Richmond Free Press September 22-24, 2022 edition

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Flipping burgers at McDonald’s may not be considered the path to the perfect job.

Don’t tell that to Tanya Renee HillHolliday.Theformer Richmond public housing resident has spent her career with the company and now has achieved million aire status as the leading Black owner of McDonald’s franchises in the Philadelphia area with 12 stores.

In January, Ms. Hill-Holliday will become the new chair and chief ex ecutive officer of the National Black McDonald’s Owners Association after serving in other positions, including vice president.

Today, as she recruits employ ees, her mantra is, “I started as crew, you can, too” to let workers know she has been where they are and, with hard work and a can-do attitude, they can achieve the same success she has.

Local authority’s outreach helps equity fund address health disparities

For the last two months, Jacquetta Gosier has worked to bridge the gap of mental health access for Richmond communities in need.

A clinician who recently began working at the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, Ms. Gosier has brought her expertise and RBHA’s ser vices to community events at neighborhood resource centers across the city, enabled by the resources of the Richmond Health Equity Fund.

From weekly gardening classes in Whitcomb Court to canvassing neighborhoods in Hillside and Gilpin Court with other health workers, Ms. Gosier has become a new fixture for these communities. And judging from the response she received from those residents, it seems that the public is happy to help resolve long underaddressed health issues.

Most don’t see it that way, she said.

“The perception of the brand is that the food is inexpensive, and that carries over to the perception of the job,” she said. “To many, working at McDonald’s is a missed opportunity at a real job. They fail to see what is right in front of them.”

Still, she wishes there was more interest, par ticularly among young Black workers who could emulate her. Currently, about 1,200 companies own McDonald’s franchises, 168 of which are Black-owned, she said. Of the 13,438 McDonald’s restaurants spread across the country, only about 1,400 are Black-owned.

In her adopted Philadelphia, her success has been accompanied by awards and recognition as a business role model. Her hometown of Richmond,

though, has not saluted her for showing what a public housing resident can accomplish.

Ms. Hill-Holliday draws accolades from those who know her, such W.P. “Pete” Washington, another Black business success story who formerly owned six McDonald’s restaurants in Richmond.“Sheisextremely dedicated and a very strong family person,” Mr. Washington said. “She has a drive beyond most people, and she impresses everyone she meets with her ability.”

Ms. Hill-Holliday spent 25 years rising through the corporate ranks of McDonald’s before grabbing the opportunity in 2005 to own her first store next door to Villanova University.

By George Copeland Jr.

More than 50 years after a deceased Black man became an organ donor without his consent or the knowledge of his family, Virginia Commonwealth University’s role in the treatment of Bruce Tucker continues to be reassessed and scrutinized by leaders inside and outside the university.

Mr. Tucker was admitted to the Medical College of Virginia in 1968 after suffer ing a head injury that eventually led to his death. MCV doctors then took his heart and transplanted it into a white patient, the first heart transplant in Virginia and 16th in the

world according to VCU Health. The deci sion led to a legal and medical battle by Mr. Tucker’s family.

In a Sept. 1 Richmond Free Press com mentary written by Chip Jones, author of the 2020 publication of “The Organ Thieves” which explores Virginia’s controversial, racially-charged first heart transplant in 1968, it was noted that VCU had not issued a public apology for MCV’s deeds.

Now, more than five decades later, the university has finally apologized.

“NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RE

Please turn to A4

No November vote voids Urban One’s casino contract

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

The casino-resort contract that a Maryland-based Black media company had to develop in South Richmond if voters were to approve it is no more.

According to the ordinance that City Council passed last January, Urban One’s contract with the city for creating a $562 million gambling mecca, hotel and park has evaporated.

The contract dissolved after a Richmond Circuit Court last month pulled an order for a planned second vote on the project from the November ballot. The court responded to a request from the city, after the company decided it would be best to wait a year.

The contract that council approved and that was signed by representatives of Urban One and the city states that this agree

Mayor’s revised police review board proposal gains support

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Richmond appears to be moving closer to establishing an advisory Civilian Review Board to make recommendations in cases of alleged police misconduct that result in residents being killed, injured or suffering unwarranted physical or verbal abuse.

Mayor Levar M. Stoney, whose first proposal six months ago drew a thumbs down from City Council, has returned with a revamped product that is already winning a thumbs up from some.

When he introduced the revised pro posal Monday night, he did so with the support of four members of the city’s governing body, Andreas D. Addison, 1st District; Ann-Frances Lambert, 3rd District;

Stephanie A. Lynch, 5th District; and Dr. Michael J. Jones, 9th District.“This new pro posal reflects a col laborative effort with members of council”

Mayor Stoney stated in introducing the pro posal that is headed for committee review and a potential vote within a month.

“The result is a CRB that will be equipped to respond to the needs of our community, ensure accountability and enhance the public safety of all Richmond residents,” he said.

To pass, at least one more member must

agree the proposal is sound.

The idea of a police oversight board for Richmond has popped up periodically over the past three decades, but went nowhere until the 2020 protests against police brutality. The Richmond demonstrations, sparked by the Minneapolis Police murder of George Floyd, suddenly gave the idea political momentum.

Still, the plan headed to council once again rejects creation of a strong, indepen dent CRB that could bypass the chief of police and investigate and impose discipline on officers and also revamp police policies andThatprocedures.kindof robust CRB was

ment “shall be void and of no force and/or effect if a majority of those voting do not approve” the November 2022 referendum.

In other words, no vote means no contract.

The referendum was an attempt at a second vote to gain ap proval for the casino after the first attempt was narrowly defeated in November 2021.

Under the state law awarding casino rights to five cities,

For the best view

Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

Shiloh Duncan, 7, of Richmond, center, found the perfect place Sunday to enjoy the RVA Street Art Festival with his sister, left, Jaisah Duncan, 15, and their mother, Melissa Duncan. The family, perched at The Power Plant Building along the Haxall Canal in Downtown Richmond, also got a closer look at the muralists working during the festival’s 10th anniversary. For Shiloh, the spot and were perfect. cool see the and the artwork.” photos on A8.

Photo courtesy of Tanya Hill-Harding

By George Copeland Jr.

Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

L. Douglas Wilder, left, and Susan Gooden, dean of the Wilder School at Virginia Commonwealth University, share the stage Monday for the 2022 Wilder Symposium discussion and Q&A at the Singleton Center for the Performing Arts on VCU’s campus.

Regina H. Boone / Richmond Free Press

CrossOver Healthcare Ministry’s (from left) Kaitlyn Patterson, nursing manager, Julie Bilodeau, CEO, and Khafayat Akapolawal, Medicaid program coordinator, are among several professionals who help provide quality health care to patients and others in need of the organization’s services. The women are pictured at CrossOver’s 108 Cowardin Ave. location. A $50,000 Health Equity Fund grant also enables CrossOver, which has a second location in Henrico County, to expand outreach and prepare ahead of a potential rise in COVID cases in the fall.

The cost of electricity is going up

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Surging demand and a jump in the price of natural gas is about to impact electric bills in Virginia.

Dominion Energy secured approval last Friday from the Virginia State Corporation Commission to boost bills to recover the extra $1 billion it is spending for the fuel, which has replaced coal as the prime energy source at a major share of its electric plants.

Dominion estimates that the average residential customer will pay an extra $14.30 a month for the next three years, beginning in October.

According to Dominion, the price increase could have justified an immediate $24 a month increase for residential customers, but it chose to ease the financial hit to customers by spreading the recovery time over 36 months. The company indicated that if the price of the fuel falls back in that time, customers might see a

Thereduction.increasein

natural gas prices already has impacted natural gas users in Richmond, where the Department of Public Utilities has nearly doubled its fuel charge to customers who rely on the fuel for cooking, heating water and their homes.

The war in Ukraine led to a spike in the price of natural gas earlier this year. Increased demand from companies like Dominion and from other users has helped keep the price at levels well above the past few years.

Education advocate files U.S. Department of Education complaint against Richmond Public Schools

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Special education advocate Kandise Lucas is taking action after learning that Richmond has been ignoring a federal law that requires public schools to serve physically and mentally disabled children who are home-schooled, enrolled in private school or enrolled in the school system.

Ms. Lucas has filed a formal complaint with the U.S. De partment of Education’s Office of Special Education to seek an investigation of Richmond’s failure to provide such services to children being educated outside of the public schools.

She submitted the complaint after the School Board and Su perintendent Jason Kamras’ administration rebuffed her request for RPS to provide Chromebooks for the 20 students who attend the private nonprofit Outreach Involvement Center (OIC) in South Side – all of whom, she said, are diagnosed with challenges that would quality them for disability services.

Ms. Lucas said RPS also should be providing free breakfast and lunch for those students, along with other benefits provided to disabled students in city schools.

Ms. Lucas is hanging her complaint on a sea change in federal education law that Congress included in 2015 in passing thenPresident Obama’s Every Student Succeeds act.

Her reading of the law has been confirmed by the Virginia Department of Education.

The state agency noted in a published statement that the 2015 law made private, nonprofit elementary and secondary school students, teachers and other educational personnel eligible to participate in federally-funded programs.”

VDOE noted in the statement posted at least three years ago that “each (public) school division is obligated to inform officials of private schools located within the division’s boundary” that such nonprofit schools are to benefit from the federal funding the division has received to provide physically and mentally disabled and with a “free and appropriate public education,” called FAPE in education jargon.

The department also requires each public school division to conduct a yearly count by Dec. 1 of every disabled child, including those in private settings. In its 2022 advisory on the count issued Sept. 16, the department highlighted that the count needs to include a survey of children parentally placed in home school and private school settings.

RPS has not responded to a Free Press request for comment on the issue.

But for the first time, Ms. Lucas said, RPS is poised to meet with nonprofit private schools in the city and possibly home schooled children with disabilities, as required, to find out what services disabled children in their care might need.

She said she received a notice Tuesday that “RPS wants to meet to determine the needs of our children” and those disabled students enrolled in other eligible private schools, although a date has not been set.

Ms. Lucas said RPS’ failure to follow the federal education law is not unusual. She said Richmond just represents a test case.

“This is the first school division in which this issue has been raised,” she said. “I plan to raise this issue with other school divisions that also have not been complying with this law.”

VDOE noted that 14 school divisions have authorized VDOE to hire a third party to handle services to such students.

As runners in the inaugural RUN RICH MOND 16.19 approached Brown’s Island Sept. 17, the Emancipation and Freedom Monument awaited them. The monument features two 12-foot bronze figures – a male, and a female holding an infant – who represent those newly freed from slavery. Designed by artist and sculptor, Thomas Jay Warren, of Oregon, the brick plaza and landscaping was designed by architect Drew Harrigan of Four Winds Design and constructed by Fred Williams and his team at Williams Construction.

Cityscape

Slices of life and scenes in Richmond

Here is how Venture Richmond describes the monument: “On a rainy September 22, 2021, following nearly 10 years of planning and fundraising, Virginia’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Commission dedicated and unveiled Richmond’s newest monument — the Emancipation and Freedom Monument — on Brown’s Island, along Downtown Richmond’s riverfront. The new monument commemorates the efforts of both enslaved and free AfricanAmericans whose ancestors endured tragedies and triumphs in their struggle to gain their freedom through emancipation.”

Legislature will move to new building after 2023 session

Supply chain issues threaten successful move before session

By Free Press staff

The Virginia General Assembly has an nounced it will not hold its 2023 Regular Session in the new General Assembly Building (GAB) due to supply chain is sues that threaten to prohibit completion of the building in time to prepare for a successful legislative session.

Through at least the end of the 2023 Regular Session, the General Assembly will remain in the Pocahontas Building, where member and staff offices, sections of the House and Senate Clerk’s Offices, and various legislative commissions have been relocated since 2017 for construction of the new building, according to a news release from the Department of General Services.

DGS, which is managing construction of the new building for the legislative branch of Virginia’s state government, recently informed the House and Senate Clerks that delays of critical equipment needed for building code compliance and operations would make it difficult to meet the General Assembly’s anticipated functionality for the 2023 legislative session.

DGS’ contractor reported shipment de lays in audio and visual equipment needed for fully functional committee and subcom mittee operations, as well as the arrival of equipment required to perform critical building code compliance testing.

The new building was on schedule for the General Assembly members and staff to occupy in mid-October prior to these supply chain issues, which now critically impact completion and leave less than three months to prepare for the session that starts Jan. 11, 2023, according to the news

“Preparingrelease. for a legislative session takes a lot of detailed planning, thoughtful organizing and close coordination with many entities to ensure the people’s business is conducted in

diligently in planning and design ing a building that will enhance the opportunity for the citizens of Virginia to participate in the legisla tive process, and we look forward to seeing all that work materialize. Unfortunately, supply issues and COVID-19 have made major im pacts on the process and we cannot at this time ensure a functional and complete building. While this is a setback for those who have worked so hard, we know it will be correct when it Constructedopens.”

on the same foot print as the building it replaced, the new GAB is 414,000 square feet with 14 stories above grade and one below. The Modern Classical design incorporates the existing original 1912 facade, which was stabilized in place during demoli tion. The lower four floors include various public functions, including committee rooms, a cafeteria and other useful meeting facilities. It will be connected via tunnels to the new parking deck at the corner of Broad and 9th streets and to the Capitol’s underground Visitor’s Center.

the most timely, deliberate and transparent manner possible,” said G. Paul Nardo, clerk of the House of Delegates. “Like so many, I regret not being able to move in on time to the first purpose-built GAB for the public to more easily observe and actively participate in the law-making process. Unfortunately, we simply are not immune to the delays, prolonged delivery schedules and other de ferrals being experienced by so many across Virginia and around the country and world. Postponing the legislature’s move into the new GAB until spring 2023 is a sensible and realistic decision to make at this time given current circumstances.”

Susan Clarke Schaar, clerk of the Sen ate, added: “Our teams have worked so

MarchDowntown.for

“From the beginning of this project, DGS has been committed to delivering a building that is fully operational, thoroughly tested and ready to conduct business several months ahead of the legislative session. I remain com mitted and continue to push our contractor to deliver a completed project; however, with supply chain issues I am no longer confident you can occupy the new General Assembly Building in October nor that the building can be fully operational as designed for the 2023 Session of the Gen eral Assembly,” DGS Director Joe Damico wrote in a letter to the Clerks in late Au gust outlining the delays. “The upcoming 2023 legislative session must proceed in a facility without operational disruptions, and I cannot guarantee that condition in the new building at this time.”

On Sept. 12, Tynashia ‘Nae’ Humphrey, 15, was walking to the store in her Gilpin Court neighborhood when she was killed by a bullet not intended for her. In response to her killing last week, a march and rally were organized from the parking lot of Mt. Moriah Baptist Church to the steps of the John Marshall Courts Building on Sunday, Sept. 18. Participants included Ms. Humphrey’s family members, friends and others who mourn her death. Below, Karen Regina Cheatham, center, grandmother of Tynashia, speaks with friends and supporters who share her grief. Numerous Richmond officials and leaders also participated in the march including members of Richmond City Council, Richmond Police Chief Gerald Smith, Richmond Redevelopment and Hous ing Authority’s new director, Steven Nesmith, Richmond School Board President Shonda Harris-Muhammed and other families who have lost their children to gun violence in the Richmond area. One arrest has been made in the death of Tynashia.

Photos by Regina Boone/Richmond

Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

The new 15-story General Assembly Building at 9th Street in

HBCUs are more than a place for higher education past upli the say, "Black

Former Richmonder’s career with McDonald’s has made her a millionaire from

Her company has become a family affair, with her husband of 40 years, Wayne Holliday, whom she describes as “my biggest cheerleader,” serving as vice president of their company, Tanway Enterprises.

Even today, she does not take success for granted given the daily challenges, including those brought on by the lingering COVID-19 pandemic.

Now 64, Ms. Hill-Holliday said she was driven to succeed.

As a young girl in a single-parent household that was always strapped for cash, she said she did everything she could to make “a few extra pennies,” from running errands for neighbors to selling items to people in need, or collecting castoffs she could recycle.

Such efforts, she said, fueled her vision of becoming “a successful African-American busi nesswoman,” she said in a telephone interview. “That was always my dream.”

Her mother, Barbara Hill, moved around as she sought to work to maintain her family of three

children. Ms. Hill-Holliday said they started out in Whitcomb Court, then spent seven years in Philadelphia before returning to Richmond where she spent her middle school and high school years living in Gilpin Court and Dove Court.

Just as now, she said, “We had fights, shoot ings and drugs.” She said she could easily have become another statistic.

To get through, Ms. Hill-Holliday said she leaned on her faith. She said she also had her mother and grandmother to guide her, a small circle of friends who were equally ambitious, and plenty of outlets that kept her too busy to get into trouble.

At Thomas Jefferson, Ms. Hill-Holliday was an academic achiever who was a majorette during the football season, a point guard on the girls’ basketball team in the winter, and a track star in the Shespring.became a premier half-mile runner and became the first TJ student to win a state cham pionship, a feat which has earned her a place in the school’s athletic hall of fame.

After graduation, she said she managed to

scrape together grants and loans to enroll in Morgan State University in Baltimore, from which she graduated with a degree in business.

She also made her first connection with McDonald’s as a sophomore when she went to work part-time at a local restaurant. “It was not a real job,” she said, “just something to get me by, to ensure I had food and enough money to buy some basic necessities.”

But her work ethic impressed the store man ager, and he kept pushing her to drop out of school to start a career with the company. She listened to her mother and went on to become the first member of her family to earn a college degree, but returned to McDonald’s to begin management training.

It was then that she met her future husband, also a Morgan State graduate, who also was in training.“Truthbe told, I enjoyed serving the guests,” she said in explaining the company’s attraction. And she kept impressing management and gaining promotions. “I tell folks, if you like what you are doing and are doing your best, you never know

who is watching.”

She went from store manager to supervising multiple stores in Baltimore to working with franchise owners as she climbed the ranks, with the support of her husband and their child, now Dr. Latanya H. King, a clinical psychologist in the Philadelphia area.

Ms. Hill-Holliday said she had reached the vice president level and was overseeing McDonald’s stores in Georgia and Florida when she saw an opportunity to buy a company-owned store in Philadelphia. She said she cashed in stock options to finance the purchase and has never looked back.

When speaking to audiences in schools and other settings, Ms. Hill-Holliday said her topics and advice often describe the road map she

“Ifollowed.tellmy audience to visualize where they want to be in 10 years and to pursue that vision with purpose,” she said. “Set goals, prepare yourself, but don’t let anything get in the way. Be persistent, never give up. Don’t listen to those who might limit you. Instead, believe in yourself and go for it.”

Local authority’s outreach helps equity fund address health disparities

Continued

“I think it shows the populations we’re trying to serve that we hear them,” Ms. Gosier said, when asked about the fund’s potential impact on the community.

“We see the disparities, we see that they have these needs, and we’re listening and we’re able to provide these services right here in their back door.”

Ms. Gosier and RBHA’s efforts are just one part of a larger push by the Health Equity Fund to address long-term health disparities that have become more prevalent during the COVID19 pandemic as Richmond, Virginia and the world continue to grapple with challenges brought on by the disease.

The $5 million Health Equity Fund was first introduced to the public in June, with $230,000 in grant money distributed to RBHA, CrossOver Healthcare Ministry and Nolef Turns, with the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts coordinating this effort. According to CrossOver and RHHD officials, before the initiative was unveiled, RHHD and the groups worked to create a project focused on com munity needs, activities, outcomes and needed resources.

Those resources ultimately determine how much funding is allocated to each group, with a major focus on addressing priority areas outlined in the Building Back Healthier section of the Richmond government’s spending plan for money received through the American Rescue Plan Act.

“We are looking to fund programs that address the root causes of health disparities,” said Catherine E. Long, public information officer for RHHD, in an email. “RHHD is interested in funding projects that are grassroots, led by people who are a part of the communities they serve, and that center on eliminating health disparities in their mission.”

For CrossOver, which provides health services to minority patients in Richmond and Henrico County, the fund’s $50,000 helps expand outreach and prepare ahead of a potential rise in COVID cases in the fall. The group plans to hire a bilingual registered nurse to help better educate and a 62 percent of the patients Spanish-speaking clientele.

Free COVID-19 vaccines

Continued from A1

• Thursday, Sept. 22 & Sept. 29, 1 to 4 p.m. - Richmond Henrico Health District, 400 E. Cary St., Pfizer for ages 6 months and older, Moderna for ages 6 months to 5 years old and ages 18 years and older, appointments encouraged.

• Wednesday, Sept. 28, 1 to 4 p.m. - Henrico Health District West Headquarters, 8600 Dixon Powers Drive, Pfizer for ages 6 months and older, Moderna for ages 6 months to 5 years old and ages 18 years and older, appointments encouraged.

People can schedule an appointment online at vase.vdh.virginia. gov, vaccinate.virginia.gov or vax.rchd.com, or by calling (804) 2053501 or (877) VAX-IN-VA (1-877-829-4682).

VaccineFinder.org and vaccines.gov also allow people to find nearby pharmacies and clinics that offer the COVID-19 vaccine andThosebooster.who are getting a booster shot should bring their vaccine card to confirm the date and type of vaccine received.

RHHD also offers at-home vaccinations by calling (804) 2053501 to schedule appointments.

New COVID-19 boosters, updated to better protect against the latest variants of the virus, are now being shipped across the United States following approval on the federal level weeks earlier. The new Pfizer booster is approved for those aged 12 and up, while the new Moderna booster is for those aged 18 and older.

As with previous COVID-19 boosters, the new doses can only be received after an initial two vaccine shots, and those who qualify are instructed to wait at least two months after their second COVID-19 vaccine.

New COVID-19 cases in Virginia dropped by 12 percent during the last week, according to the Virginia Department of Health, and data from the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association showed hospitalizations statewide fell by 10 percent.

Richmond and the counties of Chesterfield, Henrico and Hanover are still at medium levels of community COVID-19.

A total of 1,631 new cases of COVID-19 were reported statewide Wednesday for the 24-hour period, contributing to an overall state total of 2,076,914 cases in Virginia since the pandemic’s outbreak.

As of Wednesday, there have been 454,917 hospitalizations and 21,729 deaths statewide. The state’s seven-day positivity rate dropped to 14 percent on Wednesday. Last week, the positivity rate was 17.7 percent.

On Wednesday, state health officials reported that 72.6 percent of the state’s population has been fully vaccinated, while 82.7 percent have received at least one dose of the vaccine. State data also showed that over 3.8 million people in Virginia have received booster shots or third doses of the vaccine.

Among ages 5 to 11 in Virginia, 336,490 have received their first shots as of Wednesday, accounting for 46.4 percent of the age group in the state, while 293,467 children, or 40.5 percent, are fully vaccinated and 50,756 children have received a third vaccine dose or booster, making up 7 percent of that age group.

As of Wednesday, 46,427 children from the ages of zero to four have received their first doses, making up 10.2 percent of the population in Virginia, while 31,277 are fully vaccinated, or 6.9 percent of the population. As of Wednesday, fewer than 172,980 cases, 1,032 hospitalizations and 15 deaths have been recorded among children in the state.

State data also shows that African-Americans comprised 22.1 percent of cases statewide and 22.9 percent of deaths for which ethnic and racial data is available, while Latinos made up 11.2 percent of cases and 4.9 percent of deaths.

Reported COVID-19 data as of Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022

Cases Hospitalizations Deaths Richmond 56,571 1,199 534

Henrico County 81,407 1,611 1,012 Chesterfield County 90,584 1,647 814 Hanover County 26,023 797 318

Compiled by George Copeland Jr.

Remaining CrossOver funding will be spent on COVID-19 tests, resolving challenges they’ve faced in this area since Febru ary, when federal reimbursement for their tests ended, leaving them unable to test uninsured patients without facing a financial toll. With over 4,200 tests, over 5,000 vaccines and 60 percent of their patients 12 years and older vaccinated to date, CrossOver’s ability to continue this service is critical, according to Kaitlyn Peterson, a nurse manager.

CrossOver’s project plan is being supplemented by multiple funding sources, which is why it received $50,000 instead of the $90,000 allocated to Nolef Turns and RBHA, but the Health Equity Fund is still seen as a key and welcome resource by officials.

“I’m really enthusiastic that we’ll be able to meet the needs of Richmond residents,” said CrossOver CEO Juile Bilodeau, who ac knowledged the difficulty of predicting COVID trends. She sees the opportunity to work proactively through the fund as a net gain.

“Right now, based on what we think will happen, we’re really blessed that this Fund will allow us to meet the need for PCR

testing for the city of Richmond.”

While CrossOver Healthcare’s work with the Health Equity Fund remains a work in progress, as they are still interviewing potential hires, the RBHA’s efforts have already seen results, with an increase in clinical assessments, outpatient therapy, consultations and more as she continues to provide mental health services through the fund.

“I think that we have a good starting point,” Ms. Gosier said, “and as more individuals start to assess our services, we can get a better idea of what the immediate needs are, the general needs outside of what is already being provided.”

On Wednesday, RHHD announced the new projects that will be part of the second round of the Health Equity Fund. Some $332,000 in funding has been granted to groups that include Birth in Color, Daily Planet Health Service, Healthy Heart Plus, OAR of Richmond, Urban Baby Beginnings and Waymakers. Their projects will be focused on health care access, community re-entry support following incarceration, food access and access to doula services.

VCU apology fails to heal wounds inflicted by MCV doctors

Continued from A1

SOLVED, VCU acknowledges and sin cerely apologizes to the late Mr. Bruce Tucker, and to his family, for the Medical College’s transplant of his heart 54 years ago,” reads the Sept. 16 resolution regarding the treatment of Mr. Tucker and his family. The resolution was issued by VCU’s Board of Visitors and the Board of Directors of VCU Health System Authority.

“Being devoted to inclusion means honestly facing past actions with humility and transparency,” VCU President Michael Rao said in a statement. “We sincerely apologize to Mr. Bruce Tucker, his family and all of those hurt by deplorable past practices.”

VCU officials also authorized the com missioning of a plaque in Mr. Tucker’s honor, recognizing his role in the history of heart transplants while acknowledging that it wasn’t a voluntary choice.

For former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, however, VCU’s apology and future plans to memorialize his memory weren’t enough to resolve the harm done to Mr. Tucker and his family. Mr. Wilder, who represented Mr. Tucker’s family when they sought legal justice, addressed the apology and their plans to memorialize Mr. Tucker during the Wilder Symposium “Racism, Health and Accountability” on Sept. 19 in the VCU Singleton Center.

The judge in the Tucker family’s lawsuit against MCV dismissed the suit while the jury deliberated, Mr. Wilder said Mon

day. In a VCU news website article, Mr. Wilder said the judge never talked about the case after it was dismissed. Indeed, the former governor rarely mentioned the case himself.

“I never talked about it much myself because … I knew it wouldn’t help Bruce Tucker. Right now, nothing has helped Bruce Tucker; right now, nothing has helped (his son) Abraham Tucker; nothing has helped a Tucker,” Wilder states in VCU’s website article. “But, that still bothers me, and I think there are people who today recognize that as much as we advance society, as much as we do the kinds of things we do, unless we commit ourselves to ridding race and racism from our society, we’re going to have trouble.”

Regarding VCU’s apology, Mr. Wilder, who was elected Virginia’s first Black gov ernor in 1989, did not mince his words.

“Did leadership have to wait a few days before this event to show further disrespect?” Mr. Wilder said. “I can only imagine what Abraham Tucker, son of Bruce Tucker, must be feeling at his public display of fake remorse.”

During the symposium, Mr. Wilder, a distinguished professor in the Wilder School (named after him), also noted VCU’s remaining racially-tinged issues.

From concerns raised by VCU’s Black Education Association about the high rate of turnover among African-American faculty to the increasing cost of tuition, Mr. Wilders said that such issues can’t be solved with simple statements and memorials.

“What is being done now, not talked about, to address the continuing issues of race and racism by the present leadership at VCU?” Mr. Wilder asked. “What has the leadership at VCU demonstrated as an apology for this barbaric act and the continuance thereof?”

Later, during a question-and-answer session, Mr. Wilder dismissed the idea that authorities at the time, from the police investigating Mr. Tucker’s disappearance to the judge and jury who were involved in the legal case, share the blame for the trouble Mr. Tucker’s family faced in seek ing answers and justice.

Ultimately, he stressed the need for impactful, material solutions and ac countability from VCU for Mr. Tucker’s treatment, rather than insubstantial words and works.

“I think one of the first things to do is not to lament the fact that it happened,” Mr. Wilder said, “but to make amends for it, demonstrably.”

Editor’s note regarding MCV and VCU Health: In July 1, 1997, the operations, employees and obligations of MCV Hos pitals (formerly a division of VCU) were transferred to the Medical College of Vir ginia Hospitals Authority. Three years later, the MCV Hospitals Authority became the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Authority. The clinical activities of MCV Hospitals, MCV Physicians and the VCU School of Medicine are now coordi nated and integrated by and through VCU Health, according to Virginia.gov.

Mayor’s revised police review board proposal gains support

Continued from A1

mended by a committee the council estab lished to consider a CRB, but none of the nine council members introduced legislation to create such a police oversight board.

Dr. William Pelfrey Jr., an expert on CRBs who served as an adviser to the mayor, recommended against a strong CRB based on the small number of serious complaints that are filed annually by civilians against city officers and the rarity of deaths involv ing actions of Richmond officers.

The key change in the revised proposal is the insertion of the CRB into the internal review process of cases of police-involved shootings, of death or serious injury to a person already in police custody, or of physical or verbal abuse meted out to an individual.Intheoriginal proposal, the civilian board was authorized to consider the “accuracy, completeness and impartiality

(of the internal investigation) and the suf ficiency of any discipline imposed” – in other words, after the police chief took departmental action.

Under the new proposal, the CRB could get police documents and begin its review after internal affairs completed its investiga tion “but before discipline is imposed.”

Among those not consulted as the pro posal was crafted were representatives of rank-and-file police officers.

According to several legal experts, the thorny nature of personnel law is likely to limit the board’s ability to take testimony in public or even hold open discussions about specific cases, given that their review could implicate the legal rights of police officers alleged to have engaged in wrongdoing.

As envisioned in the legislation, the CRB, after its review, would make recommendations to the police chief on discipline in a specific case or on changes to policies and procedures based on their

findings – but the advice would not be binding. However, the department would need to provide a written response to any board recommendations within 30 days of receipt.Justas in the original proposal, the civilian board would have to hold up on any cases which Commonwealth’s At torney Colette W. McEachin or her staff were investigating or that led to charges and court action.

The board also could not consider reviewing a case that became entangled in a civil suit.

The revised proposal would create a board of eight members, four appointees of the council and four of the mayor, with none connected to the Police Department. The old plan called for seven members, with one appointed by the police chief. The chief still would appoint a department member to serve as the liaison between the board and the department.

No November vote voids Urban One’s casino contract

Continued from A1

Richmond’s City Council has wide-ranging authority to award casino rights to anyone it wants – subject to voter approval.

So the council could vote for a third time to select Urban One’s subsidiary, RVA Entertainment Holdings LLC, as the potential developer, pass a new ordinance approving a similar contract and send the matter to the voters in November 2023.

That of course assumes the Virginia General Assembly does not throw a monkey wrench into the works during the upcoming

session by selecting a competing city, Peters burg, to replace Richmond as the designated casino city for Central Virginia.

However, political strategist Paul Gold man opposes automatically awarding the contract to the Richmond arm of Urban One.

Mr. Goldman’s views are significant as he led the Vote No on RVA Casino campaign that credited with defeating the casino in 2021 and also supported the effort to allow Richmond voters a second vote this year.

In his view, Richmond needs to rebid the casino project and allow others to

again weigh in rather than automatically awarding the project to Urban One.

“State law does not intend for city of ficials to treat a casino as something they can simply hand out to their political friends for their own personal reasons,” he wrote in a text message Monday.

“The people of RVA deserve to be guaranteed a fair process, free from any hint of favoritism, irrespective of how the vote may go on council or in a ballot referendum,” he stated.

Alfred C. Liggins III, president and CEO of Urban One, declined to comment.

Long-serving CARITAS CEO announces her retirement

Karen Stanley’s leadership has formed hundreds of partnerships that serve thousands

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

The leader of CARITAS, the Richmond area’s largest pro vider of homeless and addiction recovery services, is stepping down.

Karen Stanley, president and CEO, has notified her board she would retire Dec. 31 after 22 years.

“It’s bittersweet to leave an organization and people that I love,” Ms. Stanley stated, “but the timing couldn’t be better. CARITAS is financially stable, we’ve just completed a strategic plan and have a strong depth of leadership to carry it into the future.”

During her tenure, CARITAS has grown from a faith-based group providing emergency shelter at area churches into a fiveprogram nonprofit that links with 300 community partners and serves 3,300 men and women each year.

“The fact that CARITAS has grown to be a home for so many men and women in their most challenging times is one of my proudest achievements,” Ms. Stanley stated.

CARITAS Board Chair Gregory D. “Greg” Suskind said CARITAS would lose “an inspiring leader and a good soul. She has built CARITAS into a sustainable institu tion with a kind heart, a ready smile and an intense drive to get things done.”

The once financially tiny organization now has a $7 million annual operating budget, employs 100 people, 50 full time and 50 part time, and has the support of thousands of volunteers and donors, according to the announcement from CARITAS.

Ms. Stanley has had a connection with CARITAS since the 1980s when she first served as a volunteer with her congregation

Venture Richmond awards 10 grants to Broad Street businesses

By Holly Rodriguez

When the Department of Housing and Community De velopment awarded Venture Richmond a $100,000 grant, the agency suggested the grantee focus on resurgence grants, with a focus on neighborhood revitalization.

The group decided to award 10 grants worth $10,000 each to small businesses willing to relocate to Broad Street. Ven ture Richmond conducted an outreach marketing effort to attract businesses to Broad, and directly worked with property owners who would have loca tions ready to move in between Jan. 1 and May 15, 2022.

“This is the first time we’ve done anything like this,” said Lucy Meade, director of eco nomic development and com munity relations for Venture Richmond.“Grants were given on a first-come, first-served basis,” Ms. Meade said. “Applicants had to have a business license, certificate of occupancy and a signed lease.”

As a part of the market ing effort, Venture Richmond partnered with the Metropolitan Business League for a tenant

recruitment fair.

Ticeses Teasley, founder of Nurturing Minds and Therapy Undefeated, is one of the grant recipients and among the new tenants, located at 420 W. Broad St. Her organization provides parenting, peer, and traumahealing groups with a focus on services to heal families. A certified mental health profes sional, one of her programs is a student-run cafe for social and emotional learning.

Ms. Teasley said she was attracted to the Broad Street location to better serve her clients.

“It is on the bus line, so it is a great central location to better serve the community,” Ms. Teasley said. While the organization is currently located at the storefront part of the building, she has plans to stay awhile and grow.

“I want to eventually take over the entire building, expand ing to provide youth lodging upstairs so the kids can have temporary housing there and work downstairs in the cafe,” sheEasiersaid. access to her clients also prompted Kenda SuttonEl, owner of Birth in Color, to relocate her business from

Richmond’s South Side to 115 E. Broad St. Her business focuses on raising awareness about maternal health and reproductive justice for Black women.

“It has been a better fit be cause it is a larger space,” said Ms. Sutton-El. “We can host all classes here without having to pay a fee; more people are showing up because we are more acces sible; and overall, this meets our goal of being more accessible to underserved people in the com munity so they can enjoy what we offer,” she said.

Success and growth are what Venture Richmond envisions for the new tenants, Ms. Meade said. “We want businesses, particularly small business, to grow and hope the grants help them do something they wouldn’t have been able to do without it,” she said. “We want them to be successful.”Theother eight recipients of the $10,000 grants are:

• Charged Up

• Jolene

• Lavender Social Club

• Myselfierva

• Rushing Blooms

• RVA Hair Warehouse

• Sarah’s Den

• Taylor’s Barbershop

VSU prez Tau Beta Pi winner

Virginia State University President Makola M. Abdullah has been recognized for his work and commitment to his alma mater’s ideals with Tau Beta Pi’s 25th Annual Distin guished Alumnus Award.

Dr. Abdullah, a member of Tau Beta Pi’s Alpha Chap ter at Howard University in Washington, D.C., recently was announced the winner.

Dr. Abdullah earned his bachelor’s from Howard Uni versity in civil engineering and master’s and Ph.D. degrees in the same field from North western University, where he became the youngest AfricanAmerican to earn an engineer ing Ph.D.

“I am humbled that Tau Beta Pi has identified me as the personification of their ideals,” Dr. Abdullah said in a provided statement. “I am grateful that my life’s work is worthy of such a prestigious distinction.”

The Tau Beta Pi Association is the oldest engineering honor society and the second oldest collegiate honor society in the United States. It honors engi neering students in American universities who have shown a history of academic achieve ment as well as a commitment to personal and professional integrity.

Dr. Abdullah will receive a commemorative plaque and a $2,000 scholarship will be given in the name of each winner to a student member of Tau Beta Pi.

in providing winter shelter. She later joined the board and was tapped to lead the group in 2000.

Initially focused on homelessness, Ms. Stanley also began leading the Healing Place, an addiction recovery program for men, in 2007, and later made it an operating program. On her watch, CARITAS also added a furniture bank to assist people with furniture and other household goods in 2008, and a work training program in 2011.

The biggest addition came in 2020 when Ms. Stanley led the development and opened the $28 million CARITAS Center in a former tobacco plant at 2220 Stockton St. Along with CARI TAS offices and furniture, the building includes the area’s first women’s shelter and addiction recovery center, as well as rental units for program graduates.

Mr. Suskind stated that the board is conducting a national search for her replacement.

Jackson Ward tour reflects district’s influential past

By the turn of the century, Jackson Ward was bustling with Black-owned businesses and banks, inspiring the terms, “Black Wall Street” and the “Harlem of the South,” long before some cities even had Black businesses.

The neighborhood quickly became a hub of business activity for Jackson Ward. But there’s so much more to the historic neighborhood. Popular local radio host Gary Flowers should know.

The eighth-generation Virginian and a fourthgeneration Jackson Ward resident, will guide a 20-stop walking tour “Walking the Ward with Gary Flowers” on Saturday, Oct. 1, from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m., beginning at the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia. The tour is sponsored by Coming Together Virginia with proceeds to benefit the organization.

The tour of Historic Jackson Ward by Mr. Flow ers, a historian and ardent community supporter,

includes historic educational, social, religious, economic institutions and will reflect the Ward’s culturally historic past.

Jackson Ward’s early success in Black-owned banks and businesses inspired other cities such as Chicago and Atlanta to open Black busi nesses.

Historic videos during the tour are provided by the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia and the Maggie Walker Historic Site.

The outdoor walking tour will cover 1.1 miles punctuated by periods of standing in place. At tendees will be seated when watching the videos. They are encouraged to bring a water bottle and to dress for the weather and comfort.

The organization reserved 80 tickets, on sale for $40 each. Registration is open now. Contact Hayat Bain at hayat@comingtogethervirginia. org for registration details.

Needs assessment survey seeking ways to serve senior adults

The Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilita tive Services has contracted with Polco to seek the public’s input on its Community Assessment Survey for Older Adults (CASOA).

CASOA responses will help shape the next State Plan for Aging Services Oct. 1, 2023 – Sept. 30, 2027, which guides Virginia’s implementation of Older Americans Act programs and services to co ordinate a statewide response that meet the needs of olderSelectedVirginians.Virginia residents will receive a post card in advance to notify them about the survey. Respondents can complete the survey online or through a paper copy mailed to them with a post age-paid return envelope. The online survey will

be available in Arabic, English, Korean, Spanish andPeopleVietnamese.whoreceive the survey are encouraged to participate. Polco’s strict privacy policy allows for only anonymous, combined results to be shared. Participants’ individual data and responses are never shared.

People who do not receive a survey will still be able to provide feedback later this fall when DARS opens the online survey to all older adults. More information will be shared in the coming weeks through DARS, its network of 25 Area Agencies on Aging and other community partners. The findings from the needs assessment will enable state agencies, local governments, community-based

organizations, the private sector and other community members to better understand and predict the services and resources required to serve older Virginians and their“Thiscaregivers.survey will help the department identify priorities for the next four years,” said DARS Deputy Commissioner Marcia DuBois. “The CASOA survey presents a novel and exciting opportunity for us to hear from older Virginians and we hope those who are invited to participate will feel comfortable and interested in doing so.”

For more information or if you need assistance with the survey, contact the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services at (804) 662-9310 or visit www.dars.virginia.gov

Ms. Stanley

Dr. Abdullah

Gary Flowers

TheBlack-ownedbusinessesandDiamond

Richmond has long been home to thriving Black businesses and it is exciting to know that the future looks bright for several such enterprises that have been tapped to help develop the new Diamond District on the city’s North Side.

Indeed, the late-great Richmond-born tennis legend Ar thur Ashe, for whom Arthur Ashe Boulevard is named and where the Diamond District will be built, would be pleased to see the forthcoming batch of Black-owned businesses that will help spur development and growth on 67 acres in his hometown and just miles from where he grew up.

After his tennis career ended and before his untimely death in 1993, Mr. Ashe carved a solid business career of his own, which included positions as a commentator for HBO Sports and ABC Sports, a columnist for The Washington Post and Tennis magazine, the publication of a three-volume body of work, “A Hard Road To Glory,” a stint as captain of the U.S. Davis Cup team, and the founding of numerous charitable organizations, including the National Junior Tennis League, the ABC Cities Tennis Program, the Athlete-Career Connection, and the Safe Passage Foundation.

“One important key to success is self-confidence,” Mr. Ashe is quoted as saying. “An important key to self-confidence is preparation.”Mr.Ashe’s off-the-court legacy should not only be cherished, but studied by the Black men and women busi ness owners who are eager to further carve their fortunes in the myriad opportunities the pending Diamond District presents.Inlast week’s Richmond Free Press, reporter Jeremy M. Lazarus unveiled plans for the $2.4 billion mixed-used project, which includes a new baseball stadium. Leading the project is RVA Diamond Partners, 45 percent of whose members are Black-owned.

The largest Black-owned business is Loop Capital, which has a taken a 45 percent stake in the development, according to the partnership, whose largest members also include Republic Properties Corp. of Washington, D.C. and Henrico County-based Thalhimer Realty Partners, which is part of a commercial real estate juggernaut, the Cushman & Wakefield Alliance.

Loop Capital is a 25-year-old Chicago-based invest ment bank that its chair and chief executive officer James Reynolds Jr. founded.

The companies are eager to get started and expect to see the project put on a fast track next week. Despite a lack of financial details, seven members of City Council already committed to passing a resolution endorsing the city’s se lection of the development team and clearing the way for a final agreement to be reached. Council is scheduled to vote its support on Monday, Sept. 26.

Meanwhile, seven Richmond area Black-owned busi nesses or individuals are already part of the RVA Diamond Partners team.

They include Michael A. “Mike” Hopkins and his de velopment arm, M Companies, and his building company, Enterprise Construction of Richmond; contractor Kenneth Jones’ Prestige Construction Group Inc. of Chesterfield County; Grace Washington’s J&G Workforce Development Services LLC; and Black muralist Sir James Thornhill.

Also on the list are Robert L. Easter’s city-based Kei Architecture, which is part of the design team, and the Richmond Black Restaurant Experience, the creation of three women, Kelli Lemon, Shemicia Bowen and Amy Wentz, which will be involved in the operation of a food hall at the site.

The list also includes Ervin B. Clarke, founding publisher of Urban Views Weekly and president and chief executive officer of the Central Virginia African-American Chamber of Commerce, who is to be a minority business coordinator.

The Southside Community Development and Housing Corp., based on Hull Street, also is to participate.

Other Black-owned companies include the Robert Bobb Group, a Washington, D.C.-based public and private business management consulting firm led by former Richmond City Manager Robert C. Bobb; and Capstone Development, a hotel, residential and mixed-use development firm based in Chevy Chase, Md., that is led by its founder and president Norman K.

Additionally,Jenkins.NixDevCo, a Prince George’s County, Md.based real estate development and advisory group led by founder Raymond Nix is among the Black-owned businesses, as well as Determined by Design, a Washington, D.C.-based interior design firm led by founder Kia Weatherspoon.

The partnership also has committed to working with Virginia Union University to get its hotel and hospitality training program off the ground. And, the group wants to work with Richmond Public Schools in developing a construction training center in a former tobacco factory on Maury Street in South Side that Altria donated to the school system. Representatives have said the partnership is prepared to invest $40 million to make that happen.

The spokesperson for RVA Diamond Partners, Jay Smith of Capital Results, the team’s public relations firm, said the list is expected to expand over time.

A list of potential of Black-owned and minority construc tion firm has been compiled, he said, with expectations that a portion will receive contracts and subcontracts when developmentCongratulationsbegins.and all the best to the Black-owned businesses that are primed to establish their mark on Rich mond’s future.

Or, as Arthur Ashe or any legendary athlete might say: “Game on.”

Book bans attack freedom to read, teach and learn

Truth is a threat to authoritari anism. Reading is a path to truth. That’s why the freedom to read is essential to the freedom to learn.

And that’s why the freedom to learn is often attacked by those who abuse power and those who cling to thesebacklightWeekBannedzationspartnersociationLibrarytheEveryit.year,AmericanAsandorganiobserveBookstohighandpushagainstthreats.This

year’s Banned Books Week runs from Sept. 1824 amid a wave of book bans and other attempts to restrict what people can learn.

These efforts have a long and dishonorable history.

Before the Civil War, many slave states made it a crime to teach enslaved people to read. Slaveholders feared that being able to read might help enslaved people gain their freedom or organize rebellions. In Virginia, a judge could order that any slave or free person of color caught learning to read or write be whipped.Inourday, attacking the freedom to read is once again a political strategy for those seek

ing to take and keep power. And once again, Black people are a primary target.

State legislators and governors are making it illegal to teach honestly about the history and reality of racism in our country. Far-right activists are trying to purge schools and libraries of books that feature Black people,

Ben Jealous

LGBTQ people, and others they deem unworthy of students’ at tention.The MAGA movement’s at tacks on teaching about racism and sexuality have led to what the American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Freedom has called an “astronomical” increase in challenges to books.

That’s why the annual cel ebration of the freedom to read that is Banned Books Week is especially meaningful this year. In addition to the librarians, authors, booksellers, teachers, and other anti-censorship activists who lead Banned Book Week activities, all of us have a role to play in ensuring the voices of our com munities are not silenced.

Books by and about Black people and other people of color — and by and about LGBTQ people—dominate the ALA’s

annual list of most frequently challenged books. This year’s honorary chairman, George John son, is an award-winning Black author whose “All Boys Aren’t Blue” is high on the list of books most challenged last year, along with others dealing with racism, racial identity and sexuality.

“This is a fight for the truth that has always existed, even if it rarely gets told,” Mr. Johnson says. “When the youths are empowered with stories about the experiences of others, they become adults who understand the necessity for equity and equality and have the tools to build a world the likes of which we have never seen.”

But far-right activists tell par ents that words like “equity” are code for Marxism and something they should fight. Trump Repub licans are encouraging MAGA activists to take over their school boards by running propaganda campaigns about “critical race theory.” Trump-supporting leg islators are introducing laws to make it illegal to teach anything that might make white students experience “discomfort.”

One Texas lawmaker de manded information from schools on 850 books he thought were suspect; his list included works on history and human rights. In Virginia, Gov. Glenn Youngkin

The global evils of predatory capitalism

The world continues to mourn the demise of the United King dom’s Queen Elizabeth II, the long-serving monarch who died Sept. 8. I am sorry that her fam ily endured her loss, as have many of our families. My dear mom died at the same age, and my sib lings and I are still managing our

haveabethhercompassionSogrief.Iextendtofamily.QueenElizseemstobeenalovely,

gentle and caring lady, who loved her corgi dogs, and her children and grandchildren, perhaps in that order, especially if they were mixed-race. Her death garnered gracious accolades from President Biden and former U.S. presidents, including President Obama and First Lady Michelle, as they fondly recalled their visit withAther.the same time, Queen Elizabeth presided over a preda tory and oppressive coloniallyreminiscent “Commonwealth” where she was the “reigning monarch” over countries with a very different demographic thanArehers.the people of Jamaica, Barbados and Tuvalu, among other countries, mourning with the same zeal as those in the United Kingdom? While some weep for the woman who reigned Britain and the countries it colonized, will they weep for the people who suffer from the mark of oppression from the British?Some will say that this is not the time to consider a colonial reckoning. When is the right time, then? As Charles III ascends the throne, does he get

a pass because of his country’s turgid history, or does it make sense, as the page turns, to confront colonization and its aftermath?Theglobal racial wealth gap is a function of the ways that European countries saw the Af rican continent as a place from which they could extract surplus

values. In his masterpiece, “How Europe Underdeveloped Africa,” Sir Walter Rodney explains how European prosperity was directly linked to African exploitation. Queen Elizabeth, for better or worse, inherited that legacy and did precious little to confront it. She and her progeny — the Charles, Williams, and Kates of the world — seem to think that they are supposed to rule other people’s countries. They were raised to believe exploitation is acceptable, so when William and Kate went to Jamaica, they were stunned by demands for repara tions but could respond with no more than a tepid statement that enslavement was “regrettable.”

Regrettable? The history of African exploitation and colo nialization is, at best, deplorable. Its roots are global anti-Black ness and a non-Christian pope who saw the Black body (and mineral-rich African countries) as something to exploit. In 1493, Pope Alexander VI issued an encyclical (or Papal letter) that mandated that “Christian” Europeans “convert, colonize, and enslave” those who were not Christian. England was one of the most enthusiastic colonizers, claiming parts of Africa and the Caribbean as part of their “Em pire.” Elizabeth II inherited this legacy and did nothing about it during her 70-year reign. Is it

likely that Charles III will be anyThebetter?“British Empire” grew and prospered through colo nization and exploitation. It owes several countries on the African continent reparations. Of course, not that they are not as dominating as they once were, with a faltering economy and a diminished world footprint, they aren’t likely to talk reparation now. Yet there is never a “good time” to make recompense to the people who have been exploited.

Queen Elizabeth II’s death is a “good time” for a new king to repair old wounds.

It is the height of white entitlement that a British queen attempted to rule countries that were colonized. It is the irony of white entitlement that some African descendant Caribbean natives sing “Hail to the Queen” with as much enthusiasm as their British cousins do. But Queen Elizabeth’s death is an excellent time to examine global predatory capitalism and the evils it has wrought. When will the great colonizers come to grips with their evil and label it as something more than ”regrettable”? If there is regret, Prince William shows it by becoming a champion for reparations. Smiling and dancing through Jamaica does not offer a scintilla of remorse.

My condolences for Queen Elizabeth are muted by my con dolences for the exploited, those who live in “kingdom” countries who chafed under her dominance. The death of this monarch offers us an opportunity to examine her reign, its awful impact, and the ways the UK colluded with global predatory capitalist forces to keep African and Caribbean nations subservient. The mind less celebrations of her reign are also celebrations of worldwide capitalism and exploitation.

set up an email hotline for people to report teachers suspected of “divisive” practices.

Books targeted in the current war on truth include a memoir by Ruby Bridges, which tells the true story about her, at age 6, walking through angry mobs when she became the first Black student to attend a New Orleans elementary school that had previ ously been off limits to non-white students.Thisis an important part of our history. We cannot build a future together if we are not willing to honestly face the truth about our past and our present.

Banned Books Week is a good time to commit ourselves to de fending the freedom to read, teach, and learn about our history — and to opposing those who want to make it illegal to teach about that history or make it impossible for educators to do so without being smeared and harassed.

The writer is president of People For the American Way and a professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

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2022 could be a political watershed for Massachusetts women

By Steve LeBlanc The Associated Press

BOSTON

Just 20 years ago, Mas sachusetts voters had yet to elect a woman as governor, attorney general, U.S. senator or mayor of its largest city. This year, Democratic women won five of six statewide primary contests.

This year is shaping up to be a watershed year for women seeking political power in Mas sachusetts, a state that despite its liberal reputation has lagged when it comes to electing women to top offices.

Democratic Attorney Gen eral Maura Healey is heavily favored to flip the Republicanheld governor’s office in No vember, which would make her the state’s first woman and first openly gay candidate elected chief executive. Andrea Campbell, the former Boston city councilor hoping to suc ceed Healey as attorney general, would be the first Black woman to hold that post.

And since candidates for governor and lieutenant gover nor run together in the general election, Ms. Healey is poised to make history with her run ning mate, Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, by becoming the first two-female governor/lieutenant governor ticket elected to lead anyMs.state.Healey said she’s more focused on issues important to voters — like housing costs and transportation — than on the groundbreaking nature of her

Thisrun. year, both Democrats and Republicans nominated women for the lieutenant governor post. In addition, Democrats nominated wom en in the attorney general, treasurer and auditor races, while Republicans nominated a woman for secretary of the commonwealth.Thenominations continue a trend that saw Michelle Wu become the first woman and first Asian-American elected mayor of Boston last year.

If Ms. Healey were to win in November, she wouldn’t be the state’s first female governor, but she would be the first woman to be elected to the post. Republi can Jane Swift, then lieutenant

ing to look outside itself,” Ms. O’Brien said. “Women can run against the preferred male and win and not pay with their careers if they lose.”

US Rep. Ayanna Pressley, who defeated an incumbent to become the first Black woman elected to Congress from Mas sachusetts, said the rise of fellow Democratic women is a testament to the “courage, skill, and commitment” of each candidate.“More women are see ing themselves in public of

fice, recognizing the critical role their expertise and lived experience plays in policymaking, and choosing to build more inclusive, representative decision-making tables,” she said in a statement.

than endorsements at the state convention, according to Gus Bickford, chair of the Massa chusetts Democratic Party.

“When I won my first cam paign for Congress, in 2018, many people referred to it as ‘Black Girl Magic,’ but I know it was ’Black Woman Work,’” she added.

The party’s bylaws pro hibit it from getting involved in contested primaries other

Michael Dwyer, Associated Press File Photo

Former Boston city councilor and current candidate for state attorney general Andrea Campbell speaks June 4 during the state’s Democratic Party convention in Worcester, Mass. Ms. Campbell, who hopes to succeed Maura Healey as attorney general, would be the first Black woman to hold that post.

governor, became the acting governor in 2001 when Paul Cellucci resigned to become ambassador to Canada.

Ms. Swift said having more women serving in office helps defuse the “gender question.”

“I would have loved to never answer another gender question, not because I wasn’t tremendously proud of my accomplishments, but I didn’t run for office because I was a woman,” she said. “I ran for office because I thought we needed lower taxes and a bet ter small business climate and better education.”

“I can’t wait for the day when it’s not part of the conversation, when the women serving in office can talk about the issues that propelled them to win, not why they think differently because they have a uterus,” sheMassachusettsadded. has fallen behind other states in electing women. In 2012, neighboring New Hampshire, considered far less liberal, became the first state to elect an all-female con gressional delegation as well as electing a female governor.

One reason for the recent success of female candidates in Massachusetts may be the weakening of the Massachu setts Democratic Party ap

paratus, said Erin O’Brien, an associate professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts-Boston.

“In the past, single party control has made it harder for women to get elected because parties only expand their pool of candidates when they feel threatened — and Democrats have not been threatened in Massachusetts,” Ms. O’Brien said.

There are signs the party’s influence may be waning. In 2014, a relatively unknown Ms. Healey took on state Sen. Warren Tolman for attorney general. Sen. Tolman had the endorsement of the Democratic Party and a brother who was president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, but Ms. Healey easily beat him and won the general election.

Just this summer, Quentin Palfrey won the state party’s endorsement for attorney gen eral but dropped out of the race a week before the primary and endorsed Ms. Campbell. In the race for state auditor, Chris Dempsey won the party’s en dorsement but lost the primary to state Sen. Diana DiZoglio.

“Part of the reason that women are beginning to win in Massachusetts is because the Democratic Party is start

Richmond Department of Public Works PUBLIC NOTICE HEY ROAD IMPROVEMENT City Middle School p.m. to 7:00 p.m. October 27, 2022

The Department of Public Works invite you to attend a public meeting at River City Middle School from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on October 27, 2022.

This meeting will include current plans and related documents concerning the proposed transportation improvement. The development team will be available to answer project related questions.

Please reference Hey Road Improvement if submitting written comments in the subject line of an email or letter. Comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. on November 28, 2022.

Mail or Email comments

Richmond, VA. 23219

603

The City of Richmond ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

If you need assistance for alternative means of review, please call Projects:804-646-5994.UPC-113295, U000-127-R31, PE-101, C-501, Federal Number: STP-5A27 (808)

“Once a nominee is chosen by voters in the primary elec tion we get to work to get them elected,” Mr. Bickford said in a statement. “As we prepare to elect the first female governor and lt. governor team in Mas sachusetts history, along with other qualified women on the ballot, we are very proud of the role we play in supporting them.” construction and operation of the US-4 Solar Facility, and also approved a rate adjustment clause, designated Rider US-4, for the Company to recover the costs associated with the construction of the Facility. The Commission’s approval was subject to certain conditions and requirements, including a performance US-4 annual update on or after August 1, 2022.

According to the Application, the US-4 Solar Facility is generally proceeding on budget. The Company states that the Facility was placed into commercial operations on July 6, 2021. The total forecast projected capital expenditures through 2023, with monthly projections of capital expenditures used to determine the revenue requirement for the 2022 Annual Update. The Company states that as part of

Inprudent.thisproceeding, Dominion has asked the Commission to approve Rider US-4 for the rate year beginning June 1, 2023, and ending May 31, 2024 (“2023 Rate Year”). The two components of the pro posed total revenue requirement for the 2023 Rate Year are the Projected Cost Recovery Factor and the Actual Cost True-Up Factor. The Company is requesting a Projected Cost Recovery Factor revenue

period prior to the Triennial Final Order.

If the proposed Rider US-4 for the 2023 Rate Year is approved, the impact on customer bills would depend on the customer’s rate schedule and usage. According to Dominion, implementation of its proposed Rider US-4 on June 1, 2023, would increase the bill of a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours per month by approximately $0.01. The Company indicates it has calculated the proposed Interested persons are encouraged to review the Application and supporting documents for the details of these and other proposals.

The Commission entered an Order for Notice and Hearing that, among other things, scheduled public hearings on Dominion’s Application. On February 7, ENERGY

Picture perfect

The RVA Street Art Festival celebrated its 10th an niversary at The Power Plant Building along the Haxall Canal in Downtown Richmond Sept. 16-18. Muralists worked throughout the three days as festival-goers admired their process and progress.

Austin ‘Auz” Miles of Richmond, above left in orange shirt, is one of the muralists participating in the RVA Street Art Festival Sunday, Sept. 18. She pauses for a moment to take a selfie in front of her work in-progress with her cousins, Melissa Harris, 23, of Prince George, second from left, Alysha Miles, 30, of Petersburg, center and Michele Harris, 23, of Prince George.

Tabernacle Baptist Church hosts N.C. A&T State University Choir

Running past time

Runners take off during the inaugural RUN RICHMOND 16.19 that started and ended at Kanawha Plaza in Downtown Richmond on Saturday, Sept. 17. The run was organized by actor and model Djimon Hounsou’s foundation in collabora tion with The Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia and Sports Backers. The run shines a light on the achievements of the Black community over the past 400 plus years with the designated courses of 16.19 km and 6.19 miles. As the runners proceed on the course they pass various historical Black sites throughout the city.

Right, Richmond City Council President Cynthia Newbille, left, and Del. Delores McQuinn, who both were once on the now defunct Richmond Slave Trail Commission, greet Mr. Hounsou.

‘The Woman King’ is a crowning achievement

By Dwight Brown NNPA News Wire Film Critic

The mighty women of the Agojie were warriors. From the 1600s to1800s in the West Afri can Kingdom of Dahomey this all-female military regiment gallantly fought their empire’s enemies.

Film fans first glimpsed the Dahomey Amazon legacy in the Marvel movie “Black Panther,” where the Dora Milaje special forces in the fictional nation of Wakanda were modeled after those fighters. So, an introduc tion has already been made.

On a visit to Benin in 2015, actress/producer Maria Bello encountered the legend of the Agojie, fathomed a movie and with screenwriter Dana Stevens, crafted a fictionalized story of true-life female com batants. Other corroborators include filmmaker Gina PrinceBythewood, who researched the women, culture and era; Oscar®-winning actress Viola Davis and her production company; and producer Cathy Schulman (Crash).

In 1823, in a region that is now Benin, General Nanisca (Ms. Davis) leads a military regiment that serves at the pleasure of young King Ghezo (John Boyega). Her women and girls help protect the embattled kingdom of Dahomey from neighboring adversaries like the Oyo Empire, led by the murderous Oba Ade (Jimmy Odukoya) and from white Bra zilian enslavers, commanded by Santo Ferreira (Hero Fiennes Tiffin). Their mission also includes freeing and releasing

captured Africans headed for slaveTheships.wise Nanisca is aided by her top officers, the courageous Izogie (Lashana Lynch, “No Time to Die”) and a very nur turing Amenza (Sheila Atim, “The Underground Railroad”). Girls and women vie to enlist in their army. Nawi (Thuso Mbedu, “The Underground Railroad”), an abused and

rages around them.

The script sets the premise, time and location. The soldiers, kings and enslavers are large on the page, and even grander on a movie screen. The rival ries, betrayals, palace intrigue, romances, mentoring, grudges, ferocious battles and subplots are as epic and mythical as those in “The Gladiator” or “Star Wars” sagas. The topical theme

village and port towns (shot in Cape Town, South Africa) look regional and historic due to Akin McKenzie’s produc tion design. Costume designer Gersha Phillips enhances the pageantry with lavish robes that drape the king and his wives and adds to the Agojie’s fiery personae with uniforms that highlight their lean phy siques.

Writing and directing ro mantic dramas and segueing into badass superhero films primed Prince-Bythewood for this feminist fable. Like an artist and a shaman, she creates an atmosphere steeped in culture and history. Along with the extraordinary stunt choreogra phy, she makes the fight scenes chaotic, balletic and glorious. Under her guidance the palace drama seems royal and dire and the romance between Nawi and the Brazilian Malik (Jordan Bolger) is enchanting. Her creativity and versatility are on view throughout.

Travis W. Alexander, A&T’s director of choral activities, will lead the choir with accompanist Dr. Paula D. Harrell. N.C. A&T, founded in 1891, is the largest historically Black university in the nation. It is located in Greensboro, N.C. The concert is free and open to the public. For more informa tion, please email Mr. Alexander at twalexan@ncat.edu

orphaned adolescent, is among the candidates competing for a position in a troop that’s comprised of virgin women who eschew marriage and men. Nanisca eyes the rebellious aspirant, who doesn’t always follow orders but shows no fear and exhibits leadership quali ties. The two spar physically and verbally. Nawi: “They say that the soldiers are magic. But you look like an old woman to me.” Conflict and warfare

of fighting oppression is evident in the war against enslavers. The righteous movement to protect others from human trafficking and subjugation is galvanizing. Black history buffs may know that some African tribes were complicit in the slave trading industry. Others maybe not. This can be a learn ing experience. Nanisca to the King: “Let us not be an empire that sells our people!”

The King’s dwelling, the

Viola Davis is magnetic, intense and powerful as the commanding general. She heads an ensemble that milks their characters’ emotions and adds human portraits to the story of slavery, especially for those who fought against it.

A deft team of female art ists have masterfully created a feminist allegory that will excite and inform movie lovers for years to come.

“The Woman King” pre miered at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival and won a standing ovation. Among a stellar group of di verse films and voices, it still rose to the top.

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Photo Courtesy of NNPA

General Nanisca (Viola Davis) leads a military regiment that serves at the pleasure of young King Ghezo (John Boyega) in “The Woman King.”

Photos by Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

The N.C. A&T State University Choir will perform in concert 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, at Petersburg’s Tabernacle Baptist Church, 418 Halifax St. The repertoire will include classical masterworks, Negro spirituals, gospel and rhythm and blues.

Photos by Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free

Jermoine Royster’s ‘flying fists, fancy footwork’ take on amateur boxing

In searching for a nickname for Jermoine Royster, “The Bully” fits like a glove. A boxing glove that is.

When the 20-year-old Richmond Parks & Recreation em ployee isn’t throwing knockout punches, he’s apt to be playing matchmaker, breeding “bullies,” a cross between a pit-bull and a bulldog.Witha friendly chuckle, the good-natured George Wythe High graduate admits “Yes, I have been called a big bully in theOnering.”of 13 children in his family (all of whom—boys and girls—boxed), Royster is the son of Jerry Royster, a longtime boxer and boxing coach in the Richmond area.

“He’s been in the ring, almost since he was born,” said his dad, who now trains young pugilists at the Southside Com munity Center on Old Warwick Road. The gym itself is called Cobra Boxing.

With flying fists and fancy footwork, Royster dominated the amateur ranks, winning 104 of 118 fights in various weight classes. In each case, he came back to avenge his losses in rematches.Andhow many were knockouts? he was asked.

“Maybe 30 … 40 … I lost count,” he replied. Now his power punches have graduated to the professional ranks.

He’s had two pro fights — both in West Virginia — and each time the result was the same, a first round KO. His upcoming Oct. 8 fight will mark his local pro debut.

“It’s kind of my homecoming,” he said. Royster said he prefers pro boxing rules to those used in the more safety-conscious amateur ranks.

“I like the smaller gloves and not having to wear a headgear,” he explained. “I usually hit way harder than anyone I’m facing. It’s not usually just one punch … it’s the accumulation.”

Pros wear 8-ounce gloves compared to thicker 10 ounces by amateurs. Amateurs also wear headgear. Pros go bare headed.

Royster’s physical prowess coupled with his many years devoted to the ring provides a clear advantage.

“I’ve got a high boxing IQ,” he said. “My goal is to become a unified world champion.”

Now weighing 147 pounds, he eventually hopes to drop weight and compete as a pro featherweight in the 126-pound class.

By day, Royster serves as a maintenance worker for the City’s Southside Parks. He takes care of facilities at Westover Hills,

On a roll

Let’s …readygettorumble!

Professional boxing is coming to Liberation Church, 5501 Midlothian Turnpike, on Oct. 8. A planned eight-bout card will begin at 7 p.m., with Richmond welterweight Jermoine Royster among the headliners. Royster is scheduled to face Quinton Scales of North Carolina.Organizing the card is Lucky Punch Promotions under Marcus Luck, a former VCU track standout. Another local fighter scheduled to make his pro debut is Anton Tucker of the same Cobra Club in which Royster trains.Tickets are available 6255com,Luckypunchpromotions.atoratCobraBoxing,OldWarwickRoad.

Bellemeade and other layouts South of the James.

Lunch break for Royster isn’t always a “break.”

“Sometimes at lunch I just go to the gym and work out,” he said. Then it’s back to the gym around 7 p.m. for an evening session.Regarding his “bullies,” Royster is quick to defend his dogs’ behavior.

“I don’t have any mean dogs,” he said. “They don’t fight.”

In this case, the fighting is left to the two-legged, two-fisted “Bully.”

VUU lays it on Livingstone

second among HBCUs, trailing only No. 19 Albany State, Ga.

The brightest star thus far has been sopho more tailback Jada Byers, who pranced for 199 yards against Livingstone, and has 616 yards on the year.

Virginia Union University is heading South with a full head of steam and the wind at its back.

Coach Alvin Parker’s Panthers are nationally ranked, boast the nation’s leading rusher and are looking to go 4-0 for the first time since 2007. Life is good on Lombardy Street.

The North Siders improved to 3-0 Sept. 17 with a convincing 42-6 home victory over CIAA rival Livingstone. Delighting a Hovey Stadium/ Lanier Field audience of 2,400, the Panthers dominated in every area.

The not-so-hospitable hosts piled up 396 yards to the Blue Bears’ 197, and had 25 first downs to the visitors’ 14.

Now it’s time to pack the pads for a road trip.Next up is a 4 p.m. kickoff at CIAA foe Fayetteville State on Sept. 24. The Broncos, the defending Southern Division champs, are 2-1 with wins over UNC-Pembroke and Lincoln, and a loss to AccordingWingate.tomost recent D2football.com poll, the Panthers are ranked 23 nationally and

The hard-to-get-a-grip on New Jersey native has averaged 8.4 yards per bursts with six touch downs. He was named the National Player of the Year after piling up a school record 319 yards in VUU’s upset win at Valdosta State.

The swivel-hipped, 5-foot-7 Byers operates, kind of peek-a-boo style, behind a massive of fensive line known as the “Movin’ Van.”

Byers reminds many VUU fans of former running back Andre Braxton, of similar size. Dip ping and darting between his linemen, Braxton rolled up VUU records of 1,660 rushing yards and 28 TDs in 2000.

The smallish Braxton, from Caroline County, accumulated a stunning 5,008 yards on the ground and 63 TDs from 1997 to 2000.

While Coach Parker dialed long distance for Byers, defensive standout Shamar Graham could easily stroll to VUU from his old high school.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound linebacker hails from nearby Thomas Jefferson High. As a senior, Gra ham led TJ to the State Class 2 semifinals.

Hampton defeats Norfolk 17-7 in legendary battle

Norfolk State and Hampton Univer sities have gone their separate ways, but “The Battle of the Bay” remains a must-see attraction.

A spillover crowd of 15,459 at Dick Price Stadium witnessed visit ing Hampton defeat Norfolk State, 17-7.That evens the all-time series at 27-27-1. Hampton improves to 3-0 while the Spartans tumble to 0-3.

Few HBCU matchups, not including Coach Deion Sanders’ Jackson State Tigers, can lure such a crowd.

The Pirates prevailed with a relentless defense and two exciting pass plays that got the fans stirred up on the Hampton side of the bleachers.

Chris Zellous hit Romon Copeland on a 75yard touchdown and Malcolm Mays connected with Jadakis Bonds on a 23-yard score.

Copeland, who burned NSU for 111 yards in receptions, ranks with HU Coach Robert Prunty’s top recruits in recent seasons. In 2019 he was the State Class 6 Offensive Player of the Year at Oscar Smith High in Chesapeake.

On defense, HU’s Mason King was in on 11 tackles and Mike Crawford and Stafford Everett had interceptions. Hampton held NSU star running back J.J. Davis to just 23 yards on 16 carries.

Coming up this Saturday, Sept. 24, Hampton will travel to play Colonial Athletic Association foe University of Delaware at 6 p.m. HU left the MEAC several years ago to join the Big South. This will be the Pirates first season as a CAA affiliate.

NSU remains in the MEAC. The Spartans will remain home this week to face St. Francis, Pa., at 2 p.m.

Graham had six tackles against Livingstone, and pounced on a blocked punt in the end zone for at TD of his own. On the season the ag gressive sophomore leads all Panthers with 18 takedowns.Thelast time VUU started 4-0 was in 2007 with wins over Central State of Ohio, LenoirRhyne, Livingstone and St. Paul’s. Under Coach Arrington Jones, the Panthers stretched the ’07 streak to six opening wins with decisions over St. Augustine’s and Johnson C. Smith. VUU finished 9-3.

In the best of times, the 1981 Panthers en joyed a 10-0 regular season before falling to Shippensburg in the first round of the Division II playoffs.Afterplaying at Fayetteville, VUU returns home for an Oct. 1 game against St. Augustine’s and Oct. 8 homecoming match with Elizabeth City.On Oct. 15, the Panthers will travel to Bowie State for a contest that could decide the CIAA Northern Division title and perhaps an NCAA playoffTimesberth.are changing. Bowie, the perennial CIAA kingpin, is coming off a 17-14 CIAA loss to Shaw and is an uncharacteristic 1-2 on the season.

City football scoreboard Games played; next game

Thomas Jefferson TJ 28, Armstrong 22 TJ 21, Meadowbrook 6 TJ 53, Amelia 14 TJ 20, Greensville 6

Next: Friday, Sept. 23, at JM, 4 p.m.

John Marshall Greensville 18, JM 0 Brunswick 2, JM 0 Armstrong 58, JM 6 Petersburg 62, JM 6

Next: Friday, Sept. 23, TJ at JM, 4 p.m.

George Wythe Caroline 61, GW 0 Manchester 63, GW 0 Monacan 63, GW 0

Next: Friday, Sept. 23, GW at Powhatan, 7:30 p.m.

Huguenot Louisa 61, Huguenot 6 Powhatan 36, Huguenot 12 James River 37, Huguenot 12

Next: Friday, Sept. 23, at Clover Hill, 7 p.m.

Armstrong TJ 28, Armstrong 22 Petersburg 50, Armstrong 12 Armstrong 58, JM 6 Armstrong 26, Goochland 14

Next: Friday, Sept. 23, at Hanover, 7 p.m.

VSU dominates in 42-7 win against St. Aug

Tylique Ray dazzles fans on Trojans’ new field

Virginia State University has proven it can win – and win big – at home on its newly-laid turf at Rogers Stadium.

Now the Trojans hope to bus that winning formula to Salisbury, N.C., where they will face CIAA foe Livingstone at 4 p.m. Sept. 24.

Under first-year Coach Henry Frazier III, the Trojans defeated St. Augustine’s, 42-7, Sept. 17 with a balanced offense (465 yards total of fense) and a defense that never rested (forcing fourVSUturnovers.)isnow2-1 following home wins against Bluefield State and St. Aug’s (now 0-3). It opened with a road loss at Lenoir-Rhyne, N.C.

Again, Darius Hagans found the new turf to

his liking. The senior from Tidewater rambled 20 times for 99 yards. Upton Bailey added 56 yards on just five totes.

Quarterbacks Jabari Blake and Jordan Davis combined for three touchdown passes. Kimo Clarke ran for 25 yards and a TD and caught passes for 27 yards and another six points.

Tylique Ray had the single top crowd pleaser of the evening with a 75-yard TD reception.

Zion Johnson had nine tackles on defense and Willie Drew made an interception.

Livingstone, which plays on a blue turf field, is 1-2 following a 42-6 loss at Virginia Union.

VSU and the Blue Bears last met in 2017 with the Trojans winning 56-18 in Salisbury.

Stories by Fred Jeter

Fayetteville State road trip up next

Romon Copeland

Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

Richmond’s welterwight boxer Jermoine Royster, 20, trains for an Oct. 8 bout against Quinton Scales of North Carolina. The upcoming eight-bout card will be at the Liberation Church on Midlothian Turnpike.

Tylique Ray

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Sunday, October 2

WAVERLY R. CRAWLEY MAIN STAGE (Sponsored by Virginia Union University)

1st and Marshall Streets

1:00 – 1:30pm Cora Harvey Armstrong

2:00 – 2:30pm Virginia Union University Choir

3:00 4:00pm 6:00pm

JOE KENNEDY JAZZ STAGE and 3rd

1:00 – 2:15pm Billy Williams, 4:00pm 6:00pm

EGGLESTON HOTEL COMMUNITY STAGE and Leigh Streets – 2:00pm Michael J. Jones & The Village of Faith Praise Team

2:30 – 3:10pm Sweet Potatoes

3:35 – 4:35pm Hip Hop Karaoke

4:45 – 4:55pm Roscoe Burnem – Richmond’s Poet Laureate

5:10 – 5:40pm Dancing with Mama D

1:10 – 1:55pm – 2:50pm – Carlos Vieira – 3:45pm

4:10 – 5:00pm

Tre. Charles brings his gospel, neo-soul sound to RVA East End Festival

By Debora Timms

Tre. Charles considers music as an emo tional outlet — almost a cathartic release.

His recently released debut single “Stressin” evokes the isolation many have felt during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the album he is working on has male vulnerability, especially Black male vulnerability, as one of its Mr.themes.Charles has been busy in Richmond’s Spacebomb Studios recording tracks for his album, but this weekend he will hit the pause button to perform at the RVA East End festival.

After a two-year hiatus, the festival returns Saturday, Sept. 24, with hopes of raising $100,000 to support music, visual arts and performing arts programs for Richmond Public Schools.

“I’m very excited to perform at the festival,” Mr. Charles said in a recent telephone interview. “I think it will be a good time. There will be a lot of great performers and it’s for a good cause.”

Originally from Syracuse, N.Y., Mr. Charles says he grew up all along the East Coast. His family moved often for his father’s work as a civil engineer on projects that included power plants owned by Duke and Dominion Energy. Although he’s now based in Durham, N.C., Mr. Charles regularly returns to Richmond to perform and visit his sister so much so that Richmond feels like home, he said.

What he calls his “nomadic upbring ing,” comes out in his musical style, drawing from the influences of gospel and contemporary Christian music, as well as Neo-soul artists like D’Angelo and Lauryn Hill. Having lived in California and Florida exposed him to the indie rock scene, and Mr. Charles says his current playlist in

Tre.

cludes several UK artists and old school jazz and blues.

“I’ve been listening to people like [John] Coltrane and Miles [Davis], as well as artists like Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Howlin’ Wolf — really all of the Chess Records

Whileartists.”Mr.Charles says his family in cludes a lot of “music appreciators,” he is the first to make performing his profession.

“I jumped into music at the begin ning of the pandemic. Maybe it wasn’t the greatest time, but I think it’s been an interesting time.

“Being at home during the pandemic led to a lot of self-reflection, introspection and deep conversations with my girlfriend about the state of the world,” Mr. Charles explained. “It also helped me to really figure out what kind of an artist I want to be and what I want to say.”

One of the things he wants to express is what Mr. Charles calls his mantra, or slogan — “feel your feels.” It’s a reminder that mental and emotional well-being is just as important as physical wellness.

Besides recording, Mr. Charles recently performed at the Carolina Jubilee in Har mony, N.C., and the NXNE Festival in Toronto Canada. He has also received his first endorsement from D’Angelico Guitars, and mentions a possible London tour. While he naturally wants to take his career as far as possible, it’s also important to him to remain present as an artist, he said.

“I just want to keep sharing my music and hope that it resonates.”

To learn more about Tre. Charles and his music, visit https://www.trecharles.com/

Other performers will include:

• Richmond Public Schools All City Marching Band

• Woodville, Fairfield, Redd, and Overby-Sheppard combined bands

• Musicians from the Richmond Sym phony

• Mr. Chubby and Sugarfoot

• James “Saxsmo” Gates

• Dap Mallory Band

• Johnny Lee Long Band

• Tre. Charles

• Richmond Urban Dance

• Artistry in Motion/Performing Arts Center

• Decori and NXD

• BlackLiq

• Ban Caribe

• Legacy Band

The RVA East End Festival is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 24, from noon to 9 p.m. at Henry Marsh Elementary School, 813 N. 28th St. in Richmond. For more information, visit: https://rvaeastendfest. wixsite.com/

State Fair of Virginia kicks off Sept. 23

The Spinners’ ‘one of a kind’ music among main stage acts

The State Fair of Virginia returns to Meadow Event Park Sept. 23 through Oct. 2 with activities focused on Virginia agriculture and forestry. The park is at 13191 Dawn Blvd. in Doswell.Animalcompetitions, creative art exhibits and culinary contests are a few events for all ages that will highlight the fair’s theme.

The pigeon and dove tent, for example, will feature 300 species of birds with information about them. A visit to the horticulture tent will show off crops — including corn, wheat and tobacco — and giant pumpkins that may be up to or over 1,000 pounds.

In entertainment, the main stage will have R&B perform ers on the first and last days of the fair. Brencore presents a Motown Tribute at 7:30 p.m., Sept. 23, and the legendary Spinners perform 7:30 p.m., Oct. 2. Other performers include The Entertainer, Cooper Alan, and the Junior Sisk Band.

Events include equine competitions, racing pigs, a rodeo, a petting zoo, a circus and chainsaw artist Been Risney. Tickets are $11.50 through Sept. 23; $15 after Sept. 23 online; and $16 at the gate. Discounted tickets also are available. For more information on the state fair schedule, tickets, and more, visit: www.statefairva.org

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Mark your calendars.

The 18th edition of the three-day Richmond Folk Festival is almost here.

This year’s musical extravaganza will showcase 28 acts from across the country and around the world on six stages from Friday, Oct. 7, through Sunday, Oct. 10 on Brown’s Island and nearby sites, according to the list of artists the festival has posted on its website, www.RichmondFolkFestival.org

Four Richmond-based performers made the list, according to organizers who describe the big event as a celebration of the “roots, richness and variety of American culture through music, dance, traditional crafts, storytelling and food.”

They include veteran hip-hop DJ Lonnie B and the gospelinspired Legendary Ingramettes.

Lonnie B is slated to be the final act 8:15 p.m. Saturday at the Dominion Energy Dance Pavilion; while the Ingramettes, founded by the late Maggie Ingram, will perform 5:30 p.m. Sunday on the Center for Cultural Vibrancy Virginia Folklife Stage.Other Richmond acts include the gospel group Ken Heath

and the True Disciples, who will appear at noon Saturday on the Cultural Vibrancy Virginia Folklife Stage and blues harmonica performer Andrew Alli who will partner with blues guitarist Josh Small at 1:30 p.m. Sunday on the same stage.

A wide range of other performers also will be making appearances at the event that Downtown booster group Venture Richmond stages in partnership with the National Council for the Traditional Arts, which promotes folk and traditional arts and launched the initial festival for this area in 2005.

There will be appearances from the 79ers Gang showcasing New Orleans Black Masking Carnival music and from Andre Thierry, a top performer of West Coast zydeco.

Black Umfolosi will perform a cappella songs from Zimba bwe while Felipe Hostins will present Brazilian Forro.

Cedric Burnside, the opening act Friday night, will present Mississippi hill country blues, while Jimmy “Duck” Holmes will present Bentonia blues and Fran “Lady Strings” Grace will serve up sacred steel guitar music.

The schedule also is to include musical offerings from Alba nia, India, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, the Netherlands and Venezuela as well as Native American ritual dance and a tribute to retiring world champion oyster shuckers Deborah Pratt and Clementine Macon Boyd, both of Middlesex County.

Roots-rock, bluegrass and other traditional American music also will be presented, the schedule shows.

In addition, the Virginia Folklife area also will present demonstrations and workshops featuring 11 different instrument makers, two fiberglass sculptors and a storybook artist.

And the Children’s Museum will have a family area with themed zones featuring bag hats, hand painting and balloon artists, plus a creation zone where anyone can contribute to a joint art project and a separate activity zone where children can run an obstacle course or show off their talents.

The festival will operate from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Friday, noon to 9:30 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, organizers stated.Ranked among Virginia’s largest annual events, the fes tival is underwritten by 36 organizations, including the City of Richmond, businesses, nonprofits and other governmental entities.

Nottoway Pow Wow

Lonnie B

Photos by Felecia Moon

The Nottoway Indian Tribe’s Annual PowWow returned Sept. 17 and 18 at the Surry County Parks and Recreation Center in Surry. Native arts, crafts, food and more were featured during the two-day event sponsored by the Virginia Nottoway Indian Circle and Square Foundation and the Surry County Parks and Recreation. Highlights included primitive weapons demonstrations, historical enactments and storytelling activities. Nottoway Chief Lynette Allston leads the PowWow’s grand entry, above left photo, and lead dancers Adrienne Harmon and Louis Campbell perform ceremonial dances.

The Spinners

Tagaban, Andre Thierry, Fran Grace and Cedric Burnside

Personality: Jamal Brooks

Spotlight on the VA Pride’s Scholarship Committee chairman

Jamal Brooks was 17 years old when his education came to a sudden stop.

In 2003, the Montross na tive left Washington & Lee High School at the start of his junior year. The choice was the end result of the troubles Mr. Brooks had living in a small town where, except for his family, he felt unaccepted due to his sexuality.

Mr. Brooks would eventually restart his academic pursuits in 2010, earning a GED at J. Sargeant Reynolds and a bach elor’s in social work at Virginia Commonwealth University over several years. The experience left him with a deep appreciation for education — an apprecia tion that forms the foundation of his work with VA Pride’s Scholarship Committee.

“What education did for me, I wanted to do for people who I knew were probably going through the same things that I was going through as an LGBTQ man and a person of color,” Mr. Brooks says. “That’s really what pushed me to do Mr.it.”Brooks has led VA Pride’s Scholarship Committee since being elected chair in 2019, after joining the group to ensure diverse representation among its members and to support change. The organization’s mis sion is to provide financial aid to LGBTQ community members and their families to help offset the costs of a post-high school education.Overthose last few years, Mr. Brooks and the Scholar ship Committee were able to continue providing money to LGBTQ youths even when VA Pride had to replace its annual, in-person Pridefest with virtual events during the COVID-19 pandemic.Forthis year’s Pridefest, Mr. Brooks and the Scholar ship Committee will have a major contribution of their own. Through work with partner organizations, they have raised $10,000 in scholarship money. Mr. Brooks says he is happy to see his work pay dividends for LGBTQ“Knowingyouths.that the work I do with VA Pride helps others, serves as a way of giving back but feels extremely rewarding,” Mr. Brooks says. “Any way I can support my community, I will.”Mr. Brooks’ work outside VA Pride also reflects his commitment to community support. Along with his own

entrepreneurial projects, he serves on the board of REAL (Recovery from Everyday Ad dictive Lifestyles) Life, which helps individuals who have been impacted by incarceration, homelessness, or substance use disorder overcome barriers to building a successful life.

Ultimately, Mr. Brooks hopes to encourage further represen tation and diversity within VA Pride. When discussing his relationship to VA Pride, Mr. Brooks shares a story about his first year with VA Pride in 2019 where his showcase and performance of LGBTQ ball room culture received a posi tive, welcoming response. It’s an experience that Mr. Brooks hopes others can have through the nonprofit and his work.

“That’s what I hope to see more of — bridging the gap and being inclusive,” Mr. Brooks says. “We’re going to have a good Pride this year, (and I’m) really excited about it.”

Meet a key leader in support and celebration for Virginia’s LGBTQ community and this week’s Personality, Jamal D. Brooks:

Volunteer position: VA Pride scholarship chair.

Date and place of birth: Jan. 8 in Westmoreland Country.

Where I live now: Richmond.

Education: Bachelor’s in social work, Virginia Commonwealth University.

Occupation: Entrepreneur.

Family: One brother and one sister.

VA Pride mission: Our mission is to impact the LGBTQ com munity by creating a safe envi ronment, substantial resources, and connectivity throughout Richmond and Virgina.

was founded: Founded as an all-volunteer nonprofit in 2006, Pride events in Richmond have been happening since 1979.

After the Stonewall Riots, it was apparent our community needed full support and from there Pride events started popping up all over the U.S., creating a celebration of who we are and should be — PROUD.

VA Pride is important in our community because: It serves as a resource, safe space, merging intersectional ity’s, accepting diversity, and promotes understanding among each other.

Who benefits from VA Pride: Everyone benefits, socially, economically and politically, raising awareness, promoting inclusivity, and bridging the gap.

When and why I became involved: I became involved with VA Pride in 2019 to bring a diverse representation to sup port change.

Want to Go?

Event: VA Pridefest

Date: Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, at Brown’s Island

Slated performers and events include:

On the Main Stage

Leikeli47, Rose and Big Freedia of RuPaul’s Drag Race, 5:30 to 7:50 p.m.

RVA’s Drag Superstars, 2:15 to 2:25 p.m. and 3:40 to 4 p.m.

The 2022 Virginia Pride Court, 2:10 to 2:25 p.m.

On the Youth Pride Pavilion Stage

Drag Queen Story Time, noon to 12:30 p.m.

A Lip Sync Contest, 3 to 4 p.m.

The Richmond Triangle Players, 4:30 to 4:45 p.m.

When elected/appoint ed scholarship chair: Elected 2019; appointed 2020.

Significance of being scholarship chair: My passion to help others, along with my background in social work, enables me to be an agent of change through providing for the needs of our community.

Number one goal or project as the scholarship chair: Acquire financial means to help as many people as possible in seeking their desired career path.

Strategy for achieving goals: Tentatively working with Bank of America to expand scholar ship program.

Ways that VA Pride raises scholarship money: Our schol arship is funded by a grant from Bank of America this year.

Who benefits from the schol arships: All who apply.

How does a student qualify or express interest to be chosen for a scholarship opportunity: Through submission of appli cation which is then discussed and reviewed by committee members.

Scholarship amount to be distributed: $10,000.00

Black Lives Matter and VA Pride: VA Pride unequivocally believes and affirms that Black Lives Matter. As a person of color, joining VA Pride was significant in that it gave me a chance to create representation in a way I felt necessary.

COVID-19 and VA Pride: COVID-19 had a significant impact on how we operate as an organization. Most of our events were canceled, which then led us to creating and hosting events and other projects virtually. It’s been three years since we had Pridefest, but this is by far the best to come.

Ways to be involved with VA Pride: To be a volunteer by emailing info@vapride.org for volunteer opportunities.

How I start the day: Positive vibes and daily affirmation. Be ing productive is key, checking

in with others, remembering to be kind.

Three words that best de scribe me: Empathetic, giving, creative.

Best late-night snack: Skittles (purple bag).

How I unwind: Traveling alone, shopping, self-care, family time.

What I have learned during the pandemic about myself: During the pandemic, selfrealization began to play out in ways that were necessary.

Something I love to do that most people would never imagine: Writing is my passion, (and I am) currently working on a ofsequelself-help/autobiographythatfocusesonthelivesmarginalizedgroups.

A quote that I am most in spired by is: “You only live once”— I live by it.

At the top of my “to-do” list is: Be productive, make the most out of the day/time.

The person who influenced me the most: My mentor, “Johnny,” who changed my life though simply just being there for me, no motives. Throughout my whole schooling, he was there helping me in every way imaginable. If it wasn’t for him and his undeniable support, I would not be the man I am today.

Next goal: Continue working on my book sequel while creat ing a hoodie/hat line.

THE 1971 CLASS of JOHN F. KENNEDY 50th Class Reunion

In the of 2022!

By Barnette Wright Religion News Service

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.

When an initially blinded, and nearly lifeless, 12-year-old girl found in the rubble of a church bombing was wheeled onto the 10th floor of University Hospital in Birmingham nearly 60 years ago, one of the first people to tend to the child was Rosetta “Rose” Hughes, a nurse.

It was Ms. Hughes who stayed with Sarah Collins, the “fifth little girl” in the bombing, until a doctor arrived on that momentous Sunday, as an unforgettable chapter was being etched into the city’s history.

Ms. Hughes was on duty on Sept. 15, 1963, when a bomb demolished the 16th Street Baptist Church, killing Addie Mae Collins, 14; Denise McNair, 11; Carole Rosamond Robertson, 14; and Cynthia Wesley, 14, and injuring dozens of parishioners.Oneofthesurviving girls was Sarah Col lins, sister of Addie Mae. On that Sunday, staff at the emergency clinic at University Hospital received the bodies of the four children killed and tended to scores of others who were injured. Sarah Collins was among the wounded, and one of the first to see her was Ms. Hughes.

“When I saw her that Sunday, … she was just covered with soot and ashes (and blood),” Ms. Hughes recalled in an exclusive interview with The Birmingham Times. “(It) looked like she was gone. … I thought she wasn’t going to wake up. … She was not moving.”

That was 59 years ago.

On Sept. 15, Birmingham commemorated the explosion that proved to be a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement, became a catalyst for change in the United States, and ultimately prompted global efforts for equality and human rights.

Ms. Hughes, who turns 101 in October and still lives in Birmingham, is believed to be one of the last remaining workers on duty at the hospital the day of the bombing.

Last month, for the first time since the bomb ing, Ms. Hughes and Mrs. Collins-Rudolph, now 71, reunited for their first one-on-one, lengthy discussion of the events on that pivotal day in world“It’shistory.morethan a blessing to meet her because she took care of me,” Mrs. Collins-Rudolph said

during the interview. “When I was younger, I didn’t know how she looked or anything be cause I was practically blind then. So, just to see her now and know her is a blessing. She’s looking real good.

Ms. Hughes recalled working on the 10th floor of University Hospital, which was known as the “Eye” floor, when young Sarah was wheeled in.

“I remember they brought her to the emergency room, and I was working on the Eye floor. We had the surgery up there, and they sent her to eye surgery. … She was on a stretcher, and I took care of her until they called the doctor to come in,” said Ms. Hughes, who recalls the doctor’s name only as “Pearson” and that he arrived with a toddler.

Medical staff from across the city were being called in to help with the influx of pa tients. Many of the doctors were scheduled to be off that weekend, and that likely included Dr. Pearson, who came to the hospital with his son. While Ms. Hughes could not remember the doctor’s first name, University of Alabama at Birmingham records show a “Dr. Robert S. Pearson” as a resident in ophthalmology at the facility in the early 1960s.

“It was a Sunday morning, and the doctor’s wife had gone to church, so he was watching the baby and had to bring him (to the hospital). … I babysat while (Dr. Pearson) checked on Sarah,” Hughes recalled.

“(Dr. Pearson) came back out and sent her back downstairs to the where she was examined at first. … They took her back on a stretcher. She was still asleep … and I didn’t have to do anything. I just had to watch her. She was also covered with ashes and smoke.”

Even though she was 12 at the time of the bombing, Mrs. Collins-Rudolph, still has vivid memories of what happened.

“That’s one day I will never forget,” she said. “I remember, you know, when they operated on my eyes. … I remember when they took the glass out of my eyes, glass from my face. … The doctor had told me there were about 20 to 26 pieces of glass in my face altogether.

“I know when the doctor operated on my eyes, they put this bandage on it. … Maybe about a week later, they took the bandage off. At first, the doctor asked me, ‘What do you see out of your left eye?’ I told him, ‘I just see a little light.’ He asked me the same question (about my right

eye). I said, ‘I can’t see anything.’ So, he said I was blinded instantly in my right eye.

“When (the doctor) was talking to my mother, I remember hearing him tell her that eventually I would start seeing out of my left eye because I was real young and the sight would start com ing back. When I was getting ready to leave the hospital, I remember (the doctor) telling (my mother) to bring me back in February because they were going to have to remove my right eye, and that’s what they did. I went back in February, and that’s when they removed my right eye and fit me with a prosthetic.”

Mrs. Collins-Rudolph has had problems with her eyesight for the past 59 years. She developed glaucoma in her left eye and was initially given drops for the eye.

Even today, Mrs. Collins-Rudolph still must visit an eye doctor every six months.

“I had to pay for that out of my own pocket,” she said. “I would always wonder to myself, …

‘I was in that bombing, and I got hurt. How come I had to foot these bills by myself when it wasn’t my fault?’”

While the state apologized to Mrs. CollinsRudolph two years ago, it hasn’t yet honored her request for restitution.

At the reunion with Ms. Hughes, husband George Rudolph, who has been at Sarah CollinsRudolph’s side for the past two decades and knows about survival after his first tour of duty as a 19-year-old during the Vietnam War, said his wife has strength he has not seen.

“For my wife to survive what she went through and not hold any animosity toward the KKK because she forgave them, that’s a strong person,” he said. “She didn’t want to hold her hatred in her heart for those Klansmen. When she said, ‘I forgive you,’ that was such a power ful statement. Very powerful. … She is just a strong Black lady and amazing. I love my wife. I thank God for Sarah.”

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

A two-year battle for control of historic but fractured Fourth Baptist Church ended Monday night with a stinging defeat for the pastor, Dr. William E. Jackson Sr., and his deacon allies.An overwhelm ing 77 percent of the

almosthisersnineproposalprisonrejectedcongregationtheformerchaplain’storemovevolunteerleadwhohadopposedplans,includingallofthetrustees

and the church treasurer.

The crucial vote that drew a little more than half the 298 ac tive members resulted in a final tally of 133-38 to disapprove Dr. Jackson’s proposal to oust the volunteer church leaders.

The vote was held under supervision of a Richmond Circuit Court-appointed special commissioner, Attorney C. Thomas Ebel.

Dr. Jackson, who has led

the church for four years, did not offer any public comment about the defeat of his effort to oust opponents of his use of church funds and his plans to incorporate the church at 2800 P St. in Church Hill.

However, his tenure as the ninth pastor of the 163-year-old church that was founded before the Civil War is now a question mark.Outside the church, members celebrating the win suggested that he could either resign or face a removal vote down the road.

The battle began in 2020 shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic began with a dispute over paying church employees after the church was forced to shut its door and hold services virtually.Dr.Jackson insisted that the employees continue to be paid and, with the support of six deacons, won a congregational vote to remove the Finance

Committee and a later vote to remove opposition trustees to continue his plan for the church to be incorporated.

The fired members fought back with a lawsuit claiming that the actions taken at vir tual congregational meetings held by Dr. Jackson violated the church’s constitution and bylaws.Richmond Circuit Court Judge W. Reilly Marchant agreed, first reinstating the trustees and Finance Committee in April 2021 and then finding procedural violations in the votes in his final decision last fall. He named Attorney Ebel to oversee any future votes to remove the plantiffs.

“The members he wanted to remove collectively had 364 years with this church,” said Dr. Dannellia Gladden-Green, a former member who, along with her husband, the Rev. Kelvin L. Green Sr., is now suing Dr. Jackson and the dea cons for reinstatement. “They had an average of 44 years of participation.”

The Associated Press File Photo

Firemen and ambulance attendants remove a covered body from the 16th Street Baptist Church, where an explosion ripped the structure during services, killing four black girls, on Sept. 15, 1963. Sarah Collins Rudolph lost an eye and has pieces of glass inside her body from a Ku Klux Klan bombing that killed her sister and three other young girls inside an Alabama church 59 years ago.

Dr. Jackson

Flying Squirrels face Erie Sea Wolves in first round playoffs

The Richmond Flying Squirrels have won the Eastern League title in the grandstands. Now they’d like to win it on the field.

Richmond will host the Erie SeaWolves on Thursday, Sept. 22, at The Diamond in the first

Thomas Jefferson’s dominant offense creates winning brand

They sure grow ’em big in Richmond’s West End.Don’t let Thomas Jefferson High School’s tiny Class 2 enrollment fool you. The Vikings’ massive offensive line could pass for a mountain range – a mobile mountain range, that is.

“I rarely get touched,” said TJ quarterback Quinton Wallace, marveling at the XXL-sized bodyguards who help keep his joints safe and his uniform clean.

Second-year Coach Josef Harrison put it like this:

“Yeah, they’re big. Yeah, they’re physical. And yeah, they can get to the next level (meaning blocking downfield).”

Shoulder to shoulder, they create lots of shade on a sunny day.

TJ’s “300 Frat” includes 6-foot-5, 340-pound Timarion “T-Rex” Venable, 6-foot-4, 325-pound Zavier “X” Artis and 6-foot-2, 320-pound Jaden Goodwin, who answers to “Pops” even though he’s just 18.

“Pops sets the tone and when he gets his hands on an opponent, he’s going to dominate them.”

Goodwin’s goals include leading the team in “Pancakes,” which means slamming defensive players flat on their backs.

Rounding out the burly blocking unit is 5-foot10, 190-pound center Deon Wright, who supplies the snaps as well as plenty of crackle and pop to

Maury

CapitalSept.Classic23

Thomas Jefferson at John Marshall 4 p.m. kickoff

This ranks with Virginia’s oldest rivalries, dating back to early 1900s. JM won its first State 1A title in 1940. TJ followed as state champ in ’43. For many decades this game was contested before overflowing crowds at Richmond’s City Stadium.

Prior to integration in late 1960s, JM vs. TJ was essentially for the white city title while Armstrong and Maggie Walker battled for Black bragging rights. So much has changed over the many decades.

the party. Alternating guards are Corey Winston (6-foot, 295) and Zyan Hill (6-foot-2, 280), both rugged competitors with college upside.

The O-Line coach is a veteran, Chris Mitchell, former TJ head coach.

Don’t expect a sharp drop off next season. Only Winston and Goodwin are seniors.

The Vikings’ big bodies help put up king-sized numbers on the scoreboard and a smiley face in the standings as well.

The West Enders improved to 4-0 Sept. 17 with a 20-6 decision over invading Greensville

round of the EL playoffs.

The first game of the best-of-three series was Tuesday in Erie. Erie is the AA affiliate of the DetroitRichmond,Tigers. a San Francisco Giants feeder,

qualified for the postseason by winning the EL’s first half crown. The Squirrels finished 66-71. At the turnstiles, Richmond drew 406,560 fans, an average of 6,160 per opening. That led the EL and is tops across all Double A teams.

County. That followed wins over much improved Armstrong, Meadowbrook and Amelia (avenging loss in last year’s Region playoffs.)

TJ plays in the second smallest (of six) Virginia High School League classification – Class 2. After the Sept. 23 crosstown match with John Marshall,

Dodgers legend Maury Wills dies at 89

The Washington, native was a seven-time National League All-Star, two-time Golden Glove recipient and a sixtime NL stolen base leader.

In 1962, Mr. Wills broke Ty Cobb’s 47-year-old record for steals with 104. That year he was named MVP, a rare honor for a non-home run hitter.

Mr. Wills starred for the Dodgers in their World Series

Continued creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,”

CHARLES HOLLOWAY, if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,” ALFRED HOLLOWAY, if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,” WILLIAM “BARNEY” E. PAGE, if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,” DIANE HASKELL a/k/a DIANE PAGE EDWARDS, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” BONNETT HASKELL a/k/a BONNETT

MCDOWELL,HASKELL

if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” MARLON “SLICK” A.

HASKELL, if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,” ALVIN SHELTON, if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,” DOUGLAS PAGE, if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,” BARBARA JOHNSON a/k/a

JOHNSONBARBARAWHITE,

if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,” GRACIE P. ANDERSON, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” JOHN ANDERSON, JR., if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,” LUCILLE ANDERSON, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” ROBERT ANDERSON, if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,” KYMIE OWENS, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” DOROTHY JOHNSON, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” JAMES JOHNSON, JR., if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors,

Continued column

triumphs in 1959, ’63 and ’65.

The leadoff hitter compiled a .281 career average while stroking 2,134 hits in 1,942 games.

Mr. Wills’ son, Bump Wills, later played six seasons in the bigInleagues.1959,Mr. Wills was part of a mostly Black Dodgers infield, joining third baseman Junior Gilliam, second baseman Charlie Neal and catcher John Roseboro. LA defeated the Chicago White Sox in the ’59 World Series after winning the National League in a playoff against the Milwaukee Braves.

Coach Harrison’s squad will take on suburban schools Deep Run, J.R. Tucker, Glen Allen and Godwin, all with at least double TJ’s enrollment.

“It’s not just a winning culture; it’s a brand,” said Coach Harrison. “We don’t say we have high expectations …. We have Thomas Jefferson expectations.”

This has been going on for years. The Vikings advanced to the State 2019 semifinals before losing at Stuarts Draft. They’ve become a regular for the postseason playoffs.

“You hear a lot about Varina and Highland Springs and how good they are – but that’s Henrico County,” said Coach Harrison. “We want to be that team in the City.”

TJ goals include aiming for an undefeated (or near undefeated) regular season, claiming the unof ficial “City championship” and making a serious run at a State 2A crown.

At this point, it would be a surprise if the Vikings don’t come up big in more ways than one.

Legal Notices/Employment Opportunities

and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,” CHERYL WINSTON, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” BARBARA COLEY, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” ALLYNEGRESHAM,ANDERSON

if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” ANNE GRESHAM, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” JAMES GRESHAM, if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,” WILLIAM L. ANDERSON, if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,” LISA ANDERSON a/k/a LISA FOLEY, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” WILLIAM L.JR.,ANDERSON, if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,” WILLIAM L.III,ANDERSON, if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,” DAVID ANDERSON, if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,” ANDRE ANDERSON, if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,” PATRICE ANDERSON, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” MEGAN ANDERSON, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” LATNEY ANDERSON, if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,” MARIAN MINOR a/k/a MARIAN ANDERSON, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” OLIVER MINOR, JR., if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,”

Continued

ERNEST ANDERSON, SR., if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,” KENDRA ANDERSON, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” ERNEST ANDERSON, JR., if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,” JULIA ARCHER, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” JANICE WHITAKER, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” ALBERT STEW ART ARCHER, JR., if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,” JOHN SAMUEL PAGE, if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,” ROSALIE WILSON, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” LILLIAN PAGE HARRIS, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” JOYCE H. SMITH, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” LAKEITA SMITH WALLER, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” FRANCELLA H. COLEMAN, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” MARGIE PAGE THOMPSON a/k/a MARGIE FRANCES THOMPSON, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” EMMETT THOMPSON, if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,” ESTHER PAGE WALLER, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” BERNARD C. WALLER, SR., if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,” BERNARD C. WALLER, JR., if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as

“Parties Unknown,” ELVIRA LUMPKIN, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” ARTHUR LUMPKIN, if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,” BENJAMIN LUMPKIN, if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,” DORIS LUMPKIN, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” CANDACE L. HARRIS, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” GRACE L. JOHNSON, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” ROBERT CLINTON LEWIS, if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,” JUANITA L. STRAUSS, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” JAMES E. STRAUSS, SR., if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,” JOYNETTE E. STRAUSS, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” CLIFTON LUMPKIN, if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,” HERSCHEL PAGE, SR., if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,” ANNIE KING PAGE, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” HERSCHEL PAGE, JR., if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,” MELVIN PAGE, if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,” ALICE “MISSY” PAGE LATHAN, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” FLOYD LATHAN, if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,”

ALICE H. HARRIS, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” HERSCHEL HARRIS, if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,” CHERYL HARRIS ADAMS, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-intitle as “Parties Unknown,” MELVIN R. HILL, if he be living or if he be dead, his heirs, devisees, creditors, and successors-in-title as “Parties Unknown,” CORA THORNTON, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successorsin-title as “Parties Unknown” and MARIAN SMITH, if she be living or if she be dead, her heirs, devisees, creditors, and successorsin-title as “Parties Unknown,” Defendants.

CL22-4998

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to approve the partition and/ or sale of a parcel of land located in Henrico County, Virginia commonly known as two (2) acres - 1821 Verna Court, Henrico, Virginia 23228, Parcel ID No. 778-7609099 and close to one (1) additional acre of land owned by Alfred Page (collectively, the “Property”). It appearing that there may be additional

heirs of the Property who are now unknown parties, it is hereby ORDERED that: (1) Those unknown heirs appear before this Court on or before 10/14/22 at 10 a.m. after due publication of this Order of Publication (this “Order”) in the Clerk’s Office, Circuit Court, Henrico County, Virginia and do what it is necessary to protect their interest herein.

It appearing that by the affidavit filed according to the law that there are parties unknown, it is hereby ORDERED that: ( 1) The unknown parties of interest appear before this Court on or before 10/14/22 at 10 a.m. after due publication of this Order in the Clerk’s Office, Circuit Court, Henrico County, Virginia and do what is necessary to protect their interest. Should any such person with an interest fail to file a response as provided above, such failure shall not preclude the person of that interest from appearing on the date set for presenting evidence as to such person’s interest in the Property.

Thank

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

I ask for this: Gerald W.S. Carter VSB No. HARRELL29792&CHAMBLISS LLP Eighth & Main Building 707 East Main Street, Suite Richmond,1000 Virginia 23219 804.915.3224 (direct dial) 804.915.3244 (direct fax) Email: gcarter@hclawfirm.com Counsel for E. Michael Harris, Gertrude H. McDonnough and Sherwood A. Harris

Software Developers Datasire LLC Richmond,VA seeks Software Developers( multiple positions). Develop, create, and modify general computer applications software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions. Perform effective testing across multiple environments. MS in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology or related plus 12 months experience. Knowledge and use of at least 6 of following specific skills: Agile, Spring, CSS, HTML5, CSS3, JSON, AngularJS. Travel or relocation to various unanticipated worksites throughout the U.S. required. Send resumes to hr@datasire.com

The Crater Planning District Commission is seeking a dynamic, highly energetic and entrepreneurial spirited individual to serve as Executive Director and lead the agency toward increased regional cooperation and policy development. Visit the Special Recruitment header for detailed information. The application deadline is 6601(VA-Richmond-5471)1-800-Pack-RatSLaburnumAveRichmond,VA23231877-774-1537NOTICEOFSALETenant:Unit

# Anderson, Alexandra D52779

Baldwin, Clifton 706026

Langhorne, LaToya D57267

Lundy, Shanna D01276

Rudicil, Stephanie 802868 Stephens, Harper D59755

Lindsey Harris (LDM) D56823

1-800-Pack-Rat (VA-Richmond-5471), 6601 S Laburnum Ave, Richmond, VA 23231, has possessory lien on all of the goods stored in the units above. All these items of personal property are being sold pursuant to the assertion of the lien on 9/27/2022 at 10:00 AM in order to collect the amounts due from you. The sale will take place on www.storagetreasures.com from 9/27/2022 to 10/4/2022 at 12:00 PM

Maury Wills

Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

Thomas Jefferson High School Vikings’ offensive line pause for a portrait during a Sept. 14 practice on their home field. They are from left: Jaden Goodwin, senior; Cory Winston, senior; Zavier Artis, sophomore; Deon Wright, sophomore; and Zyan Hill, sophomore. Missing from the Viking lineup, Timarion “T-Rex” Venable, a junior.

Continued

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