January 14 16, 2016 issue

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VOL. 25 NO. 3

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

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Richmond celebrates King holiday with area events

JANUARY 14-16, 2016

Jones fires back Mayor rallies amid mix of church-city allegations

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Mayor Jones

Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones is firing back against allegations that he allowed City Hall to become entangled with the church where he is senior pastor, First Baptist Church of South Richmond.

As members of his church organized “war room” prayer sessions last weekend to show support for the embattled preacher-politician, the mayor issued a strongly worded statement Tuesday denouncing efforts to cast suspicion on his administration or city workers

who happen to be members of his church.

“Where employment is concerned, the City of Richmond looks at qualifications and credentials, not where you go to church,” he stated in rejecting any implication that his church members have an easier time obtaining city jobs.

“All hires are done using accepted business practices,” he continued in rebuffing any claim that he or anyone else tried to force a department to hire a church member.

And everyone who works for the city is required

“to abide by the rules and regulations regardless of where they worship,” he added.

According to the administration, at least six of the 58 people in key management positions are members of First Baptist, although city officials have declined to identify them.

Stating that he consciously has sought to ensure a separation between the church and city business since his initial election as mayor in 2008, he acknowledged Please turn to A5

Mayoral hopeful hosts symposium

Obama cheered

By Joey Matthews

Free Press staff, wire reports

President Obama took aim on Tuesday at Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump and accused critics of playing into the hands of the Islamic State in a speech meant to cement his legacy and set a positive tone for his final year in office.

Delivering his last annual State of the Union speech to Congress as president, he called for leaders to “fix” U.S. politics and criticized candidates such as Mr. Trump for using antiMuslim rhetoric that betrayed American values.

“When politicians insult Muslims ... that doesn’t make us safer,” he said, drawing applause from the crowd in the House of Representatives chamber. “It’s just wrong. It Please turn to A4

be a welcoming site that will draw people to learn about the inspirational woman who championed black rights and promoted black business by creating a bank, department store and newspaper in challenging white supremacy.

Along with a statue, the site will have carvings with quotes from Mrs. Walker and quotes about her, as well other information, and possibly interactive technology, Mr. Mendez said.

The creator of at least 30 other major public art installations, Mr. Mendez assured the audience that he could create a space that could host small and large

It had all the appearances of an event designed to promote her candidacy for the Richmond mayor’s job.

But Richmond City Council President Michelle Mosby denied that to be the case this week during the Mayoral Symposium that featured three current and former female African-American mayors from across the nation.

“I was asked to serve as host for the mayors to help to begin a conversation Council in RichPresident Mosby m o n d about electing our next mayor,” Ms. Mosby told the Free Press on Monday, the first day of the three-day event. “The sponsors knew I planned to run for mayor and extended an opportunity to me to host the ladies and to learn from them. I am honored.”

Five current and former female African-American mayors were listed as symposium participants in an elaborate, 16-page invitation packet that was sent to invitees.

Of the five, Shirley Gibson, former mayor of Miami Gardens, Fla., and Mayors Tyus Byrd of Parma, Mo., and Toni Harp of New Haven, Conn.,

Please turn to A5

Please turn to A5

Evan Vucci/REUTERS/Pool

President Obama addresses a joint session of Congress and a national television audience Tuesday during his State of the Union address.

Tree not sole obstacle at Maggie Walker site

By Jerermy M. Lazarus

Too small and too congested with traffic.

That reality is starting to clash with the vision of creating a $600,000 to $800,000 plaza and statue celebrating Maggie L. Walker at the intersection of Broad and Adams streets and Brook Road in Downtown.

The problems with the site — including the live oak tree that now dominates the triangular space where the plaza and statue are to go — were fully evident during a community session Tuesday at the Richmond Public Library’s Main Branch that drew more than 230 people.

The goal of the session: To collect the views of the public to help inform the design of the statue and plaza.

Many came to the same conclusion as City Councilwoman Ellen F. Robertson, who said after the session that the Walker plaza “would be a tight fit. I think there is no question about that.”

She previously had joined her colleagues in voting for the site, but was left wondering whether the space needs to be expanded to create the kind of memorial to Mrs. Walker that is envisioned.

As outlined by city Planning Director Mark Olinger and others involved, including the statue’s artist Antonio Tobias “Toby” Mendez, the plaza is to

City booted from Rep. Scott’s 3rd District in judicial order

By Jeremy M. Lazarus and Joey Matthews

Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott no longer will represent Richmond in the U.S. House of Representatives if the decision of a three-judge panel sticks.

The federal court panel has redrawn the 3rd Congressional District that Rep. Scott has represented since 1993 after finding the GOP-dominated Virginia General Assembly illegally overstuffed the district with African-American voters.

While the new district is still subject to review by the U.S. Supreme Court, one big result is Richmond, Eastern

Henrico and Charles City County — all Democratic strongholds — become part of the 4th Congressional District, which Republican Rep. J. Randy Forbes currently represents.

Meanwhile, the Rep. Scott 3rd District would be confined largely to Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk and Portsmouth.

The overhaul reduces the AfricanAmerican voting age population in the

3rd District from around 55 percent to around 45 percent, and lifts the AfricanAmerican voting age population in the 4th District from around 32 percent to about 43 percent.

The decision, issued Jan. 7, appears to immediately raise the prospect of electing African-American candidates in more than one district in Virginia.

It also opens the door for a Democrat to capture the 4th District in November’s congressional election — if the U.S. Supreme Court upholds the panel’s plan.

Please turn to A4

Voter registrar explains plan to stop poll problems

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Mistakes happen.

That, Richmond Voter Registrar Kirk Showalter told the state Board of Elections, is the reason why some voters were given the wrong ballots and had trouble being checked in to vote during the Nov. 3 election.

However, she said changes are being put in place to ensure that the problems that led to numerous complaints do not recur in upcoming elections.

“I take this very seriously. I do not want any voter to be inconvenienced,” she said.

Elections can fall sort of perfection, no matter how much effort is made to prevent mistakes. With 500 people deployed to operate 65 voting precincts in the city of

Richmond, something unexpected can happen, she said. It just takes one or more people to do something they shouldn’t.

“We train people, we put them in place and when mistakes happen, we assess and Ms. Showalter correct them, and the cycle begins again,” she said.

Overall, the 20-year veteran of Richmond elections noted that the process generally runs smoothly and produces results in which voters can have confidence..

Ms. Showalter offered the explanation last Friday after she and the members of

the Richmond Electoral Board, C. Starlet Stevens, Ophelia M. Daniels and Cecelia A.B. Dabney, were called before the threemember state elections board to explain the problems that tarnished the election in Richmond.

James B. Alcorn, chair of the state board, indicated that the board’s aim was to get election officials to explain their problems and their plans for resolutions to help others do a better job, “even if it is uncomfortable” for those called on the carpet.

Ms. Showalter said some voters were given the wrong ballots because election officials at two city precincts, 206 at Dominion Place near Virginia CommonPlease turn to A4

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Lady of the House Freshman Delegate Lashrecse Aird enjoys a moment with her family on the opening day of the 2016 Virginia General Assembly session. With her Wednesday are her proud husband, Blaine Aird, and their children, Blake, left, and Blaine Jr. The Petersburg Democrat was sworn in Wednesday to her first term in the House. Elected in November, she represents the 63rd House District, which also includes parts of Hopewell and Chesterfield and Dinwiddie and Prince George counties. State lawmakers will meet at the Capitol through mid-March to grapple with major issues, including a new two-year state budget.

Richmond Free Press

A2 January 14-16, 2016

Local News

MJBL celebrates 50th anniversary with games in Ga., Fla. When his son was banned from Richmond area Little League baseball programs because of the color of his skin, physician William M.T. Forrester Sr. took action.

In 1966, Dr. Forrester teamed up with baseball aficionado Caesar Barron and other parents to organize the Metropolitan Junior Baseball League for black youths and others banned by the whites-only Little League.

Next week, the MJBL will mark its 50th year of “providing wholesome fun through the sport of baseball,” according to William M.T. Forrester Jr., MJBL executive director and the son of the late Richmond physician who sparked the league’s Dr. Forrester formation.

“I’m so proud that the organization my father began continues to provide baseball experiences for young people who might not otherwise have an opportunity to play,” Mr. Forrester said.

Expanded to 19 states and The Bahamas, MJBL will celebrate the anniversary milestone next week with baseball games in Savannah, Ga., and Daytona Beach, Fla., Mr. Forrester has announced.

The contests are being held during the holiday weekend honoring civil rights giant Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who worked for equal opportunity for people of color.

MJBL’s annual East-West All-Star games are scheduled to open in Savannah with play for youths 15 and under Saturday, Jan. 16, and Sunday, Jan. 17. Thirteen youths from the Richmond area will be participating, Mr. Forrester said.

Meanwhile, MJBL is scheduled to host

Mr. Forrester

games for league all-stars ages 16 to 19 on Sunday, Jan. 17, and Monday, Jan. 18, in Daytona Beach. Mr. Forrester said five youths from Richmond will participate.

The Monday game, which is to be broadcast on cable television in Florida, will be played at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach.

The stadium is named for the baseball great who broke Major League Baseball’s whites-only color line in 1947 as a Brooklyn Dodger.

MJBL’s youth East-West All-Star games are named after an annual all-star game that the now defunct Negro Leagues, the counterpart to Major League Baseball, once held. The last Negro Leagues all-star game was held in Chicago’s Comiskey Park in 1959.

As part of its anniversary celebration and in memory of the Negro Leagues, Mr. Forrester said that the MJBL plans to host its annual youth Inner-City Classic and Black World Series in Chicago this summer, July 18 to 23.

— JEREMY M. LAZARUS

Eddie Moore named to permanent post at NSU Eddie N. Moore first steps will focus Jr. has received his on ways to boost reward for ensuring slumping enrollment Norfolk State Uniand improve NSU versity regained full student retention. accreditation.

He also wants After two years to improve NSU’s as interim president, graduation rate, Mr. Moore, 68, has which ranks near the been named presibottom of Virginia’s Mr. Moore dent of NSU. state-supported colThe appointment by the leges and universities. CurNSU Board of Visitors came rently, only one in nine students just a few weeks after the uni- who enter as freshmen earn versity’s accrediting agency, a degree after four years and the Southern Association only one in three who enter as of Colleges and Schools freshmen finish with a degree (SACS), removed NSU from after six years, according to probation in December and the State Council of Higher restored the university to Education. good standing.

This is the third time Mr. The board last week ap- Moore has served as a school proved a two-year contract president. for Mr. Moore that will pay An expert in finance, he got him an annual base salary of his academic start in 1993 when $321,900, a $26,900 increase then-Gov. L. Douglas Wilder over his $295,000 salary as moved Mr. Moore from the interim. post of state treasurer to the In accepting the appoint- presidency of Virginia State ment, Mr. Moore stated that his University, which was facing

Martin Luther King Jr. holiday schedule In observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, Monday, Jan. 18, please note the following: City and county public schools: Closed.

Government Richmond city and state offices: Closed.

Chesterfield County offices: Closed.

Henrico County offices: Closed.

Federal offices: Closed.

Courts State courts: Closed.

Federal courts: Closed.

Libraries Richmond city: Closed.

Chesterfield County: Closed.

Henrico County: Closed.

Banks, credit unions and other financial institutions: Closed.

U.S. Postal Service: No delivery.

Trash and recycling: No pick-ups; all are pushed back one day.

Department of Motor Vehicles customer service centers: Closed.

Vi r g i n i a A B C s t o r e s : Normal hours.

Malls, major retailers, movie theaters: Varies; inquire at specific locations.

GRTC: Buses operate on a Sunday schedule.

Free Press offices: Closed.

budget trouble.

Mr. Moore served 17 years at VSU before retiring in 2010.

He later came out of retirement in what became an unsuccessful attempt to turn around private Saint Paul’s College, which ended up closing.

He was named interim president of NSU in September 2013 after the board fired the previous president, Tony Atwater, as enrollment sagged and the school fell behind in completing financial reports and audits.

Since his arrival, Mr. Moore has hired staff and put the school’s finances in order to meet state audit requirements and also gained SACS’ approval for meeting its standards. — JEREMY M. LAZARUS

Public hearings scheduled for Boulevard development Beginning next week, Richmond City Hall will host six public hearings for Richmond residents to provide input about the development of 60 acres of public property on and around the Boulevard that includes The Diamond baseball stadium and the Arthur Ashe Jr. Athletic Center.

Mayor Dwight C. Jones and his staff plan to use the comments to help shape the requests for proposals for companies interested in developing multifaceted office, retail and residential properties.

Here is the schedule: Tuesday, Jan. 19, 6 p.m.

– State Department of Motor Vehicles Central Office, 2300 W. Broad St. Wednesday, Jan. 20, 6 p.m.

– Southside Community Services Center, 4100 Hull St. Tuesday, Jan. 26, noon – Huguenot High School Community Center, 7945 Forest Hill Ave. 6 p.m. – Thomas Jefferson High School, 4100 W. Grace St. Thursday, Feb. 4, 9 a.m. – Main Library, 101 E. Franklin St. 6 p.m. – Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School, 1000 Mosby St. — JEREMY M. LAZARUS

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Cityscape

Slices of life and scenes in Richmond This billboard is overwhelmed by the historic size of the Powerball jackpot ahead of Wednesday’s drawing. The sign shows the jackpot at $999 million because there are not enough number slots to show the full amount, about $1.5 billion. Location: the 1300 block of Dinneen Street on North Side. Millions of hopefuls purchased tickets this week for the chance of being struck by luck and becoming a billionaire. The chances of winning are 1 in 292 million.

Virginia Independent Schools’

Diversity Career Fair Jan. 30, 2016 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

This free event is for faculty and administrative candidates interested in employment at independent schools in the state of Virginia. The day will include a guest speaker, hiring fair and candidate interviews with school representatives.

Candidate pre-registration is required.

Register today at www.st.catherines.org/diversitycareerfair hosted by:

The Diversity Career Fair is open to all individuals regardless of race, color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or other status protected by applicable law.

Richmond Free Press

January 14-16, 2016

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Comcast® celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by honoring his strength to love — even when the law was against him. On this day, we remind everyone of the power of love and serving one another.

Personality rights and copyrights of Dr. King are used with the permission of The Estate of Martin Luther King, Jr., Inc. Represented by Corbis. © 2016 Comcast. All rights reserved.

Richmond Free Press

A4 January 14-16, 2016

News

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

“Let us work together to get things done” and continue the progress that is being made in building “a new Virginia economy.”

Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe issued that challenge to the public and to the Republicandominated General Assembly as he spelled out his vision and agenda during the State of the State message Wednesday night.

He cited the ways in which the state has changed lives during his first few years, from the creation of 88,400 new jobs to ending veteran homelessness in the state, from expanding free meals for hungry schoolchildren to restoring the voting rights of 16,000 felons, the largest number ever.

“Tonight, I am here to tell you that the state of our Commonwealth is strong and that by working together for the next 60 days, we can make it even stronger.”

He made a brief pitch for expanding Medicaid, urging Republicans legislators who stand opposed to consider that “each day we do not close the coverage gap, we forfeit $6.6 million in federal dollars.”

Surely, he said, “we can find a bipartisan, Virginia solution” that protects the state’s finances so Virginia can join Louisiana and 30 other states in expanding health care to the poor — though that idea already has been nixed by

Governor McAuliffe spells out vision for state

GOP leaders.

In his speech, the governor stressed new big investments in public education at the K-12 and the university levels — ideas that appear to have far stronger, bipartisan support based on the Republican response.

Among other things, Gov. McAuliffe urged the legislature to support his plan to sell more than $2 billion in bonds to boost investment in universities and community colleges and to approve his push to boost K-12 spending to a record $6.78 billion to, among other things, enable the hiring of 2,500 more teachers.

“A strong K-12 system in which every student has access to a world-class education is essential to building the new Virginia economy,” he said.

But he said he does not just want to pour

money into a vacuum. “We should invest in smart, innovative programs that get results for students, communities and the businesses that we serve.”

He also called on the legislature to embrace “a fundamental change” in high school education to “prepare students for the jobs of today and create the jobs of tomorrow.”

Gov. McAuliffe said his administration plans to “put greater emphasis on hands-on learning, internships, early college course and industry credentials rather than classroom seat-time.”

As one example of the change, he cited the new CodeRVA high school that the Richmond area will open next fall to “prepare students to learn code writing” and that will allow the students to finish high school in two years and

gain a two-year community college degree while working on real-world projects that will prepare them for high-paying jobs.

He also advocated the continued expansion of school nutrition programs that have grown to provide 100,000 students in Richmond and 25 other school divisions with free meals. “We cannot ignore the fundamental problem that one in six students lack the basic nutrition they need to fulfill their potential.”

Gov. McAuliffe also touted an overhaul of the juvenile justice system, calling the “old model a failure.”

“We spend about $186,000 on each juvenile and almost 80 percent are re-arrested within three years of release,” he said.

He said the changes his administration will emphasize will focus on community-based services — “treatment, education and preparation for a productive life outside the criminal justice system.”

The governor also pushed for increased Virginia investment in solar power and other renewable energy and for increased support for veterans’ services.

He urged the legislature to fully fund the state’s contribution for pensions and to endorse his proposed raises for state employees, troopers, college faculty and staff, teachers and school personnel, sheriff’s deputies and other statesupported workers. “They deserve a raise.”

City booted from Rep. Scott’s 3rd District in judicial order Continued from A1

While he has yet to announce, state Sen.. A. Donald McEachin, D-Henrico, already is corralling support for a likely challenge to the entrenched Rep. Forbes, according to numerous political insiders.

“We’ll have to wait to see what happens,” is all Sen. McEachin would say Tuesday as he prepared for the opening Wednesday of the General Assembly, where he serves as chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus.

Rep. Scott, who is Virginia’s sole African-American congressman, is confident he can win re-election even with fewer African-Americans of voting age in the 3rd District.

He praised the panel for imposing “a new congressional map that fixes the unconstitutional racial gerrymander of Virginia’s 3rd Congressional District.

While Sen. McEachin expressed caution about what the U.S. Supreme Court may decide, others are more excited about the prospects.

“The map approved by the three-judge panel is a positive development,” Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones, a former state Democratic Party chairman, said. “This map gives Richmond a powerful, collective voice in choosing our next congressional representative, and could ultimately increase the number of Democratic members in the Virginia delegation.”

“All we have to do is make sure we get people out to vote,”

said Reginald Ford, president of the Richmond Crusade for Voters, the area’s largest African-American political group.

The plan the panel endorsed appears largely to track a proposal Rep. Scott endorsed in 1991, when the majority-black 3rd District was first created. It also is aligned with a plan state Sen. Mamie E. Locke, D-Hampton, chair of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, proposed in 2011, when she sought to increase black voter influence in the 4th District.

Both Sen. Locke’s plan and Rep. Scott’s proposal were rejected at the time.

“I am happy that the judges adopted a plan very similar to the one I introduced,” Sen. Locke said. “I am glad that citizens in the 3rd and 4th districts will now have an opportunity to elect candidates of their choice.”

T h a t ’s a l s o the reaction from Ly n e t t a Thompson, president of the Richmond Branch NAACP. “I am pleased with the court’s order in that African-Americans will have a better opportunity to elect two representatives of their choice as opposed to one.”

Judge Albert Diaz of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals

Voter registrar explains plan to stop poll problems Continued from A1

wealth University and 307 at Ginter Park Presbyterian Church, deviated from the procedures for which they were trained.

In both precincts, election officials checked in people without determining which Senate district they lived in. The precincts were split between the 9th and 10th Senate Districts.

At one precinct, she said, the chief election officer surprisingly — and in violation of protocol — put an untrained and inexperienced person in charge of checking in voters. That new worker did not know about split precincts, Ms. Showalter said, and didn’t check to determine what Senate district the voters lived in.

In the other precinct, an election officer told Ms. Showalter that she forgot about split precincts and checked in people who should have gone to another table to be in the right district.

“She was mortified,” Ms Showalter said.

Ms. Showalter said once she learned about the problem through telephone complaints, she said two members of the city Electoral Board were dispatched, one to each precinct, to prevent any further distribution of wrong ballots.

To prevent it from happening again, Ms..

Showalter said she will put more training emphasis on handling split precincts.

Currently, every new election officer has to go through 6.5 hours of training before being allowed to work and veteran officers are required to take refresher courses.

She also plans to spend more than $300,000 this year for new pollbooks with upgraded software that can prevent voters from getting the wrong ballot.

Ms. Showalter said that the pollbooks in at least 40 of the 65 precincts malfunctioned for an hour or two after the polls opened, preventing voters from being checked in

until the problem was corrected.

She said the problem occurred because a technician who tests the machines in advance of the election failed to perform a required practice test, but told no one.

From now on, Ms. Showalter said, two people will observe the testing to make sure it is fully carried out.

Ms. Showalter said she also will improve training to ensure that voters no longer are asked to verify an address when the address on an ID varies from that on the pollbook. She said she heard from the governor’s staff about that because Gov. Terry McAuliffe was one of the people affected.

She noted that the state Department of Elections changed that policy in August, but did not highlight it or send out a special notice.

“It slipped by,” said Ms. Showalter, adding that other registrars were unaware of the policy change as well.

This map shows the new look of the five congressional districts whose boundaries have been altered by a three-judge panel.

Virginia Public Access Project

wrote the opinion, which rejected a request from Republican General Assembly leaders to delay the changes until the U.S. Supreme Court considers an appeal.

The GOP opposed the change as unwarranted, but have lost two previous appeals of findings that race illegally was a major element in drawing the 3rd District boundaries.

Judge Diaz wrote that the panel, which included U.S. District Court Judge Liam O’Grady and Senior U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Payne, had the authority to proceed and did not need to wait for a U.S. Supreme Court decision.

Judge Diaz and Judge O’Grady formed the majority that approved the new plan drawn by a special master, Dr. Bernard Grofman of the University of California-Irvine, as more compact, contiguous and fairer to voters while still protecting incumbents.

Judge Payne, however, continued to find no reason to implement a new plan, arguing, as he has in two previous dissents in the case, that there is no evidence that the General Assembly created a racial gerrymander in violation of the Constitution and the federal Voting Rights Act. The plan actually impacts five districts. Along with the 3rd and 4th, the plan also changes the 1st, 2nd and 7th congressional districts. All three are represented by Republicans and its residents would be more likely to vote Republican as a result of the changes, according to political experts.

The 3rd District, which now looks like a chimney as it straddles the James River from Norfolk to Richmond, would more resemble a misshapen soccer ball under its new boundaries and its confines in the Hampton Roads area where Rep. Scott lives.

The 4th District, which will stretch from Chesapeake to Richmond, will have a greater resemblance to a boot under the new lines.

President cheered at final State of the Union address Continued from A1

diminishes us in the eyes of the world. It makes it harder to achieve our goals.”

The president was greeted with cheers of “O-bama!” from enthusiastic Democrats as he entered the chamber to a loud ovation.

He drew laughs when he opened the address saying he would keep the speech short so that presidential candidates could resume their campaigning in Iowa.

Turning serious, the president said, “We live in a time of extraordinary change — change that’s reshaping the way we live, the way we work, our planet and our place in the world.

“It’s change that can broaden opportunity or widen inequality. And whether we like it or not, the pace of this change will only accelerate.”

Signaling he has no intentions of being a lame duck during his final months in office, President Obama also cited criminal justice reform, trade and poverty reduction as areas where he thought compromise might be possible with Republicans in Congress.

He also called for lawmakers to ratify a long-sought Pacific trade pact, advance tighter gun laws and lift an embargo on Cuba.

The president also pressed for an end to “gerrymandering,” the practice of drawing voting districts in ways that gives advantage to a particular party; reducing the influence of “dark money” or political spending in which funding sources do not have to be disclosed; and making voting easier.

He also pledged to continue to work to close the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

President Obama also said he had tasked Vice President Joe Biden, whose son died last year of cancer, to lead an effort to find a cure

of accomplishment.

“Under this President’s leadership, our nation has rebounded from the worst economic recession since the Great Depression,” Rep. Scott said.

“We just recorded the 70th month of consecutive job growth – the longest streak on record,” he added. “We ended ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ saved the American auto industry, reformed Wall Street and passed significant health care reform that has made access to affordable health care a reality for millions of Americans.”

Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Rep. G.K. Butterfield of North

Kevin Lamarque/REUTERS Members of Congress enthusiastically greet President Carolina also touted the president’s Obama as he arrives in the House of Representatives accomplishments as well as the goals to deliver his State of the Union address. he set for his final year in office.

“President Obama has put forth a for the disease.

One of his biggest disappointments, the presi- bold agenda to create and expand opportunident said, was not being able to elevate U.S. ties for all Americans — from access to jobs, access to affordable health care and reforming political discourse during his time in office.

“It’s one of the few regrets of my presidency — our country’s criminal justice system,” he said that the rancor and suspicion between the parties in a statement.

“As we enter the final year of his administrahas gotten worse instead of better,” he said.

President Obama sought to contrast his more tion, we say, ‘A job well done, Mr. President,’’’ optimistic view of America’s future with those of he added. “Members of the Congressional Black the Republican candidates trying to replace him. Caucus look forward to working with President Afterward, the president’s address drew Obama during his final year to support an agenda widespread praise from Democrats and mostly that will continue to move America forward and create opportunity for all.” derision from Republicans.

Mr. Trump, in a posting on Twitter, called Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott of Newport News, whose district includes portions the speech “boring” and lacking in substance. of Richmond, praised the forward-looking speech “New leadership fast!”

House Speaker Paul Ryan said that the and said in a statement, “By working together we can accomplish even more great things on president’s “policies aren’t working. He didn’t have an answer for how to defeat ISIS,” using behalf of the American people.”

He further praised the president’s long record an acronym for the Islamic State.

In the televised Republican response to the State of the Union address, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley took her own jab at Mr. Trump and other less moderate candidates in her political party.

“During anxious times, it can be tempting to follow the siren call of the angriest voices. We must resist that temptation,” said Gov. Haley, who identified herself as the daughter of Indian immigrants. “No one who is willing to work hard, abide by our laws, and love our traditions should ever feel unwelcome in this country,” she said.

Responding to critics during the speech, President Obama said it was “fiction” to describe the country as being in economic decline. He cited a steep decline in the unemployment rate as evidence of that.

While acknowledging that al Qaeda and the Islamic State posed a direct threat to Americans, he said comparing the effort to defeat the militants who control swaths of Iraq and Syria to World War III gave the group just what it wanted.

“Masses of fighters on the back of pickup trucks, twisted souls plotting in apartments or garages; they pose an enormous danger to civilians; they have to be stopped. But they do not threaten our national existence,” President Obama said.

President Obama’s address to lawmakers, cabinet members and U.S. Supreme Court justices was one of his last remaining chances to capture the attention of millions of Americans before the November election. The next president will take office in January 2017.

The speech came as 10 sailors aboard two U.S. Navy boats were taken into Iranian custody.

The president did not mention the sailors in his address. They were released to return to the United States on Wednesday morning.

Richmond Free Press

January 14-16, 2016 A5

Local News

Demolition finally begins on Bon Secours East End project

By Joey Matthews

A kitchen where community members could learn more about fruits and vegetables and other nutritious foods and how to prepare them.

A gathering space where community members could listen to musicians, spoken word artists and others perform on a nearby stage.

And a separate space where community groups could meet.

Those are some of the uses envisioned at the future home of the Bon Secours Center for Healthy Communities at 2600 Nine Mile Road in Church Hill, several people involved with the project have told the Free Press.

Their comments were made as demolition work began last week on a crumbling building at the site that Bon Secours officials have touted will become the centerpiece of an expansion of Richmond Community Hospital along the 25th Street and Nine Mile Road corridor. The hospital is at 1500 N. 28th St. The demolition work finally began more than a year and a half after the date former Bon Secours Virginia CEO Peter J. Bernard, who is now retired, told the Free Press to expect for groundbreaking.

Chris Pollock of Richmond-based UrbanCore Construction LLC, who

identified himself last week as the project manager, said he anticipated more construction plans for the site to be submitted to the city later this month. He gave no timetable for the project’s completion.

Meanwhile, there are no signs of project-related work elsewhere along the 25th Street and Nine Mile Road corridor that Bon Secours officials have said the expansion would include.

Bon Secours and city officials continue to maintain a shroud of secrecy about the details of the $8.5 million hospital expansion, to which Bon Secours is contractually obligated as part of its 2012 sponsorship agreement with the Washington professional football team’s training camp in Richmond.

Bon Secours officials did not respond to several Free Press requests during the past week to discuss the project that they have long touted as a critical health outreach to aid the mostly impoverished AfricanAmerican residents living in the nearby community.

The Free Press also reached out to others heavily involved in the project: Mayor Dwight C. Jones, City Councilwoman Cynthia I. Newbille, 7th District, in whose district the project is located; Lee Downey, director of Richmond’s Department of Economic

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

The loaded refuse bin signals demolition work has finally begun at the future home of the Bon Secours Center for Healthy Communities at 2600 Nine Mile Road in Church Hill.

and Community Development; and T.K. Somanath, chief executive officer at the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority, which agreed to sell several parcels of land near Richmond Community Hospital to Bon Secours for the project.

All declined to comment. The mayor’s office and Ms. Newbille referred the Free Press to Bon Secours

for answers. Mr. Downey directed the Free Press to the mayor’s office, and Mr. Somanath did not respond to queries.

One person who enthusiastically discussed the project was Stephen Weir, executive director of the Church Hill Activities & Tutoring (CHAT) nonprofit. He said plans are still being formulated for the facility, but

that some of the young people that his group mentors and tutors would help staff the planned community room where food and entertainment would be provided.

“We’d love to see it happen soon,” said Mr. Weir, who estimated that it could open by the fall. “This is a phenomenal location and we believe it will be a great community resource.”

Tree not sole obstacle at Maggie Walker site Continued from A1

events and also provide room for people to pause and meditate on Mrs. Walker’s legacy — tree or no tree. When it comes to the tree, “that’s up to you guys,” he said. “I just need to know what my canvass will look like.”

However, the Walker site looks like a broom closet compared with the grand plaza Mr. Mendez created to honor the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice and civil rights great Thurgood Marshall that stands in front of the Maryland Statehouse in Annapolis.

Mr. Mendez made many in the room envious when he put on a slide showing the huge space

occupied by the Thurgood Marshall memorial, sharply contrasting with the cramped site that the council, the mayor and the city’s Public Arts Commission have designated for the Maggie Walker statue.

As Richmond resident Jennie Dotts noted, the chosen Walker site will be jammed against two restaurants in an area where there will be virtually no parking. The current curb spaces on Broad Street also are to be eliminated and the traffic lanes narrowed from three to two lanes to accommodate the Pulse, the new Bus Rapid Transit, and a station in the median.

“We should be looking at Abner Clay Park,” Ms. Dotts said, which would offer the kind of

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Johnny Mickens III, great-grandson of Maggie L. Walker, center, is among more than 230 people who turned out Tuesday evening for the hearing on city plans for honoring Mrs. Walker. Beside him is his ex-wife, Faithe Norrell, a member of the Public Arts Commission’s Site Selection Committee. Location: Auditorium in the Main Library in Downtown.

large space for a suitable plaza that be offensive to many who would see it actually would be inviting. as a symbol of the hangings that took Others who spoke noted the view so many black lives in the past. of the statue would be obscured by When the audience was polled on the BRT buses traveling by. And Mr. a scale of 1 to 10, 43 percent of the Mendez said the site itself has limitaaudience pushed 1 on their wireless tions because of underground utilities electronic counters to agree that the that he said he has to avoid. And that tree “detracts from the space,” with doesn’t count the poles for traffic smaller percentages hitting 2, 3 and 4 lights that will not be relocated and to indicate the tree did not belong.

Mr. Mendez a new sidewalk that will need to be At least 39 percent showed support built on the Adams Street side of the plaza. for the tree by pressing 10, with one audience The tree, itself, also raised concern because of member saying removing the tree would be like its implications as a symbol of lynching, an issue taking “a life.” civil rights advocate Gary Flowers raised in the Mayor Dwight C. Jones earlier endorsed Free Press, but also for the way it would distract saving the tree. and obscure the view of the Walker statue.

Mr. Flowers stepped forward to speak after Given the tight site, Councilwoman Robertson Mr. Mendez suggested that Mrs. Walker should said she could not see how the tree could stay be considered as “a bridge” between the thenand allow for a clear view of the statue that the divided black and white communities, saying artist said would be 8 to 12 feet tall. that’s how he would like to portray her.

Others also expressed concern that the tree In passionate tones, Mr. Flowers disputed that could fill up half the site and would diminish view. He said Mrs. Walker “was a race woman” the statue. That included Johnny Mickens III, who fought back against the white supremacists a great-grandson of Mrs. Walker, who urged on and Jim Crow through her efforts to start busibehalf of six other great-grandchildren that the nesses and also to speak up for “freedom and tree be removed to ensure his great-grandmother equality” for black people. is the dominant focus.

He expressed dismay that Mr. Mendez would “Does anyone know of another Richmond even consider creating a softer view of Mrs. statue that is shaded by a tree?” another city Walker, rather than showing her as the proud, resident, Michael G. Brown, asked the audi- strong, vibrant leader who sought to uplift the ence. “How about the statue of A.P. Hill? Or black community and was engaged in the fight “Stonewall” Jackson? Or the Statue of Liberty? for equal rights, including joining the 1904 Or the cross that marks the arrival of English boycott of segregated streetcars. explorers? Enough said.”

This was the first and only public session Chantel Taylor also pleaded for the removal that is to be held to gather public opinion, but of the tree so it would not hover above “one the Public Arts Commission is hoping those of our sheroes.” She said even if some in the who could not attend would submit their views audience could not understand, the tree would to City Hall.

Mayoral hopeful hosts symposium

Jones fires back Continued from A1

Continued from A1

attended.

State Sen. Mamie Locke of Hampton, a former mayor in that city, and former Washington D.C. Mayor Sharon PrattKelly also were invited, but did not attend.

Sen. Locke was too busy preparing for Wednesday’s start of the 2016 Virginia General Assembly to attend, according to a representative. Ms. Pratt-Kelly was fighting an illness.

The three-day event, including activities around the city and luncheons and dinners, was organized and paid for by Harold L. Watkins II of Harry Co. LLC, a North Side mental health and behavioral services provider, and Charles and Wanda Crenshaw of Summit Construction & Environmental Services, Ms. Mosby said.

Mr. Watkins and Mr. Crenshaw told the Free Press on Tuesday they likely would spend between $5,000 to $7,000 to fly in the mayors, provide hotel accommodations, pay for meals and provide transportation.

Mr. Watkins said he began formulating his plan in September “to get as many candidates as possible for the mayor’s position together. I actually called quite a few folks who had expressed interest or at least whispered that they were interested in running, and none of them

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Mayor Toni Harp, right, of New Haven, Conn., speaks at a panel discussion Tuesday as Mayor Tyus Byrd, left, of Parma, Mo., and former Miami Gardens, Fla., Mayor Shirley Gibson listen at Summit Construction & Environmental Services on South Side.

were definitive about it.

“We thought we’d get a dialogue about what we wanted from the next city mayor,” he added.

Both men said they support Ms. Mosby’s candidacy.

“I think President Mosby is one of the best candidates out here and she has my support,” said Mr. Watkins, a Richmond resident. “I certainly enjoy her passion and enthusiasm for the city of Richmond and that’s very encouraging.”

Mr. Crenshaw, who lives in Powhatan, said, “She shares some of the same interests in the community that I do and I love her strong spirit.”

The men said they are seeking a mayor who will work to alleviate the conditions that cause poverty, can build partnerships with businesses, agencies and other community groups to help provide jobs and workforce development and will be a proponent for educational opportunities for all.

So far, Ms. Mosby and Lillie Estes, a community activist and strategist who announced her intent to run last summer, are the only two candidates to officially

announce their candidacies for mayor.

But at least seven more candidates are expected to throw their hats into the ring before the Nov. 8 election.

Ms. Mosby told the Free Press, “I have officially filed my paperwork with the registrar’s office and my candidacy has officially begun.”

Her tone was light-hearted but confident when she took the podium at the conclusion of Tuesday’s panel discussion.

“What I always wanted to do was help people,” Ms. Mosby told an audience of about 30 people. “It’s amazing to be around some ladies that that is their passion as well, and it drove them into places that perhaps they may not have thought they would be in, but you’re there.

“And with that, you were able to give information that can help me when I become mayor to move the city forward,” she said, laughing briefly.

“At the end of the day, we have to have a vision, but with that vision, we have to make sure we can articulate it and bring results.”

that he was “disappointed when I heard the allegations concerning our director of public works,” Emmanuel O. Adediran.

The allegations were contained in a report last week from City Auditor Umesh Dalal that claimed that Mr. Adediran had spent 38 hours of city time over the past 18 months to serve as project manager for First Baptist’s new satellite sanctuary in Chesterfield County.

Mr. Adediran is a volunteer assistant pastor at First Baptist.

Mayor Jones said his administration had “gone to great lengths to take corrective action to avoid even the appearance of impropriety.”

As punishment, Mr. Adediran surrendered 38 hours of vacation, worth about $2,500, and closing the case.

However, to the mayor’s dismay, that has not stopped the uproar.

Instead, “city workers are now being victimized and being asked where they go to church,” he stated.

“Richmond is the home of religious liberty,” he noted recalling last year’s dedication of the new First Freedom Center that commemorates a Virginia law guaranteeing religious liberty.

“I have to question the motives of people who are asking city employees about their religious affiliation,” he continued, referring to reporters who have requested information about city workers who attend the mayor’s church.

“I hope that none of this is politically motivated and that respect can be shown for the wall of separation between church and state.”

In an email circulated late last week to church members and supporters, First Baptist asked people to call in at 8 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, and at 6:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 10, to activate a prayer “war room” for Mayor Jones and others.

It stated that the challenges and questions about Mayor Jones’ integrity are arising as the church is completing its second worship site and the mayor has worked on “de-concentrating poverty, economic development and promoting education — an extension of the ministry he has always advocated for as our Senior Pastor.”

“We need to enter the ‘War Room’ to come together to pray for our Senior Pastor, our ministry team, the City of Richmond, its leadership and even those who would seek to cause hurt or harm,” according to the email.

“We believe our best defense is to go to God in prayer,” it said.

“We should expect attacks as we move towards accomplishing great things for the Kingdom of God.”

A6 January 14-16, 2016

Richmond Free Press

Local News

Coaches march to end violence Sports coaches from Richmond area schools and recreation leagues mobilized more than 100 people who rallied and marched against violence Saturday in the Creighton Court public housing community.

The group, known as Coaches Against Violence Everywhere, joined in a circle of prayer with community members and then spoke out against the violence that has claimed the lives of young people such as 12-year-old Amiya Moses on Dec. 19 on North Side and 18-year-old Tray-Quain Holmes, who was killed in Creighton Court on Christmas Eve. A previous rally against violence was held in Henrico County.

Right, Cornelia Jackson embraces her children, Joseph, left, and Shemoanee, as gunshot victims share their stories with the crowd.

Left, Coach Alex Motley holds his sign as he and Coach Anthony Grigsby lead the marchers.

Photos by Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

School resegregation lawsuit dismissed

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Former Richmond Public Schools parent Kimberly Johnson Jones has lost her court fight to overturn the city School Board’s 2013 decision to close Clark Springs Elementary School and change the attendance zones for other elementary schools.

Richmond Circuit Court Judge W. Reilly Marchant threw out the case after determining Ms. Jones did not have standing to challenge the board’s actions because her child no longer attends a city school and is unlikely to do so again.

Ms. Jones moved out of the city more than a year ago after objecting to the city school to which her child was assigned after Clark Springs Elementary was closed.

In a five-page decision issued Jan. 4, Judge Marchant deemed Ms. Jones’ complaint moot because she no longer could make a “reasonable showing” that her child would “again be subject to the same alleged wrongful action of the (city) board.”

Judge Marchant focused solely on whether Ms. Jones had a right to proceed with her challenge and offered no opinion on her claims that the board’s actions were “arbitrary and capricious” and resulted in the resegregation of the public schools, a position that the advocacy group Richmond Coalition for Quality Education strongly supported.

Former Richmond City Councilman E. Marty Jewell established the group to oppose the board’s closure of Clark Springs Elementary. Ms. Jones, a coalition member, agreed to serve as a plaintiff in the lawsuit to challenge the board.

Challenger seeks to overturn results of postal union election

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

One of Richmond’s oldest labor organizations — the Old Dominion Branch Local 496 of the National Association of Letter Carriers — is engulfed in an election fight.

The fight is over the election of Thelma J. Hunt as the first female president in the branch’s history, which dates back to 1893.

One of her rivals for the top post, Michael C. Milner, is claiming irregularities in the conduct of the election. He is seeking to have the results thrown out and a new election held.

Ms. Hunt ran for president after serving 19 years as vice president. She served during the 22-year tenMs. Hunt Mr. Milner ure of union president Ronald E. Hinton Sr., 67, who did not seek re-election.

She and Mr. Milner then sought election to lead the 625-member union branch.

Mr. Milner, a shop steward for the local, lost by 11 votes. He has filed an appeal seeking to have the election voided, citing 11 violations of NALC election rules in his request.

Among other things, he alleges that more than 35 members of the local never received ballots, including the girlfriend of Tyrone Curry, the third-place finisher. He claims the chairman of the election committee, Stan “Gus” Brown, refused to send out additional ballots after being notified.

Mr. Milner also alleges that 53 ballots were counted even though the names of the persons casting the ballots could not be verified as belonging to members of the local, as required.

One ballot Mr. Brown allowed to be counted was submitted with the name Malcolm X, Mr. Milner said.

Mr. Milner also claims that Mr. Brown violated the rules by collecting ballots in advance of the Dec. 16 count and that some ballots that arrived by the deadline at the collection box in Sandston were never picked up and counted.

Mr. Brown was not immediately available for comment.

Mr. Milner said he submitted his appeal to Mr. Brown within the five-day deadline as required. He said he is hopeful the local’s members would see the justice of his request and order another election.

However, he said that if his appeal is rejected at the branch level, he is prepared to take it to the national office and ultimately to the U.S. Labor Department, which has final oversight over union elections.

Clark Springs Elementary School

Attorney Charles Schmidt, who represented Ms. Jones free of charge, expressed disappointment with the decision and said he and his client would review options for appeal.

“Unfortunately, the judge did not address the merits of the case,” he said.

The lawsuit’s dismissal represents a victory for the School Board, which no longer will have to defend the changes it made.

Judge Marchant issued his ruling as the board considers rezoning middle and high school districts as part of its effort to “right-size” the school system.

School Board Chairman Jeffrey Bourne, a deputy attorney general, called the judge’s decision “right on the law.”

However, if the suit had remained alive, he and other members said they were prepared to battle any claim they had engaged in

wrongdoing in closing Clark Springs Elementary and redrawing the attendance lines.

In court papers, the board denied that three members, Kimberly Gray, Kristen Larson and Glen H. Sturtevant Jr., now a newly elected state senator, met secretly to fashion the new elementary attendance zones, as Ms. Jones claimed.

“That is just so untrue,” said Ms. Gray. “There was no secret meeting at a coffee shop or anywhere else as she claimed.”

She said that the board faced the tough choice of having to close either Clark Springs or John B. Cary elementary schools because both had too few students. She said the board chose to leave Cary Elementary open because it had better facilities and is close to Byrd Park. Clark Springs Elementary is located next door to Riverview Cemetery.

Back to drawing board on building plan for Richmond school officials

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Tommy Kranz is resigned to the fact that Richmond City Hall is unlikely to have the borrowing capacity to build two desperately needed schools on South Side, where the growing student population is outstripping classroom capacity.

The assistant superintendent told the Free Press on Tuesday he is engaged in working out a solid plan to use the limited amount of money likely to be available to deal with the rising tide of students.

“The freight train is already on the track,” Mr. Kranz said.

This is a big change for Richmond’s schools. For more than a decade, the Richmond School Board has been closing buildings as declining enrollment left Richmond Public Schools with more space than it needed.

However, the influx of Latino families and others on South Side has changed the picture. South of the James River, at least six elementary schools already are bulging with students, including the two newest, Broad Rock and Oak Grove-Bellemeade, as well as Francis, Greene, Jones and Reid, Mr. Kranz said.

While the School Board has been shopping a $563 million plan to address the aging buildings it is saddled with, the growing need for more South Side space is regarded as the top priority.

Mr. Kranz has been telling anyone who will listen that Richmond needs to build two more new schools on South Side to deal with the growth that already has forced the school system to install nearly two dozen trailers to meet the demand for classrooms.

Last May, Mr. Kranz pleaded with City Council to provide funding that would allow RPS to make a start on his original plan.

That, he said, includes replacing the current overcrowded Greene Elementary with a larger building and replacing the current Elkhardt-Thompson Middle on the site of the now closed Elkhardt Middle. He also sought funding to build an addition to Westover Hills Elementary.

Heeding the pleas, City Council put $18 million in the city’s capital budget to get those projects started.

“That money was a down payment,” Mr. Kranz said. That money was to be used to allow RPS to contract for design and

Crusade for Voters to meet Jan.19 Delegate Sam Rasoul of Roanoke is scheduled to speak at the Richmond Crusade for Voters meeting 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 19.

Location: Second Baptist Church, 1400 Idlewood Ave., in the West End.

The delegate, who took office in January 2014, is to discuss the new General Assembly session and issues of importance to the community.

The event is free and open to the public.

engineering, demolish the closed Elkhardt, begin site work on the new buildings and possibly start the Westover Hills addition, he said.

Eight months later, that money remains in limbo, unspent. The city has not released it amid a growing realization that such would be a waste. The reason: The $55 million to $60 million that would be needed to actually construct the buildings is likely to be unavailable.

According to city reports, Richmond is near its self-imposed credit limit and might be able to borrow no more than $55 million during the next five years for capital improvements. That’s an average of about $11 million year to deal with needed improvements to streets, sidewalks, parks, development and city buildings as well as schools.

Mr. Kranz said that he and his staff have returned to the drawing board to determine the best way to use the $18 million to get the “most bang for the buck.”

Some buildings that were mothballed or returned to city control are getting a second look for potential reopening, such as Summer Hill and old Oak Grove, on South Side, though both would need extensive renovation.

“We are taking a look at all of our capital assets,” he said. “There are a lot of variables.”

He said the revamped plan he is in the process of drafting would look at school facility needs for the next five years and the next 10 years. He said he would present it to the superintendent, the School Board, the city and the public when it is ready.

SPECIAL

Richmond Free Press

VOL. 25 NO. 3

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RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

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JANUARY 14-16, 2016

We cover African-American history 365 days a year

Celebrating 24 years

Checking out the Free Press

Clinton A. Strane/Richmond Free Press

Officers and members of the board of directors of Paradigm Communications Inc., the parent company of the Richmond Free Press, check out a prototype of the new newspaper in its newsroom located in Downtown. From left, the late Dr. Allix B. James, Dr. Elwood Boone Jr.; the late Free Press founder Raymond H. Boone Sr., president and CEO; the late Dr. Darrel Rollins, board secretary; the late Dr. William S. Thornton, board chairman; Beverly Davis; the late Leonard Lambert, board treasurer; Dr. Lerla Joseph; and Clarence L. Townes Jr. This photograph was published on the front page of the Free Press debut edition Jan. 16-18, 1992.

Since Jan. 15, 1992, the Richmond Free Press has kept its commitment to Richmond and central Virginia to give a voice to the voiceless.

For 24 years, we have published 52 weeks a year the stories of our people and this region.

We have provided informed and thought-provoking commentary and opinion.

1992

Continuing the mission of our fearless founder, Raymond H. Boone Sr., we reaffirm our crusade for justice and equality.

2016

As we salute our founding stockholders, board and steadfast staff, we thank you, our readers and advertisers.

It takes a village.

We all are a part of the village.

Happy birthday, Richmond Free Press!

Sincerely,

Jean Patterson Boone Publisher

Bonnie V. Winston Managing Editor

Richmond Free Press

Red berries in Downtown

Editorial Page

A8

January 14-16, 2016

Salvation needed Like most of us, Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones has a lot to pray about.

Unfortunately for him, it’s about his church, First Baptist Church of South Richmond, and the city.

Unfortunately for us, the Richmond taxpayers, it’s about his church and the city — and the intersection of the two apparently without transparency or accountability.

Most politicians understand that the mere appearance of impropriety, including favoritism in hiring, can cause headaches. When the optics aren’t good, you’ve got a problem.

In this case, the city sleuth/snoop/auditor (the moniker changes depending on the perception of the person you’re talking to) found that Richmond’s director of public works was working on building Mayor Jones’ satellite church in Chesterfield County while on the city time clock.

The public works chief, Emmanuel O. Adediran, is a volunteer pastor at First Baptist. Roughly 10 percent of the city’s executive level managers attend Mayor Jones’ church, according to his spokesperson.

Last week, Mr. Adediran agreed to the punishment meted out by the city chief administrative officer — docking him 38 hours of vacation time. That’s nearly a week, or what amounts to $2,500 of his $130,000 annual pay.

If Mr. Adediran had any plans for working on the church while he was on vacation, he needs to come up with other plans.

Surely, we worker bees all have private lives. And from time to time, we are forced to deal with kids, parents, spouses, doctors’ appointments, teachers and even bill collectors while we are at work. But we can’t expect to undertake something as huge as managing the construction of a new church building while we are being paid to work 40-plus hours each week on our “real” job. Either the public works will turn into wrongs or the church building may turn into a flop.

Two questions here: What was Mr. Adediran thinking when he took on the job with the church?

What was the mayor thinking when he asked and/or accepted Mr. Adediran being project manager of the church construction?

The questions raised by city residents, voters, taxpayers and reporters alike are fair and legitimate. Mayor Jones and his top administrators have more explaining to do, no matter what church they attend.

We often surround ourselves at work and at church with those who we know will get the job done, or at least care enough to do a good job when given a task. But are the only people the mayor knows to work in the city people in his church? And are the only ones who can manage the church project city employees?

We believe it’s best for the mayor to refrain from using city workers on the church project, even if they are best suited or come free of charge. City taxpayers don’t want to feel we are building Mayor Jones’ church because we are paying city employees to work on it. Mayor Jones must be more cognizant of the division necessary to avoid actual and perceived problems.

Other top administrators in his office must be quaking — afraid their emails, phone records, transportation records and mileage will be scrutinized next to see if they, too, especially members of Mayor Jones’ church, have been conducting church business on city time and on the city’s dime.

This could become a criminal matter if any evidence develops that there’s a quid pro quo of hefty donations to the church — and possibly ultimately into the pocket of the pastor — in return for lucrative city job appointments or contracts.

What’s next — the FBI or state authorities investigating?

Stay tuned.

Somebody might need some salvation before it’s all over.

Remove the shame We are ready to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s state and federal holiday Monday, Jan. 18, with a day of activities intended to inspire, uplift and encourage people everywhere to continue working toward the ideals of equality preached by the late civil rights leader.

But before we reach the affirming lessons of that day, we must grit our teeth through Lee-Jackson Day, Virginia’s continuing shameful state holiday honoring vanquished traitors of the Civil War. On Friday, Jan. 15, roughly 104,000 state employees will get a paid day off in honor of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, Confederate generals who found it more honorable to go to war and divide the country than to end slavery.

We, the taxpayers, are paying the salaries of thousands of people as they kick back and enjoy a long weekend, thanks to Virginia’s continuing veneration of evil-doers who sought to keep human beings in bondage.

We believe that should stop.

In calling for the arc of the moral universe to bend toward justice, as Dr. King intoned, we request that Gov. Terry McAuliffe and the enlightened members of the 2016 Virginia General Assembly immediately repeal the disgraceful Lee-Jackson holiday.

We also recommend that the statue of Lee or Jackson be moved from Richmond’s Monument Avenue — at private expense — to either man’s homeplace, both of which are being preserved by special interest groups.

And in their place, the city should erect a fitting tribute to Richmond native, trailblazing businesswoman and equal rights activist Maggie L. Walker.

Forget the tree and the tiny Downtown plaza where the city hopes to shoehorn-in her statue. Let her likeness and her legacy adorn a larger space on Monument Avenue.

She is a true hero. She deserves the honor.

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

“I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality. . . . I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.”

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech Dec. 10, 1964

Dr. King’s principles and voice will guide future generations

On March 25, 1968, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, among the leading theologians and Jewish philosophers of the 20th century, spoke what many historians believe to have been prophetic words about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Only 10 days before he was assassinated, D r. K i n g was keynote speaker at a birthday celebration honoring Rabbi Heschel.

The rabbi introduced him to an audience of at least 500 other rabbis with the following words: “Where in America today do we hear a voice like the prophets of Israel? Martin Luther King is a sign that God has not forsaken the United States of America. God has sent him to us. His presence is the hope of America. His mission is sacred, his leadership is sacred. And his leadership is of supreme importance to every one of us. Martin Luther King Jr. is a voice, a vision and a way. The whole future of America will depend upon the impact and influence of Dr. King.”

The Rev. C. T. Vivian, one of the foot soldiers who marched with Dr. King, referred to this historic moment when describing how Dr. King’s voice will continue to impact America years beyond the annual national holiday memorializing him this year on Monday, Jan. 18.

“Of all the presidents they could have found space for on the National Mall,” Dr. King is the only human being memorialized there who is not a president, says Vivian, speaking of the Stone of Hope statue of Dr. King. The only other memorials on the Mall honor Presidents Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Dr. Vivian believes Rabbi Heschel’s words, spoken almost 48 years ago, are just as applicable today as they were then. His dream of racial justice and equality are crucial and yet unmet, says Dr. Vivian. But he concludes that Dr. King’s greatest legacy is his

stance for nonviolence in his demonstrated “nonviolent direct action” and his vehement advocacy again war.

“Martin King was the first minister in the Western World to get the Nobel Peace Prize,” Dr. Vivian points out. “I think in terms of Martin as the con-

Hazel Trice Edney tinuation of the great need we have to go beyond violence.

And so that will not end, and that will continue to be greater and greater and greater…In the East, there’s [Indian leader Mahatma] Gandhi, who really created it. It was Martin who continued it.”

Several people who marched with Dr. King recall what they believe has defined Dr. King’s legacy, especially during his final years.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. recalls Dr. King’s last birthday, Jan. 15, 1968. Rev. Jackson was with Dr. King that day as they convened a group of AfricanAmericans, Hispanics, and Native Americans to plan the Poor People’s Campaign, Dr. King’s movement for economic justice that was never completed due to the assassination.

“He felt that money that was being spent on the military should have been spent for our cities. We had the best military in the world, but the most decayed cities,” Rev. Jackson said. “I have a dream was poetry without the budget obligation.

But the Poor People’s Campaign involved what we needed — a White House conference on violence and urban reconstruction. That requires a budget and legislation. That was the real fight. That was the fight he was engaged in. That was the substance of the dream.”

Lonnie King, an Atlantabased professor who was a co-founder of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, recalls meeting Dr. King in 1945, when he joined Ebenezer Baptist Church as an 8-year-old.

Even as a child, he was amazed

by Dr. King’s ability to orate, a power that continues to grip America when recordings of Dr. King’s voice are heard.

“Dr. King was a 17-yearold going to Morehouse at the time. He was always a gifted

speaker, having been raised up in a family of preachers. I remember that he used to practice his preaching in church on Thursday nights as my mother attended choir rehearsals in the basement. He was very good also because he continuously practiced his craft,” said Mr. King, now 79.

“His gifted oratory and ability to quote Shakespeare, Tolstoy, Aristotle and the Old Negro Spirituals with equal aplomb. He was especially adept at ‘making it plain’ to the average person.”

Their relationship didn’t just stay in the church. Lonnie King grew up and became a young activist as well.

“My most memorable moment was when I convinced him to go to jail with me at a sit-in at Rich’s Department Store on Oct.19, 1960. This was the first time that Dr. King had voluntarily gone to jail, and was the first time he had spent the night in jail. We shared the same cell for a number of days until the mayor of Atlanta arranged the release of the students,” he recalls.

Like Dr. Vivian, Mr. King also believes “Dr. King’s oratory was so strong that it will be re-played for centuries to come. His message is just as relevant today as it was in the 1960s. He realized that America was one of the most racist countries ever known to mankind, but he had hope that one day black and white people would be able to sing together old Negro spirituals that called for peace, harmony and spiritual reconciliations.”

Some recalled how, as a teen, the eventual Nobel Peace Prize winner and iconic civil rights leader was initially uncertain about his destiny.

In a 2010 interview by a class of Howard University students for the NNPA News Service, the revered Dr. Dorothy Irene Height, chair and president emerita of the National Council of Negro Women, recalled her first moments with Dr. King.

Years later, she marched and organized alongside him.

“I met Dr. King when he was 15 at dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Mays [Benjamin Mays, then president of Morehouse College] … Dr. King was trying

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to figure out what he wanted to become. Law… Divinity…

He had analyzed the fields,” recalled Dr. Height who died in 2010 at age 98. “You never know when you’re talking to people who they are going to become.”

The writer is president and CEO of Trice Edney Communications.

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Richmond Free Press

January 14-16, 2016

A9

Letter to the Editor Losing vacation time ‘is not severe enough punishment’ Re “Auditor: Top city administrator used city time to work on mayor’s church,” Jan. 7-9 edition: This story has the potential to give the city a negative rating by outsiders as well as our own residents. My question is did any other top officials know he was doing this?

Here we are struggling to be a top tier city when these type of things are occurring. These types of incidents remind you of corruption.

I am never in favor of someone losing their job but if the facts are true, this equates to stealing. And relinquishing 38 hours of vacation is not a severe enough punishment.

I worked for the city for more than 30 years before I retired and knew that a high standard had to be upheld when working there. If someone is found guilty of this type of negative behavior, termination should be the order of the day, regardless of an individuals church affiliation. This does not set a good example for other city workers to follow.

Further investigation needs to be done to uncover the full truth, no matter where it leads. We, the public, deserve that — nothing more and nothing less.

ERNEST PARKER JR. Richmond

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF AN APPLICATION BY VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF A RATE ADJUSTMENT CLAUSE: RIDER U, NEW UNDERGROUND DISTRIBUTION FACILITIES, FOR THE RATE YEAR COMMENCING SEPTEMBER 1, 2016 CASE NO. PUE-2015-00114 On December 1, 2015, Virginia Electric and Power Company d/b/a Dominion Virginia Power (“Dominion Virginia Power” or “Company”) filed with the State Corporation Commission (“Commission”), pursuant to § 56-585.1 A 6 of the Code of Virginia (“Subsection A 6”) and the Commission’s Rules Governing Utility Rate Applications and Annual Informational Filings, 20 VAC 5-201-10 et seq., an application (“Application”) for approval of a rate adjustment clause (“RAC”) designated Rider U, for new underground distribution facilities, for the rate year commencing September 1, 2016, through August 31, 2017 (“2016 rate year”).

The Company states in its Application that the 2014 General Assembly passed legislation (“2014 Legislation”) which “allows a utility to petition the Commission for approval of a RAC pursuant to clause (iv) of Subsection A 6 for recovery of the costs of new underground facilities to replace overhead distribution facilities of 69 kilovolts [] or less.” The Company further states that, pursuant to the 2014 Legislation, it previously filed an application requesting Commission approval of a RAC in connection with its Strategic Underground Program (“SUP”), which was denied by the Commission in Case No. PUE-2014-00089 by Final Order dated July 30, 2015 (“2015 Order”). The Company acknowledges the Commission’s concerns as expressed in the 2015 Order and states in response that it is presenting a substantially revised Application which only seeks “approval of a rider for cost recovery of a more limited and clearly defined Phase One of the SUP.” According to the Application, Phase One began in April 2014 and includes only “those projects which will actually be completed prior to the beginning of the proposed rate year or September 1, 2016.”

The Company states that from a set of 4,000 miles of outage-prone lines, the Company has identified a smaller subset of lines, approximately 400 miles of its overhead tap lines located across its Virginia service territory, for Phase One implementation, which will assist in evaluating and providing processes and procedures needed to potentially implement subsequent phases of a broader SUP. According to the Application, the capital investment for Phase One is limited to no more than $140 million. Dominion Virginia Power states that its actual expenses for Phase One incurred between April 1, 2014, and August 31, 2015, were approximately $74 million and that the projected costs through August 31, 2016, are an additional approximately $66 million, for a total of $140 million.

The Company seeks approval of Rider U with an associated revenue requirement in the amount of $24.329 million for the 2016 rate year. The Company states that the two key components of the revenue requirement are the Projected Cost Recovery Factor and the Actual Cost True-up Factor. To calculate the Projected Cost Recovery

Factor, the Application states that the Company proposes to reflect only projected plant balances as of August 31, 2016, the month-end immediately preceding the beginning of the rate year, in determining the rate base and calculating projected financing costs on rate base. Additionally, the Company states that it is proposing to amortize the deferred costs incurred prior to the beginning of the 2016 rate year over a two-year amortization period, while foregoing additional carrying costs on the second year of amortization. Dominion Virginia Power did not include a true-up amount in this case. However, if requested as part of the 2017 update filing as expected by the Company, Dominion Virginia Power represents that the Actual Cost True-up portion of the revenue requirement would either credit to, or recover from, jurisdictional customers any over or under collection of costs from the most recently completed calendar year.

If the proposed Rider U for the 2016 rate year is approved, the impact on customer bills would depend on the customer’s rate schedule and usage.

The Company asserts that implementation of the proposed Rider U beginning on September 1, 2016, would increase the residential customer’s monthly bill, based on a 1,000 kWh per month, by $0.62.

Dominion Virginia Power states that pursuant to §§ 56-585.1 and 56-585.1:1 of the Code of Virginia, it applied a return on common equity of 10% prescribed by the Commission in the Company’s 2013 Biennial Review to calculate the proposed revenue requirement for the 2016 rate year.

Interested persons are encouraged to review the Application and supporting documents for the details of these and other proposals. TAKE NOTICE that the Commission may apportion revenues among customer classes and/or design rates in a manner differing from that shown in the Application and supporting documents and thus may adopt rates that differ from those appearing in the Company’s Application and supporting documents.

The Commission entered an Order for Notice and Hearing in this proceeding that, among other things, scheduled a public hearing on June 7, 2016, at 10 a.m., in the Commission’s second floor courtroom located in the Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, to receive testimony from members of the public and evidence related to the Application from the Company, any respondents, and the Commission’s Staff. Any person desiring to testify as a public witness at this hearing should appear fifteen (15) minutes prior to the starting time of the hearing and contact the Commission’s Bailiff.

A copy of the public version of the Company’s Application and the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing are available for public inspection during regular business hours at each of the Company’s business offices in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Copies also may be obtained by submitting a written request to counsel for the Company,

Charlotte P. McAfee, Esquire, Dominion Resources Services, Inc., 120 Tredegar Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219. If acceptable to the requesting party, the Company may provide the documents by electronic means.

Copies of the public version of the Application and documents filed in this case also are available for interested persons to review in the Commission’s Document Control Center, located on the first floor of the Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, between the hours of 8:15 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Interested persons also may download unofficial copies from the Commission’s website: http://www.scc.virginia.gov/case.

Any person or entity may participate as a respondent in this proceeding by filing, on or before March 8, 2016, a notice of participation. If not filed electronically, an original and fifteen (15) copies of the notice of participation shall be submitted to Joel H. Peck, Clerk, State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. A copy of the notice of participation as a respondent also must be sent simultaneously to counsel for the Company at the address set forth above. Pursuant to Rule 5 VAC 5-20-80 B, Participation as a respondent, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, any notice of participation shall set forth: (i) a precise statement of the interest of the respondent; (ii) a statement of the specific action sought to the extent then known; and (iii) the factual and legal basis for the action. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUE-2015-00114. For additional information about participation as a respondent, any person or entity should obtain a copy of the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing.

On or before May 31, 2016, any interested person wishing to comment on the Company’s Application shall file written comments on the Application with the Clerk of the Commission at the address set forth above. Any interested person desiring to file comments electronically may do so on or before May 31, 2016, by following the instructions on the Commission’s website: http://www.scc. virginia.gov/case. Compact discs or any other form of electronic storage medium may not be filed with the comments. All such comments shall refer to Case No. PUE-2015-00114.

The Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure may be viewed at http://www.scc.virginia. gov/case. A printed copy of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure and an official copy of the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing in this proceeding may be obtained from the Clerk of the Commission at the address set forth above.

VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY d/b/a DOMINION VIRGINIA POWER

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Stories by Fred Jeter

Freedom Classic comes to Coliseum Sunday

It’s fitting that someone from historic Yorktown has helped spark a basketball revolution at Virginia State University.

The reasons are numerous why VSU has vaulted from the bottom to the top of the CIAA standings. You can start the list with versatile 6-foot-8 junior Elijah R. Moore, aka “ERM,” from Yorktown’s Grafton High School.

Revolutionary War historians recognize Yorktown as the site where British troops under Lord Cornwallis surrendered in 1781 to Gen. George Washington, ultimately ending the war for independence.

Basketball buffs know Yorktown as a hotbed for hoops talent.

Moore earned All-State honors at Grafton, twice leading the team to the State 4A final at the Siegel Center in Richmond.

The long-stemmed Trojan looms as a pivotal figure when VSU meets Virginia Union University in the Freedom Classic Sunday, Jan. 17, at the Richmond Coliseum.

“It’s been fun to watch him grow,” said VSU Coach Lonnie Blow. “He arrived here quiet and unassuming and he’s developed into a very good player.”

Coach Blow was hired as VSU’s basketball coach Aug. 1, 2013. He signed Moore prior to Aug. 17, when fall semester classes began in Ettrick. Moore’s emergence has eased the loss of the team’s top three scorers and rebounders from last year’s club that had an 18-9 record.

Moore leads VSU in scoring (14.5 point average per game), field goal percentage (50.3) and blocked shots (11) and is second in rebounding (5.2).

He can’t be ignored on the perimeter. Despite often being the tallest man on the floor, he has hit 18 of 37 three-pointers

Coach Blow

Coach Butler

Elijah Moore

(49 percent).

“We can play Elijah at several positions. He presents matchup problems for most teams,” said Coach Blow.

After winning seven of the last eight games, the Trojans opened the week 10-3 overall and 5-0 in the conference in Coach Blow’s third season in Ettrick.

The Trojans beat VUU 77-56 on Dec. 6 at the Arthur Ashe Jr. Athletic Center in Richmond. VSU has won four straight over the once-dominant Panthers during the past three seasons.

Under first-year Coach Jay Butler, VUU began the week 6-9 overall and 0-4 in the CIAA after an agonizing two-point home losses to Shaw University on Jan. 7 and Fayetteville State University on Jan. 9.

VUU boasts one of the CIAA’s elite talents, 6-foot-3 Ray Anderson. The junior from Delaware averages 21.3 points per game while hitting 53 percent from the field and 72 percent at the foul line.

Anderson’s help includes junior Tavon Mealy (13.3 points, 6.6

rebounds) and sophomore Kory Cooley (11.4 points), a 6-foot-2 transfer from the University of District Columbia. Cooley led UDC in scoring as a freshman.

Coach Butler was the longtime UDC women’s coach before moving to VUU to coach the men.

Meanwhile, VSU has come a long way under Coach Blow. The Trojans lost 33 of 41 games at one stretch, from 2009 through 2011, under Coach George White. Even worse, VSU lost 23 straight games to VUU at one stretch prior to 2012.

Since the start of the Freedom Classic in 1996, VUU had won every year but 2002 until encountering a three-year losing skid from 2013 through 2015.

VSU has won the CIAA tournament only twice — 1947 and 1988. Since VSU won its last title, 11 different schools have been crowned champ.

The Trojans are overdue for success. Moore, for one, doesn’t want VSU basketball victory to seem like American history.

Freedom Classic Basketball Virginia Union University takes on Virginia State University at 7 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 17, at the Richmond Coliseum, 601 E. Leigh St., in Downtown.

The basketball game will be preceded by a college fair, gospel showcase and drumline competition. Doors open at 4 p.m.

Tickets available at the Coliseum box office and through www.richmondcoliseum.net or www. ticketmaster.com.

Lee Smith guest at Flying Squirrels charity event Seven-time Major League Baseball All-Star relief pitcher Lee Smith will be among the star attractions at the Richmond Flying Squirrels Charity Hot Stove Banquet.

Proceeds from the event Thursday, Jan. 21, at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Siegel Center will benefit the Squirrels’ Renovating Richmond’s Recreation Program that helps upgrade youth baseball diamonds around the area.

Other celebrities scheduled to appear at the Hot Stove Banquet include former big league manager Grady Little

He now ranks third in saves and former major league behind Mariano Rivera (652) players Cla Meredith from and Trevor Hoffman (601).

Meadowbrook High School The 6-foot-6, right-handand VCU, Tracy Woodson ed Smith is from Castor, La. of Benedictine and Gene He was signed out of high Alley of Hermitage High school by Chicago Cubs’ School. scout and Negro Leagues For information and tickicon Buck O’Neil. ets, contact the Flying SquirSmith went on to pitch in rels at (804) 359-FUNN. 1,022 games, covering 1,289 Smith, known as “Smitty,” Lee Smith innings. His best season was played 18 seasons (19801997) with eight different clubs, retiring in 1991 when he posted the National League leading 47 saves for the St. as the all-time saves’ leader with 478.

Chaise Johnson eyeing options after Steward School

Like many star high school guards, Chaise education instructor at Hanover High School, Johnson has speed, court smarts and a keen and Sonnelius Johnson, a former John Marshall shooting eye.

High School quarterback who is now an IT Unlike most, he also has a former NBA first- specialist for Capital One. The family resides round draft choice as his longtime tutor. in the Henrico High School district, but Chaise The Steward School all-time scorer credits attended Hanover County elementary and middle Cory Alexander — San Antonio’s first-round school because of his mother’s employment. draft pick in 1995 — with advancing his deIn deciding on a high school, he considered velopment. his neighborhood school, Henrico High, and “Cory’s been a significant part of my life. also Hanover High and several private schools.

I consider him my mentor and like a father Steward School, founded in 1972 in a leafy figure,” said Johnson. section off Gayton Road, became “We’ve had lots of one-on-one the winner. sessions over the years, especially at “I came here for a visit and felt the Virginia Home for Boys & Girls” like I was visiting family,” he said. on Broad Street in Richmond.

“It was the right place for me.”

A four-year starter at the private His mother drove him to school Steward School in Henrico County, before Chaise was old enough for a the whippet-lean Johnson opened driver’s license. He helped fund his this week with nearly 1,600 career own Camry with a part-time job sellpoints. His buckets are well divided ing sports shoes at DTLR in Virginia between three-point splashes and dar- Chaise Johnson Center Commons. ing, bouncy drives to the hoop.

Johnson is just Steward’s fourth “I like to think I have a balanced attack,” 1,000-point career, following Mike Edwards says Johnson, nicknamed “Quatro” due to his in 2003 and Pat Branin and Adjehi Baru, both No. 4 jersey. in 2011.

It helps that the 5-foot-10 Spartan has a 6-foot-1 While the school is predominantly white, wingspan and can dunk with both hands.

Coach Allen, a Steward School and Roanoke Johnson averaged 10 points per game as a fresh- College alumnus, is African-American, as well man, 18 as a sophomore and 26 as a junior. as his five starting players.

“If we put the ball in Chaise’s hands at the Johnson is joined in the lineup by Jordan end of the game, we’ll win,” said Coach Jamiel Pointer from Chesterfield, Marvin Cannon and Allen. “But just as importantly are his character Terran Evans from Henrico and Kamron Smith, and leadership skills.” who moved to the area from Colonial Beach.

This season, with more help, he has averSteward School does not have football — anaged 23 points for a 12-2 squad that aspires to other sport dear to Johnson’s heart — but it does make noise in the Virginia Independent Schools have lacrosse. Using his all-round athleticism, Division II State tournament. he has become an All-State lacrosse defender “Chaise can pump it (from a distance), and for the Spartans. going to the basket, he’s about as slippery as Soon he will make a decision on colleges. a greased eel,” said Steward Athletic Director Virginia Military Institute, Virginia State UniBruce Secrest. versity, Washington & Lee University, Guilford, Johnson first met Alexander about six years ago Hampden-Sydney and Randolph-Macon colleges at a clinic the former University of Virginia star are under consideration. was conducting at Faith Landmark Ministries.

Johnson’s parents will help him with the Alexander resides in Goochland County decision. He’ll also seek input from his longtime and is currently an ESPN college hoops com- adviser and coach, Alexander. mentator.

“We’re close enough that I could call Cory Johnson is the son of Teresa Brown, a special at 3 a.m. if I needed to,” Johnson said.

Louis Cardinals. He led the NL in saves on four occasions.

Smooth with the glove, Smith holds the record for most consecutive errorless games by a pitcher, 546.

Despite his impressive statistics, Smith has failed to gain entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame. This was the 14th straight year he was listed on the ballot without receiving the necessary 75 percent of votes needed for induction.

There is a scarcity of AfricanAmerican pitchers and relief pitchers in the Hall of Fame. The only African-

VIA to discuss creation of Hall of Fame Saturday The Virginia Interscholastic Association Heritage Committee will meet at noon, Saturday, Jan. 16, at Vincenzo’s Restaurant, 609 Boulevard, in Colonial Heights.

The VIA was formed to preserve the history of the umbrella organization that governed sports and extracurricular activities at Virginia’s AfricanAmerican public schools from 1954 to 1970.

The committee will discuss creation of a VIA Hall of Fame.

American Hall of Fame pitchers, aside from Negro Leaguers, are Bob Gibson, Ferguson Jenkins, Juan Marichal, Pedro Martinez and Satchel Paige.

The Hall of Fame’s only primarily relief pitchers are Hoyt Wilhelm, Dennis Eckersley, Goose Gossage, Bruce Sutter and Rollie Fingers. Trevor Hoffman appeared on the ballot for first time this year.

Smith, 58, currently works with the Squirrels’ big league affiliate San Francisco Giants as a roving pitching coach.

Former area football standout signs with Hampton University

Former L.C. Bird High School sensation Yahkee Johnson has signed a full National Letter of Intent to continue football next season at Hampton University.

The official signing was conducted Jan. 3 at New Life Deliverance Tabernacle, where Johnson’s grandfather, the Rev. Robert Winfree, serves as pastor.

The ultraquick 5-foot-8, 175-pound Johnson rushed for more than 4,000 yards and 50 touchdowns as a junior and senior at Bird in Yahkee Johnson 2011 and 2012.

In 2014, Johnson carried for 945 yards and 10 touchdowns in helping Nassau Community College of Garden City, N.Y., win the National Junior College title. Johnson did not play football this past season.

He hails from an athletic family.

His brother, Robert Johnson Jr., is a starting basketball guard at Indiana University.

Another brother, Malik Johnson, is a student at Blue Ridge School and recently signed a scholarship offer with Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y. Their father, Robert Johnson Sr., is a former basketball standout at George Wythe High School and Virginia Union University and currently is an assistant coach at VUU.

Shaka Smart loses match to Tubby Smith Two of NCAA basketball’s more prominent African-American coaches, both with ties to Virginia Commonwealth University, went head-to-head Saturday, Jan. 2, in Lubbock, Texas.

Tubby Smith’s Texas Tech University Red Raiders defeated Shaka Smart’s University of Texas Longhorns 82-74 as both schools opened Big 12 Conference play.

Coach Smart’s first season in Austin was highlighted by a nationally televised 84-82 win over the University of North Carolina on Dec. 12.

Coach Smart’s squad started this week 8-5 overall.

Before going to Texas, Coach Smart was 165-56 at VCU from 2009 to 2015, including a trip

to the 2011 Final Four.

Coach Smith was an assistant coach at VCU under Coach J.D. Barnett from 1979 to 1986 and helped the Rams to their first five NCAA appearances.

In 1998, Coach Smith guided the University of Kentucky to the NCAA title.

Counting stops at Tulsa, Georgia, Kentucky, Minnesota and now Texas Tech, Coach Smith began this week with a 549-264 record, including 11-1 this season.

Among active AfricanAmerican coaches, Coach Smith has the most wins. The all-time most winning AfricanAmerican coach is Clarence “Big House” Gaines with 828 victories at Winston-Salem

State University from 1946 to 1993.

John Chaney amassed 741 victories from 1972 to 2006 at Cheyney State and Temple universities in Pennsylvania.

Just counting Division I games, John Thompson is the African-American leader with 596 wins at Georgetown University from 1972 to 1999.

Dating to 1939, only four black coaches have won NCAA titles — Thompson in 1984, Nolan Richardson at Arkansas in 1994, Smith in 1998 and Connecticut’s Kevin Ollie in 2014.

The hot new face, Coach Smart, and the wily veteran, Coach Smith, will have a coaching rematch Feb. 6 in Austin.

Makeinclusivereal.

Richmond Free Press

January 14-16, 2016

If we’re going to solve the problems of the 21st century, then it will take all of us.

That means supporting diversity and inclusion for the purposes of transforming lives, communities and societies. I started iCubed, the Institute for Inclusion, Inquiry and Innovation to make that happen, to put VCU on the leading edge of transformation.

What will you make real? makeitreal.vcu.edu

Aashir Nasim, director Institute for Inclusion, Inquiry and Innovation

B1

an equal opportunity/affirmative action university

Richmond Free Press

B2 January 14-16, 2016

Happenings Area events to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Several community celebrations will be held to honor the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Richmond area commemorations will kick off with the 38th Annual Community Leaders Breakfast 7:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 15, at the Claude G. Perkins Living and Learning Center at Virginia Union University, 1500 N. Lombardy St. Dr. Robert M. Franklin Jr., president emeritus of Morehouse College in Atlanta, will serve as keynote speaker at the event.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Mayor Dwight C. Jones also are scheduled to bring Dr. King greetings.

Dr. Franklin currently serves as the James T. and Berta R. Laney Professor of Moral Leadership at Emory University in Atlanta. In 2013, he was a visiting scholar in residence at Stanford University’s Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute.

Richmond resident and VUU alumnus Florence Neal Cooper Smith will receive the MLK Lifetime of Service Award at the event for her work as a pioneer in sickle cell anemia awareness.

For those interested in purchasing tickets to the event: (804) 342-3938.

Other area events celebrating Dr. King’s life and legacy include:

Living the Dream Inc. Citywide Mass Meeting: 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 18, at Cedar Street Memorial Baptist Church, 2301 Cedar St., in Church Hill. Dr. Alvin Edwards, pastor of Mount Zion First African Baptist Church in Charlottesville and that city’s former mayor, is the scheduled guest speaker. Free and open to the public. Information: Rev. Ricardo L. Brown, (804) 355-1044 or (804) 355-1166.

Worship Celebration: 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20, at Sharon Baptist Church, 22 E. Leigh St., in Downtown. The Rev. Paul A. Coles, the church’s pastor, is the scheduled speaker.

Youth Educoncerts: A concert presented by the Richmond Peace Education Center featuring young musicians, dancers and spoken-word artists.

There are two scheduled performances: 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5, at the Richmond Public Library’s Main Branch, 101 E. Franklin St., in Downtown, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21, at Huguenot High School, 7945 Forest Hill Ave., on South Side. Both performances are free and open to the public. Information: (804) 232-1002 or email rypp@rpec.org.

The Henrico County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Association will host Youth Summit 2016 from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 16, at Henrico High School, 302 Azalea Ave. The theme: “Breaking the Cycle: Your Past Does Not Determine Your Future.”

The event is free, but pre-register via email to crystalrho1922@yahoo.com.

More information: Teresa Brown, (804) 2180868 or email crystalrho1922@yahoo.com.

The 30th Annual Henrico County Commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: 11:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 18, in the Henrico High School auditorium, 302 Azalea Ave. Speaker: Linda Thomas, president of the Caroline County Branch NAACP. Mount Olive Baptist Church’s Face II Face Mime Ministry also will perform and community service awards will be presented.

A church service will precede the event at 9:30 a.m. at St. Peter Baptist Church, 2040 Mountain Road, in Glen Allen.

Information: Beverly Sims, (804) 381-8691 or (804) 328-4334.

HandsOn Greater Richmond is hosting a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Service Day and enlisting volunteers to perform community service projects Monday, Jan. 18. Information (804) 330-7027 or sign up at www.handsonrva. org/mlkday.

A special free screening of the movie “Selma” will take place 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17, at the Byrd Theatre, 2908 W. Cary St., in the West End. A discussion will follow about the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement in Richmond today. HandsOn Greater Richmond, the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities and the University of Richmond Bonner Center for Civic Engagement are hosting the event.

A 2016 Dr. King Day of Action at the State Capitol is planned by a coalition of organizations for 8 a.m. Monday, Jan. 18. Several speakers will present, including Gov. Terry McAuliffe and several of his cabinet members. Attendees also will meet with state lawmakers about various

issues. U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine will speak at lunch.

Sponsors include the Virginia State Conference NAACP, Brown Virginia, Virginia Leadership Institute, United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400, Baptist General Convention of Virginia, Social Action Linking Together, NOVA Coalition and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. Information and registration: (804) 3215678 or (703) 957-0613 or go to www.brownva. org or www.vscnaacp.org.

MLK Community Day: Noon to 2 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 18, at the Southside Community Services Center in Southside Plaza, 4100 Hull St. A community discussion will focus on what to do about poverty and a lack of resources and jobs. The free event is sponsored by Rolling for Freedom, the Upsilon Nu Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and Radio One Richmond.

The 4th Annual State of Black America Address: 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, at Thirty-first Street Baptist Church, 823 N. 31st St., in the East End. The theme: “Closer Family Unity In Our Community.” Journalist and author A. Peter Bailey is the keynote speaker at the event sponsored by the African-American Lecture Series Committee. Information: (888) 440-5397 or email AALSCommittee@gmail.com.

The MLK Gospel Evensong Service will feature the concert choir of Norfolk State University, led by Dr. Carl W. Haywood, and the joint choirs of St. James’ Episcopal Church.

The free concert will be 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17, at St. James’s Episcopal Church, 1205 W. Franklin St., in the Fan. More information: (804) 355-1779.

Denzel receives top Golden Globe award Reuters

REUTERS

Denzel Washington is the third African-American actor to receive the coveted Cecil B. DeMille Award recognizing lifetime achievement from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

Beverly Hills, Calif.

Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington joined the ranks of Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro when he was awarded the Golden Globe for lifetime achievement Sunday.

The 61-year-old actor is only the third AfricanAmerican to be recognized in the more than 60-year history of the award.

Mr. Washington was presented with the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globes ceremony in recognition of his work in front of and behind the camera. He accepted the award flanked by his wife, Pauletta, and three of his children, but said he couldn’t read his prepared speech because he had forgotten his glasses.

“Yeah, I did need my glasses,” he said, chuckling as he fumbled with his speech in his hands.

In his short speech, Mr. Washington thanked the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the organization that awards the Golden Globes, “for supporting me over the years. They always made me feel like a friend or part of the party.”

Mr. Washington’s movie roles have ranged from activist Malcolm X, to a drunk but heroic pilot in “Flight” and a rogue detective in “Training Day,” for which he won his second Oscar in 2002.

He also directed and starred in the 2007 film “The Great Debaters” about a professor who coached a debate team from a black U.S. college to national glory, and produced and starred in the drama “Antwone Fisher.”

Previous African-American winners of the Cecil B. DeMille Award are Sidney Poitier and Morgan Freeman. Last year’s recipient was George Clooney.

Another big winner Sunday was Taraji P. Henson, who plays family matriarch Cookie Lyon on Fox television’s popular hip-hop industry saga “Empire.”

Ms. Henson won a Golden Globe Award for best actress in a TV series or drama.

She beat out several other actresses, including Viola Davis, who was nominated for “How to Get Away With Murder” on ABC television.

“Who knew that playing an ex-convict would take me all around the globe?” Ms. Henson said of her character, who spent 17 years in jail for drug dealing.

Revenge drama “The Revenant” and space adventure “The Martian” took the top film awards. “The Revenant,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio, won best drama film, while Mr. DiCaprio won best drama actor and its director, Alejandro Inarritu, was named best director.

Mr. DiCaprio beat Will Smith, who was nominated for best actor for his role in “Concussion.”

Matt Damon, star of “The Martian,” won best comedy actor for the film about an astronaut stranded on Mars, and the film won the best comedy/musical movie category.

Idris Elba was nominated for best supporting actor in a film for “Beasts of No Nation,” and best actor in a TV movie or mini-series for his role in “Luther.” Uzo Aduba was nominated for best supporting actress in a series or TV motion picture for her role in “Orange Is the New Black” on Netflix.

“Empire” star Taraji P. Henson takes a moment to thank the people who helped her career in winning the Golden Globe Award for best actress in a TV series or drama.

Photos by James Haskins/Richmond Free Press

Va. Legislative Black Caucus reception at VMFA

Clinton A. Strane/Richmond Free Press

Delightful debutantes Thirteen young women were presented by the Upsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority at its 2015 Debutante Ball. The formal evening of recognition was held Saturday, Dec. 19, at the Greater Richmond Convention Center in Downtown. The theme of the elegant affair was “A Holiday Wrapped in Magic.”

The ball was the culmination of months of activities the high school students participated in hosted by the AKAs, a service organization composed of collegeeducated women.

Members of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus gathered Monday for their annual reception before the start of the 2016 General Assembly session. Other elected officials, corporate and educational leaders attended the event at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. The 18-member caucus formally announced its legislative agenda Wednesday at a news conference.

Above, Caucus members joined Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Virginia’s top elected officials for a photograph. From left, they are Delegate Jeion Ward of Hampton, Sen. Kenneth Alexander of Norfolk, Delegate Jennifer L. McClellan of Richmond, Sen. A. Donald McEachin of Henrico County, Delegate Charniele Herring of Alexandria, Delegate Lionel Spruill Sr. of Chesapeake, Gov. McAuliffe, Sen. Mamie Locke of Hampton, Sen. Dance of Petersburg, Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, Delegate Daun Hester of Norfolk, Delegate Lamont Bagby of Henrico, Sen. Louise Lucas of Portsmouth, Attorney General Mark R. Herring, Delegate Marcia Price

of Newport News, Delegate Lashrecse Aird of Petersburg, Delegate Sam Rasoul of Roanoke and Delegate Joseph Lindsey of Norfolk. Caucus members not pictured are Delegate Luke Torian of Prince William County, Delegate Matthew James of Portsmouth and Delegate Delores McQuinn of Richmond.

Below, Sen. Locke, left, chair of the Caucus, with incoming Virginia State University President Makola M. Abdullah and Sen. Rosalyn Dance.

Richmond Free Press

January 14-16, 2016

B3

Happenings DiamonDs • Watches JeWelry • repairs 19 East Broad strEEt richmond, Va 23219 (804) 648-1044

Personality: Brandi M. Daniels

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Spotlight on Health Equity Hero Award winner Brandi M. Daniels serves on the front lines for the most vulnerable in the East End as the executive director of the East District Family Resource Center.

She leads efforts to provide “access and services” in order for “East End residents to thrive, be healthy and engaged.”

The Richmond native says the resource center is a “hub which cultivates engaged leaders, partners and citizens to uplift Richmond’s treasured communities.”

Mrs. Daniels was recognized for efforts to aid those in need by being selected as the 2015-2016 Health Equity Hero Award recipient by the Mid-Atlantic Health Equity Council.

The award “recognizes outstanding professionals dedicated to ending disparities in health care,” according to the group.

She was presented the award last month at the resource center at 2405 Jefferson Ave. “Her commitment to improving the quality of life for all youths and young adults served by the East District Family Resource Center epitomizes what the Health Equity Hero Award represents,” according to the council.

Mrs. Daniels says she was “shocked, honored and surprised” to learn she had won the award.

“It’s such an immeasurable experience to inspire others to not only go after, but also surpass achieving your goals,” she adds.

This week’s Personality is a real hero – Brandi M. Daniels: Date of birth: Feb. 23.

Current place of residence: Chesterfield County.

Education: Bachelor’s degree, University of Virginia; master’s of education in educational management, Strayer University; Emerg-

ing Nonprofit Leaders Program Class 7 (2014) and Professional Certificate in Nonprofit Management via the Partnership for Nonprofit Excellence.

Family: Husband, Frank; three children, Asean, Daevon and Zoe. Other honors: StyleWeekly’s Top 40 Under 40 Class of 2014.

How I got news that I was award winner: Via email.

Top issues facing the East District community: High unemployment, school dropouts, homelessness and crime/violence rates.

Some health disparities are: Chronic health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiac disease.

What is needed to obtain health equity in some communities: Access to healthy lifestyle education and resources such as fresh food markets.

Our services are needed: To raise community awareness of resources that people need in order to sustain independence and quality of life in their household.

Services we provide include: Emergency assis-

tance programs, career and workforce development, as well as education and outreach initiatives.

Number of partners center works with: Hundreds, including the City of Richmond, Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Richmond Memorial Health Foundation, Richmond City Health District, Virginia Department of Health Office of Minority Health and Health Equity, Virginia Commonwealth University and the Community Foundation.

Number of staff: Four, along with a host of consultants.

Number of people served: 500 to 700 individuals per fiscal year.

We can do more if: We increase donors, staffing and organization/programs capacity.

I’m driven by: Community collaborative partnerships and leadership opportunities.

How I start my day: Think and/or say my own mantra, “Today is a new day that I can help reach and change someone’s perspective of themselves and their community.” As a product of the East End community, I am a walking testament that positive outcomes of one of Richmond’s most challenging communities do exist and that our experiences make us stronger to advocate for our own futures.

Best late-night snack: Popcorn and chips.

Not many people know that I: Sing.

The one thing I can’t stand: For someone to say “No, that can’t be done. The goal you’ve set is too high.”

Person who influenced me the most: Grandparents, parents and a host of community

mentors all emphasized the importance of an education and service for those that could use the infinite spirit/power to change their perspective and outlook for the future.

Poem that influences me the most: “Our Deepest Fear”

by Marianne Williamson.

Next goal: Keep striving and possibly pursue a doctorate in leadership.

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4th Annual State of Black America Address On Saturday, January 23, 2016 31st Street Baptist Church - 823 N. 31st St. 9:30AM - 3:00PM

Keynote Address by noted author, journalist and former Richmond Free Press columnist Peter Bailey who was also a close personal friend of Malcolm X. To register your family, church group & for more info email AALSCommittee@gmail.com or call 1-888-440-5397

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Living The Dream, Inc. 2016 Events (formerly Community Learning Week)

38th Annual Community Leaders Breakfast Friday, January 15, 2016 – 7:30 a.m.

Virginia Union University Speaker: Dr. Robert M. Franklin Former President Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA

Mass Meeting Monday, January 18, 2016 – 10:00 a.m.

Cedar Street Memorial Baptist Church 2301 Cedar Street, Richmond, VA Speaker: Dr. Alvin Edwards, Pastor Mt. Zion First African Baptist Church Charlottesville, VA Former Mayor of Charlottesville

Martin Luther King, Jr. Worship Celebration Wednesday, January 20, 2016 – 1:00 p.m.

Sharon Baptist Church 22 East Leigh Street, Richmond, VA Speaker: Pastor Paul A. Coles

Youth Educoncerts

(Sponsored by Richmond Peace Education Center)

Friday, February 5, 2016 – 7:00 p.m.

Richmond Public Library 101 E. Franklin Street

Sunday, February 21, 2016 – 3:00 p.m.

Huguenot High School 7945 Forest Hill Avenue Richmond, VA 23225

For further information, please contact: Rev. Ricardo L. Brown, Executive Director, Living the Dream, Inc. (804) 355-1044 or (804) 355-1166

Richmond Free Press

B4 January 14-16, 2016

Faith News/Directory Spencers to be honored with lifetime achievement awards Two veteran Richmond judges will be among the honorees at the 14th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major Awards Program and Reception that Fifth Street Baptist Church will host during the holiday honoring Dr. King.

Senior U.S. District Court Judge James R. Spencer and his wife, retired Richmond Circuit Court Judge Margaret P. Spencer, each will be presented Lifetime Achievement awards during the program set for 6 p.m., Monday, Jan. 18, at the church, 2800 3rd Ave. in Highland Park.

The Spencers are among nine individuals and organizations that James Spencer Margaret Spencer will be honored during the event the church is staging in partnership with the nonprofit Boaz & Ruth, which serves people returning to the community from jails and prisons, and the Richmond Chapter of the Urban Financial Services Coalition, an organization for financial services professionals.

Christy Coleman, co-chief executive officer of the American Civil War Museum, is to deliver the keynote address at the program, which is to be capped off by a one-block candlelight walk in honor of Dr. King.

The honorees: Drum Major Award winners — David Hudson, principal of Linwood Holton Elementary School; Johnathan Mayo, president of Avail Marketing; Daphne Swanson, president of Junior Achievement of Central Virginia; and Jonathan Zur, executive director of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities.

Lifetime Achievement Award winners: Claire Guthrie Gastañaga, executive director of the ACLU of Virginia, and the Spencers.

Drum Major Award organizations: Boy Scout and Girl Scout programs at Fifth Street Baptist Church and Virginia Home for Boys and Girls.

Members of the James River Valley Chapter of The Links will serve as hostesses during the program.

More information: (804) 321-5115.

Praying to put an end to ‘senseless acts of violence’

By Joey Matthews

Kenneth Williams said he was compelled to take a leap of faith to stem the city’s homicides after he attended the funeral last month of 12-year-old shooting victim Amiya Moses.

“It was the saddest thing I witnessed in my life,” said Mr. Williams, a trustee at First Baptist Church Centralia in Chesterfield County and CEO and director of the Richmond-based Adult Alternative Program to help ex-offenders re-integrate into society. “I was so angry about her senseless death.”

Amiya was killed during a gun battle Dec. 19 between two 20-year-old men on North Side.

She was fatally shot as she and her friends played nearby.

Responding to her death and other homicides in the city, Mr. Williams organized a meeting Jan. 7 at the Richmond Police Department’s Fourth Precinct on North Side.

There, he urged other Christians to pray for 5 minutes each day at 7 a.m. that no homicides would be committed that day.

He told audience members to enlist their family and friends and others to continue that prayer commitment each day through the remainder of the year.

“We have to come together as people of God and pray that we’re not going to have any

Richmond Police Training Academy. Among other things, they are expected to cite that the city had 39 homicides in 2015, compared to 42 the previous year. There were four homicides in the first week of 2016.

In a spiritual response to the homicides, Mr. Williams cited the biblical advice in Chronicles 7:14 that reads, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Amiya’s mother, Kele Wright, attended Mr. Photos by Joey Matthews/Richmond Free Press Williams’ event and said Kenneth Williams, a trustee at she supports the call to First Baptist Church Centralia prayer. in Chesterfield County, wants “I’m a strong believer people to ask their family and in prayer,” she told the friends to pray each day for an Free Press. “Prayer works. end to killings in the city.

Every day, I pray to God more homicides in 2016,” Mr. to give me the strength to get Williams told the gathering of out of bed and function to go about 20 people. “If you don’t to work and not have a nervous believe that, then step aside. breakdown because I lost my The devil is busy.” child.

His call to prayer came on “I believe if enough people the eve of the city’s presenta- pray long enough and hard tion this Friday of the annual enough and everybody in the crime report by Mayor Dwight community believes this, we C. Jones and Richmond Police can get it done,” she added.

Chief Alfred Durham at the “Everybody has to stand up and

Wilson & Associates’ Funeral Service, Inc.

Monthly Obituary Column • December 2015

Brian V. Wilson Owner

Thank you to the following bereaved families for allowing us to serve you during the month of December 2015. You are still in our prayers and thoughts.

View full obituaries online at www.wilsonafs.com Gwendolyn B. Ellerbe Diana D. Jackson Aldor C. Boyd, Sr. Anthea R. Spain Princess Culpepper Frances Y. Wake Willie Dupont

Willie Holmes, Jr. Ruth E. Haskins Kendell A. Green Henry E. “Rocky Squirrel” McCutchen Fred J. Stevens, Sr. Thomas Lee Banks, Jr.

Linda D. Twyman Deborah S. Baughan James A. Muse Urica J. Felix Ernest B. Robinson Terrell A. Flowers-Jones Dianne R. Dobson

5008 Nine Mile Road, Richmond, VA 23223 • 804-222-1720, Fax 804-222-1745 Remembering those we love ... Remembering those we serve.

Sharon Baptist Church 2300 Cool Lane, Richmond, Virginia 23223 804-795-5784 (Armstrong High School Auditorium)

Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 a.m.

22 E. Leigh Street, Richmond, VA 23219 • 643-3825 thesharonbaptistchurch.com Rev. Dr. Paul A. Coles, Pastor

SUNDAY, JANUARY 17TH, 2016 8:00 a.m. Morning Worship 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Morning Worship

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MONDAY, JANUARY 18TH, 2016 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration 1:00PM - Rev. Dr. Paul A. Coles, Pastor, Speaker

Ebenezer Baptist Church 1858

“The People’s Church”

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

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

Joseph Jenkins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. 2011-2049 Grayland Avenue Richmond, Virginia 23220 (804) 358-9177

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Joseph Jenkins, Jr., Founder (Dec. 19, 1938 - Dec. 9, 2006) Joseph Jenkins, III. • Jason K. Jenkins • Maxine T. Jenkins

2016 Theme: The Year of Restoration

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

Sundays

8:00 a.m.

Early Morning Worship 9:30 a.m.

Sunday School 11:00 a.m.

Morning Worship

Tuesdays

Noon Day Bible Study

Wednesdays

6:30 p.m.

Prayer and Praise 7:00 p.m.

Adult Bible Study

Kele Wright, mother of 12-year-old Amiya Moses who was shot and killed last month as she played with friends in North Richmond, believes prayer will have an impact on the violence.

He said most of those who commit homicides come from impoverished backgrounds and lack a strong educational foundation.

Pastor Winfree said many offenders are traumatized by the conditions they experience growing up in their communities, where a lack of jobs and resources are prevalent.

“Trauma unaddressed will cause you to shoot people,” he said. “If it is addressed, some of these people won’t act out and can go on to lead a productive life.”

Lynetta Thompson, president of the Richmond Branch NAACP, was among those in attendance. Others included Mr. Williams’ wife, Alfreda Williams, director of the Woman 2 Woman program; the Rev. Marcus Martin of New Bridge Baptist Church in Henrico County; and Marcy Williams, center manager for the Resource Workforce Center.

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

11:00 AM Mid-day Meditation

Sixth Baptist Church Theme for 2016: Becoming a Five-Star Church of Excellence With Mission, Growth, Prayer, Purpose, Vision We Are Growing In The Kingdom As We Grow The Kingdom with Word, Worship and Witness 10:40 AM Worship and Praise

Sunday, January 17, 2016 11:00 AM Divine Worship

11:00 a.m.

9:30 a.m.

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

Mon. 6:30 p.m.

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

Wed. 7:45 p.m.

Wed. 4:30 p.m.

Wed. 6:00 p.m.

Thurs., 11:45 a.m.

Dr. Levy M. Armwood, Pastor  Dr. Wallace J. Cook, Pastor Emeritus

not just say, ‘Oh, it’s just another kid.’No, these are human beings.

These are people’s loved ones that are being killed by senseless acts of violence.”

Pastor Robert Winfree of New Life Deliverance Tabernacle also spoke at the gathering, asking the audience, “Are we really dealing with the symptoms” that trigger people to commit homicides?

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Message by: Rev. Jerry Holmes Youth and Young Adult Minister For Development First Baptist Church, Norfolk, Virginia

Installation of Officers for 2016 Starting Soon “Refueled: Each Week Stay Tuned”

Rev. Dr. Yvonne Jones Bibbs, Pastor

Twitter sixthbaptistrva

400 South Addison Street Richmond, Va. 23220

Facebook sixthbaptistrva

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

(near Byrd Park)

St. Peter Baptist Church

Dr. Kirkland R. Walton, Pastor

Worship Opportunities Sundays: Morning Worship Church School Morning Worship

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

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

Richmond Free Press

January 14-16, 2016

B5

Faith News/Directory In wake of terror attacks

Kaine: Will you hold on to your principles, faithfulness?

By Joey Matthews

Religious leaders and community members of various faiths exchanged smiles, hugs and well wishes as they made new acquaintances Sunday at Congregation Beth Ahabah near Virginia Commonwealth University.

Several hundred people gathered at an event designed to promote religious tolerance and nonviolence. Many wore the head coverings of their religions — Muslim women wearing hijabs, Sikh men in turbans and some Jewish men wearing kippahs.

The occasion was the first “Standing Together” faith unity gathering organized by the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities.

“Our board and partners felt strongly that the community must stand together at this time in response to increasing Islamophobia, xenophobia and divisive rhetoric,” Jonathan U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine stands with Zur, the center’s Jonathan Zur, CEO and president CEO and presiof the Virginia Center for Inclusive dent, told the Free Communities, following the community Press. dialogue at Congregation Beth Ahabah.

D r. I m a d Damaj of the Virginia Muslim Coalition for Public Affairs sounded a hopeful note prior to the event that featured an address by U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, a panel discussion and small group dialogues.

“If we can gradually get this into the DNA of our communities, to get together to know each other, to build bridges, I think it will be the greatest thing to happen to Richmond,” Dr. Damaj said.

The public display of support was designed to counter a wave of anti-Islamic rhetoric and hate incidents spreading across the nation in the wake of recent terrorist attacks in Paris and California.

“This is part of our effort to strengthen our community with bonds of friendship and respect,” said Rabbi Martin Beifield of Beth Ahabah in opening remarks.

“Meetings such as this represent the real spirit of our community,” added Imam Ammar Amonette of the Islamic Center

of Virginia.

In his 10-minute address, Sen. Kaine told the audience he had returned Saturday from a trip overseas with a congressional delegation that included foreign leaders. Turkey President Abdullah Gul, he said, asked him, “ ‘Why is there so much hostility against Muslim-Americans and against Islam?’

“I told him, ‘Just because presidential candidates are saying some things, let me tell you about the event that I’m going to Sunday,’ ” he said, as the audience applauded.

“There are people of goodwill who are standing together and it’s not just in Richmond, but it’s all over the United States,” Sen. Kaine said he told the Turkish president.

He noted the terrorist attacks on 9/11 and in Paris, saying, “So much of this is about Photos courtesy of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities suffering, and when there’s suffering, people look for an Several hundred people of different faiths attended Sunday’s community meeting at explanation, and then they want Congregation Beth Ahabah to promote religious tolerance and nonviolence.

Dr. John W. Kinney, dean of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School to blame someone.”

Sen. Kaine urged people of all faiths to unite and take a stand of Theology at Virginia Union University, told the audience, “It is tragic that the greatest sanctioners of cruelty in the world against bigotry and religious intolerance.

In doing so, he recalled the “radical” biblical story of Job, in today are religious people, and that the fundamental injustices which God allows Satan to take away Job’s wealth, his family that have broken the fabric of the human community have so often been supported or generated by those who profess faith and his health.

“He argues with God, but he doesn’t give up his faith,” Sen. in God,” he said.

He said people of faith should respect one another’s religious Kaine said. “It was a test to see whether he would be true to beliefs and work together for a better society. his principles.

Imam Amonette agreed. “The best way to honor one another’s “So, we suffer 9/11 and terrorist attacks in Paris,” the senator added. “Are we going to stay true to our principles? We have religions is to find avenues of justice, equality and human rights this nation that is built on notions of equality for all, notions of and work together for a world of peace and prosperity for all,” he said. the beauty of all religions and religious tolerance.

“Under stress, will you still hold on to your faithfulness? Will you still hold onto your principles?” he asked.

New Deliverance Evangelistic Church

Riverview

1701 Turner Rd. North Chesterfield, Virginia 23225

Celebrate 20Years

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

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

Moore Street Missionary

Baptist Church

1408 W. Leigh Street • 358-6403

Dr. Alonza Lawrence Pastor

Sundays

Church School 8:30 A.M. Morning Worship 10:00 A.M.

Tuesdays

Bible Study 12 noon

Wednesdays

25/8818-01

New Mercies Ministry 6:00 A.M. Youth Bible Study 6:00 P.M. Adult Bible Study 6:30 P.M.

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

20th Founders & ChurCh AnniversAry “Building Monuments For Present And Future Generations” “What Mean these stones” Scripture: Joshua 4: 21-24

sunday, January 17 & 24 9:00 AM - ndeC AnniversAry BAnquet the omni richmond hotel 100 s. 12th st., richmond, vA 23219

saturday, January 23, 5:00 PM

For more information and to purchase your banquet tickets go to www.ndec.net

(804) 276-0791 office | (804) 276-5272 fax | www.ndec.net

ST. JAMES’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH Wednesday, January 20 —Friday, January 22, 2016 7:00pm Nightly

INVITES YOU TO A SERVICE IN CELEBRATION OF

THE LIFE AND WORK OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. INCLUDING

ST. JAMES’S CHOIRS AND THE CONCERT CHOIR OF NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY

Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. Pastor Emeritus, Trinity United Church of Christ

DIRECTED BY

DR. CARL W. HAYWOOD

Wednesday January 0,, 0,6 Thursday January 06, 0,6

Rev. Cora Armstrong & The Harvey Family

Virginian Union University Concert Choir

PRE-EMINENT ORGANIST, CONDUCTOR, Friday January

00, 0,6

Seventh Street Memorial Baptist Church Choir

Sunday, January 17, 2016 ~ 9:55am Dr. MarQuita Carmichael Burton, Pastor, Antioch Baptist Church

Faith Community Baptist Church

1903 Cool Lane Richmond, VA 23223 ~ (804) 649-7225 (Phone) ~ (804) 649-0935 (Fax) Email: office@fcbcrichmond.org

Rev. Dr. Patricia Gould-Champ, Senior Pastor and Founding Visionary

COMPOSER AND SERVICE MUSIC EDITOR OF

“LIFT EVERY VOICE II” SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 5:00 P.M. 1205 W. FRANKLIN ST. FOR INFORMATION PHONE 355-1779, EXT 323

UPCOMING EVENTS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 5:00 P.M.

EVENSONG

THE CHOIRS OF ST. CATHERINE’S AND ST. CHRISTOPHER’S SCHOOLS FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 7:00 P.M.

ORGAN RECITAL:

THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS BY MARCEL DUPRÉS STEPHEN HAMILTON

Richmond Free Press

B6 January 14-16, 2016

Obituaries/Faith News/Directory

Julia Melton Thornton, 91, longtime educator

By Joey Matthews

schools for more than 20 years and later taught future teachers at VUU before she Before she began teaching class each day at retired in 1989.

Virginia Union University in the Department of Mrs. Thornton is being remembered folEducation, Julia M. Thornton recited a saying lowing her death Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016, in to her students from Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, the Ashland. She was 91. late educator-philospher and former Morehouse Funeral arrangements were incomplete on College president.

Wednesday before the Free Press deadline.

“Whatever you do, strive to do it so well Mrs. Thornton was born in Ashland on that no man living and no man dead and no Jan. 16, 1924, then moved to Richmond. She man yet born could do it any better,” she would attended Richmond Public Schools and gradutell her students. ated from Armstrong High School, where she Mrs. Thornton took those words to heart as a met her future husband. longtime educator, community activist, mother She graduated from VUU in 1945 with a and wife of the late Dr. William S. Thornton, bachelor’s degree in history and later earned a Richmond podiatrist and co-founder of the a master’s degree from Case Western Reserve Richmond Crusade for Voters. He was among the University in Cleveland and taught in public original investors in Paradigm Communications schools there.

Inc. and a board member of Paradigm, the parent She moved back to Richmond and taught company of the Richmond Free Press. at John M. Gandy Elementary School in “She had a lot of spunk, fire and determinaAshland. She then taught in Richmond at Mrs. Thornton tion and knew how to get things done,” said the now closed Webster Davis and Baker her daughter, Laura Thornton Wesley, a recently retired librarian elementary schools. from Richmond Public Schools.

She then worked for more than a decade in VUU’s DepartMrs. Thornton strongly backed the efforts of her husband, ment of Education, where she was head of the department from who co-founded the Crusade in 1956 along with Dr. William 1982 through 1989.

Ferguson Reid and John M. Brooks to educate and register Mrs. Thornton also was active with the Richmond Chapter African-American voters. of The Links Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Pi Lambda “I remember them having smoke-filled meetings in the Theta international honor society and professional association kitchen of our home on Brook Road, where they would for educators, the Virginia Union University Alumni Association discuss different ideas,” Ms. Wesley said. “My mother was and the Armstrong High School Class Reunion Committee. passionate about what my father did in trying to help the Her hobbies included spending time with family, gardening, community with voter education and being involved in the community service, collecting historical items and reading. political process.”

In addition to her daughter, Mrs. Thornton is survived by two Mrs. Thornton also taught reading in Richmond elementary grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Monte Irvin, who helped integrate major league baseball, dies at 96

By Fred Jeter

Monte Irvin, a trailblazing baseball star and the oldest surviving Negro Leagues player, died Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016, of natural causes at a retirement community in Houston. He was 96.

Had it not been for a contractual issue with the Negro Leagues’ Newark Eagles in New Jersey, Mr. Irvin — and not Jackie Robinson — might have been the first African-American to play in the modern big leagues.

Eagles owner Effa Manley would not allow Brooklyn Dodgers owner Branch Rickey to acquire Mr. Irvin without financial compensation.

Instead, Mr. Rickey signed Mr. Robinson in 1945 without having to compensate his Negro Leagues squad, the Kansas City Monarchs.

Mr. Irvin, who grew up in Orange, N.J., had been the choice of the Negro Leagues executives to be the first AfricanAmerican to play Major League Baseball.

He had played with the Eagles from 1938 to 1948, with several seasons interrupted by his service in World War II. According to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Mr. Irvin’s Army unit was deployed to the secondary line during the Battle of the Bulge.

Mr. Irvin

He eventually was signed by the New York Giants at age 30 on July 8, 1949.

He and Hank Thompson became the Giants’ first African-American players on the same day.

While he played some initially with the Giants’ minor league team, Mr. Irvin played his first full season with the major league team in 1951. That season, Mr. Irvin, Mr. Thompson and a young Willie Mays formed the first all-black outfield in modern major leagues. He helped the Giants win the 1951 National League pennant that year in beating the Brooklyn Dodgers.

In eight seasons with the Giants and later his final season in 1956 with the Chicago Cubs, Mr. Irvin hit .293 with 99 homers and 443 runs batted in, including a National League leading 121 runs batted in 1951.

His No. 20 jersey has been retired by the Giants.

Mr. Irvin played for two World Series champions — the Negro Leagues Eagles in 1946 and the New York Giants in 1954.

He is a member of the Major League and Negro Leagues Halls of Fame, as well as halls of fame in Mexico, Puerto Rico and Cuba. Before baseball’s color line was broken, African-American players often competed in Mexico and the Caribbean to supplement their incomes during winter.

In 1968, Mr. Irvin became the first African-American executive in major league baseball when he was named assistant commissioner under Bowie Kuhn.

He served in that capacity until 1984.

In 2010, Mr. Irvin threw out the first pitch of the San Francisco Giants versus the Texas Rangers World Series game.

The New York Giants relocated in San Francisco in 1958. San Francisco is the big league affiliate of the Richmond Flying Squirrels.

He is survived by two daughters, Pamela Irvin Fields and Patricia Irvin Gordon. His wife, Dorinda Irvin, died in 2008.

Pope Francis’ new book asks church to reach out to marginalized people Reuters

Pope Francis calls in his new book for Roman Catholic leaders to be compassionate shepherds to a “wounded humanity,” not lofty scholars quick to condemn and exclude people who don’t obey church teachings.

The book, “The Name of God Is Mercy,” breaks no new ground but is a compelling restatement of the themes of Pope Francis’ papacy told in simple, breezy language in a freewheeling conversation with veteran Italian journalist Andrea Tornielli.

In the 150-page book, the pope also repeats his oftenquoted “Who am I to judge?” statement about homosexuals, saying that “people should not be defined only by their sexual identities.”

The question-and-answer book, to be released on Tuesday, coincides with the Jubilee Year of Mercy, during which the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics are called on to seek forgiveness and to forgive.

In his first book aimed at a general readership, the pope appears to chastise conservatives in the church, saying they are undermining mercy in the name

of doctrine. of our brothers live. the pope defends his now fa“The church does We need to be able mous “Who am I to judge?” not exist to condemn to make contact with remark, made in 2013, saying people but to bring them and let them he was paraphrasing existing about an encounter feel our closeness, church teaching. with the visceral love without letting our“Before all else comes the of God’s mercy,” he selves be wrapped up individual person, in his wholesaid, adding that “huin that darkness and ness and dignity. And people manity is wounded, be influenced by it,” should not be defined only by deeply wounded.”

Pope Francis said. their sexual tendencies; let us Pope Francis critiHe warns against not forget that God loves all his Pope Francis cizes those in the pride, hypocrisy and creatures and we are destined church “who are only used smugness in the church. “We to receive his infinite love,” to having things fit into their must avoid the attitude of he said. pre-conceived notions and ritual someone who judges and conThe church teaches that purity instead of letting them- demns from the lofty heights homosexual tendencies are selves be surprised by reality, of his own certainty,” he said. not sinful but homosexual by a greater love or a higher Church leaders should beware acts are. standard.” of “caving in to the temptation Rather than making homoThe Argentine pope, who of feeling that we are just or sexuals feel isolated or abanhas called for the church to perfect.” doned, he said he preferred “that reach out more to people on In his answer to the one they stay close to the Lord, and the margins of society, the suf- question about homosexuals, that we pray all together.” fering and victims of injustice, has faced stiff resistance from Broad Rock Baptist Church conservatives in the Vatican 5106 Walmsley Blvd., Richmond, VA 23224 who fear that he is undermin804-276-2740 • 804-276-6535 (fax) ing traditional teachings on www.BRBCONLINE.org moral issues.

Early Morning Worship ~ 8 a.m.

In particular, he wants the Sunday School ~ 9:30 a.m. church to show more compasMorning Worship ~ 11 a.m. sion for homosexuals as well as 4th Sunday Unified Worship Service ~ 9:30 a.m. for Catholics who divorced and Bible Study: Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m. & 7 p.m. remarried outside the church Radio Ministry: Sunday: 9:30 a.m. {1540 AM} and are thus banned from receiving communion.

“MAKE IT HAPPEN” “We need to enter the darkPastor Kevin Cook ness, the night in which so many



General Assembly to present resolution to A.M.E. church Jan. 19 “Virginia A.M.E. Day” will take place Tuesday, Jan. 19, at the Virginia General Assembly.

There, a House and Senate Joint Resolution will be presented to Bishop William P. DeVeaux, presiding prelate of the Second Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church that includes Virginia, North Carolina, Washington and Maryland.

It will recognize the more than 120 A.M.E. churches in the state and their more than 175 years of “ministry and service to the nation and to the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia,” according to a news release.

The resolution is sponsored by Sen. A. Donald McEachin of Henrico County and Delegate Jennifer L. McClellan of Richmond, members of the Virginia Legislative Bishop DeVeaux Black Caucus.

A luncheon will follow the morning recognition at 1 p.m. at Third Street Bethel A.M.E. Church, 614 N. 3rd St., in Jackson Ward.

At the church, Mayor Dwight C. Jones is scheduled to present a proclamation from the city to the Richmond church for its many years of ministry and service to the city.

Afterward, those at the luncheon will be encouraged to visit legislators about current issues impacting the community.

The A.M.E. church grew out of the Free African Society that Richard Allen, Absalom Jones and others established in Philadelphia in 1787.

The A.M.E. church has more than 2.5 million members around the world.

Third Street Bethel A.M.E. Church had its origin in Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, which was founded in 1828.

In 1850, free black people organized themselves into a congregation within Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church led by Thomas Hewett. The church settled at its current location several years later.

Those who would like to attend the luncheon at the church may call the church office at (804) 643-8157.

FirstM iBaptist Church dlothian

13800 Westfield Dr., Midlothian,VA 23113 804-794-5583 • www.fbcm1846.com

Service Times Sunday

Church School 9:45AM Worship 11:00AM

Tuesday

Bible Study 12 Noon

Wednesday Youth & Adult Bible Study 7:00PM Prayer & Praise 8:15PM

Van Transportation Available, Call 804-794-5583

Rev. Pernell J. Johnson, Pastor

New Deliverance Evangelistic Church

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

20 th NDEC Founders’

& Church Anniversary! . Theme: ,

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

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

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

Attendance - 60 Sanctuary - All Are Welcome!

Wednesday Evening Bible Study 7 p.m.

Attendance - 114

Saturday 8:30 a.m. Intercessory Prayer

“Building Monuments for Present and Future Generations” “What Mean These Stones” Scripture: Joshua 4:21 - 24

Sunday, January 24, 2016 9:00 AM - NDEC Saturday, January 23, 2016

Banquet

You can now view Sunday Morning Service The Omni Richmond Hotel “AS IT HAPPENS” online! 100 S. 12th St., Richmond, VA 23219 Also, for your convenience, For more information we now offer and to purchase your banquet “full online giving.” tickets go to: www.ndec.net Visit www.ndec.net.

Thirty-first Street Baptist Church C

o

everence e with e evanc R ing Dr. Morris Henderson, Senior Pastor bin ❖

SUNDAYS Church School 9:30 a.m.

Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. ❖

WEDNESDAYS Bible Study 12:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. ❖

MONDAY-FRIDAY Nutrition Center and Clothes Closet 11:30 a.m. & 1:00 p.m.

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

Richmond Free Press

January 14-16, 2016 B7

Legal Notices City of Richmond, Virginia CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the Council of the City of Richmond has scheduled a public hearing, open to all interested citizens, on Monday, January 25, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber on the Second Floor of City Hall, located at 900 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, to consider the following ordinances: Ordinance No. 2015-233 As Amended To amend and reordain City Code §§ [98-263] 26-582, concerning the eligibility of residential real property in redevelopment and conservation areas and rehabilitation districts for partial tax exemption, [98-264] 26-583, concerning the application requirements for such partial tax exemption, and [98-265] 26-584, concerning the amount of such exemption and the basis for taxes during construction, for the purposes of adjusting applicable threshold requirements to qualify for such exemption, adding maximum rent limits for certain dwelling units, authorizing an additional exemption period for certain structures and requiring that property owners file annual renewal applications with the City Assessor.

Ordinance No. 2015-263 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Broad Street Bus Rapid Transit Project Development Agreement between the City of Richmond, the Greater Richmond Transit Co., the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, the Virginia Department of Transportation, and the County of Henrico to facilitate the implementation of the Broad Street Bus Rapid Transit project and to set forth the responsibilities of the parties.

(Committee: Land Use, Housing and Transportation, Tuesday, January 19, 2016, 3:00 p.m., Council Chamber) Ordinance No. 2016-001 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept funds in the amount of $7,462.00 from the Virginia Department of Social Services and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2015-2016 Special Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department of Social Services by $7,462.00 for the purpose of funding the Healthy Families Richmond home visiting services program for the prevention of child abuse and neglect. (Committee: Education and Human Services, Thursday, January 14, 2016, 5:00 p.m., Council Chamber) Ordinance No. 2016-002 To adopt an amendment to the Master Plan for the City of Richmond, adopted by the City Planning Commission on Nov. 6, 2000, and by the City Council

by Ord. No. 2000-3712001-11, adopted Jan. 8, 2001, as previously amended, to incorporate the VUU/Chamberlayne Neighborhood Plan, applicable to an area including Virginia Union University and the Chamberlayne Industrial Center, on the north side of the city, as a part of the Master Plan.

(Committee: Land Use, Housing and Transportation, Tuesday, January 19, 2016, 3:00 p.m., Council Chamber) Ordinance No. 2016-003 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Lease Agreement between Cellco Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless, as Lessee, and the City of Richmond, as Lessor, to allow Cellco Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless, to operate telecommunications equipment at 1006 Williamsburg Road.

(Committee: Land Use, Housing and Transportation, Tuesday, January 19, 2016, 3:00 p.m., Council Chamber) Ordinance No. 2016-004 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Lease Agreement between Cellco Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless, as Lessee, and the City of Richmond, as Lessor, to allow Cellco Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless, to operate telecommunications equipment at 1401 Pump House Drive.

(Committee: Land Use, Housing and Transportation, Tuesday, January 19, 2016, 3:00 p.m., Council Chamber) Ordinance No. 2016-005 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Lease Agreement between Cellco Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless, Continued on next column

Continued from previous column

as Lessee, and the City of Richmond, as Lessor, to allow Cellco Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless, to operate telecommunications equipment at 2408 The Terrace. (Committee: Land Use, Housing and Transportation, Tuesday, January 19, 2016, 3:00 p.m., Council Chamber) Ordinance No. 2016-006 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Lease Agreement between Cellco Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless, as Lessee, and the City of Richmond, as Lessor, to allow Cellco Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless, to operate telecommunications equipment at 4001 Stonewall Avenue.

(Committee: Land Use, Housing and Transportation, Tuesday, January 19, 2016, 3:00 p.m., Council Chamber) Ordinance No. 2016-007 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Lease Agreement between Cellco Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless, as Lessee, and the City of Richmond, as Lessor, to allow Cellco Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless, to operate telecommunications equipment at 4308 Hermitage Road.

(Committee: Land Use, Housing and Transportation, Tuesday, January 19, 2016, 3:00 p.m., Council Chamber) Ordinance No. 2016-008 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept funds in the amount of $5,000 from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2015-2016 General Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Non-Departmental General Fund Budget by $5,000 for the purpose of providing a grant of $2,500 of such funds to the Cadence Theatre Company and to 1708 Gallery Inc. (Committee: Finance and Economic Development, Thursday, January 21, 2016, 3:00 p.m., Council Chamber) Interested citizens who wish to speak will be given an opportunity to do so.

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

Jean V. Capel City Clerk City of Richmond, Virginia CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the City of Richmond Planning Commission has scheduled a public hearing, open to all interested citizens, on Monday, February 1, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. in the Fifth Floor Conference Room of City Hall and the Council of the City of Richmond has scheduled a public hearing on Monday, February 8, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber on the Second Floor of City Hall, located at 900 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, to consider the following ordinances: Ordinance No. 2016-013 To conditionally rezone the property known as 2900 West Broad Street from the B-3 General Business District to the B-5 Central Business District, upon certain proffered conditions. The Richmond Master Plan recommends General Commercial uses for the subject property.

General commercial uses include a broad range of office, retail, general commercial, wholesale and service uses, typically located along major transportation corridors and serving large portions of the City, the region or the traveling public.

Ordinance No. 2016-014 To authorize the special use of the property known as 1400 North Boulevard for the purpose of a mixeduse development, upon certain terms and conditions. The Land Use Plan of the City of Richmond’s Master Plan designates the subject property for General Commercial land use. Primary uses in this category include a broad range of office, retail, general commercial, wholesale and service uses, typically located along major transportation corridors and serving large portions of the City, the region or the traveling public. No residential density is specified for this land use designation.

The proposed special use permit would allow a residential density of approximately 26 units per acre.

Continued on next column

Continued from previous column

Ordinance No. 2016-015 To authorize the special use of the property known as 6140 Hull Street Road for the purpose of multifamily dwellings containing an aggregate of up to 88 dwelling units, upon certain terms and conditions. The Land Use Plan of the City of Richmond’s Master Plan designates the subject property for Single Family (Low Density) land use. Primary uses in this category are single-family detached dwellings at densities up to seven units per acre. The proposed development would have a residential density of 5.5 units per acre.

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

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

Jean V. Capel City Clerk

Divorce VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER MELODY WILLIS, Plaintiff v.

ROD WILLIS, Defendant.

Case No.: CL15002953-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

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

It is ORDERED that the defendant, whose whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 26th day of February, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. and protect his interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Dorothy M. Eure Counsel for Plaintiff VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HENRICO MY THANH LAM, Plaintiff v.

HOANG NHU NGO, Defendant.

Case No.: CL15-2809 ORDER PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 20-104

The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of desertion. The defendant did leave the marital residence on July 4, 2014 and has not yet returned.

Plaintiff seeks divorce a vinculo matrimonii based on the charge of desertion, and that the bonds of matrimony entered into between plaintiff and defendant on June 3, 1980 be dissolved. Plaintiff also seeks title to the marital residence.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, whose whereabouts are unknown, appear before this Court on or before the 16th day of February, 2016 to protect his interests herein.

A Copy, Teste: YVONNE G. SMITH, Clerk I ask for this: Jessica Thompson (VSB #75514) Doris Henderson Causey (VSB #50944) Central Virginia Legal Aid Society, Inc. P.O. Box 122063 Richmond, VA 23241 804-648-1012 x 6037 804-648-1012 x 6041 Counsels for Plaintiff VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER JACQUELYN WHITE, Plaintiff v.

JOHNNY WHITE, SR., Defendant.

Case No.: CL1500568-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

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

It is ORDERED that the defendant, whose whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 3rd day of February, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. and protect his interests.

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

CUSTODY virgiNia: iN thE CIRCUIT cOurt OF the COunty of Chesterfield KELLY ELIZABETH McMILLAN, Plaintiff v.

ROBERT CAS SATKOWSKI, Defendant Continued on next column

Continued from previous column

Continued from previous column

Continued from previous column

Case No.: CL15-3159 OrDEr Of puBLicatiON

The object of this suit is to obtain a name change for the minor child, Cooper Lane Satkowski. It appearing by affidavit that the Defendant’s last known address was 7352 Roosevelt, Avenue, Mechanicsville, Virginia 23111, the Defendant’s present whereabouts are unknown, and diligence has been used by or on behalf of the Plaintiff to ascertain in what county or city the Defendant is without effect, it is ORDERED that the Defendant appear before this Court on or before February 4, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. and protect his interests herein.

An Extract, Teste: Wendy S. Hughes, Clerk I ask for this: Vera Duke, Esquire (VSB#17207) CLIFFORD & DUKE, P.C. 909 North Courthouse Road Richmond, VA 23236 (804) 379-2119 (Telephone) (804) 794-7659 (Fax) dukeclifford@aol.com (E-mail) Counsel for Plaintiff

or guardianship of the person, including but not limited to rights of: visitation; adoption consent; determination of religious affiliation; and responsibility for support.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Tyrone Arlington (Father), and Unknown, (Father) appear at the abovenamed Court and protect his/ her interest on or before March 17, 2016 at 2:20 p.m., Court Room #3.

Kate O’Leary, Esq. 900 E. Broad Street, 4th Floor Richmond, Virginia 23219

her interest on or before March 17, 2016 at 2:20 p.m., Court Room #3.

Kate O’Leary, Esq. 900 E. Broad Street, 4th Floor Richmond, Virginia 23219

virgiNia: iN thE JuvENiLE aND DOmEstic rELatiONs District cOurt Of thE city Of richmOND Commonwealth of Virginia, in re MY’KEI KHALIL MAY-CRISS, Juvenile Case No. JJ0088404-08

The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“RPR”) of Shasha Donald May, (Father), and UNKNOWN (Father) of My’kei Khalil May Criss, child, DOB 9/1/2013, “RPR” means all rights and responsibilities remaining with parent after transfer of legal custody or guardianship of the person, including but not limited to rights of: visitation; adoption consent; determination of religious affiliation; and responsibility for support.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Shasha Donald May (Father), and Unknown, (Father) appear at the above-named Court and protect his/her interest on or before March 23, 2016 at 9:00 A.M. Court Room #5.

Kate D. O’Leary, Esq. 730 E. Broad St., 8th Floor Richmond, Virginia 23219 804-646-3493 virgiNia: iN thE JuvENiLE aND DOmEstic rELatiONs District cOurt Of thE city Of richmOND Commonwealth of Virginia, in re eric brendan short, Juvenile Case No. JJ082673-12-00

The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“RPR”) of Unknown (Father) of Eric Brendan Short, child, DOB 2/24/2009, “RPR” means all rights and responsibilities remaining with parent after transfer of legal custody or guardianship of the person, including but not limited to rights of: visitation; adoption consent; determination of religious affiliation; and responsibility for support.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Unknown, (Father) appear at the above-named Court and protect his/her interest on or before June 8, 2016 at 9:00 a.m.

Diane Abato, Esq. 900 E. Broad Street, 4th Floor Richmond, Virginia 23219

virgiNia: iN thE JuvENiLE aND DOmEstic rELatiONs District cOurt Of thE city Of richmOND Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Kyashawn M. packer, Juvenile Case No. JJ076508-08/ JJ076508-10

The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“RPR”) of Malcolm Barnes, (Father), and Unknown (Father) of Kyashawn M. Packer, child, DOB 06/12/2005, “RPR” means all rights and responsibilities remaining with parent after transfer of legal custody or guardianship of the person, including but not limited to rights of: visitation; adoption consent; determination of religious affiliation; and responsibility for support.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Malcolm Barnes (Father), and Unknown, (Father) appear at the abovenamed Court and protect his/ her interest on or before March 17, 2016 at 2:20 p.m., Court Room #3.

Kate O’Leary, Esq. 900 E. Broad Street, 4th Floor Richmond, Virginia 23219 virgiNia: iN thE JuvENiLE aND DOmEstic rELatiONs District cOurt Of thE city Of richmOND Commonwealth of Virginia, in re DIVIne packer, Juvenile Case No. JJ076508-08/ JJ076508-10

The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“RPR”) of Ivan Antonio Smith, (Father), and Unknown (Father) of Divine Packer, child, DOB 03/05/2010, “RPR” means all rights and responsibilities remaining with parent after transfer of legal custody or guardianship of the person, including but not limited to rights of: visitation; adoption consent; determination of religious affiliation; and responsibility for support.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Ivan Antonio Smith (Father), and Unknown, (Father) appear at the abovenamed Court and protect his/ her interest on or before March 17, 2016 at 2:20 p.m., Court Room #3.

Kate O’Leary, Esq. 900 E. Broad Street, 4th Floor Richmond, Virginia 23219

virgiNia: iN thE JuvENiLE aND DOmEstic rELatiONs District cOurt Of thE city Of richmOND Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Kristopher joseph packer, Juvenile Case No. JJ089895-07/ JJ089895-08

The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“RPR”) of Tyrone Arlington, (Father), and Unknown (Father) of Kristopher Joseph Packer, child, DOB 05/16/2013, “RPR” means all rights and responsibilities remaining with parent after transfer of legal custody

virgiNia: iN thE JuvENiLE aND DOmEstic rELatiONs District cOurt Of thE city Of richmOND Commonwealth of Virginia, in re IYanna mildred packer, Juvenile Case No. JJ076508-08/ JJ076508-10

The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“RPR”) of Pierre Jermone Bush, (Father), and Unknown (Father) of Kyashawn M. Packer, child, DOB 06/12/2005, “RPR” means all rights and responsibilities remaining with parent after transfer of legal custody or guardianship of the person, including but not limited to rights of: visitation; adoption consent; determination of religious affiliation; and responsibility for support.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Malcolm Barnes (Father), and Unknown, (Father) appear at the abovenamed Court and protect his/

Continued on next column

Continued on next column

To advertise in the

Richmond Free Press call 644-0496

BID COUNTY OF HENRICO, VIRGINIA CONSTRUCTION ITB # 16-1120-1CE – Toilet Room Improvements – Jackson Davis Elementary School, Ridge Elementary School, Tuckahoe Middle School and Tucker High School - This project consists of repairs and alterations of existing toilet room spaces.

Due 3:00 pm, February 4, 2016. Additional information available at: http://henrico.us/ purchasing/.

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is soliciting bids for the: Expansion and Renovation of Faberge Galleries and Catering Kitchen Bids for this project will be received at VMFA until: Tuesday, February 2, 2016 at 2 PM EDT Copies of RFP # 23820160115 may be downloaded from eVA at www.eva.virginia.gov/

The City of Richmond announces the following project(s) available for services relating to: IFB M160011264 – Sludge Lagoon Residuals Removal Project – Phase IV Receipt Date: January 25, 2015 at 2:30 P.M. Opening Date: January 26, 2015 at 2:30 P.M. Pre-bid Date/Time/Location: January 6, 2016 at 2:30 P.M. located at City Hall, 900 East Broad Street, 11th floor, Room 1104, Richmond, VA 23224 Information or copies of the above solicitation is available by contacting Procurement Services, at the City of Richmond website (www.

RichmondGov.com), or at 11th Floor of City Hall, 900 E. Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219. Phone (804) 646-5716 or faxed (804) 6465989. The City of Richmond encourages all contractors to participate in the procurement process.

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

SEEKING GENERAL CONTRACTOR Better Housing Coalition is a non-profit affordable housing corporation providing high quality affordable housing in the Richmond metropolitan area.

Better Housing Coalition is seeking sealed proposals from qualified general contractors to coordinate exterior and interior repairs at The Columns on Grove Apartments at 1621 Grove Ave. Richmond, VA 23220. Davis-Bacon wage rates will apply.

A mandatory pre-bid conference will be held on January 19, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at 1621 Grove Ave. Richmond, Virginia 23220. Copies of the plans and the Request for Proposal (RFP) will be provided at the conference. The request for proposal (RFP) will set forth the terms and conditions of the engagement and submission.

The deadline for bid submission to Better Housing Coalition offices at 23 West Broad Street Richmond, Virginia 23220 is 4:00 p.m. Thursday February 4, 2016. This deadline must be met for consideration. Any responses received after the deadline will not be considered. A public bid opening will be held at 10 a.m. on February 5, 2016 at Better Housing Coalition offices.

Better Housing Coalition encourages Minority Owned Business Enterprises, Section 3 Business and businesses that employ Section 3 residents, to respond to the RFP. For additional information, please contact Greg Tucker at Better Housing Coalition, 804-644-0546, ext. 113 or by email at g.tucker@betterhousingcoalition.org.

SEEKING ELEVATOR CONTRACTOR Better Housing Coalition is a non-profit affordable housing corporation providing high quality affordable housing in the Richmond metropolitan area.

Better Housing Coalition is seeking sealed proposals from qualified elevator contractors to repair existing elevator at The Columns on Grove Apartments at 1621 Grove Ave. Richmond, VA 23220. Davis-Bacon wage rates will apply.

A mandatory pre-bid conference will be held on January 20, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at 1621 Grove Ave. Richmond, Virginia 23220. Copies of the plans and the Request for Proposal (RFP) will be provided at the conference. The request for proposal (RFP) will set forth the terms and conditions of the engagement and submission.

The deadline for bid submission to Better Housing Coalition offices at 23 West Broad Street Richmond, Virginia 23220 is 4:00 p.m. Thursday February 4, 2016. This deadline must be met for consideration. Any responses received after the deadline will not be considered. A public bid opening will be held at 10 a.m. on February 5, 2016 at Better Housing Coalition offices.

Better Housing Coalition encourages Minority Owned Business Enterprises, Section 3 Business and businesses that employ Section 3 residents, to respond to the RFP. For additional information, please contact Greg Tucker at Better Housing Coalition, 804-644-0546, ext. 113 or by email at g.tucker@betterhousingcoalition.org.

Richmond Free Press

B8 January 14-16, 2016

Sports Plus

Yay Rah Rah!

Armstrong’s Rashaundra Thomas hits 1,000 points

By Fred Jeter

Rashaundra Thomas has a long name, a short frame and an often dazzling game.

The 5-foot-3 Armstrong High School senior, who answers to “Rah Rah,” is the Wildcats’ first 1,000-point basketball scorer since Denise Winn in 1994.

Coincidentally, Winn’s teammates in the early 1990s included Deatrice Mealey, Thomas’ mother.

“Actually, I talked to Denise just last night on the phone,” said Thomas.

It’s a small world for basketball at Armstrong High School.

Although they spell their last names differently, Deatrice Mealey is the aunt of former Armstrong men’s basketball star Tavon Mealy, Class of 2013. He is now a standout for the Panthers at Virginia Union University.

Thomas credits her mom, who attends every game, as well as her cousin, Tavon, and her brother, Ramone, for helping sharpen her considerable skills on Church Hill.

“I’ve always been a tomboy,” the 17-year-old Thomas said with a shy smile. “I used to tag along after my brother and play with the boys.”

A four-year starting guard, Thomas scored 196 points as a freshman, 286 as a sophomore, 347 as a junior and 180 through her first 10 games this season.

She was second-team All-Capital District as a ninth-grader and a first-team All-Conference 26 choice for the past two seasons.

Wearing jersey No. 12, Thomas scored a career-high 36 points in a single game last year against George Wythe High School and had 32 points earlier this season against Thomas Jefferson High School, when she hit 1,000 points.

It was fitting she cracked quadruple figures with her signature shot, a three-pointer.

What her long-range shot lacks in artistry, it makes up for in accuracy.

“My form is so ugly,” she says with a giggle. “I don’t know how it goes in.”

Kevin Middleton arrived as Armstrong High’s coach the same year Thomas enrolled as a freshman.

The Wildcats won just four games each season in 2012-13

and 2013-14, but rallied for 13 wins last year. The East Enders started this season 7-3 and dream of advancing to the 3A State tournament at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Siegel Center.

Armstrong High’s last banner season was 1994, when the squad featuring Winn, who went on to shine at the University of Richmond, and Wallesha Tennessee, Armstrong High’s current assistant coach, lost to Petersburg High School in the Central Region final.

Coach Middleton’s other aide is Wildcats football coach and Armstrong High Class of 1969 alumnus McDaniel Anderson, aka “Mr. Mack from Way Back.”

“What I like most about Rah Rah is that she plays every game like it may be her last game,” said Coach Middleton, a New York native. “She’s helped turn this program around.”

Coach Middleton insists he doesn’t much care about Thomas’ unorthodox shooting style, “as long as it goes in.”

Thomas is most dangerous beyond the arc.

“She makes four or five a game, and is probably hitting 45 percent for the season,” Coach Middleton said.

“Teams try to guard her with a box and one. But it doesn’t work because she’s so fast.”

Thomas is no one-girl team. She requests equal billing for the other senior starters, Crystal Chiles, an aggressive rebounder, and defensive ace Kae’Leigha Kimbrough.

The trio hope to continue playing on the college level with Bryant & Stratton College in Virginia Beach and Frederick Community College in Maryland — two options.

Any article involving Armstrong High School would be remiss without mention of Class of 2015 alumnus Tray-Quain Holmes, 18, who was shot and killed Dec. 24 in Richmond.

Holmes was a close friend of Armstrong basketball and Thomas, who called him a cousin even though he was not a blood relative.

“It’s a horrible thing,” said Thomas, “but it makes us push harder to keep the team up, to keep us all working to improve.”

In Richmond’s East End, the girls wearing Armstrong High’s blue and orange play with a bounce in their step but, sadly, also with a heavy heart. The scoreboard alone will never begin to tell the whole story.

James Haskins/Richmond Free Press

Armstrong High School starting guard Rashaundra Thomas shoots for the hoop during a recent practice.

With her shooting skills, Thomas and the team hope to head to the 3A state tournament.

Legal Notices/Employment Opportunities VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 1401 EAST BROAD STREET RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23219

Request for Qualifications Contract ID #: C00T17210DB90 0095-969-720 I-95 Express Lanes—Southern Terminus Extension Design-Build Project The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is seeking Statements of Qualifications for the I-95 Express Lanes—Southern Terminus Extension Design-Build Project from qualified and experienced respondents with design and construction experience of highway facilities. The Project is located on Interstate 95 near Mile Marker 143 in Stafford County, Virginia and will consist of design and construction of an approximate 2.2 mile reversible extension to the I-95 Express Lanes and associated work, along with the creation of new northbound and southbound accesses between the Express Lanes and the general purpose Primary areas of work include, but are not limited to, roadway excavation, embankment, subgrade and drainage improvements, paving, sound walls, sign structures, lighting, and various ITS devices.

Housing Education officEr VHDA, Virginia’s Housing Finance Agency is looking for a dynamic individual to serve in the role of Housing Education Officer. This team member will promote a strong collaborative spirit with VHDA customers and stakeholders. The Housing Education Officer will be responsible for carrying out education program activities to ensure strategies, initiatives, and programs are successfully implemented.

The incumbent will maintain relationships with external partners participating in VHDA education programs and provide operational support to ensure the success of VHDA housing education programs. The individual must provide housing specific information and guidance to non-profit organizations, local, state, and Federal governing bodies, and other interested parties to enable support and understanding of community needs.

Questions/clarifications regarding the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) should be submitted to Suril R. Shah (Suril.Shah@vdot.virginia.gov).

Individual will possess experience in development and implementation of consumer education programs to address strategic initiatives. A broad knowledge of low-and-moderate income housing programs is required and experience in project management is highly preferred. Individual must have demonstrated skills in innovative problem solving, facilitation, negotiations, public speaking, written and oral communications, and process development. Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent professional/technical certification required. High level of travel (50-75%) involved (includes overnight).

Copies of the RFQ and additional submittal requirements can be found at http://www.virginiadot.org/business/request-for-qualifications.asp.

Resumes and cover letter stating salary requirements should be submitted online only at:

The Department assures compliance with Title VI requirements of nondiscrimination in all activities pursuant to this advertisement.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Minister of Music Plans, leads, and implements a comprehensive musical program for worship, special services, funerals, and other programs. Supervises a choir director. Works with intergenerational volunteer musicians of various musical styles and abilities.

Average of 29 hours per week.

Hourly $13.93 - $15.92 ($21K-$24K).

Closing date: 2/4/16.

For more information and to apply, please visit zionbaptistpetersburgva.org.

To advertise in the Richmond Free Press call 644-0496

The County of Henrico is accepting applications for a Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney (IRC80382). Applications are being accepted through 01/19/2016.

For more information and/or to apply please visit www.HenricoJobs.com

St. Peter Baptist Church Dr. Kirkland R. Walton, Pastor 2040 Mountain Rd • Glen Allen, VA 23060 Office 804-262-0230 • Fax 804-262-4651 www.stpeterbaptist.net

SILVER STRINGS ENSEMBLE

seeks additional youth members who have 2 or more years of experience playing either the violin, viola, cello or double (upright) bass.

Rehearsals are held 2nd & 4th Thursdays: 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

If interested, reply: spbcmusic@verizon.net

http://www.vhda.com/about/careers An EOE This position closes at Midnight, January 25, 2016

Mount Olive Baptist Church in Glen Allen, Virginia is seeking to fill a part-time Custodian during evenings and weekends (occasionally day hours required), a parttime Drummer, and a part-time Food Service Director. Please visit the church’s website at www.mobcva.org to view the complete job announcement for these positions. Positions are opened until filled. A Criminal History Background Check is required.

TransiT sysTem

PLANNING INTERN PART-TIME (TEMPORARY-GRANT) RideFinders Hiring Range: $13.75 Posting Closes: 23 January 2016 GRTC Transit System RideFinders seeks a undergraduate candidate to assist with various planning functions in the RideFinders Division.

Undergraduate degree preferred, preferably in urban planning or a related field. Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills are critical. The successful candidate will be proficient in Microsoft Office and Adobe programs. For a more detailed job description and the ability to apply online, please visit www. ridegrtc.com. A pre-employment drug screening will be required.

GRTC Transit System is an equal opportunity employer with a drug-free work environment that values diversity in the workplace.

Hiring range - $51,686 – 67,192 Background, credit, and driving record checks will be performed as a condition of employment.

The City of Richmond is seeking to fill the following positions: Auditor 09M00000011 City Auditor Apply by: 1/17/2016 Gas and Water Service Technician Supervisor 35M00000558 Public Utilities Apply by: 1/31/16

Accounting MAnAger, Single FAMily MortgAge loAnS & inveStor reporting The Virginia Housing Development Authority is seeking a seasoned Accounting Manager to manage the accounting for the Single Family (SF) origination and servicing operations within the Authority. The position will oversee two staff to ensure that all related accounting transactions are in compliance with specific program guidelines, GSE (Ginnie Mae and Fannie Mae) guidelines and GAAP principles, and are posted to G/L for reporting to internal and external parties on a timely basis. This position will be responsible for all detailed records and financial reports to accurately reflect the condition of the SF loan and REO programs, including loan securitizations and investor reporting to third parties including Ginnie Mae and Fannie Mae and to be in compliance with GSE loan service agreements. Participation in complex special projects and providing technical advice is also expected.

Requirements for this position include a BS/BA in accounting or equivalent (CPA a plus), several years broad experience in accounting (preferably in the mortgage lending and servicing industry), with proven ability to meet month-end close under tight schedules. Working knowledge of mortgage-related systems needed, such as MSP (aka Black Knight) mortgage loan servicing system and/ or Mortgage Cadence loan origination system a plus, as well as accounting systems, Microsoft Excel and Access.

If you possess these requirements as well as excellent communication and organizational skills, strong computer and analytical skills, and are self-motivated, self-directed and enjoy working in a fast-paced and professional environment, please apply online through our website at: http://www.vhda.com/careers An EOE Hiring Range: $78,609 – 102,190 Credit and background checks will be performed as a condition of employment.

Gas and Water Service Technician Trainee 35M00000549 Public Utilities Apply by: 1/17/16 Hazardous Materials Technician 35M00000809 Public Utilities Apply by: 1/31/16 Operations Manager – Asset Management, Tech Services Division 35M00000643 Public Utilities Apply by: 1/31/16 Pipeline Technician I, Waste Water Division 35M00000439 Public Utilities Apply by: 1/24/16 Project Management Analyst 09M00000005 City Auditor Apply by: 1/17/2016 For an exciting career with the City of Richmond, visit our website for additional information and apply today! www.richmondgov.com EOE M/F/D/V