Richmond Free Press December 30, 2021-January 1, 2022 edition

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VOL. 31 NO. 1

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‘Wheel of Fortune’ winner A8

DECEMBER 30, 2021-January 1, 2022

Into the future Heading into 2022, Mayor Stoney details his focus for Richmond’s growth and opportunities in the coming years

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Mayor Levar M. Stoney is bullish on Richmond as he prepares to begin his sixth year in the city’s top elected office.

Though the pandemic is still raging, the city’s 40-year-old chief executive said in an interview that Virginia’s capital city is ready to take off and that the City of Richmond is going to be part of making that happen.

This was a year of recovery in “which we reclaimed our lives” with the return of festivals and parades and the reopening of businesses and schools, he said.

Ahead, Mayor Stoney said, residents will start to see results from the seeds the city planted to ensure continued growth of development, people and job opportunities.

Please turn to A4

State NAACP weighing appeal of new redistricting maps to U.S. Supreme Court

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Will there be an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court?

The Virginia State Conference NAACP, which issued sharp criticism of proposed state redistricting maps, is still considering a legal challenge now that the Virginia Supreme Court has issued new boundaries for the state’s 11 congressional districts, 40 state Senate districts and 100 House of Delegate districts.

“All options are still on the table,” said Robert N. Barnette Jr., state NAACP president.

“Our lawyers are still studying the maps, and we’ll make a decision after receiving their report. I can say we are generally disappointed.’

The state’s highest court on Tuesday unanimously approved the maps overhauling the boundaries in an order putting the new districts into effect for future primary and general elections, including the 2022 congressional elections.

Redrawing the electoral district boundaries is required under the federal and state constitutions after each 10-year census.

The state Supreme Court was handed the task after a new 16-member state Redistricting Commission, split equally

among Democrats and Republicans, failed to reach agreement.

The only avenue to appeal the Virginia court’s order is to the nation’s highest court.

While some praise was heard for the maps created by the court’s two appointed special experts, Democrat Dr. Bernard Grofman and Republican Sean Trende, the state NAACP and its legal team have been laserfocused on ensuring that the new boundaries did not undermine the interests of Black voters.

for additional public comment on the changes.

“We think that was needed,” Mr. Barnette said.

The most significant changes, according to Liz White, executive director of OneVirginia2021, were in the congressional maps. For example, a portion of western Chesterfield County was added to the revamped 1st Congressional District, which will extend to Hampton Roads.

However, the overall out-

Mike Hutchings/Reuters

Flowers honor the late Archishop Desmond Tutu on Tuesday outside St. George’s Cathedral in Cape Town, South Africa.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, lion of anti-apartheid movement, dies at 90 Free Press wire, staff report

Mr. Barnette

Dr. Grofman

Those interests are protected by state law and the federal Voting Rights Act, the NAACP noted in a memo delivered to the court on Dec. 17 during a public comment period on the experts’ first drafts.

Mr. Barnette said a memo Dr. Grofman and Mr. Trende issued on Monday did not explain the tweaks the two experts made as a result of the array of public comments. He also noted that the court finalized the experts’ revised maps without allowing

Free COVID-19 testing, vaccines Free community testing for COVID-19 continues.

During the New Year’s holiday, most testing will be available at area pharmacies, drug stores, clinics and urgent care centers.

Other testing sites: • Tuesday, Jan. 4, 9 to 11 a.m., Second Baptist Church of South Richmond, 3300 Broad Rock Blvd.

• Wednesday, Jan. 5, 9 to 11 a.m., Eastern Henrico Recreation Center, 1440 N. Laburnum Ave.; 3 to 6 p.m., Highland Springs Community Center, 16 S. Ivy Ave. • Friday, Jan. 7, 1 to 3 p.m., Diversity Thrift, 1407 Sherwood Ave. Call the Richmond and Henrico COVID-19 Hotline at (804) 205-3501 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for more

Please turn to A4

Mr. Trende

lines of the congressional map appear to create five Republican-leaning districts, five Democratic-leaning districts and one toss-up district, largely retaining the boundaries in the draft maps the court released Dec. 7.

Current 7th District Democratic Congresswoman Abigail A. Spanberger of Henrico, whose residence was drawn into the heavily Republican 1st District, announced she would run in the revamped district in a bid to keep the seat she has held for four years.

The changes to the state House of Delegates and state Senate maps mean that Richmond’s delegation to the General Assembly will shrink. Only three House members and two senators would represent the city, a drop from the 11 members of the General Assembly who have Richmond voters in their districts, according to an analysis from the Virginia Please turn to A4

JOHANNESBURG Mourners held a candlelight prayer ceremony outside the Soweto home of the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Wednesday, weeping over the memory not only of a worldrenowned lion of the anti-apartheid movement but of a kind and loyal neighbor.

Archbishop Tutu, who died at 90 on Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, worked passionately, tirelessly and non-violently to tear down apartheid — South Africa’s brutal, decades-long regime of oppression against its Black majority that only ended in 1994.

The buoyant, blunt-spoken clergyman Please turn to A4

Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

Among friends Young students in Linda Crafton’s class for 3- to 5-year-olds at FRIENDS Association for Children hold onto their new stuffed animals during a Christmas Vehicle Parade on Dec. 21 in Gilpin Court. The huggable toys were gifts given to the youngsters by the nonprofit organization that operates two child development centers. FRIENDS got its start in 1871 as an orphanage in Jackson Ward and has expanded its mission and services in the last 150 years.

Elusive copper time capsule pulled from Lee pedestal, opened Free Press wire, staff report Conservator Gretchen Guidess with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, left, assists conservator Sue Donovan of the University of Virginia, in removing items from the copper time capsule found by workers on Monday in the rubble of the Lee statue pedestal on Monument Avenue. The box was opened and unpacked by conservators on Tuesday in the conservation lab at the state Department of Historic Resources.

Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

Conservation experts at the Virginia Department of Historic Resources pulled books, money, ammunition, documents and other artifacts Tuesday from a long-sought-after time capsule found in the remnants of a pedestal on Richmond’s Monument Avenue that once held a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. During the course of about two hours, the team sliced open the 36-pound copper box and meticulously pried apart and documented the damp contents inside. The box had been tucked in a foundation cornerstone of the massive—and now mostly deconstructed—Richmond monument since 1887.

Opening the box and removing its contents were a welcomed event for those involved.

“More than anything, my personal reaction is more about watching the public embrace history and be so interested in it,” said Julie Langan, a state historic preservation officer and DHR director. “That’s what’s really moving to me.”

The time capsule had drawn substantial interest locally and nationally, both because it proved to be elusive during an earlier search and because historical records had led to some speculation it might contain a rare photo of President Abraham Lincoln after his death. Ultimately, such a photo was not found.

Instead, the box contained a range of Confederate memorabilia and assorted items, including a bullet embedded in a block of wood, a commemorative ribbon of Gen. Lee Please turn to A4

A2 December 30, 2021-January 1, 2022

Richmond Free Press

Local News

Holiday closings In observance of New Year’s Day, Saturday, Jan. 1, please note the following: Government Federal and state offices: Closed Friday, Dec. 31.

City of Richmond offices: Closed Friday, Dec. 31.

Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover County offices: Closed Friday, Dec. 31.

Courts Federal and state courts: Closed Friday, Dec. 31.

Chesterfield General District Court and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court: Closed Thursday, Dec. 30, and Friday, Dec. 31.

Chesterfield Circuit Court: Closed Friday, Dec. 31.

Public schools Richmond, Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover public schools will be closed through Friday, Dec. 31.

Reopening Monday, Jan. 3.

Public libraries Richmond, Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover public libraries will be closed Friday, Dec. 31, and Saturday, Jan. 1.

G a r b a g e a n d r e c y cl i n g collection Richmond: Trash collection nor mally scheduled on Thursday, Dec. 30, will be picked up on Friday, Dec. 31.

East Richmond Road Convenience Center will be open Friday, Dec. 31, closed Saturday, Jan. 1, with reopening on Monday, Jan. 3.

Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover: No delay on trash or recycling.

Henrico County Charles City Road and Springfield Road public use areas: Closed Saturday, Jan. 1.

Chesterfield County Northern and Southern area convenience centers: Closed at noon, Friday Dec. 31. Reopening Monday, Jan. 3.

Richmond Animal Care and Control: Closed Saturday, Jan. 1.

U.S. Postal Service N o r e g u l a r m a i l d e l i ve r y Saturday, Jan. 1.

DMV customer service centers Closed at 12:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 31, through Saturday, Jan. 1.

GRTC Buses will operate on a normal schedule on Friday Dec. 31, with no Express Routes scheduled.

Buses operate on a Sunday schedule on New Year’s Day, Saturday, Jan. 1.

Banks and financial institutions Closed Friday, Dec. 31.

ABC stores Retail stores close at 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, Friday, Dec. 31, and at 6 p.m. on New Year’s Day, Saturday, Jan. 1.

Malls, major retailers, movie theaters Varies. Inquire at specific locations.

Richmond Free Press office Closed Friday, Dec. 31.

Councilwoman Stephanie Lynch charged with 2 misdemeanors Free Press wire, staff report

Fifth District City Councilwoman Stephanie Lynch has been charged with two misdemeanors after Richmond Police say she struck an unoccupied, parked SUV and failed to stop and notify the owner.

The 34-year-old Ms. Lynch has been charged with reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident.

Ms. Lynch A court date is set for Feb. 3.

Ms. Lynch told a Richmond television station that she hit the back of a 1997 Toyota 4-Runner SUV late on Monday, Dec. 20, after becoming distracted trying to plug in a cellphone. She said she reported the accident the next morning, on Tuesday, Dec. 21, and that she didn’t report it earlier because she’d never been in an accident before and was unsure what to do.

The SUV was parked in the 900 block of West 31st Street in the Woodland Heights neighborhood in South Side. Ms. Lynch lives less than a mile away on West 27th Street.

Ms. Lynch also told the news station that she had not been drinking before the accident occurred.

The station also reported that Ms. Lynch was involved in a similar incident Aug. 2 in Henrico County, in which she was fined $125 for holding a cell phone while driving. According to court records, she did not show up for the hearing and was found guilty. She also had to pay court costs of $101. According to the court records, the fines and court costs were paid Sept. 21.

City public safety workers receive bonuses of up to $3,000 Richmond’s public safety employees received a holiday gift— bonuses up to $3,000 apiece as a thank you for their service during the pandemic.

City Council cleared the way during a Dec. 13 meeting for a collective $5 million to flow to police officers, firefighters, emergency dispatchers and staff working with troubled youths.

Under the ordinance, a $3,000 bonus went to to full-time employees and a $1,500 bonus to part-time workers of the Richmond Police Department, the Richmond Fire Department, the city Department of Emergency Communications and the city Department of Juvenile Justice.

The Richmond Ambulance Authority’s employees also received similar bonuses.

Initially, the bonuses were to go only to those employees in good standing who were employed continuously from the pandemic’s start in March 2020 through Dec. 4, 2021.

However, the policy is being modified after KeithAndes, president of Richmond Firefighters Mr. Saunders Association I.A.F.F. Local 995, raised concern that members who joined the Fire Department in September 2020 and played a big role in the department’s response were being left out.

Lincoln Saunders, the city’s chief administrative officer, assured the council that he would use his authority to award bonuses to badge-wearing employees like the firefighters who had joined later in 2020.

However, the ordinance bars bonuses to employees who received a suspension or disciplinary demotion or are still in probationary status.

The council already had accepted Mayor Levar M. Stoney’s recommendation to use federal funds from the American Rescue Plan to pay the bonuses, and the ordinance that passed unanimously formalized that decision.

The mayor and City Council have not sought to award similar bonuses to other city employees who worked through the pandemic to maintain city operations. – JEREMY M. LAZARUS

Cityscape Slices of life and scenes in Richmond This dramatic and decorative street mural now fills the intersection at Marshall Street and Brook Road in Jackson Ward.

The work, painted in the red, black and green colors of the Pan-African flag, stands in front of Gallery 5, an award-winning art space housed in a historic 1849 building that served as the city’s first firehouse and police station.

Venture Richmond and the city’s Public Art Commission teamed with art spaces and businesses to develop the place-making project that was supported in part by a $25,000 grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Asphalt Art Initiative. The project, which cost a total of $40,000, produced a new brick plaza and bike rack in front of Gallery 5.

Artist Chris Visions created the mural painted by youth participants at ART 180, a nonprofit center of youth creativity based at 114 W. Marshall St. The central figure is Sankofa, a symbol and word of the Akan people of Ghana meaning “to retrieve.”

The symbol is being used as a salute to Jackson Ward’s history as the once proud center of Black business, entertainment and culture.

The mural also is connected to a custom-designed parklet that fills two parking spaces in front of ART 180. The parklet, not pictured here, is one of five

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

the city has sought to install to promote community and businesses.

The initiative came together this year as part of marking the 150th anniversary of the city’s creation of Jackson Ward in 1871. At the time, it was a gerrymandered

political district for Black voters.

Venture Richmond credited the two art groups, Big Secret, Walter Parks Architects, CB Chandler Construction, Cite Design, Richmond Toolbank and Vanderbilt Properties with helping create the space.

City seeks interest from developers for the Diamond District project

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Is anyone interested?

That’s the big question now that City Hall has issued its much-anticipated RFI, or request for interest from developers, for its so-called Diamond District — the 67 acres on Arthur Ashe Boulevard where The Diamond baseball stadium stands.

Leonard Sledge, the city’s director of economic development, issued the massive 163-page RFI on Tuesday.

The goal: To receive proposals for redevelopment of the property that is bounded

by Arthur Ashe Boulevard to the west, Interstate 95 to the north, Hermitage Road to the east and the CSX railroad tracks to the south. The property includes about 60 acres of city-owned land and the 7-acre Sports Backers stadium that Virginia Commonwealth University owns.

Mayor Levar M. Stoney expects plenty of responses.

“Richmond offers location, diversity, authenticity and affordability,” he said.

“Our city is the place to be, and the Diamond District is positioned to be a crown jewel in our thriving city.”

The RFI sets a Feb. 15 deadline for interested parties to respond with their vision for the property and information about their qualifications to take on a potential $300 million to $500 million project that the city regards as its next big thing to generate jobs, new homes, retail stores, office space and tax revenue for the city.

Respondents also must be willing to take on

Arthur Ashe Boulevard project map

development of parks on the property and to tackle development of a replacement ballpark for the Richmond Flying Squirrels, the AA baseball affiliate of the San Francisco Giants that currently makes its home in the 37-yearold Diamond, according to the RFI. Information on the new baseball stadium, which is to be built on the site of the Sports Backers combination soccer and track site, accounts for 47 pages of the RFI. This is city’s second effort in the past decade to market the property on which it has spent between $14 million and $19

million to prepare for redevelopment.

If all goes well, the city would receive multiple responses. Following a review of no more than 30 days, the city expects to winnow the responses to a smaller number of teams that would receive a request to submit final offers, the RFI states.

Mr. Sledge’s office hopes to announce the winner of the competition by June and gain approval from City Council in July.

One issue that remains unaddressed in the RFI is the ability of the city to transfer control of the Arthur Ashe Jr. Athletic Center, which is located on the acreage and owned by the city but managed by Richmond Public Schools.

The RFI states the Ashe Center, which occupies the key corner of Arthur Ashe Boulevard and Robin Hood Road, could simply be demolished, a position that Mr. Sledge previously shared with City Council. There is no mention in the RFI of a potential roadblock.

However, the Richmond School Board, armed with an opinion from its attorney, believes that it has authority over the building until it votes to make the building surplus property and return it to city control.

School Board Vice Chairman Jonathan Young, 4th District, has indicated that the school system could be induced to give up the building in exchange for a multimillion-dollar payout.

He said he believes a majority of the School Board would want something in return for Richmond Public Schools relinquishing the building.

City surplus vanishes

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

So much for a projected $9.4 million surplus in the city treasury.

That has vanished, according to the city’s new Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, or ACFR, for the 2020-21 fiscal year that ended June 30.

The report, completed and released Dec. 13, confirmed a Free Press news report that the city’s outside auditor, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, had discovered a $12 million mistake that inflated the amount of money the city had left over.

The auditor’s requirement of a correction of the mistake undermined the projection of a surplus that was submitted to City Council on Sept. 15 by Mayor Levar M. Stoney’s administration.

The completed ACFR also shows about $1 million in adjustments to other projections the administration had made, further reducing the amount in savings.

For example, the Stoney administration projected that revenue to build new schools, which is generated from a dedicated 1.5 percent city tax on restaurant meals, totaled $16.99 million. The ACFR boosted that amount by $500,000 to $17.5 million.

The bottom line: Instead of finishing the fiscal year with a robust $137.5 million in its “rainy day” fund as the administration

projected three months ago, the ACFR puts the total at $124.3 million, a reduction of $13.1 million.

According to the ACFR, the “rainy day” fund includes $100.5 million in the virtually untouchable unassigned fund balance and $23.8 million in a separate revenue stabilization fund.

The council is to receive the auditor’s presentation on the ACFR in January.

Getting the annual report finished by the state’s deadline required the administration to bring in consultants. The administration previously told the Free Press that no consultants were being used.

Jim Nolan, Mayor Stoney’s press secretary, confirmed that three individuals, who were supplied by two companies, Robert Half and Protiviti, were paid a collective $310 per hour to fill gaps in the city Finance Department staff to enable the ACFR to be completed by the state’s mid-December deadline. The total spent on those temporary workers has topped $10,000, according to information provided to the Free Press.

Mr. Nolan stated that the individuals “were hired as temporary employees to assume the open positions in a severely depleted staff to assist in the normal general accounting operations, which included things like the audit. Finance had a 40

percent vacancy rate at the time.” He stated the reduced number of employees means the Finance Department has $1 million in savings in the line item for personnel pay and benefits.

The Stoney administration, for the first time, also awarded bonuses equal to 5 percent of salary to 10 city employees and a $1,000 bonus to another employee following completion and release of the ACFR, Mr. Nolan also confirmed.

Among those receiving 5 percent bonuses were two senior finance officials, Sheila D. White, the city’s director of finance, and James P. Duval, the investment and debt portfolio manager, according to a city document.

In past years, the Free Press was told, Finance Departments employees put in hundreds of extra hours, including on weekends, to complete the ACFR and did not receive extra compensation.

Mr. Nolan defended the bonuses as recognizing employees for the 3,000 additional hours required to get the job done and handle the reconciliation issue. As most of the city employees involved are salaried and do not qualify for overtime, it also was the right thing to do.

“Together, these temps and existing personnel were what was required to get the job done,” he continued, “and they got it done.”

VUU Choir to perform at Youngkin inauguration

By Ronald E. Carrington

The Virginia Union University Choir has been invited to sing during inaugural activities for Republican Gov.-elect Glenn A. Youngkin.

A post on the university’s Instagram site announced this week that the choir was

invited to sing at a black-tie candlelight dinner on Friday, Jan. 14, and during the inauguration on Saturday, Jan. 15.

Gov.-elect Youngkin will be sworn in during a ceremony Jan. 15 at the State Capitol as Virginia’s 74th governor and the first Republican elected to the office since 2009.

The ticketed black-tie dinner will be held the evening before at the Science Museum of Virginia.

University officials declined to provide further details when contacted Tuesday by the Free Press.

During a campaign stop in late July, Gov.-elect Youngkin used the L.

Douglas Wilder Library and Learning Resource Center on the VUU campus as a backdrop to announce his plans for allocating $4.3 billion in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds expected to come to Virginia. Among his education proposals was allocating $100 million to boost funding for HB-

CUs in Virginia, including VUU. Gov.-elect Youngkin also visited Virginia State University, Hampton University and Norfolk State University during the campaign, but it is not clear if he visited Virginia University of Lynchburg, another of the five HBCUs in the state.

Richmond Free Press

December 30, 2021-January 1, 2022 A3

Make Sure Your Immune System Is Buttoned Up for Winter

! y a d o t r e t s o o 9b 1 D I V O C r u o y et g o t n a l p a e k Ma The COVID-19 booster is a vital step for staying safe against the virus — especially as activities move indoors for the winter months and COVID variants spread.

• If you received the Johnson &

Johnson vaccine and are 18+, you’re eligible for a booster 2 months after your primary dose.

Your Local Community Vaccination Centers

Arthur Ashe Junior Athletic Center 3001 N Arthur Ashe Blvd Richmond, VA 23230 Rockwood Shopping Center 10161 Hull Street Midlothian, VA 23112

Hours of Operation

• If you received the Moderna

Dec. 30: Open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Dec. 31 – Jan. 2: Closed Starting on Jan. 3: Open Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• If you received the Pfizer vaccine and

Appointments

vaccine and are 18+, you’re eligible for a booster 6 months after your second dose. are 16+, you’re eligible for a booster 6 months after your second dose.

You can find free COVID-19 boosters — or first, second, and additional primary doses — at a community vaccination center near you.

Walk-ins are welcome for everyone, including children 5 and older, but appointments are strongly recommended to avoid having to wait.

A4 December 30, 2021-January 1, 2022

Richmond Free Press

News

Heading into 2022, mayor details his focus for city’s growth Continued from A1

Even though major projects like the $1.2 billion new Coliseum and Navy Hill development near City Hall and the proposed $565 million casino in South Side that he supported were rejected, Mayor Stoney said more projects are on the way.

For example, he noted the private $325 million redevelopment of the decrepit Public Safety Building on 9th Street, a block from City Hall, is expected to be underway by March, bringing a 20-story office tower, new hotels and retail space to the area.

The mayor noted that the city also is seeking developers to bring offices, housing and new retail to 60 acres of city-owned land on Arthur Ashe Boulevard.

In addition, he said he anticipates City Council soon approving a plan for remaking much of the area near City Hall, including the vacant Coliseum that has moldered for more than two years and the old Blues Amory that has sat idle. The mayor said the council action could be followed next year with requests for developer interest.

As part of that effort, he said his administration has begun talks with Richmond’s judges about building a new courthouse to replace the John Marshall

Courts Building, though he said agreement on a new location has not been reached.

The city’s plans are on top of the continuing surge of private development of apartments and commercial space, along with Virginia Commonwealth University’s plans for more than $1 billion in new construction.

In a city where one in four people live in poverty, Mayor Stoney said the potential growth also would help lift up everyone.

He said part of his focus is to ensure that his administration “is in the business of directing people to opportunities and creating opportunities.”

He said Richmond has too long been a city of “haves and have nots,” and he regards the coming developments as offering a way to help close that divide.

For Mayor Stoney, one of the major drags on the upbeat future is the violence that has become all too prevalent.

Richmond has recorded 91 homicides this year—a 17-year high—even as the Richmond Police Department shrinks in numbers.

Ambitious to leave a legacy that will enable him to run for higher office after his term ends, Mayor Stoney said that public safety “will be a top priority”

Free COVID-19 vaccines Continued from A1

information on testing sites, or go online at vax.rchd.com.

The Virginia Department of Health also has a list of COVID-19 testing locations around the state at www.vdh.virginia.gov/ coronavirus/covid-19-testing/covid-19-testing-sites/.

Want a COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot?

Area pharmacies, drug stores, clinics and urgent care centers also offer COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots.

All Richmond and Henrico health district vaccination clinics will be closed for the holiday through Sunday, Jan. 2.

The Community Vaccination Center at Arthur Ashe Jr. Athletic Center, 3001 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd., will be open to offer Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines and booster shots from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 30. It will be closed for the New Year’s holiday Friday, Dec. 31, through Sunday, Jan. 2.

Beginning Monday, Jan. 3, the Ashe Center will be open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

• Tuesday, Jan. 4, 3 to 6 p.m. – Second Baptist Church of South Richmond, 3300 Broad Rock Blvd., Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson; 4 to 7 p.m. – Mary Munford Elementary School, 211 Westmoreland Ave., Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson.

• Wednesday, Jan. 5, 9 to 10:45 a.m. – Henrico West Health Department Clinic, 8600 Dixon Powers Drive, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson; 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. – Boushall Middle School, 3400 Hopkins Road, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson.

• Thursday, Jan. 6, 1 to 3 p.m. – Richmond Health Department Cary Street Clinic, 400 E. Cary St., Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson; 4 to 7 p.m. – Linwood Holton Elementary School, 1600 W. Laburnum Ave., Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson.

Children ages 5 to 17 may only receive the Pfizer vaccine.

Vaccinations and booster shots are available for all eligible of any age on a walk-in basis. No appointment is needed. However, people may schedule an appointment online at vaccinate.virginia. gov or vax.rchd.com, or by calling (804) 205-3501 or (877) VAXIN-VA (1-877-829-4682).

VaccineFinder.org and vaccines.gov also allow people to find nearby pharmacies and clinics that offer the COVID-19 vaccine and booster.

The Chesterfield County Health District is offering vaccines and booster shots at the following location: • Community Vaccination Center, Rockwood Shopping Center (in the former Big Lots store), 10161 Hull Street Road, Midlothian.

The center will be open 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 30.

The center will close for the New Year’s holiday from Friday, Dec. 31, through Sunday, Jan. 2. Beginning Monday, Jan. 3, the center will be open 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are encouraged by going to www.vaccines.gov or call (877) VAX-IN-VA. Those who are getting a booster shot should bring their vaccine card to confirm date and type of vaccine received.

A peak of 12,112 new cases of COVID-19 was reported statewide Wednesday for the 24-hour period, making it the highest single-day case count since COVID-19 first emerged in Virginia in early 2020.

The new cases contribute to an overall state total of 1,087,400 cases of coronavirus since the pandemic’s outbreak. As of Wednesday, there have been 41,337 hospitalizations and 15,541 deaths statewide. The state’s seven-day positivity rate reached 17.4 percent on Wednesday.

Last week, the positivity rate was 10 percent.

Officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced this week a shortened isolation and quarantine period for those infected with COVID-19. According to the new guidelines, those infected with the virus should isolate only five days, down from 10 days, as long as they don’t have symptoms. They also should wear a mask around others for another five days after leaving quarantine.

CDC officials attributed the change to new research showing that the now-dominant omicron variant is most transmissible two days before and three days after the onset of symptoms.

Reports continue both nationally and locally of shortages of COVID-19 tests, with Richmond area libraries and health district experiencing a greater demand for at-home and in-person tests for the virus. A free community test site at the Eastern Henrico Recreation Center held by the Richmond and Henrico health districts closed an hour after opening on Wednesday because the demand outstripped the number of tests available.

Officials continue to urge people to protect themselves and others by getting vaccinated and getting the booster shot, if eligible, and to wear masks and observe social distancing.

On Wednesday, state health officials reported that 67.4 percent of the state’s population has been fully vaccinated, while 77 percent of the people have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

State data also show that roughly 1.9 million people in Virginia have received booster shots or third doses of the vaccine.

Among those ages 5 to 11 in Virginia, 221,612 children have received their first shots, accounting for 30.6 percent of the eligible age group in the state, while 154,381 children are fully vaccinated.

As of Wednesday, less than 72,000 cases, 470 hospitalizations and six deaths have been recorded among children.

State data also show that African-Americans comprised 22 percent of cases statewide and 24.1 percent of deaths for which ethnic and racial data is available, while Latinos made up 13.2 percent of cases and 5.7 percent of deaths.

Reported COVID-19 data as of Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021

Cases Hospitalizations Deaths Richmond 28,819 986 389 Henrico County 41,247 1,295 748 Chesterfield County 46,708 1,257 605 Hanover County 14,179 400 208

in the coming year, just as it has been in past years.

He said the spike in violence is happening in cities across the country, and he believes that it is partly the result of the aftershocks from the pandemic that “put a lot of pressure on institutions like the police department, on human services and on our parks, libraries and schools.

We’re seeing the effects.”

He said Richmond also is feeling the impact of soaring gun sales and the lingering effects of the May 2020 Minneapolis Police murder of George Floyd that the led to major protests in Richmond and widened “the gap between community and police.”

The trouble has been com-

pounded by the loss of police officers from the Richmond force, in part, because the city has fallen behind neighboring jurisdictions in the pay it provides. More than 120 city police officers have quit in the past 12 months, with far fewer replacements being hired.

To try to bolster a department that the mayor described as a key to creating safer neighborhoods, “we will be working to make pay for our officers more competitive.” He said that pay increases also are needed for firefighters.

He said he is not ready to disclose how the issue will be addressed in the upcoming budget while he awaits results of a pay study, but he said he and City

Council are on the same page in making that a major focus.

He said one way to help alleviate some of the issues that have sparked violence is to keep focused on a growth strategy that will open more opportunities for people to succeed.

The mayor said another top priority for him will be to expand the inventory of affordable housing in Richmond. He said he is proud that the city’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund now has more than $10 million to use, thanks to funding from the federal American Rescue Plan.

The explosion in rent and home prices in the past several years has pushed housing to priority status with “education and public safety,” Mayor

Stoney said.

He said that his administration’s focus in the years to come also will be on the “quality of life and delivery of basic services.”

For example, city residents already are seeing a major reduction in potholes, thanks to the increased budget for paving.

In the months and years to come, he said he would continue to be “a champion for the working class.”

Given that he cannot run for a third term, Mayor Stoney acknowledged that he is considering his future after his term ends in 2024.

“That may involve seeking another executive office,” he said. “For now, this office is my top priority.”

State NAACP weighing appeal of new maps Continued from A1

Public Access Project.

The analysis confirms that current Richmond Democratic Delegates Jeffrey M. Bourne, a member the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus; Betsy B. Carr; and Dawn M. Adams all have been drawn into the new 78th House District.

The approved maps also put at risk the re-election prospects of six members of the VLBC, including its chairman, Henrico Delegate Lamont Bagby, who is now in the same district as a white incumbent Democrat.

The approved maps show 13 incumbent

Democrats in the House were drawn into six House of Delegate districts, while 18 incumbent Republicans were drawn into nine House districts. Five more Republican and Democratic incumbents were drawn into two House districts.

Among those impacted are outgoing House Democratic Speaker Eileen FillerCorn of Northern Virginia, who was drawn into a district with another Democratic incumbent, Kathy Tran.

According to VPAP, the final state Senate districts show that two senior members of the VLBC, Sen. L. Louise Lucas of Portsmouth and Sen. Lionell Spruill Sr. of Chesapeake, have been drawn into the

same Senate district.

Also, veteran Republican Senate leader Thomas K. “Tommy” Norment Jr. of James City County has been drawn into a district with another Republican incumbent.

A VPAP analysis shows that in the Senate, four incumbent Republican senators were drawn into two districts and four Democratic incumbents were drawn into two districts. Two other new Senate districts will have an incumbent Democrat and an incumbent Republican.

Former Democratic gubernatorial contender Sen. Creigh Deeds of Bath County is among those drawn into the same district as a Republican senator.

Elusive copper time capsule opened Continued from A1

and a printed image from an 1865 issue of Harper’s Weekly of a wood engraving showing a figure grieving over President Lincoln’s grave.

The conservation team was able to identify many of the items immediately as they were pulled from the box, though some materials were warped from water damage and required further study. Experts were on hand to triage the artifacts.

“They were more waterlogged than we had hoped, but not as bad as it could have been,” said Kate Ridgway, DHR’s lead conservator.

Ms. Ridgway said there was some question about whether calling the vessel a time capsule was the most accurate terminology, as it did not appear to have a definitive date when it was expected to have been opened.

“A cornerstone box is probably more accurate,” she said.

The box was found Monday, buried and sitting in water, by workers with Team Henry Enterprises who were wrapping up the removal of the Lee statue pedestal.

Gov. Ralph S. Northam ordered the enormous equestrian statue of Lee removed in 2020, amid the global protest movement sparked by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Litigation pushed back the plans, and the statue was not removed until September, after a court cleared the way.

Other Confederate statues along Monument Avenue, which were owned by the city, were removed in mid-2020.

Earlier in December, Gov. Northam ordered the Lee monument pedestal removed as well, and crews working on

Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

Kate Ridgway, lead conservator with the state Department of Historic Resources, holds up a Minié ball, a type of bullet used during the Civil War. Ammunition, Confederate money and other artifacts were found in the copper time capsule placed in the Lee statue pedestal in 1887.

the project again started to search for the time capsule. News accounts from the late 1800s detailed the placement of the box in the cornerstone of the pedestal, but a lengthy search during the statue removal came up empty.

A different time capsule, made of lead, was discovered two weeks ago, generating excitement. But hours of painstaking and ultimately anti-climactic examination suggested that artifact was placed by someone else, perhaps someone involved with the monument’s construction.

The box opened on Tuesday was finally found after a discussion between Team Henry and historians at The Valentine who provided the crew with material that helped them locate the box, which was deeper in the ground and further into the pedestal than previously had been believed.

“I’m just amazed at how intact things are,” said Devon Henry, owner and chief executive officer of Team Henry Enter-

prises. “Over 130 years being submerged and underground, and still being somewhat intact and legible is pretty, pretty cool.”

The measurements and copper material of the box opened Tuesday matched historical accounts, with the contents inside largely lining up with the items listed in a newspaper article when the statue was erected in 1890.

Along with several waterlogged books, pamphlets and newspapers, the box contained an envelope of Confederate money, which conservators carefully separated, and two carved artifacts — a Masonic symbol and a Confederate flag said to have been made from the tree that grew over Gen. Stonewall Jackson’s original grave.

Conservators also pulled buttons, coins and Minié balls, a type of bullet used in the Civil War, from the box. A bomb squad had checked the capsule Monday, partly to make sure there was no live ammunition inside.

While Ms. Langan felt it was too soon to say if the box was meant to be Confederate propaganda, others had a different perspective on its meaning.

“The original copper box to me is a window into the mindset of the Confederacy,” said Dale Brumfield, a local historian, author and journalist.

He pointed to the placement of the capsule decades after President Lincoln’s assassination in 1865 as evidence of lingering animosity against him and Northern states, along with “wounds still raw” years after the end of the Civil War. “I am hoping that by studying the materials in the capsule, we can get a clearer perspective on why those feelings lingered for so long,” Mr. Brumfield said.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu dies at 90 Continued from A1

used his pulpit as the first Black bishop of Johannesburg and later as the Anglican archbishop of Cape Town, as well as frequent public demonstrations, to galvanize public opinion against racial inequity, both at home and globally.

In addition to being an uncompromising foe of apartheid, he was a modern-day activist for racial justice and LGBT rights.

Standing only 5-foot-5, Archbishop Tutu became a towering figure in his nation’s history, comparable to fellow Nobel laureate Nelson Mandela, a prisoner during white rule who became South Africa’s first Black president. Archbishop Tutu and the late President Mandela shared a commitment to building a better, more equal South Africa.

Upon becoming president in 1994, President Mandela appointed Archbishop Tutu to be chairman of the country’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which uncovered the abuses of apartheid.

The two lived for a while on the same township street, where residents take pride in being the only people in the world to grow up with two Nobel Peace Prize winners for neighbors.

“Come December time, Father Tutu and Mom Tutu used to bring groceries for all the grannies here. He used to look after the elders. So losing someone like him is painful. We’re filled with tears,” Nkele Tshakela told mourners standing alongside the street.

Usually abuzz with tourists drawn to

its vibrant culture and history as a battleground during white minority rule, Vilakazi Street had a somber mood as mourners laid flowers outside Archbishop Tutu’s home and sang gospel hymns. Bishops and deans of the Anglican Church and the mayor of Johannesburg lit candles. Condolences poured in from South Africans, world leaders and people around the globe mourning the death of the man viewed as South Africa’s moral conscience.

Johannesburg Mayor Mpho Phalatse said Archbishop Tutu “lived a life of servanthood and did not seek personal gain.”

Former U.S. President Obama hailed Bishop Tutu as “a moral compass for me and so many others. A universal spirit, Archbishop Tutu was grounded in the struggle for liberation and justice in his own country, but also concerned with injustice everywhere. He never lost his impish sense of humor and willingness to find humanity in his adversaries.”

ArchbishopTutu’s life was “entirely dedicated to serving his brothers and sisters for the greater common good. He was a true humanitarian” said the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader and ArchbishopTutu’s friend.

Former Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, the first elected Black governor in the United States, said in his blog, Wilder Visions, that news of Archbishop Tutu’s death filled him with mixed emotions. The two, he wrote, shared “mutual experiences” and he hosted Archbishop Tutu and his daughter at the Governor’s Mansion in Richmond during his tenure

as governor in the early 1990s.

“He and I are the same age, and being of color, knew denial and segregation first hand,” Gov. Wilder wrote.

“After being together at an event, I invited him to visit me at the state Capitol. He and his daughter spent several days in the mansion and we had deep and penetrating discussions on racism and its effects.

“I spent time with him at his lovely residence in Cape Town, South Africa, continuing our recipes for building a consensus for demanding what is right and criticizing what is wrong. He always presented what he thought was right and condemned what was wrong. He was indiscriminate in his criticism; presidents, prime ministers, fellow Africans and religious leaders—all who participated in human denial—felt the sting of his rebuke.

“The world has lost a great leader; I have lost a friend.”

Archbishop Tutu is survived by his wife of 66 years, Leah, and their four children.

His funeral will be held on Saturday, Jan. 1, at Cape Town’s St. George’s Cathedral, where he led marches and campaigns to end apartheid from the front steps.

Cape Town hosted a tribute at its city hall on Wednesday evening, attended by members of Archbishop Tutu’s family, his foundation and various faiths and tribes.

Archbishop Tutu will be cremated after Saturday’s funeral and his ashes interred beneath the floor of St. George’s, according to the cathedral’s dean, the Rev. Michael Weeder.

Richmond Free Press

December 30, 2021-January 1, 2022 A5

Hundreds of Students.

Millions in Scholarships.

The inaugural class of Educational Equity Scholarship recipients is on the path to success. Because our communities are only as strong as our next generation, we’re investing in hundreds of young scholars across the states we serve—committing

millions of scholarship dollars to help students in minority and underserved communities realize their potential.

Students can learn more and apply at DominionEnergy.com/EquityScholarships.

Actions Speak Louder

Richmond Free Press

Sky at sunset on North Side

Editorial Page

A6

December 30, 2021-January 1, 2022

Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

Recovery or crisis?

To our readers, Wishing you a 2022 blessed with good health and happiness, positivity and prosperity, encouragement and empowerment, and laughter and love.

Thank you for your continued support during the past year.

We look forward with hope to a bright 2022.

Happy New Year!

From your friends at the Richmond Free Press

According to MasterCard’s spending reports, consumers spent more than 10 percent more than they did in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Inflation rose by 6 percent each month in October and November (don’t add it up – it’s monthly, not annual).

Unemployment rates are lower than they’ve been in more than a decade. And yet folks are singing the blues, asking for an extension of child tax credits, looking for support for those living at the periphery and looking for opportunity. The Scrooges in the House aren’t inclined to do a darn thing about it. Thus, you get a Sen. Joe Manchin, whose one-trick line is that he can’t support inflation, or a Sen. Kristen Sinema, a shill for Big Pharma. While some economists are touting economic recovery, others wonder who is recovering.

Dr. Algernon Austin, who directs the Race and Economic Justice Program at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, asserts that we aren’t counting disadvantages correctly. In particular, he has written that

Black male unemployment is far more severe than the unemployment rate data measure, especially when we consider the employment-population ratio, incarceration and other factors that leave Black men far more unemployed than other men. In his estimation, about $12 billion is leaked from the Black community because of job losses and related differentials.

Dr. Austin’s work does not directly address the losses that the

Julianne Malveaux Black community experiences because of the differential treatment of Black women, but they are at least equal. Discrimination and differential treatment are a tax on the African-American community, which is often unrecognized. The recent focus on the wealth gap allows us to delve into the history of the gap, the systematic ways that predatory capitalism has extracted wealth from the Black community. It’s not just about the past, though. It is about the current practices that African-American workers are disadvantaged, discriminated against and robbed of economic agency.

I appreciate the many ways that younger Black folks create alternate paths to income and wealth for themselves and their

communities, using electronic media, selling their “merch” and putting their face in the space. However, they should not be denied the mainstream paths to economic prosperity, ways too often riddled with pitfalls, challenges and racism. Thus, when conversations about economic recovery occur, it is essential to note that an unequal start will result in an unequal finish. In other words, centuries of discrimination will yield unequal recovery results.

This is important because as some, like Sen. Manchin, are talking about inflation, some are harder hit by inflation than others. When some, like Sen. Manchin, talk about low unemployment, others say they can’t find jobs. And while some are talking economic recovery and supply chain issues, others are spending up a storm. Our economy has always been bifurcated, but COVID-19 has made it even more so. President Biden has not done a great job, but he is exponentially better than his predecessor. Yet he has not done enough to close gaps between the haves and the have nots.

Many are experiencing an economic recovery, and good for them. Too many, still, are living through an economic crisis, which is not so good for them or their families. The gridlock

between Congress and the U.S. Senate paralyzes our nation and puts stumbling blocks in the path forward. Are we prepared to allow a few narcissistic laggards to throw a monkey wrench into the Biden plan? And is President Biden prepared to prioritize collegiality over results?

When the data is disaggregated, we will find that economic recovery is uneven. The Biden administration can fix some of this through executive order, and they need to do it as soon as possible. There are young folks who heard our president say he had their backs. Now they want him to exhibit some backbone. Those whose lives are in economic crisis aren’t interested in gloating about economic recovery.

The writer is an economist, author and dean of the College of Ethnic Studies at Cal State University, Los Angeles.

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Wishing for governance ‘devoid of biases’ When you read this, we will be in the year 2022 or almost there. I hope the new year will hold the realization of your most cherished hopes and dreams. I wish you health and prosperity. I wish you life and blessings in a country that will respect and honor the rights that accrue to your humanity, citizenship and/or residence.

Additionally, I wish you governance at all levels – municipal, state and federal—under the judgment of majorities who are as devoid of biases and political loyalties/obligations as possible. Sadly, 2021 and past years have shown the futility of such a wish and its catastrophic results for the masses.

Rather than reasoned judgments, hypocrisy and personal bias reign. These inform the decisions and outcomes in our law-making bodies. Clearly, the multitude of recently enacted laws that suppress, restrict or threaten the counting of legitimately cast ballots are indicative of contradictions to the principles of our Constitution and governance.

This hypocrisy is not exclusive to one party. However, examples of Republican hypocrisy ring the loudest when decisions impact the less powerful. By all estimates, Hurricane Sandy in 2012 was one of the most

devastating and costly natural disasters in U.S. history. But when time came for the U.S. Senate to vote on a relief package, Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz of Texas voted against the relief package.

In a complete about-face, both Sens. Cornyn and Cruz requested

Dr. E. Faye Williams immediate federal relief when Texas suffered the collapse of its electric grid during a February 2021 winter storm. They joined Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in highlighting the “11 crashrelated fatalities” and deteriorating road conditions. Their appeal to President Biden lamented that “more than 23,000 Texans have lost power and frozen pipes have impacted water distribution across the state.”

Although few Republicans voted for Hurricane Sandy relief for the “Democratic” states of New York and New Jersey, their actions proved they could be unkind to “Republican” states, as well. In October 2017, Republican U.S. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky disavowed relief to help residents of Texas, Louisiana, Florida and Puerto Rico after hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, and victims of wildfires in California. He remarked, “People here will say they have great compassion and they want to help the people of Puerto Rico, the people of Texas, the people of Florida, but notice they have great compassion with

someone else’s money.”

Yet, in the wake of the recent tornadoes in southwest Kentucky, Sen. Paul appealed to President Biden stating, “The governor of the commonwealth has requested federal assistance this morning, and certainly further requests will be coming as the situation is assessed. I fully support those requests and ask that you move expeditiously to approve the appropriate resources for our state.”

I wish this lack of concern and compassion could only be attributed to Republicans, but it can’t. It is clear that disparagement and personal bias toward middle- and working-class citizens inform the judgment and decisions of Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia. When justifying his rejection of the “Build Back Better” bill, he reportedly said he believed that parents would misuse child tax credit payments to buy drugs, and paid family leave would be misused

by Americans to go hunting, particularly in his home state of West Virginia.

With the challenges of COVID-19 and the demonstrated disregard for average citizens, 2022 portends to be as difficult a year as any before. Our futures hinge on our ability to install genuinely concerned public servants into political offices.

It won’t be easy. When has it ever?

The writer is national president of the National Congress of Black Women.

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Richmond Free Press

December 30, 2021-January 1, 2022 A7

Commentary

Kwanzaa 2021: Celebration or lamentation?

For 50 years, Black people in the United States have celebrated the seven principles of Kwanzaa. Established by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966, Kwanzaa is an African-American and PanAfrican holiday celebrated by millions.

Kwanzaa brings a cultural message which speaks to the best of what it means to be African and human in the fullest sense. Our obvious support and celebration of this occasion suggests our commitment, not only to the principles of the Nguzo Saba, but also to their fruition.

Thus, we ask you: What Kwanzaa success will you celebrate this year? What have you done during the year that qualifies as a celebratory event during Kwanzaa?

Have you achieved Unity, or Umoja, among Black folks in your locale? Are you unified to the point that you love one another more and support one another more? Do you have proof that you have unified around some pertinent issue or cause? If so, then let the

James Clingman celebration begin. If not, let the lamentation begin.

How about Self-Determination? That’s Kujichagulia. What have you done in your city to demonstrate your commitment to determining the future of your children? Are others still controlling your destiny? Or have you taken it upon yourself to build and support your own institutions, open and grow new businesses, and create your own jobs?

Can you celebrate an accomplishment during 2021 vis-à-vis

collective work and responsibility toward one another? Are you celebrating Ujima this year, or are you lamenting about what we have not done? If you have worked collectively on community projects such as neighborhood cleanup, elderly assistance, or tutoring, then your Kwanzaa celebration is in order.

Now, here’s my favorite: Cooperative Economics, or Ujamaa. Have you done anything cooperatively this year to increase the economic viability and stability of your community? Have you pooled any of your money to finance a project or to form an investment group to assist micro businesses? Have you purchased Black-manufactured products on a consistent basis?

What have you done to build and develop your community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness?

In other words, what is your purpose, or Nia, and have you actualized that purpose? If you

have, then you definitely have something to celebrate.

Have you created anything lately? What has been the level of your creativity, or Kuumba, this past year? Is there anything, not necessarily something material, that you created to benefit your community? Maybe it was a new financial institution, a volunteer food service program for those in need, or maybe it was a new resolve and commitment to do better than you did the previous year. Creativity covers a multitude of endeavors.

Finally, how much faith, or Imani, do you have in the things you are celebrating? How much faith do you have in yourself? How much faith do you have in your brothers and sisters? How much faith do you have in the Creator’s ability to carry you through in times of struggle? Are you one of “little faith,” or is your faith sufficient

to support you in your quest to fulfill the other six principles of Kwanzaa?

Aren’t you tired of mere spoken words? Aren’t you just a little weary of empty rhetoric and events based on words followed by little or no subsequent action? Wouldn’t you like to see us, after 50 years of celebrating Kwanzaa, be able to point to something we built and sustained because of our celebration of values we hold so dear?

On Dec. 26 of every year, we should be able to look back and revel in the things we have accomplished through our celebration of Kwanzaa. What will you see when you look back this year? If nothing is there except a mere celebration of principles rather than progress, then you have some work to do. Use this year’s Kwanzaa to act upon the seven principles so that this

time next year you will have some tangible accomplishment to celebrate.

Again, my favorite principle is Ujamaa, so I’d like to offer something you can do to celebrate it. Go to www. iamoneofthemillion.com and purchase a few bags of Sweet Unity Coffee for yourself and for Kwanzaa gifts for a few friends. Then celebrate by toasting “sweet unity” among our people.

Dr. Karenga did more than just come up with some nice words and principles for us to recognize and follow during this season.

Kwanzaa must be a true celebration of production and progress, not just another lamentation of having lost.

The writer is an author, educator and founder of the Greater Cincinnati African-American Chamber of Commerce.

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Richmond Free Press

A8 December 30, 2021-January 1, 2022

Stories by Fred Jeter

Can Coach Deion Sanders help restore the HBCU-to-NFL pipeline?

An impressive total of 33 HBCU alumni have been inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame. But will there ever be another? Or even another first round draft choice? Or All-Pro? Long ago, there was a fertile pipeline from HBCUs to the NFL. But it began clogging in the 1970s, when, to the delight of football coaches at majoritywhite colleges, the traditional Division I programs began widening their recruiting nets and entrance doors.

Social feelings changed for the better, but at the expense of HBCU football talent.

Jackson State University Coach Deion Sanders, aka “Coach Prime,” hopes to restore that HBCU-NFL conduit. And Travis Hunter there are positive signs he will, even though he has had to operate in a motorized scooter following foot surgery.

Eyebrows shot through the roof earlier this month when Coach Sanders signed cornerback Travis Hunter, the consensus No. 1 high school recruit in the nation.

Hunter, from Collins Hill, Ga., chose Jackson State over the likes of Florida State — Coach Sanders’ alma mater — Clemson and Georgia.

“I am making this decision to light the way for others to follow,” Hunter told the media at a news conference.

“It’s to help make it easier for the next guy to realize HBCUs are all they want and more.”

Hunter’s taking a “build it and they will come” approach, and he’s not alone. Coach Sanders also landed KaTron Evans from Baltimore, among the nation’s most coveted defensive

Coach Sanders

linemen. Evans’ suitors included Alabama, Auburn and just about every other big-name program.

There are others who have chosen Jackson State over offers from the Power Five Conferences. Coach Sanders’ first recruiting class a year ago, which included his son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, was rated 55th overall among all schools, and first among HBCUs. This year’s bumper crop of 17 players figures to rate considerably higher, even near the top tier schools in the Power Fives.

So what lies ahead for Jackson State and other HBCUs that have been on the outside looking in at top prospects for decades?

It would be a long and bumpy ride to quality for the FBS College Football Playoff or major bowls such as the Cotton, Rose, Sugar, Fiesta and Orange bowls. To begin the process,

Jackson State would need to explore the idea of bolting its conference, the FCS affiliated SWAC, and join an FBS conference, possibly the Sun Belt Conference.

That would sever old ties. Jackson State has been a SWAC member since 1958.

Upward movement isn’t impossible. In Virginia alone, Liberty, Old Dominion and, now, James Madison universities have gone from the FCS to the FBS. On the HBCU level, Hampton and North Carolina A&T State universities left the FCS/HBCU/MEAC for the FCS Big South Conference in more of a lateral move.

Would Jackson State be willing to step up in class, and financial commitment, with no long-term guarantees?

If so, it’s unlikely the rest of the 14-school SWAC would follow.

And if Coach Sanders’ recruiting

magic is the key to upward mobility, how long can the school count on him sticking around? Just last month, he interviewed for a head coaching job at Texas Christian University in the Big 12.

It will be intriguing to see how this plays out. Will Hunter, for example, be content playing for the SWAC title and a berth in the Celebration Bowl as opposed to a shot at the consensus national title?

The SWAC and MEAC champions are committed to the Celebration Bowl and do not participate in the FCS playoffs. So the Celebration Bowl is as good as it gets—for now—for HBCUs. That said, will Hunter be OK with Prairie View A&M and Grambling State universities being the bold-letter games on the schedule instead of the University of Texas and Louisiana State University?

The evolving, more liberal NCAA transfer portal rules make it so easy to leave one school and join another with no penalty.

Recent history doesn’t look good for HBCUs. There were no HBCU players taken in last year’s NFL draft,

and only one in 2020. Is Hunter OK with that?

The 33 NFL Hall of Famers from HBCUs mostly came along before 1980. All-time sack leader Michael Strahan, 50, is the youngest. The New York Giants great retired in 2007 and is now a media personality on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

The Kansas City Chiefs won the 1969 Super Bowl with more than 20 HBCU alumni on the Chiefs’ roster.

Now, teams average only about one HBCU player per squad.

Could the talent-laden HBCU squads of the 1960s and 1970s, playing in what amounted to Division II, have competed with the majority-white Division I powers of the era? Since they never did, we’ll never know.

For sure, Coach Sanders, arguably the most exciting cornerback in NFL annals, has been a bonanza for Jackson State and for HBCU exposure in general.

But regarding recruitment of elite prospects, can he really bring the 1960s and 1970s into the 2020s?

If so, that certainly would be a story deserving of “Prime Time” coverage.

HBCU to NFL Pro Football Hall of Famers Grambling State: Willie Brown, Buck Buchanan, Willie Davis, Charlie Joyner Jackson State: Walter Payton, Robert Brazile, Lem Barney, Jackie Slater Morgan State: Roosevelt Brown, Willie Lanier, Len Ford, Leroy Kelly South Carolina State: Marion Motley, Deacon Jones*, Donnie Shell, Harry Carson Southern: Mel Blount, Harold Carmichael, Aeneas Williams Mississippi Valley State: Deacon Jones*, Jerry Rice

Tennessee State: Richard Dent, Claude Humphrey Texas Southern: Michael Strahan, Winston Hill Alabama A&M: John Stallworth Bethune-Cookman: Larry Little Bishop: Emmitt Thomas Florida A&M: Bob Hayes Fort Valley State: Rayfield Wright Maryland State: Art Shell North Carolina A&T: Elvin Bethea Prairie View A&M: Ken Houston Savannah State: Shannon Sharpe

*Deacon Jones played for both South Carolina State and Mississippi Valley State, formerly Mississippi Vocational College.

VCU Rams has ranking defense gaining national acclaim Every game day is D-Day for Virginia Commonwealth University basketball. That’s “D” as in defense.

Coach Mike Rhoades’ Rams, 7-4 with four straight wins as of Dec. 27, have drawn national acclaim with a defense that never blinks, much less rests.

VCU leads the conference in fewest points allowed per game (56.7), field goal percentage defense (36.4) and 3-point percentage defense (23.8).

Among 358 NCAA Division I programs, the Rams are 10th in scoring defense, fifth in fieldgoal percentage defense and first in 3-point defense.

The Rams have a 63-28 edge in blocked shots, and boast a Plus 25 in turnovers ratio.

Defensive heroes abound wearing black and gold. Here are a few making an impact.

Hason Ward: “The Warden” lays down the law in the paint with his 6-foot-9 height, long stems and bouncy legs.

A native of Barbados, he has 18 blocks despite missing two games with injury. Ward’s presence works three ways.

He blocks shots, intimidates foes into altering their shots, and serves as a deterrent to

Hason Ward

Jayden Nunn

the opposition even trying to attack inside.

Jayden Nunn: The precocious freshman from Flint, Mich., is a speeding “Pac-Man” on the perimeter, leading the team with 23 steals and forcing many more turnovers that often lead to Rams buckets. Nunn makes life miserable for rival ball handlers.

Vince Williams: “The InVincible” is the clear senior leader, topping the team in scoring (10.7), rebounds (5.6) and assists (29), while blocking 13 shots and making 17 steals.

The 6-foot-6 lefty from Toledo, Ohio, is in the middle of just about everything that goes right for the Rams.

It’s not surprising the Rams have a stellar defense under their fifth-year coach. Coach Rhoades learned as an assistant under two noted defensive gurus. From 1999 to 2009,

Vince Williams

he worked under Coach Hal Nunnally at Randolph-Macon College. Coach Nunnally was a master at devising half-court defensive game plans.

Then under Coach Shaka Smart at VCU from 2009 to 2014, Coach Rhoades studied a more aggressive defensive strategy, full-court, in-your-face “havoc.”

Blending the varied styles has turned VCU into a team that squeezes the spirit out of opponents.  VCU’s opening Atlantic 10 Conference game scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 30, against George Mason University has been canceled because of COVID-19 protocols.

VCU’s next scheduled game is 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 2, against Davidson College at the Siegel Center in Richmond.

Andre Ingram on the TV game show ‘Wheel of Fortune.’

Richmonder Andre Ingram wins on court and on ‘Wheel of Fortune’

Andre Ingram’s fans knew he could spin a basketball into a hoop. Now they know he can spin a wheel as well.

Proving to be “spincredible” on the popular TV game show “Wheel of Fortune,” Ingram won $31,750 on Dec. 10 as a guest on a Secret Santa edition.

Ingram then donated his earnings to a random fan of the show that is filmed at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, Calif.

“Wheel of Fortune” is a game of quick thinking with some luck involved. The idea is to guess a phrase while getting clues one letter at a time.

The 36-year-old Ingram is no stranger to local hoops fans. He starred at Highland Springs High School in Henrico under Coach George Lancaster, where he led the Springers to the 2003 State Group AAA crown. He also was named AAA State Player of the Year.

Ingram then enjoyed a brilliant career at American University under Coach Jeff Jones, where he scored 1,655 points.

Undrafted out of AU, Ingram has played in the NBA G-League (formerly the D-League) since 2007 and is the league’s all-time leader in 3-point connections, 3-point percentage and total games played.

During his G-League career, he has hit 45.2 percent of his 3-pointers and 84.5 percent of his free throws.

Ingram won the G-League All-Star 3-Point Shooting contest in 2010 and 2016.

He has had a taste of NBA life, playing two games for the NBA Los Angeles Lakers in 2017-18 and four games in 2018-19.

Ingram is currently on the roster of the South Bay Lakers, the Lakers’ G-League affiliate. He’s hoping for an NBA call-up later this season.

Big-name football coaches taking the helm at Grambling and Tennessee State

Coach Jackson

Coach George

Hiring a big-name football coach has worked so far for Jackson State University. Grambling State and Tennessee State universities are hoping for the same results with their programs.

Hue Jackson, former NFL head coach with the Oakland Raiders (2011) and the Cleveland Browns (2016

to 2018), has been named coach of Grambling State University, a SWAC affiliate in Louisiana.

Coach Jackson, 56, replaces Coach Broderick Fobbs, who was let go following a 3-7 season.

Tennessee State has named former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL standout Eddie George as its

new coach. Coach George, who competed as a postgraduate at Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia, replaces Rod Reed.

Coach George, 48, already is very popular in Nashville, where he starred for the NFL Tennessee Titans. Tennessee State is a Division I HBCU program that competes in the Ohio

Valley Conference.

Under Coach Deion Sanders, Jackson State posted an 11-2 record and won the SWAC Championship in his first full season at the school in Jackson, Miss. Jackson State then lost to South Carolina State University in the Celebration Bowl.

December 30, 2021-January 1, 2022 B1

Richmond Free Press

Section

Happenings

B

Personality: Martha Jones-Carter Spotlight on co-founder of Kuumba Afrikan American Quilters Guild of Richmond If art tells a story, then Martha Jones-Carter has helped weave a multitude of personal and community-built narratives over the course of her life.

Ms. Jones-Carter is cofounder of the Kuumba Afrikan American Quilters Guild of Richmond, which was founded nearly a decade ago to promote appreciation and interest in traditional, contemporary and new art forms of quilting and other textile arts.

The group’s motto: “Connecting Creative Spirits Through Fabric.” As Ms. Jones-Carter says, the guild is “for anyone who enjoys quilting or wants to learn to quilt, sharing ideas, hands-on workshops and gathering with a collective of likeminded spirits who are creative, inspirational and supportive.”

“I’m proud of what some of the quilters have achieved and where they started from,” Ms. Jones-Carter says. “I think we have achieved a lot.”

Ms. Jones-Carter grew up in Washington Park on Richmond’s North Side and learned sewing and quilt-making from her mother and grandmother, but really became more engaged with quilting about 18 years ago.

“I have always been creative in many ways,” says Ms. Jones-Carter, who paints, sculpts and makes jewelry, pine needle baskets, stained glass and porcelain dolls and designs cloth dolls.

“When it comes to creating something, I could make just about anything.”

After taking a few quilting classes, Ms. Jones-Carter began to teach the techniques to others, including children, and joined quilting groups before eventually forming the Kuumba

Quilters Guild with three likeminded women.

As co-founder, Ms. JonesCarter aids the guild’s efforts to build a positive community spirit through personal creativity and expressive growth, encourage African-American artistic visions and promote their work in quilting and textiles, and preserve the tradition, culture and history of quilting.

“We love to get together to have fun socializing and eating good home-cooked foods, but mostly for the love of creating with fabric,” Ms. Jones-Carter says.

Currently, the guild has 18 members who are making their mark on the area art scene.

Their work has been featured in exhibitions around Richmond and Petersburg, and also is incorporated into a Legacy Quilt hanging at the Hampton Roads Convention Center commemorating 400 years since the landing of the first Africans in America at what is now Fort Monroe in Hampton.

The guild also had an exhibit of quilts at the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia in Jackson Ward with the theme, “Stop the Pain,” based on the many challenges and social justice issues of 2020.

“Today quilts are not made just for covering the bed,” Ms. Jones-Carter says. “It has become a form of art.”

This part of the Kuumba Afrikan American Quilters Guild’s work ties into the larger legacy of African-American quilting, from the Africans that continued weaving and applique techniques with when they were brought to America during the Middle Passage, to the use of quilts as a tool of communica-

tion among the enslaved and those seeking freedom along the Underground Railroad.

“To remember our ancestors’ techniques, we are passing down the history of quilting to preserve the art form and the importance of African-American quilting to future generations,” Ms. JonesCarter says.

Meet an artist who blends art, history and community and this week’s Personality, Martha Jones-Carter: No. 1 volunteer position: Co-founder, Kuumba Afrikan American Quilters Guild of Richmond.

Occupation: Recreation program specialist for seniors with Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities’ special services.

Date and place of birth: Jan. 24 in Richmond, along with my identical twin, Marian Jones.

Where I live now: South

Side.

Education: Mary M. Scott Elementary in Washington Park; John Marshall High School; and bachelor’s in graphic design, Norfolk State University.

Family: Husband of 20 years, Henry Carter. We have no children, but we both come from large families with lots of nieces and nephews.

Guild’s goals: Kuumba is Swahili for “creativity.” It is one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa. The guild’s goals are to build a positive community spirit through the process of personal creativity and expressive growth with the use of fabric and mix media art; to encourage the artistic visions and promote the work and accomplishments of African-American quilters and textile artists; and to focus on preserving the tradition, culture and history of quilting and while providing educational opportunities.

Co-founders of the guild: Naima Wares-Akers, Esther Ivory, Gloria Lewis and Martha Jones-Carter.

Quilting is: Quilting is the process of hand sewing three layers of fabric together using a needle and thread or a sewing machine.

The layers are the fabric for the top of the quilt, the middle is the batting for insulation and the fabric backing for the bottom of quilt. Quilting is the stitching patterns created to hold all the layers together.

Quilting and COVID-19: We decided to create quilts with the theme “Stop the Pain” that would represent the many chal-

lenges we faced in 2020 dealing with the police brutality against African- Americans, the protests for racial justice and social change, and being uncomfortable with the leadership of our president at the time. We had an exhibit at the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia in Jackson Ward from Oct. 1 to Dec. 18 that was curated

by Mary Lauderdale.

Intergenerational tradition and quilting: The guild has had programs during their exhibits that connected children by having hands-on quilt-making activities that would teach them about the history of AfricanAmerican quilt-making while creating a quilt block. The guild also crafted and donated no-sew blankets to the Baptist Children’s Home in Petersburg; crafted and donated a quilt to the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation of Hampton Roads for a silent auction, which raised $850 for the foundation; cut and compiled shoes for parts to be sent to Africa for assembly, which would generate gainful employment and income for independent entrepreneurs; and we made hundreds of face masks for VCU Health employees during the start of the pandemic.

Steps of learning to quilt: The first step is to purchase the materials needed, such as a sewing machine, thread, ruler, cutting mat, rotary cutter and fabric.

Take a beginner quilting class to learn the basic techniques.

A perfect day: Relaxing with my husband, having a great meal, being on the computer and being in my space of creativity.

What I am learning about myself during the pandemic:

Mending Walls: The Documentary Thirty artists create a groundbreaking public art project about empathy and racial justice in the documentary “Mending Walls,” presented on public television by VPM. Courtesy of Katrina Ta�art-Hecksher

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I look at life differently now because of COVID-19 by being patient, doing what will be healthy and safe for me and taking one day at a time and being happy with where I am now.

Something I love to do that most people would never imagine: I love to collect antique furniture and glassware.

I have a shop at Cold Harbor Antiques selling my items. I enjoy repairing and painting the furniture and researching the date of the glassware.

My friends describe me as: A busy person who is talented, patient, friendly and caring and who may be hard to reach by phone and can never be on time.

At the top of my “to-do” list: To complete some of the quilt projects I have already started.

Best late-night snack: Ice cream and all the other things I shouldn’t eat late at night.

Best thing my parents ever taught me: Respect people and to love who I am. My father was self-employed and I learned from him how to be confident in having my own business.

Person who influenced me the most: My twin sister Marian because we both have interest in the same things. She is also a creative artist, makes quilts and also has an antique shop.

What I’m reading now: Quilting Art magazine for inspiration and to learn about any new quilting techniques I may like to try.

Next goal: To continue to gather as a group, be creative, lift each other’s spirits, have exhibits, but mostly have fun quilting.

Richmond Free Press

B2 December 30, 2021-January 1, 2022

Happenings VSU grad combines degree and love of animals to open North Side pet bath and spa

By Ronald E. Carrington

Michelle Millett and her mother, Arlene Young, are making it easier for pet parents to give their fur babies a bath.

The duo are owners of Diamonds and Dutch Pet Bath & Spa, located at 121 W. Brookland Park Blvd., where people have the option of having their pet washed and groomed or pet owners can do it themselves in one of eight big tubs in the store.

The Black-owned business, located in the revitalized North Side business district, opened in February 2019 and is named after Ms. Millett’s dogs – Diamonds, a pit bull-boxer mix, and Duchess, the German Shepherd – Labrador mix she grew up with and who died in 2009.

Ms. Millett, 30, and her mother are both longtime pet lovers. Ms. Millett earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture with a concentration in animal science from Virginia State University in 2014.

“After graduation, Mom told me that I was not using my degree,” Ms. Millett said in a recent interview. “She came up with money and said, ‘Let’s open a spa so you can use your degree

that we spent so much money for.’ ” They wanted to open a shop that would make pet grooming easy for owners outside of their homes while eliminating the fuss and clean up.

Mrs. Young, who retired from the Virginia Department of Taxation, used the web to research the best up-and-coming residential and business districts and selected Brookland Park Boulevard because of the revitalized neighborhood where people could walk their pets to the spa.

Ms. Millett, a Henrico resident, was not as excited about the location until she met the landlord and surveyed the area. She said the building was just the right space for a creative, upscale, but homey atmosphere to keep pet lovers comfortable while serving the needs of all types of dogs — large, medium, small and disabled.

“Our self-serve tubs look like bathtubs in people’s homes,” Ms. Millett said about her strategy to make the experience warm and intimate. “This gives the bathing process a more familiar feeling for the animals as well as the customers. Most animals are accustomed to the actual tubs at home.”

Koda Kong, a year-old Golden Doodle, greets groomer Brittany Smith as he is brought into the dog spa for his holiday bath by his owner, Edward Atkins of Henrico, as Ms. Millett, right, stands by with a dog treat. Groomer Willow Martinez-Edwards gives Duke, a regular spa-goer, a relaxing bath.

Capital City Kwanzaa Festival canceled because of COVID-19 The Richmond area’s largest Kwanzaa festival will not take place as planned on Thursday, Dec. 30.

The 32nd edition of the Capital City Kwanzaa Festival was canceled Tuesday amid the latest surge of COVID-19 cases.

“The decision is based on concerns about the increased rates of COVID-19 transmission here in Richmond and in surrounding locales and the safety of all involved during this ongoing public health crisis,” according to Janine Y. Bell, founder and artistic director of the Elegba Folklore Society that hosts the festival.

Ms. Bell stated that the cancellation is based on the third principle of Kwanzaa, Ujima, or collective work and responsibility, which calls for “maintaining and building our community together and making our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems to solve together.”

Photos by Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

Michelle Millett, 30, provides special music and scents to calm pets at her shop, Diamonds and Dutch Pet Bath & Spa on Brookland Park Boulevard.

Specially selected music and calming aromas waft through the shop.

Diamonds and Dutch also provides professional bathing and grooming for dogs and cats, including teeth cleaning and hair and nail trimming. The service is done by appointment with

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Dr. Maulana Karenga, 80, the creator of the seven-day Afrocentric holiday in 1966, had been scheduled to speak during the event. Instead, he sent a statement, “We wish for you all things good, pure and beautiful.”

“It is with profound disappointment that we have come to this difficult place,” Ms. Bell stated in calling off the festival for the first time since she launched it in 1990. Last year’s festival was held virtu-

ally, but the decision came too late this year to shift to a virtual festival.

“All who invested will receive a full refund,” Ms. Bell said.

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no waiting, Ms. Millett said.

For those who prefer to do all of the grooming themselves, the business provides the needed equipment and supplies.

“Our patrons have had very positive responses to how we do what we do,” Ms. Millett said. “Clients and pets just fall in love with the Diamonds and Dutch aura and close-knit family-style team.”

There’s lots of tail-wagging by pets who sometimes jump all over their owners showing excitement after being groomed, she said.

The pandemic hit just after the business reached its first anniversary. Diamonds and Dutch had to close from April to July 2020 during the COVID-19 shutdown. But business has been growing steadily since then, Ms. Millett said.

Diamonds and Dutch, she said, is just the start of her dream of franchising the unique brand and grooming approach.

“Dogs don’t see color – black or white, brown or red,” Ms. Millett said. “They see genuine love. They see who is going to actually take care of me and treat me well.”

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NCIPAT EMALAMATIONION DAY PROC 2022 Saturday, JANUARY 1, 2022 11:00 A.M. New Year’s Day

Virtually Guest Speaker: Dr. John Guns

Dean of the Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University

Conference President: Dr. Emanuel Harris, Pastor Jerusalem Baptist Church, Goochland County, VA

Chairperson: Rev. Ricardo L. Brown DIAMONDS • WATCHES JEWELRY • REPAIRS 19 EAST BROAD STREET RICHMOND, VA 23219 (804) 648-1044

WWW.WALLERJEWELRY.COM

For the meeting id & password contact Rev. Brown at 355-1044 The monies given for this day go to the branches of the NAACP in the Richmond Metropolitan Area

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Richmond Free Press

December 30, 2021-January 1, 2022 B3

Faith News/Obituary/Directory Dr. John Guns to give keynote at Emancipation Proclamation virtual worship service Jan. 1 Dr. John Guns, the new dean of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University, will be the featured speaker at the annual Emancipation Proclamation Day service at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 1, sponsored by the Baptist Ministers’ Conference of Richmond and Vicinity.

The program, now in its 83rd year, will be held virtually via Fifth Baptist Church and will highlight the importance of freedom and promote continuing participation in the fight to protect voting rights in this time of voter suppression.

People can view the program on ZOOM, but must contact Rev. Ricardo Brown at Fifth Baptist Church for the event I.D. and password or the dial-in information. Contact Rev. Brown at (804) 355-1044.

Dr. Guns President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that as of Jan. 1, 1863, all enslaved people in the states engaged in rebellion against the United States “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.”

The important document, however, applied to millions of enslaved people in the Confederate states and not to those in the border states that remained loyal to the Union.

Dr. Gun is a graduate of Norfolk State University and earned his master’s of divinity and doctorate of ministry degrees from VUU, where he served as an adjunct professor.

He previously served as dean of the School of Theology at Knoxville College in Tennessee and was senior pastor of St. Paul Church of Jacksonville, Fla., where he led a movement working with young African-American men to help them with workforce opportunities, avoiding teen parenthood and handling law and authority.

In the tradition of the program, contributions and donations from the event will be given to area NAACP branches.

Robert N. Barnette Jr., president of the Virginia State Conference NAACP, will give the statement of purpose for the event.

“What is facing the communities we serve—voting rights, redistricting and the importance of staying on the political process—is an important message for all African- Americans,” Mr. Barnette stated.

Dr. Carolyn N. Graham, former Richmond deputy CAO for human services, dies at 75

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

10 mothers with 12 children who were mostly homeless Dr. Carolyn Nadene Graham, before they arrived, he said. a top social services executive “This was her dream,” Mr. in Richmond, Washington and Graham said. “She brought Florida and creator of the Wash- all the experience she had ington-based Mary amassed to creating Elizabeth House to a safe space where aid young mothers these mothers could aging out of foster gain the life skills care, has died. they need to succeed, The president and while their children chief executive of receive early childthe nonprofit home hood education to put succumbed to cancer them on the road to on Tuesday, Dec. 21, achievement.”

2021, in Washington, Dr. Graham spent Dr. Graham her family said. She her teen years in Balwas 75. timore, where her family moved ABaptist minister who sought to escape the harsh segregation to infuse religious values into her in Hattiesburg, Miss., where she varied positions, Dr. Graham’s was born. She began her career life will be celebrated at noon after earning an undergraduate Saturday, Jan. 22, at Unity of degree in psychology from the Washington, D.C., 1225 R St. University of Baltimore and a Dr. Graham founded the Mary master’s in education from AnElizabeth House in 2012 after tioch College in Ohio, as well as leaving Richmond following a an MBA from City University of controversial three-year stint as New York. the city’s deputy chief administraShe also earned a master’s tive officer for human services in divinity from the New during the administration of York Theological Seminary, Mayor Dwight C. Jones. a doctorate in ministry from “My mother was a trailblaz- United Theological Seminary er,” said her son, Kofi Graham, in Dayton, Ohio, and was orwho serves as facilities manager dained at Israel Baptist Church and director of the home. “She in Washington and Friendship saw herself in the women we Baptist Church in New York. care for. She understood the Never a pastor, Dr. Graham trauma they experienced and was known for preaching in the wanted to help them break the halls of government on such cycle of poverty for themselves topics as children’s welfare, and their children by empower- child abuse and foster care. ing them to become confident “I see what I do as ministry and self-reliant.”

— ministry in the form of governThe home currently serves ment,” Dr. Graham once said. “It

Enthusiasm…

500 E. Laburnum Avenue, Richmond, VA 23222 www.sharonbaptistchurchrichmond.org (804) 643-3825

Enthusiasm…

Rev. Dr. Paul A. Coles, Pastor

Enthusiasm!

Friday, December 31, 2021 10:30 PM - Watch Night Service Speaker : Rev. Donte McCutchen Pastor- Love Cathedral Community Church

St. Philip’s Episcopal Parish Hall, 2900 Hanes Avenue, Richmond, VA 23222

Write: I’ll Listen Ministry Post Office Box 16113 Richmond, VA 23222

Back Inside!

11 a.m. — 4 p.m.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022

Sunday, January 2, 2022

All units are tested for COVID-19 antibodies as well as sickle cell trait and donors can see results in about a week.

9:00 AM - Church School 10:00 AM - Morning Worship and Holy Communion

Happy New Year

To register, go to redcrossblood.org Sponsor Keyword ‘philip’

Moore Street Missionary Baptist Church

1408 W. Leigh Street · Richmond, Va. 23220 (804) 358—6403

Dr. Alonza L. Lawrence, Pastor

“Your Home In God’s Kingdom”

Riverview

Baptist Church Virtual

W�tch Night Service Friday, December 31st @ 7:00 PM

Sunday School – 9:30 AM Sunday Services – 11:00 AM Via Conference Call (202) 926-1127 Pin 572890#

Say it three times

Sharon Baptist Church

BLOOD DRIVE

in metaphysical spirituality at Duke Divinity School and authored two books, “Sacred Values of Gratitude Journal: Spirit Guide’s Training Manual,” and “A Journal: Twelve Sacred Values of Gratitude.”

In addition to her son, survivors include her sister, Ora L. Graham; brothers, Larry W. Graham, Robert T. Graham, Eddie J. Lundy and Freddie Perine; and three grandchildren.

E-n-t-h-u-s-i-a-s-m

“The Church With A Welcome”

St. Philip’s Episcopal Church and the Richmond Alumnae Chapter Emergency Response Team Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

is a calling. Within the Christian context, we are called to take on those that have the least.”

However, in Richmond, she was forced out amid an uproar over her efforts to cut back the placement of abused children in foster care, which she considered a worse alternative.

She left after failing to win adherents to what she saw as the better approach of keeping families intact as much as possible while providing parents with counseling, anger management workshops and classes in rearing children, making family separation a last resort.

Dr. Graham honed her skills and viewpoints in a host of posts before coming to Richmond. She served as Washington’s deputy mayor for children, youth, families and elders, as director of human services in Broward County, Fla., and as a consultant with the National Council of Churches in New York.

In Washington, she also was an adjunct professor at the Wesley Theological Seminary and a longtime associate minister at Israel Baptist Church.

She received numerous awards for her work, including being named a McDonald’s Black History Maker and an Iota Phi Lambda Sorority Living Black History Maker. She also was a recipient of the D.C. Department of Health’s LanternAward and the HSC Healthcare System’s award for service to children.

Her son said in recent years she joined Unity of Washington, D.C., completed studies

Good Shepherd Baptist Church 1127 North 28th St., Richmond, VA 23223 s Office: (804) 644-1402 Dr. Sylvester T. Smith, Pastor “There’s A Place for You”

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https://youtu.be/qqzhnIEQyQc for inspirational messages from Pastor Smith

Virtual Sunday Morning Service on FACEBOOK and YouTube 2604 Idlewood Avenue Richmond, Va. 23220 (804) 353-6135 www.riverviewbaptistch.org

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Rev. Dr. Stephen L. Hewlett, Pastor

Triumphant

Baptist Church 2003 Lamb Avenue Richmond, VA 23222 Dr. Arthur M. Jones, Sr., Pastor (804) 321-7622 “Due to the Corona Virus all services at Triumphant Baptist Church are suspended until further notice.”

Join us on Sundays at 12 noon via Conference Call: 1(503)300-6860 Code:273149#

7M\XL &ETXMWX 'LYVGL 8LIQI 1SFMPM^MRK *SV 1MRMWXV] 6IJVIWLMRK 8LI 3PH ERH )QIVKMRK 8LI 2I[ A 21st Century Church With Ministry For Everyone

Worship With Us This Week!

We Embrace Diversity — Love For All! Come worship with us!

Back Inside Sundays Join us for 10:00 AM Worship Service Live on Facebook @sixthbaptistrva Live on Youtube @sixthbaptistrva Or by visiting our website www.sixthbaptistchurch.org 400 South Addison Street Richmond, Va. 23220

(near Byrd Park)

Rev. Dr. Yvonne Jones Bibbs, Pastor

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

Thirty-first Street Baptist Church 2901 Mechanicsville Turnpike, Richmond, VA 23223 (804) 648-2472 ~ www.mmbcrva.org Dr. Price London Davis, Senior Pastor

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

C

bin om

in g

ance with Reverence Relev

Rev. Dr. Joshua Mitchell, Senior Pastor ❖

The doors of the church are open for worship!

No registration required.

Join us in person or online on Facebook or YouTube

10:30 a.m. Sundays

“Due to the Corona Virus Pandemic, Services Are Cancelled, until further notice; but, please join us, by visiting BRBCOnline.org or YouTube (Broad Rock Baptist Church).”

“MAKE IT HAPPEN” Pastor Kevin Cook

823 North 31st Street Richmond, VA 23223 Weekly Worship: Sundays @ 10:30 (804) 226-0150 Office A.M. Church School: Sundays @ 9:00 A.M. Bible Study: Wednesdays @ Noon & 6:30 P.M.

Antioch Baptist Church “Redeeming God’s People for Gods Purpose”

1384 New Market Road, Richmond, Virginia 23231 | 804-222-8835

SERVICES

SUNDAY WORSHIP HOUR – 10:00 A.M. CHILDREN’S CHURCH & BUS MINISTRY AVAILABLE SUNDAY SCHOOL (FOR ALL AGES) – 9:00 A.M. TUESDAY MID-DAY BIBLE STUDY – 12 NOON WEDNESDAY MID-WEEK PRAYER & BIBLE STUDY – 7:00 P.M. A MISSION BASED CHURCH FAMILY EXCITING MINISTRIES FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH, YOUNG ADULTS & SENIOR ADULTS BIBLE REVELATION TEACHING DIVERSE MUSIC MINISTRY LOVING, CARING ENVIRONMENT

DR. JAMES L. SAILES PASTOR

Richmond Free Press

B4 December 30, 2021-January 1, 2022

Sports Plus

4 Black athletes to be inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame

By Fred Jeter

Bud Fowler died more than 100 years ago, but his name still reverberates with baseball historians.

Fowler is one of four Black athletes selected to the 2022 Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2022. Induction ceremonies will be July 24 in Cooperstown, N.Y. From Fort Plain, N.Y., Fowler is credited with being the first Black athlete to compete in organized baseball for otherwise all white franchises.

Jackie Robinson later became the first Black in the modern era in 1947 with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Fowler was just 14 when he debuted for New Castle, Penn., in 1872. Versatility was his calling card. Fowler was listed as a pitcher/catcher/infielder/outfielder and manager.

A man in demand, he competed for various white teams in multiple states for the next 25 years.

Fowler, who died in 1913 at age 54, also played for teams in the Negro Leagues, retiring in 1898 with the Cuban Giants.

Meet the other inductees: John Jordan “Buck” O’Neil (died in 2004): The first baseman spent most of his career with the Negro Leagues’ Kansas City Monarchs from 1938 to 1948.

He was a two-time Negro Leagues All-Star and helped the Monarchs win the World Series crown in 1942.

A beloved ambassador of the game, O’Neil is featured in Ken Burns’ baseball documentary and is the subject of the book, “The Soul of Baseball.”

Minnie Miñoso (died in 2015): He is considered the first Black Latino to reach the big leagues.

The Cuban native debuted with Cleveland in 1949 after helping the Cuban Giants to Negro Leagues World Series title in 1947.

Known as the “Cuban Comet,” Miñoso was a nine-time All-Star, three times Gold Glove winner (at third base) and three-time stolen base leader.

Tony Oliva: Spending his entire career with the Minnesota Twins, the left-handed hitting outfielder was an eight-time AllStar and three-time American League batting champ.

From Cuba, Oliva, who is now 83, finished his career with a

Bud Fowler, Buck O’Neil, Minnie Miñoso and Tony Oliva

.304 batting average, 220 home runs and 947 runs batted in. As a coach, he helped the Twins to World Series championships in 1987 and 1991.

A bronze statue of Oliva is on display at the entrance to Target Field in Minneapolis.

The other Class of 2022 entries are pitcher Jim Kaat, who died in 2021, and first baseman Gil Hodges, who died in 1972.

Kaat played with Oliva in Minnesota and later became a popular radio and TV announcer.

Hodges starred with Brooklyn’s “Boys of Summer” in the 1950s and later managed the New York Mets to the 1969 World Series crown.

Legal Notices/Employment Opportunities Continued from previous column

Divorce

months.

It is ORDERED that t h e d e fe n d a n t , w h o s e whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 7th day of February, 2022 at 9:00 AM and protect his interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. Dorothy M. Eure, Plaintiff’s Attorney VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER DONALD MINOR, Plaintiff v.

DORIS MINOR, Defendant.

Case No.: CL21003939-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

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

It is ORDERED that t h e d e fe n d a n t , w h o s e whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 3rd day of February, 2022 at 9:00 AM and protect her interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. Dorothy M. Eure, Plaintiff’s Attorney VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER FATIH ONGEN, Plaintiff v.

FARNAZ KAMYAB, Defendant.

Case No.: CL21003938-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

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

It is ORDERED that the defendant, who is a non resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia, appear here on or before the 3rd day of February, 2022 at 9:00 AM and protect her interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. Dorothy M. Eure, Plaintiff’s Attorney VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER RACHEL PORTER, Plaintiff v.

CHRISTOPHER HARRIS, Defendant.

Case No.: CL21003959-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

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

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER TYRANNE KENNARDTAYLOR, Plaintiff v.

HARVEY TAYLOR, Defendant.

Case No.: CL21003970-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

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

It is ORDERED that t h e d e fe n d a n t , w h o s e whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 7th day of February, 2022 at 9:00 AM and protect his interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. Dorothy M. Eure, Plaintiff’s Attorney VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER KURT WEHRMANN, Plaintiff v.

VICTORIA WEHRMANN, Defendant.

Case No.: CL21001788-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

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

It is ORDERED that the defendant, who has been served with the Complaint by posted service appear here on or before the 31st day of January, 2022 and protect her interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Dorothy M. Eure, Plaintiff’s Counsel VSB# 27724 The Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005

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(804) 798-9667 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER CHRISTINA DENIS, Plaintiff v.

JONATHAN LAHR, Defendant.

Case No.: CL21003902-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

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

It is ORDERED that t h e d e fe n d a n t , w h o s e whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 31st day of January, 2022 at 9:00 AM, and protect his interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. Dorothy M. Eure, Plaintiff’s Attorney VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND STACEY LEE ROSA, Plaintiff v.

VINCENT ROSA, Defendant.

Case No.: CL21-4646-5 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

Came this day the Plaintiff, upon her Complaint for divorce filed in the abovestyled case and her Affidavit for Order of Publication for service of the Complaint on the Defendant. The object of this suit is to put the Defendant on notice of the Plaintiff’s Complaint for divorce in the above-styled case.

It appearing from Plaintiff’s Affidavit that due diligence has been used without effect to ascertain the location of the Defendant and that the Defendant’s whereabouts are unknown, it is ORDERED that the Defendant is required to appear before this Court on or before the 21st day of January, 2022 at 9:00 AM, to protect his interests.

An Extract, Teste: EDWARD F. JEWETT, Clerk VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE COUNTY OF HENRICO TANIESHA LATONA, Plaintiff, v.

ADEBAYO LATONA, Defendant.

Case No. CL20002375-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of the abovestyled suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the Defendant on the grounds that the parties have lived separate and apart, without any cohabitation and without any interruption, for a period of more than one Continued on next column

Continued from previous column

Continued from previous column

year.

It appearing by affidavit filed according to law that the Defendant, Adebayo Latona, is not a resident of the State of Virginia and that his last known address is in the country of Nigeria, it is therefore ORDERED that Defendant, ADEBAYO LATONA, appear before this Court on or before the 3rd day of January 2022, and do what is necessary to protect his interests in this suit.

An Extract Teste: Heidi S. Barshinger, Clerk

55.1-2606.

FIC.007727: WW1 Shell/fuse FIC.002389: Two vials of suspected gunpowder FIC.007781: Artillery Shell FIC.007782: Artillery Shell

CUSTODy VIRGINIA: IN THE JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND Commonwealth of Virginia, in re NIVEA JAZZMINE RAMSON RDSS v.

OLIVER DAVID RAMSON File No. J-98747-05-00-BEL ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“RPR”) of O l i v e r D av i d R a m s o n (Father), of Nivea Jazzmine Ramson, child DOB: 10/22/2007 “RPR” means all rights and responsibilities remaining with Parent after transfer of legal custody or guardianship of the person, including but not limited to rights of: Visitation; adoption consent; determination of religious affiliation; and responsibility for support and that:

It is ORDERED that the defendants Oliver David Ramson (Father), to appear at the above-named Court and protect his/her interest on or before 3/25/2022, at 9:20 AM, Courtroom #1 BEL VIRGINIA: IN THE JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Brianna Iveth Claros Burgos, a juvenile, Karla Iveth Burgos De Ainaya, Plaintiff v.

Juan F. Claros Martinez, Defendant Case No. JJ100771-01-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION I, the undersigned applicant, state under oath that the object of this suit is to: Grant sole and legal custody of Brianna Iveth Claros Burgos pursuant to code 16.1-241, and that diligence has been used without effect to ascertain the location of the above-named person(s) to be served.

Soulmaz Taghavi, Esq. 1500 Forest Ave., Suite 124 Richmond, VA 23229 804-408-3522

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

WILLIAM EARL GREENE, et al, Defendants.

Case No.: CL21-3666 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 19 West 30th Street, Tax Map Number S000-1230/032, Richmond, Virginia, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owners of record, William Earl Greene, John W. Greene, Jr. and Dabney W. Greene.

An Affidavit having been filed that said owners, WILLIAM EARL GREENE and JOHN W. GREENE, JR, who have been served by posting and by mailing a copy of the complaint to their last known address, have not been personally located and have not filed a response to this action; that said owner, DABNEY W. GREENE, who is not a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and has not filed a response to this action; and that any heirs, devisees, assignees, successors in interest, successors in title and/or any creditors with a current or future interest in said property, have not been identified and/or served despite diligent efforts to do so and are defendants to this suit by the general description of “Parties Unknown.”

IT IS ORDERED that WILLIAM EARL GREENE, JOHN W. GREENE, JR, DABNEY W. GREENE, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before FEBRUARY 10, 2022 and do what is necessary to protect their interests in this matter.

An Extract, Teste: Edward F. Jewett, Clerk Gregory A. Lukanuski, Esq. City of Richmond, Office of the City Attorney 900 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219 804-646-7949

Betty C. Hughes, and Bonnie J. Carter.

An Affidavit having been filed that said owner, BETTY C. HUGHES, upon information and belief deceased, or her heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in interest, have not been located and have not filed a response to this action; that said owner, BONNIE J. CARTER, who is not a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia, has not filed a response to this action; and that any heirs, devisees, assignees, successors in interest, successors in title and/or any creditors with a current or future interest in said property, have not been identified and/or served despite diligent efforts to do so and are defendants to this suit by the general description of “Parties Unknown.”

IT IS ORDERED that BETTY C. HUGHES, upon information and belief deceased, or her heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in interest, BONNIE J. CARTER, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before FEBRUARY 10, 2022 and do what is necessary to protect their interests in this matter.

An Extract, Teste: Edward F. Jewett, Clerk Gregory A. Lukanuski, Esq. City of Richmond, Office of the City Attorney 900 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219 804-646-7949 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND JOHN MARSHALL COURTS BUILDING CITY OF RICHMOND, Plaintiff, v.

KARIMA AHMAD, et al, Defendants.

Case No.: CL21-4332 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 10230 Pondera Road, Tax Map Number C001-0616/022, Richmond, Virginia, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owner of record, Karima Ahmad.

An Affidavit having been filed that said owner, KARIMA AHMAD, who has been served by posting and by mailing a copy of the complaint to his last known address, has not been personally located and has not filed a response to this action, and that any heirs, devisees, assignees, successors in interest, successors in title and/or any creditors with a current or future interest in said property, have not been identified and/or served despite diligent efforts to do so and are defendants to this suit by the general description of “Parties Unknown.”

IT IS ORDERED that K A RI M A A H M A D, a n d Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before FEBRUARY 10, 2022 and do what is necessary to protect their interests in this matter.

An Extract, Teste: Edward F. Jewett, Clerk

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Continued from previous column

Gregory A. Lukanuski, Esq. City of Richmond, Office of the City Attorney 900 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219 804-646-7949

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

IT IS ORDERED that THOMAS L. PUCKETT, upon information and belief deceased or his heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in interest, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before FEBRUARY 10, 2022 and do what is necessary to protect their interests in this matter.

An Extract, Teste: Edward F. Jewett, Clerk Gregory A. Lukanuski, Esq. City of Richmond, Office of the City Attorney 900 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219 804-646-7949

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

THOMAS L. PUCKETT, et al, Defendants.

Case No.: CL21-4741 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 3601 Hull Street, Tax Map Number S000-2763/009, Richmond, Virginia, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owners of record, Thomas L. Puckett.

An Affidavit having been filed that said owner, THOMAS L. PUCKETT, upon information and belief deceased or his heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in interest, have not been located and have not filed a response to this action, and that any heirs, devisees, assignees, successors in interest, successors in title and/or any creditors with a current or future interest in said property, have not been identified and/or served despite diligent efforts to do so Continued on next column

LICENSE Broad Street Comedy Inc Trading as: Coalition Theater 8 W Broad St Richmond, Virginia 23219-1751 The above establishment is applying to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage C ontrol (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Annual MB Special Event license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

Ben Bunnell, Member NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia. gov or 800-552-3200.

Thank you for your interest in applying for opportunities with The City of Richmond.

To see what opportunities are available, please refer to our website at www.richmondgov.com.

EOE M/F/D/V

Request For Bids

^ŬĂŶƐŬĂ h^ ƵŝůĚŝŶŐ /ŶĐ͘ ǁŝůů ďĞ ƐŽůŝĐŝƟŶŐ bids for the DGS Central Lab – Department ŽĨ &ŽƌĞŶƐŝĐ ^ĐŝĞŶĐĞ ; &^Ϳ Θ KĸĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) located in Mechanicsville, VA. Bid packages will VIRGINIA: be issued on approximately 12/21/21.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT Smaller bid package bids will be due OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND 1/21/22 and larger bid package bids will JOHN MARSHALL ďĞ ĚƵĞ ϭͬϮϴͬϮϮ͘ ŽŶƚĂĐƚ ŵĂƩ͘ŬŝĚǁĞůůΛ COURTS BUILDING CITY OF RICHMOND, ƐŬĂŶƐŬĂ͘ĐŽŵ ĂŶĚͬŽƌ ĐŚƌŝƐ͘ůŝƩůĞĮĞůĚΛ Plaintiff, For your convenience, the Richmond Free Press ƐŬĂŶƐŬĂ͘ĐŽŵ ƚŽ ŚĂǀĞ ďŝĚ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ ƐĞŶƚ v. to you via Building Connected. All trades BETTY C. HUGHES, et al, offers you the opportunity to receive Defendants. welcome to prequalify and bid.

SUBSCRIBE

Notice of Acquisition of Property: The Valentine Museum hereby claims title to the objects listed below, for which there is no last known owner on record, as of 12/16/2021 pursuant to Code of VA §

Case No.: CL21-3056 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 3407 Idlewood Avenue, Tax Map Number W000-1588/017, Richmond, Virginia, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owners of record,

Continued on next column

Continued on next column

Property

Continued from previous column

the Richmond Free Press in the mail.

Freelance Writers: Richmond Free Press has immediate opportunities for freelance writers.

Newspaper experience is a requirement. To be considered, please send 5 samples of your writing, along with a cover letter to news@ richmond freepress.com or mail to: Richmond Free Press, P. O. Box 27709, Richmond, VA 23261. No phone calls.

Richmond Free Press The People’s Paper.

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