Urban Views Weekly May 20, 2015

May 20, 2015

Scholar of the Week – Bre’Ana Coleman

Memorial Day Weekend:

Don’t DUI

Impaired Driving Can Wreck Your Life

The Deal

By Jason Alderman

A First-Year Money Management Guide for the New College Grad A young adult’s first months out of college are about personal freedom and finding one’s path as an adult. Building solid money habits is a big part of that.

Most grads are managing money alone for the first time – finding work, places to live, and if they’re in the majority, figuring out how to pay off college loans. For many, these are daunting challenges. If you are a young adult – or know one – here are some of the best routines to adopt from the start: Budgeting (http://www.practicalmoneyskills. com/budgeting/) is the first important step in financial planning, because it is difficult to make effective financial decisions without knowing where every dollar is actually going.

It’s a three-part exercise – tracking spending, analyzing where that money has gone, and finding ways to direct that spending more effectively toward saving, investing, and extinguishing debt. Even if a new grad is looking for work or waiting to find a job, budgeting is a lifetime process that should start immediately.

A graduate’s first savings goal should be an emergency fund to cover everyday expenses such as the loss of a job or a major repair. The ultimate purpose of an emergency fund (http:// www.practicalmoneyskills.com/emergencycalc) is to avoid additional debt or draining savings or investments. Emergency funds should cover at least four to seven months of living expenses.

Retirement may seem a distant spot on the horizon after graduation, but success depends on saving and investing as soon as possible. New grads can benefit from the IRS’s Withholding Calculator (http://www.irs.gov/ Individuals/IRS-Withholding-Calculator) to determine the right amount of tax is being withheld from weekly paychecks. From there, they can evaluate personal retirement savings options and employer’s plans as well – both will be necessary to retire effectively. Signing up for automatic deposits into retirement accounts and personal savings allows money to grow without the temptation of spending it first.

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Insurance is crucial. Renter’s insurance is important not only to cover personal belongings that are lost, stolen or damaged, but most policies cover living expenses in an emergency and offer liability and medical coverage if someone gets hurt at one’s apartment. Auto insurance is the law in many states, and even though disability coverage may be available at work, it is important to determine whether additional individual coverage should be purchased. Finally, the Affordable Care Act has made health coverage a must for young adults. New graduates may stay on a parent’s plan until the age of 26 even if they have the option for health coverage at work. After age 26, health insurance can be bought privately or through federal and state exchanges.

Young adults should get into the habit of tracking their credit reports from the beginning. By law, everyone has the right to receive all three of their credit reports for free (https://www.annualcreditreport.com) each year, and it is important to stagger requests from the three credit bureaus – Experian, Equifax and TransUnion – to better check for inaccuracies and potential identity theft.

Finally, for those still having trouble making ends meet, moving home for a limited time period could be an option. New grads should negotiate an affordable rent on a fixed timetable and use those savings to create investment accounts that can pay for major goals like a home, a wedding or graduate school. If you’re working with a financial advisor already, ask them to weigh in with additional ideas.

Bottom line: The first year out of college, young adults encounter a range of financial challenges that will shape their money behavior for a lifetime. Embracing budgeting, saving and investing is crucial even with the smallest amount of resources.

Jason Alderman directs Visa’s financial education programs. To Follow Jason Alderman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PracticalMoney.

Urban Views Weekly | May 20, 2015

Expand your network and Grow your business.

Central Virginia African American Chamber of Commerce

Letter To The Editor

www.CVAACC.org

If you would like to respond to Viewpoints, your submission should contain your name, a full valid address and a daytime phone number. We cannot acknowledge submitted letters. We reserve the right to edit for accuracy, clarity, legality and taste.

E-mail (without attachments) to editor@urbanviewsweekly. com. Mail letters to Editor Urban Views Weekly.

Ervin B. Clarke, Publisher publisher@urbanviewsweekly.com VOL. 8, ISSUE 20 Urban Views Weekly, LLC 6802 Paragon Place, Suite 410 Richmond, VA 23230 Office: (804) 441-6255 Fax: (888) 439-2534

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Scholar of the Week

By Janeal Downs After her parents separated, Bre’Ana Coleman’s mother was forced to work two jobs to provide for her and her three siblings. Because of her mother’s drive for motivation and success, Bre’Ana said she is one of her strongest influences to achieve and succeed in life. With a 4.16 GPA, Bre’Ana considers herself a “go getter”. “Even though my financial stability is my biggest downfall, I will go to the extremes to overcome this bearing factor,” she stated in an essay.

Major Community Service: Walk for Hunger, Relay for Life, Nursing Home

Bre’Ana works her hardest by being a part of numerous extracurricular activities. “From the beginning until this very day of my high school experience, I have participated in the Petersburg High School Marching Band, “ Bre’Ana stated. “Being captain for the dance team has given me a great sense of leadership abilities and also a strong mind.” Bre’Ana is a member of the National Spanish Honor Society and the National Honor Society. She is also the reporter for DECA at her school. With DECA, she is able to participate in numerous community service opportunities, which she said is one of her favorite things to do. She has participated in the Walk for Hunger, Relay for Life, helps at her school store and has volunteered at the nursing home.

Strong Interests: Science, Cosmetology

Bre’Ana’s other favorite activities include doing hair and babysitting

Bre’Ana Coleman of

Petersburg High School

GPA: 4.16 College of Interest: Florida A&M University

Favorite Activities: Band, Community Service, doing hair, babysitting her nieces

her nieces. Taking care of her nieces, and her interest in science, has influenced her to want to become a pediatric nurse in the future. In college, she plans to major in biology. “Nurturing and taking care of children brings joy to my heart,” Bre’Ana stated. “Understanding how their personalities develop, and the way each child grows differently, brings the curiosities out.” This fall, she will attend Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Fla. She was attracted to the school for many reasons, including the fact that it is an HBCU and has a very good nursing program. One thing she learned from high school that she will take with her to college is “to never give up, even if the work gets hard, to try your hardest.”

Scholar0

With a goal of one day being a pediatric nurse, Bre’Ana said she ™ will accomplish this goal by any means necessary. She said another big influence in her life is her sister.

“She’s always been there for me, she has my back with everything,” Bre’Ana said. “If I need her there to motivate me when I’m down and out, she always lifts me up.”

ek of the We

Bre’Ana said her setbacks and downfalls have shaped her into the person she is today. “I understand the importance of life’s hardships and I like to thank God for all that he has done,” she said. “Without him, I believe I would not be the person that I am today.”

Watch for our Scholar of the Week segment, Wednesdays at 6:30 PM on 

$100 Scholarships Awarded Every Week

Encourage your scholar to apply! www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

Do you know a High School Senior who can meet the following criteria?

1. Have a 3.0 grade point average or better 2. Participates in extracurricular community service activities 3. Attends public school in Central Virginia Go to UrbanViewsWeekly.com for application and details.

Urban Views Weekly | May 20, 2015

3

ViewPoints

By Dr. T

Scandal is Over Y’all!

“Oh back on the block she’s at it again She’ll be your friend as long as you spend I know she’s torn whole families apart She’ll shoot a poison arrow straight through your heart” These are lyrics from a song titled Erica Kane by Aaliyah. People often misinterpret the song to be about a female soap opera character, by the same name, who was villainous and deadly throughout the decades-long television daytime series All My Children. In fact, the song uses the Erica Kane character as an analogy for crack cocaine, just as treacherous and even more deadly when infecting and ravaging lives, families and communities. Back in the day, you could hear conversations and “trash talk” all around the neighborhood, around the proverbial “water cooler” and in break rooms nationwide about Erica Kane, from All My Children; Luke and Laura from General Hospital; and the life and times of Dr. Marlena Evans from Days of Our Lives. The conversations were full of passionate debate and clear distinctions in perspectives and points of view as if the lives of these soap opera characters actually mattered.

television in the way of decadence, violence, cheating and sexual encounters. And, the question we were left with at the end of the season was “Who shot JR?” Fast forward to Olivia Pope and Associates from the hit television drama Scandal, whose creator Shonda Rhimes has single-handedly saved ABC with her hits Grey’s Anatomy, How to Get Away With Murder, and Scandal. Shonda has taken Oprah’s place as the Queen of network television! Oh, and she’s a black self-proclaimed feminist. The “look” of the prime-time soap opera has changed y’all! All of Shonda’s shows are colorfully cast, with more people of color than any other 3 shows collectively on television. Shonda’s characters of color are central to the theme and plot of the shows she writes. They are the LEADS not because they are people of color, but just because they are people who “happen to be” of color, and that, in and of itself, has TRANSFORMED network television in this The Age of Obama.

Tawnya Pettiford-Wates, Ph.D.

Founder and Artistic Director The Conciliation Project and Associate Professor Virginia Commonwealth University

I am not a big fan of soap operas, either daytime or prime time. I find the story line of Scandal particularly problematic on many levels. However, I cannot deny the power of the optics of the casting on Scandal. It is, at times, those same optics that challenge both the politics of race, class and gender while simultaneously championing CHANGE. But really Shonda, the love triangle is black Olivia Pope (aka Sally Hemings) with white savior Jake Ballard(soldier for the cause) vs. the POTUS (a white Republican)? The Savior, in the white hat, bows out and rides off into the sunset leaving the POTUS & Olivia playing house on the White House balcony for the entire world to see. Really? I think not.

Growing up in the glory days of daytime soap operas, the gossip on who was sleeping with whom and whose father’s brother’s cousin was really somebody else’s daughter was always buzzing on the telephone lines, on front porch stoops and DrT@Margins2theCenter.com www.theconciliationproject.org in corner conversations. It was too much to keep track of, but often served as a convenient distraction to the very real storylines and real life dramas of our time.

Then, television capitalized on the success of daytime soaps by creating prime time models like Dallas and Dynasty, breaking down new cultural barriers as to what could actually be seen on Up Next Week: Why I Love Michelle Obama

TanyaFree.com/ Urban Views Weekly Poll In a recent report, about 45 million Americans are not members of a church. However, unaffiliated does not mean they do not believe in God or do not have faith, according to sixty eight percent. Those who are spiritual reject being called religious and being associated with organized religions. Reportedly, there are religious organizations that are doing, in part, many good things, but their stance on social issues is a hindrance.

What’s your take? Are you affiliated with a church?

Check out the story and respond to this week’s poll at TanyaFree.com and the Urban Views Weekly FACEBOOK Page. Listen to the Tanya Free and Friends Talk Show Wednesdays @ 2pm on WCLM1450AM streaming LIVE @ TanyaFree.com and BlackTalkRadioNetwork.com.

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Giant/Martin’s Donates $3 Million To Local Schools Through A+ School Rewards Schools get a ‘bonus’ when customers use their BonusCards GIANT Food Stores and MARTIN’S Food Markets recently announced a $3 million donation to 2,823 public and private schools through its popular school fundraiser, A+ School Rewards for the 2014-15 school year. Since launching the program in 2005, GIANT/MARTIN’S has donated more than $22 million to local schools throughout the communities it serves.

“Thank you to all of our participating customers and school partners, as we once again were able to make a difference in our neighborhood schools through our A+ School Rewards program,” said Erik Keptner, senior vice president for sales, merchandising and marketing, GIANT/MARTIN’S. “It’s gratifying to see all the terrific educational programs come to life when our customers pull out their BonusCards!”

Through GIANT/MARTIN’S A+ School Rewards program, participating schools earn cash for technology, scholarships, school programs, field trips, playgrounds and other educational needs. After customers designated the school of their choice last fall, A+ School Rewards points were accrued with each purchase made using a BonusCard from October 5, 2014 through March 21, 2015. Customers can sign up and designate up to two local schools to participate in next year’s A+ School Rewards this fall.

Elmwood Elementary School in Mechanicsburg, PA was the top earning school this year, receiving $25,299. The other top earning schools, by state, included: Bishop Walsh School in Cumberland, MD - $12,946 St. Bridget School in Richmond, VA - $4,571 Faith Christian Academy in Martinsburg, WV - $3,499 For a complete list of participating schools and the GIANT/MARTIN’S A+ School Rewards donation they earned for the 2014-15 school year, visit the GIANT A+ or MARTIN A+ websites.

StatePoint

This Father’s Day Think Beyond the Tie The tie has been a traditional Father’s Day gift since the holiday was first celebrated. But this year, men’s fashion experts say think beyond this staid accessory while Father’s Day shopping.

“The modern man is expressing himself in much broader ways and rounding out his wardrobe with more creativity than he has in the past,” says Denis Daly Wood, founder of Dalys 1895, fourth-generation luxury men’s designer and online retailer.

To give Dad the gift of contemporary style, Wood offers some great Father’s Day shopping tips: • Get inspired by Dad’s favorite hobbies. For example, if he’s an outdoor enthusiast, perhaps he would like a new sturdy backpack, hiking boots or gloves to wear during his next adventure. If he’s a writer, a leather-bound journal or engraved fountain pen are great gift ideas that could prove useful and personal. Search for items that could help Dad better enjoy doing the things he loves.

• Dad may have his favorite suits, but buying him an accessory to accent his outfit can make him look and feel his best when he’s at the office or out to dinner. A pocket square, like a limited edition

Caravaggio silk pocket square, can add a level of sophistication to Dad’s look.

• Has your father been carrying the same wallet for years? Upgrade his style with a wallet of a different color or texture or select a sterling silver alternative, like the Dalys 1895 Sterling Silver 16 Gauge Money Clip, with his hand-engraved monogram for a personal touch.

• Does Dad have a favorite watch that he loves to wear? Buy Dad a watch winder or watch box where he can keep his treasure.

A bracelet that complements his watch can also add a great touch to his outfit all year round.

• For the traveling dad, consider a sleek, stylish weekender bag or briefcase to amp up his style even while he’s on the go. If Dad always travels with his tablet or laptop, be sure to find a bag with tech pockets that will protect his gadgets even during takeoff.

For even more Father’s Day gift ideas, visit www. dalys1895.com.

Don’t resort to a tacky “Number One Dad” t-shirt or boring, tired tie. Take this holiday as an opportunity to elevate Dad’s style.

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CALL TODAY! (804) 441-6255 Urban Views Weekly | May 20, 2015

5

DUI

Since the era that cars were first mass produced, there have been issues with impaired driving. The first such offense came in 1897 in London.

In the states, the first drunk-driving law was passed in New York in 1910. Other states followed suit, eventually introducing blood alcohol content levels as standards for the crime.

The Consequences

We all know impaired drivers aren’t just putting themselves in danger.

They also are endangering everyone who shares the road with them.

No penalty may seem too stiff for a driver who takes the life of another innocent person. There are a range of punishments that drivers arrested for impaired operation of a vehicle have to face.

include whether or not a driver has any prior DUI charges; the driver’s blood alcohol content at the time of arrest; and whether someone was seriously injured or killed during the accident.

Ignition Interlock Laws

One of the most recent breakthroughs in the battle against drunk driving has been the introduction of ignition interlock laws.

These are devices that are installed in the vehicles of people who have been convicted of driving while impaired. They prevent operation of the vehicle by anyone with a blood alcohol concentration above a specified safe level (usually 0.02 percent to 0.04 percent), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

When installed, the CDC reports that interlocks are associated with about a 70 percent reduction in arrest rates for impaired driving,

First-Time Convictions The punishment for a first-time, non-injury DUI is, in many states, punishable by a minimum number of days to be served in jail complemented by a hefty fine.

Licenses also typically can be suspended for up to a year and the driver is generally put onto a type of probation for a few years, meaning another arrest during that time period could result in much longer jail time.

Prior Convictions

Drivers with prior DUI convictions are not let off as easy. Judges are privy to prior arrest records and may take into consideration any past drinking and driving offenses.

If an arrested driver appears to be a further threat to others, more serious jail time or larger fines could be on the table. Each state is different, but penalties and fines generally are even more serious when blood alcohol content is .15 or more. (The legal limit is .08.)

DUI School

One of the prevention pieces put in place for people arrested for impaired driving is DUI school, also known as mandatory alcohol education. Such programs are focused on teaching offenders about alcohol dependency and the consequences of DUIs.

A 100 Yea

How it Works

An offender is responsible for all costs associated with the installation and monitoring of an interlock system unless otherwise determined by a judge. System costs vary by state and interlock company. Offenders can expect to pay approximately $65 to a vendor for installation and then $80 per month.

Here is how an ignition interlock system works: • Driver blows into the mouthpiece of the device; • The fuel cell inside the device analyzes the blood alcohol concentration; • If the concentration is below the pre-determined limit, the car will start; • If it is not, the car will not start; • The system also requires blows throughout the drive, in random intervals; and • Anyone driving the vehicle must use the device.

State by State

These types of programs are different from state to state but can last up to 30 months for repeat offenders.

Virginia is one of twenty-one states that have mandatory ignition interlock provisions for all offenses, according to the American Legislative Exchange Council. The other states are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Washington and West Virginia.

Factors in deciding the length and intensity of the program can

Interlock laws vary by state. Check with your state’s department of

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Urban Views Weekly | May 20, 2015

transportation to find out the laws in your area.

DUI vs. DWI

Driving under the influence (DUI) and driving while impaired (DWI) both refer to the illegal act of operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs. Some states classify them as separate crimes while others do not make a distinction between the two. When there is a difference between the two, DWI is generally the more serious charge.

Blood alcohol concentration at the time of the event is most often the differentiating factor.

Different Types of Impaired Driving The law prohibiting drunk driving is most commonly known as DUI. States identify the offense in different ways. Here are some examples: • DUIL (driving under the influence of liquor) • DWI (driving while intoxicated) • OMVI (operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated) • OWI (operating while intoxicated), or • OUI (operating under the influence).

Elements of DUI & DWI

You don’t have to be driving your vehicle to receive a DUI

ar Problem

By Bernard Freeman

DWI

Alcohol clouds the judgment usually used to make big decisions — ones such as whether or not we can safely operate a vehicle.

The importance of these types of decisions is magnified when the potential for harming others is a key factor. Someone who might never soberly consider making such a poor decision may have lower inhibitions when drinking, making the same decision a tough one to carry out.

Enter the designated driver.

These helpful friends help take the decision-making out of getting home safely. If you’re putting together a night on the town, be sure to plan ahead on finding a ride from someone who isn’t planning to drink. This can include a friend, family member, public transportation, a taxi or a ride-share service.

But what should you, the concerned citizen, do if you spot a drunk driver? How can you help police officers keep impaired people from getting behind the wheel?

Signs of Impairment

First, get to know the many driving cues that may signal a drunk driver. These can include: • Reckless driving or weaving; • Going left of center or driving over the shoulder; • Driving too slowly; • Braking erratically or stopping for no apparent reason; • Slow response to traffic signals; • Driving without headlights at nighttime; and • Nearly striking objects, curbs or other vehicles.

What to Do

Designated Driver Programs

or DWI. The “operational” requirement of a charge can occur while someone is sleeping behind the wheel or driving a truck, motorcycle, car, golf cart, bicycle, tractor or horse.

Some states have tough stances on DUIs or DWIs, arresting people even if found in the car with the engine turned off and the keys in their pocket. In others, you have to be operating your vehicle on a public road to be arrested for drunk driving. Additionally, some states will hand out a DUI or DWI even if you’re on your own personal property.

Penalties

Whether called a DUI or a DWI in your state, DMV. org features a state-by-state look at your specific area’s penalties for the crime. Check out http://www.dmv. org/automotive-law/dui.php for this tool. Click on a state and read more about the specific definition of the offense as well as costs, penalties, and resources in your state.

Designated Driver Programs

“I think I can make it.” “If I leave my car here, I’m afraid it will get towed.” “My house is only a few blocks away.” Do any of these statements sound familiar?

There are many national initiatives aimed at promoting the act of designated driving. Here are a couple coordinated by Mothers Against Drunk Driving: National Football League: Since 2009, MADD and the National Football League have worked together to launch public service announcements and conduct on-field advocacy to help spread the word that the designated driver is a group’s most vital teammate.

Ride-share partners: MADD also has partnered with ride-share services Uber and Lyft. Doing so has given people more options when it comes to choosing a safe way to get home.

Give the Gift

The next time you plan a night out with friends, why not give the gift of being a designated driver? People who decide to do so can find it extremely rewarding to know that your friends are in good hands for the night.

Volunteer yourself to get everyone home safely. You can even download a designated driver coupon on MADD’s website that you can hand out to your friends.

How to Spot a Drunk Driver

After you have spotted an impaired driver, it’s time to take action. The longer you wait to call the authorities, the higher the chance of someone getting hurt.

If you’re driving with someone else in the car, ask him or her to take notice of the license plate number of the vehicle in question. If you’re by yourself, try to make out the plate number and remember the main details of the car, including color, make and model.

Then pull your vehicle over and call 911, giving the exact location of the vehicle and all key information you can remember. Your vigilance will hopefully lead to safer streets.

What Not to Do

Now that you know what to do, there also are actions you should never take in the case of spotting an impaired driver.

Never try to take matters into your own hands by pulling over or passing the suspected vehicle. This could irritate the other driver or cause a collision.

It is best to keep your distance and follow the steps outlined in the section above. It is best to stay far away from dangerous drivers to keep yourself and others as safe as possible.

Police officers patrolling the streets for public safety are trained to look for indications of drunk drivers. These can include both obvious and not-so-obvious signs of impairment. www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

7

Civic Beat FUNdraising Good Times

Your fantasy fundraiser Tired of hearing about fundraising challenges?

Maybe it’s time to hire your fantasy fundraiser!

The work of your nonprofit is critically important.

You’re helping young people choose the right path in life. You are challenging new forms of discrimination and civil rights violations. The teenagers enrolled in your math and science program are the engineers of tomorrow. Our seniors are protected from fraud and abuse thanks to your organization. And disaster relief is provided around the globe because of volunteers here in the United States.

Your nonprofit’s mission and vision are the drivers for important work. Volunteer efforts play a critical role. Yet, many times your work requires cold hard cash. Why doesn’t the money just show up? And, why, if you hire a fundraiser – or a fundraising team – can’t they meet the ever- increasing fundraising goal?

Tired of reality? Let’s play fantasy fundraising! It’s easy and fun. You can hire anyone you want to do anything you want for your nonprofit. The sky’s the limit. Do you need a fundraising professional who can produce the most unique and exciting event ever heard of? One who can also market value-rich sponsorship packages and sell out the event? Write that down.

What about a professional who can build a social media presence and sustain an engaged following for your university or college? Someone who interacts with your young alumni, keeps them up to date, creates fun and competitive giving opportunities and – at the end of the year – shows you a documented increase in alumni giving. Write that down.

Maybe your fantasy is a fundraising professional who is a well-connected multi-tasker. They know everybody. Young professionals and highly placed executives admire them and want to be in their presence. They are a wiz at technology, and in just two weeks identify the right software to run your fundraising back office; test its reporting functions; migrate existing data; find those old spreadsheets; and enter all the data into the new system. They also find that stack of business cards; know everyone personally; place a call to each; record their interests; and send each a copy of your most recent newsletter. At lunch they secure two $50,000 gifts. You love them!

We all have fundraising dreams. We want the money to show up so we can focus on the important work of the organizations and institutions we believe in. It’s understandable.

Fundraising is hard work. It requires planning and the right team of professionals and volunteers.

And, it can be undermined by fundraising fantasies.

Fantasy thinking can keep us focused on wishes instead of plans. The difference is this: wishes come true magically; plans require involvement, creativity and consistency.

Take the time to dream big and then take the time to plan. Your dreams can come true.

Copyright 2015– Mel and Pearl Shaw

Scotts Crossroads (Route 633) Bridge Replacement Mecklenburg County Willingness to Hold Public Hearing

Find out about the proposed bridge replacement project over the S. Meherrin River. The project will replace the 105-year old timber structure on Scotts Crossroads (Route 633), north of Honey Tree Rd. Review the project information and National Environmental Policy Act documentation at VDOT’s Richmond District Office located at 2430 Pine Forest Drive in Colonial Heights, 23834-9002 804-524-6000, 1-800-3677623,TTY/TDD 711. Please call ahead to ensure the availability of appropriate personnel to answer your questions.

If your concerns cannot be satisfied, VDOT is willing to hold a public hearing. You may request that a public hearing be held by sending a written request to Jason Zhang, P.E., project manager, Virginia Department of Transportation, 2430 Pine Forest Drive, Colonial Heights, VA 23834-9002 or Jason.Zhang@VDOT.Virginia.gov on or prior to May 30, 2015. If a request for a public hearing is received, notice of date, time and place of the hearing will be posted.

VDOT ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you have questions or concerns about your civil rights in regards to this project or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, contact the project manager listed above.

Mel and Pearl Shaw position nonprofits, colleges and universities for fundraising success. For help with your fundraising, visit www.saadandshaw.com or call (901) 522-8727.

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Urban Views Weekly | May 20, 2015

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RPS Students Transform Carytown with Artwork Richmond Public Schools (RPS), in association with the Carytown Merchants Association, will host its annual Carytown Art Walk, featuring hundreds of pieces of artwork created by RPS elementary, middle and high school students.

For the 20th consecutive year, the students’ artwork will transform Carytown into a walking art gallery with pieces being showcased in the windows of over 30 stores. In addition to an awards presentation, there will be activities and musical performances by RPS students.

The event is free and open to the public and will be held rain or shine.

Carytown Art Walk opens Saturday, May 23 at 11:00 a.m.

The art will be showcased in various Carytown locations.

Winners will be honored on Saturday, May 23, 2015 at 2:30pm at the Wells Fargo at 3201 West Cary Street.

Kimara Brown, 4th Grade, Ginter Park Elementary School

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Urban Views Weekly | May 20, 2015

For more information, contact Christie Jo Adams, instructional specialist for fine arts, at (804) 780-6837. www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

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How to Guide

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804.649.6868

Picking a Summer Camp Summer camps are opportunities for kids of all ages to create fabulous lifelong memories. Everybody loves summer camp. Children can make new friends and take part in fun activities, such as hiking, swimming or telling stories. Parents can also enjoy time for themselves.

aged substantially.

Visit all of the prospective camps before making a final decision.

Supervision Supervision varies substantially from camp to camp. Some facilities have plenty of camp counselors on hand to look after the children. At the very least, camps should have enough staff to ensure the safety of all kids.

Each state typically has a minimum staff-to-student ratio. Be sure that the camp complies with these regulations.

When looking for a summer camp, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Coed or Same-Sex The first aspect to consider is whether you want your child to attend a coed or same-sex camp. There are advantages to both choices.

Also, consider the following questions: Are the supervisors adults, older teens, or a mixture of both?

What kind of training and experience do they have?

Do they have appropriate licenses and basic medical training?

Coed camps allow boys and girls to socialize together, which may concern some parents. But coed camps usually have strict rules and supervision.

They separate the boys and the girls for certain activities and housing.

Single sex camps can allow kids to develop confidence and self-esteem. They also eliminate the possibility of distractions and the rigidity of gender stereotypes.

Education Many camps focus on educational activities, such as music, drama or science. Think about your child’s interests. You may want him to focus on certain activities, especially if he needs additional tutoring.

Consider your choices and research your options. It is important to ask your child for his opinion. While it is ultimately your choice, the child will have a better experience if he feels as if he had some power in making the ultimate decision about how he will spend his summer.

Background checks should be performed on everyone who is around children. It is important that you verify that the camp has performed the proper background checks.

or wellness needs.

Talk with the camp director before making a decision.

Read reviews on the Internet and speak with parents who have sent their children to the camp. Also, be sure the facilities are properly equipped and safe before allowing your child to attend the camp.

Track Record

Special Needs Camps

It is essential that the summer camp has a long record of keeping children safe and happy. Also ask your friends, family and neighbors for information about summer camps for kids. Don’t base your judgment solely on their opinion, but positivity is a good first step. Once you have collected enough referrals, start looking deeper into what each camp has to offer.

If you are searching for a special needs camp, be cautious about choosing the right camp. Experts and trained personnel should be on hand to help children with health

Even if you had a fantastic childhood experience at a particular camp, times are different now. The staff and camp counselors have changed. The facilities may have

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Long-Term Investment There is a wide range of costs associated with summer camps. If you are on a budget, consider sending your child to a basic day camp. People who can afford more might consider specialized private residential camps.

Cost alone should not be a deciding factor. Remember, you are paying for memories and experiences that will last a lifetime.

Never, ever risk your child’s safety in order to save money. You will have to find a camp that meets your needs as well as those of your child. Your budget should also be a factor.

It isn’t easy, but finding the best camp for your child is well worth the time and expense you put into it.

Call: (804) 441-6255 Urban Views Weekly | May 20, 2015

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