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EGACY Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow.

WEDNESDAYS • March 25, 2015

INSIDE Morrissey for Senate - 2 The fall of Richmond - 5 Weeding out poser Christians - 8 Fighting cancer in April & beyond - 14 LEGACYNEWSPAPER.COM • FREE

How meaningful is mentoring to high risk youth?

NNPA — Available data shows the impact of mentoring on youth at high risk for violence may be limited, but advocates said the overall benefits of mentoring suggest it is a worthwhile undertaking nonetheless. In nearby Baltimore, during Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake’s state of the city address, the mayor announced “the start of an intense focus on our African American young men” in an effort to reduce the number of African-American homicides in Baltimore City, which totaled 189 in 2014. As part of this effort, the city will begin working to recruit men to serve as mentors, tutors, and job training coaches in order to connect them with existing organizations in need of volunteers. In 2014, 15 juveniles died in homicides in Baltimore, according to data released by the Baltimore Police Department. Even if all 15 youths were African American, they would make up just 7.9 percent of the 189 total homicides. That fact suggests that an intense focus on young men, even if entirely successful, would not result in substantial reductions in African-American homicides overall. However, given the age of the victims, few would argue with

even nominal reductions in those numbers. Available data on the impact of mentoring on youth violence is limited. A 2013 report by the University of Chicago Crime Lab studied a sports-based after-school mentoring initiative known as BAM, or Becoming a Man, that was combined with in-school cognitive behavioral therapy program. The program lasted one year and involved 2,740 randomly assigned boys from disadvantaged Chicago neighborhoods. The study found a 44 percent reduction in violent crime arrests among participants compared to their nonparticipating counterparts, as well as a 36 percent decline in non violent-crime arrests. But these reductions did not last beyond the program year, and the study suggests the reductions likely had more to do with the therapy than the mentoring. However, the study did find that the program produced other important benefits. “While the crime impacts do not persist (beyond the program year), impacts on schooling outcomes do, with gains that we estimate could translate into higher graduation rates of 3 to 10 percentage points,”

Justen Boyd, left, a family advocate spends time mentoring youth and talking about school, life, their neighborhood and why an education is important. the study’s authors wrote. In another study conducted in Chicago, youths arriving at an emergency room with assault injuries were recruited and paired with a mentor with whom they would meet six or more times over a two- to sixmonth period. For those participants with high participation, the study found “significant decreases in misdemeanor behavior and physical aggression,” and a follow-

up assessment found “additional reductions for the intervention group in reports of fighting and subsequent fight-related injuries.” That program targeted youth already involved in violence, and thus at higher risk for violence, making it a different model than the one currently proposed in Baltimore. However, Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen has said that the city seeks to identify (continued on page 4)

2 • March 25, 2015

The LEGACY

News

Former Richmond Del. Morrissey will mayor announces bid run for Va. Senate for state House seat Fresh off a jail stint that allowed him to serve in the Virginia House on work release, and a trip to Georgia to be with a teenager giving birth to a baby that may or may not be his, Del. Joseph D. Morrissey was collecting signatures Saturday to run for state Senate. Morrissey (I-Henrico), 57, said he will formally announce next week that he will challenge Sen. Rosalyn R. Dance (D-Petersburg) in the June Democratic primary. In December, Morrissey pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor stemming from his relationship with his teenage receptionist, who gave birth

in Georgia this month. Morrissey has declined to say if the child is his. Voters in the district — which spans eastern Henrico County, Charles City County and a small part of Richmond — sent him back to the legislature as an independent in a January special election. Later in January, four new felony charges were unsealed in a second criminal indictment against Morrissey, alleging that he presented forged documents in the original sex-scandal case. A trial date is set for next month. Morrissey has denied wrongdoing. © WaPo

Former Mayor Leonidas Young is surrounded by supporters recently. With his wife by his side and backed by loyal supporters, including former Richmond city Councilman Chuck Richardson, former Richmond Mayor Leonidas Young announced he will run for the 74th District House seat. He hopes his campaign for the House of Delegates will be an example to former Gov. Bob McDonnell, who restored his rights in 2012, that a comeback is possible following a conviction. Young, who was mayor from 1994 until 1996, is no stranger to controversy or confinement. He served almost two years in federal prison about 10 years ago after pleading guilty to two counts of mail fraud and one count each of obstruction of justice and filing a false tax return. He will not try to push his convictions to the back burner however. Instead Young plans to use his incarceration to prove that a person’s life can be refashioned.

“My experiences have made me a better person. I am not a perfect man but I am a much better man than I use to be,” Young said during a press conference held at Del. Joe Morrissey’s law office last week where he announced his bid. Pointing out that redemption can bring forth an improved person Young says that he is willing to step into the frame of criticism and misunderstandings to be the trailblazer for those who deserve another chance. “I’m older. I’m wiser,” Young said. “There are some lessons you can only learn through experiences. Everybody deserves another chance. Not a second chance but another chance.” Young’s platform will represent individuals who have fallen and who need a second chance, he said. “I believe that the total restoration of rights isn’t just the right to vote, (continued on page 4)

Comic Con in town The Chesterfield County Public Library recently hosted its annual Chesterfield Comic Con. The event attracts hundreds of fans dressed in their favorite comic book, science fiction or movie character. Participants enjoyed dozens of vendors, art and activities. Comic Con festivals have grown in popularity since 1970 when a group of comic, movie and science fiction fans gathered to share their passion during the first comic book convention in San Diego.

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The LEGACY

4 • March 25, 2015 (from page 1) risk factors for youth homicides, such as a previous non-fatal shooting, in order to develop more effective interventions to be implemented in the near future. Until then, the sort of mentoring initiatives being promoted by the city may not be the most effective at reducing violence, since they are not yet targeted specifically towards youth who have shown a propensity towards violent behavior. The BAM study did not find lasting impacts on violence, but did find lasting impacts in school related outcomes, which are associated with more traditional mentoring models. They can also have an indirect result on reducing violence; for example, improved graduation rates may help produce more economically viable adults. According to Michelle Lawrence, director of marketing and communications for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Chesapeake, more than 80 percent of children who receive just one year of mentoring

in their programs report having better relationships, improved school performance, improved decisionmaking, greater confidence, and greater optimism about the future. Academic achievement and good relationships are protective factors against violence according to the National Mentoring Partnership, a mentoring advocacy organization. In other words, while the impact of mentoring on youths already at high risk for violence may be limited, mentoring may play an important role in reducing risk factors for violent or aggressive behaviors. An expansion of mentoring in Baltimore City could help reduce the number of youths at risk for violence in the first place, which could eventually reduce overall violence. Ultimately, more data is needed. As the city begins implementing its efforts on reducing violence, both the mayor and Wen have said that the city will collect data on its efforts in order to determine which initiatives are producing the best outcomes. © AFRO

(from page 2) but the right to pursue public office and win that pursuit so that young people and others who have fallen will have an example of somebody who has come back,” he said. Morrissey, who currently represents the district, recently served jail time for a misdemeanor conviction of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He was re-elected to serve the district in a special election held in January. “I am not suggesting that the 74th is the only district that has proven the power of forgiveness and redemption, but it is certainly a clear example of a district where there are people who do understand and who are willing to forgive and to trust,” he said. That’s one reason why Young selected Morrissey’s office to hold the press conference. Young further shared that Morrissey encouraged him to run for the seat. “We share the same passion” of helping those in need of help and

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service Young said. Young says he wants to fight for raising the minimum wage, the expansion of health care and voter restoration. “If you have never experienced what they experienced or sat where they sit you can have symphathy but not empathy,” Young said. Young, 60, shares he is diabetic and is thankful for the five-yearold Obamacare because he can now afford the medication he needs for his medical condition. He admits to losing his health care coverage for about a year until he and his family obtained coverage through Obamacare. He wants to also work to close the coverage gap that includes approximately 400,000 Virginians that do not have health insurance. The 74th House District, which includes parts Richmond and Henrico and all of Charles City County, is the ideal venue for his message, Young said. Young will face Henrico School Board member Lamont Bagby in the Democratic Primary June 9.

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March 25, 2015 • 5

“Richmond’s Journey” to explore the end of slavery the target of Union armies for four years, will commemorate this pivotal period in American history through a series of diverse and powerful programs taking place April 1 – April 4, 2015. Sponsored by the Future of Richmond’s Past, a collaborative effort of Richmond’s historical societies, museums, national parks, tourism offices, commissions, and cultural organizations, the four-day commemoration will feature special illuminations, programs, and tours

of the city’s historic areas, allowing visitors to join in Richmond’s Journey: walking in the footsteps of those who made history 150 years ago and reflecting on what past events mean to us, as a nation, today. “Richmond was the Normandy of the Civil War, and the fall of Richmond led to the end of the war and the end of slavery,” said

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The LEGACY

Op/Ed 93m consumers using prepaid cards lack financial protection CHARLENE CROWELL When it comes to financial services, many consumers are surprised by the range of fees attached to their transactions. From mortgages to checking accounts, credit cards and more, regulations for these products establish the ‘rules of the road ’for consumers and creditors alike. Yet one financial product with growing popularity has no comparable consumer protection: prepaid cards. For example, if a consumer has an account with a bank or credit union, their monies are federallyinsured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) up to $250,000. Even when employers use prepaid cards for payrolls or when government benefits are issued on these cards, consumer protections are lacking. Moreover, when fees are attached to worker wages and public benefits payments, consumers are left with no legal redress. With each card issuer also setting its fee schedule and assessments, multiple added costs for usage can widely vary. Fees can include some or all of the following typical transactions: ATM cash withdrawal, balance inquiry, bill payments, card cancellation, inactivity, monthly

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usage, replacement of lost or stolen cards, and overdraft fees. According to FDIC, the largest users of prepaid cards include 25 million unbanked consumers and an additional 68 million who are underbanked, preferring these cards or other alternative financial services to traditional institutions. The term ‘unbanked’ describes consumers who have no existing relationship with a traditional financial institution such as a bank or credit union. ‘Underbanked’ consumers have such a relationship but turn to a range of alternative financial services for most of their personal financial transactions. Unbanked and underbanked consumers are also disproportionately consumers of color – black, Latino, and Native American. The combination of growing prepaid usage and lack of financial regulation has caught the attention of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). In remarks before a November 2014 field hearing, Richard Cordray, CFPB Director, stated the agency’s concerns. “Many of these prepaid [card] consumers are living paycheck to paycheck, and are engaged in a constant battle to make ends meet,” said Cordray. “They are some of the The LEGACY welcomes all signed letters and all respectful opinions. Letter writers and columnists opinions are their own and endorsements of their views by The LEGACY should be inferred. The LEGACY assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. Annual Subscription Rates Virginia - $50 U.S. states - $75 Outside U.S.- $100 The Virginia Legacy © 2015

most economically vulnerable among us, and most of them have no idea that the prepaid cards they choose to purchase are largely unregulated at the federal level and carry few if any protections under federal consumer financial law.” To remedy this regulatory gap, CFPB has proposed rules for prepaid cards that would increase the consistency and clarity around the product, as the Bureau has for other financial products and services. Key requirements that CFPB is proposing include: § Public disclosure in a uniform format of applicable fees; § Better access to balances, customer service account transactions and other information; § Require basic protections from fraud for both prepaid cards and mobile versions; and § Establish limits on overdraft fees on all prepaid cards. Consumer advocates are paying particular attention to the Bureau’s handling of overdraft fees on prepaid cards. Expensive overdraft fees are a major reason why many individuals have lost or left their traditional checking account. “Prepaid card issuers should not be permitted to burden card holders with overdraft charges,” said Rebecca Borne, a senior policy counsel with the Center for Responsible Lending, “particularly when these cards are invariably marketed as a way to

give customers better control of their finances and prevent overspending.” Prepaid cards have also attracted the enactment of related laws in two states, Illinois and California. In Illinois, lawmakers heeded the joint urgings of its Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Department of Labor to pass a bill that protects workers who receive their paychecks by prepaid cards. The action was taken following an investigation that found how multiple fees attached to payroll cards were shortchanging workers’ wages. “People shouldn’t have to pay for their pay,” Madigan said. “This bill will ensure that low wage workers get all of their wages instead of having them siphoned off by banks through unfair and excessive fees.” In California, a similar bill jointly sponsored by the California Reinvestment Coalition and the Western Center on Law and Poverty, was enacted to protect and empower low-income consumers who receive their benefits through the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) system. Consumer advocates in the state previously determined that banks and other ATM owners charged a $4 fee for every time a recipient used their card. If you or someone you know uses prepaid cards, be sure that you fully understand its terms. Crowell can be reached at charlene. crowell@responsiblelending.org.

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March 25, 2015 • 7

P.T. Hoffsteader, Esq.

On voting rights We have just witnessed the pains, perils, and prayers from 50 years ago regarding the March across the Edmund Pettus Bridge from Selma to Montgomery for voting rights for all Americans. However, here in Virginia over 350,000 individuals do not have the right to vote; do not have the constitutional right to select a representative to hear their concerns and issues. There are over 350,000 individuals that must pay taxes, but are denied a voice in the politics of this state. This idea of taxation without representation in my opinion is either “republican protectionism” or continued southern prejudices that our forefathers were beaten, jailed, and murdered for 50 years ago. As an advocate for automatic restoration of rights, and a returning citizen, who has had rights restored; I applaud what Gov. [Terry] McAuliffe and his staff have done to rectify this abysmal disenfranchisement of countless returning citizens. However, there needs to be systemic change in the constitution of the commonwealth of Virginia to rectify this injustice. An Individuals’ voting rights should not be denied regardless of their past indiscretions. Fines and fees are unfortunately, in most cases, is the “entrance fee” to voting rights in Virginia. I sat in countless committee meetings, and offered testimony to bills on automatic restoration of rights and in the recent general assembly session; only to be

disappointed once again by the republican led House of Delegates to have the bills shot down and set aside again. The bills for Automatic Restoration of Rights and Ban the Box by Sen. Rosalyn Dance passed in full Senate; but got struck down by the House of Delegates. When will Virginia change its constitution to dismantle the injustices that stigmatize, suppress, and depress countless individuals, who struggle to overcome the barriers that prevail against them. When will the injustices in the justice system, in housing, in the education system, and employment change that are not prejudice towards African Americans, and/or “returning citizens”. When will Virginia catch up with the rest of the country to change from the practices and prejudices exhibited in Selma and the rest of the country, 50 years ago. I am pleading to all Virginians to change the face of Virginia as a “punitive state” to a “redemptive state” for the countless individuals who want to participate in the positive growth of the Commonwealth of Virginia. I am pleading to all Virginians to take a stand now, leading to 2016 to change the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia to reflect the rights of all Virginians. Richard W. Walker Bridging the Gap in Virginia

Anti-racism pledge The Richmond Anti-Racism Pledge, which started at a local, historic church and is now extending into the greater Richmond community.

During the Dec. 7 morning service at First U.U. Church of Richmond last year, in response to the events that happened over the summer with the deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson and Eric Garner in New York, a leader in the congregation proposed that the church adopt an anti-racism pledge. This pledge is based on a similar pledge adopted by Birmingham, Ala. several years ago. The pledge essentially says that, for anyone who signs it, the individual will do their part to not engage in racist beliefs and practices, actively or passively. The pledge was wellreceived. The launch of a website on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day this year - www. RichmondPledge.org - extends the commitment to individuals, groups and congregations in the Richmond community to sign the pledge as well. With the 50th anniversary of the march in Selma, Ala., the recent video from the fraternity in Oklahoma, and repeat reports of unarmed African American males being shot to death by police, this pledge is a positive, timely story to counter the negative racial news. Holly Rodriguez Richmond

And the race begins I am pleased to endorse my longtime friend and “running mate” Bill Janis to represent the citizens of the 12th District in the Virginia Senate. I have known and worked with Bill for over 10 years to promote programs and policies to benefit

Virginia veterans. Like myself, Bill is a veteran who served as a commissioned officer in the United States Navy. Bill served at sea in submarines and destroyers, where he earned the rank of Lieutenant Commander, before he and Rose Ann settled in Short Pump to live and work and raise a family. When Bill was serving as a delegate, we worked closely together on legislation to benefit the survivors of Virginia veterans who were killed or permanently disabled in the lineof-duty. As Vice Chairman of the Virginia War Memorial Board, Bill worked tirelessly on behalf of the Memorial and Education Center. In January of 2012, Bill Janis was named my deputy commissioner of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services. In this role, Bill and I worked together to spearhead Virginia’s innovative and first-in-thenation strategic veteran employment initiative – “V3: Virginia Values Veterans.” Working with Virginia companies, Bill implemented a private sector employer-focused, business assistance-modeled approach to teach Virginia companies how to find, recruit, qualify, hire, integrate and retain veterans into their workforce. Since June 2012, the V3 Program has resulted in over 7,700 veterans hired, and a further promise by employers to hire over 10,000 Virginia veterans. The veterans of Virginia and their families could not ask for a more relentless fighter on their behalf than Bill. And the voters of Hanover and Henrico County simply will not find a better candidate to represent them in the Virginia Senate than Bill. Paul Galanti

The LEGACY

8 • March 25, 2015

Keeping the Faith He who has ears One autumn afternoon my twin sister and I were ripping up the soil in my grandmother’s fallow garden. We were only five-years-old, and my sister, in her clodcrushing zeal, miscalculated the distance at which I was standing from her. I was summarily whacked on top of the head with a garden hoe. Two distinct memories fill my mind about that moment: First, the warm, oozing of blood running into my left ear; and second, the sight of my Medicare-receiving, apron-wearing grandmother running, yes, running, from the house to scoop me into her arms. There were no ambulances in my hometown. There was no real emergency room. There was no 911 service. Even if these things had been readily available, it wouldn’t have mattered. My grandmother didn’t own a phone or drive a car. My aunt, who lived next door, called my parents at work. They arrived in record time and whisked me away to the office of Dr. Jerry Barron, one of only three doctors in town. Dr. Barron, sadly, was a community acknowledged quack, but on this afternoon he was the only option. See, Dr. Thompson did not work on Wednesdays, and nobody really visited Doc Hill anymore, not unless it was a matter of life and death. Young mothers had lost all confidence in Doc Hill after he allegedly reported to his clinic early one morning to deliver a new born baby boy, drunk as the proverbial skunk. The delivery was without complication, but the subsequent circumcision was a disaster. So it was with great trepidation that I was passed with a gushing head wound into the hands of Dr. Barron, the silver-haired idiot. I was dragged to an examination room where Dr. Barron separated me from my parents, asking them to remain in his clinic lobby. He, his two nurses, and an office receptionist held me down to place a dozen

stitches in my scalp. I twisted and turned, convulsed and screamed, begging someone - anyone - to explain what was happening. They continued their work, never saying a word to me. Finally, I screamed at the top of my lungs, “Will someone please talk to me!” Apparently that was the magic phrase. Dr. Barron and his team of tormentors actually stopped what they were doing. He looked me in the eyes, finally explained what they were trying to do, how long it would take, and how much it would or would not hurt. I then lay perfectly still, the doctor only moving my head occasionally, until the procedure was complete. I only needed someone to listen to me. Listening is largely a lost art. Medical professionals run us through their offices like cattle through a chute. Politicians stubbornly ignore our voices. Our children discount our counsel. Our spouses cannot recall the conversation we had just this morning. Trusted friends won’t lift a gaze from their glowing capacitive screens to look us in the eyes. As I get older I understand more and more why Jesus often said, “He who has ears let him hear,” before uttering some mind-blowing instruction. Because for the most part, we do not use those two fleshy instruments attached to the sides of our heads. At no time in human history has there been more opportunity or more tools to communicate; we’ve come a long way from beating drums and smoke signals. Still, most of our advances have been on the speaking side, rather than the listening side. I wonder what would happen in our homes, office cubicles, classrooms, doctor’s offices, church sanctuaries, and houses of legislation if we who have ears took the time to actually use them. We just might begin to appreciate, rather than vilify, those on the other side of the aisle. We just might find that the world would grow a little quieter, a bit more peaceful. We just might find that those we have long ignored actually have something worth saying. We just might discover the greatest advancement in the history of human communication - the ability to not say a single word. McBrayer is a syndicated columnist, pastor, and author/ronniemcbrayer.me.

RONNIE McBRAYER & MORE

Baptists embrace effort to root out ‘poser’ Christians JEFF BRUMLEY Baptist Alan Rudnick says it’s about time the 30-year-old seeker movement comes to an end. “I think it’s reached its zenith with coffee and hipster pastors and bands — there was more style over substance,” said Rudnick, the pastor of First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa, N.Y. “I hope we’re done with that superficial Christianity.” Rudnick said he’s encouraged that may be the case by a new book by blogger Jarrid Wilson titled Jesus Swagger: Break Free from Poser Christianity. The book is an in-your-face challenge to Christians — and those who claim to be — to examine their motives and hearts when it comes to faith.

“It’s one thing to claim a love for God’s Word, his commandments, his divine guidance,” Wilson writes in the introduction. “But it’s a completely different story when one actually tries to live out one’s life based on these things. It’s the difference between night and day.” In a recent interview with Religion News Service’s Jonathan Merritt, Wilson further explained “poser Christianity” as living with “a façade that their faith is legit and true.” Worse yet, he told Merritt, posers are rewarded for exuding the external trappings of faith while being without the internal ones that really matter. By “swagger,” Wilson said he means walking the walk of faith (continued on page 9 )

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www.LEGACYnewspaper.com (from page 8) with confidence. “This divine swagger overflows out of a heart that has been molded by Christ himself, and through this molded heart will one find their motives to be pure and true,” he said in the RNS story. Such stark challenges to the faith of others can be off-putting or offensive, said Kevin Glenn, the senior pastor at Memorial Baptist Church in Columbia, Mo. Glenn said he had a visceral reaction to the title of Wilson’s book and at what reads like accusations against other believers. “I thought, here’s another hipster taking a shot at the church,” Glenn said. He added that it can sound like fundamentalism dressed up in hipper clothes. “I think he represents a voice

March 25, 2015 • 9 desiring authenticity,” he said. “But often times those voices forget that they are part of the problem, too.” But Glenn said the more he read about Wilson’s message, the more he agreed with it. “He is spot on with the principle that if you do not arrange your life around the person of Jesus, you have to ask whether you really are a follower of Jesus,” he said. It’s a theme Glenn said he preaches on regularly. But he also makes clear that, at the same time, God does not play games with his children and does not keep them in the dark about his will for them. Nor does the Holy Spirit “pull punches” from those who are honestly seeking God, he said. “If your desire it to please God, that is pleasing to God and he will reveal to you what you need to do to wrap your life around Jesus,” Glenn said.

Ashland Road (Route 623) Box Culvert Replacement Goochland County Citizen Information Meeting Tuesday, March 31, 2015, 4:30 – 6 p.m. Goochland Fire – Centreville Company 3 52 Broad Street Road, Manakin-Sabot, VA 23103 Find out about the box culvert replacement project. The project will replace the drainage structure on Ashland Road (Route 623). The road will be closed to through traffic during construction. The meeting will be held in an open house format from 4:30 p.m. - 6 pm. This format will provide the flexibility to allow participants to meet and discuss the proposed project directly with project staff members. Give your written comments at the meeting or submit them no later than April 10, 2015 to Clay Thomas, P.E., project manager, Virginia Department of Transportation, 2430 Pine Forest Drive, Colonial Heights, VA 23834-9002 or Clay.Thomas@VDOT.Virginia.gov 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. State Project: 0623-037-752,P101, N501, D622

*In the event of inclement weather, the meeting will be held at the same time and location on April 7, 2015.

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY’S REQUEST TO REVISE ITS FUEL FACTOR CASE NO. PUE-2015-00022 On February 27, 2015, Virginia Electric and Power Company d/b/a Dominion Virginia Power (“Dominion Virginia Power” or “Company”) filed with the State Corporation Commission (“Commission”) its application (“Application”) pursuant to § 56-249.6 of the Code of Virginia seeking a decrease in its fuel factor from 3.018 cents per kilowatt-hour (“¢/kWh”) to 2.406¢/kWh, effective for usage on and after April 1, 2015, on an interim basis. The Company’s proposed fuel factor, reflected in Fuel Charge Rider A, consists of both a current and prior period factor. The Company’s proposed current period factor for Fuel Charge Rider A of 2.374¢/kWh is designed to recover the Company’s estimated Virginia jurisdictional fuel expenses, including purchased power expenses, of approximately $1.6 billion for the period July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2016. The Company’s proposed prior period factor for Fuel Charge Rider A of 0.032¢/kWh is designed to recover approximately $21.9 million, which represents the net of two projected June 30, 2015 fuel deferral balances. In total, Dominion Virginia Power’s proposed fuel factor represents a 0.612¢/kWh decrease from the fuel factor rate presently in effect of 3.018¢/kWh, which was approved in Case No. PUE-2014-00033. According to the Company, this proposal would result in an annual fuel revenue decrease of approximately $512.3 million between April 1, 2015, and June 30, 2016. The total proposed fuel factor would decrease the average weighted monthly bill of a typical residential customer using 1,000 kWh of electricity by $6.12, or approximately 5.3%. Dominion Virginia Power also proposes a modification to the Commission’s Definitional Framework of Fuel Expenses for Virginia Electric and Power. The Commission entered an Order Establishing 2015-2016 Fuel Factor Proceeding (“Order”) that, among other things, scheduled a public hearing on June 18, 2015, at 10 a.m. in the Commission’s Second Floor Courtroom located in the Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, to receive testimony from members of the public and evidence related to the Application from the Company, any respondents, and the Commission’s Staff. Any person desiring to testify as a public witness at this hearing should appear 15 minutes before the starting time of the hearing and contact the Commission’s Bailiff. Individuals with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in the hearing should contact the Commission at least seven (7) days before the scheduled hearing at 1-800-552-7945 (voice) or 1-804-371-9206 (TDD). In its Order, the Commission also allowed the Company to place its proposed fuel factor of 2.406¢/kWh into effect for usage on and after April 1, 2015, on an interim basis. The public version of the Company’s Application, pre-filed testimony, and exhibits are available for public inspection during regular business hours at all of the Company’s offices in the Commonwealth of Virginia. A copy of the public version of the Company’s Application also may be obtained, at no cost, by written request to counsel for Dominion Virginia Power, William H. Baxter, II, Esquire, Dominion Resources Services, Inc., 120 Tredegar Street, Riverside 2, Richmond, Virginia 23219. If acceptable to the requesting party, the Company may provide the documents by electronic means. Interested persons also may review a copy of the public version of the Company’s Application in the Commission’s Document Control Center, located on the first floor of the Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, between the hours of 8:15 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. In addition, unofficial copies of the public version of the Company’s Application, Commission orders entered in this docket, the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (“Rules of Practice”), as well as other information concerning the Commission and the statutes it administers, may be viewed on the Commission’s website: http://www.scc.virginia.gov/case. On or before June 11, 2015, any interested person wishing to comment on the Company’s Application shall file written comments with Joel H. Peck, Clerk, State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. Any interested person desiring to file comments electronically may do so on or before June 11, 2015, by following the instructions on the Commission’s website: http://www.scc.virginia.gov/case. Compact discs or any other form of electronic storage medium may not be filed with the comments. All such comments shall refer to Case No. PUE-2015-00022. Any person or entity may participate as a respondent in this proceeding by filing a notice of participation on or before April 24, 2015. If not filed electronically, an original and fifteen (15) copies of the notice of participation shall be filed with the Clerk of the Commission at the address set forth above. A copy of the notice of participation as a respondent also must be sent to counsel for the Company at counsel’s address set forth above. Pursuant to Rule 5 VAC 5-20-80 B, Participation as a respondent, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice, any notice of participation shall set forth: (i) a precise statement of the interest of the respondent; (ii) a statement of the specific action sought to the extent then known; and (iii) the factual and legal basis for the action. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUE-2015-00022. Interested persons should obtain a copy of the Commission’s Order for further details on participation as a respondent. On or before May 8, 2015, each respondent may file with the Clerk of the Commission and serve on the Commission’s Staff, the Company, and all other respondents any testimony and exh bits by which the respondent expects to establish its case. If not filed electronically, an original and fifteen (15) copies of such testimony and exhibits shall be submitted to the Clerk of the Commission at the address set forth above. In all filings, respondents shall comply with the Commission’s Rules of Practice, including 5 VAC 5-20-140, Filing and service; 5 VAC 5-20-150, Copies and format; and 5 VAC 5-20-240, prepared testimony and exhibits. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUE-2015-00022. VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY

10 • March 25, 2015

The LEGACY

Balanchine’s Liebeslieder Walzer marks a farewell George Balanchine’s elegant Liebeslieder Walzer (“Love Song Waltzes”), the most popular Studio Theatre production in Richmond Ballet history, returns to Richmond, April 14-19, to mark both the conclusion of the 2014-15 regular season, and to celebrate Phillip Skaggs as he retires from the stage this year. As is custom with Liebeslieder Walzer, the dancers will be joined on stage by six musicians – two pianists and four singers – who will perform Books One & Two from Johannes Brahms vocal waltzes, Op. 52 and Op. 65. Dr. Joanne Kong and Dr. Paul Hanson of the University of Richmond will also return to share a single piano, while alternating quartets of singers will breathe life into the written words of Friedrich Daumer and Goethe. Liebeslieder Walzer will be at the Ballet’s Studio Theatre for the first time since the fall of 2011, when it was set by Balanchine Trust répétiteurs and former New York City Ballet dancers Karin von Aroldingen and Philip Neal. Neal will once again travel to Richmond to rehearse the company in Balanchine’s noble and exacting steps ahead of April’s nine show run. “Liebeslieder Walzer has been one of my favorite ballets since my dancing days,” said Stoner Winslett, artistic director of Richmond Ballet. “I always wanted to build a company that would be strong enough to do Liebeslieder Walzer, and I am so proud that we have done that here in Richmond. It’s one of the most precious ballets in the New York City Ballet repertory and we were incredibly honored when we were given the rights to do it two years ago. It’s just four couples, so the dancers have to be really strong, not only technically, but artistically.” Originally created in 1960 for New York City Ballet, Liebeslieder Walzer is a complex work woven not only from the threads of Balanchine’s classical vocabulary and his fascination with sweeping waltzes, but from a series of unspoken conversations between the ballet’s four couples. Love, in its infinitely

PHOTO: Richmond Ballet varied incarnations, serves as the tempo to which all of Balanchine’s waltzes are set, danced and observed against the background of a 19th century German salon. As a work performed in two parts, Liebeslieder Walzer first invites the audience into a world not so different from its own, punctuated by the intricacies and restraint of a life lived within the temporal world; after a brief intermission, the audience is then swept into one that is free and more spiritual. Indeed,Balanchine was famous for saying that “in the first act, it is the real people who are dancing. In the second act, it is their souls.” “I love that thought of Mr. Balanchine’s” said Winslett. “Members of our audience have often told me the reason why they loved this particular ballet so much is because they felt that their souls danced with the dancers, and that they felt free like the ballet dancers on stage.” The transition between temporal and spiritual is famously marked by a costuming shift. The ladies are first dressed in satin ball gowns and heeled dancing pumps, but later in lush romantic tutus and pointe shoes; and the gentleman, while remaining in their white ties and tails, remove their formal gloves from one section to the next. But it is the ballet’s subtleties that round

out Balanchine’s dancers – they are utterly human, with a hint of regret, and an all too knowing sense of lost, or perhaps, unrequited love. Though the ballet has no specific storyline, Balanchine knew well how to read the human soul, believing that one would need nothing more than to have a man and a woman on stage together to create the most interesting of stories. Between the master’s dreamy waltzing phrases, the choreography gives way to meaningful gestures and artful pauses that communicate much like words left unsaid. “As a choreographer,” Philip Neal said, “I continue to be inspired by Balanchine’s ability to create dramatic gestures in the abstract, as opposed to traditional mime. There is purposeful room for interpretation. At New York City Ballet, I was coached in detail about the length of appropriate pauses and subtlety of gestural intent. What seems ‘right’ might also evolve within a particular performance, based on the mood of the dancers or the tempo of the music.” “By knowing the dancers well, having both staged and choreographed for Richmond Ballet through the years, I have an advantage in casting Liebeslieder Walzer,” said Neal. “I can quickly identify when a particular dancer

will need to project more or perhaps pull back. And with Stoner, Malcolm Burn and Jerri Kumery [Ballet Masters at Richmond Ballet] in charge of rehearsing the ballet, I have every confidence that Liebeslieder Walzer will receive its finest performance possible. In terms of a positive work environment, Richmond Ballet sets the gold standard.” The Ballet’s intimate Studio Theatre expertly brings the audience close to the dancers, much as if they were seated together within that German salon; together, both audience and dancers are easily enveloped by the romantic enigma that sits at the heart of Liebeslieder Walzer. Goethe’s words, “Now, Muses, enough! You try in vain to portray how misery and happiness alternate in a loving heart,” close the ballet, and reflect poignantly upon the questions that will forever linger between the ballet’s couples as a return to convention settles in with the final notes. Singers Anne O’Byrne, Martha Prewitt, Matthew Hassmer with Christopher Lindbloom and Gabrielle Bergeret, Erin Freeman, Wesley Pollard with Joseph Cuilla are currently scheduled to perform alongside the professional company and Dr. Kong and Dr. Hanson. Submitted report

www.LEGACYnewspaper.com

HR Urban League to honor leaders The Urban League of Hampton Roads Young Professionals is recognizing local leaders who have made a difference in their communities. In its 13th year, ‘Legacies’, an annual celebration and awards ceremony will be held Thursday, March 26, at the Tidewater Community College Roper Performing Arts Center in Norfolk. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. and will feature news anchor Jessica Larche of WTKR News Channel 3 as the mistress of ceremonies. The event is free and open to the public. “Hampton Roads is filled with trailblazers who have truly been the catalyst for change within the community. ‘Legacies’ affords the young professionals the opportunity to commemorate their achievements

March 25, 2015, • 11 in the presence of their family, friends, and other community leaders”, said ULHRYP President Sean Washington. Seven people will receive Silver Star awards in various categories. This year’s recipients include: ∙ Silver Star Spirit of Diversity Award: Michael Goldsmith - chief of police, Norfolk ∙ Silver Star Award for Education: John R. Broderick – president, Old Dominion University ∙ Silver Star Spirit of Service Award: The Buffalow Family – community activist ∙ Silver Star Award Jobs/ entrepreneurship: J.R. Locke - executive director, Hampton University Business Incubator ∙ Silver Star Award for Healthy Families & Communities: Mekbib Gemeda - vice president of Diversity and Inclusion, Eastern Virginia Medical School ∙ Silver Star Award for Communication and Public Relations: Donald Eason – WPCE/WGPL, Willis Broadcasting ∙ Hampton Roads Legend Award: The Sen. L. Louise Lucas – Member of the Virginia Senate 18th District.

Ask k Alma

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I am accomplished, he isn’t. What do I do? Dear Alma: I am 28, female and I live with my 33-year-old boyfriend. I love him tremendously, and in many ways we are very compatible. He is affectionate, has always been faithful to me and has never put me down in any way. However, we come from very different places. I grew up in a suburban town. My parents read to me as a kid, encouraged all my interests and expected me to further my education. My boyfriend was raised in a poor area by a teen, single mother and grandmother who gave him little encouragement and never expected him to go to college. He lacks motivation and works a blue-collar job that takes little brain power. He admires driven people but lacks ambition. Despite all this, he is a kind, openminded and intelligent individual who reads, follows the news, and has many interests. But for all his good qualities, I am surrounded by accomplished, goal-oriented people, and I am embarrassed telling many of them what he does for a living. Some friends sympathize with me; others say I am being bourgeois. Lately, I’ve been imagining my life without him. Should I move on and find a more “accomplished” man, or do I suck it up and try to better appreciate the one I have? Wrong side of the tracks Dear ‘Wrong side of the tracks’, What in the world? Please follow me closely as I evaluate your relationship woes. You say: He grew up with a single mom in a poor area. I’m thinking: She was working to provide for him, so she didn’t have time to read or help with homework. Thank God his grandmother was there to watch over him. You’re right; he is not the man for you. You say: He is affectionate, has always been faithful and has never put you down. I’m thinking: Not even when you gained a few pounds or when you came out the side of your face with some craziness, like you are now? Ah, no; he is not the man for you.

You say: He is intelligent, likes to read and follows the news. I’m thinking: He can comprehend the English language and form an opinion. Oh, no; he is not the man for you. Education, I agree, is important, but college is not for everyone. Respectfully, I’m not kidding when I say he is not the man for you. In your mind, you envision the Huxtables, so if having a degree is a deal breaker in your heart, you should stand by that. You deserve exactly what you’re looking for—and so does he. He deserves a woman who will appreciate his outstanding qualities, someone who will respect him, his work ethic and dedication to a committed relationship. Here are some awesome qualities in a partner: The ability to listen, be encouraging, provide and show affection, hard-working, loving, faithful, trustworthy and considerate. Your guy has all those, or so you say, and still you say he’s lacking. Obviously, in your mind, having a college degree outweighs all of his great characteristics. I can’t help but wonder why you are wasting your time. There’s a small pinch of me that understands. I’m a grammar girl. I need my mate to pronounce words correctly, and he must be able to complete a sentence. Yes, in my case it has been a deal breaker. If you really love this man, stand up for him, be proud of him or let him go. It sounds like he really loves you, and I think you’re lucky to have him. ***** Want advice? E-mail questions to alwaysaskalma@yahoo.com. Follow her on Facebook at “Ask Alma” and twitter @almaaskalma *****

12 • March 25, 2015

The LEGACY

In the four years since he was released from prison, Richard Cobbs has applied to more than 75 jobs and gone on, by his estimate, at least 10 or 15 interviews. On several occasions, work has appeared imminent. Employers tell him the interview was great, but they just need to do a background check - and that’s where it seems, at least to him, the goodwill he's earned during the application process goes down the drain. Cobbs, 52, has had experience doing sanitation, laundry, and catering work, and completed training in culinary arts during his most recent stint in prison.

For almost everyone, going to prison is a life sentence for job prospects Jeremy Meeks was dubbed the “hot convict” and “sexy felon” after local police posted his brooding mugshot on Facebook. He is now serving a two-year prison sentence for felony weapons charges, but he has already snagged a modeling contract for when he gets out. “I’m in a place where I will be able to provide for my family and really change my life,” he told ABC News. “… I feel extremely blessed and thankful.” Meeks’ fate isn’t a particular surprise. When the mugshot featuring his searing blue eyes and chiseled jaw went viral, Meeks accrued hundreds of thousands of Facebook fans and a campaign to #FreeJeremyMeeks — seemingly on account of his looks. But calling Meeks “blessed” is an understatement. Even individuals with records much less violent than Meeks — sometimes just an arrest without a conviction — typically find that their employment prospects are far worse, not better, than they were before their encounter with the criminal justice system.

Take Barbara Ann Finn, a 74-yearold grandmother who didn’t get a part-time job as a cafeteria worker at a school in Maryland after a shoplifting arrest from some 50 years ago that never led to a conviction was flagged on her record. As the Wall Street Journal reported in telling Finn’s story, some one in three Americans have a criminal record like Finn. Records can include not just felony convictions but also arrests without later conviction or minor misdemeanors such as “disorderly conduct” during a protest, or marijuana possession. The vast majority of employers — 87 percent, according to a recent Center for American Progress report — check these records before making hiring decisions. And while the law does not allow most employers to blanket reject all individuals with criminal histories, a “criminal record is a powerful disincentive,” as the Rebecca Vallas and Sharon Dietrich explained in the CAP report. A recent National Institute of Justice study found that having any arrest on your record decreases employment

opportunities than any other stigma, such as having not earned a high school diploma or long-term unmeployment. These obstacles are exacerbated for those who have also spent time in prison. In addition to the lost work time and barriers to regaining housing, clothing, and other basic provisions linked to the stability to hold a job, a majority of employers are unwilling to hire individuals who have served prison time, according to a recent National Institute of Justice study. Some 60 percent of individuals remain unemployed a year after their incarceration, according to recent data. And those who do find work are likely to earn significantly less money than they did before prison. In fact, a history of spending time behind bars is associated with a 40 percent reduction in earnings. This lost employment from criminal records amounts to an estimated $65 billion per year in lost gross domestic product. And with a population that has become increasingly criminalized, reforms are slowly

emerging not just to reduce arrests and prison sentences, but to relieve what are known as collateral consequences for those who do have criminal records. Among recent reforms are bills to “ban the box,” meaning employers can no longer include a check box asking about a past conviction on the initial application form, and and expansions of laws that allow individuals to seal or expunge their records. But even in states that have implemented these reforms, individuals with a recent criminal record can’t yet have their backgrounds cleared, and may still face a background check later in the job application process, albeit once they’ve had a chance to explain their story during an interview. A federal conviction may make matters even worse. As Vallas and Dietrich recently found, “despite the exponential increase in federal criminal prosecutions that resulted from the War on Drugs, there is no general judicial mechanism to expunge federal cases.”

www.LEGACYnewspaper.com

March 25, 2015 • 13

A $22.3 million award will fund workforce training for those receiving SNAP Virginia has been awarded a $22.3 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a pilot program to help increase job skills training for SNAP recipients. “I’m proud that Virginia has received this grant award, which will allow my administration to help transition SNAP (formerly food stamp) recipients to the workforce and improve workforce development training. Both are key components in my plan to build a new Virginia economy,” said Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D). “It’s essential that Virginians be trained and ready to work in highdemand fields. This grant will help advance my goal to have Virginians attain 50,000 workforce credentials, licenses and degrees during my term.” The grants are intended to help states test new programs that put participants in SNAP – the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – back to work. In Virginia and across the country, SNAP helps low-income families obtain access to nutritious foods and serves as the first line of defense against hunger. Last month, 856,500 Virginians received SNAP benefits. Strengthening programs like SNAP and tying them to pathways to economic and educational success has been a key priority of Governor McAuliffe and First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe, chair of the Commonwealth Council on Bridging the Nutritional Divide. “The purpose of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program has always been to help families through tough times until they can get back on their feet and back to work,” said Mrs. McAuliffe. “This exciting new grant will give us the opportunity to demonstrate new, innovative pathways to help Virginians develop critical skills for high demand job markets.” Thirty-five states applied for

the $200 million in grants made available through the 2014 farm bill, and Virginia is one of 10 states that were successful. The grants will fund pilot programs for three years. The pilot programs will be evaluated by two independent research organizations, Mathematica Policy Research and MDRC, to identify those programs that are most effective and could be replicated around the country. The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) partnered with the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) to apply for the grant. Virginia’s pilot program will allow 3,760 eligible SNAP-Employment and Training program recipients to earn workforce credentials – such as certifications, apprenticeships, occupational licenses and college certificates -- to work in high-demand occupations. Virginia’s pilot program will have three approaches: a hybrid online learning lab with instructorled workshops, job readiness and training leading to a certificate or certification, and a longer-term integrated basic education and training program, all of which draw from evidence-based strategies. This model builds on a successful program that VDSS has been funding at three Virginia community colleges for more than 10 years. The grant will allow the program to expand to include a total of seven community colleges: Danville, Patrick Henry, Piedmont, Southside Virginia, Tidewater, Thomas Nelson and Virginia Highlands. Each program will be supported by intensive case management and advising. The pilot aligns with specific strategies in the state workforce system plan to broaden the use of career and college coaching, expand interest in careers in targeted industry sectors and increase the attainment of Career

Readiness Certificates and other credentials. The program targets SNAP recipients ages 18-49 who are without a high school credential or those who have a high school diploma or GED, but are not college ready. “It’s exciting to see new pathways to help people learn the skills that can move them into good jobs,” said Secretary of Health and Human Resources Dr. Bill Hazel. “This grant will expand proven, evidence-based, employment and training opportunities for SNAP recipients across the commonwealth,” said Margaret Schultze, commissioner of the Virginia Department of Social Services. “It will ensure that they have the skills they need to compete for jobs that give them a path to increased earnings and reduce their dependence on public assistance.” “Helping people find and keep good jobs is the right way to transition

recipients off of SNAP assistance and ultimately reduce program costs. These pilots will give USDA and our state partners the opportunity to explore innovative, cost-effective ways to help SNAP recipients find and keep gainful employment in order to build a stronger future for their families,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack in announcing the grant awards. “This initiative is a reflection of USDA’s full commitment to ensuring that SNAP recipients who are able to work can put food on the table while they get the skills they need to compete for jobs in a global economy. Helping people find good jobs is a far better strategy for reducing food assistance spending than across the board cuts.” Other states receiving the grant are Kentucky, Georgia, California, Delaware, Kansas, Illinois, Mississippi, Vermont and Washington.

14 • March 25, 2015

The LEGACY

Sentara Center for Health and Fitness kicks off Cancer Awareness Month As April nears, fitness centers are in midst of the New Year’s resolution downturn. Most people have given up on their weight loss goals, or slipped back into the bad habits that they had been accustomed to in previous years. But at Sentara Center for Health and Fitness, the belief is that a healthy choice is much more than a fitness membership. In April, with the help of the American Cancer Society and Sentara Careplex, Sentara Center for Health and Fitness has announced that it is taking aim at the continuous battle many know and hate, cancer. Five dollars of every membership sold in April will go directly to the American Cancer Society. A vast array of fundraising events will also be taking place at the Center. Bake Sales, Fitness Contests, and a Trivia Night are all planned to help raise money for the fight against cancer. “We raised over $5,000 in January

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with our annual New Year’s Day 5k with all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society. We want to continue this with our April program, and even further throughout the course of 2015,” said Daniel Evans, fitness manager at Sentara Center for Health and Fitness.

started the Moving On Program six months after chemotherapy and a cancer removing surgery. At the beginning she struggled immensely with balance, and the horrible side effects of chemotherapy. “I couldn’t walk half a block without a break. I was having to

The monetary initiatives are only a small part in the fight at Sentara Center for Health and Fitness. The Moving On Program is specifically engineered for patients transitioning back into normal routines. Shelia Hopper, a devoted member,

take four hour naps, just to maintain any sort of energy level and I knew I needed to do something to transition out of the state I was in.

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“Daniel worked with me, pushing me just enough to challenge myself, and I am grateful for his expertise and his caring attitude. Now I enjoy walking my dogs, and chasing my grandkids around. I still come in the center to work with him and use their facilities to maintain the lifestyle I’ve worked hard to create.” Hopper’s attitude, and fight to defeat cancer has provided employees the inspiration to look to do more to benefit people that are experiencing what she had experienced. Last year President Barack Obama declared April to be Cancer Control Month. Proclaiming, “This month, let us renew our push to defeat cancer, honor those we have lost, lend our support to survivors, and bring new hope to all those struggling with this disease.”

Report: Alarming variation in survival rates for high-risk surgeries in U.S. hospitals Nonprofit hospital watchdog The Leapfrog Group recently released its report, “Predicting Patient Survival of High-Risk Surgeries,” which shows that across U.S. hospitals, the survival rates for four high-risk procedures varies significantly and that most hospitals surveyed do not meet Leapfrog’s standard for each procedure. The results, as analyzed by Castlight Health, demonstrate that the choice of hospital for these operations can mean the difference between life and death. The in-depth examination looked at survival rates of four high-risk surgeries, including: removing all or part of the pancreas (pancreatectomy), removing all or part of the esophagus (esophagectomy), repair of the major vessel supplying blood to the body (abdominal aortic aneurysm or

AAA) and replacement of the aortic valve in the heart (AVR). Only 17 percent of surveyed hospitals fully meet Leapfrog’s standard for AVRs, approximately 30 percent meet the standard for esophagectomies and AAA repairs, and 42 percent meet Leapfrog’s standard for pancreatectomies. Additional key findings for each high-risk procedure include: •Pancreatectomy: This surgery to remove all or part of the pancreas has the most significant variance in survival rate by hospital, at 19 percent. Predicted survival rates range from 81 to 100 percent. •Esophagectomy: Usually performed to treat cancer, an esophagectomy removes all or part of the esophagus. The average survival rate is 90 percent with a variation by hospital of 88 to 98 percent.

www.LEGACYnewspaper.com

March 25, 2015 • 15

16 • March 25, 2015

Calendar

3.26 - 3.28

Hundreds of women from around the country will convene in the Washington, D.C. area for the Black Women’s Roundtable Women of Power “Healthy. Wealthy, Wise” National Summit. The three-day summit to celebrate Women’s History Month will include a wide range of activities with participants going to meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill March 26 and forums, meetings and other activities at the Crystal City Gateway Marriott March 27-28. In addition during the event, BWR plans the release of its 2015 report “Black Women in the U.S.”, a follow-up to its ground-breaking 2014 report which has served as a foundation for much of the data which has been collected for and about the nation’s black women and was showcased at last year’s White House Conference on Children and Families. The event is $50 for persons over 18 and $25 for students. Register online at ncbcp.org.

The LEGACY

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

A documentary on cancer

The Byrd Theatre in Richmond , 2908 W. Cary St., will host a special onehour preview of the upcoming PBS documentary on cancer, followed by a discussion with local cancer researchers, doctors, survivors and advocates about cancer in our community and the research advances and resources available. Presented by WCVE’s Community Idea Stations, American Cancer Society, Central Virginia & Virginia Volunteer Center and VCU Massey Cancer Center, the event is free; first come, first served. The PBS documentary “Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies” is a threepart, six-hour TV series from preeminent documentary filmmaker Ken Burns that is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, “The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer”, by Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee.

3.27, 10 a.m.

The Chesterfield County School Board will continue discussing potential changes to school starting times during its quarterly work session at the Career and Technical Center @ Hull, 13900 Hull Street Rd. The public is invited to listen and learn more at the March 27 work session, in advance of a May 12 public engagement session about school starting times.

3.27, 1 p.m.

3.28, 9 a.m.

The Newport News Police Department will hold a kick-off event for the Community C.R.I.M.E. Planning Process (Crime Reduction through Informed [Community] Members Engaging). The location is First Baptist Church, Newport News, 12716 Warwick Boulevard. The session will run through 12 p.m. C.R.I.M.E. is a community-based crime control planning process consisting of a series of meetings over the next six months between the community and the police to allow those involved to assemble the information, partnerships and resources needed to create a vision and set of strategies that can make our community safer and take steps to make the created vision a reality. More in-depth information will be provided at the upcoming session. Chief Richard Myers and other City officials would like to extend an invitation to citizens, business members, and others who are committed to the vision of a safer Newport News, and are interested in taking the steps towards making that vision a reality. To RSVP for this event, e-mail CRIME@nnva.gov, or call 757-2492230 and leave a voicemail message to mailbox #8999.

3.28, 11 a.m.

Join Lift Caregiving’s Katie Gilstrap for more information on “Compassion Fatigue” related to caregiving, stress and how to avoid burnout. Funded by the Virginia Coalition for the Prevention of Elder Abuse. For more information, visit the website www.alzpossible.com.

The Metro Richmond Chapter National Alumnae Association of Spelman College will meet at Fifth Baptist Church, 1415 W. Cary St, Richmond. The meeting is opened to all Spelman College alumnae. For more information, call 804-704-1353. Submit your calendar events to calendar@legacynewspaper.com and include contact infomation that can be published.

March 25, 2015 • 17

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