May 7 9, 2015 issue

Celebrating Mother’s Day

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Richmond Free Press

VOL. 24 NO. 19

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RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

Services sacrificed in council’s $ plan

www.richmondfreepress.com

MAY 7-9, 2015

School Board votes to merge Elkhardt, Thompson

“American Idol” finalist Rayvon Owen of Henrico takes a selfie with jubilant fans at Richmond City Hall before performing before a crowd at the James Center in Downtown last Friday.

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

By Joey Matthews

Richmond Public Schools is on track to gain an extra $9 million to help meet critical needs in the coming year.

Police officers and firefighters also are on track to gain bigger raises of roughly 2.5 percent to help reduce turnover in public safety.

But Richmond City Council’s efforts to pay for those priorities are expected to have an impact on other city services.

Leaf collection and Sunday openings of the city’s public libraries could be wiped out, according to Mayor Dwight C. Jones’administration. And there could be a slowdown in obtaining permits and inspections for

Related story on A7 construction projects and in repairing broken streetlights, administration officials have told the council.

So far, the mayor remains mum on whether he would consider vetoing some or all of council’s changes to his spending plan.

The full list of changes that the council plans to make to Mayor Jones’ proposed twoyear budget will be on view Friday, May 8.

That’s when the governing body will hold a special meeting to formally introduce its amendments to the mayor’s budget for the 2016 and 2017 fiscal years that will begin July 1. Council is to vote on its proposals Friday, May 15, at another special meeting.

Christopher L. Beschler, the city’s acting chief administrative officer (CAO), said the council’s proposals “will have a impact,” but he said he and his staff would need more time to understand the effects that council’s changes will cause.

For Selena Cuffee-Glenn, Please turn to A4

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Rayvon Owen hometown ‘Idol’ He sang for Richmond Boys Choir, Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

took talent to national stage

By Joey Matthews

Rayvon Owen’s eyes sparkled with delight.

When the limousine carrying Rayvon and his mother, Patrice Fitzgerald, pulled up to the James Center in Downtown last Friday, about 1,000 cheering fans were waiting for him in the rain.

“It’s crazy! It’s an insane feeling! I’m overwhelmed by happiness!” he told a Free Press reporter.

Rayvon, who attended the Center for the Arts at Henrico High School and sang in the Richmond Boys Choir, returned home to a hero’s welcome after earning a spot in the Top 4 in the popular “American Idol” nationally televised singing competition. It is broadcast locally on Fox’s WRLH-TV Channel 35 in the Richmond area.

While he was eliminated Wednesday night, he elicited

cheers from audience members in the California studio and brought a positive spotlight to Richmond.

“He has made our city and our region so very proud,” Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones told the cheering audience of fans of all ages gathered for his homecoming celebration — from adoring teens to joyous office workers, including a Chesterfield County mom who presented Rayvon with a box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts.

Rayvon was joined by 2006 “American Idol” finalist Elliott Yamin of Richmond, who congratulated him with a big bear hug.

The mayor called Rayvon “a positive role model” for young people from the area.

Ready to sing, Rayvon took the microphone and bellowed, Please turn to A6

With full backing from the Richmond School Board, Superintendent Dana T. Bedden pulled a rabbit out of his hat this week with a move that closes one old and decrepit middle school and changes the accreditation status at two academically struggling middle schools.

The board voted 9-0 at Monday’s meeting at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School to approve the schools administration’s recommendation to transfer Elkhardt Middle School operations to Thompson Middle School on Forest Hill Avenue in the fall, and to merge the two schools into one new school.

Because the school would be deemed new by the Virginia Department of Education, it would receive conditional state accreditation in its first year.

Currently, Thompson is denied accreditation by the state education department and is using a state-approved turnaround partner. Elkhardt is accredited with warning, which is one step from being denied accreditation.

The School Board has not yet come up with a new name for the school.

The move would decrease the number of middle schools in Richmond from eight to seven, a big first step in Dr. Bedden’s bid to “right size” or shift more students into underused school buildings.

Dr. Bedden and the board were forced to make a drastic move in February when Elkhardt was closed on South Side because of mold and other air quality issues.

Renovating the Elkhardt building would cost about $23 million, Thomas Kranz, assistant superintendent for support services, has said, money that RPS officials would rather Please turn to A6

Justice Dept. opens investigation into Gray’s death; officers charged Free Press wire reports

BALTIMORE There’s an uneasy quiet in Baltimore after six police officers were charged last week in the mysterious death of Freddie Gray while he was in their custody.

Underneath the calm simmers apprehension and anger in the African-American community — ready to erupt again at any moment — if there’s another incident of police brutality against a black man in the town known as “Charm City.”

That grim reality was clear Monday afternoon when angry community members

and officers in riot gear quickly converged in West Baltimore after an erroneous TV report stated police had shot and perhaps fatally injured a young African-American man who was seen running away from Mr. Gray pursuing officers.

The volatile scene was near where Mr. Gray, 25, was arrested by Baltimore police on April 12 and later hospitalized with severe spinal and larynx injuries suffered

after being handcuffed and tossed into a police van. He died April 19.

But on Twitter, the Baltimore police department said reports of a man being shot were “not true,” and the potentially violent situation was defused.

Baltimore has been on edge since Mr. Gray’s death. His death sparked days of peaceful protests that were marred by violence just hours after Mr. Gray’s funeral April 27. A citywide curfew was lifted Sunday, and Maryland National Guard troops began leaving the area as shoppers Please turn to A4

Mobile home residents allege city’s actions discriminatory in HUD complaint

By Joey Matthews

James Haskins/Richmond Free Press

Dancing duo Anaya Jackson and Christopher Collins display precision ballroom dancing moves at Huguenot High School on South Side. The students were among teams from five Richmond elementary schools participating in the April 30 team competition of Dancing Classrooms Greater Richmond.

The nonprofit organization aims to build social awareness, confidence and self-esteem in children through dance.

The City of Richmond is engaging in a discriminatory campaign to force some of its most vulnerable Latino residents from their homes through an aggressive code enforcement campaign in the mobile home parks where they live.

That’s what nearly 40 current or former residents at two South Side mobile home parks are alleging.

As the Free Press previously has reported, dozens of Latinos were displaced

after the city conducted inspection sweeps beginning in February 2014 at Rudd’s Trailer Park off Jefferson Davis Highway and condemned roughly 20 mobile homes, citing numerous safety violations. A second sweep was conducted earlier this year at Mobile Towne Mobile Home Park off Old Midlothian Turnpike.

The Legal Aid Justice Center in Richmond and Washington-based lawyer Clifford J. Zatz filed a complaint late last month against the city on behalf of the residents of the two mobile home parks.

The complaint, filed with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, asks the federal agency among other things: • To issue an injunction to force the city to end its code enforcement campaign, pending the completion of a HUD investigation, and • To award unspecified “damages” to the complainants and “any other relief that may be available pursuant to the Fair HousPlease turn to A4

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Richmond Free Press

Local News

Cityscape Slices of life and scenes in Richmond With storm clouds forming, water trickles down from the ornamental fountain in Libby Hill Park into the pool below. Location: 28th and Franklin streets in Church Hill.

Libby Hill is one of three original parks in Richmond’s park system. It originally was called Marshall Square.

The city was named in the early 1700s by William Byrd II after the English town of Richmond near London. The reason: The view of the James River from Libby Hill was strikingly similar to the view of the River Thames from Richmond Hill in England, where Mr. Byrd spent part of his youth.

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Plenty of jobs, not enough workers Commission recommends aligning training with opportunities

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Talk about a huge surprise: Four job openings exist in Richmond for every job seeker in the city, according to government data.

In fact, more jobs in the city go begging for qualified workers than anywhere else in the Richmond region, which overall has 1.5 job openings for every job seeker, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) stated in its December report.

That should be good news for Richmond, where, at 5.2 percent, unemployment is above the state average of 4.8 percent and tops at least 8 percent among African-Americans.

The problem is that too many would-be employees lack the training and experience that employers are seeking, said Jamison J. Manion, director of workforce development for the City of Richmond.

That’s particularly true in the vocationaltechnical area where too few adults and young people are being prepared for work Mr. Manion that can provide a living wage, Mr. Manion told City Council this week.

According to the BLS, there are 3.5 job openings in Richmond for each job seeker with vocational and technical training — the biggest gap for any level of education.

The best solution: Beef up and align technical training in city schools with employment sectors with high demand for workers, Mr. Manion said in presenting recommendations from the council’s Career and Technical Education Commission.

He pointed to one example — DuPont and its big manufacturing plant in Chesterfield County just south of the city.

He noted DuPont has 1,200 workers, but is facing replacing half of them over the next few years because of retirement.

That represents a huge opportunity, he said, for Richmond Public Schools to join in preparing students and adults with the education and training to make them eligible for DuPont production jobs that start at $28 an hour.

One way to take advantage is for RPS to ensure its technical center is offering the appropriate training, he said, in citing one of the commission’s recommendations.

Another recommendation from the commission: Expand dual enrollment between RPS and J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College to allow students to graduate with a high school diploma and an associate degree.

Such efforts will pay off in greater employment and an overall better community, Mr. Manion said.

He noted that his agency in city government already is striving to offer more opportunities, citing initiatives to train welders and forklift drivers and assist people in taking courses. Still, the city program is small. So far, he said the city effort has placed about 173 people in positions since July 1.

The commission’s report offered a bullish outlook for job opportunities in its review of 16 different employment sectors — backing up its position that the right training programs could steer more people off unemployment and into highpaying work.

Mr. Manion pointed to the report’s finding that the No. 1 source of jobs in the Richmond area is in the transportation, distribution and logistics sector.

Currently, about 85,000 people in the Richmond area are employed in some fashion in the shipping, delivery and distribution of goods, according to the report.

During the next 10 years, this sector is projected to created 8,500 new jobs and require 24,000 younger workers to replace retirees, the report states. On average, that would provide about 3,200 job openings a year.

Job opportunities also are expected to abound in other fields that dominate the Richmond area’s employment, including hospitality and tourism, business management, health sciences, finance, manufacturing, education and marketing, the report noted.

Overall, employers in the Richmond area will need to replace at least 133,000 people who will retire in the next 10 years and find people to fill nearly 70,000 new positions, the commission’s report projects.

Mr. Manion said Richmond residents will benefit if there are “numerous opportunities” for vocational education and technical training. He said such opportunities should be available for RPS students, young adults, laid-off workers or people re-entering the workforce.

The goal, he said, should be to ensure people can be prepared for work opportunities that align with their interests and aptitudes and pay a wage that allows them to be self-supporting.

Richmond Free Press

May 7-9, 2015

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In fact, Fortune magazine just named Dominion the most admired utility in the United States.

Our dedication to ensuring the reliable delivery of electricity to our customers means we never stop, in all sorts of ways. For example, we’re planning to underground 4,000 miles of our most outage-prone power lines over the next 10 years. And we’ll spend $200 million annually to maintain and replace aging wires, poles, transformers and switches, while trimming dangerous trees overhanging our power lines. When there is an outage, Dominion teams work around the clock, seven days a week, until power is restored.

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Richmond Free Press

A4 May 7-9, 2015

News

Protests in Israel over police brutality against Ethiopian Jews Free Press wire reports

TEL AVIV Clashes between Israeli police and Ethiopian Jews have erupted over several days, with thousands of protesters demanding an investigation into alleged police brutality and racism.

Early last week, footage emerged of two police officers violently beating an Israeli soldier of Ethiopian descent, sparking a wave of anger within the community. The attack on the soldier, who was in uniform, appeared to be unprovoked.

The video and resulting demonstration in the center of Tel Aviv have raised questions about the treatment of ethnic minorities in Israel and the country’s struggle to integrate newcomers – many of them Jewish — into Israeli society.

Michael Brown family files lawsuit against Ferguson Reuters

The family of Michael Brown has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Ferguson, Mo., seeking unspecified damages and police reforms after the black teen’s killing by a white policeman prompted a national debate on law enforcement and race.

The civil lawsuit filed April 23 in St. Louis County, Mo., names the city of Ferguson, former Police Chief Thomas Jackson and former police officer Darren Wilson as defendants.

The lawsuit seeks $75,000 in compensation, as well as unspecified punitive damages, and calls for a court order prohibiting the use of police techniques “that demean, disregard, or under serve its African-American population.”

The shooting last August sparked protests and a national movement questioning police use of deadly force, especially against minorities in cities around the country.

The lawsuit alleges that Mr. Wilson destroyed evidence after he shot Mr. Brown on the street of the St. Louis suburb last August, saying he washed blood off his hands and cleared and bagged the gun used in the shooting.

“We expect to put on evidence that you never heard about before, that you have never seen,” Anthony Gray, one of the lawyers for Mr. Brown’s family, said at a news conference to discuss the lawsuit.

Mr. Gray said evidence had not been presented properly in the previous investigations.

A grand jury in Missouri decided last year not to bring criminal charges against Mr. Wilson. The U.S. Department of Justice later cleared the police officer of any civil rights violations.

“Because it is pending litigation, the city won’t be able to make any comment,” Jeff Small, a spokesman for Ferguson, said in a telephone interview.

The city previously said it would establish a citizen review board, diversify recruitment of police officers and put into effect use of body cameras by police officers and add dashboard cameras to patrol cars.

Lawyers for Mr. Wilson were not immediately available to comment.

The lawsuit has been expected since last month when the family expressed disappointment in the Justice Department investigation and said it would sue.

The department’s report did find racial bias and a pattern of illegal actions against African-Americans by the Ferguson Police Department.

Mr. Jackson resigned as police chief in March within days of the report’s release.

The lawsuit lists incidents of alleged unlawful stops and arrests of African-Americans in Ferguson. It asked for the court to assign a monitor to the city’s police force for five years or until “the city of Ferguson has fully and effectually trained all of its police officers on the constitutional requirements of the use of deadly force.”

At a protest on April 30, demonstrators blocked one of the city’s main traffic arteries and the light rail service. They marched toward the residence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before being stopped by police with water cannons.

“Enough of racism!” they chanted, some of them waving Israeli flags and others holding the Ethiopian flag.

One placard said: “In Europe they kill Jews because they’re Jews. Here, they kill Jews for being black.”

On Monday, Mr. Netanyahu met with the beaten soldier, Damas Fikadeh, at his Jerusalem office and hugged him.

“I was shocked by the (video) footage,” the prime minister said on Twitter. “We cannot accept it and we will change it.”

Earlier, he had called for calm. He said while those responsible will be held accountable, no one is allowed to take the law in

their own hands.

About 130,000 Ethiopian Jews live in Israel, many having immigrated in two waves in 1984 and 1991. Many of their offspring, born in Israel, serve in elite units of the army with distinction. An Ethiopian woman won a recent Miss Israel beauty contest. But acceptance in the workplace and elsewhere in Israeli culture has been a struggle, advocates have said.

“When an Ethiopian applies for a job, as qualified and impressive as he might be, he is not going to be invited for an interview because he has an Ethiopian name,” said AssefaDawit of Tebeka, an advocacy group for Ethiopian Israelis.

“Israel is our country. There’s no ‘us’ and ‘them.’ This is our home,” he said. “The community is crying out for the government to resolve this.”

Justice Dept. opens investigation Continued from A1

returned to Mondawmin Mall, which had been shuttered after looting.

The U.S. Justice Department, led by new U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, is launching investigations into Mr. Gray’s arrest and death, and into the Baltimore Police Department’s policies and practices for any civil rights violations.

A day after Ms. Lynch visited the city to meet with the Gray family, ministers, police and public officials, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake on Wednesday requested the policies and practices portion of the federal probe, saying at a news conference, “Such an investigation is essential if we are going to build on the foundation of reforms we have built over the years.”

The pattern or practice of conduct investigation will be similar to Justice Department probes of the Cleveland, Philadelphia and Ferguson, Mo., police departments. Each of those investigations resulted in scathing reports that uncovered racially charged policing practices and civil rights violations by officers.

President Obama said it was “absolutely vital that the truth comes out.” He said he doesn’t comment on the legal process, “but I can tell you that justice needs to be served.”

“Those individuals who are charged obviously are also entitled to due process and rule of law,” he said.

Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby said, “No one is above the law,”

when she announced criminal charges May 1 against the six officers involved in Mr. Gray’s arrest.

She declared that his death was a homicide, his arrest was illegal and his treatment in custody amounted to murder and manslaughter. She said even though Mr. Gray requested medical help several times, officers repeatedly missed opportunities to get it for him.

“The findings of our comprehensive, thorough and independent investigation, coupled with the medical examiner’s determination that Mr. Gray’s death was a homicide, have led us to believe that we have probable cause to file criminal charges,” Ms. Mosby said.

Whoops, cheers and shouts of “Justice!” erupted on the steps of the War Memorial Building, and in the streets of Baltimore.

Ms. Mosby also said what police described as an illegal switchblade clipped inside Mr. Gray’s pants pocket was actually a legal knife, and provided no justification for his arrest.

Her announcement of the charges came one day after her office received results of a police internal investigation and Mr. Gray’s autopsy report.

“Mr. Gray suffered a severe and critical neck injury as a result of being handcuffed, shackled by his feet and unrestrained inside of the BPD wagon,” she said.

The stiffest charge — second-degree murder — was filed against officer Caesar F. Goodson Jr., the driver of the police van.

He also was charged with three counts of manslaughter and assault.

Lt. Brian W. Rice was charged with manslaughter, assault and false imprisonment.

Sgt. Alicia D. White and Officer William G. Porter were charged with manslaughter and assault. Officers Garrett E. Miller and Edward M. Nero and were charged with assault and false imprisonment All were charged with misconduct in office. They are free on bond while awaiting trial.

Mr. Goodson, 45, who has been on the force since 1999, is African-American, along with Sgt. White and Officer Porter.

Online court records list the race of the other three in a category that includes Caucasians and people of Arab descent.

Officer Goodson faces up to 30 years in prison on the murder charge alone.

Fraternal Order of Police local president Gene Ryan told Ms. Mosby in a letter before the charges were announced that none of the six officers were responsible for Mr. Gray’s death.

Ms. Lynch said the Justice Department will examine the best options to improve the Baltimore Police Department in the aftermath of Mr. Gray’s death.

“We’re going to try to come up with solutions, real solutions for the city of Baltimore to improve this city,” she declared. “That’s is our goal. That is our commitment.”

Ciara Ford, of Baltimore, expressed surprise at the decision to prosecute the officers.

“I’m ecstatic,” she said. “I hope this can restore some peace.”

“It makes you cry,” said her friend, Stephanie Owens of Columbia.

Reparations OK’d for Chicago’s police torture victims Free Press wire reports

CHICAGO For decades, a police unit in Chicago used torture to induce confessions from black suspects.

This week, the Chicago City Council approved a unique $5.5 million reparation fund to benefit dozens of surviving victims who were shocked, burned and beaten into admitting — often falsely — to crimes by the unit led by Jon Burge, a former police commander.

The council voted Wednesday on a measure that municipal experts believe is the first of its kind in the nation.

If approved as expected, the fund would allow Mr. Burge’s surviving victims, their immediate families and their grandchildren to receive free tuition and job training at the City Colleges of Chicago. The fund also could pay for counseling, health services and other aid. Up to 80 torture victims are believed to still be living.

As police commander, Mr. Burge

led a crew of detectives that terrorized the city’s predominantly black South Side from the 1970s until 1993, when he was fired. It took until 2006 before an investigation led to his conviction of lying about the practices he used to gain convictions. He served nearly four years in federal prison before his release in October 2014.

The measure was proposed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel to help wipe out the stain from Mr. Burge’s activities.

Services sacrificed in City Council’s $ plan Continued from A1

the incoming CAO who is scheduled to start May 18, the actions of the council are expected to present her with an additional challenge.

The battle of the budget was definitely more intense this year because the mayor’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2016 essentially showed the city would have the same amount of revenue as it did for the current year — about $689 million, with only a small projected increase.

From the start, the council had committed to finding extra money for schools, and some wanted more money for district projects and to boost police officers’ and firefighters’ pay.

Mayor Jones’ plan provided no extra funding for schools, despite pleas for up to $24 million from the School Board to fuel Superintendent Dana T. Bedden’s academic improvement plan.

The School Board request included about $10 million in increases that are mandatory and that would force cutbacks in services if additional money is not provided, council was told. That’s the amount the council wanted to find, but reduced it to a $9 million increase for

fiscal 2016. The mayor’s plan provided $136 million for schools in fiscal 2016; the council amendment would boost it to $145 million.

Police complaints that the proposed pay increase in the mayor’s plan would put rookie officers near the same pay level as veteran officers pushed council to find money for an increase for veterans this year, instead of next year as the mayor proposed. Council has earmarked about $1.1 million to provide a step increase for police officers and firefighters that will average about 2.5 percent.

The proposed council changes to the mayor’s plan appear small. For fiscal year 2016, for example, the changes appear to amount to $13.5 million, or about 2 percent of the mayor’s proposed $689 million budget.

However, the big impact comes from council’s decision to dig into what is called vacancy spending — or funding for unfilled positions — to find most of the money.

Currently, more than 400 positions are vacant, or about 10 percent of the nearly 3,900 positions paid from the general fund.

The money for those positions usually is included in the next year’s budget, giving depart-

ment heads flexibility to get work accomplished by filling the vacant positions, hiring temporary workers, paying overtime to those picking up the slack or employing outside companies, Mr. Beschler said.

In order to present a balanced budget, Mayor Jones already had lopped off about $6 million from vacancy funding, essentially eliminating funding for dozens of positions. That left about $14.2 million, the funding that equals about 272 positions, based on an average salary of $52,300 per employee, including health insurance and benefits.

Stuck in finding money, council’s revamped spending plan took another $9.2 million from the vacancy pool in fiscal year 2016, leaving only about $5 million, and at least $10 million in fiscal year 2017.

James A. Jackson, acting deputy CAO for operations, told council that cutting vacancy money from the Department of Public Works would have consequences. The department is projected to lose nearly $2.1 million.

Mr. Jackson said the money was used this year for the summer blitz that brought needed repairs to miles of rutted alleys and to pay for

temporary workers to pick up leaves in the fall.

Without that money, he would have to eliminate both operations.

He said the loss of the money would mean that it could take 90 days or longer for the city to pick up mattresses, tree limbs and other bulk waste. He said vacancy funding also has been critical to ensuring the city cleared snow from 52 major routes within 48 hours.

Harriet H. Coalter, the city’s library director, said she may have to eliminate Sunday services if her vacancy money is wiped out.

Mark Olinger, director of the Department of Planning and Development Review, said he has 18 vacant positions he’s trying to fill, mostly among construction inspectors and development review. He warned council members to expect to hear complaints from developers and homeowners whose plans would take longer to go through the approval and inspection process.

Council spread the pain over every office, including constitutional officers such as the sheriff and commonwealth’s attorney, which receives a major share of their money to support salaries from the state.

Mobile home residents allege city’s actions discriminatory in HUD complaint Continued from A1

ing Act and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, including monetary damages, reasonable attorneys’ fees, and costs.”

The filing describes multiple attempts since last summer by residents and area nonprofits to resolve the city’s safety concerns at the trailer parks without risking residents’ access to housing. According to the complaint, the city consistently has rejected or withheld funding for these alternatives.

Phil Storey, an attorney with the Legal Aid Justice Center, said in an April 27 news release, “Instead of finding ways to help ensure they have safe housing, inspectors are threatening to shut down the only option many of these families can afford.”

Gerardo Martinez, a Mobile Towne resident, said, “We all want a safe home and we want to comply with the code. But we feel like the city is targeting mobile home parks because we are communities of poor, mostly Latino families.”

In response to a Free Press query, Tammy D. Hawley, spokesperson for Mayor Dwight C. Jones, said: “As a matter of policy, now that a formal complaint has been filed, we won’t be commenting on a matter that is pending review and potential litigation.”

The complaint offered several notable statistics in pointing out the disproportionate impact the city’s action is having on the Latino community.

While less than 7 percent of Richmond’s population is Latino, roughly 75 percent of the residents at Rudd’s and 90 percent of those living at Mobile Towne are Latino, according

to the complaint.

As of 2011, the complaint continued, 0.4 percent of all white households in the city live in mobile homes, while 9.5 percent of all Latino households in the city live in mobile homes.

The first comprehensive city code inspections began in 2012, prompted by fires at a few mobile home parks, including Rudd’s, according to Douglas H. Murrow, the city’s commissioner of buildings.

After inspectors from the city’s Bureau of Permits and Inspections scoured Rudd’s again last year, many residents left because they could not afford the costly repairs to meet code or feared they would face further reprisals, according to Ronnie Soffee, who has co-owned and managed Rudd’s since 1997.

Mr. Soffee said the city has unfairly targeted

Rudd’s. He said losing residents has resulted in him losing money that could have been used to make some of the repairs at the mobile home park. He previously said the situation has forced him into a huge financial hole and he is strongly considering selling the park.

Mr. Murrow did not respond to a Free Press query about the number of trailers condemned at Mobile Towne. However, a Free Press reporter and photographer saw in March notices posted by many Mobile Towne residents on their doors refusing to allow inspectors to come inside their mobile homes.

According to reports and the complaint, inspectors later returned to the mobile homes, accompanied by Richmond police officers, and told the residents it would be wise to let them inside to perform inspections.

Richmond Free Press

May 7-9, 2015

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Richmond Free Press

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Local News VSU commencement

Building a better world is more than a motto

By Joey Matthews

Virginia State University ended a tumultuous school year with a victorious exclamation mark at commencement Saturday at the Richmond Coliseum.

More than 10,000 proud and beaming parents, friends and university members saluted as a record number of students — 764 — graduated.

That figure includes a record 16 doctoral students and 133 who earned master’s degrees.

Interim VSU President Pamela V. Hammond, who replaced former President Keith T. Miller at the start of 2015 amid a budgetary crisis, introduced commencement speaker Judge Cressondra Brown Conyers, VSU Class of 1977.

Judge Conyers serves on the juvenile and domestic relations district court for Gloucester, Mathews and Middlesex counties, the 9th judicial circuit. A former prosecutor, she is the first African-American female judge in the Middle Peninsula.

With her husband, Anthony Conyers Jr., former commissioner of the Virginia Department of Social Services looking on, she told graduates to be proud of their achievement and charged them to be world changers.

“There is a perception — an erroneous one — that HBCUs are academically inferior to predominately white institutions,” said Judge Conyers, who also was the first African-American president of the Williamsburg Bar Association. “Nothing could be further from the truth.

“It is a perception that you, as graduates of this fine university, have a responsibility to not just change, but to shatter by continuing on the path to success and excellence that you are commencing today by serving the public and helping others to succeed.”

She told the graduates that VSU has prepared them for all possibilities.

“So it is important that you remember that building a better world is more than just a motto. It is a responsibility that every Virginia State University graduate has every day, everywhere in the world.

Photos by Rudolph Powell/Richmond Free Press

Above, Judge Cressondra Brown Conyers, a 1977 graduate of Virginia State University, eloquently delivers the commencement address Saturday to a record 764 graduates from her alma mater at the Richmond Coliseum.

Right, interim Virginia State University President Pamela V. Hammond congratulates Arrisa Hanson as the top-ranking student in the graduating class. Ms. Hanson, who majored in psychology, earned a 4.0 GPA.

“We need you to help build a better world in Baltimore, Md. We need you to help build a better world in Ferguson, Mo., in Charleston, S.C.,” she said, referring to communities rocked by incidents of slayings of unarmed black men by police officers.

“You are needed everywhere in this world.”

Judge Conyers was awarded an honorary degree during the ceremony.

Hyisheem Calier, president of the VSU Student Government Association, told his fellow graduates that he was the first from his family to earn a college degree.

“I accomplished something that people from my neighborhood never dreamed I could accomplish,” he said.

He recalled the first time he rode on the Greyhound bus from his hometown of New York City to the Ettrick campus with trepidation.

Speaking with eloquence and confidence, he said, “It’s amazing how seven long hours on the bus can turn into four unforgettable years.

“We are the vessels that will inspire change,” he said, urging his fellow graduates to help pull others forward to “new beginnings.”

Vernell Battle-Kilpatrick of Virginia Beach was honored as national Alumna of the Year.

Dr. Hammond also paid tribute to the “Golden Reunion Class of 1965.” Sixteen members were in attendance.

Giles hopes to boost services to troubled teens

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Shunda T. Giles has been preparing for her transition from lawyer for the Richmond Department of Social Services to its top manager.

On Monday, the 41-year-old attorney took over the leadership role of the department of more than 400 staffers and a $74.5 million annual budget, all aimed at strengthening families and providing services to meet essential human needs.

The graduate of Varina High School who earned her law degree from the University of Richmond said she surprised herself in finding she enjoys the management side.

She said one area she hopes to upgrade involves the department’s services to troubled and delinquent teens.

David M. Hicks believes she will do a great job, with her legal experience and association with the department standing her in good stead.

“We’re not yet at the place we want to be,” said Mr. Hicks, who has led the department for the last 15 months while also serving as senior policy adviser to Mayor Dwight C. Jones. He turned over the reins to Ms. Giles as he becomes a judge in Richmond General District Court on July 1.

Mr. Hicks said he recommended that the mayor appoint Ms. Giles as his successor “because I believe she can take this department to the next level.”

In the course of a year, the Social Services staff touches the lives of more than 86,000

city residents, or 40 percent of Richmond’s population.

The agency is involved in everything from helping the hungry to get food stamps to protecting children and the elderly from abuse to assisting poor people to get health care through Medicaid.

“Pretty much anything that involves people, we deal with,” Mr. Hicks said.

A former Richmond commonwealth’s attorney, the 55-year-old Mr. Hicks was brought in to stabilize and turn around a department that had been struggling for several years. The agency had faced allegations that it was failing to protect children.

In addition, the department was failing to meet state benchmarks in handling applications for aid.

His efforts at change apparently have worked.

State data for the past 12 months indicate the department is now generally meeting or exceeding the benchmarks in serving foster children and reviewing applications for aid.

The department generates more than $550 million a year in federal and state aid for the people it serves. About $386 million, or 70 percent, involves Medicaid payments for health services, and $92 million, or 16 percent, involves food stamp benefits.

Ms. Giles, who served as a senior assistant city attorney, had been a part of Mr. Hicks’ leadership team.

The two began working together in 2012

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Shunda T. Giles, the new director of the Richmond Department of Social Services, exchanges a fist bump Monday with her predecessor, David M. Hicks. Mr. Hicks becomes a Richmond General District Court judge on July 1.

when Mayor Jones put Mr. Hicks in charge temporarily of another troubled city agency, the Department of Justice Services. His appointment came amid a furor over failure to properly operate the city’s Juvenile Detention Center and other programs.

Mr. Hicks said that Ms. Giles, who also represented that agency, was among the people who helped him lead the agency’s turnaround and reopening of the detention center.

She provided sound legal advice and sensible counsel, he said, and he began considering her

then for management positions. Before now, she was not interested.

Ms. Giles, who earned her undergraduate degree from James Madison University, has been engaged in city legal matters since law school.

She did an internship in the City Attorney’s Office while studying for her law degree and later joined the city’s legal office after graduating in 1999 and passing the state bar exam.

She is the granddaughter of the late Rev. B.S. Giles Sr. of First Union Baptist Church in Mechanicsville.

Rayvon Owen becomes a hometown ‘Idol’ Continued from A1

“What’s up Richmond!” to roars of delight from the audience.

He was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support.

“I don’t know how I’m going to sing,” he said. “I’m on the verge of tears right now.”

The Idol smash then sang three songs, including “Believe,” a tune he had performed for the “American Idol” judges and dedicated to his mother.

Jacinta Reed was among the lively crowd. She said she worked with Rayvon’s mother at SunTrust Bank for several years before his mother left the company. She said they have exchanged text messages throughout the competition.

“He’s a very sweet and kind person, the exact same person you see on TV,” she said.

Edith Harris and several other members of Antioch Baptist Church in Eastern Henrico

County, where Rayvon formerly sang in the youth choir, turned out to support the family.

“We’re just behind him 100 percent,” Ms. Harris said after hugging Ms. Fitzgerald, a former Antioch member. “We’re all keeping him in our prayers and wishing him the best.”

Three busloads of students from his alma mater, Henrico High School, also attended the rally.

“When I saw all his posters around school, I said, ‘I want to be like him some day,’ ” said Joshua Bynum, a Henrico High sophomore, who said he will enter the Center for the Arts during the next school year.

During his daylong whirlwind visit home, Rayvon also visited City Hall, attended a pep rally in his honor at Henrico High and sang at Friday Cheers, before heading back to Hollywood.

The 23-year-old singer and

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

“American Idol” star Rayvon Owen walks through a sea of fans in Downtown with his biggest cheerleader — his mother, Patrice Fitzgerald.

three other finalists — who also were feted in hometown celebrations last week — competed in a live broadcast Wednesday night for the right to advance to next week’s finale. But Rayvon was cut after the votes from the fans were tallied.

Fan support had kept Rayvon in the competition, particularly when he finished in the bottom of the four previous Idol broadcasts.

Still, Rayvon has earned a spot to tour nationally this summer with the Top 5 “American Idol” finishers. The tour is scheduled to come to Richmond on Tuesday, July 21, with a 7:30 p.m. show at the Carpenter Theatre at Richmond CenterStage in Downtown. Tickets range from $49 to $59 and are scheduled to go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, May 8.

“It’s been so exciting, phenomenal. We appreciate everyone’s support and prayers,” Ms.

School Board votes to merge Elkhardt, Thompson middle schools Continued from A1

spend elsewhere.

Due to the closure, about 500 students were shuffled from Elkhardt across town to the former Clark Springs Elementary School building in the Randolph neighborhood near Virginia Commonwealth University.

The move to Thompson would take effect in September.

It would increase the student population of the Thompson

building from the 500 it currently holds to about 1,000, Mr. Kranz told the Free Press.

“It’s a prudent move,” he said.

“We merge the two schools with the caveat that a new middle school needs to be built” within three years, he added.

Without a new school, Mr. Kranz said, “all we’ve done is kick the can down the road. It’s going to come back.”

The bad news: City Council has not allocated in its budget the approximate $50 million needed

to build a new middle school on South Side, and the city is running out of its capacity to borrow the money to build a new school. Without a new revenue source, it would be virtually impossible to construct a new middle school before Thompson would be bursting at the seams from student overpopulation.

At the meeting, Dr. Bedden also sought to alleviate concerns expressed by some Thompson parents and teachers that classroom sizes would swell

beyond a functional capacity with the merger.

He said staffing after the merger would ensure a pupil-teacher ratio of 22-1 in each classroom.

“With regards to the merger and other options considered, that was done,” Dr. Bedden said. “Other schools were looked at. This was the best option.”

He said teachers who do not move from Elkhardt to Thompson could fill other vacant teaching positions in the city.

Separately, the board ap-

proved a proposal by Dr. Bedden to allocate $425,000 from its Capital Improvement Program funds to address athletic facility needs at RPS’five comprehensive high schools and seven middle schools. Each high school is to receive $50,000 and each middle school is to receive $25,000 to be used “as best as the school sees fit,” Mr. Kranz said.

It would be a modest, but welcome boost to the schools’athletic departments, which already operate on shoestring budgets.

Fitzgerald told the Free Press this week before departing Tuesday on a flight to Hollywood, Calif., where she was in the audience for Wednesday’s show.

Of her son’s Houdini-like escapes from elimination, Ms. Fitzgerald said, “The times he’s been at the bottom, you’re on pins and needles. But we walk by faith and not by sight.”

She said her son carries a Bible verse in his wallet — Jeremiah, chapter 29, verse 11 — “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

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Richmond Free Press

May 7-9, 2015

A7

Local News

Slavery memorial to gain in capital budget plan

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

The battle over the ballpark in Shockoe Bottom apparently is over.

At the same time, hopes are fading for Richmond Public Schools to gain funding to develop essential new schools on South Side to relieve overcrowding.

However, the city will buy new voting machines.

These are among the results of City Council’s decisions in reshaping Mayor Dwight C. Jones’ capital spending plan for the next five years — the city plan that deals with everything from sidewalks to building needs and construction projects, including utility work.

The total capital budget — $775 million — would begin July 1, which is the beginning of fiscal year 2016, and be in effect through fiscal year 2020.

City Council put the final touches on its amendments to the mayor’s capital budget plan on Monday, and will introduce the changes Friday, May 8.

Council then will vote on the changes Friday, May 15, as part of finalizing the budget that will go into effect July 1.

In a rebuff to Mayor Jones, City Council acted Monday to gut the capital plan once set aside to pay for essential, underground flood-control pipes and plumbing. A Shockoe Bottom stadium for the Richmond Flying Squirrels and associated developments could not be built with those funds.

The mayor proposed to move the minor league team to a new home in Shockoe Bottom in late 2013, but pulled the proposal six months later after failing to secure council support.

More than $12 million was set aside in the capital budget last year for potential underground infrastructure work in a four-block area. However, the appropriation has gone nowhere since the mayor pulled the plan.

None of the money was ever borrowed.

The mayor and his staff refuse to say the project is dead. But the loss of the money means that the dollars to pay for piping to allow use of the property located in a flood plain no longer is available.

About $2 million the council left in that part of the capital plan is earmarked for flood plain piping needed to help create the proposed memorial site remembering Richmond’s role as a major slavery center before Union victory in the Civil War 150 years ago ended the buying and selling of human beings.

In addition, the council also agreed to provide an extra $3 million to support development of the heritage site, adding to the $5 million previously appropriated by the city and up to $11 million appropriated by the state.

In preparing its version of the budget, members of the council heard pleas from the school system for up to $100 million for new schools for the surging school population in South Side, and funds to maintain current buildings.

Thomas Kranz, associate schools superintendent for support services, said a $35 million elementary school capable of accommodating up to 1,000 youngsters would be needed within two years, while a $50 million middle school capable of serving 1,200 students would be needed within three to four years to prevent severe overcrowding.

He said the new buildings would allow the closure of at least four old buildings, including the Thompson and Elkhardt middle school buildings.

He also urged council to provide $10 million to $12 million to build an addition to an elementary school on South Side to expand classroom space and move to close an aging school on that side of the river.

Facing shrinking limits on the city’s ability to borrow, the council in the end agreed to set aside only $18 million for those projects over the next five years.

The $18 million would be enough only to build the elementary school addition and to pay for designs for new elementary and middle schools,

Mr. Kranz said.

Even that money came with a price. The mayor proposed $13 million a year in each of

the next two years for maintenance on aging school buildings.

However, the council cut that to $8 million a year after talking

with Mr. Kranz.

Meanwhile, the council included $613,000 for the purchase of new voting ma-

chines to replace more than 400 aging machines that the state has banned. That money adds to more than $600,000

council shifted to the city Voter Registrar’s Office to pay for operating expenses related to the new machines.

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Richmond Free Press

Sunset over The Carillon in the West End

Editorial Page

A8

May 7-9, 2015

Let there be justice The Freddie Gray case has put a spotlight on police practices in Baltimore. His death in police custody seems to have been the last straw for many residents.

An indication of why residents are so distressed can be found in the investigations the city’s daily newspaper, The Baltimore Sun, has conducted on police brutality.

Like many, we are shocked by the newspaper’s finding that the City of Baltimore quietly paid out $5.7 million since 2011 to settle lawsuits claiming police officers savagely assaulted, battered and even killed people during questionable arrests. That was on top of $5.8 million the city spent to defend itself.

We know that Richmond residents would not tolerate such police brutality.

Maybe it took a rebellion, albeit brief, to send a message that this kind of police misconduct is unacceptable.

Certainly, and thankfully, that message has been heard loud and clear by Baltimore officials.

One person who has heard it is the mayor, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, who this week publicly welcomed the U.S. Department of Justice into the city and gave the federal agency carte blanche to look into the police department and to recommend changes.

As it turns out, she and Police Commissioner Anthony Batts had rolled out the welcome mat to the Justice Department last October. At that time, they requested a Justice Department investigation as part of their efforts to reform the Baltimore Police Department and end its reputation for brutality.

Another who has heard the clarion call is Marilyn Mosby, the newly elected chief prosecutor for the city. We, like many, are impressed that this scion of a police family has boldly brought charges against six police officers connected with Mr. Gray’s arrest and subsequent death.

We also are impressed that she stated that she had heard the cry of “No Justice, No Peace” issued by the demonstrators and that she is working to deliver justice on behalf of Mr. Gray.

We hope her office’s prosecution will remain focused on that key issue: Seeking justice.

Already police union officials and supporters have expressed offense and outrage about her decision to hold the officers accountable with criminal charges. They claim they had probable cause to arrest Mr. Gray because he had an illegal knife clipped to the inside of his pants. Ms. Mosby has stated the pocket knife was a legal type and that the officers, thus, had no reason to arrest him for possessing it.

But the knife issue is in many ways a red herring, a tangent.

According to Ms. Mosby’s public statement of the charges, the police officers responsible for him after his arrest failed to transport him safely or to heed his pleas for medical assistance.

Mr. Gray’s arrest — legal or illegal — should not have been a death sentence. Killing handcuffed and subdued prisoners deliberately or accidentally cannot be condoned.

Let us keep our eye on the main issue.

What Baltimore and all of us need to see is that justice is done in this case.

Get serious We listened with interest and some amusement this week as retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson and former Silicon Valley technology executive Carly Fiorina announced they are seeking the Republican nomination for president.

Without a doubt, both Dr. Carson and Ms. Fiorina have excelled in their fields.

Dr. Carson has gained international acclaim for his surgical skills performing miracles, particularly in separating conjoined twins. His memoir, “Gifted Hands,” detailing his transformation from a troubled youth in Detroit to director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore at age 33 is an inspiring read.

Ms. Fiorina, an Austin, Texas, native, took a while to find herself as well. She dropped out of law school, worked in real estate and taught English before returning to school to earn a master’s degree in management from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and then entering the tech world.

Her climb was meteoric. By 1999, she was named chief executive officer of Hewlett-Packard, and was named among the world’s 100 most powerful women by Forbes in 2004.

Ms. Fiorina later was fired when the company lost half its stock value and laid off 30,000 workers after a merger with computer rival Compaq.

But super performance in the operating room and the boardroom don’t guarantee success in the realm of politics, or in running the country. Neither has held political office or been held accountable for their actions and decisions by groups larger than a hospital board or a group of stockholders.

Yes, Dr. Carson and Ms. Fiorina indeed stand out. Dr. Carson is the only African- American and Ms. Fiorina is the only woman in the Republican race toward the 2016 presidential election. They draw interesting, if unfortunate, comparison to President Obama, the nation’s first African-American president and Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton.

But what stands out more than race, gender or any wild comparison is their greenhorn comments and novice performances thus far.

Dr. Carson keeps tripping over his misplaced positions on gay issues. Already, he has apologized for saying that being gay is a choice and pointing to as proof that people go into prison straight and come out gay.

Earlier this week, he claimed that the federal government only has to follow laws passed by the legislative branch and not the judicial branch. Thus, he reasoned, the executive branch can ignore any U.S. Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage.

Huh? When Ms. Fiorina was asked by Katie Couric if she would consider running for vice president if she doesn’t get the GOP nod, she blasted the veteran journalist, saying: “Would you ask a male candidate that?”

Well, if Ms. Fiorina had been tuned into presidential contests for the last 20 years or so, she would know that question often is posed to men who have thrown their hats into the presidential ring.

While it is entertaining to have “untraditional candidates,” as Dr. Carson and Ms. Fiorina are called, in the presidential race, they have many hurdles to jump if they are to be taken seriously in an already crowded field of much more experienced candidates vying for the GOP presidential nod.

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

No better time to end racial profiling Freddie Gray, 25, was racially profiled and then chased down

by Baltimore police officers.

He subsequently died as result of police action taken after what the mayor called an unjust arrest. But the Gray tragedy is not an isolated case. It is symptomatic of a criminal justice system gone mad with racism and bigotry.

This deadly scenario of racial profiling and the use of fatal police force against black Americans continues to increase across America with blatant disregard for the precious value of life. Yes, Black Lives Matter all the time everywhere.

Congressman John Conyers, D-Mich., and Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., have once again introduced a bill designed to make racial profiling a federal criminal offense. It’s called The End Racial Profiling Act of 2015 (H.R. 1933). If police officers knew that they could face federal imprisonment for committing acts of racial profiling, this law would have a definite impact on reducing these racist practices.

The growing public demonstrations in Baltimore and across

the nation are indications that something substantive needs to change. Even with the calls for better police training and the proposed transition to more community based policing will not work effectively as long as racial profiling by police officers

Benjamin Chavis Jr. is openly permitted without punitive consequences.

Rep. Conyers stated, “This is a systemic issue plaguing men of color in America, stigmatizing them from youth throughout adulthood. The bill introduced

by Sen. Cardin and I would make for the first time, use of racial profiling a federal offense. By ending use of racial profiling in police tactics and prioritizing community relations, we can cultivate community focused, smart policing that rebuilds trust in law enforcement.”

Of course with a Republicanled Congress, it will take significant bipartisan support to get the Conyers-Cardin bill passed.

Sen. Cardin represents the state of Maryland and this is the state that the whole world is now watching and waiting to see what will be the outcome in Baltimore of the Freddie Gray case. Sen. Cardin emphasized, “Tragic events in Baltimore and New York, North Charleston and

Ferguson, and elsewhere around the country have shown us that federal legislation finally ending racial profiling is essential.”

It has been 50 years since the infamous Watts riots in Los Angeles that were also triggered in part by racial profiling and hideous acts of police brutality. So have we learned anything about this issue in the past 50 years? The direct answer is that our society is still in a state of denial of its racial problems that are deep seated and rooted in the systems of racial injustice, poverty and economic inequality.

The current attempts to divert attention away from the unjust racial profiling actions and deadly brutality of the police in Baltimore against Freddie Gray to speculation about whether Mr. Gray broke his own spine and crushed his own voice box in a so-called self-inflected rage is a classic example of how the police always criminalize their victims. Police officers guilty of brutality always in the aftermath attempt to demean the character of those they have brutalized.

Keep in mind, Mr. Gray was deemed suspicious at first by the police only because of how he looked. In other words, the fact that Mr. Gray was racially profiled ultimately led to his death at the hands of police.

We must, therefore keep marching and keep demanding

Police reform needed now “There is no crueler tyranny than that which is perpetuated under the shield of law and in the name of justice.” – Charles de Montesquieu, “The Spirit of the Laws,” 1748

A tragic déjà vu is playing out in communities all across America, particularly in the growingly skeptical streets of black and brown neighborhoods.

Once again, our nation is forced to grapple with fresh accounts of police misconduct in its deadliest incarnation. Once again, the victims are unarmed black men and the perpetrators are the very public servants charged with keeping them — in fact, all of us — safe; it seems only the states and the circumstances change.

On April 4, Walter Scott was driving a Mercedes-Benz with a busted taillight through North Charleston, S.C. Officer Micheal Slager pulled Mr. Scott over.

Said to be in fear of being arrested, the 50-year-old ran away from the car. A cellphone video shows Officer Slager chasing Mr. Scott and shooting at him with his stun gun. When that failed to stop him, he used his gun to fire eight shots at Mr. Scott’s back, killing him on the scene.

Weeks later, in a West Baltimore neighborhood, witnesses used cellphone video to capture parts of Freddie Gray’s arrest.

Police say the 25-year-old was

arrested after making eye contact with the police and then running away. Mr. Gray can be heard screaming in pain as he’s being dragged into a police van. While

Marc H. Morial the mystery of what happened in the van has yet to be solved, we do know that his encounter with the police left him with serious spinal cord injuries. He died of those injuries a week later.

This unjust treatment of our nation’s black and brown citizens by law enforcement officials sworn to dispense justice should stir, if not shock, our collective conscious. These heavy-handed, sometimes fatal, police tactics should inspire outcry from all corners of our country — and the world.

But we can’t leave our frustrations — and our fight — at the doorstep of outrage. Our challenge is to make the Scotts and Grays of this nation the rarest of exceptions, not the fatal rule. Anger has its place, but it is in action — strategic, comprehensive action — that we will begin to attack the cancer of police misconduct.

In light of the most recent deaths, and our nation’s desperate need for solutions during this state of emergency that calls for action, and an action plan, I want to reintroduce the National Urban League’s 10-Point Justice Plan for police reform and accountability, calling for:

1. Widespread use of body cameras and dashboard cameras

2. Broken windows reform and implementation of 21st century community policing model 3. Review and revision of police use of deadly force policies 4. Comprehensive retraining of all police officers 5. Comprehensive review and strengthening of police hiring standards 6. Appointment of special prosecutors to investigate police misconduct 7. Mandatory, uniform FBI reporting and audit of lethal force incidents involving all law enforcement 8. Creation and audit of national database of citizen complaints against police 9. Revision of national police accreditation system for mandatory use by law enforcement to be eligible for federal funds 10. National comprehensive anti-racial profiling law.

When we, as a nation, address the problem of police officers using deadly force, particularly against people in communities of color, we know that we are saving lives. When officers are held accountable for using excessive force, we are encouraged and know that change is possible, but our work does not end there.

To deliver on the promise of fair treatment by law enforcement for every American, we — citizens, community stakeholders, policy makers and politicians — must all commit to play our part for the long haul to right the historic wrong of the unequal treatment of people of color by police under the law.

Marc H. Morial is president and CEO of the National Urban League.

The Free Press welcomes letters

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

equal justice. We must continue without apology to shout as loud as we can that “Black Lives Matter.” The case of Freddie Gray as well as all the other recent cases of racially motivated police brutality must remain in our collective national consciousness and activism until justice is done.

We should definitely express our support the Conyers-Cardin bill. Racial profiling should not be tolerated and must be made a crime by law. Changing laws and enacting The End Racial Profiling Act, however, are the right steps to be taken, but that will not be the complete journey toward equal justice and fairness. All forms of racial injustice must continue to be challenged. The ultimate goal is to have a non-racial society and an inclusive democracy where race or ethnicity will not be a discriminating factor. We still have long way to go.

Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. is the president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association.

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Richmond Free Press

May 7-9, 2015

A9

Letters to the Editor

‘Who are the thugs?’

Who are the “thugs” in Baltimore and other cities in America?

I have watched with deepest regret the aftermath that has followed the death of Freddie Gray, who was in Baltimore police custody at the time of suffering severe spinal cord damage that resulted in his death.

Even worse, why did it take so long to get a police report on what took place? It is strange how long it takes to get police reports on certain incidents when black men are killed by police?

That alone raises a red flag. Do these people have a conscience that tells them right from wrong?

Among the speakers calling for calm by demonstrators was the governor of Maryland, who referred to those who were being destructive on the streets as “thugs.”

Was it possible that he did not have any idea that their anger,

like that of many others across the nation, continues to build up because of all of the black men who have been killed by police? Then the police are acquitted in spite of video, photos and clear evidence.

I believe the definition of “thug” could more easily fit those who are covering up, lying and falsely convicting innocent people than the people the governor referred to. Degrading titles given by people in high places only speaks to their understanding of the true problem. There is a difference between the demonstrators and the people who are responsible for not treating black people with justice.

Those who are responsible to protect all citizens and treat everyone fairly and justly, and those who are responsible to follow the law when prosecuting a case, have had opportunities, education, jobs with good pay and supposedly training for their

Violence sometimes only voice of the violated I am confused. Years ago I learned about a large group of people who felt disenfranchised by the people governing them and they started a riot that grew into a revolution. These folks felt their “life, liberty and pursuit of happiness” were being taken away by a distant power intent on exploiting them for monetary gains. That’s what I was taught in a small South Carolina classroom many years ago.

As I matriculated through higher education here in Virginia, I learned that revolution is really evolution. It is

Free Press deserves kudos The Richmond Association of Black Social Workers congratulates Bonnie Winston, managing editor, and the Richmond Free Press staff on your recent awards from the Virginia Press Association.

It’s always good to see hard work and dedication to the delivery of news recognized. Your articles and photos capture the current events that are relevant in our communities. Without this periodical, many of our stories would never come to light.

Cheers!

KEVIN HOLDER Richmond The writer is president of the Richmond Association of Black Social Workers.

mankind’s basic desire to be prosperous, productive and happy regardless of race, color, ethnicity or gender.

So it should not come as a surprise that people get angry and explosive when they are made an asterisk to a social, political and economic covenant, which says we weren’t talking about you.

I do not condone violence or the destruction of property, but sometimes it has become the only voice of those who feel violated. It becomes the cry from those separated from democracy and full citizenship.

Sadly, violence focused the nation’s attention yet again on this ongoing and systemic disconnect.

Please note that I have not used the words AfricanAmerican or black. This is a universal and historical struggle. It gave birth to the

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Arab spring, to Gandhi’s movement in India and to Nelson Mandela’s long suffering in South Africa. The struggle is echoed in 20th century revolutions in Russia and China. Particular to us is the American Revolution, the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement, which was to make true the words “all men are created equal.”

So I am still confused how a nation and its people “can long endure” under a cloud of mistrust and broken promises.

How can America keep seeing the “chickens come home to roost” and miss the call for political, social and economic justice? How can we hold any truth as “self-evident” after being lied to time and time again?

jobs. Others have been denied nearly everything they have ever needed or tried to work to accomplish.

When people are mistreated over and over, they have no recourse and they resort to venting their anger the only way they know how.

When will America as a nation learn that not one of us is any better than the least among us in the eyesight of God? I do not by any means condone the actions of the demonstrators. But until truth and honesty are brought to the hearts and minds of responsible people, and they show that sincerely through their actions, there will be no lasting peace.

RUBY H. WALDEN Suffolk

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The vision of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights and there is no racial hatred or racial discrimination.

The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred.

Henrico County NAACP Branch and Henrico Ministers Conference present

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Richmond Free Press

A10 May 7-9, 2015

Sports Stories by Fred Jeter

Armstrong tennis team ramps up for winning season George Banks has a powerful hunch there is a potential tennis phenom somewhere within Richmond’s city limits.

And if his instincts are correct, Banks is determined to discover him or her, outfit the prospect with a racquet and sneakers and swing open the door of opportunity.

“Will Richmond ever have another Arthur Ashe? I say, ‘Yes,’ ” Banks told the Richmond Free Press.

Brimming with optimism and energy, Banks wears at least three hats around town.

He’s a Richmond police officer, president and founding father of Metro Richmond Tennis Club, and the volunteer tennis coach at local powerhouse Armstrong High School under on-campus head coach Gary King.

Nothing causes the dimples to pop out on Banks’ face more than a discussion about Richmond tennis past, present and future.

Let’s start with four people in “the present.”

George Banks: A former tennis and football athlete at Benedictine High School, he played four years of tennis under the tutelage of the legendary Dr. John Watson (more on him later) at Virginia Union University.

As an adult, Banks has concentrated on fighting crime and, as a mentor, introducing tennis to hundreds of youngsters.

“We need to show the kids there is more to sports than basketball and football,” he said.

Banks presides over Metro Richmond Tennis Club, which is based at Battery Park and Westover Hills and on Sundays indoors at the Westwood Club. Currently, 105 children are enrolled.

Gary King: A former football All-State pick at Nottoway High School and scholarship lineman at The College of William & Mary, he is a huge man with a soft heart.

King’sArmstrong Wildcats feature the top talent in Conference 26, but also some other teenagers with various challenges who never may have gripped a racquet if not for King and Banks.

For those not yet ready for primetime play, Armstrong High School has the “sponge ball”

Photos by James Haskins/Richmond Free Press

Left, hard-hitting Lamar Richardson of Open High School provides a solid No. 2 singles player at Armstrong and teams with Yusufu Ibrahim to comprise a dominant doubles tandem. Right, smooth-swinging Yusufu Ibrahim of Richmond Community High School plays No. 1 singles and doubles for the Armstrong High School tennis team.

mini-net, on sloping grass, for beginners.

And then there are Yusufu Ibrahim and Lamar Richardson, the so-called “whiz kids,” shining examples of the Metro Richmond Tennis Club.

Yusufu Ibrahim: Born in The Bronx to parents who immigrated from Nigeria, he won Conference 26 as a sophomore and plays No. 1 singles and doubles this spring.

The 140-pounder attends Richmond Community High School and commutes to Armstrong

after school. Often, the ride is provided by Banks — in police uniform and in patrol car.

Quick and savvy, Ibrahim has tremendous court coverage and puts serious spin on about every shot.

Lamar Richardson: A burly 205-pound senior at Richmond’s Open High School, he was all about football until discovering tennis through the Metro Richmond Tennis Club.

“And he never looked back,” said King.

Richardson fell to Ibrahim in last year’s Conference 26 final and figures to meet his teammate again his year.

Together, they form a dominant doubles tandem that could go far in State 3A competition.

Richardson, son of former John Marshall High School basketball star Steve Richardson, has committed to play college tennis at North Carolina A&T State University.

Richmond’s tennis “past” is closely tied to its “present.”

Arthur Ashe, among the greatest tennis players of all time, grew up honing his stroke at Battery Park under the loving wing of Dr. Watson, who served as VUU coach for 47 years.

Other pros with Richmond roots were Rodney Harmon and his late brother, Marel Harmon, and Fernando Lightfoot.

Arthur Ashe’s nephew, Randy Ashe, served as athletic director at Armstrong High School and helped form the unofficial “merger” of Armstrong’s tennis program with the Metro Richmond Tennis Club.

Before the “whiz kids” arrived at Armstrong, the Wildcats’ top player was Mouhamed Gueye, now a scholarship player at Spartanburg Methodist College in South Carolina.

Banks insists there are more talented tennis players on the way, already building their games with Metro Richmond Tennis Club, and many more yet to be discovered — which brings us to the future.

Banks envisions a domed facility someday, possibly at Armstrong, to provide more year-round training. He points to similar, cityoperated indoor courts in Norfolk, Washington and Philadelphia.

Banks is always on the lookout for great players — “the next Arthur Ashe.”

But he also throws out the welcome mat for youngsters of more modest capabilities, and that’s what makes his labor of love so endearing.

You don’t have to have a big serve and volley to compete for the Metro Richmond Tennis Club or Armstrong High School. Just having big dreams will do.

Mayweather Flying Squirrels return home Friday Coming home seals legacy; rematch possible Free Press wire reports

LAS VEGAS Floyd Mayweather Jr. cemented his place among the pantheon of boxing greats, improving to 48-0 with a unanimous decision over Manny Pacquiao last Saturday in a fight some believed didn’t live up to its immense hype and price tag.

Mayweather weathered an early assault from the Filipino southpaw before winning the later rounds, using his reach and jab to finish ahead on all three scorecards in a welterweight showdown set to be the top grossing prize fight of all time.

“When the history books are written, it was worth the wait,” Mayweather said in the ring after a four-belt unification bout that was more than five years in the making.

Though Pacquiao repeatedly forced Mayweather to backpedal, the wily American blunted his opponent’s best efforts by using his renowned defensive skills while getting in several telling jabs and punches of his own.

The contest had the capacity crowd on its feet roaring from the opening bell to the end of the 12-round showcase.

“Manny Pacquiao is a hell of a fighter. I see now why he is at the pinnacle of boxing,” the 38-year-old Mayweather said after an emotional embrace with Pacquiao, 36.

In the wake of the fight, it was disclosed that Pacquiao was nursing a major shoulder injury during the bout. He suffered the torn rotator cuff during training, but did not mention the injury beforehand. He was to undergo surgery this week and is to be sidelined for nine to 12 months while recovering.

The Nevada Athletic Commission has asked for an investigation and could consider sanctions against Pacquiao for filing a form stating he was uninjured before the fight.

Separately, a class action suit was filed Tuesday in federal court in Las Vegas claiming fraud because of the lack of disclosure and seeking damages from Pacquiao for anyone who paid to watch the fight in person or by pay-per-view.

Meanwhile, Mayweather stated in a text to ESPN that he would be open to a rematch after Pacquiao fully recovers from surgery.

The fight between the two greatest boxers of their generation was one that appeared might never happen as Pacquiao resisted Mayweather’s demands for a blood test for five years.

When the two camps finally hammered out a deal, it was the richest in boxing history, setting new records for pay-per-view buys and gate receipts.

The fighters also were paid royally for their night’s work, with Mayweather guaranteed $120 million and Pacquiao $80 million, although both men could pocket much more depending on the number of pay-per-view purchases.

For Mayweather, the fight was one that will shape his legacy.

Dubbed the “Fight of the Century,” the MGM Grand Garden Arena crackled with energy as the rich and famous settled into their ringside seats.

Actors Clint Eastwood, Robert De Niro, Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington rubbed shoulders with sports celebrities such as Michael Jordan and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

With prime seats commanding six-figure sums on the resale market, even the very wealthy and very famous were forced to call in favors to secure a golden ticket while an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 fight fans flooded into the desert gambling capital to be part of the buzz.

Wearing a simple white T-shirt, Pacquiao knelt in his corner for a prayer as boos filled the hall when Mayweather appeared on the giant screens.

There were no smiles from the stone-faced Mayweather as he entered the ring wearing black, white and gold trunks and sporting a $23,000 mouth guard infused with flecks of gold and pieces of a hundred-dollar bill.

The bout marked Mayweather’s 11th consecutive fight at the MGM, but it was Pacquiao who enjoyed a massive edge in support.

“It is a good fight. I thought I won the fight. He didn’t do nothing. He always moved outside,” said Pacquiao, who dropped to 57-6-2. “I did my best but my best wasn’t good enough.”

While the Richmond Flying Squirrels promise wholesome, family oriented entertainment on The Boulevard, the team management doesn’t promise victories.

That’s a good thing because the local baseball pros, the Class AA Eastern League affiliate of Rando the San Francisco Giants, have been losing like never before.

The Flying Squirrels began the week with a franchise-record 15 straight losses.

The extended slump dropped the team to 3-17 and last place in the Eastern League’s Western Division.

This is the sixth season of Flying Squirrels baseball. Previous squads have been more competitive.

During past seasons, the Flying Squirrels were 68-73 in 2010, 76-66 in 2011, 70-71 in 2012, 70-72 in 2013 and 79-63 a year ago when the squad reached the playoff finals.

The next home stand commences Friday,

May 8, with a 7:05 p.m. first pitch against the Bowie Baysox.

It will be both T-shirt giveaway night and also Ocho de Mayo Hispanic Heritage Night.

Rando Moreno of the Dominican Republic has been a bright spot at shortstop.

Moreno In his first year of AA ball, the 22-year-old shortstop entered the week hitting .321 with a .375 on-base percentage.

Several former Squirrels shortstops have enjoyed upward mobility in the organization.

Former Richmond shortstops now with parent San Francisco are Brandon Crawford and Ehire Adrianza.

Despite troubles on the field, the Flying Squirrels are second in Eastern League attendance with an average of 5,208 fans per game. The Reading Fightin Phils of Pennsylvania lead with an average attendance of 5,531 fans per game.

Here is the schedule, with promotions, for the Richmond Flying Squirrels’ six-game home stand at The Diamond:

Friday, May 8, Bowie Baysox, 7:05 p.m., T-shirt give-away; Ocho de Mayo Hispanic Heritage Night Saturday, May 9, Bowie, 7:05 p.m., fireworks Sunday, May 10, Bowie, 1:35 p.m., Mother’s Day/Wine Stopper give-away Monday, May 11, Binghamton Mets, 6:35 p.m., Bark in the Park Tuesday, May 12, Binghamton, 6:35 p.m., Legends of Wrestling Wednesday, May 13, Binghamton, 12:05 p.m., RVA Day at The Diamond Bowie is an affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles; Binghamton is an affiliate of the New York Mets.

Henrico High’s Williams headed to VSU

Walter Williams

After helping Henrico High School to a state championship earlier this year, Walter Williams will continue his basketball career at Virginia State University.

The springy 6-foot-4, 190-pounder has signed to play for Trojans Coach Lonnie Blow.

“Because of his work ethic, attitude and skill, I look for Walter to have a fine career at VSU,” said Henrico High Coach Vance Harmon. “Walter is a Division I talent. VSU is getting a steal.”

Blossoming as a senior, Williams averaged 15.4 points and 6.8 rebounds this past season for a Henrico team that went 28-1 en route to the State Division 5 crown.

Perhaps Williams’ best game was a 37-point, 14-rebound performance in the State quarterfinals against Chesterfield’s L.C. Bird High School.

VSU, coming off an 18-8 season, has some big holes to fill. The Trojans lose five seniors who accounted for about 40 points and 20 rebounds per game.

VUU lands new recruit for basketball team

Tavon Mealy

Newly appointed Virginia Union University basketball Coach Jay Butler has landed his first recruit, and he didn’t have to go far to find him.

Tavon Mealy led Richard Bland College to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II title this past season. He has signed a full scholarship offer from VUU. The powerfully built 6-foot-3 Mealy averaged 17.2 points and 8.3 rebounds this past season, while hitting 64.4 percent from the field.

Mealy, who had more than 1,000 points in two seasons at Richard Bland, scored in double figures in 35 of 36 games this season and accumulated 12 double-doubles for points and rebounds.

The former Armstrong High School All-Capital District player will travel to Las Vegas for the May 9 NJCAA All-Star game at Orleans Arena.

Mealy gives Butler’s VUU Panthers two former Armstrong Wildcats. Robert Valentine will be a sophomore guard next season.

VCU’s Alie-Cox hit with assault charge

Virginia Commonwealth University basketball standout Mo Alie-Cox faces a misdemeanor assault and battery charge stemming from an April 3 altercation involving a woman at a nightclub.

Alie-Cox is to appear in Richmond General District Court at 9 a.m. May 20.

According to court documents, Ashley Kaye Morgan filed a criminal complaint with authorities April 22, claiming that Alie-Cox punched her in the face at Society American Grill & Social Club, 1421 E. Cary St. The incident occurred a few hours after former VCU Coach Shaka Smart announced he was leaving the Rams to become coach at the University of Texas.

Morgan said in her handwritten complaint that she became involved in a verbal dispute with another woman in the Shockoe Slip club. She wrote that the

other woman pushed her and Morgan then “accidentally” grabbed the woman by the hair. It was then that she claims Alie-Cox intervened and punched her in the face.

VCU Athletic Director Ed McLaughMo Alie-Cox lin says the school is monitoring the situation and will allow the legal process to run its course.

Alie-Cox, a rising junior majoring in criminal justice, averaged 7.5 points during the last season, helping the Rams to win the Atlantic-10 Tournament title and a NCAA Tournament berth.

Alie-Cox started all 36 games, averaging 25.9 minutes per contest.

Heavily recruited, Alie-Cox signed with VCU May 26, 2011, soon after the Rams’ advancement to the NCAA Final Four that year.

At VCU, Alie-Cox was ruled a “partial qualifier” academically by the NCAA and was not permitted to play or practice as a true freshman.

This is the second time in less than a year that a VCU basketball player has had a brush with the law. Briante Weber was charged with petit larceny last July after allegedly stealing an iPhone from a fellow student at a campus gym. The charge was dismissed in Richmond General District Court on the condition that Weber serve 50 hours of community service and make restitution.

At the time, VCU also suspended Weber from the Rams’ season opener against Tennessee in Annapolis, Md.

May 7-9, 2015 B1

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Spotlight on local chapter president of National Negro Golf Association Fore!

Be on the lookout for golf, fun and fellowship.

That’s what organizers of the National Negro Golf Association (NNGA) are aiming for next weekend when the organization kicks off its 50th anniversary celebration with golf, get-togethers and commemorations in the Richmond area.

Thomas L. Johnson Jr., president of the Richmond Chapter of the NNGA, is spearheading local organization efforts.

“It is imperative that we show NNGA members and their guests from around the country true Richmond hospitality,” Mr. Johnson says. “My role as president is to ensure that this comes off without a hitch.”

Other NNGA members from Atlanta, Philadelphia, Cleveland, New York and Washington will converge on Richmond for the events, scheduled from Wednesday, May 13 through Sunday, May 17.

Play will open with a “Ham Am Scramble” on Thursday at Mattaponi Springs Golf Club in Ruther Glen, followed by a tournament Friday and Saturday at Hunting Hawk Golf Club in Henrico County.

Members will stay at a Henrico County hotel and engage in a bevy of social activities between rounds of golf.

Among the activities: An awards banquet and celebration of the NNGA’s two living founders — NNGA Richmond chapter member Dr. George M. Hampton of Dale City, a former professor who previously served on the Virginia Parole Board and as chair of the Virginia ABC Board, and Attorney O.T. Wells of New York City.

The NNGA was founded in 1965 in Lebanon, Pa., by 11 friends to “bring together men of goodwill in the spirit of camaraderie and social enjoyment of its members,” according to its website.

The founders chose golf “to enhance the spirit of life and to cement that camaraderie,” it continues.

At the time of the NNGA’s formation, access to golf by African-American players was extremely rare because of discrimination and exclusionary policies.

In 1961, Charlie Sifford, who had won the United Golf Association’s National Negro Open six times, was the first African-American to play on the PGA Tour. Mr. Sifford was a friend of the NNGA founders. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014 and died in February at age 92.

NNGA organizers agreed to play three times a year at different courses across the nation and abroad with a mission to “increase access and awareness to the game for minorities across the country.”

During the last 50 years, the NNGA has grown to more than 200 members from Maine to California connected with seven chapters.

The Richmond chapter is the NNGA’s largest with 44 members ranging in age from 30 to 80, says Mr. Johnson.

Members are required to be at least 21 years old, interested in playing golf and upholding the integrity of the game, he adds.

The organization has assisted several African-Amer-

Dating Easy

As a game, golf is: Your best friend and your worst enemy all rolled into one.

I can think of no other game where you can go out one day and display the ability to perform at a high level for an entire game, or at a minimum, on consecutive holes, then go out the next day and wonder where your skills went. It’s the ebb and flow of the game that keeps you coming back and it happens at all skill levels.

ican pro golfers seeking to advance their careers. It also supports the National Minority Junior Golf Scholarship Fund and has helped raise money for the United Negro College Fund through celebrity golf tournaments.

“Our motto is fun, camaraderie and golf, in that order,” Mr. Johnson says. “If you can’t meet the first two criteria, the NNGA is not for you.”

In his tenure as president, he says he intends to “usher in the next 50 years on the foundation put in place by the founders of the national association.”

“My primary goal,” he adds, “would be to increase participation in all NNGA activities.

This may seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but the NNGA is first and foremost a social club. The bond and camaraderie envisioned by our founders can only be enhanced by getting to know one another as brothers.”

In his professional life, Mr. Johnson is one of five deputy commonwealth’s attorneys serving under Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor. Mr. Johnson directs the traffic section and specializes in vehicular manslaughter, homicide and violent crime prosecutions.

Here’s a look at this week’s Personality, Thomas L. Johnson Jr.: Date and place of birth: Aug. 14, in Tappahannock.

Current home: Goochland County.

Alma maters: Bachelor of arts, The College of William & Mary; juris doctorate, Wake Forest University School of Law. Family: Wife, Crystal; and children, Kaci, 8, and Ryan, 6.

When elected president of NNGA Richmond chapter: January 2015 for a two-year term.

Activities planned for the celebration: On Friday, May 15, Richmond and the surrounding region are invited to join us in our celebration at the exclusive Bull and Bear Club in Downtown for a party we call “Rare Air,” featuring live music from J. Baxter and The S.A.U.C.E Band and DJ Nobe.

This is an event that Richmond’s grown and sophisticated will not want to miss. Following golf on Saturday, we will close with our awards banquet and celebration of our two living founding members, Ozro “O.T.” Wells and Richmond

Why I play golf: My first love was baseball and softball. I can no longer play those sports without hurting myself and paying for it for weeks on end. Golf was the next logical alternative for me. I enjoy competition and I love the outdoors. What better way than to combine the two experiences over a four-hour round of golf?

When I learned the game: I’m still learning! I started taking serious interest in the game probably about eight years ago.

could eat it every night without suffering the consequences, it would be my wife’s German chocolate cake, but as a secondary option, I just love those Edy’s strawberry fruit bars.

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Person who influenced me the most: My father.

The book that influenced me the most: “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. It’s a book without a happy ending that highlighted the injustices of the past and keeps me mindful of the present.

What I’m reading now: “Command Authority” by Tom Clancy and Mark Greaney.

Best time of my life: My wedding, followed by the births of my two children.

My next goal: To continue to grow in my career and to reduce my handicap. Always, to reduce my handicap!

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My friends say that I: I would hope that they would say I’m loyal and would do anything I can to help them in their time of need.

Pre-College STEM Summer Program Virginia Union University June 22 - July 17, 2015 The Mathematics and Science Summer Institute (MSSI) at Virginia Union University (VUU) provides recently graduated high school students with a 4-week, on-campus living and learning experience, prior to the beginning of their freshman year in college. The program is supported by the National Science Foundation, and is aimed at increasing the preparedness of participating students for their college STEM career. During the MSSI program, students will receive: free on-campus housing; free college courses (Orientation, Mathematics, and Physical Education; a total of 5-6 credits); free workshops focused on “College Survival Skills”; free career coaching; and a stipend of $100 per week. At the conclusion of the program, students are expected to meet prerequisites for the freshman mathematics course that is required for all science majors; be familiar with the scientific method, know how to use it, understand its role in the development of science and have improved critical thinking skills.

Eligible students with an interest in STEM careers, planning to attend VUU in the fall of 2015 are encouraged to apply. Application forms for the program as well as instructions and detailed eligibility requirements can be found at http://bit.ly/vuu-mssi. Complete applications and supporting documentation can be returned via email, mail or fax (please see application for contact numbers). For additional information, please contact Dr. Phillip W. Archer (phone: 804-257-5692; Email pwarcher@vuu.edu), or Ms. Elle Scribner (phone 804-414-0134; Email: CAPSinSTEM@vuu.edu).

Space is limited, so act now to reserve your spot in the program!

My handicap: I’m a 21 handicap, which translates into an 85 one day and a 104 on another.

How people can join: Interested candidates will have to be sponsored by a current member of the club. This typically occurs after playing with several members as a guest during our weekend outings or tournaments. A candidate’s application will be reviewed by the body and the application is voted on by the members at one of our monthly meetings.

Favorite course: Punta Espada Golf Club in the Dominican Republic has been my favorite course so far.

Favorite golfer (male): Tiger Woods.

Favorite golfer (female): Paula Creamer, but I’m looking forward to following the careers of Cheyenne Woods and Sadena Parks, two of the newest African-American golfers in the LPGA.

Save the Date

Upcoming Free Health Seminars VCU Medical Center will be offering the following free seminars about heart health at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s Education and Library Complex, located at 1800 Lakeside Avenue.

Registration is recommended. Free parking available.

Register online at vcuhealth.org/seminars or call (804) 828-0123 for more information.

Wednesday, May 13, 2015 | 5:30 p.m.

Why Do We Need a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center?

Advice to aspiring golfers: Do not let frustration in learning a swing deter you from the game.

Golf is about muscle memory and you simply cannot develop that memory over a short period of time. The most successful beginners have time to work on their game constantly. If you don’t have that time, which most don’t because we have careers and families, do not expect instantaneous results.

Accidents remain the leading cause of death in children. Join Dr. Jeffrey Haynes who will talk about the broad emergency and trauma resources of Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, the first and only Level I pediatric trauma center in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Prized possession: I really don’t have one. If everything was the way that I wanted it, I would probably have a serious watch collection. I love a good timepiece.

Stroke Demystified

Perfect day: Any day on the golf course.

Tuesday, May 19, 2015 | 5:30 p.m.

Gout: No Longer the ‘Disease of Kings’ Gout — a complex form of arthritis — can affect anyone.

Join Dr. Nehal Shah who will talk about the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options for managing gout.

Tuesday, May 26, 2015 | 5:30 p.m.

Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability and death in the U.S. Knowing the warning signs and risk factors of stroke can improve outcomes. Join Dr. Sherita Chapman who will discuss what to do if you are at risk for stroke, and what to expect during recovery.

Perfect evening: Spending time with family and friends after a cookout or seafood boil, talking and enjoying each other’s company.

How I unwind: A good cigar and a good bourbon usually factor into this equation.

Awarded the 2014 American Hospital Association-McKesson Quest for Quality Prize Visit VCUQuest4Quality.com for more information.

Best late-night snack: If I

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Richmond Free Press

B2 May 7-9, 2015

Happenings

Celebrating Mother’s Day Photos and interviews by Sandra Sellars

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 10.

In honor and celebration of moms, the Richmond Free Press asked people:

If you could give anything to your mother, what would it be?

C o n n i s Te n n e s s e e o f Chesterfield: “I would give my mother a hug and a kiss because she doesn’t live here. She lives in Baton Rouge, La.”

Marcus Lewis of Henrico: “I would continue to give my mother the same love she has always given me. She has been there for me since day one.”

Natalie Conway of Glen Allen: “I think I would give my mom the gift of good health.”

Mallory Hasen of Jackson Ward: “I would buy my mom a house.

She was a single mom raising my sister and me, and she always had to rent because she never had the money to buy.”

Anthony Gregory of South Side: “I would give my mother the peace on earth that she feels she’s going to get in heaven.”

Sheshat Kara of Henrico: “I would restore her to optimum health. I would love to see her healthy and strong in her winter years.”

Former HUD secretary to keynote housing coalition event May 21 For 25 years, the Better Housing Coalition has been transforming lives and communities in the Richmond-Petersburg area by providing affordable housing with ongoing support services for residents. Those services include GED and computer training for adults, helping senior citizens apply for medical benefits and Social Security and programs for teens.

The group also “partners with other organizations who come in to give presentations on job opportunities,” said Stacie Birchett, spokesperson for the housing coalition.

The Richmond-based nonprofit organization is celebrating its 25th anniversary Thursday, May 21, at a Downtown hotel with a daylong event, “Transform RVA: A Day of Celebration, Education & Transformation.”

The event will feature an 11 a.m. luncheon with keynote speaker Henry Cisneros, former secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under President Bill Clinton.

At the luncheon, Golden Hammer Awards will be presented for excellence in neighborhood revitalization.

Several afternoon workshops will follow the luncheon, including “Wanted: Jobs That Make a Difference,” “Good Places to Live = More Successful Students,” “Home Is More Than a House: Liveable Communities,” “A Tale of Transportation: Connecting Job Seekers to Employers” and “Getting Better with Time: Housing for the Age Wave.”

A cocktail reception with jazz music will follow from 5 to 7 p.m.

Tickets are $100 for the full day and $50 for the luncheon only. Limited need-based scholarships also are available.

Information: www.betterhousingcoalition.org or (804) 644-0546.

Photos by Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Asian-American celebration Members of Red Silk Performing Arts, above, perform the “Passion of Peking Opera” at the 18th Annual Asian-American Celebration last Saturday at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. The event showcased the culture and food of several Asian nations, including Korea, Bhutan, China, Japan, Vietnam, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Singapore and the Philippines. Right, Hyung Joo Cho represents the Korean-American community with a performance of the 12-meter ribbon dance. The fun-filled day was presented by the Asian-American Society of Central Virginia.

International festivals

Stroke education dinner slated for May 14 “Jazz Up Your Health.”

That’s the invitation from the American Stroke Association and Bon Secours Neuroscience Institute. They are hosting a “Power to End Stroke Jazz Night.”

The healthy living event is scheduled for 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 14, at the Trinity Family Life Center, 3601 Dill Road on North Side.

Musician J. Plunky Branch of Richmond will perform at the free event.

Also on tap are a healthy dinner, giveaways, workshops, cooking demonstrations, health screenings and stroke counseling.

The event is designed to raise awareness and education about the risk of stroke and to make an impact on the high incidence of stroke within the African-American community, according to organizers.

African-Americans have nearly twice the risk for stroke compared to white people, and a much higher death rate from stroke, according to the stroke association’s statistics.

Pre-registration for the event is requested at www.rvajazznight. org.

Information: Email rvajazznight@heart.org or (804) 965-6517.

Wednesday, May 13, 12-1 p.m.

Sharon Rae North: jazz vocals & smooth originals $10 for music & lunch

815 E. Grace Street

643-3589 www.stpaulsvra.org/jazz

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Car: 2005 Infinity G35

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804-330-2467

TERMS: CASH OR CERTIFIED CHECK

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Board Certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgeons Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons

FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH

F. L. O. Women’s Ministry Prayer Breakfast Empowering Women Empowering Humanity

SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2015 9:30 AM Guest Speaker

Yewande Austin Change Rocks Foundation Activist, Artist, Ambassador

Tickets: $12.00

Rev. Dr. Rodney D. Waller, Senior Pastor First African Baptist Church 2700 Hanes Avenue Richmond, VA 23222 / Office: 804-329-7279 /http://www.firstafricanbaptist.org

Richmond Community Hospital, Suite 210 1500 N. 28th Street Richmond, Va. 23223

NE

Members of the Latin Ballet of Virginia, above, dance and twirl as they enthusiastically entertain an appreciative audience. Left, Reggie Bates and Maria Gavilan show off their dance moves. They were enjoying the annual spring party known as the ¿Qué Pasa? Festival, sponsored by the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The lively showcase of food, music and art was held last Saturday along the Canal Walk in Downtown.

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Richmond Free Press

May 7-9, 2015

B3

Faith News/Directory

Harriet’s Place tea ministry opens in Washington Park

By Joey Matthews

More than 100 colorful teapots of all shapes and sizes fill the idyllic home in the historic Washington Park community on North Side.

They will serve as the centerpiece for Scripture Tea Fellowship Ministries, whose mission is to “provide spiritual, social, educational and economic empowerment in a safe place of refuge and relaxation over a cup of tea and the word of God,” according to the Rev. Jeanette Brown, the ministry’s founder.

“Sometimes, it’s hard to get people to go to church, but it might be easier to get them to sit down for conversations over tea,” she said.

The ministry is based in a newly renovated home owned by her family.

It is named Harriet’s Place in honor of her grandmother, the late Harriett Winston Carter, who died Dec. 21, 2013, at age 104.

A longtime member of St. John Baptist Church on North Side, Mrs. Carter was recognized as a centenarian by President

2006 Decatur Street, Richmond, VA 23224 (804) 232-2867

The Rev. Jeanette Brown displays one of the more than 100 colorful teapots at Harriet’s Place, the North Side home of Scripture Tea Fellowship Ministries.

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

Remember...

At New Deliverance, You Are Home!

See you there and bring a friend.

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

Sunday 8 a.m. Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship Service

Wednesday Services Senior Citizens Noonday Bible Study Every Wed. 12noon -1 p.m.

Bible Study Count: noonday Wednesday night 7 p.m. Prayer 7:15 p.m. Bible Teaching Sanctuary - All Are Welcome!

Saturday

8:30 a.m. Intercessory Prayer

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

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

Visit www.ndec.net.

32

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Hebrew 12:14 (KJV)

Guest Preacher:

Dr. Robert A. Diggs, Sr., Pastor Tabernacle Baptist Church, Petersburg, VA

ENROLL NOW!!!

Accepting applications for children 2 yrs. old to 3rd Grade Our NDCA curriculum also consists of a Before and After program.

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

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

Sunday, May 10, 2015

8:00 a.m. - Morning Worship 9:30 a.m. - Sunday School 11:15 a.m. - Morning Worship Guest Speaker: Rev. Shamara Haynes

Mount Olive Baptist Church

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 Morning Worship

8:30 A.M. 10 A.M.

Wednesdays 6:00 p.m. ..... Prayer Service 6:30 p.m. ..... Bible Study

Swansboro Baptist Church

Dr. Kirkland R. Walton, Pastor

Rev. Darryl G. Thompson, Pastor

2015 Theme: The Year of Moving Forward

Thursdays:



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

Unity Mother’s Day Service

Sundays

8:00 a.m.

Early Morning Worship 9:30 a.m.

Sunday School 11:00 a.m.

Morning Worship

Tuesdays

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

Noon Day Bible Study

Wednesdays

6:30 p.m.

Prayer and Praise 7:00 p.m.

Bible Study

May 10, 2015 at 10 a.m.

Music rendered by The S.H. Thompson Memorial & The Senior Choirs

Sunday TV Broadcast WTVZ 9 a.m. Norfolk/Tidewater

THE NEW DELIVERANCE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (NDCA)

Spring Revival

Happy Mother’s Day

St. Peter Baptist Church

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

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

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

Dr. Robert L. Pettis, Sr., Pastor Monday, May 18 thru Wednesday, May 20, 2015 7:00 PM Nightly

Maryland and North Carolina attended an open house.

She said she uses biblical teachings from Titus chapter 2, verses 3 through 5 as a guiding principle for the ministry. It urges women to live reverent lives and pass along those lessons to younger women.

Rev. Brown said her ministry will focus on attracting women and girls, but will be open to men and boys as well.

She said the home will host groups, including church groups, book clubs, social organizations and birthday parties.

She said people will be encouraged to have conversations over tea and other refreshments and discuss their spiritual, emotional and material needs and other life issues.

“This will be a safe haven for people,” she said.

Rev. Brown hopes to gain nonprofit status for the ministry, but for now she relies on her own finances and donations to fund her efforts.

For more information, contact Rev. Brown: jbrown2009@comcast.net or (301) 806-6890.

Sharon Baptist Church

Zion Baptist Church

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

New Deliverance Evangelistic Church

Obama and Mayor Dwight C. Jones.

Rev. Brown said the teas will provide a setting to discuss scriptures and other spiritual matters, and for prayer meetings, Bible studies, mentoring, teaching and reading groups, baking and cooking lessons, a clothes closet and food pantry.

Rev. Brown is an associate minister at Westwood Baptist Church on Glenburnie Road. She said she was inspired in 2000 to start such a ministry.

“I was sleeping and the Lord woke me up and gave me a vision for a scripture tea fellowship,” she said.

Since then, she has retired from the Environmental Protection Agency, where she worked for 20 years, and split time between a Maryland home and one in Richmond.

Rev. Brown and others began renovations to her late grandmother’s Washington Park home in December 2014. They repainted it and installed new pipes, heating, air conditioning and plumbing.

Rev. Brown, 57, opened Harriet’s Place to the public for the first time late last month when more than 70 women from the community and from Washington,

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

Riverview

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

GRAYLAND BAPTIST CHURCH The Church Where “Everybody is Somebody and Jesus is Lord.”

2301 Third Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23222 • Phone: (804) 329-7313 • Fax: (804) 329-6420

www.graylandbaptistchurch.org • Rev. Gina Whitaker Cannon, Transitional Pastor

Communion Sunday Sunday, May 10, 2015

Happy Mother’s Day

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

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Dr. Andrew Monroe Mosley, Jr. Pastor of Quioccasin Baptist Church 9011 Quioccasin Road Richmond, Virginia

JUNE 1983  JUNE 2015

Sermon by Rev. Gina Whitaker Cannon Music by the Mass Choir

Sundays 8:30 a.m.

Church School and New Members Class Wednesdays 7:00 pm Prayer Service & Bible Study

You are invited to our

“Pre-Mother’s Day” Breakfast

Saturday, May 9, 2015 • 8:30 a.m. al

u Ann

featuring a

Hat & Purse Auction

C. W�������, J�. F��������� H��� Call the church for tickets!

THE WOMEN’S MINISTRY of

Garland Avenue Baptist Church

2700 Garland Avenue

Dr. Jeffery O. Smith, Pastor

s of “Women of Act Conscience: Fait h”

Invites You to Support Their May Activities Theme:

SATURDAY, JUNE 6 32nd Anniversary Banquet Fellowship Hall 6:00 P.M. Speaker: Reverend Frank Lomax, III

Pastor, First Union Baptist Church Crozier, Virginia

All services held at Quioccasin Baptist Church

SUNDAY, JUNE 7

Morning Worship Service 10:00 A.M. Speaker: Reverend David Frazier Pastor, Mount Sinai Baptist Church Richmond, Virginia

Anniversary Worship Service 3:00 P.M. Speaker: Reverend Larry Collins

Pastor, Mount Calvary Baptist Church Powhatan, Virginia

To purchase tickets for the banquet, visit www.quioccasin.org or call 804-741-2313

Saturday, May 16, 2015 4:00 p.m.

A Colloquium honoring Richmond Women Dr. Virgie Binford Dr. Lucille Brown Mrs. Willie Dell Dr. Grace Harris Mrs. Florence Cooper Smith

Ms. Sabrina Squire, Moderator

Sunday, May, 17, 2015, 11 a.m.

The Morning Corporate Worship Featuring speaker:

First Lady Mrs. Lorianne S. Smith

“The Liturgical Dance” 4 PM A Celebration of Praise and Worship Through Dance featuring

Bethlehem Baptist Church, Embassy of Heaven Ministries, Fifth Baptist Church, Fifth Street Baptist Church, Garland Avenue Baptist Church, Riverview Baptist Church, St. Peter Baptist Church, Thirty-First Street Baptist Church

Richmond Free Press

B4 May 7-9, 2015

Faith News/Directory

N. Purcelle Brown, 77, president of Chiles’ Funeral Home When N. Purcelle Brown was honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1960, he hoped to find work in air conditioning and refrigeration using the training he received in the military.

He also had worked as a mechanic on B-52 bombers.

“Because of discrimination, he was unable to find work in his field,” his daughter, Dr. Laurie Brown-Abdelmageed of Bryans Road, Md., said.

So his uncle, O.P. Chiles Sr., who founded Chiles’ Funeral Home in Church Hill in 1933, offered him a job as a funeral assistant.

Mr. Brown accepted the position, and the rest is history.

When Mr. Chiles died in 1978, Mr. Brown was named president and manager at Chiles, where he remained the face of the funeral home at 2100 Fairmount Ave. for more than three decades.

The community is remembering Mr. Brown after his death April 23, 2015, in Richmond.

The family received friends in the N. Purcelle Brown Memorial Chapel at Chiles’ Funeral Home on Friday, May 1.

His life was celebrated at a funeral Saturday, May 2, at Moore Street Missionary Baptist Church, where Mr. Brown was a deacon for more than 30 years.

Mr. Brown was born in New Kent County on April 4, 1938.

He was drafted into the Air Force after he graduated from New Kent High School in 1956.

R&B singer Ben E. King, 76 Reuters

Soul and R&B singer Ben E. King, famous for his deep, velvety baritone voice and the classic hit song “Stand by Me,” died of natural Mr. causes in New Jersey at 76.

He died Thursday, April 30, 2015, his publicist, Phil Brown, said.

Mr. King was born Benjamin Earl Nelson in Henderson, N.C., and moved to Harlem, N.Y., at age 9 with his family. He began his career in the doo-wop group The Five Crowns, which later became The Drifters, before branching out as a solo artist.

The Drifters had a string of hits with Atlantic Records and were inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. Mr. King co-wrote and sang the lead on the group’s first hit, “There Goes My Baby,” in 1959.

He also was the lead vocalist with the group on songs such as “Save the Last Dance for Me,” “This Magic Moment,” “Dance With Me” and “I Count the Tears.”

After a contractual dispute, Mr. King began a solo career in 1960 and recorded his best known song, “Stand By Me,” which was voted one of the Songs of the Century by the Recording Industry Association

of America. Mr. King wrote the 1961 hit with Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller.

The song, which is featured in and provided the title for the 1986 film “Stand

by Me” by director King Rob Reiner, also was inducted by the Library of Congress into the National Recording Registry.

Mr. King had five No. 1 hits with The Drifters and as a solo artist.

Survivors include his wife, Betty, three children and six grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements had not been announced by Free Press deadline.

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

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

FirstM iBaptist Church dlothian

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

He went to work at Chiles after his discharge, then earned a degree in mortuary science from Eckels College of Mortuary Science in Philadelphia.

“He loved serving people in their time of need,” Dr. Brown-Abdelmageed said.

“He just had a heart for people.”

He met his future wife, Ida B. “Betty” Brown, at her aunt’s funeral in 1960.

They began dating and were married in 1965. They bought a home on North Side, Mr. Brown where they raised their daughter. They had been married 49 years when she died in February 2014.

His daughter described her father as “a sweetheart.”

“He was always happy, always caring and always laughing.

History-making golfers die days apart Free Press wire reports

Two of professional golf’s successful African-American golfers have died — Calvin Peete and Pete Brown.

Mr. Peete, the most successful AfricanAmerican professional golfer on the PGA Tour prior to Tiger Woods, died Wednesday, April 29, 2015, in Atlanta.

Reports are that the 71-year-old Detroit native died of lung cancer.

Mr. Brown, the first African-American player to win a PGA Tour event, died Friday, May 1, 2015, in Augusta, Ga. He was 80. Details on the cause of death were not available.

The straight-hitting Mr. Peete, who overcame physical hardship as a youngster and took up golf at age 24 in Rochester, N.Y., won 12 PGA Tour events, 11 of them claimed between 1982 and 1986.

His best year was 1982 when he won four tournaments and finished fourth on the money list. His four victories matched Craig Stadler and Tom Watson for most on the tour that year.

Sunday

Church School 9:45AM Worship 11:00AM

Tuesday

Bible Study 12 Noon 7:00PM Prayer & Praise 8:15PM

Rev. Pernell J. Johnson, Pastor

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

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

“MAKE IT HAPPEN” Pastor Kevin Cook

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

Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 a.m.

Come Join Us!

To empower people of God spiritually, mentally and emotionally for successful living.

… and Listen to our Radio Broadcast Sundays at 10:15 a.m. on WCLM 1450 AM

Jesus went throughout Galilee teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

- Matthew 4:23

Thirty-first Street Baptist Church

everence e with elevanc R g in Dr. Morris Henderson, Senior Pastor bin om ❖ C SUNDAYS

Theme for 2015: Becoming a Five-Star Church of Excellence I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil. 4:13

We Are Growing In The Kingdom As We Grow The Kingdom with Word, Worship and Witness

SUNDAYS 9AM The Family Altar (A time for meditation, healing, and deliverance)

9:45AM Church Sunday School 10:40AM Worship & Praise 11AM Divine Worship Message by Pastor Bibbs New Church School Classes From Nursery – College Student Also Women’s & Men’s Classes



Pastor and Founder

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

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

Reverend Dr. Lester D. Frye

11:00 AM Mid-day Meditation

Ebenezer Baptist Church

Broad Rock Baptist Church

Early Morning Worship ~ 8 a.m.

Sunday School ~ 9:30 a.m.

Morning Worship ~ 11 a.m.

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

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

Radio Ministry: Sunday: 9:30 a.m. {1540 AM}

phy for lowest stroke average in 1984 and, in 1985, added the Players Championship to his wins list.

Mr. Brown joined the PGA Tour in 1963, two years after Mr. Sifford broke the color Mr. Brown barrier. Mr. Brown was the first African-American player to win an event, clinching the 1964 Waco Turner Open in Burneyville, Okla. He also won the 1970 Andy Williams-San Diego Open.

A native of Port Gibson, Miss., Mr. Brown survived polio as a child and learned to play golf in Jackson, Miss., after first working as a caddie.

Commissioner Finchem called Mr. Brown a gentleman and a credit to the game.

Mr. Brown played until 1978.

Funeral arrangements for both golfers had not been announced by the Free Press deadline.

Good Shepherd Baptist Church

Sixth Baptist Church

Wednesday Youth & Adult Bible Study

Van Transportation Available, Call 804-794-5583

Between 1981 and 1990, Mr. Peete led the tour in driving accuracy, despite playing with a left arm he could not totally extend because of a broken elbow suffered in a childhood Mr. Peete fall.

He was the fourth African-American to win on the PGA Tour, joining Mr. Brown, Charlie Sifford and Lee Elder.

“Calvin was an inspiration to so many people,” PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said in a statement. “He started in the game relatively late in life but quickly became one of the tour’s best players.

“I can still remember watching Calvin hit drive after drive straight down the middle of the fairway, an amazing display of talent he possessed despite some of his physical limitations.”

Mr. Peete was a member of U.S. Ryder Cup teams in 1983 and 1985, compiling a 4-2-1 record. He also won the Vardon Tro-

1127 North 28th St., Richmond, VA 23223-6624 • Office: (804) 644-1402



Service Times

Whether people called him at 3 p.m. or 3 a.m., my father always treated them with loving care,” Dr. Brown-Abdelmageed said.

Mr. Brown was a lifelong member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity.

He was Past Master of East End Lodge #233 F&AM. He also was a past president of the Richmond Funeral Directors Association and a past board member of the North Richmond YMCA. In his spare time, Mr. Brown also loved restoring old Corvairs and going to Baltimore Orioles baseball games.

In addition to his daughter, Mr. Brown is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Willie Elizabeth Johnson and Mrs. Viola Juanita Pryor; one brother, Alfonso D. Brown; three grandchildren; one great-grandson; and numerous nieces, nephews and other family members and friends.

Twitter sixthbaptistrva

Rev. Dr. Yvonne Jones Bibbs, Pastor

Union Baptist Church

Celebrates Women

Mother’s Day Sunday, May 10, 2015

11:00 a.m.

Speaker: Rev. Dr. Alice Harris, Associate Minister Union Baptist Church

Women’s Day Sunday, May 24, 2015

11:00 a.m.

Theme: “Women Working Together In Christian Love” Scripture: epheSianS 4:3 Colors: White and shades of Purple

Speaker: Rev. Sandra Parker Light Community Church

Music: Women of Union Reception Immediately Following Service

1813 Everett Street Richmond, Virginia 23224 804-231-5884 Reverend Robert C. Davis, Pastor

400 South Addison Street Richmond, Va. 23220

(near Byrd Park)

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

Spread the Word

Richmond Free Press call 644-0496 Musician

Fourth Baptist Church is seeking a qualified musician for three choirs. While the ability to read music is preferred, applicants must possess strong piano and keyboard skills. Ability to read music is required.

Custodian

Fourth Baptist Church is seeking a part-time custodian with a minimum of two years of related custodial work experience. Applicants must be able to work independently, have knowledge of general cleaning and experience with maintenance. The ability to handle cleaning products and proper use of such products along with the ability to work with others will also be required.

Deadline to submit your resumé is June 30, 2015.

Please send to: Fourth Baptist Church Personnel Ministry 2800 P Street, Richmond, VA 23223

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

New Deliverance Evangelistic Church Office Assistant Full Time Salary: Negotiable

New Deliverance Evangelistic Church is currently seeking an Office Assistant. The Office Assistant will manage the New Deliverance Evangelistic Church’s lobby area, greet and direct all visitors, including members, service vendors, volunteers, and New Deliverance Christian Academy parents. The Office Assistant ensures all persons who enter the church facility sign in. This position is responsible for coordinating and scheduling volunteers. This position handles special administrative projects as directed by the Church Administrator, as well as overflow work from administrative office staff.

Minimum Qualifications: Excellent writing and communication skills, as well as experience and knowledge of MS office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook) are required. Work experience in a church environment is helpful.

Education and Experience: High school diploma required and a minimum of 1 year of relevant work experience.

Please submit a resume to: employment@ndec. net; mail to: 1701 Turner Road, North Chesterfield, VA 23225 or fax to: 804-276-5272.

Richmond Free Press

May 7-9, 2015

B5

Legal Notices City of Richmond, Virginia CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the Council of the City of Richmond has scheduled a public hearing, open to all interested citizens, on Monday, May 11, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber on the Second Floor of City Hall, located at 900 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, to consider the following ordinance: Ordinance No. 2015-104 To consent to the Mayor’s appointment of Selena Cuffee-Glenn to the position of Chief Administrative Officer and to approve the compensation therefor.

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, May 18, 2015 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 Tuesday, May 26, 2015 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. 2015-98 To authorize the special use of the property known as 320 North 32nd Street 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 Single-Family (medium density) land use. Primary uses are single-family and two-family dwellings, both detached and attached, at densities of 8 to 20 units per acre. The proposed development would have a residential density of approximately 35 units per acre.

Ordinance No. 2015-99 To amend Ord. No. 91243-232, adopted Jul. 22, 1992, which authorized the use of real estate, property known as 501 N. 2 nd Street, for the purposes of constructing a four-story office building, together with accessory parking, to permit medical office uses, upon certain terms and conditions.

In 1992, City Council adopted Ord. No. 91-243232, which authorized the use of the property for a four-story office building.

However the ordinance did not permit medical office uses and therefore an amendment to the existing ordinance is needed. The Richmond Downtown Plan designates this area as Urban Core Area.

The Urban Core Area is the most urban Character Area. This area is characterized by high density, an intense mix of uses, and civic buildings of regional significance, distributed along urban blocks with wide sidewalks, regular street tree plantings, and buildings that front the street. In addition the Downtown Plan addresses parking in the Urban Core Area, stating, Parking is located on-street, or mid-block in lined parking garages. If rear alleys exist, parking is accessed from the alley.

Parking can also be located within a quarter-mile of the lot it serves.

Ordinance No. 2015-100 To amend and reordain City Code § 114-910.3, concerning the Main Street/Uptown parking overlay district PO-3, to modify the boundaries of such district and establish new parking standards.

Ordinance No. 2015-101 To amend the official zoning map for the purpose of rezoning certain properties along West Main and West Cary Streets between Harrison and Meadow Streets and including certain properties in the PO-3 Main Street/ Uptown Parking Overlay District.

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 SHANDRA BARRETT, Plaintiff v.

TROY BARRETT, SR., Defendant.

Case No.: CL14002903-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

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

It is ORDERED that the defendant, who has been served with the Complaint by posted service appear here on or before the 18th day of June, 2015 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 HANOVER CONSTANCE COLEMAN, Plaintiff v.

RICKY COLEMAN, SR., Defendant.

Case No.: CL15000413-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

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

It is ORDERED that the defendant, who has been served with the Complaint by posted service appear here on or before the 24th day of June, 2015 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 HANOVER BARTOLOME DIAZ, Plaintiff v.

SAKEENA DIAZ, Defendant.

Case No.: 14001848-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

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

It is ORDERED that the defendant, who has been served with the Complaint by posted service appear here on or before the 24th day of June, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. and protect her 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 CHESTERFIELD JAIME ROCHA ROJAS, Plaintiff v.

ARACELI HERNANDEZ ALVERADO ROJAS, Defendant.

Case No.: CL14002523-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of the abovestyled suit is for the granting of a divorce a vinculo matrimonii, pursuant to §20-91(9)(a) of the Code of Virginia, more than one year separation.

And, it appearing by affidavit filed according to law that Araceli Hernandez Alverado Rojas, the abovenames defendant, is not a resident of this state, it is therefore ORDERED that the said Araceli Hernandez Alverado Rojas do appear on or before the 19th day of May, 2015, at 9:45 a.m., in the Clerk’s Office of this Court and do what is necessary to protect her interest.

A Copy, Teste: WENDY S. HUGHES, Clerk I ASK FOR THIS: James F. Sumpter, Esq.

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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 HANOVER RANDY FAISON, Plaintiff v.

JOHNETTE FAISON, Defendant.

Case No.: CL15000899-00 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 June, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. and protect her 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 HANOVER JUSTIN WOLZ, Plaintiff v.

REBECCA WOLZ, Defendant.

Case No.: CL15000445-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

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

It is ORDERED that the defendant, who has been served with the Complaint by posted service appear here on or before the 3rd day of June, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. and protect her 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 JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS COURT OF THE COUNTY OF HENRICO Case No.: JJ094869-01-00 IN RE: The Adoption of Baby Boy Touri an Infant,

by Jennifer and Kevin Barksdale ORDER OF PUBLICATION

After review of the Affidavit and Petition for Order of Publication filed by counsel for Petitioners, Jennifer and Kevin Barksdale, which object of such Affidavit and Petition is to effectuate an adoption and terminate the birth mother’s parental rights, and pursuant to Virginia Code § 8.01-316, the Court finds that there exists sufficient grounds for causing service of process by publication

Therefore, it is ORDERED that the birth mother, Melissa Touri, appear at the abovenamed Court to protect her interests on or before 9:00 a.m. on June 3, 2015. Should the birth mother not appear or otherwise make known her position, then she is hereby notified that her parental rights will be terminated.

We ask for this: Colleen Marea Quinn, Esq. (VSB # 29282) Locke & Quinn 4928 West Broad Street P.O. Box 11708 Richmond, VA 23230 Telephone: (804) 285-6253 Fax: (804) 545-9400 Email: quinn@lockequinn.com Counsel for Petitioners

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER MICHELLE UNDERWOOD, Plaintiff v.

RANDY UNDERWOOD, JR., Defendant.

Case No.: CL15000830-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

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

It is ORDERED that the defendant, whose whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 28th day of May, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. and protect his interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR.,

FAMILY COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY In the Matter of the Adoption of a child whose first name is Jordan File No. 22471 Docket No. AS-01114-13 NOTICE OF PROPOSED ADOPTION To: AARON HAMMIE 626 YORKSHIRE DRIVE RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a petition requesting an order approving and allowing the adoption of an adoptive child whose first name is JORDAN, who is alleged to be your Son, and whose full name and date and place of birth is set forth in a Schedule annexed to the petition for adoption herein, together with an agreement to adopt and consents to the adoption pursuant to the Domestic Relations Law, has been filed with the Family Court of the State of New York, Schenectady County. A hearing on the petition will be held at the Court, located at 620 State Street, 5th Floor, Schenectady, New York on June 10, 2015 at 9:00 o’clock in the forenoon of that day, at which time and place all persons having any interest therein will be heard.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that your failure to appear may constitute a denial of your interest in the child, which may result, without further notice to you, in the

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adoption or other disposition of the custody of the child.

JENNIFER M. BARNES, ESQ. DEPUTY COUNTY ATTORNEY SCHENECTADY CO. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE 106 ERIE BLVD. SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK 12305 PHONE: (518) 388-4275

and are defendants to this suit by the general description of “Parties Unknown.”

IT IS ORDERED that CLAYTON INVESTMENT GROUP, L. L. C., A Cancelled Virginia Limited Liability Company, JOEL FINE, As to part of a $20,000.00 Interest and LAURA FINE, As to part of a $20,000.00 Interest, who may be the holders of a $20,000.00 interest in a certain Note secured by a Balloon Deed of Trust dated August 31, 2005, with respect to said property, recorded September 1, 2005, in Instrument Number 05-029983, or their heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in title, HAROLD H. GOTTSCHALL a/k/a HAL GOTTSCHALL, As to part of a $14,000.00 Interest, and LINDA GOTTSCHALL, As to part of a $14,000.00 Interest, who may be the holders of a $14,000.00 interest in a certain Note secured by a Balloon Deed of Trust dated August 31, 2005, with respect to said property, recorded September 1, 2005, in Instrument Number 05-029983, or their heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in title, JACK C. GRAYBEAL, or his Successor in Trust, Trustee UNDER THE GRAYBEAL LIVING TRUST, DATED NOVEMBER 13, 997, AND ANY AMENDMENTS THERETO, and CAROLE I. GRAYBEAL, or her Successor in Trust, Trustee UNDER THE GRAYBEAL LIVING TRUST, DATED NOVEMBER 13, 997, AND ANY AMENDMENTS THERETO, who may be the holders of a $33,000.00 Interest in a certain Note secured by a Balloon Deed of Trust dated April 26, 2006, with respect to said property, recorded May 2, 2006, in Instrument Number 06-14482, NICK SEFCHOK, As to part of a $30,000.00 Interest and HILDA SEFCHOK, As to part of a $30,000.00 Interest, who may be the holders of a $30,000.00 interest in a certain Note secured by a Balloon Deed of Trust dated April 26, 2006, with respect to said property, recorded May 2, 2006, in Instrument Number 06-14482, or their heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in title, DONALD ADLER, As to $10,000.00 Interest, who may be the holder of $10,000.00 Interest in a certain Note secured by a Balloon Deed of Trust dated April 26, 2006, with respect to said property, recorded May 2, 2006, in Instrument Number 06-14482, or his heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in title, JAY S. SCHWARTZ, As Agent for BERNICE SCHWARTZ, GREG WOOLWINE, HOPE WOOLWINE, RICHARD D. KRIDER, SHERRIE BECKER, PATRICK BECKER, JAY S. SCHWARTZ, JAY S. SCHWARTZ, As Trustee for the JAY SCHWARTZ TRUST U/A 11/6/1992, JAY S. SCHWARTZ, As Trustee for the EDWARD J. BECKER MARITAL TRUSTTHEODORE SELLMAN, Who May Be Deceased, and the Heirs, Devisees, Assignees or Successors in Interest of THEODORE SELLMAN, DAVID F. KATZ, SHELLY A. KATZ, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before JUNE 19, 2015, and do what is necessary to protect their interests in this matter.

An Extract, Teste: Edward F. Jewett, Clerk Gregory A. Lukanuski, Esq. City of Richmond, Office of the City Attorney 900 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219 804-646-7940

CISCO CRUZ ESTRADA, ROSA YESENIA MIRANDA p/k/a ROSA YESENIA ESCOBAR, IVON MODESTA GOMEZ, MAYNOR MAURICIO MUNOZ BONILLA, RENE MALDONADO, who may be creditors with an interest in said property, have not been personally located and have not filed a response to this action; that TEODOSIA SAUCEDO, JOSE MORAZAN MIRANDA, RAFAEL ANGEL MALDONADO VARGAS, ROBERTO MORENO CISNEROS, MANUEL MALDONADO, GONZALES AGUILAR, JORGE C. MARTINEZ HERNANDEZ, MARIO ALVAREZ ALVAREZ, SERGIO ARTURO CASTRO SOLIS, DAVID EUGENIO GAMERO ANDORO, ROSA DEL CARMEN SANDOBAL CORTEZ, VICTOR M. ESPINO, JOSE ALEJANDRO JUAREZ, PASTOR ANTONIO ESCOBAR MUNOZ, JOSE FRANCISCO RUIZ, JOSE ATLLANO ARMIOS JAIME, SANTOS EDURIGES ESCOBAR, JUAN VARGAS CO, DAVID VALENCIA ARTEAGA, GERARDO HERNANDEZ FACUNDO a/k/a GERARDO F. HERNANDEZ, CESAR HUERTA DIAZ, ALEX ABIMAEL HERRERA GONZALES, IMELDO DEL CARMEN MUNOZ, KARLA ESPINOZA, JUAN CAROLOS ALVARADO MORALES a/k/a JUAN CARLOS ALVARADO-MORALES, who may be creditors with an interest in said property, have not been located and have not filed a response to this action; that 1901-1915 WHITCOMB STREET, LLC, An Oregon Limited Liability Company Not Registered to Transact Business in Virginia, which may be a creditor with an interest in said property, or its successor/s in interest, have not filed a response to this matter; that 8409 STAPLES MILL ROAD, LLC., An Inactive Oregon Limited Liability Company Not Registered to Transact Business in Virginia, Successor in Interest to STANDARD INSURANCE COMPANY, which may be a creditor with an interest in said property, or its successor/s in interest, have not filed a response to this action; and that any heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in interest and/or any creditors with a current or future interest in said property, have not been identified and/or served despite diligent efforts to do so and are defendants to this suit by the general description of “Parties Unknown.”

IT IS ORDERED that OAKTREE PROPERTIES, LLC, A Cancelled Virginia Limited Liability Company, ENERGY, LLC, A Cancelled Virginia Limited Liability Company, As Former Member and Trustee in Liquidation for Oaktree Properties, LLC, Oliver C. Lawrence, As Former Member/Manager and Trustee in Liquidation for ENERGY, LLC, A Cancelled Virginia Limited Liability Company, Oliver C. Lawrence, As Former Member/Manager and Trustee in Liquidation for OAKTREE PROPERTIES, LLC, A Cancelled Virginia Limited Liability Company, ALVINA E. L. MANUEL, LUIS FRANCISCO HUERTA, FIDEL FRANCISCO CRUZ ESTRADA, ROSA YESENIA MIRANDA p/k/a ROSA YESENIA ESCOBAR, IVON MODESTA GOMEZ, MAYNOR MAURICIO MUNOZ BONILLA, RENE MALDONADO, TEODOSIA SAUCEDO, JOSE MORAZAN MIRANDA, RAFAEL ANGEL MALDONADO VARGAS, ROBERTO MORENO CISNEROS, MANUEL MALDONADO, GONZALES AGUILAR, JORGE C. MARTINEZ HERNANDEZ, MARIO ALVAREZ ALVAREZ, SERGIO ARTURO CASTRO SOLIS, DAVID EUGENIO GAMERO ANDORO, ROSA DEL CARMEN SANDOBAL CORTEZ, VICTOR M. ESPINO, JOSE ALEJANDRO JUAREZ, PASTOR ANTONIO ESCOBAR MUNOZ, JOSE FRANCISCO RUIZ, JOSE ATLLANO ARMIOS JAIME, SANTOS EDURIGES ESCOBAR, JUAN VARGAS CO, DAVID VALENCIA ARTEAGA, GERARDO HERNANDEZ FACUNDO a/k/a GERARDO F. HERNANDEZ, CESAR HUERTA DIAZ, ALEX ABIMAEL HERRERA GONZALES, IMELDO DEL CARMEN MUNOZ, KARLA ESPINOZA, JUAN CAROLOS ALVARADO MORALES a/k/a JUAN CARLOS ALVARADO-MORALES, 1901-1915 WHITCOMB STREET, LLC, An Oregon Limited Liability Company Not Registered to Transact Business in Virginia, or its successor/s in interest, 8409 STAPLES MILL ROAD, LLC., An Inactive Oregon Limited Liability Company Not Registered to Transact Business in Virginia, Successor in Interest to STANDARD INSURANCE COMPANY, or its successor/s in interest, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before JUNE 19, 2015, and do what is necessary to protect their interests in this matter.

An Extract, Teste: Edward F. Jewett, Clerk Gregory A. Lukanuski, Esq. City of Richmond, Office of the City Attorney 900 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219 804-646-7940

MARIAN NICHOLS FRANKLIN a/k/a MARION ELIZABETH FRANKLIN p/k/a MARIAN NICHOLS TURNAGE, Who May Be Deceased, and THE HEIRS, DEVISEES, ASSIGNEES OR SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST OF MARIAN NICHOLS FRANKLIN a/k/a MARION ELIZABETH FRANKLIN p/k/a MARIAN NICHOLS TURNAGE, et al., Defendants.

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as “1333 (formerly 1325) North 27TH Street”, Richmond, Virginia, Tax Map/ GPIN# E000-0622/030, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owner of record, Marian N. Franklin.

An Affidavit having been filed that said owner, MARIAN NICHOLS FRANKLIN a/k/a MARION ELIZABETH FRANKLIN p/k/a MARIAN NICHOLS TURNAGE, who may be deceased, and the heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in interest of MARIAN NICHOLS FRANKLIN a/k/a MARION ELIZABETH FRANKLIN p/k/a MARIAN NICHOLS TURNAGE, have not been located and haves not filed a response to this action; that CLARENCE FRANKLIN, JR., a/k/a CLARENCE J. FRANKLIN, JR., who may have an ownership interest in said property, has not been personally located and has not filed a response to this action, or his heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in interest; that REGINALD FRANKLIN, JOYCE FRANKLIN, ROSE JOHNSON, and THELMA TURNER, who may have an ownership interest in said property, have not been located and have not filed a response to this action; that DISCOVER BANK, Issuer of the Discover Card, A Delaware Corporation Not Authorized to Transact Business in the Commonwealth of Virginia, which may be a creditor with an interest in said property, has not filed a response to this action; and that any heirs, devisees, assignees, successors in interest, successors in title and/or any creditors with a current or future interest in said property, have not been identified and/or served despite diligent efforts to do so and are defendants to this suit by the general description of “Parties Unknown.”

IT IS ORDERED that MARIAN NICHOLS FRANKLIN a/k/a MARION ELIZABETH FRANKLIN p/k/a MARIAN NICHOLS TURNAGE, who may be deceased, and the heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in interest of MARIAN NICHOLS FRANKLIN a/k/a MARION ELIZABETH FRANKLIN p/k/a MARIAN NICHOLS TURNAGE, CLARENCE FRANKLIN, JR., a/k/a CLARENCE J. FRANKLIN, JR., or his heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in interest, REGINALD FRANKLIN, JOYCE FRANKLIN, ROSE JOHNSON, THELMA TURNER, DISCOVER BANK, Issuer of the Discover Card, A Delaware Corporation Not Authorized to Transact Business in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before JUNE 19, 2015, and do what is necessary to protect their interests in this matter.

An Extract, Teste: Edward F. Jewett, Clerk Gregory A. Lukanuski, Esq. City of Richmond, Office of the City Attorney 900 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219 804-646-7940

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

IT IS ORDERED that BLUFORT LINWOOD SPENCER, JR., a/k/a BLUFORT LINWOOD SPENCER, AUDREY DELORIS SPENCER HORSLEY p/k/a AUDREY SPENCER, JOHN SPENCER a/k/a JOHN ANTHONY SPENCER, BARBORAH SPENCER a/k/a BARBARA SPENCER, BLUFORT SPENCER, JR., a/k/a BLUFORT HARDY SPENCER, Who May Be Deceased, and THE HEIRS, DEVISEES, ASSIGNEES OR SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST OF BLUFORT SPENCER, JR., a/k/a BLUFORT HARDY SPENCER, EFFIE SPENCER a/k/a EFFIE J. SPENCER, Who May Be Deceased, and THE HEIRS, DEVISEES, ASSIGNEES OR SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST OF EFFIE SPENCER a/k/a EFFIE J. SPENCER, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before JUNE 19, 2015, and do what is necessary to protect their interests in this matter.

An Extract, Teste: Edward F. Jewett, Clerk Gregory A. Lukanuski, Esq. City of Richmond, Office of the City Attorney 900 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219 804-646-7940

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

Case No.: CL14-3566-1 CLAYTON INVESTMENT GROUP, L.L.C., A Cancelled Virginia Limited Liability Company, et al., Defendants.

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as “1607 North 23RD Street”, Richmond, Virginia, Tax Map/GPIN# E000-0860/004, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owner of record, CLAYTON INVESTMENT GROUP, L. L. C.,

An Affidavit having been filed that said owner, CLAYTON INVESTMENT GROUP, L. L. C., A Cancelled Virginia Limited Liability Company, has not been located and has not filed a response to this action; that JOEL FINE, As to part of a $20,000.00 Interest and LAURA FINE, As to part of a $20,000.00 Interest, who may be the holders of a $20,000.00 interest in a certain Note secured by a Balloon Deed of Trust dated August 31, 2005, with respect to said property, recorded September 1, 2005, in Instrument Number 05-029983, who are not residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia, or their heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in title, have not filed a response to this action; that HAROLD H. GOTTSCHALL a/k/a HAL GOTTSCHALL, As to part of a $14,000.00 Interest, and LINDA GOTTSCHALL, As to part of a $14,000.00 Interest, who may be the holders of a $14,000.00 interest in a certain Note secured by a Balloon Deed of Trust dated August 31, 2005, with respect to said property, recorded September 1, 2005, in Instrument Number 05-029983, who are not residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia, or their heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in title, have not filed a response to this action; that JACK C. GRAYBEAL, or his Successor in Trust, Trustee UNDER THE GRAYBEAL LIVING TRUST, DATED NOVEMBER 13, 997, AND ANY AMENDMENTS THERETO, and CAROLE I. GRAYBEAL, or her Successor in Trust, Trustee UNDER THE GRAYBEAL LIVING TRUST, DATED NOVEMBER 13, 997, AND ANY AMENDMENTS THERETO, who may be the holders of a $33,000.00 Interest in a certain Note secured by a Balloon Deed of Trust dated April 26, 2006, with respect to said property, recorded May 2, 2006, in Instrument Number 06-14482, who are not residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia, have not filed a response to this action; that NICK SEFCHOK, As to part of a $30,000.00 Interest and HILDA SEFCHOK, As to part of a $30,000.00 Interest, who may be the holders of a $30,000.00 interest in a certain Note secured by a Balloon Deed of Trust dated April 26, 2006, with respect to said property, recorded May 2, 2006, in Instrument Number 06-14482, who are not residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia, have not filed a response to this action, or their heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in title; that DONALD ADLER, As to $10,000.00 Interest, who may be the holder of $10,000.00 Interest in a certain Note secured by a Balloon Deed of Trust dated April 26, 2006, with respect to said property, recorded May 2, 2006, in Instrument Number 06-14482, has not been personally located and has not filed a response in this matter, or his heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in title; that JAY S. SCHWARTZ, As Agent for BERNICE SCHWARTZ, GREG WOOLWINE, HOPE WOOLWINE, RICHARD D. KRIDER, SHERRIE BECKER, PATRICK BECKER, JAY S. SCHWARTZ, JAY S. SCHWARTZ, As Trustee for the JAY SCHWARTZ TRUST U/A 11/6/1992, JAY S. SCHWARTZ, As Trustee for the EDWARD J. BECKER MARITAL TRUST, who may be creditors with an interest in said property, have not been personally located and have not filed a response to this action; that THEODORE SELLMAN, Who May Be Deceased, and the Heirs, Devisees, Assignees or Successors in Interest of THEODORE SELLMAN, who may be creditor/s with an interest in said property, have not been located and have not filed a response to this matter; that DAVID F. KATZ and SHELLY A. KATZ, who may be creditors with an interest in said property, who are not residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia, have not filed a response to this matter; and that any heirs, devisees, assignees, successors in interest, successors in title and/or any creditors with a current or future interest in said property, have not been identified and/or served despite diligent efforts to do so Continued on next column

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

Case No.: CL14-3811-1 OAKTREE PROPERTIES, LLC, A Cancelled Virginia Limited Liability Company, Defendants.

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as “1506 North 25th Street”, Richmond, Virginia, Tax Map/GPIN# E000-0782/006, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owner of record OAKTREE PROPERTIES, LLC, A Cancelled Virginia Limited Liability Company.

An Affidavit having been filed that said owner, OAKTREE PROPERTIES, LLC, A Cancelled Virginia Limited Liability Company, has not been located and has not filed a response to this action; that ENERGY, LLC, A Cancelled Virginia Limited Liability Company, As Former Member and Trustee in Liquidation for Oaktree Properties, LLC, which may have an ownership interest in said property, has not been located and has not filed a response to this action; that Oliver C. Lawrence, As Former Member/Manager and Trustee in Liquidation for ENERGY, LLC, A Cancelled Virginia Limited Liability Company, who may have an ownership interest in said property, has not been personally located and has not filed a response to this action; that Oliver C. Lawrence, As Former Member/Manager and Trustee in Liquidation for OAKTREE PROPERTIES, LLC, A Cancelled Virginia Limited Liability Company, who may have an ownership interest in said property, has not been personally located and has not filed a response to this action; that ALVINA E. L. MANUEL, LUIS FRANCISCO HUERTA, FIDEL FRANContinued on next column

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

Case No.: CL14-5365-1 Continued on next column

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

Case No.: CL14-4370-1 BLUFORT LINWOOD SPENCER, JR., a/k/a BLUFORT LINWOOD SPENCER, et al., Defendants.

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as “606 North 29TH Street”, Richmond, Virginia, Tax Map/GPIN# E000-0527/021, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owners of record, Blufort H. Spencer, Jr., Audrey Spencer, John Spencer, and Barbara Spencer.

An Affidavit having been filed that said owners, BLUFORT LINWOOD SPENCER, JR., a/k/a BLUFORT LINWOOD SPENCER and AUDREY DELORIS SPENCER HORSLEY p/k/a AUDREY SPENCER, have not been personally located and have not filed a response to this action; that said owner, JOHN SPENCER a/k/a JOHN ANTHONY SPENCER, has not been located and has not filed a response to this action; that said owner, BARBORAH SPENCER a/k/a BARBARA SPENCER, who is not a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia, has not filed a response to this action; that BLUFORT SPENCER, JR., a/k/a BLUFORT HARDY SPENCER, Who May Be Deceased, and THE HEIRS, DEVISEES, ASSIGNEES OR SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST OF BLUFORT SPENCER, JR., a/k/a BLUFORT HARDY SPENCER and EFFIE SPENCER a/k/a EFFIE J. SPENCER, Who May Be Deceased, and THE HEIRS, DEVISEES, ASSIGNEES OR SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST OF EFFIE SPENCER Continued on next column

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

Case No.: CL13-4240-1 WILBERT J. BELLAMY, SR., Who May Be Deceased, and THE HEIRS, DEVISEES, ASSIGNEES OR SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST OF WILBERT J. BELLAMY, SR., et al., Defendants.

AMENDED

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as “3103 2nd Avenue”, Richmond, Virginia, Tax Map/ GPIN# N000-0991/015, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owner of record, WILBERT J. BELLAMY, SR., who may be deceased.

An Affidavit having been filed that said owner, WILBERT J. BELLAMY, SR., who may be deceased, and the heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in interest of WILBERT J. BELLAMY, SR., have not been located and have not filed a response to this action; that BEVERLY PATTERSON a/k/a BEVERLY ROSE BELLAMY-PATTERSON a/k/a BEVERLY ROSE BELLAMY, SHARON SHEPARD a/k/a SHARON DANITA BELLAMY SHEPARD p/k/a SHARON DANITA BELLAMY, and VALERIE HASH a/k/a VALERIE KIM HASH a/k/a VALERIE KIM BELLAMY-BROWN p/k/a VALERIE KIM BELLAMY, who may have an ownership interest in said property, have not been personally located and have not filed a response to this action; that A. PETER BRODELL, Trustee of a certain Note secured by a Deed of Trust dated March 27, 1996, with respect to said property, recorded March 28, 1996, in Instrument No. 96-0067, or his successor/s in title, have not been personally located and have not filed a response to this action; that DONALD C. BURRIESCI, who may be a creditor with an interest in said property, has not been personally located and has not filed a response to this action; and that any heirs, devisees, assignees, successors in interest, successors in title and/or any creditors with a current or future interest in said property, have not been identified and/or served despite diligent efforts to do so and are defendants to this suit by the general description of “Parties Unknown.”

IT IS ORDERED that WILBERT J. BELLAMY, SR., who may be deceased, and the heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in interest of WILBERT J. BELLAMY, SR., BEVERLY PATTERSON a/k/a BEVERLY ROSE BELLAMY-PATTERSON a/k/a BEVERLY ROSE BELLAMY, SHARON SHEPARD a/k/a SHARON DANITA BELLAMY SHEPARD p/k/a SHARON DANITA BELLAMY, VALERIE HASH a/k/a VALERIE KIM HASH a/k/a VALERIE KIM BELLAMYBROWN p/k/a VALERIE KIM BELLAMY, A. PETER BRODELL, Trustee of a certain Note secured by a Deed of Trust dated March 27, 1996, with respect to said property, recorded March 28, 1996, in Instrument No. 96-0067, or his successor/s in title, DONALD C. BURRIESCI, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before JUNE 19, 2015, and do what is necessary to protect their interests in this matter.

An Extract, Teste: Edward F. Jewett, Clerk Gregory A. Lukanuski, Esq. City of Richmond, Office of the City Attorney 900 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219 804-646-7940

Richmond Free Press

B6 May 7-9, 2015

Legal Notices/Employment Opportunities

Oil Change/ Tire Rotation!

call 644-0496

GRTC TRANSIT SYSTEM BUS STOP SIGN MANUFACTURING INVITATION FOR BIDS GRTC Transit System invites all interested parties to submit bids for manufacturing bus stop signs. Interested firms may download a copy of IFB# 135-15-04 from GRTC’s website, www.ridegrtc.com (menu options: About Us, then Procurement) or obtain a copy by calling Tonya Thompson at (804) 358-3871.

Responses are due no later than 11:00 am on May 22, 2015. All inquiries pertaining to the request or any questions in reference to the solicitation documents should be directed to: Tonya Thompson Director of Procurement (804) 358-3871, ext. 372

TransiT sysTem

GRTC TRANSIT SYSTEM PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPING AND LAWN SERVICE INVITATION FOR BIDS GRTC Transit System invites all interested parties to submit proposals for providing professional landscaping and lawn service. Interested firms may download a copy of IFB # 136-15-05 from GRTC’s website www.ridegrtc. com (menu options: About Us, then Procurement) or obtain a copy by calling Allan Cox at (804) 358-3871 ext 371.

A mandatory pre-bid conference will be held on May 11, 2015 at 10:00 am.

Responses are due no later than 11:00 am on May 27, 2015. All inquiries pertaining to the request or any questions in reference to the solicitation documents should be directed to:

FAD510

The Development and Alumni Relations office at Virginia Commonwealth University has a position open for the Assistant Director, Records Management.

The Assistant Director, Records Management is a Professional Faculty position reporting to the Director, Gifts and Records Management. The Assistant Director is on the leadership development team that makes sure that information tracked and monitored on every VCU constituent is relevant and accurate for fundraising purposes. This professional serves as the lead business intelligence person for the university's philanthropic campaign, partnering with prospect research, alumni relations, campaign leadership, and development professionals to build the best possible development environment for perpetuity of the institution. The position oversees a team of business intelligence professionals who ensure the accuracy and consistency of constituent and charitable giving data recorded in RADAR, the Development and Alumni Relations constituent database of record. The Assistant Director will oversee all processes and compliance with prevailing university and department policies and procedures. Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff and student environment or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU, required. An advanced degree or comparable training and work experience in a philanthropic setting is required. A minimum of three years’ experience working in an Advancement Services or fundraising operation department; and, a minimum of three years’ experience working with a complex constituent database management application, required. Outstanding communications skills, both written and verbal, required.

For more information contact jwstringer@vcu.edu.

Applicants should submit a resume, cover letter, and (under the “other documents” section) the names and contact information of three professional references via VCU eJobs at www.vcujobs.com.

Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Women, minorities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Good Pay Good Days Off

DRIVERS:

COORDINATOR OF LIBRARY AND MEDIA PROCESSING

Teams. Regional. CDL-A.

(Position #FA310)

Call (804) 222-5133

Excellent Money/Benefits.

Split $.50/mile

85% drop and hook.

Supplier diversity program – “providing equal opportunities for small businesses”

Work 5½ days per week.

855-204-6535

Sr Developer SAP Lumber Liquidators seeks Sr Developer SAP to convert functional specs into technical specs & SAP dvlpmt. Req: MS CompSci, Comp Apps, or rel IT field + 5 yrs exp developing & supporting SAP apps, utilizing SAP iDoc, Floor Plan Mgr, LOM w/ WD ABAP, Enhancements Framework, Business Add-In, UserExits, Web Dynpro/Dynpro ABAP, IS-Retail, Materials Mgmt, Sales & Distribution modules. Will also accept BS + 7 yrs exp in these skills. Position located in Richmond, VA. Send cvr ltr, CV, salary req to: Danielle BattsDoyal, 3000 John Deere Rd, Toano, VA 23168.

For questions or additional information email: frederick.haasch@vdot.virginia.gov.

VDOT assures compliance with Title VI Requirements of non-discrimination in all activities pursuant to this advertisement.

Employment Opportunities

(J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, Richmond, VA) Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA accredited school.

TYPE OF APPOINTMENT: Full-time, twelvemonth professional faculty-ranked appointment.

Salary commensurate with the education and experience of the applicant. Salary range: $53,883-$103,737. Approximate maximum hiring salary: $65,586. Additional information is available at the College's website: www.reynolds.edu.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Application reviews will begin JUNE 25, 2015, and will be accepted until the position is filled.

AA/EOE/ADA/Veterans are encouraged to apply.

INFORMATION SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY INSTRUCTOR (J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, Richmond, VA). Master’s degree in Information Systems Technology; or Master’s degree with eighteen (18) graduate semester hours in Information Systems Technology. The selected candidate must be able to successfully pass the college’s pre-employment security screening.

Resident seRvices cooRdinatoR senioR office suppoRt specialist

Exciting Career Opportunities!

Join RRHA and make a positive difference in revitalizing communities and lives.

Excellent benefits for full-time employees.

Please visit the RRHA website www.rrha. com for complete details and to complete an on-line application. Drug Screen, background and DMV check required.

EOE/D/V/F/M

TYPE OF APPOINTMENT: Full-time ninemonth teaching faculty-ranked appointment.

Salary commensurate with the education and experience of the applicant. Salary range: $41,263 - $82,109. Approximate maximum hiring salary: $53,977. Additional information is available at the College's website: www.reynolds.edu.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Application reviews will begin JUNE 25, 2015, and will be accepted until the position is filled.

AA/EOE/ADA/Veterans are encouraged to apply.

Landscape Crew Supervisor

The Kleane Kare Team, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.

Mortgage Banking

Customer serviCe representative If you enjoy interacting with people, providing outstanding customer service and are looking for a rewarding career, VHDA may be the right place for you!

VHDA is seeking a full time Customer Service Representative for its loan servicing division. The successful candidate must have 3 to 5 years of experience in mortgage servicing utilizing the Black Knight/LPS (Fidelity) servicing system.

Essential competencies include strong analytical, oral and written communication skills. The associate must be comfortable in a fast-paced environment handling mortgage servicing calls ranging from general loan information, escrow analyses inquiries to loan payoff requests. Bilingual fluency in Spanish and English preferred but not required.

If you feel you meet the qualifications, submit resume with cover letter stating salary requirements before May15th, 2015, online only at: http://www.vhda.com/about/careers An EOE Hiring range: $32,997 – $42,894 Background and credit checks will be performed as a condition of employment.

AA/EOE/ADA/Veterans are encouraged to apply.

The City of Richmond is seeking to fill the following positions: Automotive Mechanic I 29M00001084, 1091 (2 vacancies) Department of Public Works Apply by 5/17/2015 Automotive Mechanic II 29M00001099, 1102, 1107 (3 vacancies) Department of Public Works Apply by 5/17/2015 Automotive Mechanic Supervisor 29M00001086 Department of Public Works Apply by 5/17/2015 Business Analysis Manager 29M00001109 Department of Public Works Apply by 5/17/2015 Drafting Technician II 29M00000548 Department of Public Works Apply by 5/17/2015

Equipment Operator III - Storm Water (Multiple Positions) 35M00000833 Department of Public Utilities Apply by 5/24/2015 Family Services Worker-Family Preservation 27M00000970 Department of Social Services Apply by 5/17/2015 Fire Equipment Mechanic 29M00001097 Department of Public Works Apply by 5/17/2015 Gas & Water Service Technician 35M00000529 Department of Public Utilities Apply by 5/17/2015 Gas & Water Service Technician Supervisor 35M00000558 Department of Public Utilities Apply by 5/17/2015 Human Resources Consultant Class and Comp 12M00000031 Human Resources Apply by 5/17/15 Labor Crew Chief, Collections 35M00000752 Department of Public Utilities Apply by 5/17/2015 Maintenance Technician II, Water Utility 35M00000194 Department of Public Utilities Apply by 5/17/2015

Minimum two years continuous experience in landscape maintenance or landscape construction is required. Strong knowledge of plant types, plant care and landscaping procedure required. Valid and Active Driver’s license and good driver safety record required. Strong skills in supervising others a plus.

If you can fulfill the above requirements and would like to apply for a position, please call The Kleane Kare Team, Inc. at 804-521-4132 and press the “1” key or go to www.kleanekare.com and click on Employment Opportunities to fill out an application.

(Position #FO012) (J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, Richmond, VA) Bachelor’s degree or Associate’s degree in Respiratory Therapy. A valid Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential with a current Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) license issued by the Virginia Board of Medicine.

Two (2) years of related occupational experience in a clinical respiratory care setting.

TYPE OF APPOINTMENT: Full-time twelvemonth faculty ranked appointment. Salary commensurate with the education and experience of the applicant. Salary range: $55,017 - $92,681.

Approximate maximum hiring salary: $72,912.

Additional information is available at the College's website: www.reynolds.edu.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Application reviews will begin JUNE 25, 2015, and will be accepted until the position is filled.

Engineer IV 35M00000771 Department of Public Utilities Apply by 5/17/2015

(Position #FO294)

Request foR PRoPosals The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is requesting proposals from firms to provide Pavement Data Collection & evaluation services. All proposals must be received by 2:00 PM on May 21, 2015 at the Virginia Department of Transportation, Central Office Mail Center Loading Dock Entrance, 1401 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219. a mandatory preproposal conference will be held at 10:00 aM on May 11, 2015. For a copy of the Request for Proposals (RfP # 152675-fH), go to the website: www.eva.virginia.gov.

RESPIRATORY THERAPY DISTANCE EDUCATION INSTRUCTOR/COORDINATOR

Openings for nurse Aides and pCAs with Alzheimer’s experience.

Allan Cox Purchasing Manager (804) 358-3871, extension 371

To obtain a copy of the solicitations, please visit: Web.richmond.k12.va.us/departments/ purchasing.aspx

Visit www.Shop.BestMark.com or call 800-969-8477

Assistant Director, Records Management

TransiT sysTem

RFP#15-6644-4 Fleet (Buses and Vehicles) Maintenance Services

Eligible For

FREE

To advertise in the Richmond Free Press

The School Board of the City of Richmond, Virginia is seeking vendors to provide the following services:

CADILLAC, CHEVY, BUICK, GMC

Assistant Professor of Adult Education Department of Teaching and Learning School of Education

The Virginia Commonwealth University School of Education seeks applicants for Assistant Professor of Adult Education in the Department of Teaching and Learning with an anticipated hire date of August 16, 2015.

Description: The Assistant Professor of Adult Education’s primary responsibilities include teaching, advising, and program coordination for the M.Ed. in Adult Learning program.

Required Qualifications: Doctoral degree (or anticipated degree completion prior to 2015-2016 academic year) in Adult Education, Human Resource Development, Human and Organizational Learning, or related field. Two years Masters level teaching experience in a university environment required. The successful candidate will have demonstrated teaching excellence, effective oral and written communication skills, ability to provide leadership and direction to the program, and skill in the use of educational technology to support student learning. Candidate must have demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU. Preferred Qualifications: Experience in urban and diverse settings; demonstrated ability to gain external funding; experience teaching graduate courses in Human Resource Development, Organizational Learning, Consulting, Groups and Teams, and/or other adult education-related areas; experience in marketing and recruitment; a working knowledge of, and experience with, the unique resources of the greater Richmond community.

Application Process/Additional Information: To be considered for this position, application materials must be submitted online through VCU eJobs and must include all of the following documents: 1) a cover letter that addresses the applicant’s qualifications based on position announcement and consideration of the goals and mission of Virginia Commonwealth University and the School of Education; 2) a curriculum vitae; and 3) contact information for three professional references. Application materials must be uploaded as one PDF document (in the “Other Document” field) to www.vcujobs.com for review by the Search Committee. Questions may be directed to Dr. William R. Muth, Search Committee Chair (wrmuth@vcu.edu). Candidates must agree to current and former employers being contacted if selected as a finalist for this position. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position closing date of May 27, 2015.

For additional information and to apply, please follow the link below

https://www.vcujobs.com/postings/44036

Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action university providing access to education and employment without regard to age, race, color, national origin, gender, religion, sexual orientation, veteran's status, political affiliation or disability.

Maintenance Technician III Wastewater Treatment Plant 35M00000296 Department of Public Utilities Apply by 5/17/2015 Maintenance Technician IV Mason, Storm water Operations 35M00000858 Department of Public Utilities Apply by 5/24/2015 Operations Manager 25M00000096 Department of Finance Apply by 5/24/2015 Project Management Analyst 29M00001105 Department of Public Works Apply by 5/17/2015 Social Services Case Manager-Adoption (2 Positions) 27M00000170 Department of Social Services Apply by 5/17/2015 Utility Operations Supervisor Wastewater Treatment Plant (Multiple Positions) 35M00000713 Department of Public Utilities Apply by 5/17/2015 Utility Operations Supervisor Wastewater Treatment Plant (Multiple Positions) 35M00000713 Department of Public Utilities Apply by 5/17/2015 ****************** 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