Richmond Free Press May 27-29, 2021 edition

Personality of the Week

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Richmond Free Press © 2021 Paradigm Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

VOL. 30 NO. 22

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

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Gold rush

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Remembering George Floyd

The G.O.A.T.

MAY 27-29, 2021

Urban One wins nod to operate a casino-resort in South Richmond with a contract based on high expectations and promises of payouts

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

As the Virginia General Assembly considered legislation in winter 2020 to authorize casino gambling in Richmond and four other cities, Alfred C. Liggins III spent time buttonholing House and Senate members.

In a campaign that ultimately was successful, the chief executive officer of Black media juggernaut Urban One encouraged legislators to pass a bill allowing the state’s capital city to hold a competition to determine its preferred casino operator and a potential gusher of new revenue, jobs and visitor growth.

Fast forward 14 months and Mr. Liggins and his company that has never operated a casino are celebrating victory after outdistancing five competitors, including seasoned casino operators such as Bally’s, Golden Mr. Liggins Nugget and The Cordish Cos. “We’re thrilled Richmond has chosen the best project with the best location and best team to develop a world-class entertainment destination in Richmond’s South Side,” Mr. Liggins stated after the city casino evaluation panel’s May 20 recommendation that ONE Casino + Resort move forward as the city’s preferred casino gaming operator.

Mr. Liggins’ company also is proffering a $25.5 million upfront payment to the city once the project passes muster with City Council, casino regulators at the Virginia Lottery and city voters.

The project is to be built on 100 acres at 2001 Walmsley Blvd. near the Bells Road interchange with Interstate 95 and include a 90,000-square-foot casino, a 12-story, 250-room hotel, a concert venue, convention space and a 50-acre park.

The $562 million project that could open as soon as December 2023 will belong to an entity created for that purpose, RVA Entertainment Holdings LLC, which the city says will be investing at least $146 million and borrowing the rest.

RVA Entertainment Holdings is comprised of a politically connected corps of about 50 mostly well-heeled Black and minority investors largely from the Richmond area whom Mr. Liggins attracted and who were another factor in the selection. At

Evan Vucci/Associated Press

For her father Gianna Floyd, the 7-year-old daughter of the late George Floyd, takes an ice cream break during the Floyd family’s meeting at the White House with President Biden and Vice President Harris on Tuesday, the first anniversary of her father’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police. According to reports, the youngster told the president she was hungry and asked if he had any snacks. He responded by providing ice cream, Cheetos and chocolate milk. While the meeting may have proved a little much for the youngster, family members left optimistic about prospects for Senate passage of a police reform package named for George Floyd. Please see articles, more photos, A6 and A7.

Black-owned businesses look back, ahead during pandemic

By George Copeland Jr.

Living a year under

COVID

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Julie Adams

Rendering of ONE Casino + Resort

Charis Jones wears accessories by her company, Sassy Jones.

Veteran, challenger talk reform in Democratic primary for commonwealth’s attorney

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Criminal justice reform is the common theme of the two Democrats competing to be Richmond’s chief prosecutor, or commonwealth’s attorney.

But their approaches are as different as their ages.

Colette W. McEachin, 65, a 25-year veteran of the city prosecutor’s office who has held the top post since 2019, is calling for modest reforms, such as a pilot mediation program for juvenile offenders and increased student education on the law in pitching for a four-year term.

Her challenger, Thomas P. “Tom”

Mrs. McEachin

Mr. Barbour

Barbour Jr., 36, a former Marine captain and defense lawyer, wants to really shake things up.

In his view, the office should focus on prosecuting those charged with murder, rape and other violent offenses while seeking

to divert the lion’s share of those charged with lesser crimes to community programs to help them address the challenges that got them in trouble. He also wants civic leaders to be more engaged in decisionmaking.

Now it is up to Richmond voters to decide whether to keep Mrs. McEachin in office or replace her with Mr. Barbour, who worked briefly as an assistant commonwealth’s attorney before opening his own law practice.

Voters will make that decision in the June 8 Democratic primary, with the winPlease turn to A4

Former U.S. Sen John Warner dies at 94 Free Press staff, wire report

Mr. Warner

Michelle R. Mosby rang in the 20th anniversary of her business, International Hair Salon, on April 1 with a small group of employees and supporters in a spirited, but safe celebration at the salon on Forest Hill Avenue in South Side.

The size of the celebration was an accommodation to the dangers of the still-present coronavirus that has taken its toll on businesses across the city during the past 15 months.

The pandemic forced Ms. Mosby, a former City Council member, to temporarily close up shop last year from the end of March to June. The salon reopened slowly under state guidelines, with appointments required for patrons and new cleaning and other measures aimed at ensuring the health and safety of employees and customers.

While the salon didn’t have to let go of any employees, the time closed and reduced number of customers had a huge financial cost that Ms. Mosby said sets small, Black-owned businesses apart from other larger businesses.

“We took a major hit — three months of no income,” said Ms. Mosby. “For me, it was three months of (hair stylists) not able to get any customers, which means they can’t get paid, which means I can’t expect them to pay me.”

It was a hard time all around, Ms. Mosby said.

“For everyone there, this is how they take care of their families. This is how they eat,” she said.

Cynthia Thomas-Rustin, owner of World Fitness Dance Academy, managed to weather the pandemic but not without major alterations. Since mid-March of 2020, she has continued to run the academy from her apartment through virtual classes and social media.

She reopened her Glen Allen studio for in-person classes for a limited number of students just a few weeks ago. The shift, while significant, was bolstered in part by a disaster plan Ms. Thomas-Rustin had previously developed, along with boosts from local television appearances.

It helped, too, that she had a small staff of only herself and two volunteers. This allowed Ms. Thomas-Rustin to maintain her client base and presence in the community, and to reconnect with

Flags are flying at half-staff over the nation’s capital in honor of former U.S. Sen. John W. Warner of Virginia who died Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at age 94.

Mr. Warner, a former secretary of the Navy who represented Virginia in the U.S. Senate from 1979 to 2009, died of heart failure at his home in Alexandria,

with his third wife, Jeanne V.M. Warner, and his daughter at his side, according to Susan A. Magill, his longtime chief of staff.

Tributes poured in for the courtly, chisel-cheeked Republican military expert who was once married to movie star Elizabeth Taylor.

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

The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following locations: • Thursday, May 27, 10 a.m. to noon, Diversity Thrift, 1407 Sherwood Ave. in North Side.

• Thursday, June 3, 2 to 4 p.m., Eastern Henrico Health Department, 1400 N. Laburnum Ave., Eastern Henrico.

Drive-thru testing.

Appointments are not necessary, but can be made by calling the Richmond and Henrico COVID-19 Hotline at (804) 205-3501 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or by registering online at https://bit.ly/RHHDCOVID. Testing will be offered while test supplies last.

The Virginia Department of Health also has a list of COVID19 testing locations around the state at www.vdh.virginia.gov/ coronavirus/covid-19-testing/covid-19-testing-sites/.

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Richmond Free Press

A2 May 27-29, 2021

Local News

GRTC installs new bus shelters in East End

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Ten new bus shelters have been installed in the city’s East End, with four more to come.

GRTC teamed with Bon Secours, which provided a $200,000 grant that was added to $50,000 from the transit company to put the shelters in areas where bus ridership is high, but amenities like shelters have never been provided since GRTC began operations in 1973.

Julie Timm, GRTC’s chief executive, joined Chris Accashian, Bon Secours Richmond’s chief operating officer, for a ceremony on May 17 celebrating the new shelters. The event was held at one of the new shelters at Mosby and P streets across from Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School.

The lack of shelters has long been a sore point for riders and a key issue for the transit advocacy

group RVA Rapid Transit.

Mr. Accashian said Bon Secours got involved to help GRTC with that need. The new shelters also include benches and trash cans.

“Like all of our riders,” Ms. Timm said, “I have stood in the pouring rain, in the biting snow and under the brutal summer

Cityscape Slices of life and scenes in Richmond

sun at a local bus stop. This exposure to the elements is a very real barrier to equitable mobility.”

She praised Bon Secours for providing the funds to accelerate much needed improvements.

According to GRTC, the new shelters that were installed during the past two months are located on both sides of the

Holiday closings

In observance of Memorial Day, Monday May 31, please note the following: Federal and state government offices: Closed Monday.

City and county offices and public libraries: Closed Monday. Richmond Public Library also will be closed Sunday, May 30.

Public schools: Closed Monday.

Richmond, Henrico and Chesterfield courts: Closed Monday.

CVWMA trash pickup and recycling: No collection on Monday; collections resume Tuesday, June 1, and will be delayed by one day for the rest of the week.

U.S. Postal Service: No deliveries Monday.

Department of Motor Vehicles customer service centers: Closed Monday.

Banks and financial institutions: Closed Monday.

ABC stores: Stores will be open until 6 p.m. Monday, May 31.

Malls, major retailers and movie theaters: Varies. Inquire at specific locations.

GRTC: Buses will operate on a Sunday schedule on Monday, May 31. CARE van standing reservations canceled for Monday. GRTC and CARE customer service available 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., respectively.

GRTC administrative offices will be closed to the public Monday, May 31.

Richmond Free Press offices: Closed Monday, May 31.

4 city pools to open May 29 Four city pools will open during the Memorial Day holiday weekend and then will operate each weekend until city pools are fully open beginning Saturday, June 19, according to the Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities.

The four pools that will operate from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 29, through Monday, May 31, and on subsequent weekends are Blackwell Pool, 238 E. 14th St. in South Side; Fairmount Pool, 2000 U St. in Church Hill; Hotchkiss Pool, 701 E. Brookland Park Blvd. in North Side; and Randolph Pool, 1507 Grayland Ave. in the near West End. This is a big break from the traditional policy of keeping the city’s outdoor pools closed until Richmond Public Schools shuts down for summer recess, noted Christopher E. “Chris” Frelke, the department’s director.

After the Memorial Day holiday hours, the four pools will be open Saturdays and Sundays until the outdoor pools offer swimming seven days a week.

All seven of the city’s outdoor pools will open Saturday, June 19, according to the department, including Battery Park Pool, 2719 Dupont Circle in North Side; Powhatan Pool, 1000 Apperson St. in Fulton in the East End; and Woodville Pool, 2305 Fairfield Ave. RPS’ final day of classes is Thursday, June 17. The school system and City Hall will be closed Friday, June 18, in obser-

City moves to new web address June 1: RVA.gov RVA.gov will become the new virtual City Hall on Tuesday, June 1.

On that day, the Richmondgov.com website that residents have relied on no longer will be updated, though it will remain available, the city has announced.

The new web address was unveiled during the winter, and the city has been building it for the day when it would become the primary online resource with all information transferred there.

Officials believe the new site will be more user-friendly and easier to navigate.

1800 block of Mosby Street; Mechanicsville Turnpike and Littlepage Street; Mechanicsville Turnpike and Whitcomb Street; Whitcomb and Deforrest streets; Coalter and Redd streets; Phaup and 25th streets; 25th and S streets; Marshall and 21st streets; and Broad and 17th streets.

An additional shelter is planned for 25th and Venable streets, officials said.

GRTC spokeswoman Ashley Mason said two additional bus shelters are planned for Nine Mile Road at Bunche Place and 31st Street but whose installation is awaiting completion of street work on Nine Mile Road in front of Creighton Court. Site selection is still being determined for the 14th shelter.

The shelters cost $10,500 each, not including installation or any additions such as the trash cans, Ms. Mason said.

New GRTC bus shelter in 1800 block of Mosby Street.

City Council approves $772.8M budget for 2021-22

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Richmond City Council passed a $772.8 million general fund budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year Monday night that in large part aims to increase the attraction of working for City Hall.

Seeking to deal with high vacancy and turnover rates, the new budget will pump more money into payroll. That includes providing a 3.25 percent pay increase for most employees effective with the Oct. 9 pay period and granting even larger raises to nearly 900 employees who would have opportunities for higher pay at private companies and other public agencies.

However, pay proposals for police officers and firefighters fell flat. They will get the 3.25 percent pay hike but are increasingly falling behind the pay of their peers in neighboring counties where pay has jumped dramatically.

In the new budget that goes into effect July 1, the council offered a pay study and promises of potential changes in the city’s pay scale for public safety officers at a time when personnel shortfalls have required the police and fire departments to require mandatory overtime to ensure

coverage.

At a public hearing before the vote, City Council heard from several people about the toll mandatory overtime is having on sworn officers and their families, disrupting relationships and child care.

Former Councilman William J. Pantele, now a lobbyist for the Richmond Coalition of Police, noted that the $43,000 starting pay for Richmond’s public safety officers is at the bottom among departments in Central Virginia.

Other speakers reminded the council that a new patrol officer in Richmond would have to spend nine years to reach the current $51,000 annual starting pay in Henrico County and that both Henrico and Chesterfield are having success attracting experienced city officers who can get raises of $5,000 to $12,000 when they transfer.

Mr. Pantele pointed out that the Richmond Police Department is now at least 70 patrol officers short, with precincts often at half strength. Other speakers told the council that the Richmond Fire Department is short at least 30 firefighters or enough people to staff two stations. “We’re in a crisis,” Mr. Pantele said.

Speakers also praised 3rd District

Councilwoman Ann-Frances Lambert for successfully pushing an amendment that will provide an additional $500,000 to beef up recreational services in Gilpin Court after years of underfunding.

Separately, the council also passed a resolution to set initial spending priorities for the flood of federal dollars expected from the American Rescue Plan and a pending federal infrastructure bill. The ARP alone is expected to provide up to $158 million in new funds.

The council priorities include pumping $7.1 million into the city’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund to push the total to $10 million in the new budget year and putting an additional $1.5 million into the city’s eviction diversion and homeless programs.

The proposal also would push nearly $20 million into improving parks and recreation infrastructure, including providing $15 million to speed up redevelopment of the South Side Community Center and Regional Park. The plan also calls for investing $4.7 million for new streets, alleys and other infrastructure in Creighton Court’s public housing that is set to be demolished and replaced with new housing.

Council gives zoning approval for new five-story apartment building in North Side A new apartment building soon could replace two adjoining commercial spaces in North Side.

Thomas K. “Tommy” Davis, a veteran Black contractor, is proposing to transform the half-acre property at 711 Dawn St. into a five-story building that would include 52 multifamily, affordable units with com-

mercial space on the first floor.

City Council cleared the way for the projected $10 million development at its May 10 meeting by approving the rezoning of the property that sits across Tazewell Street from a McDonald’s restaurant.

Mr. Davis’ company, T.K. Davis Construction Co. Inc., and Neyra Pav-

ing Products currently occupy the two buildings.

The project is among the few proposed recently that involves a Black development team. Amid the city’s apartment boom, Black ownership and participation in such private developments have been relatively rare.

Groundbreaking expected this summer to convert former city nursing home to apartments The city’s long vacant nursing home is on track to become 86 apartments.

After two years of effort, Virginia Supportive Housing reports that it finally has been able to put together the financing to move ahead with the transformation of 1900 Cool Lane, according to Allison Bogdanovic, VSH executive director.

Ms. Bogdanovic told members of Richmond City Council’s Land Use, Housing and Transportation Committee that VSH expects to hold a groundbreaking this summer to launch the conversion of the former Seven Hills Health Care Center into the Cool Lane Apartments.

The development is to include 80 units for homeless and

low-income individuals, with six units designated for disabled individuals needing a higher level of service, she said.

VSH also plans to work with community partners to provide services, including Faith Community Baptist Church, which sits across Cool Lane from the vacant building.

The land is in Henrico County, and both City Council and the Henrico County Board of Supervisors authorized the conversion of the building in 2019. Ms. Bogdanovic noted that it takes time to put together the resources in terms of tax credits, grants and loans.

VSH is projected to invest around $25 million to renovate the building.

Another one?

Yes, Richmond, another Confederate marker has turned up. This is one of two Confederate highway markers in South Side that City Hall is working to get rid of. Location: Harwood Street and Richmond Highway, a few blocks south of the Confederate marker placed in 1935 at 400 Richmond Highway. This marker has been in place since 1929. A Richmond chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy installed both. Both are registered state and federal landmarks. Jim Nolan, spokesperson for Mayor Levar M. Stoney, said city personnel are working on its removal with the state Department of Historic Resources and the state Department of Transportation. He noted the pair of markers in the city are among 16 that the UDC placed in Virginia on stretches of U.S. 301 and parts of U.S. 58 that long bore the name of Confederate President Jefferson Davis.

VUU receives $1M grant to help renovation of Industrial Hall Virginia Union University has been awarded a $1 million grant to support its efforts to develop a planned Center for African-American History and Culture in the long vacant Industrial Hall on campus.

The state Department of Historic Resources awarded the grant to the City of Richmond, which is to provide the funding to VUU. City Council approved the arrangement on Monday.

VUU President Hakim J. Lucas has been trying to raise money to create a place “to preserve historical artifacts and become a community space for discussing race relations and reconciliation” since he announced the center two years ago.

The state previously provided a $400,000 grant from its industrial revitalization fund for the development.

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Photo by Rodney Hall

Richmond Free Press

May 27-29, 2021 A3

Kayla and Sean are active and healthy – even with asthma!

We have asthma, but we: • • • •

sěNJěƖʅĻðNJěʅðƞƪĻšðɮƖěŘðƪěĔʅƪƖŀƓƞʅƪůʅƪĻěʅěšěƖĴěţčǑʅƖůůš ðţʅƖƲţʅðţĔʅƓŘðǑʅðƞʅšƲčĻʅðƞʅNjěʅNjðţƪ Hardly ever need to use our asthma rescue pump (albuterol) ¦ðƖěŘǑʅšŀƞƞʅðţǑʅƞčĻůůŘ

ÛðţƪʅƪůʅŕţůNjʅNjĻǑɑʅ • • • •

ÛěʅĴůʅƪůʅ sɋʅðţĔʅƪĻěǑʅčðƖěʅðČůƲƪʅƲƞɍʅ They help us with the asthma medication we need to stay healthy »ĻěǑʅěǐƓŘðŀţʅƪĻŀţĴƞʅðţĔʅšðŕěʅƞƲƖěʅNjěʅŕţůNjʅNjĻðƪʅƪůʅNjðƪčĻʅijůƖʅ »ĻěǑʅĔůţɼƪʅŒƲĔĴěɋʅðţĔʅƪĻěǑʅĻěŘƓʅNjŀƪĻʅðŘŘʅƪĻěʅĻðƞƞŘěƞʅƪĻðƪʅšðŕěʅŀƪʅĻðƖĔʅ to stay on top of our asthma

You Can Control Asthma Now Get relief today – call UCAN at 804-628-8226 or visit chrichmond.org/UCAN Overcoming asthma in Richmond Asthma is more common and more severe in African Americans than in others. Urban living, pollution and high pollen counts čůţƪƖŀČƲƪěʅƪůʅðŀƖNjðǑʅŀƖƖŀƪðƪŀůţʅðţĔʅȇðƖěɮƲƓƞɋʅšðŕŀţĴʅ¦ŀčĻšůţĔʅůţěʅůijʅƪĻěʅšůƞƪʅĔŀȂčƲŘƪʅƓŘðčěƞʅŀţʅƪĻěʅÂɐ®ɐʅƪůʅŘŀNJěʅNjŀƪĻʅðƞƪĻšðɐ ƲƪʅNjŀƪĻʅƓƖůƓěƖʅƪƖěðƪšěţƪɋʅǑůƲƖʅčĻŀŘĔʅNjŀƪĻʅðƞƪĻšðʅčðţʅƪðŕěʅčůţƪƖůŘɋʅĴěƪʅðčƪŀNJěʅðţĔʅČěʅĻěðŘƪĻǑɐʅ ƲƖʅ sʅƪěðšʅůȁěƖƞʅ relief to hundreds of children throughout central Virginia and beyond. Asthma doesn’t have to prevent your child from being as active as their friends!

ÛĻðƪʅčðƲƞěƞʅðţʅðƞƪĻšðʅȇðƖěɑ £ěůƓŘěʅNjŀƪĻʅðƞƪĻšðʅĻðNJěʅƞěţƞŀƪŀNJěʅðŀƖNjðǑƞɐʅÛĻěţʅƪĻěƞěʅðŀƖNjðNJěƞʅČěčůšěʅŀƖƖŀƪðƪěĔɋʅƪĻěǑʅČěčůšěʅƞNjůŘŘěţɋʅšðŕŀţĴʅ ƞǑšƓƪůšƞʅěNJěţʅNjůƖƞěɐʅ»ĻěʅšůƞƪʅčůššůţʅčðƲƞěʅůijʅðƞƪĻšðʅȇðƖěɮƲƓƞʅŀƞʅĴěƪƪŀţĴʅðʅƞŀšƓŘěʅčůŘĔɐʅ ůŘĔƞʅðƖěʅţůƪʅƞůʅƞŀšƓŘěʅ when you have asthma!

To stay safe, all children with asthma should try to avoid these asthma triggers: • »ůČðččůʅðţĔʅůƪĻěƖʅƞšůŕě • ®ƪƖůţĴʅƞšěŘŘŀţĴʅƞƓƖðǑƞʅðţĔʅůĔůƖƞ And if they are allergic, children with asthma should also avoid exposure to: • ůčŕƖůðčĻěƞʅðţĔʅƖůĔěţƪƞ • Dust mites • Mold • ðƪƞʅðţĔʅĔůĴƞ • Tree, grass and weed pollen

Richmond Free Press

A4 May 27-29, 2021

News

Urban One wins nod to operate a casino-resort in South Richmond with a contract based on high expectations and promises of payouts Continued from A1

the entity’s head is Mr. Liggins and his mother, Cathy Hughes, founder of the Maryland-based Urban One media empire and chairperson of its board.

While Black men have headed casino operations for other companies, RVA Entertainment Holdings would be the first majority-Black entity to own a casino, according to Mr. Liggins, a point he emphasized during his campaign for city support.

However, the casino’s operation will be handled by Peninsula Pacific Entertainment, a veteran in the gaming industry that owns and operates Colonial Downs horse racing in New Kent County and the satellite Rosie’s Gaming Emporium slot machine venues in Richmond and several other Virginia locations.

Happy to be among the five Virginia cities the legislature allowed to host gambling, Richmond’s City Hall foresees major benefits from hosting a casino that Urban One projects will attract 3 million or more visitors a year to the city’s South Side, mostly from outside Richmond.

City Councilwoman Reva Trammell, in whose 8th District the planned casino would be built, calls it the biggest investment ever in the district.

As outlined Monday night in a presentation to City Council, city Development Director Leonard Sledge sought to outline the benefits, including the upfront payment.

He said the city conservatively estimates the casino would generate $171 million in new revenue for the general fund in the first five years, primarily from city and state taxes on an estimated $300 million in annual gaming revenue and the $25.5 million in upfront money.

That is far more than the $408,000 a year in city tax revenue the property currently generates, Mr. Sledge noted.

Other estimates suggest that regular city taxes — ranging from assessments on real estate to collections from admissions and lodging — could yield an additional $7 million to $10 million each year after the casino resort opens.

Aside from the revenue flowing into city coffers, the casino has agreed to create nearly 1,000 new full-time jobs, plus more than about 350 part-time jobs, though far fewer than the 1,750 jobs ONE Casino touted on its website.

All employees would earn at least $15 an

hour, including workers who rely on tips, with full-time workers having health benefits and a share of the profits, Mr. Liggins has said.

Under the agreement, city residents also would be preferred hires during the construction, and the city also has set a goal of having Black- and minority-owned businesses play a big role in building the casino resort, in providing supplies and services and in operating a major share of the 15 restaurants that are to be on-site, including four sit-down restaurants.

Along with a new park that would occupy about half the property, the project is to include a 3,000-seat events center for 200 yearly concerts featuring mostly national acts that another partner, Live Nation, is to promote.

The company also plans to purchase as much as $500,000 in local and regional artwork in decorating the casino resort and provide space for rotating art shows.

Other benefits include a 10-year agreement with RVA Entertainment Holdings to provide the city with $2.5 million a year worth of advertising and promotion over Urban One’s 55 radio stations and its cable channel, digital outlets and other operations.

A separate 10-year agreement would require the company to spend $5 million a year producing TV, movie and other content at the casino resort, a potential boon to Richmond’s fledgling film and content production industry.

RVA Entertainment Holdings also is to provide $1.6 million a year in donations to charities and educational institutions, along with a $35,000 donation annually to the Richmond Public Schools foundation. The company also is to provide $325,000 a year in subsidies for employee transportation.

Mr. Sledge said the company will bear the full cost of the project, with the city agreeing to share only in the cost of new landscaping to beautify the streetscape leading to the casino resort’s entry.

The company also must pay for any improvements to Walmsley Boulevard that a traffic study identifies, according to the agreement.

The selected South Side site used to be home of the Philip Morris tobacco operations center that was closed and put on the market 12 years ago by Philip Morris’ parent company, Altria.

Urban One had been anticipated to win the panel’s recommendation, having already wrapped up support from a majority of City Council. The

Former U.S. Sen. Warner dies Continued from A1

“Virginia and America have lost a giant,” Gov. Ralph S. Northam stated, noting that Mr. Warner spent almost his entire adult life in public service “as a sailor, a senator, a statesman and a gentleman who was a respected voice in Washington on military affairs.”

Gov. Northam also credited Mr. Warner with “building up his party while remaining an independent voice willing to forge bipartisan compromise. He always put Virginia first.”

The governor ordered flags at the State Capitol to be lowered to half-staff on the day of Mr. Warner’s funeral, which has not yet been announced.

Mr. Warner’s successor in the Senate, Democrat Mark R. Warner, no relation, was joined by Sen. Tim Kaine on the Senate floor Wednesday to pay tribute to Mr. Warner’s integrity and his “outsized influence” on the body.

That influence continues to be felt among minority businesses and historically Black colleges and universities, said Richmond native Lyn R. Williams, a Washington lobbyist for 40 years who served as an adviser to Mr. Warner on minority issues.

In 1987 as social programs were being cut, Mr. Williams said Mr. Warner teamed with the Congressional Black Caucus to pass legislation requiring the U.S. Department of Defense to spend 5 percent of its procurement budget with minority businesses and 5 percent of its research budget with HBCUs. The tangible benefits, he said, are still evident in the research catfish farm at Virginia State University that continues to supply the military with fish; in the modern labs at Norfolk State University that research and design artificial limbs for amputees in the armed forces and investigate improvements in night vision goggles; and in a data center at Hampton University that computerizes paper blueprints and design for architectural students.

Mr. Williams, who bemoans the dismantling of the program after Mr. Warner left office, said that initiative not only “impacted communities of color, but all of America. The research centers he funded continue to prepare new generations of students for careers in various fields.”

Want a COVID-19 vaccine?

Continued from A1

The Richmond and Henrico health districts are offering walk-up COVID-19 vaccines to any vaccine-eligible person at a vaccination event. Appointments are not required, but individuals can schedule an appointment online at vax.rchd. com or by calling (804) 205-3501.

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

Following weeks of declining COVID-19 cases, Gov. Ralph S. Northam is ending Virginia’s COVID-19 restrictions at midnight on Friday, May 28, while encouraging unvaccinated people to get inoculated.

According to state health data, 3.6 million people have been fully vaccinated in Virginia as of Wednesday, or about 43 percent of the population, while 53.6 percent of the population has received at least one dose of the vaccine.

State officials reported 674,082 cases of COVID-19 statewide on Wednesday, along with 29,617 hospitalizations and 11,143 deaths. Virginia’s seven-day positivity rate is 2.7 percent. Last week, it was 3.2 percent.

According to state data, African-Americans comprised 22.3 percent of cases statewide and 25 percent of deaths for which ethnic and racial data is available, while Latinos made up 16.3 percent of cases and 6.5 percent of deaths.

Reported COVID-19 data as of Wednesay, May 26, 2021

Cases Hospitalizations Deaths Richmond 17,054 805 266 Henrico County 25,494 1,070 619 Chesterfield County 27,977 983 439 Hanover County 8,171 284 162

bid had attracted cheers and support from South Side civic groups, unlike runner-up Cordish, which faced mounting opposition to its plan to replace a North Side movie multiplex with its proposed gaming mecca and concern over the company ties to former President Trump’s family.

Mayor Levar M. Stoney told City Council on Monday that the city benefitted from taking its time to hold a competition, engage the public and listen as it evaluated the bids.

“After considerable vetting and negotiating, I am convinced we have secured an operator, a location and an agreement that is the strongest,” Mayor Stoney said.

Mr. Liggins is eager to get started. He faces a Dec. 31, 2023, deadline to open, with the city inserting penalties into the agreement if the work is unfinished.

Mr. Liggins told the Free Press he has rejected the idea of putting a temporary casino on the site while construction is underway. His hope is that crews can begin the site work in January while the city reviews the plan of development.

In the agreement, the city indicated that it could be April before all the approvals and permits are issued to allow construction to begin.

However, the project still has several next steps. Assuming City Council rubber stamps the mayor’s resolution at its Monday, June 14, meeting as anticipated, the paperwork then must go to the Virginia Lottery, which has 45 days to conduct a preliminary review.

If the lottery gives thumbs up, then the casino proposal would go to the Richmond Circuit Court for an order to put the issue on the Nov. 2 ballot. The state law requires that voters make the final decision on whether they support the casino and its location.

Similar referenda in the four other cities passed by landslide margins last November. Already yellow signs of opposition to a casino have popped up on lawns, and social media comments indicate that opponents are arguing that a casino will create more poverty, fewer good jobs and more social problems than benefits.

One potential stumbling block has been removed. Dennis Cotto, a Northern Virginia attorney and businessman who was part of the unsuccessful bid by Golden Nugget, backed away from filing a lawsuit that would tie up the project in court. He said he dropped the idea because the outcome was unlikely to change.

Mr. Liggins is on board with ensuring significant Black and minority participation in the development and operation of the casino resort.

At a presentation Tuesday, it was announced that Kenneth S. Johnson, an ally of Mayor Stoney who has a public relations and marketing firm and is one of the casino’s investors, would oversee RVA Entertainment Holdings’ minority business efforts.

Mr. Liggins previously listed Black contractor Devon Henry and his company, Team Henry, which took down the city’s Confederate statues last year, as a primary partner with Hourigan Construction Co. in building the casino.

Urban One’s CEO also has committed to meeting, if not exceeding the city’s goal of having 40 percent of the construction, potentially $225 million in work, handled by construction companies owned by people of color. The company also has agreed to have union wage scales apply and to meet another city goal of having 40 percent of the work performed by skilled and unskilled union members.

Based on the written agreement, the company also has pledged the general contractor team and the subcontractors would give preference to first hiring city residents to fill construction jobs, particularly laborer jobs.

Whether Richmond actually got the best deal is uncertain. In late March, Mr. Liggins told the Free Press that his group would pay the city $60 million up front if it were selected. Bally’s offered the city $100 million up front. In the end, the city accepted $25 million, plus a bigger slice of gaming revenue, 3 percent, on top of the money it will derive from the state tax.

The $1.6 million community benefit fund that Urban One will provide also is far smaller than the $13.5 million The Cordish Cos. planned to donate yearly to charities and educational operations if it were selected.

Other bidders also proposed bigger hotels with more rooms than the winning bid, which beefed up its offering in the final weeks by increasing the number of hotel rooms from 150 to 250 and expanding the size of its casino.

As Mayor Stoney sees it, ONE Casino + Resort checked off more than enough boxes and will be a positive for the city in generating “funding for schools, affordable housing, infrastructure improvements and services” that have long been underfunded.

Veteran, challenger talk reform in primary Continued from A1

ner essentially gaining the $200,000-a-year post. So far, no Republican or independent challengers have filed to run in the Nov. 2 general election to contest the Democratic nominee.

Mrs. McEachin, the wife of 4th District Congressman A. Donald McEachin, is proud of the role her office has played in pushing change.

“Richmond has been a leader in progressive justice reform,” she said, ticking off a list that includes efforts to enable a majority of people charged with crimes to be released without having to post bond; to help establish special courts that divert addicts and the mentally ill from jail; and to provide assistance to victims of crime.

Mrs. McEachin, who won a special election in November 2019 to finish the term of former Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael N. Herring after he left in July 2019, said that if elected to a full, fouryear term, she would continue the work of her predecessors.

She already has set up a Community Justice Reform Unit to advocate for change in the office, but she also is cautious. In her view, her office is involved in a balancing act in which victims and public safety

must be considered along with offering consideration for defendants.

She also plans to offer an educational program to high school students called “Law 101” that would advise students of their legal rights and teach them the basics of the workings of the criminal justice system.

She also wants to pilot mediation or a restorative justice program for the Richmond Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court that would allow victims and non-violent perpetrators to settle their differences and agree on a program of restitution to promote responsibility and limit detention.

Mrs. McEachin also has sought to be responsive to community concerns and, when needed, to charge police officers when she believes there is evidence to show they have broken the law.

However, Mrs. McEachin doesn’t see the urgency for the complete overhaul being advocated by Mr. Barbour.

Mr. Barbour criticizes her for assembling a largely white staff of young lawyers.

He has pledged to assign a staff member to lead a push to beef up the number of lawyers of color who make up the 40member legal staff.

He also wants to revamp the office into teams that each would focus on the

cases coming out of a particular section of the city. He wants the teams to work with community leaders from those areas who would serve as advisers to educate the staff on the problems people face and to consider other ways than court to address them.

Mr. Barbour said that as part of the people-focused approach he would adopt if elected commonwealth’s attorney, he would add social workers and possibly psychologists to interview people charged with crimes to find out the challenges they are facing and then seek to team with nonprofit social service providers to work with defendants to address their situations.

Even while running for the office, Mr. Barbour has launched the Virginia Holistic Justice Initiative that is testing his approach.

He cites the case of a petty drug dealer that Mrs. McEachin’s office wanted to send to prison. Instead, Mr. Barbour said he persuaded the judge to allow the individual to enter addiction treatment and get help finding a job. He said it not only turned the individual’s life around but improved public safety overall.

He said resolving the root causes that bring people into court is the best way to make the community safer.

Black-owned businesses look back, ahead Continued from A1

clients who had moved to other states.

“I think you have to use (virtual classes and social media) to your advantage. It could be good, it could be bad,” said Ms. Thomas-Rustin.

She noted that people’s desire for connection and to avoid a sedentary lifestyle during the pandemic also helped keep her business running, even in the face of a stressful financial time.

“I just felt that people were very loyal, and if I stuck to my word, then I could only go forward,” she said.

According to Melody Short, director of marketing and communication for the Metropolitan Business League, the group awarded more than $425,000 in grants to more than 100 female- and minority-owned small businesses in response to the pandemic.

Federal and city loans and grants also were available to help businesses get through the crisis.

Ms. Mosby said she received COVID-19 relief funds through the city to help her business. She said it also helped to talk about the issues and potential solutions with other small business owners.

The disparate impact of COVID-19 on small, minority-owned businesses was fairly widespread, Ms. Short said. Necessary adjustments and additional expenses have come with the times, she said.

But a few businesses also have experienced surprising and even substantial growth during the pandemic. One is Sassy Jones, a Richmond-based boutique specializing in jewelMs. Thomasry and accessories.

Rustin With the pandemic shutting down offices and forcing people to conduct business meetings and official work online, Sassy Jones’ customer base grew as increasing numbers of patrons hit the company’s website to shop for earrings, necklaces and bracelets that would enhance their look on Zoom calls.

Despite the company closing it sole retail store in April 2020 because of the pandemic, the company hit its milliondollar sales mark in May 2020, said Charis Jones, chief designer and CEO of the accessory company.

Ms. Jones said the company’s sole employee in the Richmond store was offered a role in the warehouse, but ultimately resigned a month into their new role.

“None of our plans got put on pause.

All of our plans increased by like 5,000 percent,” said Ms. Jones, who acknowledged that her retail location was never as successful as her e-commerce sector, which she said is more expensive but also far

more profitable.

Ms. Short said some Black-owned businesses in Richmond thrived during the pandemic because of increased patronage following months of racial justice protests Ms. Mosby and growing awareness of and calls for support of Black businesses and racial equity. Customers are now making these businesses a regular part of their purchasing decisions, Ms. Short said, a shift that could persist beyond the pandemic.

“I would hope that these are permanent institutional changes that are happening, and that this compassion that has been etched in the heart of folks is ongoing and not seasonal,” Ms. Short said. “I think time will tell.”

For now as businesses continue to adjust to their new normal, Gov. Ralph S. Northam announced all COVID-19-related restrictions will be lifted on Friday, May 28. It will allow restaurants, beauty shops and other retail establishments to return to preCOVID norms and write the next chapter on the other side of the pandemic.

“It’s not about how you fared or how you felt” during the pandemic, Ms. Jones said. “It’s more about how you respond to it and how are you going to get back up in this difficult time.”

Richmond Free Press

May 27-29, 2021 A5

If fellowship matters, Get your COVID-19 vaccine.

For Reverend Artis, getting the COVID-19 vaccine is an act of caring, like feeding the hungry or standing for justice. “You need to have a reason why,” says Reverend Artis.

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Members of George Floyd’s family and their attorney, Benjamin Crump, right, stand Tuesday in the Rayburn Room of the U.S. Capitol with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in red, and Rep. Karen Bass, next to her in blue.

Lawmakers, others hopeful about passage of federal George Floyd Justice in Policing Act Free Press wire report

A year after his killing unleashed a national reckoning over racial injustice, George Floyd’s relatives met on Tuesday with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House and with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to urge passage of police reform legislation in their loved one’s name.

Mr. Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man who died in handcuffs with a white Minneapolis police officer kneeling on his neck for more than 9 minutes, became the face of a national movement challenging police brutality and bias in the U.S. criminal justice system.

His dying words, “I can’t breathe,” have echoed as a slogan in street demonstrations that convulsed the United States and the world last summer in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

But Tuesday’s private Oval Office visit marked the first time any of Mr. Floyd’s family had been hosted at the White House, occupied since January by a Democratic administration.

President Biden’s Republican predecessor, Donald Trump, was widely criticized for political rhetoric seen as inflaming racial tensions heightened in the aftermath of Mr. Floyd’s killing.

Lawmakers negotiating the federal police reform bill say they are optimistic about the prospects for a bipartisan deal, despite missing a deadline set

by President Biden of the first anniversary of Mr. Floyd’s death.

Meanwhile, legislation has been pursued in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to increase the accountability or oversight of police, and 24 states have enacted new laws, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Mr. Floyd’s relatives used their pilgrimage to Washington to lobby Congress for enactment of federal legislation ensuring the just treatment of minorities by law enforcement.

In March, the Democraticled U.S. House of Representatives passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, seeking to end contentious police tactics such as “chokeholds,” while making it easier to sue individual police officers for unlawful conduct.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers has been working to hammer out a compromise to win enough Republican support to ensure passage in the U.S. Senate, where Democrats hold a razor-thin margin of control.

“If you can make federal laws to protect the (national) bird, which is the bald eagle, you can make federal laws to protect people of color,” Mr. Floyd’s brother, Philonise, said outside the White House after he and five other family members met with the president and vice president.

He described President Biden as supportive and “a

genuine guy.”

“He did let us know that he supports passing the bill, but he wants to make sure that it is the right bill and not a rushed bill,” said Mr. Floyd’s nephew, Brandon Williams.

Republicans and Democrats in Congress have in many ways become even more divided in the year since Mr. Floyd’s death. President Biden’s plans to spend trillions on public works, funded by taxes on the wealthy and companies, have been dismissed by Republicans, and his COVID-19 relief package did not win a single Republican vote.

Democrats suggested that won’t happen with police reform.

“We will get this bill on

President Biden’s desk,” said Rep. Karen Bass of California, a Democrat leading House negotiations, at an event with Floyd family members in Washington.

“We will work until we get the job done. It will be passed in a bipartisan manner.”

Republicans and police unions oppose provisions in the bill rolling back qualified immunity, a legal doctrine that shields individual police officers from lawsuits in certain circumstances.

Many Democrats say they would only support a bill that abolishes qualified immunity.

U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, a lead Republican negotiator, said despite that main point of contention, lawmakers are making progress.

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“We have a long way to go still, but it’s starting to take form,” Sen. Scott told reporters.

Moments before departing the White House by helicopter a short time after the meeting for a flight back to his home state of Delaware, President Biden told reporters he had spoken to negotiators on the bill and was “hopeful that sometime after Memorial Day we’ll have an agreement.”

“We have to act,” President Biden said in a statement issued by the White House. “The battle for the soul of America has been a constant push and pull between the American ideal that we’re all created equal and the harsh reality that racism has long torn us apart.”

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Richmond Free Press

May 27-29, 2021 A7

News

“It’s been a troubling year, a long year,” “But we made it. ... The love is here. George is here.”

Free Press wire report

MINNEAPOLIS A family friendly street festival, musical performances and moments of silence were held Tuesday to honor George Floyd and mark the year since he died at the hands of Minneapolis police on May 25, 2020, a death captured on wrenching bystander video that galvanized a global racial justice movement and continues to bring calls for change.

Mr. Floyd’s sister Bridgett and other family members held a moment of silence at a “Celebration of Life” event at a downtown Minneapolis park that included music, food trucks, an inflatable bouncy house and a vaccination stand.

A few miles away, at the site of the intersection where the 46-yer-old Mr. Floyd died, dozens of people kneeled for several minutes around a steel sculpture of a fist raised into the air. The somber time of the group on their knees symbolized the 9 minutes, 29 seconds during which Mr. Floyd was pinned to the pavement, his hands cuffed behind his back, by the knee of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, who was convicted in April of Mr. Floyd’s murder.

Mr. Chauvin faces more than 40 years in prison when he is sentenced on June 25. Three other police officers who were fired still face trial.

“It’s been a troubling year, a long year,” Bridgett Floyd told the crowd in downtown Minneapolis. “But we made it. ... The love is here. George is here.”

Other members of Mr. Floyd’s family met in Washington with President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who urged Congress to quickly pass a law in Mr. Floyd’s name that would bring changes to policing.

A moment of silence to honor Mr. Floyd also was held in New York and a rally was held in Los Angeles. Globally, a rally took place in Germany and Mr.

— Bridgett Floyd, sister of George Floyd

Christian Monterrosa/Associated Press

The family of Daunte Wright, 20, who was shot and killed by a police officer on April 11 during a traffic stop in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Center, shows its solidarity with the family of George Floyd by participating in a march Sunday in Minneapolis during events marking the first anniversary of Mr. Floyd’s death.

People pause to honor George Floyd on anniversary of his death Floyd’s death was marked by U.S. embassies in Greece and Spain that placed large Black Lives Matter banners on their facades.

Hours before the Minneapolis festivities, the intersection where Mr. Floyd died was disrupted by gunfire. Video from 38th Street and Chicago Avenue — informally known as George Floyd Square — showed people running for cover as shots rang out. Police said a man, who they believe was injured in the shooting, went to a nearby hospital with a gunshot wound.

Police said he was in critical condition but was expected to survive. There were no immediate arrests.

Like other major cities, Minneapolis has been struggling with rising gun violence, a problem made worse, in part, by many officers leaving the embattled force since Mr. Floyd’s death. A

6-year-old girl was fatally shot and two other children were wounded in recent weeks.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey last week unveiled sweeping public safety proposals aimed at fixing the problem. Other groups are pursuing a more radical remaking of the police department.

The intersection of 38th and Chicago has been barricaded since soon after Mr. Floyd’s death. It quickly turned into a memorial site and was transformed Tuesday into an outdoor festival, with food, children’s activities and music. Artwork and signs from protests after Mr. Floyd’s death also were on display. One group hosted an open mic next to a greenhouse that community members constructed earlier this year to house flowers left by mourners. Nearby, a brass band played for passers-by.

The celebration also included

a candlelight vigil, capping several days of marches, rallies and panel discussions about his death and confronting racial discrimination.

Xavier Simmons, 24, from Racine, Wis., chanted “Say Mr. Floyd’s name!” as people kneeled. Mr. Simmons said he hopes people taking part in the festivities will both honor Mr. Floyd’s life and legacy and continue to “uplift and empower this movement.”

“We got the verdict that we needed, but it’s never going to change until we make a change,” he said.

“Y’all keep doing the work because y’all changing the world,” Common, the awardwinning rapper, actor and activist, told the crowd of hundreds during a musical performance Tuesday night prior to the vigil.

After Common left the stage

and day turned to night in George Floyd Square, people placed candles in every conceivable corner, lighting up the area.

Earl Vaughn, 20, of Minneapolis, attended the downtown event and said despite its celebratory atmosphere: “For all this a Black man had to die, so that’s really unfortunate.”

In New York City, elected officials, including Mayor Bill de Blasio and U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, joined the Rev. Al Sharpton in kneeling for 9 minutes, 29 seconds.

“As we took a knee, imagine how long that was on a human being’s neck,” Rev. Sharpton said. “Never switched knees, just dug in. It’s time we correct policing in this country.”

On Tuesday evening, activists and demonstrators gathered with some families of people who had died in interactions with the New York Police Department

at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. They called for defunding the police, holding officers accountable and removing police officers from schools. Following the rally, they set off on a march through Brooklyn streets.

Several Floyd family members, including his 7-year-old daughter Gianna, met with President Biden and Vice President Harris earlier Tuesday. President Biden, who previously pledged to continue fighting for racial justice, said he hopes the U.S. Senate can quickly pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and get it to his desk.

“We have to act,” he said of the legislation that would ban chokeholds and no-knock police raids and create a national registry for officers disciplined for serious misconduct.

Mr. Floyd’s brother Philonise told CNN he thinks about George “all the time.”

“My sister called me at 12 o’clock last night and said, ‘This is the day our brother left us,’ ” he said, adding: “I think things have changed. I think it is moving slowly but we are making progress.”

Also Tuesday, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Kristen Clarke as assistant attorney general for civil rights, the first Black woman to hold the position. In the last few weeks, the U.S. Justice Department under President Biden has announced sweeping investigations into the police in Minneapolis and Louisville and brought federal civil rights charges against the officers involved in Mr. Floyd’s death.

Separately, the Floyd family announced the launch of a fund that will make grants to businesses and community organizations in the neighborhood, as well as broader grants “encouraging the success and growth of Black citizens and community harmony.” The money comes from $500,000 earmarked as part of the city’s $27 million civil settlement for the Floyd family.

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Richmond Free Press

A rose on the South Side

Editorial Page

A8

May 27-29, 2021

George Floyd

Breonna Taylor

Daunte Wright

On this Memorial Day, we honor and remember those who have died during the past year and a half from the pandemics of COVID-19 and police violence.

They live in the hearts of those they leave behind.

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

It’s time for a Black woman on the Supreme Court I am eager to see a brilliant Black woman serving as a U.S. Supreme Court justice. I hope to celebrate her swearing-in later this year.

If you’re thinking, “Did I miss something?” the answer is no, there is no vacancy on the nation’s highest court right now.

But there has been talk that Justice Stephen Breyer, who is 82, might step down after the current Supreme Court term ends in June.

Some activists and legal scholars are encouraging Justice Breyer to step down now. That would give President Biden a chance to fulfill his campaign promise to name a Black woman to the high court. And it would let a Biden nominee be considered by a U.S. Senate that is not controlled by Republicans.

Never forget that when Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky was majority leader, he abused his power to slow-walk President Barack Obama’s judicial nominees. And he refused to allow the Senate to even consider President Obama’s Supreme Court nomination of Merrick Garland, leaving a seat vacant for more than a year.

That same Sen. McConnell did everything he could to pack the courts with right wing judges during the Trump administration, including a third Trump Supreme Court justice who was rammed through the U.S. Senate just days before voters turned President Trump out of office.

Those Trump judges threaten the legal legacy of the first Black person to serve on the

Ben Jealous Supreme Court, the brilliant Justice Thurgood Marshall. And that threatens all of us.

As a Marylander with deep roots in Baltimore, I am proud that a native son of that great city was the first Black justice on our country’s highest court.

As a lifelong civil rights activist, I am grateful that a strategist for the Civil Rights Movement was given the opportunity to advance equality under law as a Supreme Court justice. As a Black man and father of Black children, I am thankful for the ways that Justice Marshall changed history.

And I am deeply committed to defending those changes at a time when they are under attack.

The threat to our lives, and to a multiracial, multiethnic democratic society, does not just come from violent white supremacists or abusive cops. It

comes from Republican politicians whose response to high Black voter turnout in 2020 is to make it harder for many of us to vote.

And it comes from judges who dismiss evidence of systemic racism and uphold voter suppression.

What better time to have a powerful Black woman on the high court as a voice for truth and accountability?

That is especially true now that another civil rights champion, the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, has left the court and been replaced by a justice who does not share her values. We need someone to fill the shoes of both Justice Marshall and Justice Ginsburg, two of the most transformative lawyers in our nation’s history.

Fortunately, there are plenty of Black women who represent the values of the civil rights community and are ready to serve.

Black women lawyers are fighting for civil rights every day. Black women scholars are expanding our understanding of systemic racism and its impact on all of us. Black women strategists are defending voting rights. Black women activists are building coalitions and electing politicians who are committed to defending our rights and our communities.

The ‘Groundhog Day’ effect Bishop Gerald Glenn

Paul Wright

Phillip DeBerry

Robert N. Hobbs Sr.

Sterling E. Matthews

Connie G. Glass

Merridithe Reginald

I have always been amazed by the immediate, long-lasting impact of the media on cultural/ current events.

This is the case with the 1993 movie, “Groundhog Day.” Since its release, people have discussed the problem of being trapped in a metaphorical loop of activities from which they cannot escape. Even those who didn’t see the film are familiar with this theme.

Vi e w i n g the news, I was introduced to the case of Ronald Greene that occurred in May 2019 in my home state of Louisiana. Mr. Greene, 49, was a Black man who was brought into the Glenwood Regional Medical Center emergency room by members of the Louisiana State Police. He was reported as the DOA victim of a single-car collision between his automobile and a tree. Injuries from his “accident” were fatal. The attending ER physician found this suspicious because, in addition to being bruised and broken, two prongs of a police Taser were found on his body.

For two years, Louisiana State Police withheld the bodycam videos of the event from public view. The Associated Press was able to obtain these videos, which disclosed another vicious attack on a Black man by police. The minimal damage to Mr. Greene’s vehicle belied the excuse of fatal injuries suffered in a crash.

Axios reported that the

following statements can be heard: Mr. Greene: (After being tasered in his vehicle) “I’m your brother! I’m scared! I’m scared!”

Trooper: “Look, you’re going to get it again if you don’t put your f------ hands behind your back!”

Trooper: (referring to Mr. Greene) “Stupid motherf---er.”

Dr. E. Faye Williams Trooper (Chris Hollingsworth): (Heard saying that he) “beat the ever-living f--- out of him. Choked him and everything else trying to get him under control. He was spitting blood everywhere, and all of a sudden he just went limp.”

The arrest of Mr. Greene is now the subject of a federal civil rights investigation. The refusal of the Louisiana State Police to release bodycam footage for two years and inconsistencies in police reporting of events suggest cover-up.

According to AP, bodycam footage from in-custody deaths is typically released immediately. Troopers on the scene of the arrest first claimed that Mr. Greene died on impact after crashing his vehicle into a tree during a chase. Louisiana State Police later released a statement saying Mr. Greene struggled with troopers and died on the way to the hospital. Footage shows Mr. Greene raising his hands and surrendering to officers after crashing his SUV and apologizing for leading them on the chase.

After a two-year cover-up, there has been no justice for Mr. Greene’s family. According to the AP, Trooper Hollingsworth died in a single-vehicle crash hours after learning he would be fired over the Greene case. Two other troopers remain, one awaiting administrative action.

In an overview, we should be reminded that the Louisiana State Police motto is “Courtesy, Loyalty, Service,” with a commitment to ensure the safety and security of the people in the state through enforcement, education and providing other essential public safety services.

Although Mr. Greene’s event preceded the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May 2020, like Bill Murray in the film, I and we, in this nation, continue to wake up to a series of events that result in the deaths of Black men and women. Administrators who are otherwise expected to render impartial judgments regarding the propriety of conduct or the fitness of officers to objectively enforce the laws seem, in many cases, to be turning the blind eye.

As their psychopathic subordinates showed in the recent case of Andrew Brown Jr. in Elizabeth City, N.C., when dealing with persons of color they likewise consider complexion as a weapon and no measure is too extreme in physically controlling these animals of color.

After all, who but a psychopath would treat another human being with the brutality we have recently witnessed?

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

The Free Press welcomes letters Frances Sampson

Pearl Hackett

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.

Candidate Joe Biden demonstrated his recognition of the importance of Black women when he chose U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris as his vice presidential running mate. And he excited many of us with his promise to name a Black woman to the Supreme Court. The American people made Mr. Biden president and made Sen. Harris the first woman, first Black person and first Asian American to serve as vice president.

I am looking forward to working with President Biden to confirm to the Supreme Court a phenomenal Black woman who will champion the values of freedom, justice, opportunity and equality at a time when they urgently need champions.

It will be a relief to see her take her seat. And it will be glorious.

The writer, a former president and CEO of the national NAACP, serves as president of People for the American Way and the People for the American Way Foundation.

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Richmond Free Press

May 27-29, 2021 A9

Letters to the Editor

Taking down Confederate monuments ‘won’t change a thing’ Re Cityscape, Free Press May 20-22 edition: The Richmond Free Press doth protest too much, methinks.

Social justice warriors in high dudgeon, sniffing out any hint of Confederate monuments hereabouts, had an “Aha!” moment, finding a stone placed by the United Daughters of the Confederacy nearly 100 years ago beside the highway named after the “traitor” Jefferson Davis.

Of course, in spite of the Richmond Free Press’ weekly wishful thinking, Jefferson Davis was not any more a traitor for defending his homeland from invasion than George Washington was. Neither Jefferson Davis nor any other Confederate was tried for treason, much less convicted, even during the vindictive corruption of radical Reconstruction.

The fear was that Jefferson Davis would

be acquitted and the true treason of President Abraham Lincoln would be brought to light for bringing on an unconstitutional war. President Lincoln did not recognize that the Confederate States were out of the Union, so he committed treason under Article III, section 3 of the Constitution by invading them, which is the sole definition of treason in the U.S. Constitution.

You may look it up.

Richmond on the ‘right side of history’ by removing Confederate monuments

Re “Plans move forward to remove Confederate Gen. A.P. Hill monument and tomb,” Richmond Free Press, May 20-22 edition: Richmond is doing a great thing by removing the A.P. Hill Monument and reburying the remains. That puts Richmond on the right side of history.

So what’s up with Chesterfield County? A.P. Hill’s sword is on display at the Chesterfield County Museum under the watchful guard of a Confederate mannequin.

You can check out the April 2 Facebook post of the Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia honoring the memory of the man and the sword. Why April 2? It was the 156th anniversary of A.P. Hill’s death in battle during the Civil War. Oh, dear God. I want to be on the side with Richmond.

Nonetheless, you may cast about such specious accusations until you are blue in the face, and tear down every Confederate monument on the planet Earth, but it won’t change a thing. It most certainly hasn’t imparted any wisdom to some of the writers at the Richmond Free Press.

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Richmond Free Press

A10 May 27-29, 2021

Sports Stories by Fred Jeter

Biles makes history in return to competition at U.S. Classic Free Press wire report

AJ Mast/Associated Press

Simone Biles competes Saturday in the vault during the U.S. Classic gymnastics event in Indianapolis 2021.

Time on her hands and a world-class gym at her disposal after the 2020 Olympics were postponed, Simone Biles started experimenting almost as a way to stave off the monotony of training.

Pretty soon a vault that she occasionally tinkered with for fun — the Yurchenko double pike — started to look like a vault she could pull off in competition.

So what if it had only historically been done by men? So what if the International Gymnastics Federation seemed intent on not giving the vault a difficulty value commensurate with its complexity?

The vault exists. She can do it. So, why not? She didn’t stick around for another year just to fool around. She stuck around to keep making history.

So she did. Again.

Hands seemingly magnetized to her hamstrings as she soared off the vaulting table, Biles drilled the Yurchenko double pike during her victory at the U.S. Classic last Saturday night. The 24year-old defending world and Olympic champion generated so much momentum that she took a couple of big hops upon landing before letting out a semi-relieved smile.

Get ready to add another element in her name in the sport’s Code of Points, even she thinks the 6.6 start value for the Yurchenko double-pike — just a tick above significantly less difficult

vaults — is as high as it should be.

“That’s on the (International Federation of Gymnastics); that’s not on me,” Biles said. “They have an open-end code of points and now they’re mad people are too far ahead and excelling.”

And no one in the sport has ever excelled as much as Biles. Her all-around score of 58.400 in her first event in more than 18 months was easily the best of the night even though she shorted her dismount on floor exercise and sailed off the uneven bars.

“I’m not really mad about today,” Biles said.

No need to be. After teasing the Yurchenko double-pike for the better part of a year and then unveiling it during training last Friday — a move that caught the attention of people like NBA star LeBron James — Biles made it official in front of the women trying to join her on the Olympic team this summer.

Wearing a white leotard with a rhinestone goat — a nod to her status as the Greatest of All Time —Biles sprinted down the runway, did a roundoff onto the springboard followed by a back handspring onto the vault, finishing with two backflips with her legs ramrod straight and her hands clasping the back of her legs.

It wasn’t quite perfect. No worries, she’ll get more chances over the next two months. Even though she doesn’t agree with the way it’s being judged, she has no plans to stop throwing it.

“I know it’s not the correct one, but I can still do it,” Biles said. “So why not just show

off my ability and athleticism?”

Same as it ever was for Biles, whose spot on the U.S. Olympic Team is assured. The other spots remain up in the air, though Jordan Chiles is making a serious case to join good friend Biles on the plane to Tokyo.

The 20-year-old proved her victory in the Winter Cup in February was no fluke. Chiles finished second in the all-around (57.100) to Biles and ranked in the top four in each of the four events.

“I (proved) I can do this multiple times and not just a one-time thing,” Chiles said.

Kayla DiCello came in third, buoyed by a victory on bars. The 17-year-old was in the mix to make the Olympics a year ago, but said the decision to push the games to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic helped her because it gave her time to add difficulty to her routines necessary to separate herself from a talented and crowded field—a field that includes 2017 world all-around champion Morgan Hurd.

The 19-year-old Hurd competed on beam and floor exercise in her first competition since March 2020. Competing slightly watered-down routines, her scores weren’t where they will need to be in time for Olympic Trials in late June.

Hurd, however, isn’t panicking.

“Yeah I was shaky, but usually in the beginning of my (competition) season I am a little bit shaky and a little bit sloppy and not at my best,” she said. “I don’t want to be great now, I want to be great later.”

Josiah Harrison’s skills add up to a promising future in baseball According to baseball math, power plus speed equals Josiah Harrison.

The Trinity Episcopal School junior centerfielder ranked this spring with the area’s leaders in two prominent categories, home runs and stolen bases.

“Josiah’s very talented, very athletic,” said Titans Coach Tim Merry. “He definitely has the potential to play beyond high school.”

Through Trinity’s first 21 games this season, the 6-foot, 170-pound right-hander had six home runs (in 55 times at bat) while swiping 15 bags.

Overall, he was hitting .436 with 20 runs batted, 20 runs tallied, 15 walks and a whopping .612 on-base percentage.

At one point, Harrison stroked 11 straight hits for the private Prep League school located on the scenic south bank of the James River.

He also excels with the glove, covering plenty of real estate with his swift stride. He is equally adept at keeping baserunners honest with a lively throwing arm.

“I feel good about my game now, but I can always do better,” Harrison said. “I’ll continue to work on my craft.”

Away from the high school competition, Harrison impressed with his skill set at the Mid-Atlantic Prep Baseball Ratings Summer

Championships in 2020. Still 16 at the time, he ran the 60-yard dash in 6.78 seconds and clocked 93 mph on his throw from the outfield.

He registered a 97 mph exit speed with the ball coming off the bat barrel.

Hitting mostly third in Coach Merry’s lineup, Harrison relishes the dual roles of slugging balls beyond fences and beating throws to the bags.

“Mostly I kind of think of myself as the long-ball hitter, but I’m kind of speedy, too,” he said with a chuckle.

Trinity’s well-manicured diamond has unusual dimensions. It’s a standard 300 feet or so to dead left and 350 to center, but just 265 to right.

Harrison said he has avoided the temptation of altering his swing to take advantage of the “short porch.”

“I really don’t,” he said. “My best power is to centerfield.”

Coach Merry adds, “Josiah can hit it to all fields.”

The 17-year-old son of Daphne and Miller Harrison transferred to Trinity this term after two seasons at Clover Hill High School in Midlothian.

In a heartbeat, the young athlete who answers to “Jo” and “Jo Jo,” was welcomed by

Pitcher ‘Ci Ci’ Alexander gets JMU closer to softball pinnacle Aplayer from Southside Virginia has pitched and hit James Madison University to the doorstep of the College Softball World Series.

Senior Odicci “Ci Ci” Alexander has been brilliant all season for the 37-1 JMU Dukes, who will play at the University of Missouri starting Thursday in the Super Regional.

If successful in Columbia, Mo., in the best-of-three match, JMU will advance to the NCAA World Series in Oklahoma City June 3 through 9.

Alexander hails from Boydton in Mecklenburg County and starred at Park View High School in South Hill before enrolling at JMU. So far this season, she is 14-0 in the circle with six shutouts. She boasts a 1.04 earned run average and 168 strikeouts ‘Ci Ci’ Alexander in 101 innings.

She also is hitting .350 with two homers.

Alexander set a school record with 19 strikeouts on May 21 in the Dukes’ 10-inning, 4-3 win over Liberty in the Knoxville Region.

Also in Knoxville, Alexander pitched in JMU’s 3-1 win over Tennessee and 8-5 victory over Liberty to win the Regional. She batted third in the lineup and contributed two hits and an RBI in the clincher against Liberty.

Seemingly tireless, Alexander hurled 22 innings (totaling 355 pitches) in three days to help JMU advance a step closer to the brightest stage in women’s softball.

CIAA championships coming to Richmond area in 2022 The CIAA is bringing three of its championship spring sporting events to the Greater Richmond area in 2022.

In partnership with Richmond Region Tourism, the historically Black athletic conference will conduct its outdoor track and field and tennis championships at Virginia State University.

The women’s softball tournament will be held at RF&P Park in the Glen Allen, with Virginia Union University serving as the host school.

The women’s tennis tournament will be held April 28 through 30. The softball and track and field tournaments are set for May 6 and 7.

These events were canceled this year because of the pandemic.

Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

the baseball coaching staff.

“The first I heard of (the transfer) was when Sam Mickens in admissions told me,” Coach Merry said. “It was good news.”

Mickens is also Trinity’s football coach and an assistant baseball mentor.

Harrison has a strong family tree academically and athletically. Both parents are engineers and former track and field performers at Virginia State University.

The end to Trinity’s baseball season is little more than a third of the way through Harri-

son’s nine-months-a-year baseball experience.

This summer and fall, he will compete on the high-profile Evoshield Canes North travel team, also coached by Coach Merry.

The Canes are entered in tournaments with some of the best teams up and down the East Coast.

Now Harrison hopes to continue to shine on the travel circuit just as he has for Trinity.

If successful, it should add up to an abundance of college scouting interest in the coming months.

Richmond Flying Squirrels start season with strong Latino flavor

American tourists enjoy traveling to Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South American countries for fun in the sun vacations.

In contrast, young athletes from those southerly nations come to the United States to make a living playing professional baseball.

The Richmond Flying Squirrels, with a strong Latino flavor, are a microcosm of a larger picture. Baseball in America is becoming more and more worldly. You’ll hear plenty of Spanish spoken around the batting cages.

As of this week, the Flying Squirrels had 10 Latin Americans on the roster.

They’re under the wing of manager José Alguacil, who hails from Venezuela.

An early season headliner has been catcher-first baseman Andrés Angulo from Cali, Colombia. Angulo’s grand slam May 18 led Richmond to a 6-5 win over the Bowie Baysox at The Diamond.

Through 20 games, Angulo posted a team-leading .318 average.

From a nation most known for soccer, a trickle of Colombians has been reaching baseball’s big leagues for decades.

Among the Colombian big league standouts was shortstop Édgar Rentería, a fivetime All-Star. Rentería helped the Florida Marlins to the World Series title in 1997 and the San Francisco Giants in 2010.

Eight Colombians, including New York Yankees third baseman Gio Urshela, are on big-league rosters to start this season.

Latino players with the Richmond Flying Squirrels come from the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Venezuela.

From the Dominican Republic: Pitchers Gerson Garabito, Melvin Adon and Raffi Vizcaíno and outfielders Sandro Fabian and Andy Sugilio.

From Puerto Rico: Outfielder Heliot Ramos and catcher Bryan Torres.

From Venezuela: pitchers Norwith Gudino and Luis Amaya.

From Colombia: Angulo.

Gerson Garabito

Sandro Fabian

For good measure, pitcher Rico Garcia is a Pacific Islander from Honolulu and outfielder Francisco Tostado is from Camarillo, Calif., of Mexican ancestry.

It’s not like this Latino influence came overnight. In 1964, the Richmond Virginians, a New York Yankees farm club, were managed by Cuban Preston Gómez.

A standout that year was second baseman Horace Clarke from the Virgin Islands.

Clarke went on to a long successful career with the Yankees.

Perhaps the most popular Richmond player of all time was Manuel “Chico” Ruiz.

The second baseman played all or parts of 12 straight seasons with the Richmond Braves, from 1973 through 1984.

Back to the present.

Today’s players of color in Richmond

Andy Sugilio

Norwith Gudino

also include four African-Americans: outfielder Jacob Heyward of McDonough, Ga., and pitchers Jay Jackson of Greenville, S.C., Ronnie Williams of Hialeah, Fla., and Joey “Rocky” Marciano of Carbondale, Ill. ◆ The Diamond will be open to full capacity for the next homestand beginning Tuesday, June 1. The first two homestands were played with about 30 percent to 35 percent capacity.

The upcoming 12-game homestand will be June 1 through 6 against the Altoona Curve of Pennsylvania and June 8 through 12 against the Harrisburg Senators, also of Pennsylvania.

Altoona is the AA Northeast League affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, while Harrisburg is a Washington Nationals farm club.

Operation Homebase to feature food, fun at Mount Olivet on June 12 Richmond’s youths soon will have another court to play basketball.

Team Loaded and FeedTheStreetsRVA have partnered to bring “Operation Homebase” to Church Hill from 1 to 4 p.m.

Saturday, June 12.

The free community activity centers around the renovation of the court at Mount

Olivet Church, 1223 N. 25th St. Operation Homebase will include basketball, children’s games, vendors, free food and giveaways. There will be a 3-point shooting contest and a three-onthree tournament.

Details: Shydaren James, (804) 4068130 or shydarenjames@gmail.com.

May 27-29, 2021 B1

Richmond Free Press

Section

Happenings

B

Personality: Gregory I. Darrisaw Spotlight on leader of Hobson Lodge No. 23 Prince Hall Masons at 150th anniversary Gregory Ian Darrisaw feels surrounded by history as the presiding officer of Hobson Lodge No. 23 F&A Prince Hall Masons, the largest Prince Hall Masonic lodge in the city’s South Side.

“I’m honored and humbled to serve as we are marking our 150th year of operation,” says Mr. Darrisaw, a 46-yearold New York native who is winding down his tenure as the lodge’s worshipful master or president.

A large man with the build of a football tackle, Mr. Darrisaw says that amid COVID-19, the lodge did not stage a big event. Instead, the milestone anniversary was marked with a low-key, wreath-laying at a nearby cemetery to remember those who paved the way for him and others to carry on the traditions of the lodge founded in 1871, just six years after the Civil War ended.

Black Masons living south of the James River founded Hobson Lodge to be closer to home in what was then the town of Manchester, which was annexed by Richmond in 1910. A full-time project manager for the Virginia Lottery, Mr. Darrisaw says the lodge has long been a lodestar for community-minded men who wanted to improve themselves and make a difference in the larger community.

Mr. Darrisaw stands in the lodge’s long line of worshipful masters that started with Ballard T. Edwards, a champion of public education who was among the first Black delegates elected to the General Assembly during Reconstruction.

Others who have held the post during the past century and a half include Dr. James H. Blackwell Jr., son of the educator for whom a nearby city elementary school is named, political activist St. Elmo Reid and the late Dr. W.L. Ransome, pastor of First Baptist Church of South Richmond, who launched the annual Jan. 1 service commemorating the Emancipation Proclamation.

Among fraternal groups, Masonry is among the few that remain just for men; women can belong to the Order of the Eastern Star.

Mr. Darrisaw says that networking is among the major benefits of being a part of the organization.

“If I have a problem or a need, usually there is a member who can help,” he says. “Our members come from all walks of life.”

As worshipful master since 2019, he says one of his goals has been to continue showcasing the lodge’s efforts to be community focused.

“We try to have at least one project a month, whether it’s cookouts in the summer, school supply distribution in the fall or Thanksgiving turkey distributions in the fall,” he says.

“We want people to see Hobson as a place that serves them and where they feel comfortable. We want them to see us and understand we are an important part of this area. We want them to feel welcome to participate in our events or to hold their own events here.”

Mr. Darrisaw views the effort to build a strong relationship with surrounding neighborhoods as one way to attract new members. Recruiting new members is a no-no for Masons, he says, with the organization leaving it up to individuals to approach a member to gain a recommendation.

“To be one, you have to ask one,” he says.

He learned about the Masons years ago and admired the contributions they made.

He credits his membership to a friendship with a Mason he worked with, Mark J. Moyler, now a city police officer. Mr. Moyler sponsored him after

he asked.

That was five years ago.

Since 2016, Mr. Darrisaw says he has been fortunate tor rise quickly through lodge’s ranks of elected positions, such as junior steward, senor deacon and junior warden to reach the top post.

As he prepares to step down and hand over the leadership to Wilktion Shaw, the lodge’s next worshipful master, Mr. Darrisaw says he will continue to take part in a lodge that has an impact both on its members and on the area where it is based.

“What we do makes everyone proud to be a member,” he says.

Meet a community-minded leader and this week’s Personality, Gregory I. Darrisaw: Date and place of birth: Sept.

1 in Brooklyn, N.Y. Education: Bachelor’s degree, ITT Technical Institute; master’s in information technology, Virginia Commonwealth University.

Free Press wire, staff report

Noteworthy members: home: Since our founding, We are proud of all of we have had four homes, those who have been including our current one at members of our lodge Broad Rock Road and Prince s i n c e i t s f o u n d i n g . Hall Drive, which we have Among them was one occupied since 1991. of the Black men elected Lodge’s community role: We to the House of Delegates in 1869, Ballard T. Ed- are among the largest Masonic Side. At wards, who was our first buildings in South Richmond Free Press May 20-22, 2021 B3 this time, we are the meetworshipful master, and Dr. James H. Blackwell ing place for 10 other Prince Faith News/Obituaries Jr., a longtime physician Hall lodges and three Order and son of the educator of the Eastern Star chapters. for which a school and We also strive to be a place the surrounding neigh- for the community. We deliver borhood in South Rich- Thanksgiving meals, distribute supplies to students and Free Press wire report questions Dwyane Wade. mond are named.

Ourthat fo-school cused primarilyhold “He was just a nice person, genuine, a variety of events that WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. members includeonmany education. He very intelligent,” Ms. Hardy said. “Very The student reporter who gained na- other physicians,covered are open to the community, school outspoken, outgoing.

He never said no to police tional acclaim when he interviewed former lunches, bully- anybody.” such as cookouts, dances and President Obama at the White House in officers, teachers, ing,busiconflict resoMr. Weaver got his start in fifth grade 2009 has died of natural causes, his fam- ness people, political lution and how toan when he volunteered for the school Easter egg roll.

We newsalso ily said. succeed. cast at K.E. Cunningham/Canal Point our building and grounds who Damon Weaver was 23 when he died activists and othersMr. Weaveroffer Elementary in a farm community on the Weaver Saturday, May 1, his sister, Candace Hardy, haveMr. then asked Presi-forshores Lakeother Okeechobee, Fla. useofby community made a difference, told the Palm Beach Post. Further details dent Obama to be his “homeboy,” saying “Damon was the kid who ran after me groups.

Public service is part including Dr. Dwight C.already in the hall to tell me he was interested,” were not released. then-Vice President Joe Biden had his He had been studying communications accepted. teacher, Brianof Zimmerman, told the Post and parcel our mission.

Jones, a past city mayor at Albany State University in Georgia.

“Absolutely,” a smiling President in 2016. “And right away, I just saw the senior pastortheof First 11 when he interviewed and Obama said, shaking boy’s hand. Biggest potentialchallenge: for the way he was on camera. You of the JamesMr. inWeaver whatwas was then Rebuilding President Obama for 10 minutes in the He used that meeting to later inter- could see his personality come through. He Baptist Church of South Richthe town of Manchester, the Diplomatic Room on Aug. 13, 2009, asking view Oprah Winfrey and athletes such asourwasn’t membership. nervous being onPrince camera.” Hall mond. seat of Chesterfield County.

Masons across Virginia now Where lodge name origi- Hobson Lodge’s current number about 5,000 men, well nated: The lodge is named for group also received a lifetime achievement Cooke, Roebuck Staples routinely rejected of“If I Could Hear oneMother of the fers to the group to record rhythm and blues, My Praycharter members, award from the Grammys in 2005.

Mavis Staples, the lone survivor of the group, saying it was in conflict with his faith. However, Again,” the Robert“Will Hobson.

Youngster who interviewed President Obama at White House dies at 23

Pervis Staples, member of famed Staple Singers, dies at 85 CHICAGO

Family: Wife, Pervis Staples, whoseTanyea tenor voice Darcomplimented hisand father’s and sisters’ in the legendary Unbrorisaw, five children ages CircleandBe“Uncloudy gospel group The Staple Singers, was remem- ken” Lodge’s importance: Since its 15 27.a funeral service Monday, May 17, Day” for Vee Jay beredto during refounding, Hobson Lodge has as a great singer and a great brother. cords in the 1950s.

Mr. Staples died Thursday, 6, 2021, at been Occupation: ProjectMay manager, The group gained a fixture in community his home in Dolton, Ill. He was 85. The cause fame in the 1960s by Virginia Lottery. service andthatbeen a place where of death wasn’t given. singing music Family and friends remembered him as gener- urged on astanding and good menchange of good Where I live now: Kent variety ous, kind, loving person who New was a wonderful of social and Mr. Staples character better. musician and protector of his sisters as they trav- religious issues. can become County. eled and performed in the Jim Crow South.

The Staple Singers gained a hugeofaudience Freemasonry is one the “He was a giving and generous man,” said with their first No. 1 hit, “I’ll Take You There” No. 1 volunteer position: oldest fraternal groups, and it his daughter, Perleta S. Sanders of Richmond. in 1972, followed with top 40 hits “Respect Worshipful (president) “He would alwaysmaster greet everyone with a smile, Yourself,” “Heavy Makes You Happy” and “If seeks to instill in its members andHobson the ladies loved him.”No. 23 Prince You’re Ready (Come Go With Me).” of Lodge “He influenced so many people,” said his a Mr. moral and approach Staples’ lastethical album with The Staple Hall godson Masons.

Jun Mhoon. “Gladys Knight and The Singers was their first for Stax Records, “Soul to life based on integrity, kindPips, he grew up with Sam Cooke, he grew up Folks in Action” in 1968. The album featured When elected: 2019 for new with Lou Rawls, literallyMay they grew up together. songs such as and “The fairness Ghetto” andand their ness, honesty He was just a great, genuine gentleman.” interpretations of tunes like Otis Redding’s one year; term extended one to care for the less fortunate Mr. Staples was born Nov. 18, 1935, in Drew, “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” and The Miss. HeTerm and his ends family moved to Chicago year. in June, withfor Band’s “The Weight.” and those in need. economic opportunities. That is where their Mr. Staples went on to manage the group Wilktion elected to Staples, suc- The guitar-playing Shaw father, Roebuck “Pops” Emotions and operated for a few Mayears a What are Prince Hall started teaching Perv’s House, in the ceed me. his children gospel songs to popular sons:Chicago We nightclub, are named for our entertain them and occupy their time.

Mr. Staples sang gospel songs withSince his father Previous positions: and sisters Mavis, Yvonne and Cleotha in Chicago joining in 2016, havefollowing. risen churches before gaining a Inational They began recording songs such “So Soon,” through the ranks of aselected positions.

Top event: Celebration of founding of Hobson Lodge 150 years ago, which included laying wreaths at Mount Olivet Cemetery to our forebearers.

7 5 th

1970s, which many ranked as the Cadillac of the clubs for blues, funk andHall, early disco. founder, Prince who Mr. Staples was inducted into the Rock and became a Mason during Roll Hall of Fame with his family in 1999the and the Gospel Music HallWar of Fame in 2018.

The Revolutionary and estab-

lished a separate organization Moore Street for Black men in 1784 after Missionary white American Masons made Baptist Church skin color a1408test ofStreetadmission.

W. Leigh · Richmond, Va. 23220 (804) 358—6403 Our founderDr.was attracted to Alonza L. Lawrence, Pastor Masonry because it espoused the ideals Allof liberty and church ac�vi�es are canceled un�l further no�ce. equality.

Founding date: Hobson Lodge was founded on May 10, 1871.

Follow us on Facebook for from Moore Street’s Pastor” Across the D. Cooper, Jr. “A Word APastor group ofRoscoe Masons who had Membership: and weekly Zoom worship info. state, the Prince Hall Masons Drive-thru giving will be available

been members of Social Lodge 3rd Saturday the 1st andmembers.

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said in a statement that her brother’s childhood was filled with wonderful experiences.

“He liked to think of this period of his life as setting the stage for all that he wanted to do in life,” she said. “Some of Pervis’ best friends as a youngster included Sam Cooke, Lou Rawls and Jerry Butler. Pervis and the guys would stand under the lamp posts in the summertime singing doo-wop songs.”

His family said that he also loved playing pool and tennis.

Despite the success of Mr. Rawls and Mr.

below the 14,000 members of years ago. Our lodge, too, has seen a decline as age takes its toll. Bringing in new members is a challenge as we do not recruit. To be a Mason, you have to ask a Mason to recommend you. That is why we are so involved. We want people to see what we are and what we do and seek to join us.

Perception of Masons: Too often we are seen as some kind of secret society.

How I want Masons to be viewed: As a group of caring and concerned men who are focused on improving themselves and on contributing to community betterment. Yes, we have rituals and other things unique to our organization, but all of it is aimed at helping us become the best version of ourselves.

How I start the day: With a positive outlook, ready for the next challenge.

Next goal: To make Hobson the best lodge and to ensure our fraternity can continue.

it was with the nudging of Pervis Staples that the group compromised by performing message music in the 1960s, performing at music festivals around the country.

Mr. Staples was preceded in death by his parents, Roebuck and Oceola, and three sisters, Cynthia, Cleotha and Yvonne.

Survivors also include his son, Pervis R. Staples; and four other daughters, Gwen Staples, Reverly Staples, Paris Staples and Eala Yvonne Sams; seven grandchildren; and seven greatgrandchildren.

Report disputes N.C. pastor’s claim of ties to Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee

By Jack Jenkins Religion News Service

WASHINGTON The Washington Post Fact Checker is challenging claims that the Rev. Robert W. “Rob” Lee IV, a North Carolina pastor and social justice activist, is a descendent of Robert E. Lee, arguing they could not find evidence to support his repeated assertion that he is related to the Confederate army general.

The Post Fact Checker on May 14 cited genealogical research to argue the pastor, who came to the media’s attention over the past five years for advocating for the removal of Confederate statues in Richmond, Va., and elsewhere, is likely not related to Gen. Robert E. Lee but rather Robert S. Lee — a different person who also served with the Confederacy. “(W)hen we traced the genealogy, the trail quickly ran cold,” wrote Glenn Kessler, the editor of Fact Checker. “None of the direct descendants of these Virginians led us to Rob Lee.” In a statement provided to Religion News Service, Rev. Lee, who pastors Unifour Church in Newton, N.C., took issue with the Post’s reporting

without providing proof of his kinship to the general, implying instead that relevant records do not belong to him.

“Rev. Lee vehemently disputes the reporting on his lineage, recognizing that family dynamics are at play when reporters ask to ‘furnish records’ that do not belong to Rev. Lee directly,” the statement read.

“The South is a complicated place as are its relationships, and Rev. Lee stands by his lineage while questioning the reasoning for this story at this juncture.”

Asked about Rev. Lee’s statement to RNS, a Post spokesperson said the paper had nothing more to add that wasn’t in their original story.

Rev. Lee, an outspoken racial justice activist, has claimed to be or been introduced as the great-great-great-great nephew of Gen. Robert E. Lee

on MTV and ABC’s morning talk show “The View,” as well as while meeting with a congressional committee and in Washington Post editorials.

He also made the claim in a North Carolina lawsuit seeking the removal of a Confederate statue and when he appeared at a campaign event for Joe Biden in October 2020, where he helped introduce future First Lady Jill Biden to a crowd.

He also has appeared with several Virginia officials, including Gov. Ralph S. Northam and Lt. Gov. Justin E. Fairfax, and at the Lee statue on Monument Avenue saying it needs to be removed.

Rev. Lee said on Twitter last Friday that he has removed his name from the lawsuit so “as not to detract from the community of Statesville that I love,” but accused the Post of mixing up “even the most basic facts.”

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The Dirty South: Contemporary Art, Material Culture, and the Sonic Impulse is organized by the 2604 Idlewood Avenue Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. The exhibition program at VMFA is supported by the Julia Louise Richmond, Va. 23220 (804) 353-6135 Reynolds Fund. www.riverviewbaptistch.org Rev. Dr. Stephen Hewlett, 2019, RaMell Ross (American, born 1982), inkjet print mounted on dibond. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, CasperaL.(detail), Pastor National Endowment for the Arts Fund for American Art. Image: © RaMell Ross Rev. Dr. Ralph Reavis, Sr. Pastor Emeritus

Richmond Free Press

B2 May 27-29, 2021

Happenings

VSU recognizes 700 grads in first in-person commencement since 2019

By George Copeland Jr.

It was a day of celebration last Sunday at Virginia State University, as three classes of graduates marched and were recognized during the first in-person commencement held at the university since 2019 because of the pandemic.

The four-hour ceremony, where graduates were seated socially distanced on the stadium’s field and a limited number of guests watched from the stands, recognized a combined 700 graduates who completed their degree requirements in spring 2020, fall 2020 and spring 2021.

Nearly an hour was focused on students walking individually across the open air stage to receive their degrees and take photos with VSU President Makola M. Abdullah.

“We are leaving behind a legacy for the potential of greatness, a legacy of finding self-love, preservation, perseverance, joy and victory,” said Jeremiah Brooks, president of the Class of 2021 in his remarks.

Commencement speaker Angela Rye, an attorney and politicalsocial commentator, told graduates they are now ready for the draft into the fight for racial equality in this nation, an ongoing battle for progress.

Ms. Rye talked about the many police killings of AfricanAmericans, the assaults on democracy and voting rights and the displays of racism that have dominated and defined much of the past year.

She urged graduates to prepare for their necessary, inevitable part in ensuring future generations of Black people won’t have to fight the same battles against threats to their rights and personhood in a country that she said often has disregarded both since its very founding.

“We’ve been in multiple battles and we’re still in multiple battles,” Ms. Rye said. “And yet, we must continue. You can choose which battle or battles to fight, but you may not choose whether to fight now.”

Benjamin Crump, a Florida-based attorney who has represented the families of several people who have been killed at the hands of police across the nation, including George Floyd in Minneapolis, was awarded an honorary degree during the ceremony.

Photos by Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

Jamal Meekins, 22, right, a psychology major from Surry County, walks with fellow graduates during the procession Sunday at Virginia State University’s commencement in Rogers Stadium for the classes of 2020 and 2021. Mr. Meekins, who earned his degree this spring, will begin nursing school next week.

Also receiving an honorary degree were VSU alumnus Harry E. Black, city manager of Stockton, Calif., and former rector of VSU from 2013 to 2018; VSU alumna Delegate Roslyn C. Tyler of Sussex County, chair of the House Education Committee; Delegate Luke Torian of Prince William County, head of the powerful House Appropriations Committee; retired Lt. Col. Jona McKee, a VSU alumnus, former professor of military science and founder of the VSU Athletic Boosters Club in 1963; VSU alumna Dr. Gladys B. West, a mathematician who was instrumental in the development

of GPS, global positioning system; and retired Col. Porcher L. Taylor Jr., a VSU alumnus and former administrator.

During the ceremony, three valedictorians from the last three classes were recognized. All three graduated summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA. They are Jneva Rae Norfleet of Woodbridge, political science major, spring 2020 graduate; Richard Cornel Green, computer science major, fall 2020 graduate; and Ashanti Melquise Beverly Day of Winchester, mechanical engineering technology major, spring 2021 graduate.

Graduates’ families and friends are seated socially distanced in the stadium during Virginia State University’s commencement. At right, VSU President Makola M. Abdullah, presents commencement speaker Angela Rye with the Presidential Humanitarian Award.

Drake most decorated winner in Billboard Music Awards history NEW YORK It was a family affair at the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday. Pink twirled in the air in a powerful performance with her 9-year-old daughter, Willow Sage Hart, and Drake was named artist of the decade, accepting the honor as he held his fussy 3-year-old son, Adonis Graham.

Drake, who extended his record as the most decorated winner in the history of the awards show to 29 wins, was surrounded by family and friends who presented him with the Artist of the Decade Award. He walked onstage outside the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles with his young son holding his hand.

“I wanna dedicate this award to my friends, to my longtime collaborators ... to my beautiful family, and to you,” he said, looking at Adonis and picking him up to kiss him.

Drake placed his first song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2009, and since has logged the most songs ever on the chart, with 232 entrees.

He also has logged a record 45 Top 10 hits on the Hot 100 and a record 22 No. 1s on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart.

Drake also was named top streaming songs artist Sunday.

Pink received the Icon Award and was joined onstage by her daughter, Willow, showing off their powerful gymnastic skills as they spun in the air in a jaw-dropping performance. Known for her signature aerial and acrobatic moves, Pink was matched by the youngster as “Cover Me In Sunshine” played in the background, Pink’s song featuring vocals from her daughter.

“Willow, you nailed it,” Pink said after the performance. “I love what I do and I love the people that I get to do it with, and we’re pretty good at what we do, but it wouldn’t matter if no one came to see us and play with us. So all you guys out there ... thank you for coming out!”

Pink’s performance was one of several pretaped moments at the awards show, which aired on NBC and was hosted by Nick Jonas. Live performances were held outdoors in front of feverish audience members wearing masks.

The Weeknd was on hand to accept the most wins of the night — 10. He walked into the show with 16 nominations, winning honors like top artist, top male artist, top Hot 100 song for “Blinding Lights” and top R&B album for “After Hours.”

“I wanna take this opportunity to thank you, my parents,” he said. “I am the man I am

DJ Khaled, front left, and H.E.R., front right, perform with Takeoff, from background left, Quavo and Offset, of Migos, at the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Right, Drake accepts the artist of the decade award as he hugs his son Adonis Graham. Below, The Weeknd accepts the top artist award.

Chris Pizzello/Associated Press

today because of you. And thank you to my fans, of course. I do not take this for granted.”

The late rapper Pop Smoke also was a big winner. He posthumously earned five honors, including top new artist and top rap artist, while his debut — “Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon” — won top rap album and top Billboard 200 album, which his mother accepted onstage.

“Thank you to the fans for honoring the life and spirit of my son, so much that he continues to manifest as if he was still here in flesh,” Audrey Jackson said.

Another late rapper also was honored during the show. Before presenting top rap song to DaBaby, Swizz Beatz dedicated a moment to those who have recently died in hip-hop, including his close friend and collaborator DMX. And Houston rapper and activist Trae Tha Truth, who earned the Change Maker Award, ended his speech with a powerful sentence: “We still gon’ need justice for Breonna Taylor.”

Other winners Sunday included Bad Bunny and BTS, who both won four awards and also performed. Breakthrough country singer Gabby Barrett won three awards, including top female country artist and top country song for the hit “I Hope.” The song’s remix featuring Charlie Puth won top collaboration.

“Oh my gosh. Thank y’all so much. This means NBC via AP so much to me,” Ms. Barrett said as she broke into tears. “I’ve been performing for 10 years really hard. ...We’ve worked so hard to get here.”

Another country star also won big Sunday but he wasn’t allowed to participate in the show.

Morgan Wallen, who was caught on camera using a racial slur earlier this year, won three honors, including top country artist and top country album for “Dangerous: The DoubleAlbum,” which has had major success on the pop and country music charts despite his fallen moment.

Mr. Wallen was nominated for six awards,

Chris Pizzello/Associated Press

and Billboard Awards producer dick clark productions said it couldn’t prevent Mr. Wallen from earning nominations, or winning, because finalists are based on album and digital sales, streaming, radio airplay and social engagement.

The producers did ban him from performing or attending the show.

The Billboard Awards kicked off with a collaborative performance by DJ Khaled, H.E.R. and Migos, who brought the concert vibe back to life a year after live shows were in the dark because of the pandemic. Doja Cat and SZA — accompanied by futuristically dressed background dancers — sang their big hit “Kiss Me More” inside the venue, where the seats were empty.

Alicia Keys, celebrating the 20th anniversary of her groundbreaking debut “songs in A minor,” sang songs from the album, including the hit “Fallin’.” The performance was introduced by former First Lady Michelle Obama.

Other performers included Karol G, twenty one pilots, Duran Duran, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Jonas Brothers and Glass Animals.

Stars like Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga and Kanye West won honors at the show though they didn’t attend. Machine Gun Kelly, who started in rap but has had recent success on the rock charts, won top rock artist and top rock album.

Richmond Free Press

May 27-29, 2021 B3

Happenings

Above, a panoramic view of the Tulsa area ruined during the 1921 riots. At right, Tiffany Crutcher, left, and Chief Egunwale Amusan talk about a sign commemorating Tulsa’s original Black Wall Street during a tour on April 12.

Stacey Abrams to deliver keynote at event marking 100th anniversary of Tulsa Race Massacre Free Press wire report

TULSA, Okla.

Stacey Abrams, who has become a leading national voice on ballot access, will deliver the keynote address at the “Remember & Rise” event during the Memorial Day holiday commemorating the 100-year anniversary of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

Ms. Abrams, whose work on voter access and political infrastructure is credited with helping flip the state of Georgia for Democrats in 2020, will speak at the nationally televised event Monday, May 31, the 1921 Race Massacre Centennial Commission stated.

“Her tireless efforts to create equity and access for Black Georgia voters has inspired the entire country to re-envision what inclusive structures, systems and communities should look like,” said Phil Armstrong, the commission’s project director.

A series of events and activities are scheduled across Tulsa over Memorial Day weekend to commemorate the anniversary, including a performance by Grammyaward winning singer and songwriter John Legend.

On May 19, three survivors of the 1921 bloody and violent massacre testified before a U.S. House subcommittee Ms. Abrams that is discussing potential legal remedies to compensate survivors and their descendants. Attorneys for victims and their descendants have sued the City of Tulsa and other defendants seeking reparations for the destruction of the city’s once thriving Black district by a white mob.

During roughly 16 hours from May 31 to June 1, 1921, a white mob decimated the city’s once thriving Black district.

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press

Around 300 people were killed, 800 were wounded and more than 8,000 people were left homeless.

“I’m here seeking justice and I’m asking my country to acknowledge what happened in Tulsa in 1921,” 107-year-old Viola Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre testified last week before the House subcommittee.

Ms. Fletcher recounted how she went to sleep in her family’s home that night and was awakened and told they had to leave.

“I will never forget the violence of the white mob when we left our home,” she described. “I still see Black men being shot, Black bodies lying in the street. I still smell smoke and see fire.

I still see Black businesses being burned. I still hear airplanes flying overhead. I hear the screams. I have lived through the massacre every day. Our country may forget this history, but I cannot, I will not and other survivors do not and our descendants do not.”

Restored Richard Wright novel involving Black man tortured by police hits best-sellers lists

Free Press wire report

NEW YORK More than 60 years after his death, Richard Wright is again a best-selling author and very much in line with the present.

“The Man Who Lived Underground,” a short novel written in the 1940s and never published in full until this spring, is the surreal but credible story of a Black man who is tortured by police into confessing to a double murder he didn’t commit. He escapes into the city’s sewer system. Like an inversion of the American road novel or a tale of space travel, Fred Daniels inhabits a world outside the world, making up the rules as he goes along and seeing his old life in a new way.

At one point, he breaks into a real estate office that collects money from poor Black people.

Mr. Daniels finds a wad of money and helps himself to a typewriter, radio and cleaver, among other items.

“He did not feel that he was stealing, for the cleaver, the radio and the money were on the same level of value, all meant the same thing to him,” Mr. Wright observes. “They were the toys of the men who lived in the dead world of sunshine and rain he had left, the world that had condemned him.”

Released by the Library of America, an unofficial canon of the country’s literature, “The Man Who Lived Underground” also includes the Wright essay “Memories of My Grandmother” and an afterword from Mr. Wright’s grandson, writer-filmmaker Malcolm Wright.

The novel has reached the best-sellers lists of The New York Times and the independent booksellers’ Indiebound among others, and has brought new attention to an author defined, sometimes to his detriment, by his famed debut novel “Native Son.” Countless students have been assigned Mr. Wright’s 1940

narrative about the Wright, is a Missispoor young Black sippi native. “It’s alChicagoan, Bigger most like a meta novel.

Thomas, who in a Fred is experimenting, state of panic murand you can see that ders a rich white Wright’s desire is to girl, later murders his discover and experiBlack girlfriend and is ment.” tried and sentenced to Charlie Braxton, death. The rare work a Mississippi-based by a Black writer to be poet and playwright, Mr. Wright featured by the Book said his initial reaction of the Month Club, “Native Son” to the book was anger at what hapwas among the most famous pens to Mr. Daniels. But he was works of its time, and Bigger inspired by Mr. Wright’s use of became a symbol of the damage a “psychological crime thriller” done by a racist society. to serve “as a profound critique But Mr. Wright’s standing was of racism/white supremacy and challenged in the late 1940s by capitalism,” and also touch upon James Baldwin, then an emerging organized religion and its role writer, who criticized “Native in “the exploitation of Black Son” as simplistic “protest” fic- people.’” tion and wrote that Mr. Wright Mr. Wright worked on the had failed to present Black life book not long after “Native “as a continuing and complex Son” came out, drawing on group reality.” the true story of a Los Angeles Kiese Laymon, whose works man who lived for more than include the acclaimed memoir a year in the city’s sewers; on “Heavy,” is among the cur- memories of his Seventh Day rent writers who admire “The Adventist grandmother; and on Man Who Lived Underground” the “Invisible Man” films of the and believe it will change Mr. 1930s and ’40s, a theme which Wright’s legacy. predates by several years Ralph “It gives us a lot from Wright Ellison’s classic novel “Invisible that we haven’t seen before,” Man.” said Mr. Laymon, who, like Mr. Mr. Wright’s publisher, Harp-

er, turned down “The Man Who Lives Underground,” with one reader finding the author’s depiction of police violence against Mr. Daniels “unbearable.” A shortened version of the novel, without Mr. Daniels’ initial encounter with the police, was published in a 1944 story anthology and appeared in a collection of Mr. Wright’s work that came out in 1961, a year after his death.

The revival of “The Man Who Lived Underground” began more than a decade ago, when the author’s daughter and literary executor Julia Wright wanted to unearth some of his unpublished work. She was a prisoners’ rights activist at the time, met with Mumia Abu-Jamal and other death row inmates, and followed closely the stories of police shootings of people of color, and the dismemberment of James Byrd by a gang of white supremacists.

In 2010, Julia Wright was seated in “the comfortable, secluded, air-conditioned calm of the Beinecke Archives where my father’s manuscripts are housed at Yale University.” She told the AP that she “came across a long version of the short story I

Pioneering comic Paul Mooney dies at 79 Free Press wire report

NEW YORK Paul Mooney, the boundary-pushing comedian who was Richard Pryor’s longtime writing partner and whose bold, incisive musings on racism and American life made him a revered figure in stand-up, died Wednesday, May 19, 2021, at his home in Oakland, Calif., of a heart attack.

He was 79.

Mr. Mooney’s friendship and collaboration with Mr. Pryor began in 1968 and lasted until Mr. Pryor’s death in 2005. Together, they confronted racism perhaps more directly than it ever had been before onstage.

Mr. Mooney wasn’t as widely known as Mr. Pryor, but his influence on comedy was ubiquitous. As head writer on the television show “In Living Color,” Mr. Mooney helped create and inspire the Homey D. Clown character.

He also played the future-foretelling Negrodamus on “Chappelle’s Show,” the sketch-comedy show by Dave Chappelle.

In any forum, Mr. Mooney was uniquely fearless as a comedian. His blunt confrontations with racism and power in white America could be hysterical or simply defiantly unflinching.

In his 2012 special “The Godfather of Comedy,” he said the only way to end racism was to “kill every white person on this planet.” Mr. Mooney considered himself “the first comic to bring a ‘just between us’ Black voice to the stage.”

“I say what I feel. White folks got

their freedom. I’m going to be free, tense lead-up to showtime during which white and 21, too,” Mr. Mooney said NBC executives were nervous about in 2010. having Mr. Pryor on the air and Lorne Mr. Mooney chronicled his partnership Michaels was skeptical about having with Mr. Pryor in his 2007 memoir “Black Mr. Mooney there to write. Mr. Pryor Is the New White.” They first met, Mr. insisted on it.

Mooney recalled, when Mr. Pryor showed “After all the bull---- I’ve been put up at a party at Mr. Mooney’s apartment through to get here, the f------ crosson Sunset Boulevard in examination Lorne subHollywood and suggested jects me to, I decide to an orgy. Mr. Mooney threw do a job interview of my him out. own,” Mr. Mooney later They were opposites in said. “Chevy’s the boss, many ways. Mr. Mooney interviewing Richard for didn’t drink or do drugs. a janitor’s job. The white But they found they shared personnel interviewer suga natural connection. gests they do some word “Even though I have a association, so he can test feeling that sooner or later if the Black man’s fit to Mr. Mooney it’s all going to crash, I employ.” still accept Richard’s friendship. He Later generations of Black comis irresistible,” Mr. Mooney wrote in ics gravitated to Mr. Mooney. In the “Black Is the New White.”

1980s, he opened for Eddie Murphy At a time when nearly all television on his “Raw” tour. Mr. Chappelle, who writers were white, Mr. Mooney and also hired him as a writer on “ChapMr. Pryor first wrote episodes for the pelle’s Show,” wrote the forward to Mr. sitcom “Sanford and Son” together. Mooney’s memoir.

They continued on the short-lived 1978 Mr. Mooney wouldn’t make his first variety program “The Richard Pryor solo stand-up special until the 1993 album Show.” Mr. Mooney helped write many “Race.” In its torrid opening, he mocks of Mr. Pryor’s classic comedy albums, white people for being discomforted by including “...Is It Something I Said?” the N-word, a word Mr. Mooney used in 1976 and “Live on the Sunset Strip” liberally in his act. “You made it up! You in 1983. shouldn’t have made it up!” he says. “I Mr. Mooney also penned Mr. Pryor’s say it, you think it.” famous word association sketch on “I recall listening to his ‘Race’ album “Saturday Night Live” with Chevy in college and how formative it was,” Chase. The sketch, in which Mr. filmmaker Ava DuVernay wrote on TwitChase interviews Mr. Pryor for a job, ter. “Yeah, the jokes. But more so, the Mr. Mooney said, was a product of a freedom. He spoke freely and fearlessly

about feelings and experiences others found difficult to express.”

Born Paul Gladney in Shreveport, La., Mr. Mooney was raised largely by his grandmother in Oakland. He competed in dance contests as a teenager and appeared on the TV show “Dance Party.” He was drawn to stand-up, he said, after seeing Lenny Bruce perform in the early 1960s. He took the stage name of Mooney from “Scarface” actor Paul Muni.

Mr. Mooney was also an actor who played Sam Cooke in “The Buddy Holly Story” in 1978 and Junebug in Spike Lee’s film “Bamboozled” in 2000. Mr. Mooney, suggesting the opportunities might have been more, said the film industry was frightened of “a proud black man like me.”

In 2006, Mr. Mooney said he would give up using the N-word after Michael Richards’ outburst at a comedy club.

Mr. Mooney continued to perform as recently as 2014, even after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. Some said he continued too long. In 2016, New York magazine wrote that it was “hard to discern the defiant figure of Mooney’s prime in the man audiences are seeing onstage these days.”

“I was lucky enough to open for Paul Mooney several times,” comedian and television host W. Kamau Bell said on Twitter. “It was a master class. It was like a Malcolm X speech that had been punched up by Redd Foxx and then in the middle of everything he’d go off on a tangent about Jane Fonda. He was one of the greats.”

knew so well but augmented by the 50 pages on police brutality.

Bringing the whole work to light was not only timely, it was a cure against the physical dismemberment suffered by the James Byrds of our dark history.”

She discussed a reissue with Library of America, which had already published two volumes of her father’s work, and renewed her push last summer after the murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis.

“We all understood that the publication was a priority,” she said, adding that her father would have been pleased by the book’s reception.

“He would have chuckled at this poetic justice, sat and smoked his pipe for a while without any complacency for America’s immediate future.

And, true to himself, he would have soon reached out for some paper to jot down a new ‘white heat’ idea.”

Mr. Withers

W.Va. names road for native musician Bill Withers Free Press wire report

BECKLEY, W.Va. West Virginia native Bill Withers has been honored with a road named in his honor.

“Bill Withers Memorial Road” is the new name for Slab Fork Road from the Lester Highway to the Coalfields Expressway in Raleigh County, the West Virginia Department of Transportation said.

The musician died March 30, 2020, in Los Angeles at the age of 81. He is best known for writing and recording “Ain’t No Sunshine,” “Lovely Day” and “Lean on Me.” He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2015.​ The state Division of Highways installed a sign last week renaming the road. The move was passed by the West Virginia Legislature last month.

“The uplifting messages in some of his songs really helped us get through the last year we’ve had,” Deputy Secretary of Transportation Jimmy Wriston said in a news release.

Richmond Free Press

B4 May 27-29, 2021

Faith News/Directory

Church members to return to court June 1 in Fourth Baptist conflict

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

A Richmond judge again is being asked to step into the fight for control of a divided Fourth Baptist Church and stop the pastor and its deacons from trying anew to oust their opponents — six trustees, the chair of the Finance Committee and the church treasurer.

Judge W. Reilly Marchant is to hear the new plea on Tuesday, June 1, just four days before a called congregational meeting on Saturday, June 5, to consider ousting the eight individuals from their posts as was done in June 2020 after they opposed certain spending plans.

The eight also have been part of a faction of members that opposes the pastor’s controversial plan to incorporate the 162-year-old East End

Ministry, Gerard A. Dabney, can bar church. those being targeted for ouster from In April, Judge Marchant issued a participating and voting. temporary injunction reinstating the In a letter to the congregation aneight ousted volunteer officials and nouncing the meeting, Dr. Jackson and barring the church from taking any Mr. Dabney stated that those facing further action to incorporate until an inouster could not speak or take part in the person congregational meeting could meeting, that an independent, third-party be held to vote on such issues. moderator would conduct the session The judge issued the restraining orDr. Jackson and that two separate teams would der after the ousted officials presented evidence that a substantial number of members handle the vote counting to ensure accuracy.

In the letter, they wrote that dismissal of the was not able to participate in the virtual meeteight officials is warranted because they have ings at which votes were taken.

The judge is being asked to consider whether become “an offense to the church and to its good the upcoming meeting would violate the previ- name by reason of immoral or un-Christian-like ous order and whether the pastor, Dr. William conduct.” Their offense: They filed a civil suit E. Jackson Sr., and the chair of the Deacon to overturn their original dismissal rather than

settling the issue in a “Christian manner” as spelled out in the Bible.

The letter also alleges that the “trustees and Finance Team breached their spiritual and fiduciary dues” by seeking to lay off rather than continue to pay the church’s four part-time staff after the building was closed because of the pandemic and in voting not to seek in 2020 a government Payroll Protection Program loan to ensure there was money to cover wages.

Meanwhile, the church’s law firm, Showers & Associates, has set up a new corporation, Fourth Baptist Church at P Street in Richmond, VA, according to the State Corporation Commission, though no officers or directors were listed. The congregation would need to vote to approve it before the corporation could become fully operational.

Poor People’s Campaign, lawmakers unveil sweeping resolution to tackle poverty Religion News Service

WASHINGTON Lawmakers and leaders of the faith-based Poor People’s Campaign unveiled a sweeping new resolution on May 20 designed to eradicate poverty in the United States, with activists touting it as a broad-based legislative framework that hopes to do for poverty what the Green New Deal proposes to do for environmental issues.

Speaking to media at the U.S. Capitol, lawmakers said the resolution, titled “Third Reconstruction: Fully Addressing Poverty and Low Wages From the Bottom Up,” was designed to address a wide range of issues, from wages to voting rights to climate change.

Rep. Barbara Lee of California said the omnibus resolution, which will be formally introduced this week, was the result of a years-long process that has culminated in what she called a “profound and moral document, but also a practical, progressive document.”

“We’re calling on Congress and the Biden administration to develop a legislative framework to realize a third reconstruction to fully address poverty and low wages from the bottom up,” said Rep. Lee, who chairs the Majority Leader’s Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity.

She was joined by cosponsor Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington state.

“Let us remind ourselves that we are all better off when we are all better off,” said Rep. Jayapal, a chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and a member of the Congressional Freethought Caucus.

She said as liberal lawmak-

tion, arguing that the cause of combating poverty is difficult but just.

“In my faith tradition, we have a saying: Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief,” said Rep.

Jacobs, who is Jewish. “Love justly now, walk humbly now.

You are not obligated to finish the task, but neither are you free to abandon it.”

Rep. Bush, who is a pastor, argued that “poverty is a policy

choice” before declaring: “With this resolution, we’ve come together as lawmakers and advocates, as people of faith and as people of conscience, because we choose affirming life over inflicting violence.”

Riverview

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Sunday School – 9:30 AM Sunday Services – 11:00 AM

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Jack Jenkins/Religion News Service

Rep. Barbara Lee of California speaks May 20 about a new resolution titled “Third Reconstruction: Fully Addressing Poverty and Low Wages From the Bottom Up” on Capitol Hill in Washington.

ers work to pass legislation in the future, “everything we do has to be centered on how we lift up the poor and eradicate poverty.”

Poor People’s Campaign officials said the resolution’s proposals mirror long-standing goals of the activist group. They include raising the federal minimum wage, creating a federal jobs program, scaling back military spending, instituting a wealth tax, enacting immigration reform, passing legislation that would expand and protect voting rights and “measuring poverty accurately.”

The resolution is evidence of the growing political influence wielded by the Poor People’s Campaign, which has spent several years working to frame poverty as a religious and moral issue.

The reference to a “third reconstruction” is an homage to an argument often invoked by the Rev. William Barber II, co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign, that after laws passed during

two reconstructions helped uplift Black Americans and others — the first after the Civil War and another catalyzed by the Civil Rights Movement of the mid-20th century — the United States is in need of a third reconstruction to bring about racial equality and economic justice.

Rev. Barber, flanked by Poor People’s Campaign co-chair the Rev. Liz Theoharis, reiterated the idea during last week’s news conference.

Among the lawmakers in attendance were Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri, Rep. Sara Jacobs of California, Rep. Gwen Moore of Wisconsin, Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, Reps. Danny Davis and Jan Schakowsky of Illinois and Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan.

Some, such as Rep. Jacobs, invoked their faith while expressing support for the resolu-

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

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

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Be safe. Be blessed.

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

7M\XL &ETXMWX 'LYVGL

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

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

8LIQI JSV 1SFMPM^MRK *SV 1MRMWXV] 6IJVIWLMRK 8LI 3PH ERH )QIVKMRK 8LI 2I[ A 21st Century Church With Ministry For Everyone

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Sunday Service will not be held in our sanctuary.

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

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400 South Addison Street Richmond, Va. 23220

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

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

Thirty-first Street Baptist Church

C

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

Please join us on

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

“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

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

Richmond Free Press

May 27-29, 2021 B5

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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, June 7, 2021 at 1:30 p.m. and the Council of the City of Richmond has scheduled a public hearing on Monday, June 14, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. to consider the following ordinances: Ordinance No. 2021-129 To amend Ord. No. 9430-133, adopted Jun. 13, 1994, which authorized the special use of the properties known as 205 and 207 North Shields Avenue for the purpose of a restaurant and two dwelling units, together with accessory parking, to allow outdoor dining, upon certain terms and conditions. The property is situated in a R-6 Single-Family Attached Residential District. The Richmond 300 Master Plan designates the future land use category for neighborhood MixedUses. Primary uses are single-family houses, accessory dwelling units, duplexes, small multifamily buildings and open space. Secondary uses include retail, office, and personal services.

Ordinance No. 2021-130 To amend Ord. No. 2011-009-23, adopted Feb. 28, 2011, which authorized the special use of the property known as 405 Brook Road as a restaurant on a portion of the ground level of the building with a waiver of parking requirements, to allow a brewery, upon certain terms and conditions. The property is situated in a R-02 Residential Office District.

The Richmond 300 Master Plan designates the future land use category for neighborhood MixedUses. Primary uses are single-family houses, accessory dwelling units, duplexes, small multi-family buildings and open space. Secondary uses include retail, office, and personal services. Secondary Uses: Large multifamily buildings, retail/office/ personal service, institutional, cultural, and government.

Ordinance No. 2021-131 To authorize the special use of the property known as 212 East Clay Street for the purpose of a mixeduse building, upon certain terms and conditions. The property is situated in a B-2 Community Business Zoning District. The City’s Richmond 300 Master Plan designates a future land use for the subject property as Neighborhood Mixed Use. Primary Uses: Single family houses, accessory dwelling units, duplexes, small multifamily buildings (typically 3-10 units), and open space. Secondary Uses: Large multi-family buildings (10+units), retail/ office/personal service, institutional, cultural, and government.

Ordinance No. 2021-132 To authorize the special use of the property known as 501 Oliver Hill Way for the purpose of warehouse, brewery, and food and beverage manufacturing uses, upon certain terms and conditions. The property is situated in a B-5C Central Business Conditional District. The Richmond 300 Master Plan designates the future land use category for the subject property as Destination MixedUse. Primary Uses: r e t a i l / o ff i c e / p e r s o n a l service, multi-family residential, cultural, and open space. Secondary Uses: Institutional and government.

Ordinance No. 2021-133 To authorize the special use of the properties known as 1705 Chamberlayne Parkway, 1705 ½ Chamberlayne P a r k w a y, 1707 Chamberlayne Parkway, 1716 Roane Street, 1718 Roane Street, 710 West Fells Street, and 712 West Fells Street for the purpose of a multifamily dwelling, upon certain terms and conditions.

The property is situated in a B-6 Mixed-Use Business District. The Richmond 300 Master Plan designates the future land use category for Industrial Mixed-Use. Primary uses are retail/ office/personal service, multi-family residential, cultural, and open space.

Ordinance No. 2021-134 To authorize the special use of the property known as 2015 North Continued on next column

Avenue for the purpose of a two-family detached dwelling, upon certain terms and conditions.

The property is situated in a R-6 Single-Family Attached Residential District. The Richmond 300 Master Plan designates the future land use for Residential Use. Primary uses are singlefamily houses, accessory dwelling units, and open space. Secondary Uses: Duplexes and small multifamily buildings (typically 3-10 units), institutional, and cultural. Secondary uses may be found along major streets.

Ordinance No. 2021-135 To authorize the special use of the property known as 3511 P Street, for the purpose of a community center, upon certain terms and conditions.

The property is situated in an R-5 Single-Family Residential District. The Richmond 300 Master Plan designates the future land use for Neighborhood Mixed-Use. Primary uses are 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. 2021-136 To authorize the special use of the properties known as 3700 Monument Avenue and 1301A North Hamilton Street for the purpose of a multi-family building containing up to 263 units, upon certain terms and conditions.

The property is situated in an R-73 Multi Family Residential Zoning District. The Richmond 300 Master Plan designates the future land use category for the subject property as Corridor Mixed Use. Primary Uses: Retail/ office/personal service, multi-family residential, cultural, and open space. Secondary Uses: Single family houses, institutional, and government. The density of the proposed development is approximately 105 units per acre.

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

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

The agenda for the Richmond City Council meeting is accessible through the City’s legislative website at the following web address: https://richmondva. legistar.com/Calendar. aspx. To view the agenda at the web address provided, find and click the link that reads, “Agenda” associated with the June 14, 2021 Richmond City Council Formal meeting listed in the calendar.

Interested citizens who wish to speak at the Richmond City Council meeting will be given an opportunity to do so by following the “Formal Meeting Citizen Participation Instructions” attached to the June 14, 2021 Richmond City Council Formal meeting agenda.

Citizens are encouraged to provide their comments in writing to CityClerksOffice@ richmondgov.com in lieu of calling in. The person responsible for receiving comments in writing is Candice D. Reid, City Clerk. All comments received prior to 10:00 a.m. on Monday, June 14, 2021, will be provided to Council members prior to the meeting and will be included in the record of the meeting.

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

Candice D. Reid City Clerk

City of Richmond, Virginia CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the Council of the City of Richmond has scheduled a public hearing, open to all interested citizens, on Monday, June 7, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. to consider the following ordinance: Ordinance No. 2021-139 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for an on behalf of the City of Richmond, to accept funds in the amount of $2,097,416.68 from the School Board of the City of Richmond and to appropriate the funds received to the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 General Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Office of the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Human Services by $2,097,416.68 for the purpose of funding payments to providers of emergency childcare and virtual learning support through the end of the 2020-2021 school year and reimbursing the City for payments made by the City in Feb., 2021, to four providers of emergency childcare and virtual learning support.

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

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

The agenda for the Richmond City Council meeting is accessible through the City’s legislative website at the following web address: https://richmondva. legistar.com/Calendar. aspx. To view the agenda at the web address provided, find and click the link that reads, “Agenda” associated with the June 7, 2021 Richmond City Council Special meeting listed in the calendar.

Interested citizens who wish to speak at the Richmond City Council meeting will be given an opportunity to do so by following the “Special Meeting Citizen Participation Instructions” attached to the June 7, 2021 Richmond City Council Special meeting agenda.

Citizens are encouraged to provide their comments in writing to CityClerksOffice@ richmondgov.com in lieu of calling in. The person responsible for receiving comments in writing is Candice D. Reid, City Clerk. All comments received prior to 10:00 a.m. on Monday, June 7, 2021, will be provided to Council members prior to the meeting and will be included in the record of the meeting.

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

Candice D. Reid City Clerk

Divorce VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER CHERYL BECOATJACKSON, Plaintiff v.

JAMES JACKSON Defendant.

Case No.: CL21001888-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, whose whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 13th day of July, 2021 at 9:00 AM, and protect his interests.

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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

Case No.: CL20004183-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to: Divorce.

It is ordered that Sala El appear at the above-named court and protect his/her interests on or before June 21, 2021 at 9:00 AM.

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 17th day of June, 2021 at 9:00 AM and protect his interests.

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

but not limited to rights of: visitation; adoption consent; determination of religious affiliation; and responsibility for support.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Daisha Woodruff (Mother), Tony Hornes (Father) & Unknown (Father) to appear at the abovenamed Court and protect his/her interest on or before 08/09/2021, at 2:30 PM, Courtroom #4

Serve: 3315 Dorset Road Richmond, Virginia 23234 GREGORY CUNNINGHAM, Serve: 1108 E 17th Street Richmond, Virginia 23224 JON CUNNINGHAM, Serve: 804 Brook Hill Road, Apt 532 Richmond, Virginia 23227 TRACEY CUNNINGHAM, Serve: 3448 Chapel Dr. Richmond, Virginia 23224 PAUL CUNNINGHAM, Serve: 2017 Fairfield Ave, Apt A Richmond, Virginia 23223 ACQUILLA COLEMAN PERKINS, Serve: 4901 Laudeen Drive North Chesterfield, Virginia 23234 ROCHELLE EDMONICA COLEMAN, Serve: 2510 Gravel Hill Road Richmond, Virginia 23225 MARGEURITE ANN TURNER, Serve: 2510 Gravel Hill Road Richmond, Virginia 23225 JAMES M. COLEMAN, JR., Serve: 5634 Hogan Bridge Drive Providence Forge, Virginia 23140 SARAH L. SMITH, EXECUTOR OF THE ESTATE OF HERBERT W. SMITH, Serve: 3110 Lees Landing Road Powhatan, Virginia 23139 ALL UNKNOWN HEIRS OF SAM GREEN, ALL UNKNOWN HEIRS OF BEVERLY GREEN, ALL UNKNOWN HEIRS OF EDMONIA GREEN SMITH, ALL UNKNOWN HEIRS OF ELIZBETH BEATRICE CUNNINGHAM MOON, ALL UNKNOWN HEIRS OF ROSEZIER MAVIS COLEMAN, ALL UNKNOWN HEIRS OF CLARENCE EDWARD FRYE, ALL UNKNOWN HEIRS OF CLARENCE EDWARD FRYE, JR., and PA R T I E S U N K N O W N , including but not limited to all unknown heirs, devisees, and successors in interest to those named herein or anyone claiming an interest in this action Defendants.

Case No. 211375-8 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is for an order of partition sale concerning that certain real property, located in the City of Richmond, Virginia located on Gravel Hill Road, City of Richmond, Virginia 23225, Tax Map Number C0040826002, and more particularly described as follows, to wit:

ALL that certain lot, piece or parcel of land lying and being in the City of Richmond, Virginia, known as 2580 Gravel Hill Road, containing 2.00 acres and more particularly described as:

BEGINNING at a point in the southern boundary of State Route 689 and at its intersection with the western line of Gravel Hill Road; thence from such point of beginning S. 32 dg. 11’57” E. 55.00 feet to a point; thence N. 28 dg. 25’ 35” W. 653.08 feet to a point; thence N. 61 deg. 33’ N. 105.00 feet to a point; thence N. 28 deg. 27’ E 682.50 feet to the point and place of beginning.

Being that same property conveyed unto Plaintiff, Gravel Hill Baptist Church, by deed dated January 31, 2017 from Sarah L. Smith, executor of the estate of Herbert W. Smith and recorded in the Clerk’s Office of the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond, Virginia as instrument no. 17-2182.

And further being that same property claimed to have been conveyed unto Herbert W. Smith from Edmonia Smith, maiden name Edmonia Green, by operation of law.

Based upon information and belief Edmonia Smith was married to Herbert W. Smith on October 29, 1956, and remained married to him until the time of her death; however, Herbert W. Smith was not the biological father of her children. Based on information and belief, Edmonia Smith had three children from her marriage to Monroe James Frye; and those three children were Elizabeth Beatrice Cunningham Moon, Rosezier Mavis Coleman, and Clarence Edward Frye.

Based on information and belief, Elizabeth Beatrice Cunningham Moon departed this life on May 19, 2019, leaving behind her spouse, Roy Moon, and her children from her first marriage to McKenly Cunningham.

Such children are Vaughan Cunningham, Theresa Bailey, Faith Goodall, Sterling Cunningham, Lisa Shelton, Gregory Cunningham, Jon Cunningham, Tracey Cunningham, and Paul Cunningham; she was predeceased by three children: Ethel Cunningham, Herbert Cunningham, and Maurice Cunningham. Based on information and belief, Rosezier Mavis Coleman departed this life on February 15, 2015, leaving behind her children Acquilla Coleman Perkins, Rochelle Edmonica Coleman, Margeurite Ann Turner, and James M. Coleman, Jr. Based on information and belief, Clarence Edward Frye departed this life on February 25, 1994, leaving behind his son, Clarence Edward Frye, Jr., who departed this life on March 27, 2020. It is unclear what heirs Clarence Edward Frye, Jr. may have left, if any.

An affidavit having been made and filed in this Court

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER CHARMIN CLARENCE, Plaintiff v.

MELVIN CLARENCE, Defendant.

Case No.: CL21001869-00 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 6th day of July, 2021 at 9:00 AM, and protect his interests.

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

CHRISTOPHER STAGG, Defendant.

Case No.: CL21001232-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, who has been served with the Complaint by posted service appear here on or before the 6th day of July, 2021 at 9:00 AM, and protect his interests.

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

EDWARD JONES, Defendant.

Case No.: CL21001282-00 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 6th day of July, 2021 at 9:00 AM and protect his interests.

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

Case No.: CL20001903-00 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 17th day of July, 2021 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 HANOVER CIRCUIT COURT Commonwealth of Virginia, in re BRIAN LAMONT GREEN v SALA EL Continued on next column

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER MAURICE SMITH, Plaintiff v.

CASSANDRA SMITH, Defendant.

Case No.: CL21001061-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, who has been served with the Complaint by posted service appear here on or before the 1st day of July, 2021 at 9:00 AM, and protect her interests.

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

AKILAH AR-RAHEEM, Defendant.

Case No.: CL21001642-00 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 23rd day of June, 2021 at 9:00 AM and protect his interests.

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

PURCELL JEFFERSON, III, Defendant.

Case No.: CL21001573-00 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 17th day of June, 2021 at 9:00 AM and protect his interests.

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

Case No.: CL21001626-00 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 6th day of June, 2021 at 9:00 AM, and protect his interests.

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

FREZELL BROWN, Defendant.

Case No.: CL21001672-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from Continued on next column

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER JULIKZA ESTEVEZ, Plaintiff v.

GODFREY PARKINSON, JR., Defendant.

Case No.: CL21001594-00 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 17th day of June, 2021 at 9:00 AM and protect his interests.

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

TAMIKA WATKINS, Defendant.

Case No.: CL21001663-00 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 21st day of June, 2021 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

Custody VIRGINIA: IN THE JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND Commonwealth of Virginia, in re KHAZA WOODRUFF RDSS V. DAISHA WOODRUFF, JARON CAREY, UNKNOWN FATHER File No. JJ097254-08-09-10 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“TPR”) of the (Mother) Daisha Woodruff, (Father) Jaron Carey & the Unknown Father of Khaza Woodruff DOB 11/18/2018, child. “TPR” means all rights and responsibilities remaining with parent after transfer of legal custody or guardianship of the person, including but not limited to rights of: visitation; adoption consent; determination of religious affiliation; and responsibility for support.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Daisha Woodruff (Mother), Jaron Carey (Father) & Unknown (Father) to appear at the abovenamed Court and protect his/her interest on or before 08/09/2021, at 2:30 PM, Courtroom #4 VIRGINIA: IN THE JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND Commonwealth of Virginia, in re TRINITY HORNES RDSS V. DAISHA WOODRUFF, TONY HORNES, UNKNOWN FATHER File No. JJ095632-06-07-08 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“TPR”) of the (Mother) Daisha Woodruff, (Father) Tony Hornes & the Unknown Father of Trinity Hornes DOB 04/19/2016, child. “TPR” means all rights and responsibilities remaining with parent after transfer of legal custody or guardianship of the person, including Continued on next column

VIRGINIA: IN THE JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND Commonwealth of Virginia, in re LEILIANA LYNNAE FELIX RDSS v.

UNKNOWN FATHER, JENNIFER LYNN WARNER Case No. J-97950-06, 07-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“RPR”) Unknown Father (Father) & Jennifer Lynn Warner (Mother), o f L e i l i ana Lynna e Felix, child, DOB 9/22/2019, “RPR” means all rights and responsibilities remaining with parent after transfer of legal custody or guardianship of the person, including but not limited to rights of: visitation; adoption consent; determination of religious affiliation; and responsibility for support.

It is ORDERED that the defendants, Unknown Father, (Father) & Jennifer Lynn Warner (Mother), to appear at the abovenamed Court and protect his/her interest on or before 6/11/2021, at 10:20 AM, Courtroom #1.

VIRGINIA: IN THE JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND Commonwealth of Virginia, in re ISAIAH ANTHONY GILCHRIST RDSS v.

SAMUEL BLY, Unknown father, & andrea renee gilchrist File No. J-98407-8, 9, 10 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“RPR”) of Samuel Bly, (Father), Unknown (Father), & Andrea Renee Gilchrist (Mother), of Isaiah Anthony Gilchrist, child DOB: 7/27/2011.

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

It is ORDERED that the defendants Samuel Bly, (Father), Unknown Father (Father), Andrea Renee Gilchrist (Mother) to appear at the above-named Court and protect his/her interest on or before 7/20/2021, at 9:40 AM, Courtroom #2.

VIRGINIA: IN THE JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND Commonwealth of Virginia, in re DESTINI RENEE GILCHRIST RDSS v.

DEVIN RONALD WILLIAMS, SR., Unknown father, & andrea renee gilchrist File No. J-98757-4, 5, 6 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“RPR”) of Devin Ronald Williams, Sr., (Father), Unknown (Father), & Andrea Renee Gilchrist (Mother), of Destini Renee Gilchrist, child DOB: 6/17/2016. “RPR” means all rights and responsibilities remaining with Parent after transfer of legal custody or guardianship of the person, including but not limited to rights of: Visitation; adoption consent; determination of religious affiliation; and responsibility for support and that:

It is ORDERED that the defendants Devin Ronald Williams, Sr., (Father), Unknown Father (Father), Andrea Renee Gilchrist (Mother) to appear at the above-named Court and protect his/her interest on or before 7/20/2021, at 9:40 AM, Courtroom #2.

PROPERTY VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE CITY OF RICHMOND GRAVEL HILL BAPTIST CHURCH, an unincorporated non-stock, non-profit entity Plaintiff v.

ROY MOON, Serve: 467 Westover Hill Blvd, Apt 106 Richmond, Virginia 23225 VAUGHAN CUNNINGHAM, Serve: 8509 Spring Hollow Drive Richmond, Virginia 23227 THERESA BAILEY, Serve: 5108 Downy Lane, Apt 204 Henrico, Virginia 23228 FAITH GOODALL, Unknown address Serve by Publication STERLING CUNNINGHAM, Unknown address Serve by Publication LISA SHELTON, Continued on next column

Continued on next page

Richmond Free Press

B6 May 27-29, 2021

Sports Plus

Steph Curry finishes season with NBA scoring title

By Fred Jeter

Steph Curry enjoyed a banner season, but his team, the Golden State Warriors, didn’t.

The 33-year-old veteran used a strong finish to win his second NBA scoring title, edging the Washington Wizards’ Bradley Beal for the honor.

Curry averaged 32.0 points per game, with Beal a strong runner up at 31.3 points per game.

Also, Curry broke his own record for 3-pointers per game, recording 5.3 per game.

Despite the former Davidson College star’s heroics, the Warriors failed to make the NBA playoffs for the second year in

a row. Their season ended with play-in tournament losses to the Los Angeles Lakers and the Memphis Grizzlies.

Curry, who finished the regular season with 46 points against Memphis, scored 30 or more points on 38 occasions, with highs of 62, 57, 53 and 49 twice.

Along with his prolific scoring, Curry averaged 5.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists an outing.

Curry was league MVP in 2015 and 2016, and led the Warriors to NBA championships in 2015, 2017 and 2018.

In doing so, he joins Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem AbdulJabbar with multiple scoring titles, MVPs and championships.

He is the second oldest player to win

a scoring title after Jordan, who was 35 when he won his record 10th scoring crown in 1998.

The NBA playoffs are underway and will continue through July. The Utah Jazz had the best overall record during the regular season, 52-20, followed by the Phoenix Suns, 51-21, and the Philadelphia 76ers at 49-23.

First round, best-of-seven matchups: Miami vs. Milwaukee Dallas vs. Los Angeles Clippers Boston vs. Brooklyn Portland vs. Denver Washington vs. Philadelphia Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Atlanta vs. New York Knicks Memphis vs. Utah

Leaders of the pack Here are the NBA’s individual statistical champions for 2020-21: Scoring: Steph Curry, Golden State, 32.0; Bradley Beal, Washington, 31.3; Damian Lillard, Portland, 28.8.

Rebounding: Clint Capela, Atlanta, 14.3; Rudy Gober t, Utah, 13.5; Jonas Valanciunas, Memphis, 12.5.

Assists: Russell Westbrook, Washington, 11.7; Trae Young, Atlanta, 9.4; Chris Paul, Phoenix, 8.9

Blocked shots: Gobert, 2.7; Nerlens Noel, New York, 2.2; Capela, 2.0 Steals: Jimmy Butler, Miami, 2.1; T.J. McConnell, Brooklyn, 1.9; Fred VanVleet, Toronto, 1.7.

3-pointers per game: Curry, 5.3; Lillard, 4.1; Buddy Hield, Sacramento, 4.0.

Legal Notices/Employment Opportunities Continued from previous page

that due diligence has been used on behalf of the Plaintiff to ascertain the location of many of the Defendants, but without effect, and that the last known address of many of the Defendants is unknown or not located in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

It is hereby ORDERED that his Order be published at least once a week for four successive weeks in the Richmond Free Press, a newspaper of general circulation within The City of Richmond, Virginia, and that the parties named herein appear on or before June 21, 2021 in the Clerk’s Office of the Circuit Court for the City of Richmond, Virginia, and do what may be necessary to protect their respective interests in this suit.

Teste: Edward F. Jewett, Clerk I ASK FOR THIS: Danielle J. Wang VSB# 85964 Howard Bullock VSB# 86760 SHAHEEN LAW FIRM, PC 8890 Three Chopt Road Richmond, Virginia 23229 Phone: (804) 474-9423; Fax: (888) 641-3611 dwang@shaheenlaw.com hbullock@shaheenlaw.com Counsel for Plaintiff

NOTICE COUNTY OF HENRICO, VIRGINIA CONSTRUCTION BID

ITB #21-2169-5JOK Deep Run Park – Recreation Center Addition and Restroom Building Due: June 22, 2021 at 2:00 p.m.

For additional information visit: https://henrico.us/ finance/divisions/purchasing/ solicitations/

Bethlehem Road Improvement Project - Henrico County Virginia Notice of Willingness The County of Henrico is proposing improvements to Bethlehem Road between Libbie Avenue and Staples Mill Road. The proposed roadway will consist of two lanes, one in each direction with a center turn lane to provide left turn access throughout the corridor. New curb and gutter and improved drainage will be provided. In addition, a shared use path, providing access to pedestrians and bicyclists, will be constructed on the south side of the improved roadway and a sidewalk will be added along the north side. Proposed intersection improvements at Libbie Avenue include a single lane roundabout.

Construction is currently planned to begin in December 2022.

The project information includes the proposed roadway intersection improvements, project schedule, and funding which can be reviewed at the County of Henrico, Department of Public Works, Administration Annex Building, 4305 E. Parham Road, Henrico, Virginia. Telephone: (804) 501-4244. ,I \RXU FRQFHUQV FDQQRW EH VDWLV¿HG WKH &RXQW\ LV ZLOOLQJ WR KROG D public hearing. You may request a public hearing by sending a written request to Conner Barnes, P. O. Box 90775, Henrico, VA 23273-0775, on or before June 4, 2021. If a request for a public hearing is received, notice of the date, time, and place of the public hearing will be provided.

The County ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you need more information or assistance for persons ZLWK VSHFLDO QHHGV RU OLPLWHG (QJOLVK SUR¿FLHQF\ FRQWDFW &RQQHU %DUQHV at the above address or phone number or at bar136@henrico.us.

UPC: 113260 Project: VDOT # 9999-043-R36 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL The University of Virginia VHHNV D ðUP WR SURYLGH Coal Delivered by rail for WKH 8QLYHUVLW\·V +HDW 3ODQW., RFP-UVA-00038 https://bids. sciquest.com/apps/Router/ PublicEvent?CustomerO or email: pur-rfp@eservices. virginia.edu Charge the VISA account for Connie Alexander and email tear sheet and copy of the invoice to Connie atcds9r@virginia.edu

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.

To advertise in the Richmond Free Press call 804-644-0496

Henrico County Public Hearing Ridge Road Sidewalk This project involves the construction of 0.36 miles of sidewalk on the southwest side of Ridge Road between Old Providence Circle and N. Ridge Road. Approximately 260 linear feet of new curb and gutter and road widening is to be constructed along the southwest side of Ridge Road between Ziontown Road and the adjacent business parcel.

The purpose of this meeting is to provide information about the project and receive public input. The meeting will be open-house format and County staff will be available to answer questions.

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

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

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The meeting will be held at the Tuckahoe Library, 1901 Starling Drive, Henrico, VA 23229 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 9, 2021.

Richmond Ambulance Authority Notice of Request for Proposal Benefits Brokerage and Consulting Services

Tourism Counselor (Part-Time)

Northern Virginia Gateway Welcome Center Ruther Glen, VA The Virginia Tourism Corporation is seeking a Tourism Counselor for its Virginia Welcome Center at Ruther Glen who is willing to work 8 to 12 days per month. The center is open 7 days per week from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. This individual will provide travel information and assistance to the traveling public, stock brochure racks, assist the welcome center manager with `> Þ «iÀ>Ì Ã > ` «iÀv À }i iÀ> vwVi duties.

All candidates must apply through our website https://www.vatc.org/administration/ employment/. Application deadline: June 4, 2021.

VTC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, veteran status, political >vw >Ì ] }i iÌ VÃ] À >}> ÃÌ Ì iÀÜ Ãi µÕ> wi` ` Û `Õ> Ã Ü Ì ` Ã>L Ì ið Ì Ã 6/ ½Ã intent that its employment and personnel « V ià > ` «À>VÌ Vià V v À Ì > >«« V>L i federal, state and local laws and regulations Ài}>À` } ` ÃVÀ >Ì > ` >vwÀ >Ì Ûi action. Applicants requiring more information or requiring assistance may contact VTC Human Resources at 1-804-545-5634 or vtchr@ vedp.org. TDD 1-800-828-1120

Solicitation Number: 21-03 The Richmond Ambulance Authority (RAA) hereby invites bids from qualified brokers to assist RAA with strategically planning, designing, negotiating, and implementing the best coverage and cost for selective employee benefit programs, pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in or referred to in the Request for Proposal (RFP).

All proposals must be received at the Authority’s offices no later than 3:00pm ET on July 16, 2021. Interested parties may obtain a copy of the RFP by contacting: Shawn Wray Compliance Manager Richmond Ambulance Authority 2400 Hermitage Road Richmond, Virginia 23220 804-254-1185 shawn.wray@raaems.org Or Visit: https://raaems.org/about-procurement/

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804.358.5543

AVAILABLE Downtown Richmond first floor office suite 5th and Franklin Streets 422 East Franklin Street Richmond, Virginia 23219

Bedros Bandazian

Associate Broker, Chairman

Raffi Bandazian

Principal Broker, GRI