the City of Richmond has scheduled a public hearing, open to all interested citizens, on Monday, April 11, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber on the Second Floor of City Hall, located at 900 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, to consider the following ordinances: Ordinance No. 2022-055 To adopt the General Fund Budget for the fiscal year commencing Jul. 1, 2022, and ending Jun. 30, 2023, and to appropriate the estimated revenues for such fiscal year for the objects and purposes stated in such budget.

Ordinance No. 2022-056 To adopt the Special Fund Budgets for the fiscal year commencing Jul. 1, 2022, and ending Jun. 30, 2023, and to appropriate the estimated receipts of the Special Revenue funds for the said fiscal year.

Ordinance No. 2022-057 To accept a program of proposed Capital Improvement Projects for the fiscal year beginning Jul. 1, 2022, and for the four fiscal years thereafter; to adopt a Capital Budget for the fiscal year beginning Jul. 1, 2022; and to determine the means of financing the same.

Ordinance No. 2022-058 To appropriate and to provide funds for financing the school budget for the fiscal year commencing Jul. 1, 2022, and ending Jun. 30, 2023.

Ordinance No. 2022-059 To adopt the Debt Service Fund Budget for the fiscal year commencing Jul. 1, 2022, and ending Jun. 30, 2023, and to appropriate the estimated expenditures from the Debt Service Fund for the said fiscal year.

Ordinance No. 2022-060 To adopt the Internal Service Fund Budgets for the fiscal year commencing Jul. 1, 2022, and ending Jun. 30, 2023, and to appropriate the estimated receipts of the Internal Service funds for the said fiscal year.

Ordinance No. 2022-061 To adopt the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities’ Richmond Cemeteries Budget for the fiscal year commencing Jul. 1, 2022, and ending Jun. 30, 2023, and to appropriate the estimated receipts of the Richmond Cemeteries for the said fiscal year for the operation and management of the facilities.

Ordinance No. 2022-062 To adopt the Department of Public Works’ Parking Enterprise Fund Budget for Fiscal Year 20222023, and to appropriate the estimated receipts of the Department of Public Works’ Parking Enterprise Fund for the said fiscal year for the operation and management of parking facilities.

Ordinance No. 2022-063 To adopt the Electric Utility Budget for the fiscal year commencing Jul. 1, 2022, and ending Jun. 30, 2023; to appropriate the estimated receipts of the Electric Utility for the said fiscal year; and to make appropriations from the Electric Utility Renewal Fund or Operating Fund for renewing, rebuilding or extending the plant and distribution system of the Electric Utility and for the purchase of vehicles.

Ordinance No. 2022-064 To adopt the Gas Utility Budget for the fiscal year commencing Jul. 1, 2022, and ending Jun. 30, 2023; to appropriate the estimated receipts of the Gas Utility for the said fiscal year; and to make appropriations from the Gas Utility Renewal Fund or Operating Fund for renewing, rebuilding or extending the plant and distribution system of the Gas Utility and for the purchase of vehicles.

Ordinance No. 2022-065 To adopt the Department of Public Utilities’ Stores Internal Service Fund Budgets for the fiscal year commencing Jul. 1, 2022, and ending Jun. 30, 2023, and to appropriate the estimated receipts of the Department of Public Utilities’ Stores Internal Service Funds for the said fiscal year.

Ordinance No. 2022-066 To adopt the Water Utility Budget for the fiscal year commencing Jul. 1, 2022, and ending Jun. 30, 2023; to appropriate the estimated receipts of the Water Utility for the said fiscal year; and to make appropriations from the Water Utility Renewal Fund or Operating Fund for renewing, rebuilding or extending the plant and distribution system of the Water Utility and for the purchase of vehicles.

Ordinance No. 2022-067 To adopt the Wastewater Utility Budget for the fiscal Continued on next column

Continued from previous column

year commencing Jul. 1, 2022, and ending Jun. 30, 2023; to appropriate the estimated receipts of the Wastewater Utility for the said fiscal year; and to make appropriations from the Wastewater Utility Renewal Fund or Operating Fund for renewing, rebuilding or extending the plant and distribution system of the Wastewater Utility and for the purchase of vehicles.

Ordinance No. 2022-068 To adopt the Stormwater Utility Budget for the fiscal year commencing Jul. 1, 2022, and ending Jun. 30, 2023; to appropriate the estimated receipts of the Stormwater Utility for the said fiscal year; and to make appropriations from the Stormwater Utility Renewal Fund or Operating Fund for renewing, rebuilding or extending the stormwater utility and for the purchase of vehicles.

Ordinance No. 2022-069 To amend the schedule of classifications and assigned ranges incorporated into section I of the Pay Plan for the purpose of revising the wording of certain classification titles, changing the pay ranges of certain classification titles, and providing for a 5.0 percent adjustment of general pay ranges; to amend section II(C) of the Pay Plan for the purpose of providing for a 5.0 percent increase for eligible employees; to amend the following sections of the Pay Plan: III(B) (11), providing for salary supplements for the Office of the Commonwealth’s A t t o r n e y, I I I ( B ) ( 1 2 ) , providing for salary supplements for the Office of the Sheriff, III(B)(25)(e), suspending the education incentive for sworn fire and police employees, III(B)(33), to increase the limit of the extraordinary performance bonus, III(B) (36), to increase the hourly minimum rate for City employees from $13.00 to $17.00, III(B) (40), to provide for the full implementation of the step-based pay plan for sworn fire and police employees, of the Pay Plan, and III(B)(41), to remove broadband or career development programs from exclusions to performance adjustments for classified employees; and to repeal section III(B)(4) of the Pay Plan, concerning a career development program.

Ordinance No. 2022-070 To amend City Code §§ 7-119, concerning where columbaria are located and fees, and 7-143, concerning cremation benches and fees, to revise certain fees.

Ordinance No. 2022-071 To amend City Code §§ 28-191, 28-192, 28194, 28-195, 28-196, 28-198, 28-199, 28-200, 28-201, 28-202, 28-203, and 28-204, concerning gas service, for the purpose of changing the measurement of natural gas from quantities per thousand cubic feet to quantities per hundred cubic feet, and to amend City Code §§ 28-191(2) and 28-191(3) (concerning fees for residential gas service), 28-192(2) (concerning fees for residential gas peaking service), 28193(2) (concerning fees for general gas service), 28-193(3) (concerning fees for small commercial gas sales), 28-194(2) (concerning fees for large volume gas service), 28-195(f) and 28-196(f) (concerning fees for transportation service), 28-198(2) and 28-198(3) (concerning fees for municipal gas service), 28-199(c), 28-199(d), and 28-199(g)(2), (concerning flexibly priced interruptible gas service), 28-200(2), 28-200(3) and 28-200(4) (concerning unmetered gaslight service), 28201(c) (concerning gas air conditioning service), 28-202(c) (concerning fees for large volume gas sales service), 28203(c) (concerning fees for large volume, high load factor, gas sales service), and 28-204(b) and 28204(c) (concerning fees for natural gas vehicle gas service) of the City Code, effective as of the date of rendering bills for Cycle I in July 2022, to establish revised charges for such services.

Ordinance No. 2022-072 To amend the fees set forth in the City Code fo r sect ions 28-9 23 (concerning fees for residential stormwater service) and 28-924 (concerning fees for developed residential properties stormwater service) of the City Code, effective as of the date of rendering bills for Cycle I in July, 2022, to establish revised charges for the stormwater utility’s services.

Ordinance No. 2022-073 To a m e n d t h e f e e s set forth in sections 28-650 (concerning fees for residential wastewater service), 28-651 (concerning Continued on next column

Continued from previous column

fees for commercial wastewater service), 28652 (concerning fees for disposal of industrial sewage and wastewater), 28-653 (concerning fees for disposal of state and federal sewage and wastewater), and 28654 (concerning fees for disposal of municipal sewage and wastewater) of the City Code, effective as of the date of rendering bills for Cycle I in July, 2022, to establish revised charges for the wastewater utility’s services.

Ordinance No. 2022-074 To amend City Code §§ 28326 (concerning fees for residential water service), 28-327 (concerning fees for commercial water service), 28-328 (concerning fees for industrial water service), 28-329 (concerning fees for municipal water service), 28-330 (concerning fees for state and federal water service), 28-458 (concerning fees for water for fire protection) and 28-549 (concerning fees for water use during conservation periods) of the City Code, effective as of the date of rendering bills for Cycle I in July, 2022, to establish revised charges for such services.

Ordinance No. 2022-075 To amend City Code § 12-92, concerning fees for police offense reports, to establish a revised fee for such reports.

Ordinance No. 2022-076 To amend City Code § 2342, concerning charges for transferring solid waste and recycling by the City and exemptions, to establish revised charges for such services.

Ordinance No. 2022-077 To amend City Code § 8-279, concerning fees for use of public parks, to revise the user fees.

Ordinance No. 2022-078 To amend City Code §§ 12-119, concerning rates and discounts for parking facilities operated by the City, and 27-245, concerning installation of meters, charges, and manner of parking, to revise the fees for parking meters and certain parking facilities.

Ordinance No. 2022-079 To amend ch. 2, art.

IV of the City Code by adding therein a new div. 24, consisting of §§ 2-760—2-762, concerning the Office of Strategic Communications and Civic Engagement, and to amend City Code §§ 2-757, concerning the creation, composition, and purpose of the Office of Sustainability, 2-759, concerning the appointment and powers of the manager of such o ff i c e , a n d 2 2 - 3 1 7 , concerning additional retirement allowances for certain City officials.

Ordinance No. 2022-080 To a u t h o r i z e t h e issuance of public utility revenue bonds of the City of Richmond in the maximum principal amount of $65,115,842 to finance the cost of capital improvement projects of the gas, water and wastewater utilities and public utilities buildings and facilities for the following purposes and uses: enlargement, extension, repair, replacement, improvement and equipping of the gas plant and transmission lines; enlargement, extension, repair, replacement, improvement and equipping of the waterworks plant and transmission lines; enlargement, extension, repair, replacement, improvement and equipping of the wastewater plant and intercepting lines; construction, reconstruction, repair, replacement, and improvement of sanitary and storm water sewers, pumping stations, drains and culverts; construction, reconstruction, repair, replacement, improvement and equipping of public utility buildings and facilities therefor, including but not limited to the stores division; and acquisition of real property and real property rights (including without limitation easements and rightsof-way) therefor as appropriate; to authorize the Director of Finance, with the approval of the Chief Administrative O ff i c e r, f o r a n d o n behalf of the City, to sell such bonds for such capital improvement projects; to provide for the form, details and payment of such bonds; to approve the form of supplemental indenture of trust; to authorize the issuance of notes of the City in anticipation of the issuance of such bonds; and to authorize the issuance of taxable bonds, for the same purposes and uses, in the same maximum principal amount and payable over the same period as such public utility revenue bonds.

Ordinance No. 2022-081 Continued on next column

Continued from previous column

To cancel all authorized but unissued bonds authorized by the City of Richmond in Fiscal Ye a r 2 0 1 7 - 2 0 1 8 , t o authorize the issuance of general obligation public improvement bonds of the City of Richmond in the maximum principal amount of $60,000,000 to finance the cost of school projects and general capital improvement projects of the City for the following purposes and uses: construction, reconstruction, improvements and equipment for public schools; construction, reconstruction, improvement and equipment for various infrastructure needs, including traffic control facilities, streets, sidewalks and other public ways, bridges, storm sewers, drains and culverts, and refuse disposal facilities; participation in redevelopment, conservation and community development programs, including the construction, reconstruction, improvement and equipment for targeted public facilities included in these programs; construction, reconstruction, improvements and equipment for public institutional, operational, cultural, educational and entertainment buildings and facilities, including but not limited to the theaters, parks, playgrounds, cemeteries, libraries and museums; acquisition of real property therefor as appropriate; and the making of appropriations to the City’s Economic Development Authority (“EDA”) to be used by the EDA to finance capital expenditures or to make loans or grants to finance capital expenditures for the purposes of promoting economic development; to authorize the Director of Finance, with the approval of the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City, to sell such bonds for such capital improvement projects, to provide for the form, details and payment of such bonds; to authorize the issuance of notes of the City in anticipation of the issuance of such bonds; and to authorize the issuance of taxable bonds, for the same purposes and uses, in the same maximum principal amount and payable over the same period as such general obligation public improvement bonds.

Ordinance No. 2022-082 To cancel all authorized but unissued bonds authorized by the City of Richmond in Fiscal Ye a r 2 0 1 4 - 2 0 1 5 , t o authorize the issuance of general obligation public improvement bonds of the City of Richmond in the maximum principal amount of $27,775,000 to finance the cost of capital improvement projects of the stormwater utility of the City for the following purposes and uses: replacement of and upgrades to the stormwater facilities, including but not limited to, construction, reconstruction, improvements, r e h a b i l i t a t i o n and upgrades of stormwater sewers and associated facilities; new and replacement infrastructure of the storm sewer system, drainage structures, catch basins, ditches, storm sewer pipes, culverts, green infrastructure; acquisition of real property therefor as appropriate; and equipment for various infrastructure needs; and authorizes the Director of Finance, with the approval of the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City, to sell such bonds for such capital improvement projects, to provide for the form, details and payment of such bonds and to authorize the issuance of notes of the City in anticipation of the issuance of such bonds, and to authorize the issuance of taxable bonds, for the same purposes and uses, in the same maximum principal amount and payable over the same period as such general obligation public improvement bonds.

Ordinance No. 2022-098 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept funds in the amount of $50,000.00 from the Virginia Department of Fire Programs, and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 20212022 Special Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department of Fire and Emergency Services’ State Fire Programs Special Fund by $50,000.00 for the purpose of funding the purchase of a selfcontained breathing apparatus training aid for Department of Fire and Emergency Services’ personnel and regional emergency services Continued on next column

Continued from previous column

partners.

Interested citizens who wish to speak will be given an opportunity to do so by following the instructions referenced in the April 11, 2022 Richmond City Council Formal meeting agenda. Copies of the full text of all ordinances are available by visiting the City Clerk’s page on the City’s Website at https:// www.rva.gov/office-cityclerk, and in the Office of the City Clerk, City Hall, 900 East Broad Street, Suite 200, Richmond, VA 23219, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Candice D. Reid City Clerk

City of Richmond, Virginia CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the City of Richmond Planning Commission has scheduled a public hearing, open to all interested citizens, on Monday, April 18, 2022 at 1:30 p.m. and the Council of the City of Richmond has scheduled a public hearing on Monday, April 25, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber on the Second Floor of City Hall, located at 900 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, to consider the following ordinances: Ordinance No. 2022-100 To authorize the special use of the properties known as 6 West 21 st Street and 20 West 21st Street for the purpose of a community center, office use, and special events, upon certain terms and conditions. The City’s Richmond 300 Master Plan designates the future land use category for the subject property as Community MixedUse. Primary Uses: Retail/office/personal service, multi-family residential, cultural, and open space. Secondary U s e s : S in g l e f a m i l y houses, institutional, and government.

Ordinance No. 2022-101 To authorize the special use of the property known as 1514 North 22nd Street for the purpose of a wildlife rehabilitation facility accessory to a single-family dwelling, upon certain terms and conditions. The City’s Richmond 300 Master Plan designates the future land use category for the subject property as Neighborhood MixedUse. Primary Use s : Single-family houses, accessory dwelling units, duplexes, small multifamily buildings, and open space. Secondary Uses: Large multifamily buildings, retail/ office/personal service, institutional, cultural, and government.

Ordinance No. 2022-102 To authorize the special use of the property known as 908 West 31st Street for the purpose of two single-family detached dwellings, upon certain terms and conditions.

The City’s Richmond 300 Master Plan designates the future land use category for the subject property as Residential.

Primary Uses: Singlefamily houses, accessory dwelling units, and open space. Secondary Uses: Duplexes and small multi-family buildings (typically 3-10 units), institutional, and cultural.

Secondary uses may be found along major streets.

The proposed density is approximately 9 units per acre.

Interested citizens who wish to speak will be given an opportunity to do so by following the instructions referenced in the April 25, 2022 Richmond City Council Formal meeting agenda. Copies of the full text of all ordinances are available by visiting the City Clerk’s page on the City’s Website at https:// www.rva.gov/office-cityclerk, and in the Office of the City Clerk, City Hall, 900 East Broad Street, Suite 200, Richmond, VA 23219, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Candice D. Reid City Clerk

Divorce VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE COUNTY OF HENRICO MERVIN ARMSTEAD, JR., Plaintiff, v.

MARIA TERESA RAMIREZ SANTIAGO, Defendant.

Case No. CL22-1042 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit includes, inter alia, the divorce of the parties. It appearing by affidavit that Maria Teresa Ramirez Santiago’s current whereabouts are unknown to the Plaintiff; that Plaintiff’s counsel attempted to locate M a r i a Te r e s a R a m i r e z Santiago’s current address via a public records software search, which did not yield Continued on next page

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Continued from previous column

results.

It is therefore ORDERED t h a t M aria T eresa R amire z S a n tia g o appear before this Court on or before May 16, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. and protect her interests herein.

I ASK FOR THIS: Erik D. Baines, Esquire (VSB # 83618) BARNES & DIEHL, P.C. Boulders VI – Suite A 7401 Beaufont Springs Drive Richmond, VA 23225 ebaines@barnesfamilylaw.com (804) 796-1000 (telephone) (804) 796-1730 (facsimile) Counsel for Plaintiff

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER GEORGE BRIGGS, JR., Plaintiff v.

TAMMY BRIGGS, Defendant.

Case No.: CL22000707-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, whose whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 5th day of May, 2022 at 9:00 AM and protect her interests.

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

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER AYODELE WHITAKER, Plaintiff v.

JOHNNIE WHITAKER, JR., Defendant.

Case No.: CL22000906-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, whose whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 20th day of May, 2022 at 9:00 AM and protect his interests.

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

SHERVITA BLAND, Defendant.

Case No.: CL22000844-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, whose whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 16th day of May, 2022 at 9:00 AM and protect her interests.

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

CAROLYN WILLIS, Defendant.

Case No.: CL22000298-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, whose whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 5th day of May, 2022 at 9:00 AM and protect her interests.

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

TIMOTHY RUDOLPH, Defendant.

Case No.: CL22000745-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, whose whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 5th day of May, 2022 at 9:00 AM and protect his interests.

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

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER TAINEKA RICHARDSON, Plaintiff v.

CORNELL RICHARDSON, Defendant.

Case No.: CL22000639-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, whose whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 28th day of April, 2022 at 9:00 AM and protect his interests.

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

MANUEL ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ TOLOZA, Defendant.

Case No.: CL20001543-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, who is a nonresident of the Commonwealth of Virginia, appear here on or before the 29th day of April, 2022 at 9:00 AM and protect his interests.

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

CUSTODY VIRGINIA: IN THE JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND Commonwealth of Virginia, in re LAVON GAYLES RDSS v.

LAUREN TOLLIVER Case No. JJ081971-11-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“TPR”) of Lauren Tolliver (Mother) of Lavon Gayles, child DOB 10/13/2011, “TPR” means all rights and responsibilities remaining with parent after transfer of legal custody or guardianship of the person, including but not limited to rights of: visitation; adoption consent; determination of religious affiliation; and responsibility for support.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, Lauren Tolliver (Mother) to appear at the above-named Court and protect his/her interest on or before 06/30/2022, at 10:20 A.M., Courtroom #3.

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Virginia, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owner of record, Priscilla Johnson Walker.

An Affidavit having been filed that any heirs, devisees, assignees, successors in interest, successors in title and/or any creditors with a current or future interest in said property, have not been identified and/or served despite diligent efforts to do so and are defendants to this suit by the general description of “Parties Unknown.”

IT IS ORDERED that Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before MAY 19, 2022 and do what is necessary to protect their interests in this matter.

An Extract, Teste: Edward F. Jewett, Clerk Gregory A. Lukanuski, Esq. City of Richmond, Office of the City Attorney 900 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219 804-646-7949 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND JOHN MARSHALL COURTS BUILDING CITY OF RICHMOND, Plaintiff, v.

ELIEZER, LLC, et al, Defendants.

Case No.: CL22-302 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 3510 East Richmond Road, Unit 3, Tax Map Number E000-1763/010, Richmond, Virginia, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owner of record, Eliezer, LLC. An Affidavit having been filed that said owner, ELIEZER, LLC, an entity listed as inactive in the records of the Virginia State Corporation Commission, has not been located and has not filed a response to this action, and that any heirs, devisees, assignees, successors in interest, successors in title and/or any creditors with a current or future interest in said property, have not been identified and/ or served despite diligent efforts to do so and are defendants to this suit by the general description of “Parties Unknown.”

IT IS ORDERED that ELIEZER, LLC, an entity listed as inactive in the records of the Virginia State Corporation Commission, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before MAY 19, 2022 and do what is necessary to protect their interests in this matter.

An Extract, Teste: Edward F. Jewett, Clerk Gregory A. Lukanuski, Esq. City of Richmond, Office of the City Attorney 900 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219 804-646-7949 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND JOHN MARSHALL COURTS BUILDING CITY OF RICHMOND, Plaintiff, v.

RILEY JAMES, LLC, et al, Defendants.

Case No.: CL21-5088 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 4305 New Kent Avenue, Tax Map Number S000-2485/008, Richmond, Virginia, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owner of record, Riley James, LLC. An Affidavit having been filed that any heirs, devisees, assignees, successors in interest, successors in title and/or any creditors with a current or future interest in said property, have not been identified and/or served despite diligent efforts to do so and are defendants to this suit by the general description of “Parties Unknown.”

IT IS ORDERED that Parties Unknown come forward to appear on or before MAY 19, 2022 and do what is necessary to protect their interests in this matter.

An Extract, Teste: Edward F. Jewett, Clerk Gregory A. Lukanuski, Esq. City of Richmond, Office of the City Attorney 900 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219 804-646-7949

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

PRISCILLA JOHNSON WALKER, et al, Defendants.

Case No.: CL22-385 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 205 West Blake Lane, Tax Map Number S001479/027, Richmond,

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

TANYA B. ROBINSON, et al, Defendants.

Case No.: CL22-387 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 3700 Crutchfield Street, Tax Map Number S000-2467/008, Richmond, Virginia, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owner of record, Tanya B. Robinson.

An Affidavit having been filed that said owner, TANYA B. ROBINSON, 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

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property

Richmond Free Press

B6 March 31-April 2, 2022

Legal Notices/Employment Opportunities Continued from previous page

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that any heirs, devisees, assignees, successors in interest, successors in title and/or any creditors with a current or future interest in said property, have not been identified and/or served despite diligent efforts to do so and are defendants to this suit by the general description of “Parties Unknown.”

IT IS ORDERED that TANYA B. ROBINSON, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before MAY 19, 2022 and do what is necessary to protect their interests in this matter.

An Extract, Teste: Edward F. Jewett, Clerk Gregory A. Lukanuski, Esq. City of Richmond, Office of the City Attorney 900 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219 804-646-7949

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

JULIAN E. BURGESS, et al, Defendants.

Case No.: CL22-363 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 2219 Bainbridge Street, Tax Map Number S000-0485/028, Richmond, Virginia, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owner of record, Julian E. Burgess.

An Affidavit having been filed that SAGE FINANCIAL, LTD, an entity not listed in the records of the Virginia State Corporation Commission, which may be a creditor with an interest in said property, has not been located and has not filed a response to this action; and that any heirs, devisees, assignees, successors in interest, successors in title and/or any creditors with a current or future interest in said property, have not been identified and/or served despite diligent efforts to do so and are defendants to this suit by the general description of “Parties Unknown.”

IT IS ORDERED that SAGE FINANCIAL, LTD, an entity not listed in the records of the Virginia State Corporation Commission, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before MAY 19, 2022 and do what is necessary to protect their interests in this matter.

An Extract, Teste: Edward F. Jewett, Clerk Gregory A. Lukanuski, Esq. City of Richmond, Office of the City Attorney 900 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219 804-646-7949

taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owner of record, The Third Avenue Trust.

An Affidavit having been filed that SAMUEL C. BARTON, TRUSTEE, for THE THIRD AVENUE T R U S T, h a s n o t b e e n located and has not filed a response to this action, and that any heirs, devisees, assignees, successors in interest, successors in title and/or any creditors with a current or future interest in said property, have not been identified and/or served despite diligent efforts to do so and are defendants to this suit by the general description of “Parties Unknown.”

IT IS ORDERED that S A M U E L C . B A R TO N , TRUSTEE, for THE THIRD AVENUE TRUST, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before MAY 19, 2022 and do what is necessary to protect their interests in this matter.

An Extract, Teste: Edward F. Jewett, Clerk Gregory A. Lukanuski, Esq. City of Richmond, Office of the City Attorney 900 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219 804-646-7949

a certification that a copy of the protest was sent to the applicant. The case number assigned to this application is MC2200096PS.

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

DONALD THOMPSON, SR, et al, Defendants.

Case No.: CL22-386 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 3410 Carolina Avenue, Tax Map Number N000-1161/006, Richmond, Virginia, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owner of record, Donald Thompson, Sr. An Affidavit having been filed that said owner, DONALD THOMPSON, SR, who has been served by posting and by mailing a copy of the complaint to his last known address, has not been personally located and has not filed a response to this action, and that any heirs, devisees, assignees, successors in interest, successors in title and/or any creditors with a current or future interest in said property, have not been identified and/or served despite diligent efforts to do so and are defendants to this suit by the general description of “Parties Unknown.”

IT IS ORDERED that DONALD THOMPSON, SR, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before MAY 19, 2022 and do what is necessary to protect their interests in this matter.

An Extract, Teste: Edward F. Jewett, Clerk Gregory A. Lukanuski, Esq. City of Richmond, Office of the City Attorney 900 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219 804-646-7949

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

THE THIRD AVENUE TRUST, et al, Defendants.

Case No.: CL22-140 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 1804 3rd Avenue, Tax Map Number N000-0458/007, Richmond, Virginia, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate

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Notice Notice is hereby given that Rejoice Medical Transport LLC, 5570 Cardiff Court, Richmond, VA 23227, has filed an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity that would authorize: 1. Passenger transportation as a Common Carrier over Irregular Routes, providing service in the Cities of Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Petersburg, and Richmond, Virginia and the Counties of Amelia, Charles City, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, King William, New Kent, and Powhatan, Virginia, and; 2.

Transportation of Medicaid recipients throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia as a Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Carrier as defined in Section 46.22000 et seq. of the Code of Virginia.

Any person who desires to protest the application and be a party to the matter must submit a signed and dated written request setting forth (1) a precise statement of the party’s interest and how the party could be aggrieved if the application was granted; (2) a full and clear statement of the facts that the person is prepared to provide by competent evidence; (3) a statement of the specific relief sought; (4) the name of the applicant and case number assigned to the application; and (5) Continued on next column

Written protests must be mailed to DMV Motor Carrier Services, Attn: Operating Authority, P. O. Box 27412, Richmond, VA 23269-0001 and must be postmarked on or before April 21, 2022.

Any protest filed with competent evidence will be carefully considered by DMV. However, DMV will have full discretion as to whether a hearing is warranted based on the merits of the protest filed.

SENIOR PASTOR VACANCY Swansboro Baptist Church is looking for a Bivocactional Pastor.

Please send resume to Swansboro Baptist Church 3801 Midlothian Turnpike, Richmond, VA 23224 or searchcommitteeswansboro@gmail.com or contact Deacon Simon Howard @ (804) 233-7031

To advertise in the

Richmond Free Press call 644-0496 Follow the Free Press on

RFP No. 210005495: Annual Building Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing Engineering Services.

For all information pertaining to this RFP conference call, please logon to the Richmond website (www.RVA.GOV).

Proposal Due Date: April 25, 2022/Time: 3:00 P.M.

Information or copies of the above solicitations are available by contacting Procurement Services, at the City of Richmond website (www.RVA. GOV), or faxed (804) 646-5989. The City of Richmond encourages all contractors to participate in the procurement process.

Freelance Writers: Richmond Free Press has immediate opportunities for freelance writers.

Newspaper experience is a requirement. To be considered, please send 5 samples of your writing, along with a cover letter to news@richmond freepress.com or mail to: Richmond Free Press, P. O. Box 27709, Richmond, VA 23261.

No phone calls.

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One Sunday a month for CFBC worship services (9am - 10:15am) and some Wednesdays at 7:00pm.

Able to play, sing, lead, and teach traditional and contemporary Gospel as well as traditional hymns.

Email resumes to admin@ourcfbc.org for details.

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The City of Richmond announces the following project(s) available for services relating to:

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL The University of Virginia VHHNV D ¿UP WR SURYLGH Stone Work/Whispering Wall -RFP-UVA-00064KWWSV ELGV VFLTXHVW FRP DSSV 5RXWHU 3XEOLF(YHQW" &XVWRPHU2UJ 89D RU HPDLO SXU UIS#HVHUYLFHV YLUJLQLD HGX

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Senior Software Developer w/ S&P Global Market Intelligence, Inc in Glen Allen, VA. Review & analyze complex software data to provide insights, conclusions, and actionable recommendations. Position req a Bach deg (US or foreign equiv) in Comp Sci or a rel ¿HOG \UV RI H[S LQ WKH MRE RIIHUHG RU LQ D UHO role OR Master’s deg (US or foreign equiv) in &RPS 6FL RU D UHO ¿HOG \UV RI H[S LQ WKH MRE RIIHUHG RU LQ D UHO UROH 0XVW KDYH \UV RI H[S w/: OOPs, .NET, SQL Server, & Visual Basic.

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Thank you for your interest in applying for opportunities with The City of Richmond.

To see what opportunities are available, please refer to our website at www.richmondgov.com.

EOE M/F/D/V Associate Director, Software Development w/ S&P Global Market Intelligence, Inc. in Glen Allen, VA. Take a leadership role in software rel projects incl design, dvlp, analyze, debug & maintain S&P Global’s software apps & technologies. Position reqs a Bach deg (US or foreign equiv) in Comp Sci, Mgmt Info Systems or rel & 10 ys of exp in the job offered or in a rel role. Must have 10 yrs of exp w: Working w/ all phases of dvlpmnt cycle w/in a team environment; software design & dvlpmt; dvlpg large, highvolume services, w/ service-oriented dvlpmnt & cloud-based systems; & .Net Core, Docker, Microservices, Containerization, Serverless, Test Driven Dvlpmnt (TDD) practices, SPA frameworks, React, Javascript, XML, SQL, Git, Cloud platform, AWS, Azure Devops, CI/CD, Agile, & Data technologies. Must have 5 yrs of exp w/: performing rapid prototyping, coding & debugging; diagnosing complex performance, security, or data issues; utilizing knowledge of software dvlpmnt engg processes & strategies; designing, mng & maintaining complex IT projects; leading/mng teams delivering complex IT projects;& as a tech lead or people mgr. Must KDYH \UV RI H[S Z FRQ¿JXUDWLRQ PJPW YHUVLRQ FRQWURO DXWRPDWLRQ 4XDOL¿HG $SSOLFDQWV (PDLO resumes to PeopleMovementSupport@spglobal. com & ref the job code 271725. S&P Global is an equal opportunity employer committed to making all employment decisions without regard to race/ ethnicity, gender, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, disability, marital status (incl domestic partnerships & civil unions), sexual orientation, military veteran status, unemployment status, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. Only electronic job submissions will be considered for employment. If you need an accommodation during the application process GXH WR D GLVDELOLW\ SOHDVH VHQG DQ HPDLO WR ((2 Compliance@spglobal.com & your request will be IRUZDUGHG WR WKH DSSURSULDWH SHUVRQ 7KH ((2 is the Law Poster http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/ compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf describes discrimination protections under federal law.

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