Richmond Free Press November 29 to December 1, 2018

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Richmond Free Press

VOL. 27 NO. 48

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RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

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November 29-DeCEMBER 1, 2018

Coliseum’s success raises new questions about need to replace it Advocate aims to change RPS culture through Restorative Practices program

By Ronald E. Carrington

An activist who moves people with the beat of drums will now have his hand on the pulse of Richmond Public Schools as the new manager of School Climate and Culture Strategy.

The Restorative Practices pilot program, led by artistic director of “Drums No Gun” Dr. Ram Bhagat, will be housed in three middle schools — Albert H. Hill in the West End, Martin Luther King Jr. in the East End and Boushall in the South Side.

Each school will have a Restorative Practices Room for self-care where students given in-school suspensions can resolve conflict situations by calming and cooling down or have someone to talk if they are having a tough day.

Any student will be able to go to the room to decompress, refresh and center themselves. Teachers and staff needing to use the space to unwind or reboot are welcome as well.

“Each school’s Restorative Justice Leadership Team has teachers and staff committed to the training and practicing of restorative justice and getting the project off the ground,” said Dr. Bhagat, whose job involves being the trainer.

Dr. Bhagat, who is conducting training through the end of the school year, is starting with having teams understand the philosophy, applications and principles of the Talking Circle Process — engaging and building relationship — which helps to build trust between students and adults.

Additionally, Cultural Responsive Please turn to A4

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

The 13,500-seat Richmond Coliseum has been the busiest arena in Virginia during the past six years, according to a Chicago-based consulting company that was paid $500,000 by the city to review a proposal to replace the facility.

Hunden Strategic Partners found that the 47-year-old arena averaged more events per year than the four other indoor arenas in Virginia combined. It also hosted more events than each of the far larger arenas in Greensboro and Raleigh, N.C. The findings raise questions as to why a new, larger coliseum is needed, a question advocates have yet to fully address. Indeed, the only public response to date has been that other state capitals have nicer, larger coliseums than Richmond.

According to the study Hunden delivered to the city and its financial consultant on Oct. 31, the Richmond Coliseum hosted 550 events from 2013 to 2018, or an average of 92 concerts, sporting events, conferences and other activities per year.

By comparison, the University of Virginia’s 15,200-seat John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, which is described as Richmond’s toughest in-state competition for concerts, hosted an average of 10 ticketed events a year in the three-year period

Related story on A2

Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

Dr. Ram Bhagat sits in the Restorative Practices Room at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School that will be used for in-school suspension students to work with trained staff to better handle conflicts.

from 2015 to 2017, Hunden reported.

The consultants also reported that, during the same period, the 13,800-seat Hampton Coliseum averaged only 3.5 ticketed events a year; the 13,000-seat Norfolk Scope averaged six ticketed events a year; and Roanoke’s 10,500-seat Berglund Center averaged 3.5 ticketed events a year.

According to Hunden, Richmond’s indoor arena also was busier than Virginia Beach’s outdoor amphitheatre, which hosted an average of 25.5 events per year during the period from 2015 to 2017.

Indeed, the 23,000-seat Greensboro, N.C., Coliseum Complex and the 19,722-seat Raleigh, N.C., PNC Arena had less activity, Hunden reported. Greensboro hosted an average of 13 ticketed events during the 2015-2017 period, while Raleigh hosted an average of eight ticketed events a year during that period.

According to Hunden, even Washington’s 20,500-seat Capital One Arena, home to the Washington Capitals pro hockey team, the Washington Wizards pro basketball team and Georgetown University’s men’s basketball team, averaged only 35 ticketed events a year during the same timeframe.

The study essentially belies the claims of advocates for a new facility, who suggest that the Richmond Coliseum is a failed “white elephant’ that costs city taxpayers too much — about $1.5 million a year for operations and debt repayment — and delivers too little.

Please turn to A4

Council committee blocks entry of medical transport company into Richmond market

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

A City Council committee has rebuffed Mayor Levar M. Stoney’s attempt to end the Richmond Ambulance Authority’s 28-year monopoly on emergency and nonemergency medical transports.

By a 3-0 vote, the council’s Public Safety Committee led by 8th District Councilwoman Reva M. Trammell voted to ask the full council to strike a Stoney-introduced

ordinance opening the door to competition to RAA on non-emergency service.

The mayor had recommended a permit for an Atlantabased company, Western-Star Ambulance Authority Inc., which has established a presence in Henrico County for its operating arm, Metro Health EMS. The bottom line concern among the council committee: That RAA stood to lose a major chunk of the money it earns from non-emergency transport service that now goes

to support the far more expensive emergency services.

That formula helps ease the pressure on City Council to provide subsidies to RAA. The committee also found that city officials, including Fire Chief Melvin Carter, failed to note that Metro Health’s chief operating officer, B. Lamont Doyle, is barred from doing business with the federal government because of a Please turn to A4

Fire Chief Carter

Mayor: Social Services would still have City Hall office if headquarters moved

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Delicious!

Jabriel Birchett, 5, takes a bite of his roll on Thanksgiving Day and doesn’t want to let go. The youngster was enjoying good food with family at The Giving Heart Community Thanksgiving Feast at the Greater Richmond Convention Center in Downtown.

Please see more photos, B3.

The Richmond Department of Social Services would continue to have a presence at City Hall even if its headquarters building is moved to a distant location to make way for development of an apartment and retail complex as part of the Richmond Coliseum replacement plan.

So said Mayor Levar M. Stoney in response to concerns from City Council members that moving the department from Downtown would make it harder for the city’s poorest residents to meet with social workers or apply for food stamps, Medicaid and other services.

Two council members told the Free Press that they have been speaking in opposition to a move because the mayor and his staff never told them about plans to keep a Social Services office in Downtown.

The mayor said the city would never deliberately seek to create a hardship for Social Services clients.

“It would make no sense to build a new GRTC transfer center as part of the coliseum development and not have residents able to have access to Social Services” nearby, Mayor Stoney said on Nov. 16.

Space is being set aside for GRTC to develop a modern, indoor transfer space as part of the proposal to replace the 47-year-old Richmond Coliseum and bring new apartments, a hotel and other private

developments to an adjacent 10-block section of Downtown.

Mayor Stoney did not offer any specifics as to what such a City Hall space for Social Services would offer and whether it would Mayor Stoney relieve the need for people to travel to the department’s proposed new offices that might be located 6 miles away in a hard-to-reach commercial

district in South Side.

The mayor’s response came after several members of City Council raised concerns about his proposal to move the department’s offices that now sit across from City Hall to a commercial area on Walmsley Boulevard near the Philip Morris cigarette factory, an area that has limited GRTC bus service.

Mayor Stoney previously said that the city intends to increase its subsidy to GRTC Please turn to A4

Pressure mounts for councilman to resign Council President Chris A. Hilbert, 3rd District, who exRichmond City Councilman pressed disappointment in Mr. Parker C. Agelasto could soon Agelasto and the problem he has face fresh pressure to resign from created for his colleagues, said his 5th District seat following his last Friday that he is seeking a admission last week that he and formal opinion from City Attorhis family now live in a West ney Allen L. Jackson on whether Franklin Street house located the City Charter authorizes the Mr. Agelasto in the 1st District. council to remove a member.

While Mr. Agelasto has declined to One section of the charter empowers make any more statements, City Council the council to be the judge of “the elecis quietly considering what steps it might Please turn to A4 need to take.

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

A2 November 29-December 1, 2018

Richmond Free Press

Local News

Carver Elementary loses national Blue Ribbon award

By Ronald E. Carrington

Richmond’s George W. Carver Elementary School is no longer a national Blue Ribbon school.

The U.S. Department of Education announced Tuesday that it was stripping the school of the national award given to the school in 2016 for academic achievement.

The action followed a state investigation earlier this year showing that the school’s exceptional student achievement results were because of a system of cheating used by the former principal and several teachers to help students on state Standards of Learning tests.

The Leigh Street school was one of only seven in the state and 329 in the country that received the national honor two years ago.

Richmond Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras said he supports the federal agency’s decision to revoke the award and will follow the department’s direction to remove any reference to Carver receiving it.

School Board member James “Scott” Barlow, whose 2nd District includes Carver Elementary, expressed disappointment at the revocation, but added, “It doesn’t change our mission to provide a nurturing and impactful educational environment for all of our children.

“We can’t lose sight of that in the aftermath of the investigation,” Mr. Barlow continued. “Despite the trauma that the Carver community has experienced, our students, teachers and families are resilient, and the school is still moving in a positive direction.”

In late July, the Virginia Department of Education issued its finding that Carver students had received inappropriate help on tests from teachers, resulting in a higher percentage of students passing SOL tests than might have otherwise been expected.

The VDOE report included investigators’ interviews of students who said they were helped when they raised their hands with questions. Investigators found that some of the teachers monitoring the testing indicated to students whether answers were correct or incorrect or provided a student with assistance if a question created confusion.

The percentage of Carver students passing SOL tests had trailed state averages before Kiwana Yates became principal at Carver in 2012. Under her leadership, the pass rates began to climb dramatically. The results led Ms. Yates in 2015 to nominate Carver to the U.S. Department of Education for a Blue Ribbon, the top national educational award.

In 2016, Ms. Yates went to the awards ceremony in Washington and received an engraved plaque spelling out the significance of the award. Carver was the only Richmond area school to receive the award.

Ms. Yates was ousted in June, and an interim principal was brought in, before the release of the embarrassing state report alleging that she organized and led a cheating ring to enable the school to show high rates of student success on the SOLs. In one year, 100 percent of students at Carver were reported to have passed reading tests, for example. Ms. Yates officially resigned in August, along with five teachers.

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program was created in 1982 to honor schools that have achieved high levels of student achievement or made significant improvements in closing the achievement gap among student subgroups.

Mayor uses ‘fake news’ moniker for media reports on Coliseum project

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Is Richmond’s mayor adopting President Trump’s habit of labeling media reports he dislikes as “fake news”?

Mayor Levar M. Stoney used the Trumpian expression “fake news” to criticize Richmond media reports on the ambitious plan he has embraced to replace the Richmond Coliseum, according to several people who attended the mayor’s presentation on the plan to the Richmond Crusade for Voters just before Thanksgiving.

Asked about it, Jim Nolan, the mayor’s press secretary, stated that the “mayor made a joke, and everyone laughed.”

People in attendance said the mayor applied the label to news reports that the Coliseum proposal would “divert” or “siphon” tax dollars into a fund to repay over 30-year the money to build a new $220 million arena and construct other public elements instead of having all of the money flow into the general fund to pay for public education, public safety and other services.

As the mayor said at the Nov. 20 Crusade meeting and elsewhere, the Coliseum project is designed to produce additional revenue that would not exist if the city did not approve the Coliseum plan being advanced by a group led by Thomas F. Farrell II, Dominion Energy’s top executive.

However, as outlined, the mayor’s plan shows that the lion’s share of the taxes to be generated initially would go to pay debt on the project. Later in roughly year six of the project, the total amount of new taxes is expected to exceed the amount needed to pay off the debt and thus provide more revenue to the general fund.

In a Facebook post, Style Weekly reporter Jason Roop who attended the meeting disputed the “fake news” label, calling it “accurate and completely, intellectually honest to say that tax revenue in the 80-block area in downtown, during the 30-year period in question, would indeed go to the TIF rather than the general fund.”

According to the plan, about 80 blocks of Downtown between the James River, Interstate 95/64 and 1st and 10th streets would be in the TIF, or Tax Increment Financing District. That includes the 10-block area near City Hall, where the new coliseum as well as affiliated private developments such as a hotel and hundreds of new apartments are to be developed, according to the plan.

If approved, the plan states the TIF District would take any increase in real estate taxes above current levels in the 80 blocks and use that money first to pay off the cost of building the new coliseum, renovating the historic Blues Armory and improving infrastructure involving streets and utilities. Anything left over would come to the city.

That’s all right with the mayor, who noted that projections given to the city suggest that $1.7 billion in new revenue would be generated in taxes over 30 years if the project advances, compared with an estimated $480 million in increased revenue the properties in the proposed TIF District would generate over 30 years if the project did not happen.

However, the city is projected to gain only a small share of new revenue the TIF is projected to generate during the first 15 years of the project — about $13.5 million a year in new revenue.

The city’s share is projected to zoom to $60 million annually in year 16 and then to $90 million annually in year 26.

Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

Cityscape

Krista Waddell, left, and her 5-year-old daughscheduled for 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday nights in ter, Aribella, get ready to join Ian Donselaar, 18, December and January. On most days, the rink center, on RVA On Ice’s skating rink located and skate rental tent open at 3 p.m.; however, at the 17th Street Farmers’ Market near Main Slices of life and scenes skating begins at 11 a.m. on Saturdays and in Richmond Street Station. Sponsored by Capital One, the Sundays. For six years, RVA On Ice operated rink quietly opened just before Thanksgiving at its new location. a rink at 6th and Broad streets. But that stopped in 2016 when It’s official opening will be Friday, Dec. 1. The rink will be open the vacant lot in front of the Dominion Energy Arts Center was seven days a week before wrapping up the season on Monday, paved and outfitted for parking spaces. Details: (804) 234-3905 Jan. 21, Martin Luther King Day. “Rock the Rink” parties are or https://enrichmond.org/17th-street-market/rva-on-ice.

Some ‘Legacy Vendors’ to have spot at renovated 17th Street Farmers’ Market

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Evelyn “Luceal” Allen and Rosa Fleming will be coming back to the 17th Street Farmers’ Market, while Timothy “Tim” Christian likely will not. For now, he will remain by Main Street Station.

The trio are the Legacy Vendors who have been selling produce for decades at the market. There have been worries about their inclusion in the revamped market ever since the city launched a $3 million facelift 16-months ago that involved razing the aging market sheds and remodeling the area into a European-style plaza and festival space.

As the city prepares to officially reopen the 239-year-old market in a ceremony that Mayor Levar M. Stoney will lead 4:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, George Bolos of the Richmond Department of Economic and Community Development provided information on the future.

He said Ms. Allen and Ms. Fleming, who have sold potatoes, greens and other fresh produce for 60 years, had moved their stands to 17th and Franklin streets, just east of the market, for months. He said there are plans for the sisters to return their stands to the market space “upon completion of the market project.”

Despite the ceremony, Mr. Bolos said that some work remains to be finished and he expects it could be “a few more weeks” before the women set up in the market.

He said the city is dedicating two, 15-minute parking spaces nearby on Franklin Street to allow the sisters’ customers to park and purchase from them.

In returning to the market, Ms. Allen and Ms. Fleming have agreed to meet state regulations governing farmers’ markets and food sales, Mr. Bolos said. To avoid the need for refrigeration, they have agreed to end their sale of eggs and to store any unsold inventory offsite, he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Christian relocated outside the Main Street Station during the farmers’ market’s remodeling. He hoped to reinstate his site at the south end of

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Timothy Christian, a fifth-generation vendor at the 17th Street Farmers’ Market, shows off fresh collard greens. Forced to leave the market during construction, he now sets up his stand outside nearby Main Street Station in Shockoe Bottom.

the market, but could not after parking was eliminated on Main Street next to the market to accommodate GRTC’s new Pulse buses, Mr. Bolos said.

Mr. Bolos said the city expects to provide two, 15-minute parking spaces on the site’s east side while Mr. Christian operates.

While some critics believe the Legacy Vendors have not been looked after, Mr. Bolos said that the city has “been responsible to all of the vendors at the market” and has worked with them and their legal representatives.

Mr. Bolos said, however, that some strife resulted from a new insistence that

vendors meet state health and agriculture regulations, which was not previously required.

He said the Legacy Vendors have been given special consideration on their hours of operation and on market access, as well as trying “to keep them close to the same basic area to sell.”

“We want to make a place that is inviting for people to continue to come down, sit and visit with (the Legacy Vendors), all the while buying their goods and services,” he said, and also “opening new opportunities for other vendors who produce fields of red, yellow, green and gold produce to sell and supply our community.”

Brother’s and sister’s keepers

Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

Nearly two dozen people attend the “I Am My Brother’s and Sister’s Keeper” Day program last Friday at the Reconciliation Statue at 15th and Main streets

by Shockoe Bottom. Organized

by Richmond Delegate Delores L. McQuinn, the event sought healing, cooperation, love, peace and an end to violence and racism in the community.

Political, community and faith leaders attended the event, including Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn of Fairfax County.

Following the speeches, the group walked to the Virginia Holocaust Museum on East Cary Street for lunch and a panel discussion.

Richmond Free Press

November 29-December 1, 2018

African-Americans are twice as likely to be at risk for Alzheimer’s Disease.

Among the top 10 causes of death for Americans, Alzheimer’s Disease is the only one that can’t be prevented, cured or slowed. But there are ways to reduce your risk of developing the disease.

Spot it early:

Diagnose it early:

?

? ?

5.7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s Disease. Every 65 seconds, someone develops the disease.

The older you get, the more you’re at risk. The number of people with Alzheimer’s doubles every five years beyond age 65.

Early warning signs include: • Challenges in planning • Difficulty completing routine tasks • Confusion with time or place • Decreased/poor judgement • Changes in mood/personality

The benefits of early and accurate diagnosis: • Potential lower costs for treating dementia • More accurate results in clinical trials

Reduce the risk early:

There’s no cure for Alzheimer’s, but you can reduce your risk of contracting it: • Stay physically and mentally active • Keep socially involved • Reduce your fat and cholesterol intake • Don’t use tobacco

To schedule an appointment, call 804-828-7929. © 2018 VCU Health. All rights reserved. Sources: Alzheimer’s Association; Centers for Disease Control; UsAgainstAlzheimer’s; VCU Health Neuroscience, Orthopaedic and Wellness Center.

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Richmond Free Press

A4 November 29-December 1, 2018

Local News

Coliseum’s success raises new questions about need to replace it Continued from A1

Clement Britt

The Richmond Coliseum is packed for a baptism ceremony during a Jehovah’s Witness Convention in July 2015. The denomination’s annual conventions drew thousands of people for several consecutive weekends each summer to the Downtown venue until they were moved this year to the Greater Richmond Convention Center.

The Hunden study paints a different picture of an active Richmond event center despite the loss of perennials, such as the Ringling Brothers & Barnum & Bailey Circus, which shut down its operations.

The pending closure of the Coliseum has led to a reduction of business for the facility, which is to close at the end of the year while the city considers replacing it.

The planned closure already has forced regular customers to look elsewhere for space, including a Richmond arena

Advocate aims to change RPS culture through Restorative Practices program Continued from A1

ensemble inspiring people of all backgrounds to reject gun violence through drumming, dance and drama that celebrates life.

Circles, which address root causes of conflicts in schools and Subsequently, Mr. Hughes hired him to envision, design and communities, followed by Advance Peace-Making Circles, con- connect resources to implement trauma-informed practices and sensus skills and self-awareness, be part of the training. restorative practices in all 44 Richmond schools.

“Presently, the pilot program averages 15 to 20 interested “Ram’s work is directly connected to RPS strategic priorities personnel at each school with designated spaces” for the Re- around safe, loving and nurturing schools,” Mr. Hughes said. “He storative Practices Rooms, Dr. Bhagat said during an interview is the person that will bring restorative justice to RPS and will in such a room at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School. help our teachers and administrators adopt a trauma-informed RPS is in the process of designing the spaces with the repur- lens when dealing with students.” posing possibly to be completed by the winter break.

This concept is not new to Dr. Bhagat.

“The key to success is expanding the RPR concepts to As in many urban school districts in the nation, officials said classrooms to make a culture shift for each school’s everyday violence is a daily part of their home lives and the neighborpractices,” Dr. Bhagat said. hood environment for many of the 24,000 students in Richmond His plan is for teachers and staff members develop a grasp Public Schools. of restorative justice in education by the school year’s end so it “Trauma and toxic stress, poor nutrition and other health will become more effective as the program matures. indicators have a direct impact on learning,” Dr. Bhagat said.

“Circles implemented in classes and in Restorative Practices “It is biological, emotional, spiritual and definitely physical.

Rooms will affect the much-needed transformation in classroom What we are going to do in RPS is to create a culture of safe climate and be a turning point for a school’s student body cul- and nurturing schools, a culture of healthy relationships” and tural understanding.” teachers and staff who are responsive and sensitive.

He projects that after the first year, “students and parents will These shifts in climate and culture are keys for improving report that schools’ relationships are stronger and healthier.” academic performance while eliminating school-to-prison pipePart of Superintendent Jason Kamras’ master plan is to line, officials said. implement trauma-informed practices and restorative practices The pilot program also will rely on community connections. throughout the district. When Mr. Kamras and Chief Schools Already in place are partnerships with Greater Richmond S.C.A.N., Officer Harry Hughes talked to education professionals and whose mission is to prevent and treat child abuse and neglect; people in the community about the plan, Dr. Bhagat’s name was Child Savers, which offers mental health services and tries to always front and center, officials said. establish positive bonds between children and parents; and the Dr. Bhagat formed “Drums No Guns” in 1994, a percussion Robins Foundation, which is funding the Richmond Resiliency Project that is designed to help students and teachers in East End schools to overcome the impact of childhood trauma.

Technical support will come from Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Education and Eastern Mennonite University’s Center for Justice and Peace Building, Dr. Bhagat said.

Also helping is Initiatives of Change, a diverse network of people with an 80-year track record of peace building, conflict transformation and forging partnerships across divides of race, class, religion and politics.

Continued from A1 “They will be helping me in terms of project management,” Dr. Bhagat added.

As a measure of success, RPS will look at how the restorative to cover the cost of beefing up service to the area.

If the proposal advances, it could lead to closure of the South- justice programs impact school culture and climate in terms of side Community Service Center the city operates at Southside student attendance and suspensions. During the 2017-18 school Plaza, a major concern for 8th District Councilwoman Reva M. year, nearly 5,000 RPS students missed 18 or more days from school and a collective more than 31,000 days of suspensions.

Trammell, as the Free Press reported.

Mr. Kamras summed up the importance of having new Both Ms. Trammell and 2nd District Councilwoman Kim B. Gray said the mayor and his administration never suggested manager of School Climate and Culture Strategy: “We needed that Social Services would have an office at City Hall when someone who is a leader with a strong network in this work. they were briefed on the prospect that the department would Dr. Bhagat wakes up every morning with his life’s mission of making the Richmond Restorative Justice Project live and be relocated.

“This is something we should have been told,” Ms. Gray said. breathe in our system.”

Social Services would still have City Hall office if headquarters moved

football team that has relocated to Wheeling, W.Va., and Virginia Commonwealth University, which still is hunting for space for its university-wide commencement in 2019.

New facility proponents argue the old building needs to be replaced by a gleaming $220 million, 17,500-seat venue that would be managed, operated and maintained by a private group led by Thomas F. Farrell II, Dominion Energy’s top executive, without cost to the city.

The only city obligation would be to borrow the money to build it. And advocates, including Mayor Levar M. Stoney, also tout how easy that would be.

The money to repay the debt for constructing a new coliseum and some other public elements is projected to come from tax dollars generated from proposed, privately financed developments like a hotel and hundreds of apartments to be built on public property neighboring the Coliseum and from the projected increase in

property taxes in 70 additional blocks of Downtown.

Instead of spending $1.5 million a year to cover the costs of the current Coliseum, the city would have to come up with more than $20 million a year to repay the money borrowed to build the new one.

And the city, as well as investors who buy the 30-year bonds the city would sell to raise the needed funds, would count on new development and projected growth in the value of other property to cover the cost.

At this point, there has been no consideration of creating a new hotel and hundreds of new apartments on the public property without including a replacement coliseum.

As critics have noted, if construction of a new Coliseum is removed from the plan, all of the taxes generated by such developments, including the hotel and the apartments, would go directly into the city’s general fund, rather than first being used to cover the cost of a new arena.

Snoop Dogg

Coliseum’s last acts The Richmond Coliseum is going out with a bang.

Before it is shut down at the end of the year as the city mulls a plan to build a replacement, the 13,500-seat arena will host several more big events that show the space is still in demand from promoters and others who want and need the Richmond area’s biggest venue.

The schedule includes a visit from Snoop Dogg’s Puff Puff Pass tour featuring the hip-hop artist and five other acts on Thursday, Dec. 6; a performance by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra on Wednesday, Dec. 19, and a two-show finale featuring the Harlem Globetrotters on Saturday, Dec. 29.

Harlem Globetrotters

Pressure mounts on Councilman Agelasto to resign Continued from A1

tion and qualifications” of its members and of the mayor, while another section permits the council to remove a member “for malfeasance (criminal activity) or neglect of duty.”

Mr. Hilbert also wants the city attorney to advise the council on whether Mr. Agelasto’s move outside the 5th District would have any impact on the votes he has taken since moving last July or any future votes.

Separately, Michael G. Brown, a former top state elections official who lives in the 5th District, filed a complaint Wednesday with city Voter Registrar Kirk Showalter requesting that

she cancel Mr. Agelasto’s voter registration in the 5th District as a result of his move.

He and two other registered voters in the district, former City Councilman Henry W. “Chuck” Richardson and retired assistant City Attorney Beverly Burton, signed the complaint in seeking to trigger a process that would require Ms. Showalter to hold a hearing on whether Mr. Agelasto’s registration to vote remains valid.

An elected state or local officeholder is required to be a qualified voter in the district he or she represents in order to retain office.

The complaint was filed just ahead of a scheduled meeting of the three-member Richmond Electoral Board that is set for Thursday,

Nov. 28, at City Hall.

Ms. Showalter said the Agelasto situation was already on the agenda for the board’s meeting at 4:45 p.m. in a 2nd floor conference room.

Mr. Brown, who is now a campaign consultant, worked in that role for Mr. Agelasto during his first run for City Council in 2012 and during his re-election campaign in 2016.

Meanwhile, rumors are flying about efforts to bring a court action to bar Mr. Agelasto from continuing to serve.

Mr. Agelasto declined to comment after being informed of the activity.

So far, there has been little backlash from constituents or on social media following Mr.

Agelasto’s admission that he no longer lives in the district.

Mr. Brown said he has been told to drop the matter because Mr. Agelasto is considered an excellent representative. He said while he agrees, that is not the issue.

Mr. Brown said he alerted the public and the media to Mr. Agelasto’s move after several months of unsuccessfully urging Mr. Agelasto to resign.

He went public after Mr. Agelasto announced last week that he would not seek re-election to a third term in 2020, but said he would serve out the remainder of his term without mentioning that he had moved out of the district.

Council committee blocks entry of medical transport company Continued from A1

2003 conviction on six counts of Medicaid fraud.

The issue of allowing other ambulance companies — other than the longtime Richmond Volunteer Rescue Squad — to operate in the city has been brewing since June when the McGuire Veterans Administration Hospital awarded Metro Health a contract to provide non-emergency ambulance service to patients, according to Metro Health officials. The award has not been publicly announced or confirmed by the VA. When the VA required Metro Health to get a Richmond permit before it made the award, Metro-Health found itself blocked and filed a federal lawsuit.

U.S. District Court Judge John A. Gibney Jr. on Oct. 3 rejected the company’s request for a temporary restraining order to force the city to allow Metro Health to operate transport service for the VA hospital, but the city has since been scrambling to avoid further legal action.

Without any consultation with City Council or the RAA, the city created a new permit system for non-emergency medical transport and gave Chief Carter authority to review applications and make recommendations that ultimately could go to City Council.

Western-Star filed for the permit in mid-October, and Chief Carter and his principal reviewer, Tracy Thomas, a Richmond fire battalion chief, recommended to the mayor and Selena CuffeeGlenn, the city’s chief administrative officer, that it be approved.

Mayor Stoney then submitted the ordinance to City Council.

However, at the committee hearing, neither Chief Carter or Battalion Chief Thomas could explain how they found a “public necessity” for Western-Star to operate, a key requirement to gain a city permit.

They offered no evidence that RAA, which is nationally recognized and highly esteemed in the city, was unable to offer the service.

And they could not explain why there was no mention of Mr.

Doyle’s record. Battalion Chief Thomas said Mr. Doyle’s name was not included in information on the company’s officers and directors that Western-Star provided in its permit application, although Mr. Doyle, a former congressional candidate in South Carolina, is named in Western-Star’s lawsuit.

RAA CEO Chip Decker said approval of a permit for WesternStar could open the floodgates to other competition.

He said the loss of the VA business could cost RAA $1.5 million in annual revenue. Losing that money, he stated, would require RAA to seek an increase in the city’s yearly “subsidy to ensure residents of Richmond have proper and adequate emergency services, decreased revenue that is used to maintain the overall EMS service and reduce City Council oversight as to the care provided to their constituents since care would be split among providers.”

The committee also postponed action on another ordinance Mayor Stoney proposed that would give Chief Carter authority to suspend RAA’s operations for up to two weeks.

Richmond Free Press

November 29-December 1, 2018

A5

Richmond Free Press

Lewis Ginter GardenFest of Lights

Editorial Page

A6

November 29-December 1, 2018

Teaching while black We have read with disgust report after report from around the nation of incidents of white people calling the cops on African-Americans who are engaged in nothing more than the normal activities of daily living — barbecuing while black, going to the pool while black, waiting at Starbucks while black, going into your apartment building while black, vacationing at an airbnb while black, selling Girl Scout cookies while black and campaigning for public office while black.

The racism and hubris of white people who falsely believe they have authority and power over public spaces and who has the right to occupy those spaces becomes like an invisible dragnet waiting to ensnare an unsuspecting person of color.

So we were both astounded and disappointed by reports that Caitlin Cherry, an African-American artist and visiting professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, suffered the same ugly treatment at the hands of a colleague in the university’s School of the Arts.

The Chicago-born Ms. Cherry, who holds undergraduate and graduate fine arts degrees from the prestigious School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Columbia University, has exhibited in galleries around the country, including the Studio Museum in Harlem, and in the United Kingdom. She also has completed a residency at The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation in Captiva, Fla. She was asked to come to VCU to teach graduate students and help bolster their work in the painting and printmaking program.

But on Oct. 25, Ms. Cherry experienced irrational bigotry and unfairness while eating breakfast and checking her emails in the Fine Arts Building.

She was in a room dedicated for the use of professors, grad students and administrators that can be accessed only by a code when, according to reports, Javier Tapia, an associate professor in the painting and printmaking department, walked in. She stated that he did not respond when she greeted him, and he looked at her and left. Moments later, VCU campus security arrived and asked her for her ID to prove she belonged there.

According to reports, Ms. Cherry complained to the department chair and the dean, who apologized and said he would look into what happened.

Since then, the matter has been turned over to VCU Equity and Access Services, which still has the case.

Dozens of letters and emails have been sent to university administrators in support of Ms. Cherry. Some call for the firing of Mr. Tapia, a Peruvianborn artist who earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Texas. He has been at VCU for the last 29 years.

While Mr. Tapia has made no public comments, a simple apology would be a good start.

This is not the kind of behavior we expect to emanate from VCU, an urban university of more than 33,000 students, where African-Americans, Latinos, Asians, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders and other people of color are in the majority among students from the United States.

Nor is it the kind of behavior that would help attract or retain talented professors of color like Ms. Cherry. Instead, this type of insidious behavior can lead to more dangerous events that involve bodily harm, not to mention lawsuits.

This should be a wake-up call for VCU President Michael Rao and university officials who talk the talk about being “committed to the principle of cultural equality and empowering a just, inclusive and equitable community.” Unfortunately, while there may be some truth to that in terms of its student population, VCU is decades behind when it comes to its faculty.

The number of tenured professors of color and of those on a tenure track are so abysmally low at VCU that students staged a protest and sit-in at the president’s office in fall 2015 to demand that the number of African-American professors be doubled. At that time, 15 percent of VCU students were African-American, while only 5 percent of the full-time faculty was African-American.

And last spring, former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder accused the dean of VCU’s Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs of racial harassment. A new interim dean, Dr. Susan Gooden, who is African-American, was named in May. We cannot, however, lay all the blame to the low numbers of professors of color at VCU. The problem is hiring people who are so infused in the culture of racism that they make abhorrent assumptions when they walk in on an African-American visiting professor and call campus security.

Living while black and having the cops show up because a white person believes you are not entitled to be there happens too often in too many places across the nation to too many people of all ages for it to be ignored or tolerated. This is not what we want at VCU. This is not what we want in Richmond.

As VCU launches a commemoration of its 50th anniversary as a university created from the merger of the Medical College of Virginia and the Richmond Professional Institute, we must not omit or ignore the legacy of state-supported racism that enshrouds both institutions. Both predecessor institutions barred black students from admission for decades until 1951, when the first graduate students were admitted.

While MCV had a medical school and nursing school dating back to 1893, it started a separate St. Philip’s School of Nursing to train AfricanAmerican women as nurses rather than admit them to the nursing program.

The nursing school finally was integrated in 1962 when the St. Philip’s program was closed.

MCV’s first black medical student, the late Jean L. Harris, graduated in 1955. Dr. Harris, the daughter of the late noted Church Hill physician Dr. Vernon J. Harris and the sister-in-law of former state Sen. Henry L. Marsh III, went on to become the Virginia secretary of human resources in the late 1970s in former Gov. John Dalton’s administration, a health policy adviser to five U.S. presidents and mayor of Eden Prairie, Minn.

This is not ancient history. Many Richmonders still alive today can talk about their painful racial experiences with the university.

While that is VCU’s past, it need not — and must not — be its present or its future.

The university is a cornerstone of Richmond. It helps to set the values of the city, and its faculty, administrators and students lead the thought, creativity and spirit that become the fabric and agenda of the city. And we, as a city and a community, need that spirit to be broad-minded, inclusive and embracing of others as VCU enters its next 50 years.

Step aside Richmond City Councilman Parker C. Agelasto no longer lives in the district that he represents.

He has acknowledged that he moved out of the 5th District in July into a house on West Franklin Street in the city’s 1st District with his pregnant wife and 2-year-old daughter, saying he needed larger accommodations for a growing family.

While Mr. Agelasto wants to remain in office for the next two years to finish his term, we believe that he needs to step down.

The Code of Virginia says that to hold elective office, the person must be qualified to vote for that office.

If Mr. Agelasto no longer lives in the district, he cannot vote in the district and hold that office.

Yes, he has done a good job in representing the people and neighborhood concerns in the 5th District that includes Randolph, Maymont and Carytown north of the James River and Swansboro and Woodland Heights in South Side.

But as President Trump irritatingly reminds us with his actions almost daily, no one should be above the law.

That also applies in this situation to Mr. Agelasto.

Perhaps Mr. Agelasto and his wife can find a suitably larger abode within the 5th District so he can retain the level of commitment and service that residents of the district have come to expect.

We understand that with a second child on the way, it may be hard to give up the annual $25,000 salary that comes with the job.

But for the sake of ethics and his good name and reputation, and out of respect for the residents of the 5th District, Mr. Agelasto needs to step aside. Let someone else be seated on City Council who understands and shares the concerns of the district’s residents because he or she actually lives there and is not simply a landlord.

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Is this really environmental justice?

The Virginia Environmental Justice Collaborative condemns Gov. Ralph S. Northam’s decision to suddenly replace two members of the state Air Pollution Control Board in the midst of the crucial permitting process for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline proposed compressor station in Buckingham County.

We stand in solidarity with Union Hill residents and the citizens and environmental groups concerned about environmental justice, environmental racism and access to a fair and equitable governmental process.

This is the latest in a series of very concerning actions taken by the Northam administration.

At the Air Pollution Control Board’s meeting on Nov. 8 and 9 about the compressor station, board members Rebecca R. Rubin and Samuel A. Bleicher openly expressed concern about environmental justice issues in the selection of Buckingham County’s predominantly African-American community of Union Hill for the project.

Since then, it appears that Gov. Northam is intervening

to weight the board’s decision in favor of Dominion Energy’s permit application at the expense of the lives and safety of Union Hill residents. Within a week, he had replaced Ms. Rubin and Mr. Bleicher with two new board members who now have less than a month to get up to speed on an extremely complex

Queen Zakia Shabazz permit application before the board meets on Dec. 10 to vote on the compressor station.

Just as the governor’s decision haphazardly replaces board members in midstream, if the board votes to approve the permitting of the compressor station, the very heart of our state will be wrenched out and replaced with the unending threat of explosion, noise and air and water pollutants that come along with the Atlantic Coast Pipeline’s proposed 53,000-horsepower compressor station slated for Union Hill.

During the November air board meeting, a Dominion Energy official outlined a $5.1 million package the company has pledged for improvements in the Union Hill community based on “successful completion” of the pipeline. The fact that Dominion Energy has to ravage Union Hill

in order to “improve” it is very disturbing.

If the compressor station permit is denied, perhaps the Union Hill community will not need Dominion Energy’s proposed package, which would include a community center, a full-time rescue squad and expansion of emergency 911 services.

Furthermore, aren’t these basic amenities that should be available in all Virginia communities? Certainly the potential loss of life far outweighs the benefits of Dominion’s proposed package.

The VEJC questions the rushed appointment of new board members at this crucial juncture without them having the benefit of hearing public comments first-hand. We doubt the ability of the board to function optimally and with full understanding going forward.

We encourage all citizens to contact the Governor’s Office and share their disappointment and concern.

Gov. Northam’s actions continue to damage his selfproclaimed image as a champion for the environment and open government. His actions send a strong message that the ability for citizen boards to seek information from the public and perform their vital regulatory duties with independence

Trump and scandal For several years, many of us were consumed by the night on which the popular television show “Scandal,” starring Kerry Washington, was broadcast.

Well, it seems that the program was our preparation for what’s going on in our country t oday. U nfortunately, it didn’t prepare us for some of the things that happened.

In Georgia, we’ve just witnessed one of the worst cases of voter suppression to prevent Stacey Abrams and other Democrats from having a fair chance in their election bids.

Brian Kemp both ran for governor against Ms. Abrams and made the rules to favor him when he disqualified more than 1 million voters and scandalously decided the rules of the race.

As soon as the key parts of the election were over, No.45 decided to fire U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions after continuously humiliating him when he actually did the right thing in recusing himself from handling the Mueller investigation. It’s clear that firing Mr. Sessions was strictly for the purpose of undermining the work of special counsel Robert Mueller and his team.

Shortly after Mr. Sessions’ firing, we learned that No.45 had made an attempt to prosecute former FBI Director James Comey and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, his Democratic opponent for president in 2016 — two persons he claimed were his enemies. It’s

obvious that No.45 had corrupt intent when he fired Mr. Comey, and he knows that Mrs. Clinton was far more favorable to more people than he was when she received more votes than he did.

I guess he didn’t like that, so he has railed against her since he has been in office — second only to his blaming former President

Dr. E. Faye Williams Obama for everything.

Once Mr. Sessions was out, No.45 quickly brought in Matthew Whitaker to become acting attorney general. Many brilliant lawyers have agreed that Mr. Whitaker did not meet constitutional requirements to hold such a position because the U.S. Senate had not confirmed him. Add to that all of the biased comments Mr. Whitaker made about the Mueller investigation at various times, proving that he could not be fair in his judgments.

We need to know how and why Mr. Whitaker became the attorney general. One can only assume Mr. Whitaker was brought on to undermine the investigation.

Moving on with scandals, No.45 dismissed the CIA’s report on Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a U.S. resident who was assassinated at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October.

No.45 also proclaimed what’s obviously his all-out support of Saudi Arabia over the U.S. intelligence community.

It’s hard to believe, but No.45 actually picked a fight with retired and esteemed Adm. William McRaven, who served as head of

the U.S. Joint Special Operations Command from 2011 to 2014 and oversaw the 2011 raid by Navy SEALS in Pakistan that killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

No.45 attacked the admiral for not capturing Mr. bin Laden earlier, despite the fact it was not his job. This criticism comes from a president who claims to love the military so much and who claims to have done so much for the military. Now, we learn he is afraid to go to a war zone to visit U.S. soldiers.

There were more scandals from No.45. He jumped into a disgraceful criticism of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, charging that the court was made up of Obama appointees and therefore unfair to him. That criticism led Chief Justice John Roberts of the U.S. Supreme Court to inform No.45 on Twitter: “We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges. What we have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges doing their level best to do equal rights to those appearing before them. That independent judiciary is something we should all be thankful for.”

That should have been obvious to a sensible president.

Unfortunately, we haven’t had one of those lately.

No.45 continues to erase all the goodwill that his predecessor, former President Obama, built around the world. When will our system allow us to end these daily scandals?

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

The Free Press welcomes letters The Richmond Free Press respects the opinions of its readers. We want to hear from you.

We invite you to write the editor. All letters will be considered for publication. Concise, typewritten letters related to public matters are preferred. Also include your telephone number(s). Letters should be addressed to: Letters to the Editor, Richmond Free Press, P.O. Box 27709, 422 East Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23261, or faxed to: (804) 643-7519 or e-mail: letters@richmondfreepress.com.

and authority can be subjected to undue pressure by the state Department of Environmental Quality, the Virginia attorney general and the governor.

Gov. Northam has an obligation to act in the best interests of all Virginians and he is expected to uphold his promise to use the strictest of standards in protecting Virginia’s most valuable and natural resources — its people.

Instead, the Northam administration seeks to increase the vulnerability of communities of color and low-income families in exchange for the enrichment of business elite and shareholders.

We recommend that environmental and energy solutions benefit communities rather than merely funnel profit to those who exploit and harm vulnerable communities.

The writer is coordinator of the Virginia Environmental Justice Collaborative.

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Richmond Free Press

November 29-December 1, 2018

A7

Letters to the Editor

Why I don’t go to church I don’t go to church because I find it irrelevant.

When I went to church, even good ones with a message and an active congregation, I found serious issues were omitted.

There is no discussion about raising good children. There are no sermons about how children don’t listen to what their parents tell them to do and, instead, do what they see their parents doing.

Are there sermons about reading to young children every night?

Are there sermons about domestic violence and the damage done to children witnessing such behavior and what that teaches?

Are there warnings about and exposure to the idea that a criminal conviction and a criminal record are not rites of manhood?

When have you ever heard a minister telling parents that a

young man impregnating a young girl does more to limit the opportunities of that burgeoning woman to navigate the river of life than tying a cinderblock around her neck? The limitations on the child born in that situation are equally as crushing.

Sure, a young woman with a toddler can go to school and gain meaningful employment with benefits and potential for advancement, but she is the exception rather than the rule. Pregnant at 15 normally limits career potential to Happy Meals and fries.

Our neighborhoods are rife with assaults, shootings and murder. I have seen too many trials marked by one mother whose child was killed and another mother whose child will spend decades — or even his or her entire life — incarcerated for the murder. The only time some children see their mother or father is on visiting day at the jail or prison.

Kudos to Evergreen volunteer

Every once in a while, you come across a person who is willing to put the community ahead of all things. They do this day in and day out.

George Nixon is such a person. He has volunteered to help correct the overgrowth at Evergreen Cemetery. He has worked tirelessly since March 2016, helping to clear about 18 of approximately 60 acres.

Mr. Nixon works alongside about eight other permanent volunteers who have put their time and equipment into ensuring that the families of people interred in Evergreen Cemetery can visit their relatives’ gravesites. He has no family buried in the cemetery, but he works to correct the ills of abandonment over the years.

Many groups have tried for years to clean up Evergreen, but for whatever the reason, they quit.

I can say with certainty that there is no understanding of the word “quit” by Mr. Nixon. He goes on and on, even if he has to work alone. This is why I have labeled him “Iron Man.” He also has recruited other volunteers to work alongside him in his goal of completely restoring this historic AfricanAmerican cemetery.

I asked myself two years

ago how many people I knew would work this hard only for the community and no personal gain. I could only think of a few people, and they are still working in Ev-

ergreen today.

If I had about 100 more volunteers like George Nixon, we would be able to make short work of the massive job of cleaning up Evergreen

Cemetery.

MARVIN HARRIS North Chesterfield The writer is executive director of the Evergreen Restoration Foundation.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Notice to Citizens of Richmond, Virginia As directed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RRHA) has completed its proposed FY 2018-2022 Five (5) Year Action Plan. The proposed Five (5) Year Action Plan includes information about the housing authority’s planned use of capital funds for the development, financing and modification of public housing developments and for management improvements.

A copy of the proposed 5-Year Action Plan and supporting documents will be available November 26, 2018 through January 9, 2019 for public review at the Authority’s Administrative offices located at 901 and 918 Chamberlayne Parkway, Richmond, Virginia and all Public Housing Management Offices between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Also, copies can be obtained from our website at www.rrha.com.

All interested persons wishing to comment on the proposed plan may submit written comments to RRHA, Attention: Office of the Chief Operating Officer, 901Chamberlayne Parkway, Richmond, Virginia 23220, by January 9, 2019.

A public meeting to receive comments on the proposed plan will be held Wednesday, December 12, 2018, 5:30 p.m. at the Calhoun Family Investment Center, 436 Calhoun Street, Richmond, Virginia 23220.

The public meeting will be wheelchair accessible. A sign language interpreter or other accommodations will be provided upon request. To request assistance, please contact RRHA four (4) business days in advance of the meeting at (804) 780-4276 or TDD – Dial 711.

RICHMOND REDEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING AUTHORITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER (M/F/H).

The Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, elderliness, disability, or familial status.

You can visit too many neighborhoods in the summer and see children — some still in diapers — running around outside at 10 and 11 o’clock at night.

Some “leader” needs to lead.

Who or what better to undo the reality that hopeless people have hopeless children than ministers and churches?

Churches need to address serious issues like domestic violence, crime and children getting up and going to school. Ministers and congregations need to tell city leaders that Richmond does not need another roundabout, Diamond, Coliseum or bike race. We need a world-class school system to educate our children.

A world-class school system would attract new taxpayers, businesses and investors to the city. Until we have a world-class school system, we are wasting our time.

Until every pulpit teaches that every child has the potential for greatness and happiness that isn’t limited to going to the NBA, NFL or rapping, the messages are trivial and irrelevant.

DAVID P. BAUGH Richmond The writer is a former federal prosecutor, longtime criminal defense attorney and legal expert.

NAACP

1st Thursday Town Hall Meeting

Topics for Discussion on Thursday, December 6th are • Union Hill’s campaign against Dominion Energy’s compressor station and Governor Northam’s seeming efforts to impact the Virginia Air Board’s vote against this vulnerable and historic African American community • Dominion Energy’s City of Richmond $1.4 Billion Downtown Development: The Good and Not So Good for the City of Richmond and Virginia taxpayers Third Street Bethel AME Church 614 N. Third Street 6:30pm - 8:30PM The Public Is Invited To Attend and Participate in the Discussions

NAACP 1st Thursday Town Hall Meetings For more Info call: 1-804-410-4567 or Email: 1stThursdayTownHalls@gmail.com

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Stories by Fred Jeter

Legend of NFL’s ‘Fearsome Foursome’ remains The Los Angeles Rams, 10-1, are riding high these days with one of the NFL’s most historically explosive offenses — 36 points and 449 yards per game.

It was much different in the 1960s, when the Los Angeles team rose to prominence with an intimidating defense featuring its famed “Fearsome Foursome.”

Three of the four-man front — Lamar Lundy, Rosey Grier and Deacon Jones — were African-American playing at a time when the football league was still predominantly white.

Wearing the franchise’s trademark horns on their helmets, the Fearsome Foursome wreaked havoc on opposing offenses that dared to enter the Los Angeles Coliseum. None other than the great Dick Butkus, the Hall of Fame linebacker for the Chicago Bears, referred to them as the “most dominant line in football history.”

From 1967 to 1969, the Rams posted a 32-7-3 record while winning two Coastal Division titles.

Los Angeles led the NFL in 1967, allowing just 196 points in 14 games under Coach George Allen (1966-1970). Allen later coached the Washington NFL team.

From 1964 to 1968, the Rams allowed the least rushing yards in the NFL each season.

Before teams had their own planes, it was a long flight for an

opponent to reach the West Coast, and generally a long afternoon upon arrival. The “Fearsome Foursome” was taller and heavier than just about any defensive line in that era and plenty quick and mean during game time. They were terrifying to rival running backs and quarterbacks alike. Opposing offensive linemen felt like calling in sick.

The Rams averaged 44 sacks per season from 1964 and 1968, showcasing the most ferocious pass rusher of all-time, Jones, who had 26 sacks in 1967 before it was an official statistic. In fact, it was Jones who coined the term “sack.”

“I gave it some thought and came up with ‘sack,’ like you sack a city,” he told NFL Films. “You sack a city, you devastate it.”

Jones, who was named to the NFL Hall of Fame in 1980, also is credited with introducing the “head slap,” a tactic that left many an offensive lineman with birdies singing in their helmet.

The brain-rattling move later was outlawed, probably setting off a celebration by headachy pass blockers.

“Fearsome Foursome” members arriving in the late 1960s via trades were draftee Diron Talbert, along with Roger Brown and Coy Bacon. Virginia State University’s Larry Brooks came along a bit later in 1972.

The 1960s were an exciting transitional period for the NFL.

Freshman Pitts making big splash at VUU

Demarius Pitts saw no need to meekly that suffered the loss of seven seniors from dip his toes in the water to get a feel for last winter’s CIAA championship squad. college basketball.

Pitts starred at Frederick Douglass Boldly, he dove in head first instead.

High School in Maryland and spent The Virginia Union University the last season at Springfield freshman is off to an exciting start Commonwealth Academy in for Coach Jay Butler’s rebuilding Springfield, Mass.

Panthers.

“He’s really gotten bigger and “Demarius is a special kid on stronger since his senior year at and off the court,” Coach Butler Douglass, where he was an undersaid. “Every day he wants to work sized center,” Coach Butler said. hard to keep getting better.”

VUU now has a 3-2 record after After five games, including four Tuesday night’s 93-68 win over Demarius Pitts starts, the slender 6-foot-4 guard Cheyney. The Panthers have played from Upper Marlboro, Md., is averaging 17.7 one of the toughest non-conference schedules points, with 11 3-pointers and 3.7 rebounds. He in the nation. VUU’s first five opponents are had a season best 21 points against Cheyney a combined 18-6, and it gets no easier.

University Tuesday night.

The Panthers have two upcoming games “The Marlboro Man” is shooting 40 for against national powerhouse Queens Univer79 from the field and 15 for 20 at the foul sity of Charlotte. Queens comes to VUU’s line, while getting little rest. The newcomer Barco-Stevens Hall on Monday, Dec. 3. Then averages 36 minutes per game.

“He can shoot the three, take it to the Panthers home at last basket. He has a midrange shot, too. He’s After playing the first five games on an excellent athlete,” said Coach Butler. the road, the Virginia Union University Pitts didn’t disappoint in the Panthers basketball team is back at cozy BarcoStevens Hall. The Panthers play visit Nov. 23 and 24 to St. Petersburg, Fla. Queens University of Charlotte on for a top tier NCAA Division II tournament Monday, Dec. 3. Tipoff: 7 p.m. Queens at Eckerd College.

University, which is 5-2 this season, Pitts scored 18 points in the Panthers’ was 32-4 a year ago, reaching the 70-64 win over host Eckerd College and NCAA Division II Elite 8 semifinals. In added 20 points in VUU’s 67-66 loss to 2016-17, Queens went 30-4 and beat the University of Tampa.

Virginia Commonwealth University in His quick emergence as a front-line an exhibition game. performer was well timed for a program

the Panthers play at Queens on Jan. 3.

“We want to be battle-tested when we get to CIAA play,” Coach Butler said. “That was our plan last year, too. Playing the tough schedule with a lot of road games prepared us for winning four straight games in the (CIAA) tournament.”

Pitts isn’t alone as an early-season standout. William Jenkins, a 6-foot-7 junior from Baltimore, is averaging 14 points and eight rebounds.

Jordan Thornton, a 6-foot-8 senior from Fredericksburg, averages nine points and four rebounds and has made 17 of 20 field goals for 85 percent.

And Jemal Smith, a 5-foot-10 senior from Bronx, N.Y., set a school record with 21 assists in the win over Cheyney.

Also, 7-foot junior Malik Kuwornu is starting to receive playing time off the bench.

Coach Butler is hopeful the towering native of Ghana will become a significant factor once CIAA play begins in January.

Although they were away from home, the Panthers enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, Nov. 22, at their St. Petersburg hotel.

“We had it catered,” Coach Butler said. “Cornbread, collared greens, mac ‘n’ cheese, rolls. You name it. Everyone got seconds and thirds. Plus we got to make plates and take some with us.”

On the downside, the team bus didn’t leave St. Petersburg until noon Sunday, returning to campus at 3 a.m. Monday.

Nationwide talent bring boost to VCU Rams

Virginia Commonwealth University searches near and far for basketball talent, but lately the emphasis has been on far.

Of Coach Mike Rhoades’ 14 players, just two are Virginians and only one has Richmond ties.

This season, players hail from 11 different states, including from as far away as Arizona, thus the tag “Rhoades map Rams.”

This isn’t a knock.

In expanding its reMarcus Evans cruiting tentacles, VCU has risen to become one of the NCAA’s most consistently winning programs. The Rams are 5-1 this season following a nervous 67-66 overtime win Saturday, Nov. 24, over Hofstra University.

VCU’s program boasts a lengthy list of superlatives. The Rams made seven straight NCAA Tournaments prior to last season List of Rams with their home states: Virginia: Marcus Evans (Chesapeake) and Mike’L Simms (Highland Springs) Florida: Sean Mobley, Michael Gilmore and KeShawn Curry South Carolina: De’Riante Jenkins Kentucky: Corey Douglas Ohio: Vince Williams Arizona: Dylan Sheehy-Guiseppi (walk-on) Louisiana: Malik Crowfield Massachusetts: Marcus Santos-Silva Georgia: Xavier Jackson Connecticut: Isaac Vann Texas: P.J. Byrd NOTE: The Rams add another state next season with Class of 2019 signee Jarren McAllister from North Carolina. McAllister is prepping this season at Massanutten Military Academy.

while developing one of the nation’s most loyal fans bases. The program also has enjoyed 121 straight home sellouts.

The Rams’ geographically diverse roster isn’t new. VCU’s 2011 Final Four squad showcased players from six states, including Californian D.J. Haley, the starting center.

The makeup of the current roster is a product of three coaches — Coach Rhoades and his two Mike’L Simms predecessors, Coach Will Wade and Coach Shaka Smart.

Surprisingly, no players hail from Coach Rhoades’ home state of Pennsylvania.

Both native Virginians need an asterisk by their names on the roster. Both joined the Rams from out-of-state colleges and were not pursued by VCU while in high school.

Marcus Evans transferred to VCU from Rice University while Mike’L Simms, who played locally at Highland Springs High School in Henrico County, was signed by Coach Rhoades out of Cowley College, a community college in Arkansas City, Kan. *** While VCU has found fortune with a more far-flung recruiting strategy, its record book is brimming with local heroes.

Of the Rams’ all-time Top 10 scorers, six are local: Len Creech (George Wythe High School), Kendrick Warren (Thomas Jefferson High School), Charles Wilkins (Maggie L. Walker High School), Bradford Burgess (Benedictine College Preparatory), Dominic Jones (Manchester High School) and Jesse Dark (Maggie Walker High).

*** Evans, having overcome two surgeries on his Achilles tendon, impresses with his ability to score quickly, and heal quickly — and not necessarily in that order.

He underwent his first Achilles surgery, on his left foot, in June 2017. He was injured again last June and underwent surgery on his right foot.

It doesn’t seem to have slowed him down.

The 6-foot-2 guard is second on the team in scoring (13.3), first in steals (14) and best at getting to the foul line (21 for 31).

Evans scored 1,350 points in two seasons at Rice before coming to Richmond and sitting out last year. *** VCU has come to be known as “3CU” for its penchant for hoisting bonus shots beyond the arc.

After six games, 156 of VCU’s 353 total field goal attempts (44 percent) were from a distance. The busiest Ram behind the arc is De’Riante Jenkins, with 35 3-point tries out of 54 shots. *** The Rams play host to Iona College in New York on Saturday, Dec. 1, and then will pack for trips to the University of Texas on Wednesday, Dec. 5, and the University of Virginia on Sunday, Dec. 9.

The University of Texas, now under former VCU Coach Shaka Smart, scored a take-notice victory over the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Nov. 22 in Las Vegas.

The University of Virginia is 6-0 and ranked No. 4 nationally.

Both Texas and Virginia defeated the Rams last year at the Siegel Center.

Football was beginning to surpass baseball as America’s favorite sport.

The Sunday TV “doubleheader” became a new hit, creating “football widows” coast to coast. Pacific Time Zone Rams often were featured in the 4 p.m. nightcap (on the East Coast), becoming “America’s Late Afternoon Team.”

Gridiron fans watch the 2018 edition of the Rams to see plenty of offensive fireworks. But in the late aftenoons in the 1960s, fans tuned in to see the “Fearsome Foursome” plant quarterbacks on their backs.

“Fearsome Foursome” remembered Here are members of the Los Angeles Rams’ front four during the mid- to late 1960s: • Lamar Lundy (6-foot-7, 280 pounds, from Purdue University): He garnered All-Big 10 honors for football and basketball in college and was drafted by NFL and NBA teams. He scored nine NFL touchdowns, six receiving and three via interceptions.

• Roosevelt “Rosey” Grier (6-foot-5, 284 pounds, from Penn State University): He became a bodyguard for Robert F. Kennedy when the senator was campaigning for president, and wrestled the gun away from his assassin, Sirhan Sirhan, in June 1968 in Los Angeles. As a protestant minister, he was a counselor for O.J. Simpson during Mr. Simpson’s 1995 trial for the murder of his ex-wife and her friend.

• David “Deacon” Jones (6-foot-5, 272 pounds, from South Carolina State University and Mississippi Industrial College): He was a brutal competitor on field but fun loving off the gridiron.

“Deacon,” who led the team in prayers, appeared in several television shows, including “The Brady Bunch,” “Bewitched” and “Wonder Woman.”

• Merlin Olsen (6-foot-5, 270 pounds, from Utah State University): He came to be known as farmer Jonathan Garvey on “Little House on the Prairie” and later as “Father Murphy” in his own TV series. He earned trips to 14 Pro Bowls.

Richmonder Nigel Chavis named to All-MEAC team

NIgel Chavis

Norfolk State University defensive end Nigel Chavis has been named All-MEAC for the second year in a row.

The junior from Richmond’s Armstrong High School recorded 66 tackles, including 13 for losses, for Spartans Coach Latrell Scott.

Chavis also had 5.5 sacks, eight quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery he returned for a touchdown.

Bowie State loses in round 2 of NCAA playoffs

Bowie State University’s football season and quarterback Amir Hall’s college career both ended Saturday, Nov. 24, in Valdosta, Ga. Finishing the season 10-3, Bowie State fell to Valdosta State University 66-16 in the second round of the NCAA Division II Super Region 2 football playoffs.

Hall, the CIAA Offensive Player of the Amir Hall Year, hit 20 of 36 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns. His senior passing totals were 354 for 545; 4,152 yards; and 31 touchdowns.

Anna Wilson suffers injury at Stanford game in Hawaii

Anna Wilson, sister of Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, is doing well after a big scare in Honolulu.

The Stanford University junior guard fell backward and suffered an injury during the Cardinal’s 81-52 victory over host University of Hawaii on Sunday, Nov. 25.

Wilson’s neck was immobilized and she was carried off the floor on a gurney. The Anna Wilson game was delayed about 20 minutes while she was being treated.

Anna’s mother, Tammy Wilson, was at the game and rushed to the court to console her daughter.

To the relief of all, the hospital scan came back clear and Wilson was able to fly back to California with the team. She is expected to be back in uniform when Stanford plays its next game Sunday, Dec. 2, at Gonzaga University.

Wilson grew up in Western Henrico County and starred in basketball at Collegiate School. She completed her senior year at Bellevue High near Seattle.

Stanford is 6-0 and ranked No. 10 in the nation. Wilson averages four points and three rebounds this season with the team.

November 29-December 1, 2018 B1

Section

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Richmond Free Press

Happenings

Personality: Paula R. Gray

DiamonDs • Watches JeWelry • repairs

 19 East Broad strEEt richmond, Va 23219 (804) 648-1044 www.wallErjEwElry.com

Spotlight on first Ms. Exquisite Full-Figured Virginia 2018 And the winner of the first Ms. Exquisite Full-Figured Virginia 2018 is …

That moment of suspense, when anxiety turned into joy, is forever etched in the mind of Paula R. Gray of Chesterfield.

Competing with four other women age 40 and older from across the southern portion of Virginia, Ms. Gray was crowned Ms. Exquisite Full-Figured Virginia on Nov. 11 in Virginia Beach.

In addition to the title and crown, Ms. Gray received a $500 prize and the right to vie for the national title in April in Newark, N.J. She says she also gained a “sisterhood of amazing women who I can call on anytime.”

“I wasn’t expecting my name to be announced,” Ms. Gray says. “In all thoughtfulness, I was competing just for the experience.”

She said she entered the pageant to “step out of my comfort zone and do something I normally wouldn’t have done.

It is good to get out of your comfort zone and go for it because you never know where it will lead you.”

The Ms. Full-Figured Washington, D.C., Maryland & Virginia Pageant was created to build self-confidence among women size 12 and up in various divisions from age 18 and older. The mission is to empower women to inspire others while serving the community.

Ms. Gray’s platform is teen suicide prevention through meaningful conversation with youths.

“Although suicide is the second leading cause of death among our teens in Virginia, I believe we can provide a safe space for our teens to use their voice, express their concerns and speak their truth,” Ms. Gray says. “The good news is that suicide is preventable, but we must have a conversation.”

Her girls’ ministry, called “Glow,” meets quarterly. The “Glow” girls have experienced a lot of bullying and are really excited to talk about their experiences, she says. “They have felt lonely and hopeless and wanted to check out of life.

“Ultimately, a lot of them just want to be heard, not be afraid to talk about it and not be judged,” she says.

In addition to her work with suicide prevention, Ms. Gray completed community service as part of the pageant while promoting a healthy body image and inner beauty.

Her advice to full-figured women: “Embrace yourself.

When you enter a room, own it. No matter if it’s at work or school, church or play. You are not defined by your size.”

After winning the crown, Ms. Gray says she sought a community organization to work with to continue her service. She found Mercy Mall, a nonprofit free boutique in Chesterfield that provides necessities to the homeless and fire victims.

“These people come in feeling poorly,” she explains.

“Mercy Mall volunteers pray with them and give hope, love and attention.”

She is now conducting a drive for turtlenecks to contribute to the organization.

Ministry and working to improve people’s lives is a big part of Ms. Gray’s life. The 43-year-old has a master’s of divinity from Virginia Union University’s Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology. She works as an office administrator at Anointed New Life Baptist Church in Henrico County.

She has written three books for young women designed to empower them with the knowledge that God guides them throughout life’s journey.

All three — “Girl, Count Your Blessings: Devotions Celebrating God Already Working in Your Life;” “For Windy Days: Poems to Anchor Girls in God’s

Wilbert and Evelyn (Delores) Carter Brooks,

hard.

A quote that I am inspired by: The loudest person in the room is not necessarily the strongest person.

Best late-night snack: A forkful of cake.

Best thing my parents ever taught me: Through my parents’ actions, I learned how to be resilient. There is no situation I cannot bounce back from.

retired educators, celebrated their

50 AWedding nniversary th

November 24, 2018

Person who influenced me the most: My pastor, Rev. Dr. C. Diane Mosby. She is a woman with bold faith.

Wilbert and Delores thank God for 50 Wonderful Years of Marriage

The book that influenced me the most: “Battlefield of the Mind” by Joyce Meyer.

What I’m reading now: “The Last Black Unicorn” by Tiffany Haddish.

The one thing that I’ve learned in life is: Nobody was created to be average.

My next goal: To release my novel, “Beyond This Season.”

Love, Hope and Strength;” and “B.R.A.G. Journal: Biggest Reveal About God” — are meant to instill hope in today’s youths, she says.

As for the upcoming national competition, Ms. Gray says, “I am more focused now. I’m going for it. There is a real chance I will win and I am going to put my best foot forward.”

Her message to women and young girls is straightforward: “You are not designed by God to be average. Get out of your comfort zone. Try something new and expect to be amazed.

Listen to life. There is so much to experience. Live and have fun.”

Meet pageant winner, women’s inspirational advocate and this week’s Personality, Paula R. Gray:

my husband’s memory.

Occupation: Office administrator managing the daily operations at my church, Anointed New Life Baptist Church in Henrico County.

How and when I got interested in them: I never thought about entering one until my sister encouraged me to interview for Ms. Full-Figured Virginia this year. She knew I had a platform but needed an avenue to share it. I never knew I would have actually participated in one, let alone win one.

Latest accomplishment: Winner of Ms. Exquisite FullFigured Virginia 2018.

Date and place of birth: June 3, in Queens, N.Y. Current residence: Chesterfield County.

Education: Bachelor’s degree, Ashford University; master’s of divinity, Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University.

Family: Husband, Eric, and daughters, Melanie, 12, and Yolanda, 10.

First reaction to selection as Ms. Exquisite Full-Figured Virginia 2018: My mouth dropped open. I was in such awe.

What this means to me: It means so much to me. It means representing a positive body image in this day and age; inspiring other women and young ladies; and getting the word out about suicide prevention for our youths.

Reaction of family: My family was so proud. All those miles on the car from Chesterfield to Norfolk over the last couple of months quickly slipped from

My pageant platform: Teen suicide prevention.

Strategy for winning: Stayed true to myself — quiet demeanor and all.

What title requires: To complete at least 40 hours of community service, promote the Ms. Full-Figured Virginia Pageant; to compete in the Ms. Full-Figured USA competition; promote healthy body image and inner beauty; and promote my platform in the community.

} }

They Have Two Children

Tasha Brooks Dickerson, M.D. married to Reginald Dickerson, Sr. (State Farm Agent) and Wilbert H. Brooks, III an employee of Henrico County Public Schools.

They Also Have Two Grandchildren

Reginald O’Brian Dickerson, Jr. who attends Henrico High School in the International Baccalaureate Program and Carter Ashton Dickerson a Third Grader at David A. Kaechele Elementary School, Henrico County

CHARLIE WILSON

View of pageants: Pageants are creative ways to bring women together from all different backgrounds who use their resources and experiences to support one another and to make an impact in their community.

Pageant winner I admire most and why: I would say Capricia “Capri” Butler, Ms. Virginia Plus America 2016. She always checked on me and gave me great advice during the pageant process. I’ll never forget her asking me, “Are you able to deal with winning nothing?” I replied yes. Her answer: “That’s great. We all want to win but if we are not prepared to lose, we shouldn’t win.”

How I start the day: Thanking God. Morning meditation is a must for me.

A perfect day for me is: Anytime I can get in back-to-back Hallmark movies, eat a slice of coconut cake and hear the laughter of my husband and two daughters — in the next room.

Something I love to do that most people would never imagine: I love boxing or kick-boxing.

How I unwind: Watching a comedy and laughing really

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ALTRIA THEATER AND DOMINION ENERGY CENTER BOX OFFICES, ONLINE AT ETIX.COM OR CHARGE BY PHONE 800-514-3849 All dates, acts and ticket prices subject to change without notice. Subject to applicable service charges and fees.

Richmond Free Press

B2 November 29-December 1, 2018

Happenings

Ella Mai sweeps 2018 Soul Train Awards Free Press wire report

British singer Ella Mai won big at the 2018 Soul Train Awards, dominating in three categories during Sunday night’s telecast and taking honors for best R&B/soul female artist, and song of the year and the Ashford and Simpson Songwriter’s Award for “Boo’d Up.” Bruno Mars, Daniel Caesar and H.E.R. followed closely with two awards each.

Mr. Caesar and H.E.R. shared the honor of best collaboration performance for their hit duet, “Best Part,” and awards for best new artist and album/mixtape of the year, respectfully.

Mr. Mars further solidified his star power, taking home two of the night’s most coveted awards for the second year in a row — best R&B/soul male artist and video of the year for “Finesse” remix, featuring Cardi B. BET Presents: 2018 Soul Train Awards celebrated the best in soul, R&B and hip- hop by highlighting both living legends and breakout stars with unrivaled musical moments and showstopping performances.

The ceremony was hosted by the nostalgic, best friend duo of Tisha Campbell and Tichina Arnold, stars of the 1990s television sitcom “Martin.” They brought their chemistry to the stage as the show’s opening musical acts.

Honoring artists across 12 categories, the Soul Train Awards

Ella Mai

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Raise your hand if you have ever heard of Donald W. “Don” Shirley.

I expect most of you are as unaware of this remarkable musical giant as I was before I went to see the new film “Green Book.”

The film recounts a tiny slice of his career, a 1962 tour that Dr. Shirley took with musicians in his trio that included stops in the Deep South. It offers a glimpse of the humiliations that black men, women and children were forced to endure in the harshly segregated sections of this country.

What makes this movie most worthwhile is learning about Dr. Shirley, a dignified, erudite and private man who easily qualifies as America’s Mozart but who is, sadly, now largely forgotten following his death in 2013.

A child prodigy who started playing the piano at age 2 and studied in Russia, Dr. Shirley was just 18 when he made his professional concert debut with the Boston Pops in 1945.

Told that white audiences would not accept a black man on a concert stage despite his astonishing talent, he almost abandoned music. He returned to school to become a psychologist, but fortunately, he regained his interest in performance while conducting experiments with sound with unknowing audiences to gauge their reaction.

His tour de force as a pianist can be heard on the 18 albums he recorded — if they are still available — that display his prodigious ability to blend classical, jazz and pop music and create new thrilling treatments of

also recognized Drake (Rhythm & Beats Award), Ciara (Best Dance Performance), Ledisi (Soul Train Certified) and Lecrae (Best Gospel/Inspirational Award) for their special contributions to the genre.

The ceremony also welcomed a slew of talented R&B musicians starting with a nostalgic performance by ’90s favorite trio Bell Biv DeVoe, and singers Jon B. and Donell Jones, who kept the crowd crooning with soulful serenades of their top hits.

Jacquees took the soul train on a route to the new school with his rendition of “B.E.D” and a performance of his 2018 record “You.” Sultry songstress Erykah Badu shut down the stage after accepting the Legend Award with a medley of her iconic, timeless songs as the arena stood and swayed along in awe.

Additional poignant performers included gospel artist Koryn Hawthorne and newcomers Ari Lennox and Cautious Clay.

After graciously accepting the Lady of Soul Award, Faith Evans brought down the house with a lively performance of her chart-topping hits, her powerful voice bringing the entire crowd to its feet.

In addition to electrifying performances, the awards show brought together an array of musical talents for the fourth annual “Soul Cypher,” with Ms. Badu in the conductor’s seat as DJ, while Kelly Price, BJ The Chicago Kid, Queen Naija, Robert Glasper and Thundercat drove it home with their vocals.

‘Green Book’ offers small slice of amazing musician’s life, talent

World-class pianist Donald W. “Don” Shirley, right, played by actor Mahershala Ali, sets out on a 1962 concert tour from Manhattan to the Deep South with driver Frank A. “Tony Lip” Vallelonga, a New York club bouncer, played by actor Viggo Mortensen.

familiar pieces.

His mastery of music also can be found in the wide-ranging compositions he produced that include symphonies, music for string quartets, a one-act opera and other works for organ, piano and violin, although most are never performed by American orchestras even now.

“Green Book” is based on stories of the 1962 trip that Dr. Shirley (played by

Academy Award-winner Mahershala Ali) and his driver on the tour, Frank A. “Tony Lip” Vallelonga, (played by Viggo Mortensen) are said to have told to Mr. Vallelonga’s son, Nick.

Nick Vallelonga, who co-wrote the screenplay, kept his promise to Dr. Shirley not to make a movie of the stories until after Dr. Shirley’s death.

Mr. Vallelonga claims the movie is a faithful depiction of what the two men

told him about the good, the bad and the ugly of the tour experience.

The final product, though, is mostly told from the perspective of Mr. Vallelonga, who is depicted as a crude, white club bouncer, but who in real life would go on to become the maitre d’ of the Copacabana nightclub in New York City, where he would meet top American entertainers and also act in some movies as well as the HBO

series “The Sopranos.”

According to the movie, the two men became friends, with Mr. Vallelonga teaching a distant and dignified Dr. Shirley how to eat fried chicken, listen to black pop music and become more attuned to the black community.

The family of Dr. Shirley has pushed back, calling the film “full of lies” about the musical genius.

The family insists that the film’s depiction of Dr. Shirley as estranged from his family and the larger community is fiction, as is the idea that he had never eaten fried chicken before the trip with Mr. Vallelonga.

In a recorded message to a radio show, Dr. Shirley’s niece, Carol Shirley Kimble, described the film as “a depiction of a white man’s version of a black man’s life.”

“My uncle was an incredibly proud man and an incredibly accomplished man,” she said as she accused the filmmakers of reducing Dr. Shirley to the sidekick of “a hero white man.”

This criticism may be well deserved.

But for me, the film at least calls attention to this great man who should be a household name.

The samples of his work and limited performances in the movie made me eager to know more about him and hustle to find a place that still offers his music before everyone else does.

Dr. Shirley never received the honor he deserved, but now a far wider circle of people at least will know about him.

In other words, this is a movie worth seeing.

Diana Ross slays as headliner of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Frigid weather and blustery winds didn’t chill the enthusiasm at the 2018 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, where spectators bundled up in blankets and sleeping bags and the giant character balloons flew lower than usual.

Headliner Diana Ross, 74 and slaying as her free-flowing hair spilled over her white quilted, fur-lined coat, performed a rendition of Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime” from atop the Hallmark Channel’s Advent calendar-themed float.

With her on the float in warm white coats were family members, including daughter Tracee Ellis Ross, star of ABC’s “Black-ish,” and actor son Evan Ross and his wife, Ashlee Simpson.

Later, the family posed outside the Diana Ross Playground in Central Park, where fans and pros snapped their photos.

Nov. 22 was one of New York City’s coldest Thanksgivings for the parade that started in 1924. According to the National Weather Service, the temperature peaked at 27 degrees. The coldest on record was in 1871, when the warmest it got was 22 degrees.

Because of the cold, Ms. Ross and other singers on the parade lineup lip-synced to the music. They included Ella Mai and Kane Brown, Anika Noni Rose, Bad Bunny, Pentatonix, Sugarland, Barenaked Ladies, Leona Lewis, Fifth Harmony’s Ally Brooke, Bazzi, Ashley Tisdale and Carly Pearce.

Macy’s later apologized for “technical difficulties” after viewers ripped into singer Rita Ora for what they saw as awkward lip-syncing.

The British artist appeared out of sync with the vocals that viewers heard during parts of her televised performance of “Let You Love Me,” and the episode sparked a flurry of online commentary.

Macy’s apologized via Twitter, saying “several recording artists experienced technical difficulties that negatively impacted their performance” and were beyond the performers’ control.

Ms. Ora tweeted thanks to Macy’s for “the honesty.”

In another moment that got attention, a performance from the Broadway musical “The Prom” included a kiss between two female cast members. The producers told Entertainment Weekly it was the

parade’s “first LGBTQ kiss.”

SpongeBob, Charlie Brown, the Grinch and other big balloons that are crowd favorites at the parade were cleared for takeoff just before the start, although some floated at noticeably lower-than-usual heights above the people holding their tethers, like the outstretched hand of the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” balloon that appeared to hit some of his handlers on their wool cap-covered heads.

Officials had been ready to order the 16 helium-filled balloons to a lower altitude or removed entirely if sustained winds exceeded 23 mph and gusts exceeded 34 mph. There have been mishaps and injuries in the past when gusts blew them off course.

Bystanders refused to let the cold put a damper on watching the parade, breaking out blankets and sleeping bags to watch the balloons, bands and floats go by.

The parade runs 46 blocks, from the west side of Central Park to Macy’s flagship store in midtown Manhattan. It features about 8,000 marchers, including high school bands from across the country, and two dozen floats, culminating with the arrival of Santa Claus.

Diana Ross

Vernita Lee, mother of Oprah Winfrey, dies on Thanksgiving Free Press wire report

MILWAUKEE Vernita Lee, the mother of Oprah Winfrey, has died at age 83.

A spokeswoman for Ms. Winfrey issued a statement on Monday saying Ms. Lee died at her Milwaukee home on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22, 2018.

The spokeswoman also said private funeral services were held. No other details were provided.

Ms. Lee, who worked as a housekeeper throughout her life, was born in Mississippi in 1935 and was 18 when she gave

Vernita Lee and Oprah Winfrey

birth to Ms. Winfrey in 1954. She and Ms. Winfrey’s father, Vernon Winfrey, never married.

Ms. Winfrey initially was raised by her grandmother before joining her mother and half-siblings, Patricia and Jeffrey, in Milwaukee when Ms. Winfrey was 6. When she was a teenager, Ms. Winfrey later moved to live with her father in Tennessee. Both Patricia and Jeffrey have since died.

Ms. Lee was featured getting a makeover on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in 1990.

In 2011, Ms. Winfrey revealed on her show that her mother had given up a

daughter, also named Patricia, for adoption at birth.

On an Instagram post this week, Ms. Winfrey shared a photo of her family with a message thanking people for their thoughts during the family’s time of loss.

“Thank you all for your kind words and condolences,” Ms. Winfrey wrote. “It gives our family great comfort knowing she lived a good life and is now at peace.”

In addition to Ms. Winfrey, Ms. Lee is also survived by another daughter, Patricia Amanda Faye Lee, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Richmond Free Press

November 29-December 1, 2018 B3

Happenings Holiday events underway in city Free Press staff report

Richmond will turn on the holiday lights and welcome Santa to Downtown this weekend to officially launch the celebration of the season in the Capital City.

First up will be the 34th Annual Grand Illumination on Friday, Nov. 30.

The event will light up the Richmond skyline with “Love Lights” and create a dazzling holiday display at the James Center, 10th and Cary streets in Downtown.

Separately on Friday, holiday revelers will find a traditional, music-filled family Open House at Main Street Station from 5 to 9 p.m., an ice skating rink set up in the 17th Street Farmers’ Market that has been renovated and officially will reopen at 4:30 p.m. and an “Illumination Celebration” at the city’s Kanawha Plaza from 7 to 9 p.m.

Those events will be followed by Saturday’s 35th Annual Christmas Parade to escort the jolly old elf along Broad Street into Downtown “Snoopy,” the beagle character from the Peanuts cartoon, will serve as grand marshal for the 2018 parade, according to the parade’s sponsor, the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation.

The cartoon character will lead the lineup of bands, giant floats, equestrians and other participants who will walk and ride the 2-mile-plus route from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles in the 2300 block of West Broad Street east to 7th Street in Downtown, where the parade will turn north and end at the Richmond Coliseum.

If the weather is good, 70,000 to 100,000 people are expected to line the medians and sidewalks on the north side of Broad Street for the parade that also will air on a Richmond TV station.

The forecast: Rain Friday and Saturday.

Family entertainment is key to the holiday events. Santa, Jack Frost and the Snow Queen will greet people at the Grand Illumination, while the 14-member Good Shot Judy band from Williamsburg will play.

Meanwhile, Main Street Station will be alive with family entertainment, a community art gallery, storytellers and live music.

Performers will include the Metro Richmond Police Emer-

Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

Gov. Ralph S. Northam and First Lady Pamela Northam light the official Virginia Capitol Christmas tree that stands on the South Portico of the Capitol. Participating in the ceremony Wednesday night are the Eastern View High School Troubadors from Culpeper County and Bettina Ring, state secretary of agriculture and forestry. The tree lighting touches off many of the area’s holiday festivities that will take place Friday and Saturday.

ald Society Pipes & Drums, James “Saxsmo” Gates Jr., Tuba The Valentine museum and its separate First Freedom Center, Christmas and a Host of Sparrows, according to city informa- the John Marshall House, St. John’s Church, the State Capitol, tion. The event also will feature aerialists, model trains and free Monumental Church and the American Civil War Museum and carriage rides. the White House of the Confederacy.

On Saturday, Dec. 1, Mayor Levar M. Stoney also will host Christmas Parade Grand Illumination an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. at What: Turning on the holiday lights at the When: Saturday, Dec. 1.

James Center and the lights outlining Downtown Main Street Station to highlight Time: 10 a.m. to about 12:15 p.m. buildings. the annual Winter Market.

Where: Broad Street from DMV at 2300 W. When: Friday, Nov. 30.

Upcoming events also include Broad St. eastbound to 7th Street and the Time: 6 to 7 p.m.

(Display lights go on at 6 p.m.) the 31st Annual Court End Richmond Coliseum.

Where: 10th and Cary streets.

Christmas from noon to 5 p.m.

Features: Family entertainment, including Santa Features: Car toon-character balloons; Sunday, Dec. 9. Seven historic and Good Shot Judy Band. high school and college marching bands; sites will open their doors, with Crowd: 8,000 to 10,000 people. community floats; clowns; horseback riders a free shuttle to allow visitors to Cost: Free. and more. travel to the locations, including Related events: Holiday open house featuring music and story reading and train rides for children, Main Street Station, 5 to 9 p.m.; “Illumination Celebration,” 7 to 9 p.m., Kanawha Park, 7th and Canal streets.

Crowd: More than 100,000 people expected.

Cost: Free.

3rd Annual Afrikana Independent Film Festival rescheduled for Nov. 29-Dec. 2

Giving thanks

Photos by Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Hundreds of people enjoyed a sumptuous dinner on Thanksgiving Day at The Giving Heart Community Thanksgiving Feast at the Greater Richmond Convention Center in Downtown. The annual event is free and draws hundreds of volunteers and contributors who provide fellowship and service to families and individuals sitting down for dinner. Among those enjoying the food are, top from left, Harry Howell, Henry Munford, Royal Munford, Mary Singh and Josephine Munford. Behind the scenes, volunteers are hard at work preparing plates with turkey and all the fixings. Right, volunteer Jabriel Hasan prays before dinner at the event.

Boots Riley, writer and director of the independent film “Sorry to Bother You,” will talk about his film following a screening 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Grace Street Theater, 934 W. Grace St. His appearance is part of the 3rd Annual Afrikana Independent Film Festival founded by Enjoli Moon.

Mr. The four-day festival celebrates black stories, black voices and black lives through film. It originally was slated to take place in midSeptember, but was canceled because of Hurricane Florence.

The event opens 7 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 29, with a reception and screening of the short film, “INTERFERENCE,” at The Valentine, 1015 E. Clay St. The film is about an altercation between a police officer and an African-American man on a deserted country road that results in death. An interracial couple passing by must decide who to believe and what to do

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Free HIV testing Dec.1 for World AIDS Day In honor of World AIDS Day, free HIV testing will be available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, at The Valentine, 1015 E. Clay St. The effort is a partnership between the Downtown museum, Diversity Richmond and Nationz Foundation, a nonprofit that provides education and information on HIV prevention, health and wellness.

The foundation’s Mobile Testing Unit & Food Pantry will be on site at the museum to provide the tests.

“The Valentine remains committed to our mission of pursuing community engagement and providing relevant programming to the people of the region,” Bill Martin, director of The Valentine, stated, noting the event’s connection to the museum’s public health exhibition, “Pandemic: Richmond.”

“We look forward to additional partnerships like this that help us use our history to inform our present and shape the future,” he stated.

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about it.

A panel discussion will follow with the film’s cast and crew.

The festival continues Friday, Nov. 30, at VCU’s Institute for Contemporary Art, 601 W. Broad St., with a cocktail hour 6:30 p.m., followed by the 7:30 p.m. Richmond premiere of “If Beale Street Could Talk.”

The film, directed Riley

by Barry Jenkins who directed the Academy Award-winning film “Moonlight,” is about a woman’s fight to free her falsely accused husband from prison before the birth of their child.

The screening will be followed by a panel discussion led

by Dr. Tressie M. Cottom, an assistant professor of sociology

at VCU. From 2 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 1, a variety of short and feature-length film screenings, panel discussions and workshops will take place at various venues around the city. Among them will be “STUCK” by Praheme, a Richmond filmmaker. and “1 Angry Black Man,” by BK Fulton, both Richmond filmmakers.

Saturday evening’s screening of “Sorry to Bother You,” which premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, will be followed by a reception at Black Iris Gallery, 321 W. Broad St. Mr. Riley received the Sundance Institute’s Vanguard Award for the film.

On Sunday, Dec. 2, a trolley ride and brunch will be held.

Details and ticket information: www.afrikanafilmfestival. org.

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Richmond Free Press

B4 November 29-December 1, 2018

Faith News/Directory

Local real estate firm helping anti-hunger efforts

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

A lot of canned goods get thrown away when people move away.

Now moving companies and real estate firms in Richmond and other parts of the country are making an effort to collect nonperishable foods and give them to food banks and other distribution points to help fight hunger.

Moving companies are already involved, thanks to a New Jersey man named Adam Levy.

While working for his family’s moving company, he was amazed at how much food people discarded when they sold their homes and moved out.

In 2009, he launched Move For Hunger, a nonprofit that works with moving companies to collect nonperishable food clients plan to discard.

Move For Hunger, which now works with 1,000 relocation firms in the United States and Canada, reports that more than 5,500 tons of usable food has been collected and given to food distribution organizations since the nonprofit was launched nine years ago.

Next year, Move For Hunger plans to expand with help from real estate companies.

ERA Real Estate, which has more than 2,300 franchise offices in the United States and 31 other countries and territories, has become the first company to commit to being part of this food collection effort.

In the Richmond area, Napier ERA and its principal broker, James T. Napier, have agreed to get involved in helping to get such food donations from its clients to Feed More, a nonprofit hunger relief network throughout Central Virginia, and local pantries.

“We are a community business, and we want to do everything we can to assist in reducing hunger,” Mr. Napier said.

When the opportunity for collaborating with Move For

Hunger came up, “we jumped all over it,” he said.

He said his firm’s four offices already are among the collection points for Backpacks of Love, a program to help ensure students who rely on free school breakfast and lunch have food on the weekends.

And through Monday, Dec. 11, the offices will be collection points for food donations to help restock the regional food bank and other pantries following the Thanksgiving rush.

Rare ‘Slave Bible’ exhibition offers glimpse of Christianity’s role in slavery

By Adelle M. Banks Religion News Service

WASHINGTON On display on the ground floor of the Museum of the Bible is a lone volume that stands out from the many versions of the Bible shown in the building devoted to the holy book.

It’s a small set of Scriptures whose title page reads “Parts of the Holy Bible, selected for the use of the Negro Slaves, in the British West-India Islands.”

The so-called Slave Bible, on loan from Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn., excludes 90 percent of the Hebrew Bible, or Old Testament, and 50 percent of the New Testament. Its pages include “Servants be obedient to them that are your masters,” from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, but missing is the portion of his letter to the Galatians that reads, “There is neither bond nor free … for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Since opening more than a year ago, the museum has featured this 15-inch-by-11inch-by-4-inch volume in an area that chronicles Bible-based arguments for and against slavery dating back to the beginnings of the abolition movement.

But in anticipation of next year’s 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first African slaves in the New World in Jamestown, Va., the Slave Bible will be on special view until April in an exhibition developed with scholars from

Fisk and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.

“We feel it’s an opportunity to contribute to important discussions today about the Bible’s role in relationship to human enslavement and we know that that connects to contemporary issues like racism as well as human bondage,” said Seth Pollinger, director of museum curatorial.

“We’ve had such visitor interest in this book, probably wider interest in this single artifact than any other artifact in the museum.”

The rare artifact is just one of three such Bibles known across the world. The other two are housed at universities in Great Britain.

Fisk’s scholars believe its version may have been brought back from England in the late 19th century by the school’s famed Jubilee Singers, who sang spirituals before Queen Victoria during their European tour.

The exhibition draws on the dichotomy of coercion and conversion, keeping slaves in their place while also attempting to tend to their souls. On two walls of the exhibition, portions of the Bible that were excluded from the slaves’ text are juxtaposed with verses determined to be appropriate for them.

“Prepare a short form of public prayers for them … together with select portions of Scripture … particularly those which relate to the duties of slaves towards their masters,” said

Ali Center receives donation for Muslim cultures exhibit Free Press wire report

LOUISVILLE, KY. The Muhammad Ali Center in Kentucky has received a donation to support an exhibit showcasing the diversity of Muslim cultures.

The $100,000 donation from Islamic Relief USA was announced Nov. 19 at the Ali Center in Louisville.

Center officials said the exhibit promotes the need to understand and respect cultural diversity. Donald Lassere, president and chief executive officer of the center, said it ranks as one of the center’s most significant temporary exhibits.

The exhibit, “America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far,” is on display

Riverview

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

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

through Dec. 30.

Anwar Khan, president of Islamic Relief USA, said the gift also supports Mr. Ali’s legacy. He said Mr. Ali was

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Adelle M. Banks/Religion News Service

The Slave Bible exhibit at the Museum of the Bible in Washington features a version of the holy book that excluded major portions of the Old and New Testaments. Left, this Slave Bible, one of three known in existence worldwide, was published in the early 1800s and is on loan to the museum from Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn.

Anglican Bishop of London Beilby Porteus, founder of the Society for the Conversion of Negro Slaves, in 1808.

Anthony Schmidt, curator of Bible and religion in America for the Museum of the Bible, said that quote “kind of shatters our ideas of these abolitionists being so progressive. Porteus held to very racist views even as he fought for the freedom of enslaved Africans in these colonies.”

A London publishing house first published the Slave Bible in 1807 on behalf of Porteus’ society.

Absent from that Bible were all of the Psalms, which express hopes for God’s delivery from oppression, and the entire Book of Revelation.

“That’s where you reDr. Hamby ally have the story of the overcomer, and where God makes all things right and retribution,” Mr. Pollinger said of the final book found in traditional versions of the Christian Bible.

The Slave Bible’s Book of Exodus excludes the story of the rescue of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, the liberation that gives the biblical book its title.

“It’s conspicuous that they have Chapter 19 and 20 in there, which is where you got God’s appearance at Mount Sinai and he gives his law,” said Mr. Pollinger. “The Ten Commandments would be Exodus 20, but missing is all of the exodus from Egypt.”

Scholars acknowledge that the little-known Bible can be a shocking discovery for students and museum visitors alike.

“When they first encounter the Slave Bible, it’s pretty emotional for them,” said Holly Hamby, an associate professor at Fisk who uses the artifact to teach a class on the Bible as literature. Many of the students at the historically black university are Christian and African-American, most of whom are descendants of slaves, including those in the West Indian colonies.

“It’s very disruptive to their belief system,” said Dr. Hamby, who currently is teaching from a digitized version of the Slave Bible.

Some students wonder how they could have

Ebenezer Baptist Church 1858

“The People’s Church”

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

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Wed. 6:45 p.m.

Wed. 4:30 p.m.

Wed. 6:00 p.m.

Thurs., 11:45 a.m.

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

come to the Christian faith with this kind of Bible possibly in their past. Others dive deeper into the complete Bible, including the Exodus story.

“It does lead them to question a lot, but I also think it leads them to a powerful connection with the text,” she said. “Very naturally, seeing the parts that were left out of the Bible that was given to a lot of their ancestors makes them concentrate more on those parts.”

The museum has plans for conferences and panel discussions to further explore the unusual artifact and its complex meanings.

Mr. Pollinger hopes the exhibit will offer a chance for a more diverse range of visitors, African-American and Caucasian, to join in Mr. Pollinger discussions, just as white and black scholars have worked in recent months on the exhibit.

“This exhibit is going to destabilize people.

It’s going to disturb people and it’s not necessarily one group rather than the other,” said Mr. Pollinger, who hopes that learning about this piece of Bible history will foster greater understanding.

In a quotation displayed in the exhibit, Brad Braxton, director of the NMAAHC’s Center for the Study of African American Religious Life, states: “This religious relic compels us to grapple with a timeless question: In our interpretations of the Bible, is the end result domination or liberation?”

Dr. Hamby suggested that the exhibit should feature current Fisk students’ voices, so it also includes a video of them discussing questions surrounding the controversial take on the Bible.

“My favorite question is the last question on the list that we asked them, which is: Do you think that this Bible is still the good book?” she said of questions the students were asked and that the public will have an opportunity to answer for themselves.

For her part, Dr. Hamby, a member of the United Methodist Church, said, “It’s a good book. I still believe in the Bible on the whole, but not this version of it.”

Mount Olive Baptist Church Rev. Darryl G. Thompson, Pastor

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



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

Sundays

8:30 a.m.

Sunday School 10:00 a.m.

Morning Worship

Tuesdays

Noon Day Bible Study

Wednesdays

6:30 p.m.

Prayer and Praise 7:00 p.m.

Bible Study

Richmond Free Press

November 29-December 1, 2018

B5

Faith News/Directory Walking in faith

Small North Side congregation works hard to keep doors open John S. “Johnny” Walker is on a mission to save All Souls Presbyterian Church as a center of faith and tolerance in North Side.

Despite a shrinking congregation that has fallen to 40 contributing congregants, the 64-yearold Richmond native still sees a future.

“So long as two are gathered here, this will be church, and I’ll be one of them,” he said with steely determination.

All Souls is not unusual in seeing a membership decline. Church-going habits are far less engrained these days, and many older churches, particularly those of mainstream denominations, have felt the impact.

Across Richmond, numerous churches have closed their doors, with the buildings sold or donated to other churches or turned into apartments and condos.

Mr. Walker, a retired AT&T lobbyist and former Richmond City Council candidate, is intent on keeping All Souls from sharing that fate. He is focused on finding new members to come to a church with a progressive outlook.

His determination to save the church at 19 Overbrook Road is partly because of his personal ties. His parents were among the church’s original members, he was christened there and he has served in leadership roles, including treasurer and elder, for much of his adult life.

He also doesn’t want to close a church that he believes “is needed more than ever” in an era when racial discord is on the upswing.

Mr. Walker notes that All Souls welcomed black and white members from its founding in 1952 at a time when government laws and behavior enforced racial separation in virtually everything else in Richmond — from schools, libraries and YMCAs to jobs, neighborhoods, cemeteries and bus and theater seating.

During the 1960s, its pastor, the Rev. James Carpenter, served as an advocate for civil rights and improving race relations as a member of City Council.

Mr. Walker said that he and the four other

elders, Eunice Evans, Geraldine Horne, Delores Murray and Charles Walker, agree that the church needs to revive the founding spirit of tolerance and openness and spread that message if it is to gain some of the newcomers who have moved into the area in recent years.

Mr. Walker left All Souls in 2005 to join a West End congregation, but he started getting involved again after receiving calls from members. Initially, he agreed to resume his previous role as treasurer as the church raised critical funds in 2016 to replace a leaking roof.

He renewed his commitment to All Souls in May 2017 as the dwindling congregation met to consider the future of the church that was once a center of Barton Heights, home to community Girls Scouts and Boy Scouts troops and other civic endeavors.

Mr. Walker won majority support to keep the building open by arguing that all was not lost.

“I told them that we’re still in good financial shape,” he said, with the building being debt free and structurally sound after the roof was repaired.

He remains optimistic. He found a Baptist minister, the Rev. Reuben Turner, to officiate and preach at the weekly services, except for communion, and also gained the support of retired school music teacher Haywood McCallum to play during services.

Still, it is an uphill struggle. Sunday services attract fewer than 20 people, he said, resulting in a monthly scramble to pay the operational bills.

To help, the church has rented some of its vacant space to a nonprofit ministry, Into the Neighborhood, which seeks to help people re-establish themselves after they return from jails and prisons.

A bike shop also has rented the chapel, but that is about to end. Mr. Walker said he and the four other elders have decided that the shop would need to find more appropriate space outside All Souls, and instead are hoping to fill the chapel with a smaller church that needs more space.

VICPP to host advocacy forum this Saturday The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy is hosting a free forum to help empower people to address a range of critical issues facing the community, including health care, criminal justice reform, wage theft, eviction reduction, and to help community advocates prepare for the 2019 Virginia General Assembly session.

Representatives from a variety of organizations will present information at the event Saturday, Dec. 1, at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, 1720 Mechanicsville Turnpike.

Registration begins at 9:30 a.m., with speakers starting at 10 a.m. Lunch will be provided.

Among the organizations presenting are RIHD, or Resource Information Help for the Disadvantaged, on criminal justice reform; RISE, or RISE for Youth, on community alternatives to youth incarceration; and VPLC, or the Virginia Poverty Law Center, on civil legal matters and low-income Virginians.

The event is co-sponsored by Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church.

Details: Amanda Silcox at Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, Amanda@virginiainterfaithcenter.org, or Rev. Rodney Hunter, (804) 502-2335.

Sixth Baptist Church Theme for 2018-2020: Mobilizing For Ministry Refreshing The Old and Emerging The New We Embrace Diversity — Love For All! A 21st Century Church

Come Worship With Us!

With Ministry For Everyone

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2018 10:45 AM Worship Through Prayer and Meditation 11:00 AM Worship Celebration Message by: Pastor Bibbs SAVE THE DATE 95th Church Anniversary SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14TH 10:45 AM Come Worship with Us!

Rev. Dr. Yvonne Jones Bibbs, Pastor

Twitter sixthbaptistrva

400 South Addison Street Richmond, Va. 23220

(near Byrd Park)

(804) 359- 1691 or 359- 3498 Fax (804) 359- 3798 www.sixthbaptistchurch.org drbibbs@sixthbaptistchurch.org

fÑÜxtw à{x jÉÜw Facebook sixthbaptistrva

Jeremy M. Lazarus/Richmond Free Press

John S. “Johnny” Walker is optimistic about the future of All Souls Presbyterian Church on Overbrook Road despite a dwindling number of congregants at the church founded in 1952.

Mr. Walker goes to the church several times a week.

“We’re going to do what it takes,” he said.

Good Shepherd Baptist Church 1127 North 28th St., Richmond, VA 23223-6624 • Office: (804) 644-1402 Dr. Sylvester T. Smith, Pastor “There’s A Place for You” Tuesday Sunday 10:30 AM Bible Study 9:30 AM Church School 6:30 PM Church-wide Bible Study 11:00 AM Worship Service 6:30 PM Men's Bible Study (Each 2nd and 4th) (Holy Communion Thursday each 2nd Sunday) Wednesday (Following 2nd Sunday) 6:30 PM Prayer Meeting

11:00 AM Mid-day Meditation

call 804-644-0496 Richmond Free Press

We care about you and Richmond.

“The Church With A Welcome”

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

sunday, december 2, 2018 8:30 a.m. ....Sunday School 10:00 a.m. ...Morning Worship and Holy Communion

Thursdays Wednesdays 1:30 p.m.

6:00 p.m. ..... Prayer Service Bible Study 6:30 p.m. ..... Bible Study (The Purpose Driven Life)

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

Serving Richmond since 1887 3200 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia 23223• (804) 226-1176

Sunday 9:00 a.m. Sunday School 10:00 a.m. Worship Service

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

All ARe Welcome

St. Peter Baptist Church

Dr. Kirkland R. Walton, Pastor

Worship Opportunities Sundays: Morning Worship Church School Morning Worship

Early Morning Worship ~ 8 a.m.

Sunday School ~ 9:30 a.m.

Morning Worship ~ 11 a.m.

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

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

Sermons Available at BRBCONLINE.org

“MAKE IT HAPPEN”

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

Pastor Kevin Cook

New Deliverance Evangelistic Church

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

Watch Night Service

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

Monday, December 31, 2018 9:00 p.m.

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

Doors open 8:00 p.m.

e the Dates Sav

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

Upcoming Events & Happenings

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

Sunday

Sunday Morning Worship

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

Wednesday Services No Noonday or Night Bible Study during the month of August 2018

Christmas Celebration

To advertise your church: Worship Service • Gospel Concert Vacation Bible School Homecoming • Revival

“This church is still needed and our members are still committed to ensuring that its doors remain open.”

Broad Rock Baptist Church



By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Weekly Worship: Sundays @ 10:30 A.M. Church School: Sundays @ 9:00 A.M. Bible Study: Wednesdays @ Noon & 6:30 P.M.

2901 Mechanicsville Turnpike, Richmond, VA 23223 (804) 648-2472 ~ www.mmbcrva.org Dr. Price London Davis, Senior Pastor

23rd Church Founder’s &Anniversary

Friday, January 25th 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, January 27th 9:00 a.m.

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

Thursday & Friday Radio Broadcast WREJ 1540 AM Radio - 8:15 a.m.- 8:30 a.m.

ChriStiaN aCaDEMy (NDCa)

Saturday

ENROLL NOW!!!

8:30 a.m. Intercessory Prayer

Accepting applications for children 2 yrs. old to 5th Grade

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

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

Visit www.ndec.net.

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

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

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

Sunday Morning Worship

Richmond Free Press

B6 November 29-December 1, 2018

Legal Notices//Employment Opportunities 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, December 10, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber on the Second Floor of City Hall, located at 900 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, to consider the following ordinance: Ordinance No. 2018-297 As Amended To create the Navy Hill Development Advisory Commission and announce the Council’s intent to hold public hearings, all for the purpose of providing for the Council’s consideration of a development proposal in the area generally bounded on the west by N. 5th St., on the north by E. Leigh St., on the east

by N. 10th St., and on the south by E. Marshall S t . ( C O M M I TT E E : Organizational Development, Monday, December 3, 2018, 5:00 p.m., Council Chamber) Interested citizens who wish to speak will be given an opportunity to do so.

Copies of the full text of all ordinances are available by visiting the City Clerk’s page on the City’s Website at www.Richmondgov. com and in the Office of the City Clerk, City Hall, 900 East Broad Street, Suite 200, Richmond, VA 23219, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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, December 10, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber on the Second Floor of City Hall, located at 900 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, to consider the following resolution: Resolution No. 2018-R100 To request the Richmond delegation to the General Assembly of Virginia to introduce and support the enactment of legislation to amend sections 3.01.1 and 3.04 of the Charter of the City of Richmond to conform its provisions concerning deadlines for voter registration and absentee balloting for runoff elections to the provisions of Chapters 4 and 7 of Title 24.2 of the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended. (COMMITTEE: Governmental Operations, Thursday, November 29, 2018, 12:00 p.m., Council Chamber) Interested citizens who wish to speak will be given an opportunity to do so.

Copies of the full text of all ordinances are available by visiting the City Clerk’s page on the City’s Website at www.Richmondgov. com and in the Office of the City Clerk, City Hall, 900 East Broad Street, Suite 200, Richmond, VA 23219, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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, December 10, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber on the Second Floor of City Hall, located at 900 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, to consider the following ordinances: Ordinance No. 2018-110 As Amended To amend City Code § 2-1183, concerning the residency requirement for certain officers and employees, to modify the City’s residency requirement [so that it applies only to the Chief Administrative Officer, the Chief of Fire and Emergency Services, and the Chief of Police].

Ordinance No. 2018-238 As Amended To amend City Code § 1236, concerning disposition of revenues derived from the expiration of partial exemptions from real estate taxation, to provide that up to $1,000,000.00 of the proceeds from certain sales of tax delinquent properties shall be credited to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

Ordinance No. 2018-241 As Amended To amend ch. 16, art. I of the City Code by adding therein a new § 16-2, concerning a requirement for a homeless strategic plan, to require a homeless strategic plan to be presented to the City Council and the Mayor Continued on next column

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commencing no later than Oct. 1, 2019, and updated homeless strategic plans

by Oct. 1 every two years thereafter.

Ordinance No. 2018-266 To erect all-way stop signs at the intersection of Claremont Avenue and Lamont Street.

Ordinance No. 2018-281 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept funds in the amount of $500,000.00 from the United States Department of Justice; to amend the Fiscal Year 2018-2019 Special Fund Budget by creating a new special fund for the Sheriff and Jail called the Richmond Retooled Comprehensive Second Chance Reentry Program Special Fund; and to appropriate the grant funds received to the Fiscal Year 2018-2019 Special Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Sheriff and Jail’s Richmond Retooled Comprehensive Second Chance Reentry Program Special Fund by $500,000.00 for the purpose of reducing recidivism by facilitating reentry for inmates being released from the City Jail.

Ordinance No. 2018-282 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept funds in the amount of $9,421.44 from the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Emergency Medical Services, and to appropriate the grant funds received to the Fiscal Year 2018-2019 Special Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department of Fire and Emergency Services’ Four for Life Program Special Fund by $9,421.44 for the purpose of supporting West End Volunteer Rescue Squad, Inc. Ordinance No. 2018-283 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept funds in the amount of $4,500.00 from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 20182019 General Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Non-Departmental General Fund Budget by $4,500.00 for the purpose of providing a grant of $2,250.00 of such funds each to the Cadence Theatre Company and to CultureWorks, Inc. Ordinance No. 2018-284 To name an unnamed east-west alley located in the block bounded

by North Allen Avenue, Hanover Avenue, North Vine Street, and Grove Avenue as “Trouvaille Alley.”

Ordinance No. 2018-285 To declare that a public necessity exists and to authorize the Chief Administrative Officer or the designee thereof, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to acquire, at a tax delinquent judicial sale, the property located at 511 North 30th Street and to authorize the conveyance of such property for $1,966.00 to The Maggie Walker Community Land Trust for the purposes of eliminating blight and making such property available for redevelopment.

Ordinance No. 2018-286 To declare that a public necessity exists and to authorize the Chief Administrative Officer or the designee thereof, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to acquire, at a tax delinquent judicial sale, the property located at 918 North 25th Street and to authorize the conveyance of such property for $2,412.00 to The Maggie Walker Community Land Trust for the purposes of eliminating blight and making such property available for redevelopment.

Ordinance No. 2018-287 To amend and reordain City Code § 8-12, concerning the use of City-owned real estate, for the purpose of imposing certain requirements on the use of City-owned real estate as cold weather shelters for homeless persons.

Ordinance No. 2018-288 To amend ch. 24, art.

II of the City Code by adding therein a new div. 4.1 (§§ 24-125—24132) to amend City Code § 27-197, concerning parking prohibited in specified places, and to amend Appendix A of the City Code by adding therein new fees for § 24-128, concerning permit applications for the parking of certain vehicles, and 24-129, concerning the reinstatement of revoked permits, for the purpose of establishing a permit program for parking certain vehicles on sidewalks.

Ordinance No. 2018-289 To amend ch. 24, art.

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24-4 for the purpose of requiring the Department of Public Works to conduct a study of the conditions of all streets, roads, and bridges in the city and to provide a report to City Council by no later than Feb. 1, 2019, and by no later than Feb. 1 each year thereafter.

Ordinance No. 2018-290 To designate the bridge on the access road beginning at the intersection of Gunn and Minifee Streets and ending at Oak GroveBellmeade Elementary School located at 2409 Webber Avenue in honor of Robert S. Argabright, II. .

Ordinance No. 2018-291 To amend City Code §§ 1079, concerning the award of franchises and permits to operators of emergency medical service vehicles, and 10-83, concerning the suspension of authorization to operate emergency medical service vehicles, to make modifications to the City’s regulations governing the operation of emergency medical service vehicles in the right-of-way.

Ordinance No. 2018-292 To grant to Western - Star Hospital Authority, Inc. a permit for the operation of emergency medical service vehicles in the city to provide certain non-emergency medical transportation services, upon certain terms and conditions.

Ordinance No. 2018-293 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Memorandum of Agreement between the Federal Communications Commission, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, and the City of Richmond for the purpose of setting forth conditions pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act that the City must fulfill in order to construct an E911 selfsupport communications tower at 1201 North 38th Street.

Ordinance No. 2018-294 To amend and reordain City Code §§ 4-92, concerning the keeping and running at large of hogs, pigs, and fowl, 4-124, concerning permit requirements for chickens, and 4-126, concerning requirements for the area in which female chickens are maintained, for the purpose of increasing the number of female chickens permitted in the City from four to six.

Ordinance No. 2018-295 To amend and reordain City Code § 4-244, concerning the care and control of animals and penalties, for the purpose of imposing care and control requirements on certain animals other than dogs and cats.

Ordinance No. 2018-296 To amend ch. 24, art. II, div. 8 of the City Code by adding therein a new § 24244.1 for the purpose of providing that no sidewalk café permit applied for by an operator who is not the property owner shall be denied, suspended, or revoked solely because such property owner is delinquent in the payment of any applicable real estate taxes.

Ordinance No. 2018-297 To create the Navy Hill Development Advisory Commission and announce the Council’s intent to hold public hearings, all for the purpose of providing for the Council’s consideration of a development proposal in the area generally bounded on the west by N. 5th St., on the north by E. Leigh St., on the east by N. 10th St., and on the south

by E. Marshall St. Ordinance No. 2018-298 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept funds in the total amount of $229,815.00 from the Virginia Department of Transportation; and to appropriate the amount of $229,815.00 to the Fiscal Year 2018-2019 Capital Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department of Public Works’ Major Bridge Improvement Program in the Transportation category by $229,815.00 for the purpose funding the replacement of the Lynhaven Avenue Bridge over Broad Rock Creek.

Ordinance No. 2018-302 To declare a public necessity for and to authorize the acquisition by gift of the property k n o w n a s Va u x h a l l Island from the Enrichmond Foundation for the purpose of its incorporation in the James River Park System to be used for preservation of natural areas and open space in accordance with the terms of a grant from the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation.

Ordinance No. 2018-304 To amend and reordain Ord. No. 75-309-302, adopted Dec. 15, 1975, as most recently amended Continued on next column

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by Ord. No. 2017-227, adopted Dec. 11, 2017, pertaining to the “Stony Point Community Unit Plan,” for the purpose of amending the development standards, as they pertain to Map Section K of the Southern Portion of the Plan, to allow for residential development. The subject property is located at 9230 Forest Hill Avenue and is a component of the approved Stony Point Community Unit Plan. The underlying zoning of the subject property is R-2 (SingleFamily Residential) district. The City of Richmond’s Master Plan designates the subject property for multi-family (medium density) land use. Primary uses under this recommendation are multi-family dwellings at densities up to 20 units per acre. The density of the proposed development would be approximately 10 units per acre.

Interested citizens who wish to speak will be given an opportunity to do so.

Copies of the full text of all ordinances are available by visiting the City Clerk’s page on the City’s Website at www.Richmondgov. com and in the Office of the City Clerk, City Hall, 900 East Broad Street, Suite 200, Richmond, VA 23219, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Candice D. Reid City Clerk City of Richmond, Virginia CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the City of Richmond Planning Commission has scheduled a public hearing, open to all interested citizens, on Monday, December 3, 2018 at 1:30 p.m. in the Fifth Floor Conference Room of City Hall and the Council of the City of Richmond has scheduled a public hearing on Monday, December 10, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber on the Second Floor of City Hall, located at 900 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, to consider the following ordinances: Ordinance No. 2018-299 To close, to public use and travel, a portion of an alley adjacent to 105 North Rowland Street located in the block bounded by North Rowland Street, Grove Avenue, North Meadow Street, and Floyd Avenue consisting of 21± square feet, upon certain terms and conditions.

Ordinance No. 2018-300 To close, to public use and travel, a portion of the east side of North 30th Street and a portion of the south side of M Street abutting the property known as 623 North 30 th Street, consisting of 535± square feet, upon certain terms and conditions.

Ordinance No. 2018-301 To close, to public use and travel, a portion of an alley in the block bounded by East Main Street, South 6th Street, East Cary Street, and South 5th Street abutting the property known as 519 East Main Street consisting of 646± square feet, upon certain terms and conditions.

Ordinance No. 2018-303 To rezone the properties known as 710 and 712 West Fells Street, 1705 and 1705½ Chamberlayne Avenue, and a portion of the property known as 1707 Chamberlayne Avenue from the M-1 Light Industrial District to the B-6 Mixed-Use Business District; and a portion of the property known as 1707 Chamberlayne Avenue and the properties known as 1716 and 1718 Roane Street from the R-53 Multifamily Residential District to the B-6 Mixed-Use Business District. The Richmond Master Plan recommends Community Commercial land use for the subject property. Primary uses included office, retail, personal service and other commercial and service uses, intended to provide the shopping and service needs of residents of a number of nearby neighborhoods or a section of the City.

Ordinance No. 2018-305 To authorize the special use of the property known as 117 East Cary Street for the purpose of a two-family dwelling, upon certain terms and conditions. The property is located within the B-3 General Business District.

The Pulse Corridor Plan designates the subject property as Downtown Mixed-Use which features high-density development with office buildings, apartments, and a mix of complementary uses, including regional destinations. No residential density is specified for this land use designation.

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use of the properties known as 623 North 30th Street, 3001, 3005, and 3009 M Street, and a portion of North 30th Street and a portion of M Street, for the purpose of up to five single-family attached dwellings, upon certain terms and conditions. The property is located in the R‑63 Multi‑family Urban Residential District. The City of Richmond’s current Master Plan designates a future land use category for the subject property as Mixed Use Residential (MUR) which may include single, two, and multifamily dwellings, live/work units and neighborhood serving commercial uses developed in a traditional urban form. No residential density is proposed for this designation.

Ordinance No. 2018-307 To authorize the special use of the property known as 1204 North 30th Street for the purpose of up to four two-family attached dwellings, upon certain terms and conditions. The property is currently located in the R‑6, Single‑Family Attached zoning district.

The City of Richmond’s current Master Plan designates the subject property for Single‑Family Medium Density land use which includes, “…single‑family and two‑family dwellings, both detached and attached, at densities of 8 to 20 units per acre. Includes residential support uses such as schools, places of worship, neighborhood parks and recreation facilities, and limited public and semi‑public uses” (p.133). The density of the proposed development would be approximately 27 units per acre.

Ordinance No. 2018-308 To authorize the special use of the property known as 1301 North 30th Street for the purpose of a building with commercial uses on the first floor and up to two dwelling units, upon certain terms and conditions. The property is zoned in the R‑6 Single‑Family Attached Residential District.

The City of Richmond’s Master Plan designates the subject property for Single-Family (Medium Density) uses. Primary uses in this category are single-family detached dwellings at densities between 8 and 20 units per acre. The density of the parcel if developed as proposed would be a ratio of approximately 22 units per acre.

Ordinance No. 2018-309 To authorize the special use of the property known as 2024 West Broad Street for the purpose of permitting a roof-mounted sign, upon certain terms and conditions. The subject property is located in the B‑3 General Business District. The subject property is designated for Nodal Mixed‑Use land use by the Pulse Corridor Plan. The Pulse Plan describes such areas as transit‑oriented district[s] located immediately adjacent to the Pulse BRT or other frequent transit service at key gateways and prominent places in the city in order to provide for significant, urban‑form development in appropriate locations.

Ordinance No. 2018-310 To authorize the special use of the property known as 2712 East Leigh Street for the purpose of up to seven multifamily dwelling units and an accessory office, upon certain terms and conditions.

The current zoning for the subject property is R‑63, Multifamily Urban Residential. The City of Richmond’s current Master Plan designates the subject property for Mixed Use Residential (MUR) uses which include single, two, and multifamily dwellings, live/work units and neighborhood serving commercial uses developed in a traditional urban form. No residential density is specified for this land use category. The residential density of the proposed development would be approximately 41 units per acre.

Interested citizens who wish to speak will be given an opportunity to do so. Copies of the full text of all ordinances are available by visiting the City Clerk’s page on the City’s Website at www.

Richmondgov.com; the Main City Library located at 101 East Franklin Street; and in the Office of the City Clerk, City Hall, 900 East Broad Street, Suite 200, Richmond, VA 23219, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Candice D. Reid City Clerk

Divorce VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER DOROTHY JONES, Plaintiff v.

DON JONES, Defendant.

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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 3rd day of January, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. and protect his interests.

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

KWAKU BOATEY, Defendant.

Case No.: CL18003406-00 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 3rd day of January, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. 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

Nichols, to appear at the above-named Court and protect his/her interest on or before 1/28/2019, at 2:00 PM, Courtroom #4 VIRGINIA: IN THE JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND Commonwealth of Virginia, in re JULIANA & AZARIAH THOMPSON-HUGHES Case No. J-88666-11-00, J-88668-11-10-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“RPR”) Julius Edward Hughes (FATHER), of JULIANA THOMPSONHUGHES child, DOB 10/13/2010 & AZARIAH THOMPSON-HUGHES child, DOB 10/23/2011, “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.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Julius Edward Hughes (Father), to appear at the above-named Court and protect his/her interest on or before 1/15/2019, at 2:20 PM, Courtroom #2 Virginia: in the circuit court FOR the county of chesterfield SYDNEY L. CASTRO, and Edwin R. Castro Petitioners v.

Eric R. Gutierrez Respondent.

Case No. CA18-84 In re: Aubree Elaina Gutierrez (D.O.B.: 12/11/2014) order of publication November 6, 2018

The goal of this suit is an adoption. WHEREFORE, an affidavit having been filed by the Petitioners, Sydney L. Castro and Edwin R. Castr, that due diligence has been used without effect to ascertain the location of the Defendant, Eric S. Gutierrez, it is ordered that Eric S. Gutierrez appear before this Court on January 7, 2019 at 8:30 a.m. and do what is necessary to protect his interests herein.

An Extract Teste: WENDY S. HUGHES, Clerk Mary Ashby Brown, Esquire (VSB #74718) Friedman Law Firm, P.C. Suite A Chesterfield, Virginia 23832 (804) 717-1969 (telephone) (804) 748-4161 (telecopier) mabrown@friedmanlawva.com Counsel for the Petitioners VIRGINIA: IN THE JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND Commonwealth of Virginia, in re RASHAWN MARTIN Case No. J-095527-05 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“RPR”) Unknown (Father) of Rashawn Martin, child, DOB 07/06/2006, “RPR” means all rights and responsibilities remaining with parent after transfer of legal custody or guardianship of the person, including but not limited to rights of: visitation; adoption consent; determination of religious affiliation; and responsibility for support.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Unknown (Father) to appear at the above-named Court and

protect his/her interest on or before 03/11/2019, at 2:00 PM, Courtroom #4 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER In the matter of the adoption of Matthew jose carter by mable ethel heiskill carter.

Case No.: CA18000024 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of the abovestyled suit is to waive the consent of Maria Salgado, birth mother of Matthew Jose Carter, to the adoption of Matthew Jose Carter by Mable Ethel Heiskill Carter and approve a Final Order of Adoption.

And it appearing by affidavit filed herein that the whereabouts of Maria Salgado is unknown and due diligence has been used to attempt to locate Maria Salgado, without effect, it is therefore ORDERED that Maria Salgado appear on or before January 28, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at the Hanover Circuit Court and do what is necessary to protect her interest.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Susan H. Brewer VSB# 15889 Counsel for Petitioner 2224 Park Avenue Richmond, VA 23220-2715 Telephone: (804) 359-0897 SusanBrewer97@gmail.com VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER In the matter of the adoption of Andrew Luca Morris, Ilaria Elena Morris, Gianluca Morris, and Katienne Morris, Infants.

Case No.: CA18000025 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of the abovestyled suit is to waive the consent of Sonia Castagna, birth mother of the abovereferenced children, to the adoption of these children

by Marta Michelle Latta and approve a Final Order of Adoption.

And it appearing by affidavit filed herein that the whereabouts of Sonia Castagna is unknown and due diligence has been used to attempt to locate Sonia Castagna, without effect, it is therefore ORDERED that Sonia Castagna appear on or before January 28, 2019 at 11:30 a.m. at the Hanover Circuit Court and do what is necessary to protect her interest.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Susan H. Brewer VSB# 15889 Counsel for Petitioner 2224 Park Avenue Richmond, VA 23220-2715 Telephone: (804) 359-0897 SusanBrewer97@gmail.com

CUSTODY Virginia: in the circuit court IN the county of chesterfield In RE: William Jahir Cardenas Colindres A Minor Child Under 18 Years of Age Hearing Date: 11/27/2018 at 10:00 a.m.

DOB: 12/11/2014 Case No. CJ18C-90 order of publication

The object of the abovestyled suit is to grant sole and legal custody to Petitioner, Jeymi Colindres Varela of minor child, her son, William Jahir Cardenas, has not been involved in the life of the minor child since he was approximately two weeks old.

That the father of minor child’s whereabouts are unknown and therefore,

It appearing by affidavit filed according to law that the father of minor child, William Edwardo Cardenas, is not a resident of the State of Virginia and that his last known address is unknown, it is therefore ORDERED that William Edwardo Cardenas, appear before this Court on December 20 at 8:30 a.m., and do what is necessary to protect his interests in this suit.

I ask for this: Soulmaz Taghavi, Esq. (VSB #88036) NovoTaghavi, Ltd. 1500 Forest Avenue Richmond, Virginia 23235 (804) 614-6920 - telephone soulmaz@novotaghavi.com Counsel for Petitioner VIRGINIA: IN THE JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Zayonna M. Hopkins and Dyree Toney Case No. J-093277-12 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“RPR”) Shanika Nichols (Mother) of Zayonna M. Hopkins, child DOB 03/31/2013 and Dyree Toney, child DOB 05/01/2009. “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.

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BID COUNTY OF HENRICO, VIRGINIA CONSTRUCTION ITB # 18-1786-11EAR – Kings Hill Area Sewer Rehabilitation – Rehabilitate approx.

2,000’ of 8” sewer pipe and associated manholes and service connections.

Due 2:00 pm, December 19, 2018.

Additional information available at: https://henrico. us/finance/divisions/ purchasing/.

LPN Downtown addiction treatment facility seeking an LPN. Virginia licensed, CPR/First Aid. Dose patients as prescribed. Monday through Friday 5:30 am to 1:30 pm. Some Weekends 6am to 10 am. Please email marym@hricorp.org or fax your resume to 804-562-4581. EOE.

Part-Time Administrative Assistant

Proficiency in Microsoft Office required.

Interested candidates please send resume to: Mount Calvary Baptist Church P.O. Box 7785, Richmond, VA 23231.

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

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

EOE M/F/D/V

The City of Richmond announces the following project(s) available for services relating to: IFB No. G190004227-HSIP Pedestrian Improvements at Signalized Intersections (UPC 108889) Due Date: January 8, 2019 / Time: 2:30 P.M Receipt Location: 900 East Broad Street, Room 1104, 11th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219 Non-Mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting: December 5, 2018 @ Time 2:30 P.M. Location: City Hall, 900 East Broad Street, 11th floor, Room 1104 Opening Date: January 9, 2019@ Time: 2:30 P.M - 900 East Broad Street, Room 1104, 11th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219 Questions regarding the IFB shall be submitted no later than December 17, 2018.

Information or copies of the above solicitation is available by contacting Procurement Services, at the City of Richmond website (www.RichmondGov. com), or at 11th Floor of City Hall, 900 E. Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219. Phone (804) 646-5716 or faxed (804) 646-5989. The City of Richmond encourages all contractors to participate in the procurement process.

For reference purposes, documents may be examined at the above location.