Swipe left
Virginians
turn away from Republican rule, elect Spanberger and Democrats statewide
By George Copeland Jr.
Virginia made history in several ways Tuesday after elections that saw landmark gains for Democrats statewide and nationally.
Former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger secured the governorship with 57% of the vote as of Wednesday, defeating Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears to become Virginia’s first female governor.
“You chose, we chose, leadership that will always put Virginia first,” Spanberger said, addressing a cheering crowd at the
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Voter empowerment, social justice take center stage at rally
By George Copeland Jr.
Chants for justice, equality and voting rights echoed through downtown Richmond on Sunday as about 100 residents marched from Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School to the state Capitol in the first “United We Stand” March and Rally for Voter Empowerment and Justice.
The march, which was organized by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, was inspired by the No Kings rallies, said William McGee, SCLC Richmond Chapter president and co-chair of the rally.
The group has taken part in several gatherings and rallies this year and wanted to lead a similar event rather than leaving all of the effort to other organizations.
“We were just really hyped up,” McGee said. “We decided we wanted to do this also and bring all the different groups together, all the community together.”
The SCLC was joined by over 14 Richmondarea organizations in establishing and participating in the event, including 50501 Virginia, RVA Indivisible, the League of Women Voters Virginia and United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400.
Attendees shared the organizers’ enthusiasm for the rally and its goals, including support for voting rights, social and labor justice, and other civic issues. Nearly all were registered voters, and most had already cast ballots, with the issues highlighted at the event shaping their outlook on the election.
“I’m hoping we go in another direction with this administration and the way things are right now,” said Richmond resident Keith Drew, who said he was motivated to join the rally by concerns about the impact of government shutdowns on communities and industries, as well as nationwide deportations. “If we come out and vote like we should, we should have a good outcome.”
The energy from the march carried into the rally under the Bell Tower in Capitol Square, where attendees joined singer Queen Esther Marrow for a musical performance and listened to spoken word poetry and speeches from featured presenters and partner groups, including the Virginia AFL-CIO and Voters of Tomorrow Virginia.
The rally was the first of what organizers
General Assembly passes initial vote on redistricting measure
By George Copeland Jr.
An amendment that would allow the General Assembly to redraw Virginia’s congressional districts passed its first hurdle Friday afternoon, when state senators voted 21-16 along party lines to approve it after about three hours of floor discussion.
The vote came days after the House of Delegates approved the amendment, sponsored by Del. Rodney Willett, in a 51-42 party-line vote during a special session marked by heated debates and statements both inside and outside the chambers.
The constitutional amendment, if approved again by legislators in the next session and by voters in a state referendum, would allow legislators to redraw districts if another state redistricts for any purpose except to follow federal law, or to address unlawful or unconstitutional maps.
Senate and House Democrats have said the amendment would not end the Virginia Redistricting Commission approved in 2020, and stressed that its approval would ultimately be decided by the voting public.
Democrats have also characterized the amendment as an optional but necessary response to new maps recently drawn by Republican-controlled states after the Trump administration called on their legislators and leaders to change their districts, shifting their congressional representation.
“Today, we are taking a truly proportional response to an extreme situation,” Democratic Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg said. “The current outbreak of opportunistic mid-decade redistricting means that we are in a truly unprecedented, constitutional norm-breaking time.”
Republicans inside and outside the General Assembly,
Equipment failure delays Richmond utility bills for about 5,000 customers
Free Press staff report
An equipment malfunction has forced the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to delay billing for roughly 5,000 customers on the city’s South Side. The department discovered the issue Oct. 17 and paused billing to avoid issuing inaccurate statements.
After reviewing the data, DPU will send impacted customers a single corrected bill covering both the previous and current billing periods. To ease the burden, base fees will only be applied for one month — resulting in an average reduction of about $40 to $50, or nearly 15%. No late fees will be charged.
DPU also said it has purchased new meter-reading equipment and plans a citywide rollout in the coming weeks to improve reliability.
Customers with questions can contact the DPU Customer Care Center at (804) 646-4646 or dpucustserv@rva.gov.
meanwhile, have cast the amendment as a gross overreach in authority.They have also challenged the purpose of the special session, called two weeks earlier by House Speaker Don Scott as a continuation of the 2024 special session, its timing in relation to the state election and its legality.
“Texas embarking on a mid-decade redistricting was probably not a good idea,” Sen. Mark Peake said. “But because they
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
Abigail Spanberger celebrates with her family at the Greater Richmond Convention Center on Tuesday after being elected Virginia’s 75th governor, defeating Republican Winsome Earle-Sears.
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
Deidre Randolph joined dozens of protesters and members of the Richmond chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, along with other civic and social justice group members, on Sunday, Nov. 2 for the “United We Stand” march and rally. The march started at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School, crossed the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Bridge past City Hall and ended at the state Capitol.
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press Halloween blasts off Bryson Fischer Wesley, 4, suits up as an astronaut for Halloween on Friday during U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan’s annual Community Harvest Festival at the Science Museum of Virginia. The festival offered Richmond-area children a chance to trick-or-treat and explore museum exhibits and activities throughout the evening. More photos on B2.
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
NAACP Virginia State Conference names new leadership
Free Press staff report
The NAACP Virginia State Conference has elected new officers for the 2025-27 term during its 90th annual convention Oct. 24-26 in Richmond.
This year’s event, themed “90 Years of Advocacy: Honoring Our Past, Shaping Our Future,” brought together delegates from across Virginia to mark nine decades of the organization’s civil rights leadership.
Cozy Bailey of the Prince William Branch was reelected as president. Other officers are Operadella Williams of the Henrico County Branch as secretary, Warren Williams of the Fredericksburg Branch as treasurer and Sylvia Wood of the Richmond Branch as assistant treasurer.
Members at large are Jane Cabarrus of the Northampton County Branch, Tracey Hardney-Scott and Alice Tart of the Richmond City Branch, and Donna Waddell of the Pittsylvania County Branch. Gaylene Kanoyton of the Hampton Branch was elected Region 1 vice president, and James Ghee of the Prince Edward County Branch was elected Region 6 vice president.
Officers for the Youth and College Division are Jalen Vince of Virginia Commonwealth University as president, Jayveon Tucker of Norfolk State University as first vice president, Nazier Jackson of the Roanoke Youth Council as second vice president and Christian Victoria of the University of Virginia as secretary.
The NAACP Virginia State Conference said the newly elected officers represent “a united, intergenerational team committed to the values that have guided the NAACP for 90 years,” according to a news release.
MacKenzie Scott gives Virginia State University $50M gift
Free Press staff report
Virginia State University has received a $50 million gift from author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, the largest single donation in the school’s 143-year history and the second major contribution from Scott in less than five years.
Scott previously gave the university $30 million in 2020 as part of her national philanthropic effort to support historically Black colleges and universities. The new gift will be used to expand academic programs, foster innovation and support holistic student success through leadership development, experiential learning and career readiness.
“Ms. Scott’s generosity and trust in our mission will change the trajectory of Virginia State University for generations to come,” said VSU President Makola M. Abdullah. “Her investment allows us to continue to build upon our legacy of excellence and expand our reach to more students who deserve access to a world-class education.”
Interim Vice President for External Relations Willis Walter said Scott’s donation underscores her confidence in the university and highlights how philanthropy can serve as a catalyst for change.
Scott has donated billions to colleges, universities and nonprofits across the country, focusing on organizations that demonstrate leadership, community impact and a commitment to equity. Earlier this year, she gave $70 million to the United Negro College Fund to support historically Black colleges and other institutions serving under-resourced communities.
“This gift speaks to the confidence Ms. Scott has in the extraordinary work happening at Virginia State University,” Walter said. “Her continued partnership highlights how philanthropy can serve as a powerful catalyst for change. We are deeply grateful for her belief in our vision and the difference this investment will make in the lives of our students.”
Ceremony at Virginia War Memorial to honor Commonwealth’s veterans
Free Press staff report
The Virginia War Memorial will host the 69th annual Commonwealth’s Veterans Day Ceremony at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11 on the memorial’s grounds at 621 S. Belvidere St.
The public is invited to attend the free outdoor event, which honors Virginians who have served in the U.S. armed forces from the Revolutionary War to the present. The ceremony will include a tribute to Virginia Blue Star families, recognition of the Virginia Military Family of the Year, and the announcement of the winners of the 2025 Veterans Day Student Essay Contest.
Patriotic music will be performed by the Combined Northside High School Choir from Roanoke.
“This year’s Commonwealth’s Veterans Day Ceremony is especially meaningful as it was 250 years ago that the Continental Congress formed the first American Army, Navy and Marine Corps and whose members became America’s first military veterans,” said Virginia War Memorial Director Clay Mountcastle. “We honor and remember them every day, but Veterans Day is especially meaningful.”
The ceremony will take place in the E. Bruce Heilman Amphitheater. Attendees are encouraged to arrive by 2:30 p.m. for seating. Parking will be available in the memorial’s surface lot, underground deck and nearby streets. The memorial’s grounds and exhibit hall will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For those unable to attend in person, the event will be televised live on WTVR CBS 6 and livestreamed on WTVR.com.
More information is available at vawarmemorial.org or by calling (804) 786-2060.
“Long Exposure Tracks,” an image showing railroad tracks crossing the James River from Richmond’s floodwall, won the Cities & Towns category in the Scenic Virginia Photo Contest. The photo was taken in January by Richmond resident Katelynd Bab, who moved here in 2022. Bab, who has been photographing
Cityscape
Slices of life and scenes in Richmond
for about a decade, said she was drawn to how the image reflected the city’s character through its mix of water, steel and skyline. Scenic Virginia announced contest winners last month across nine categories, from Coastals & Waterways to Farms & Open Spaces. The full gallery of winning images is available at scenicvirginia.org.
Chesterfield School Board announces interim Clover Hill representative
Free Press staff report
The Chesterfield County School Board appointed Jenna Darby as the interim representative for the Clover Hill District, effective Jan. 1, following the announced resignation of Dorothy Heffron, who is stepping down after controversy over a social media post. Her resignation is effective Dec. 31.
The board made the appointment Oct. 31 during a special meeting. Darby will serve until a special election is held to fill the remainder of the term, which runs through Dec. 31, 2027. A date for the election has not been set.
Darby said she plans to focus on providing strong instruction in literacy and mathematics, maintaining safe and welcoming schools, and supporting special education and student services.
Darby, who has worked in education for 21 years, currently serves as an adjunct faculty member at Virginia Commonwealth University and as an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Richmond.
The board solicited applications for the vacancy from Clover Hill residents via an online process in October. Nearly 20 people applied. In her application, Darby highlighted her experience in diverse
schools and her commitment to equitable instruction, while acknowledging she had not previously served on a school board. Darby earned her doctorate in educational psychology from VCU, a master’s degree from the University of Virginia and a bachelor’s from Covenant College. She and her husband, Martin, have lived in the Clover Hill District since 2021. Both of their children attend Chesterfield County Public Schools.
Darby said she will recuse herself from discussions and votes involving her husband, who is the assistant director of special education for CCPS, to avoid conflicts of interest.
Griffith to lead Germanna Community College
Free Press staff report
Germanna Community College is turning to an experienced Florida higher education leader, Tashika Griffith, to guide the school as its next president starting in January.
The Virginia Community College System announced her appointment Thursday, concluding a national search that drew 80 candidates. Griffith will become Germanna’s seventh permanent president when she begins her tenure Jan. 1.
“I know that she will provide the kind of dynamic leadership that will continue to make Germanna a cultural center and economic driver in its region,” said Chancellor David Doré.
Griffith currently serves as provost and chief campus officer for St. Petersburg College’s Clearwater Campus in Florida, a role she has held since February 2022.
Free Press staff report
As more Virginians turn to medical cannabis for relief, health care practitioners are being asked increasingly about its benefits, risks and potential drug interactions, but many lack formal training.
In response, the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority partnered with TheAnswerPage.com to offer optional online training designed to give practitioners the tools to provide better patient care. The courses were developed after a CCA survey of practitioners conducted this spring highlighted the need for more education.
By Jenny Allen Capital News Service
As construction continues on the new Live! Casino Virginia, the developers are launching a series of community career fairs to prepare for the first phase of the resort’s opening.
The hiring events begin Thursday, Nov. 6 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the new Live! Recruitment Center at 1501 W. Washington St. in the former Pepsi warehouse. Job seekers can meet the hiring team, tour the space and take part in interviews.
Additional job fair sessions are scheduled for Nov. 7 from 1 to 8 p.m. and Nov. 8 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The recruitment center will remain open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for applicants who wish to complete job forms in person.
Roughly 80% of Petersburg voters ap-
She joined St. Petersburg College in 2016 and has held several leadership positions, including interim dean of the College of Education and provost of the school’s Downtown and Midtown centers.
“It is with deep humility and great enthusiasm that I assume the role of president of Germanna Community College,” Griffith said. “I look forward to building upon this remarkable foundation as we continue advancing the college’s mission and impact across the region.”
Griffith previously worked in student affairs and leadership roles at the University of Tennessee, the University of Miami, the University of Scranton, Virginia Tech and
The training includes three courses covering medical cannabis, the use of CBD in clinical care and Virginia’s medical cannabis program. It provides an in-depth look at the endocannabinoid system, therapeutic uses and clinical considerations for patients. Physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists and dentists can earn up to five continuing medical or continuing education credits.
Florida Atlantic University. She also has 16 years of experience as an adjunct instructor at several institutions and currently teaches in the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership.
“I have great admiration for Dr. Griffith’s commitment and extensive experience in higher education,” said Ann Marie Anderson, chair of Germanna’s local advisory board. “She is an experienced educational leader, and the local advisory board and I look forward to working with her.”
Griffith earned a bachelor’s from Florida Atlantic University, a master’s from Virginia Tech, a professional certificate from Harvard University and a doctorate in education from Northeastern University.
Her appointment follows the retirement of Janet Gullickson, who served as Germanna’s president for eight years.
The training is intended for all health care professionals, not just those who issue written certifications for medical cannabis. With more patients using cannabis products, understanding their effects, potential drug interactions and therapeutic value is becoming increasingly important.
The first 100 practitioners to sign up can receive a 20% discount using the code VACANNABIS20. More information and registration are available on the CCA’s website.
“This training empowers practitioners to meet their patients where they are,” said Jamie Patten, acting head and chief administrative officer of the CCA. “Patients often come to their doctors with questions about cannabis, but many providers aren’t sure how to respond. This optional course gives them the science-based foundation they need to feel confident in those conversations.”
proved the $1.4 billion casino resort project last year, a proposal twice rejected by Richmond voters.
“Voter approval follows a three-year journey on this transformative project that will bring positive change to Petersburg for generations,” said Petersburg Mayor Sam Parham.
Developers estimate the casino will create about 500 permanent jobs, including more than 100 table games dealer positions. Other openings will span hotel and gaming operations, finance, marketing, food and beverage, and security.
When the referendum passed, the company projected more than 7,500 construction and related jobs over the next decade. The project is expected to contribute nearly $2.8 billion to the regional economy and generate $240 million in tax revenue for the city.
“This destination resort, casino, retail and
residential development will be the largest economic and tourism project in Petersburg’s history,” Parham said.
Pending regulatory approval, the first phase is expected to open in January. It will include a temporary 75,000-square-foot casino tent featuring 900 slot machines, 33 live table games, and a bar and restaurant.
The full resort, slated to open in 2027, will feature 200 guest rooms, including 20 suites, along with a pool and fitness center.
Live! Casino Virginia is being co-developed by The Cordish Cos. and Bruce Smith Enterprise. Smith, a former NFL player and Virginia native, has developed several properties across the state and Mid-Atlantic region.
“For far too long, people have simply driven by the City of Petersburg, but today marks the beginning of a new era,” Smith said during the March groundbreaking.
Katelynd Bab
Tashika Griffith
MacKenzie Scott
Cozy Bailey
Ryan P.
Manager
Virginians turn away from Republican rule, elect Spanberger and Democrats statewide
race, securing about 55.2 % of the vote to his 44.5 %.
Former Del. Jay Jones will serve as the state’s attorney general after securing 52.7% of the vote, unseating incumbent Jason Miyares. He is the first African American elected to the role in Virginia.
Voter empowerment, social justice take center stage at rally
State Democrats expanded their majority in the House of Delegates from 51-49 to 64-36. Virginia’s results were part of a broader Democratic sweep nationwide, following months of campaigning and debates on issues including the economy, immigration, reproductive rights, affordability and LGBTQ rights.
“I congratulate [Spanberger] on her victory last night,” Gov. Glenn Youngkin said during a briefing Wednesday morning, thanking the candidates and promising collaboration with the transition team. “I particularly want to thank Winsome and John and Jason for their dedication during the campaign season.”
More than 1,448,000 early votes were cast as of Monday, according to the Virginia Public Access Project, roughly 200,000 more than the over 1,194,000 early votes cast in the 2021 election.
“Virginia has shown America how to win — and how to lead,” Democratic Party of Virginia Chair and Sen. Lamont Bagby said in a statement, “with courage, compassion and conviction.”
Spanberger and others described the results as a triumph of
pragmatism over partisanship, while voters casting their ballots Tuesday said they felt motivated by concern over the state of the country and its future.
Virginia has been affected by federal job cuts and policy changes during the Trump administration. According to electoral data, Democratic candidates performed better across the state compared with previous elections. Some voters at polling locations in Richmond cited the firings and the actions and positions of the Trump administration and Republicans as a factor in their decisions.
“I just want things to get better, man,” said Richmond resident Jerry Reed, who was concerned about the firings and women’s rights. “We’re supposed to be doing what’s right for the country, not what’s right for [Trump].”
Voters cited child care, prisoner re-entry services, transgender health care and women’s reproductive rights as important issues. Some voters expressed a desire for change in Virginia, regardless of political affiliation.
“I hope that this current situation we’re in politically is motivating people to get more involved,” University of Virginia graduate student Sarah Humphreys said.
General Assembly passes initial vote on redistricting measure
Shannon Heckt/Virginia
Del. Rodney Willett, D-Henrico, presents a resolution for a proposed constitutional amendment regarding redistricting of Virginia’s congressional districts on Oct. 29.
by circuit court clerks in Henrico, Spotsylvania and Lunenburg counties.
The Tazewell suit was heard in court Nov. 5, a week after a motion for an emergency injunction against the session and amendment was rejected. A similar denial was made to the court clerks’ motion for a preliminary injunction and a temporary restraining order Monday.
Mercury
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press Marcia Pope joined dozens of protesters and the Richmond chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, along with more than a dozen local civic and social justice groups, for the “United We Stand” march and rally Sunday, Nov. 2.
Photos by Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger greets supporters Tuesday at the Richmond Convention Center after defeating Republican Winsome Earle-Sears.
Former Norfolk delegate Jay Jones addresses supporters Tuesday after defeating Republican Jason Miyares to become attorney general.
Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, with her husband, Azhar Rafiq, waves to supporters after being elected Virginia’s next lieutenant governor. Right, a young supporter listens to Abigail Spanberger’s acceptance speech after she was elected Virginia’s first female governor.
Civil rights groups sue Virginia over rejected student voter registrations
By Markus Schmidt
Civil rights groups have filed a federal lawsuit in Virginia alleging that state and local election officials are unlawfully rejecting student voter registration forms because they lack dormitory names, room numbers or campus mailbox information — details that the groups say are both irrelevant and discriminatory.
The NAACP Virginia State Conference and co-counsel Advancement Project lodged the suit — titled NAACP Virginia State Conference v. John O’Bannon et al. — in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
They contend that multiple jurisdictions across the Commonwealth are denying or delaying registrations from college students who live on campus because they did not include extraneous dorm room information that does not appear on Virginia’s official voter registration form.
A spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Elections said the agency “does not comment on pending litigation.”
Students’ rights at the ballot box
“This is a clear attempt to rob students of the right to vote in a state where they study and potentially live once they graduate,” said Anthony Ashton, senior associate general counsel for the NAACP.
“Virginia’s own voter registration form does
Plans for Shockoe Project memorial, plaza advance
Free Press staff report
The City of Richmond’s Planning Commission on Monday, Nov. 3 approved conceptual plans for a memorial to the Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground and finalized designs for Reconciliation Plaza improvements, two key components of The Shockoe Project.
Earlier this month, the Urban Design Committee reviewed both projects and recommended approval to the Planning Commission. City officials said the approvals mark progress toward a unified Shockoe campus that acknowledges Richmond’s history and provides space for reflection, learning and healing.
“With each step, we move closer to creating spaces that acknowledge the full truth of Richmond’s history and invite meaningful reflection,” said Leo Mantey, general manager of The Shockoe Project. “These actions mark an important milestone in that journey.”
The memorial will honor Richmond’s first municipal burying ground for free and enslaved people of color, which was active from the late 1700s to the early 1800s. It is the final resting place of an unknown number of Richmond residents. The memorial’s conceptual design has been approved and will return for final review in 2026.
Reconciliation Plaza, home to one of three identical Reconciliation Statues, will also see improvements. The statues symbolize a shared commitment to honesty and forgiveness and are also located in Liverpool, United Kingdom, and Cotonou, Republic of Benin — cities with historical ties to the transatlantic slave trade.
City officials said the projects support The Shockoe Project’s mission to connect Richmond’s historic sites, document the domestic slave trade and preserve spaces for truth and reflection.
vote. These practices are discriminatory, unlawful, and must stop immediately.”
The complaint asserts that by rejecting registrations for missing dorm-specific details, election officials violate the Materiality Provision of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution.
Among the campuses cited in the filing are Norfolk State University, Virginia State University, George Mason University, James Madison University, Old Dominion University, the University of Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University.
“Virginia’s college students represent the next generation of civic leaders, and their voices matter,” said the Rev. Cozy Bailey, president of the NAACP Virginia State Conference. “When barriers are placed in front of young voters, it sends a message that their participation is not valued. We will not allow unnecessary obstacles to silence students who are eager to do their civic duty.”
John Powers, legal director of the Advancement Project, added that thousands of young voters on Virginia college campuses “want to make their
voices heard in this year’s elections, but too many of them are at risk of being disenfranchised by Virginia policies that are restricting students’ access to the ballot.”
Powers demanded that “the barriers that infringe on their right to vote” must be removed. “Ensuring equal access to the ballot box for Virginia’s students is not only a matter of fairness, it is required by federal law and the U.S. Constitution.”
The lawsuit arrives amid broader national concerns about student voting access and efforts by rights groups to challenge state policies that impose unique hurdles for younger voters.
A recent analysis from the Brennan Center for Justice found that college students have long faced obstacles such as residence address challenges and campus mailbox issues.
In Indiana, for example, a federal court last month refused to dismiss a challenge to a law that restricted student voter IDs, concluding that students alleged a plausible claim under the First, Fourteenth and Twenty-Sixth Amendments.
In Virginia specifically, election rights advocates have previously warned that local registrars were rejecting students listing university addresses without further proof of residence.
What the plaintiffs seek
The NAACP Virginia State Conference and the Advancement Project ask the court to block Virginia election officials from rejecting student voter registration applications solely because they omit dorm-specific information like room numbers or campus mailboxes.
Their goal is to guarantee that students may register using their valid campus addresses without facing unnecessary impediments beyond the November election.
The Virginia Department of Elections has yet to publicly explain its policy rationale for requiring or accepting rejection of registration applications missing dorm-specific data. Meanwhile, the lawsuit places local registrars and state oversight squarely in the legal spotlight. For students across Virginia, the outcome of the lawsuit may determine whether simply listing a campus address without extra dorm details is enough to secure the right to vote — or whether bureaucratic minutiae will continue to stand in the way of civic participation.
This story originally appeared in VirginiaMercury.com.
Board of Supervisors to appoint LeQuan Hylton as interim supervisor
Free Press staff report
In the wake of the death of five-term Dale District Supervisor James M. “Jim” Holland, members of the Chesterfield board plan to appoint LeQuan Hylton as interim supervisor for the district.
The board is expected to make the appointment during a specially scheduled meeting Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. in the county’s courthouse. Hylton is expected to be sworn in immediately after the vote.
“As a board, we are coalescing around one of Jim Holland’s last wishes that Dr. Hylton be appointed to the interim Dale District seat,” said Board Chair and Bermuda District Supervisor Jim Ingle. “Dr. Hylton has served admirably on the Planning Commission, demonstrating his commitment to continuing Jim Holland’s legacy and brand of selfless service to the district and county.”
ated from Manchester High School and holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Virginia State University and an MBA from Averett University.
Hylton has represented the Dale District on the Planning Commission since 2019. A Chesterfield resident since 1998, he gradu -
Hylton, a combat veteran of Afghanistan, serves as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve. He is co-founder of Hylton & Company, a real estate and construction firm. He and his wife, Nelda, have three daughters, two of whom attend Chesterfield Public Schools.
“Dr. Hylton’s years of service helping make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors through his work on the Planning Commission make him uniquely qualified for the role,” said Clover Hill District Supervisor Jessica Schneider. “Those skills are very applicable to the work we do as a board and will be important as Dr. Hylton helps us navigate the year ahead without our longest-tenured member in Jim Holland.” A special election in November 2026 will determine who will serve the remainder of Holland’s four-year term.
Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury
The Rev. Cozy Bailey, president of the NAACP Virginia State Conference, speaks at a 2024 event. The organization filed a federal lawsuit this week, alleging state and local election officials are unlawfully rejecting voter registrations from college students.
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
Battery-powered candles marked the future site of a 12-foot bronze sculpture commemorating the arrival point of enslaved people on the banks of the James River during the Shockoe Project Celebration at Ancarrow’s Landing in 2024.
LeQuan Hylton
Ladies first
Led by two accomplished and capable women, the Democratic Party of Virginia secured a political trifecta this week, winning the offices of governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general. We applaud Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger and Lt. Gov.elect Ghazala Hashmi for running well-organized campaigns. It’s been over a century — since 1921 — that a major party in Virginia ran a statewide ticket without a white male, and we’re glad this team came out on top. Perhaps the Democrats have cracked the code on building a durable, multiracial, cross-regional coalition in a state that is decidedly shifting blue.
We applaud Spanberger for taking the high road and not responding to her opponent’s insinuations and provocations with the same negative energy. She remained focused on policy substance rather than personal attacks, demonstrating the kind of disciplined leadership our state needs. It takes resolve and strength to serve in a position of power, and she displayed both on the campaign trail.
Hashmi faced an opponent that was accused of crass behavior, tied to a raunchy blog where people with usernames that are printable shared explicit images. John Reid denied the blog was his, but we can understand why Hashmi didn’t consider him “credible” and refused to debate him. After she refused his requests to debate, Reid staged a video “debate” using an authorized image of Hashmi with AI-generated responses drawn from her past statements — raising new ethical questions about the former radio talk show host.
And then there’s Jay Jones. Let’s be honest — among voters, there’s probably a fair share who are less thrilled about seeing the former delegate take office than they are about watching Jason Miyares pack up his. Jones’ decision to vent his political frustrations in what he thought were private texts in 2022 was a clear lapse in judgment. Fortunately, only Jones will have to live with the consequences of his mistake, not the people of Virginia, saddled with a regressive politician as attorney general for the next four years.
Jones, to be fair, is hardly the first person to put something in writing he later regretted. I might have done that a time or two myself. We’re not alone. Historians note that Abraham Lincoln was famous for his “hot letters,” the sharply worded notes he wrote to those who disappointed him but never sent. Several were found tucked away in his papers, marked “Never signed. Never sent.” The old saying — “Write a mean letter and then throw it away”— is often traced back to Lincoln’s example. The message is simple: Blow off steam, but give yourself time to cool off before you hit “send.”
We hope this serves as a learning experience for Jones. Having grown up in proximity to power and privilege — his father, Jerrauld C. Jones, served as a state delegate and later as a circuit court judge, and his grandfather was a civil rights attorney — he should understand that such a legacy carries a higher expectation of judgment, discipline and respect for others. He should take this moment to reflect, rebuild trust and recommit to the ideals his family stood for. There’s still room for redemption — and for growth that could make him a stronger, wiser public servant in the years ahead.
Another test
On his way out, our current governor has decided to give Virginia students the one thing they haven’t asked for — another test. Actually, while the Presidential Fitness Test will be new to today’s children, anyone who attended public schools from 1966 to 2012 might remember this rite of passage in P.E. class. Like many tests, it provoked a degree of anxiety and discomfort in some students. We suspect our current state leader, who seems reasonably fit, didn’t recall a similar experience when he issued an executive order this week to reestablish the test.
“By reinstating the Presidential Fitness Test, we’re renewing a proud national tradition that honors the connection between physical wellness and civic readiness,” the governor stated in a news release. “When we talk about the future success of the Commonwealth, what we’re really talking about is the health and success of Virginia’s students today.”
The name of the test should have given the governor second thoughts. The words “physical fitness” and “president” in the same sentence — when the current president is, by many accounts, noticeably obese — send a confusing message to students. You’d think Youngkin would want to avoid highlighting one of the president’s most obvious shortcomings. Instead, bringing back this “presidential” test makes it easy to picture him attempting pull-ups, struggling through the shuttle run, or giving up early on the 600-yard walk/run.
There are ways to make sure our children are physically fit without creating competitive or potentially embarrassing situations. Another test, based on an idea from the 1960s, isn’t the way forward. Instead of looking backward, Virginia should focus on programs that encourage all students to move, play and build healthy habits at their own pace with approaches that reward effort and progress.
Young people must defend democracy in dark times
We just fell back. The season of darkness is coming. But this year, more than any I can remember, that darkness feels existential, not just seasonal.
As a professor, I’ve watched it settle over my students throughout 2025 like fog. They talk about despair as if it’s wrapping its fingers around their throats. They talk about how the news makes them want to pull the covers over their heads every day. What do I say to them?
Read more history. Find the lesson and the mission: the 20s are always terrible, so keep your eye on the prize that will be the 2070s and get us there with democracy intact.
History — that patient teacher, that relentless witness — has something to say about tomorrow.
My family has been taking notes for 400 years. American centuries follow 100-year cycles. Within those cycles, every “20s” decade is a crucible of cruelty. Every “70s” brings bold rays of light breaking through.
The 1620s were the dawn of the African slave trade in
Virginia, when many of my nameless African ancestors arrived alongside the European ones who enslaved them. The 1670s brought Bacon’s Rebellion, called by many a rehearsal for the American Revolution. My ancestor Giles Bland was killed taking up arms against Virginia’s Royal Governor William Berkeley. The 1720s. Richard Bland was just a young boy when Virginia passed a law in 1723 making it nearly impossible to free enslaved people. Not long after, he would be old enough
to understand that some of the people enslaved by families like his shared their bloodlines, even as the church insisted they were inferior. But when the 1770s came, he helped write the words with his cousin Thomas Jefferson that founded the nation: All men are created equal.
In a slave state like Virginia, they had to know those words were catalytic — that once spoken, they could not control how they would reshape the world. Jefferson himself trembled at what he had set in motion. Yet he — and Richard — spoke the words anyway.
A century later, Frederick Bland endured the 1820s and 1830s. When his son, Edward David, was born in the 1840s, he began guiding him so that by the time both gained their freedom, Edward was ready to rise and help lead their neighbors in seizing the opportunities of the 1870s. From the same house where ancestors had been held in bondage came a father and son preparing a community for a new era of freedom and civic engagement.
Another century turned. My grandmother, Mamie Bland, was born in 1916 in southern Virginia, not far from the Jordan’s Point plantation where Richard Bland lived. The 1920s slammed doors shut everywhere. Virginia’s Racial Integrity Act banned interracial marriage. The Immigration Act closed America’s doors. The Ku Klux Klan reached its peak — millions strong — motivated equally by their demonization of Catholic immigrants and Jews as by their hatred of Black Americans. America First meant America for white Protestants only. But Mamie survived to see the 1970s. All of her daughter and son-in-law’s activism of the 1950s and 1960s bore fruit. Desegregation went into high gear. The Vietnam War ended.
Hegseth’s war on ‘woke’ is an
assault on American history
When Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered the cancellation of any official observance of “cultural awareness” months in the military service, I immediately wondered what it would mean for the legacy of Milton Olive.
In case you didn’t know, Milton Lee Olive III was the first Black American sol dier to receive the Medal of Honor in the Vietnam War.
Sadly, he did not live long enough to receive it in person.
He was 18 years old on Oct. 22, 1965, when he and four others, including his platoon commander, were pursuing a band of Viet Cong through thick, tangled growth near Saigon, running into varying degrees of enemy fire.
“As the platoon pursued the insurgents” through the jungle together, according to Olive’s citation, “an enemy grenade was thrown into their midst. Pfc. Olive saw the grenade, and then saved the lives of his fellow soldiers at the sacrifice of his by grabbing the grenade in his hand and falling on it to absorb the blast with his body.”
The citation continued, “Pfc. Olive’s extraordinary heroism, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.”
On April 21, 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson presented the Medal of Honor to his father and stepmother. Later that year, Mayor Rich-
ard J. Daley led the unveiling along with Olive’s parents of a monument in his honor at the newly renamed Olive Park, near Navy Pier.
When I moved to Chicago in 1969, fresh out of college and still draft eligible, Olive’s sacrifice in the controversial war was still being talked about and
widely honored.
When my draft board caught up with me, I vividly recall, I had Milton Olive on my mind and drew some spiritual strength from my desire to do his memory proud.
As it happened, I never went to Vietnam, but I also never forgot Milton Olive or the splitsecond decision he made to give his life so his battle buddies could live.
Now, more than ever, it is important to remember men and women like Milton Olive, and indeed to memorialize them, as President Donald Trump and his white nationalist movement wage war on diversity, equity and inclusion.
Earlier this year, in his zeal to root out everything “woke” in the military, Hegseth directed the Department of Defense to purge the department’s website of mentions of historically significant American fighters, including the Navajo code talkers, the Tuskegee Airmen and many Medal of Honor recipients simply because they were members of minorities — and despite their significant contributions to defending American freedom.
Also at Hegseth’s orders, out went Black History Month
in February, Women’s History Month in March, Pride Month in June and National Hispanic Heritage Month, which takes place from mid-September until mid-October.
Interestingly, Sig Christenson, an investigative reporter at the San Antonio Express-News, couldn’t find anyone who had a clear reason for why these observances had to be banned, or why St. Patrick’s Day remains honored.
Good question. I’m Black, but I’m also a product of Chicago culture, and we celebrate St. Patrick by turning the Chicago River green for the big parade day. I’ve also recently discovered, thanks to 23&Me, that I’m genetically about 19% Irish. As John Mellencamp sang, “Ain’t that America?”
Such is the nature of our diversity, which I like to think is a feature, not a bug, of America’s melting pot.
A fellow veteran who says he agrees is C. Douglas Sterner, who has published about a dozen books on decorated military heroes and who operates the Home of Heroes website, which documents the stories of Medal of Honor recipients, among other heroes.
“Saddened deeply” by the DoD’s scrubbing of our “women and ethnic minority heroes” earlier this year, Sterner collaborated on a new book titled “Beyond Woke: The Diversity of U.S. Military Heroes.”
The cover art depicts Milton OIive in the act of saving his fellow GIs, ending his own life but living on, I hope, in the memories of our grateful nation.
The writer is a columnist for the Chicago Tribune.
Interracial couples like my parents enjoyed the first decade in which their marriages were legal in every state. Now we are here. The 2020s. I am raising two children in this darkness. Ten generations of my family have witnessed this pattern. We have reached every “70s” only because young people in every “20s” refused to give up. They organized, protested, voted, ran for office and defended democracy when it seemed weakest.
The job of America’s young people today is to do the same. If present and future generations rise to these challenges the way our ancestors did, democracy will not only survive, the nation will thrive again. Because here in America, the darkest hour has never been the last hour. Keep your eye on the prize. The writer is a professor of the practice at the University of Pennsylvania.
Clarence Page
Ben Jealous
Endorsing Kamala Harris was Dick Cheney’s
Dick Cheney, who died this week at age 83, was one of the most powerful and controversial figures in modern American politics. The former vice president leaves behind a complicated legacy, marked by the Iraq War, expanded executive power and decades of polarizing policy.
Yet in his twilight years, Cheney performed an act of rare political courage: He stood against Donald Trump and, in a move that shocked Washington, endorsed Kamala Harris for president. That single act, rooted in principle rather than politics, may well be remembered as his finest hour. Cheney’s endorsement of Harris was not a conversion to liberalism. It was a declaration of loyalty to democracy itself. He did not suddenly embrace the Democratic platform; rather, he
rejected the authoritarian drift that has consumed the Republican Party he once helped lead. Cheney understood, perhaps more clearly than most, how fragile our democratic institutions can be when power is placed above principle. When he endorsed Harris, he wasn’t crossing the aisle — he was drawing a line in the sand. In his lifetime, Cheney was
known for his stern demeanor and hard-right convictions. He was the architect of the Bush-era doctrine that justified preemptive war. Progressives saw him as the embodiment of imperial overreach. But in his later years, Cheney found himself cast out by the very movement he once helped define. His insistence that truth and constitutional order mattered more than personal loyalty put him squarely at odds with Trumpism. When his daughter Liz
Cheney joined the Jan. 6 committee to hold Trump accountable, she became a political exile in her own party, defeated in Wyoming by a Trump-endorsed challenger. Dick Cheney’s support for her stance and his unflinching criticism of Trump made clear that the Cheneys’ conservatism was grounded in respect for the rule of law, not blind allegiance to a man.
Trump’s response to Cheney’s integrity was predictable and petty. When Cheney and his daughter endorsed Harris in 2024, Trump took to his social media platform to call them “irrelevant RINOs” — Republicans in name only — and mocked Cheney’s long career in government. He conveniently ignored that he himself had once praised Cheney for his toughness, even pardoning Cheney’s former aide Scooter Libby in 2018. That reversal — from admiration to ridicule — captures the moral collapse of Trump’s Republican Party. In Trump’s world, loyalty matters more
than leadership, and dissent is treated as betrayal.
Even in death, the divide remains sharp. As of this writing, Trump has not issued a statement mourning Cheney’s passing. His silence speaks volumes. Every living president, Democrat and Republican alike, has acknowledged Cheney’s immense, if complicated, role in shaping American foreign and domestic policy. But Trump, consumed by grievance and incapable of grace, could not bring himself to offer even a perfunctory condolence. In contrast, Harris issued a thoughtful statement recognizing Cheney’s “lifelong commitment to American democracy,” signaling that his endorsement was both meaningful and memorable.
For Democrats like me, praising Dick Cheney doesn’t come easily. His record on war, torture and secrecy remains indefensible. He presided over some of the darkest chapters in recent U.S. history. Yet history is often a study in contradiction.
Cheney’s late-life transformation — his vocal rejection of Trumpism, his defense of the Constitution and his willingness to put country over party — deserves acknowledgment.
Redemption doesn’t erase wrongdoing, but it reveals that conscience can survive even in the most unlikely places.
Cheney’s opposition to Trumpism was not rhetorical; it was existential. He understood that Trump’s contempt for truth and law was incompatible with any functioning democracy.
“In our history,” Cheney said in a 2022 campaign ad for his daughter, “there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump.” Those words were prophetic. They came not from a liberal pundit or a Democratic strategist, but from a man who once stood at the heart of conservative power.
When Cheney endorsed Harris, he reminded Americans that patriotism is not defined by party but by principle. His death closes a tumultuous chap-
ter in Republican history, one where courage became a rare commodity. Cheney was never a man who sought applause; he often thrived on controversy. But in the end, he stood for something larger than politics. For all his faults — and there were many — Dick Cheney’s final years revealed the flicker of a statesman’s soul. His defiance of Trump, his defense of democracy and his willingness to speak uncomfortable truths earned him a measure of redemption. When he endorsed Harris, he stood not just against a man, but against the corruption of a movement. In that moment, Dick Cheney — the architect of hard power — showed moral strength. And for that, history may judge it, rightly, as his finest hour.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and his despotic minions have less than a fraction of Cheney’s moral courage. They might reflect on Cheney’s legacy as they continue to pay tribute to their unhinged leader. The writer is a Washingtonbased economist and author.
By Sophia Nelson and Colita Fairfax
Earle-Sears
When Winsome
— who lost to Democrat Abigail Spanberger by nearly 15 points Tuesday — became the first Black woman nominated for governor of Virginia by a major political party, history took note. Her image — poised, confident, gun in hand — was hailed by some as proof that the Republican Party was evolving.
But for many in Virginia’s Black community, the moment landed not with applause, but with solemn reflection. Because in our history, “firsts” have never been about optics. They have been about legacy, sacrifice and duty. For Black Americans, a “first” carries sacred weight. It represents generations who were denied the vote, the job, the education, the opportunity. Our firsts have always stood on the shoulders of those who came before — rooted in church life, raised through civic sisterhoods like The Links or the National Council of Negro Women, or one of the Divine Nine Greekletter organizations steeped in the ethos of collective uplift. They did not ascend alone. They rose carrying their people with them.
Earle-Sears did not come from that lineage, nor did her campaign reflect it. Her politics were shaped not by the moral traditions of the Black community, but by a movement increasingly defined by grievance and exclusion. She often spoke as if detached from the struggle that made her rise possible. She chose the posture of independence over interdependence, the symbolism of being “the first” over the responsibility that comes with it. Representation matters. But representation without empathy or accountability becomes performance. Earle-Sears’ campaign leaned heavily on the imagery of her identity — a Jamaican immigrant, a Marine, a barrier-breaker — while offering little policy substance for those whose votes and futures she sought to represent. She did not address the racial wealth gap, health disparities, sentencing bias, or the inequities in housing and education
that shape Black life in this commonwealth. Where was the agenda for working-class Virginians? For Black entrepreneurs seeking access to capital? For families trapped by high rents and low wages? For the preservation of Black cemeteries and museums that anchor our heritage? These were not her priorities. Instead, she wielded her immigrant identity as a way to separate herself from the very people who paved the road she walked. She played identity politics in reverse; she used her background and presence as a Black woman not to unite, but to distance.
That choice cut deep. Because a true first never forgets
she is the product of her people’s prayers and persistence. A first who does not carry her community with her is not a bridge, she is an island.
Virginia knows the difference between symbolism and substance.
In 1951, a 16-year-old girl named Barbara Johns led a student strike in Farmville to protest the separate and
unequal conditions of her segregated school. Her courage helped ignite the legal fight that culminated in Brown v. Board of Education. Next year, her statue will stand in the U.S. Capitol’s Statuary Hall, replacing one of a Confederate general. That is what a true first looks like: a young Black woman whose moral clarity and collective courage changed the course of a nation.
Johns’ story echoes the legacy of Shirley Chisholm, another daughter of Jamaica, who became the first Black woman elected to Congress in 1968,
representing New York. Chisholm’s motto — “Unbought and unbossed” — was not about personal defiance. It was about fearless advocacy for the people of Bedford-Stuyvesant, for women, for workers, for the voiceless. She, like Johns, understood that being first was never about her; it was about those who would come next.
And lest we forget the first woman vice president of the United States of America, Kamala Harris, a mixed race Black woman of South Asian and Jamaican heritage. (In full disclosure, she is also our sorority sister.) Harris’ background, career and candidacy represent the legacy of service over self and collective over individual that defines a true “first” for our community.
Historically, Black women who reached high office have done so with that same sense of stewardship. When Mary McLeod Bethune founded a college, when Barbara Jordan entered Congress, when Harris took the oath as vice president, they knew the world was watching not only what they achieved, but who they served. “When and where I enter,” wrote pioneering Black educator Anna Julia Cooper, “the race enters with me.”
That is the sacred charge of a first, to walk through the door in such a way that others may follow. To expand the circle of belonging, not narrow it.
The tragedy of Earle-Sears’ campaign was not simply that she lost, but that she squandered a rare opportunity. A Black woman atop a statewide ticket in Virginia could have been a profound moment of unity. She could have spoken to the pain and promise of our shared past, embodying the bridge between history and hope.
Instead, she chose combat over compassion, condescension over connection, and silence where solidarity was needed most. She mistook prox-
imity to power for progress. And in doing so, she reminded us that not every “first” is a victory. Some are a warning.
a missed opportunity for reconciliation, a moment when symbolism could have become substance. The next “first” must do more than wear our skin. She must carry our story. She must be grounded in the moral soil of our shared struggle, speak to the needs of the least of these, and remember that freedom is never individual; it is always collective.
That is the meaning — and the duty — of a true first.
Sophia A. Nelson is founder & CEO of the Redefining Freedom Center of Virginia and a former U.S. House Republican Congressional Committee counsel.
Colita Nichols Fairfax is professor in the Center for African American Public Policy at Norfolk State University. This commentary originally appeared on VirginiaMercury.com.
Julianne Malveaux
Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury
Winsome Earle-Sears, the Republican nominee for Virginia governor, speaks to supporters on election night in Loudoun County on Nov. 4. She was joined on stage by her family. Earle-Sears lost the election to Democrat Abigail Spanberger by nearly 15 points.
As Black women, scholars and Virginians, we do not write this to chastise, but to clarify. Earle-Sears’ candidacy was
Colita Nichols Fairfax
Sophia A. Nelson
By Arnie Melendrez Stapleton The Associated Press
With a surge in blowouts in the NFL, head coaches might want to take stock of two scenarios that backfired when star players were injured in the waning moments of games that were already way out of hand.
Washington coach Dan Quinn admitted it was a mistake to leave franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels in the game in the fourth quarter Sunday night. The Commanders were down 38-7 to Seattle in a game they’d eventually lose 38-14. The second-year quarterback and reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year dislocated his left elbow with 7:29 remaining when he was tackled and his non-throwing arm bent gruesomely after he put his hand on the ground to brace himself.
pressure before being brought down.
“That’s where I missed it,” Quinn said. “Of course he could scramble.
It’s Jayden. It’s what he’s special at. That is 100% — that’s on me.”
This strategic blunder came one week after Denver Broncos All-Pro kick returner Marvin Mims Jr. suffered a concussion on a runback against Dallas with less than five minutes remaining in the Broncos’ 44-24 rout of the Cowboys.
Asked about the wisdom of having Mims still in the game with a 20-point lead late in the game, Broncos coach Sean Payton acknowledged last week that it was a mistake.
That was one of a batch of miscues by Denver’s special teams Sunday that led to Payton getting peppered with questions for the second straight week about his middling kicking game.
Payton’s special teams were stellar in his first two seasons in Denver, but he fired Ben Kotwica in January along with assistant Chris Banjo, who was hired by the Jets. Despite a stellar reputation, Rizzi’s units have been marred by mistakes on an almost weekly basis and even cost the Broncos (7-2) a win at Indianapolis.
Quinn said that was going to be the last drive for a few key players, and the plan was to avoid having Daniels run the ball, but that wasn’t enough to keep him out of trouble. He took a shotgun snap near the goal line, faked a handoff and then moved to his right to avoid
Payton said special teams coordinator/assistant head coach Darren Rizzi meant to send in Tyler Badie for Mims but “somehow, the communication failed. Tyler went in for RJ (Harvey). But, fair question. Right at that stage of the game, you’re trying to be smart.”
Mims suffered a concussion on the play and missed Denver’s 18-15 win at Houston over the weekend when his replacement, Michael Bandy, muffed a punt just before halftime that led to a Texans field goal.
By Michael Phillips
Fans at the Siegel Center on Monday night might have been wise to grab a program on their way in to watch VCU’s 103-74 victory over the Wagner Seahawks.
None of the five players who started in VCU’s last men’s basketball game, during March’s NCAA tournament, remain on the team.
The Rams also have a new coach who will bring a new identity, but understands that expectations won’t change — VCU was predicted to finish first place in the Atlantic 10 conference this year.
“You don’t come to VCU, you don’t have the support from the fans, you don’t have the resources and the support from the administration to say, like, ‘All right, we’ll try our best and, you know, hopefully we finish eighth,’” new coach Phil Martelli Jr. said. “That’s not what this is built on.”
Martelli, who arrives after a successful stint at Bryant University, is the son of legendary NCAA coach Phil Martelli Sr., who will take an untitled but supporting role with this year’s team. Here’s what to watch for as another season begins on Broad Street.
New roster features top talent
New rules allow colleges to share their athletic revenues with the players directly and VCU committed $4 million to $5 million to this year’s team. Colleges aren’t required to share player payment information, but that number likely puts VCU just below the top power conference schools.
One of this year’s stars could be Jadrian Tracy, who transferred from Oregon. While Tracy’s earnings are guaranteed, his opportunity to play is not — Martelli told players they would have to earn their spot on the roster, no matter how talented they have been in the past.
“I’d much rather earn it rather than have anything be promised to me,” he said. “I just prayed about it, and I thought this would be the best decision for me.”
Figuring out the starting five could be a tough task for Martelli. College basketball teams traditionally use eight or nine players over the course of a game. Martelli has 13 on his team, and there are probably 11 who joined the roster expecting to win some of those minutes.
Free Press staff report
Virginia Credit Union’s partnership with the Richmond Flying Squirrels has generated a $10,000 donation to Feed More, supporting food security initiatives across Central Virginia.
Under the Strike Out Hunger program, VACU donates $5 to Feed More for every strikeout recorded by Flying Squirrels pitchers during the season. The campaign has been part of VACU’s long-running support of the Richmond-based minor league team.
“Food assistance and addressing local food insecurity remain central to VACU’s community engagement efforts,” said VACU President and CEO Chris Shockley. “We’re proud to support Feed More’s critical work in our community and to continue our commitment to addressing one of the most pressing needs facing our neighbors.”
The partnership with Feed More has spanned more than 24 years, with financial contributions — including Strike Out Hunger — totaling more than $143,000, providing the equivalent of 572,000 meals.
“The Strike Out Hunger campaign, and all their other efforts over the past 25 years, make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve,” said Feed More President and CEO Dennis Hatchett. VACU also supports other local food programs. This year, the credit union donated $15,000 to Richmond-based Shalom Farms and $5,000 to the Chesterfield Food Bank Outreach Center.
What bothered Payton most on Sunday were late substitutions. And when Payton said after the game, “we’ll get that cleaned up or we’ll find someone else that can do it,” he was referring to personnel changes on special teams, not coaching changes.
“I’m referring to players that aren’t on the field that need to be,” Payton said Monday. “Coaching is outstanding. We’ll get that cleaned up. My point is, if there are 10 (players) on the field and there are supposed to be 11, then that player that’s supposed to be out there, I’ll find someone else to do his job.”
Mims’ absence was every bit as impactful as the loss of reigning Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II
(pectoral strain), around whom defensive coordinator Vance Joseph builds his defensive scheme. Mims returns punts and kicks and lines up at both wide receiver and in the backfield on offense, so it took several players to replace him.
While Mims was mistakenly kept in the game two weeks ago, Daniels was deliberately left in the game when he suffered his injury, which could derail Washington’s season that began with such high hopes after Daniels fueled the Commanders’ run to the NFC championship game as a rookie. “I’m bummed,” Quinn said after the game, and so was his team and its fanbase after watching Daniels leave the field with his left elbow in an air cast. It marked the third consecutive game that Daniels got injured. He has also dealt with a sprained knee and a pulled hamstring. Although Quinn stopped short of ruling Daniels out for the season, the Commanders (3-6) almost certainly need to go on a significant run without him for his return later on to make much sense.
“There’s a lot of guys that can play,” the coach said. “To be honest with you, it’s hard to play 13 guys. We have 13 guys that can play. There are going to be guys that don’t play, and that doesn’t mean they can’t play.”
He described it as a problem, but a good one to have.
Martelli also said that while VCU’s resources allowed it to be competitive for top talent, that didn’t necessarily mean taking the best players available.
“We passed on guys this spring that were super talented and if we got him, people would’ve been saying like, ‘Man, I can’t believe you got that guy,’” the coach said. “But when we dug in and did the homework it’s like, ‘He’s just about him.’ Like, he’s not about winning.
“And at the end of the day, winning is what matters, right? We need to go win.”
Free Press staff report
The American Junior Golf Association will bring one of the nation’s top youth golf tournaments to Chesterfield County beginning in 2026.
The Play Chesterfield Junior Championship will debut June 22-25 at The Golf Club at The Highlands, marking the start of a three-year partnership between the AJGA and Chesterfield that runs through 2028.
The 54-hole tournament will feature elite junior golfers ages 12-19 from around the world, with a week of events designed to engage both players and the local community. Organizers say the event will highlight the county’s growing role in youth sports and sports tourism.
The week will open June 21 with an AJGA Qualifier, offering 78 players a chance to earn entry into the main field. A Junior-Am fundraising tournament follows June 22, pairing community members with top junior golfers while supporting AJGA charitable programs.
“The course has been prepping for several years to get ready for an event of this
Free Press staff report
“Haven’t even gone there,” Quinn said. “That’s a
Eyes on A-10 this season
Last season, VCU was the only team in its conference to make the NCAA tournament, a disappointing showing for the conference at large.
This year, multiple teams enter with legitimate tourney aspirations, including Saint Louis, Dayton and George Washington. Their success will be crucial to allowing VCU to weather potential speed bumps along the way.
Shooting sluggish in preseason
It’s hard to read too much into college basketball’s preseason, but the shooting numbers weren’t where the Rams would have preferred them in the team’s two exhibition games, as well as the intra-squad Black and Gold Game.
Getting off to a quick start will be important with tough games on tap, including a matchup against N.C. State and coach Will Wade, who was previously at VCU.
“I’m grateful for Will,” Martelli said. “He didn’t have to do that. As a new coach in the ACC, he did not have to say yes to playing us. He did.”
A mystery opponent
VCU’s challenger on Monday, Wagner College, experienced a turbulent offseason.
Head coach Donald Copeland was reportedly suspended pending an investigation into allegations that he mistreated players.
The school put out a statement indicating that assistant coach Dwan McMillan would lead the team on Monday and will have the title of interim head coach, but Copeland remains the head coach, at least in title.
The school has not officially confirmed Copeland’s suspension, which has been widely reported by other outlets, including the Staten Island Advance and the New York Post.
This story originally appeared on TheRichmonder.org.
assistant golf professional, The Golf Club at The Highlands. magnitude,” said Troy Thorne, head golf professional at The Golf Club at The Highlands.
“It will be an exciting week to have our Highlands golfing community come out and support this tournament!” Chesterfield officials said hosting the event will showcase both local golf and community spirit.
“The Golf Club at The Highlands will serve as an outstanding host, and we look forward to highlighting the talent, hospitality and community spirit that make Chesterfield such a special place,” said Kevin Carroll of the county’s Board of Supervisors. The AJGA, based in Braselton, Georgia, is a nonprofit dedicated to developing young golfers and helping them earn college scholarships. Its alumni include Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth and Nelly Korda as well as other PGA and LPGA Tour champions. For more information visit ajga.org.
Virginia Union University hosted its third annual E. Lee Coble Golf Tournament on Monday at Lakeside Park Club, with 17 foursomes competing in men’s and women’s divisions.
The tournament, named for VUU head golf coach E. Lee Coble, featured a fourperson scramble format on the Donald Ross-designed course. The layout, measuring 6,200 yards at par 71, challenged
competitors with its tree-lined fairways. Ronald Dingle, Roland Haley, Leroy Mason and Derrick Vance claimed first place in the men’s division with a 15-underpar 56. Ron Kelly Jr., Ron Kelly, Steve Brown and Willie Cosby finished second with an identical score.
LaRue Suggs, Donald Coleman, Alvin Hunter and Mike Lech took third at 14-under 57.
In the women’s division, Mary Allen, Kelly Brown, Marilyn Coles and Cheryl
Harrison won with a 7-under 64. Deborah Hillman, Carolyn Bently, Angela Bently and Ursula Edmonds placed second at 4-over 75.
Kelly Brown swept the women’s proximity awards, winning both closest to the pin and long drive. Steve Brown took closest to the pin honors for the men, while Joseph Boone won the men’s long drive. Barry Griffin captured the putting contest with an 8-inch putt.
“This was the third E. Lee Coble Tournament with great support from our golfing community,” Coble said.
Marvin Mims Jr.
Jadrian Tracy
From left: Gerald Taylor, sports sales and events manager, Richmond Region Tourism; Matt Mullen, assistant director of sports and events, Chesterfield County Sports, Visitation and Entertainment; Patrick Cansfield, director of development, American Junior Golf Association; Troy Thorne, PGA head professional, The Golf Club at The Highlands; Kevin Carroll, Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors, Matoaca District; Matt Harris, deputy county administrator, Chesterfield County; J.C. Poma, executive director, Chesterfield County Sports, Visitation and Entertainment; Reed Thorne,
photo by Caden Burch/The Richmonder Coaches and players have changed, but fans are still expected to fill the Siegel Center this season.
Personality: Micheal Sparks
Spotlight on the CEO of the Underground Kitchen and founder of UGK Community First
Drawing on years of global culinary experience, Micheal Sparks blends food education and cultural tradition to promote healthier eating within the African American community.
As CEO of The Underground Kitchen (UGK) and founder of its nonprofit arm, Underground Kitchen Community First (UGK-CF), Sparks is on a mission to reintroduce nutritious, flavorful cooking rooted in traditional African American recipes and heritage.
“Our diet is the result of how we ate during slavery,” Sparks said. “A lot of us are still eating that stuff. We need to reeducate our relationship with food to stay healthy and add days to our lives.”
When Sparks and his partner arrived in Richmond in 2009, they began hosting dinner parties for neighbors. These gatherings, which soon became highly anticipated, laid the foundation for UGK in 2012.
However, when the pandemic disrupted in-person dining experiences, Sparks recognized a pressing need for nutritious, unprocessed meals in underserved areas. He founded UGK-CF, an initiative that goes beyond traditional food assistance programs.
At least one in five households in the Richmond area is experiencing food insecurity, according to the Capital Area Food Bank. The City of Richmond released numbers last month showing that the number of SNAP recipients has climbed to over 54,000 city residents. However, many food-insecure households do not qualify for SNAP or other federal assistance, resulting in greater demands at food pantries, according to Feeding America.
“This is a crisis,” Sparks said.
“We have a population of people who need emergency help, and they are falling through the cracks.”
UGK-CF programs support food-insecure children, families and seniors by providing nutritious, healthy and tasty meals. Sparks and his staff educate the community on combating food challenges, providing food preparation classes, a food pantry, nutritious meals for child care centers and resources, including health screenings.
“We are the gateway to the access we’re creating,” Sparks said. “Good food is not just for rich people. We are meeting with other nonprofits to get a pipeline of clean food, healthy fruits and veggies, whole grains and green veggies with recipes.”
Providing food and nutrition education is only part of Sparks’ equation to make the community healthier. Through his partnerships with health providers, he has learned that nutrition can play a role in combating cancer, diabetes, heart disease and obesity. Sparks hopes to provide a nutritional foundation to help patients at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center achieve health goals and experience faster recovery.
Sparks’ commitment to his community doesn’t end with the UGK-CF programs he’s created. His nonprofit partners with Reynolds Community College, the City of Richmond and Virginia Career Works on a workforce development program. Under the guidance of UGK-CF culinary director Steve Glenn, program participants gain experience in culinary arts and business administration.
“We hire from the communi-
ties we serve to foster financial independence and strengthen Richmond’s economy,” Sparks said.
Where do you live?
Manchester.
Tell us about your family.
Richard is my partner of 20 years. I have four siblings, including a twin brother.
What is Underground Kitchen?
It’s an experiential event company telling stories about the history and culture of Black folks.
When did you start UGK Community First?
It was born from [the pandemic] because we couldn’t get together for UGK. It turned into a movement because we saw people with food and nutritional disparities. We promote a healthier way of life while still celebrating our way of life.
What is UGK Community First?
We are a local nonprofit established in 2020 to support
food-insecure children, families and older adults through communitybased feeding and educational programs.
What is UGK Community First’s mission?
Our mission is to provide food and nutritional security and to educate and heal through healthy eating to improve outcomes for those experiencing cancer, diabetes, heart disease and obesity. We also want to connect and strengthen community partnerships to support the local economy and provide workforce development.
What kind of programs does UGK Community First offer?
There’s Future Foodies, where we partner with the USDA and local child care programs to provide flavorful, nutritious meals to Richmond youth. For families, seniors and individuals with disabilities, we have UGK-CF From Scratch, where we provide fresh, tailored meals. Smart Soul Food is our weekly class that provides health screenings and a food bundle with pre-portioned ingredients to recreate the dishes attendees learn in class. And there’s UGK-CF Nourish Provision Pantry, providing no-cost, culturally relevant and healthy foods. What are some of the local organizations you’re partnering with?
We partner with VCU Health, Feed More, the City of Richmond, the USDA, Richmond Public Schools, Shalom Farms, Reynolds Community College, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond, Virginia Career Works and F.T. Valley
Farm at Mont Medi in Rappahannock County.
How have you seen UGK Community First make a difference?
We’ve served over 750,000 meals through our Future Foodies program; 30,000 meals this year through our From Scratch program; reached over 250 families in our Smart Soul Food program, and we expect 1,000 families per week in our Nourish program.
How do you start the day?
I listen to classical music at 5:30 a.m. [with a] cup of coffee. Who is your dream dinner party guest?
Nina Simone because she was a movement, and I want to know her story.
What is a quote that inspires you?
My mother and grandmother used to say, “If you can’t eat cake, eat cornbread.”
Who has influenced you the most in your life?
My mom. What is a book that has influenced you?
“Thurgood Marshall: Ameri
can Revolutionary,” by Juan Williams. I read it over and over because his story is about struggle, and it lets me know that struggle is not that bad.
What are you currently reading?
Lately, I’ve been consumed with reading medical journals to find data on food disparities and nutrition. It’s consumed me.
What are the top three songs on your playlist?
I just got a new turntable as a birthday present, and I’m listening to “To Love Again,” by Diana Ross, “Hotter than July,” by Stevie Wonder and Whitney Houston’s self-titled album.
What’s your favorite restaurant?
The Roosevelt.
What’s your favorite food?
Right now, it’s oxtails from Earth’s Echo Farm in Fredericksburg.
What’s next?
To become accredited and certified as the only kitchen in Central Virginia supporting VCU Massey’s Food is Medicine program.
On November 1, 2025, my aunt Corinthia “Coco” Kimbrough celebrated her 60th birthday.
The VPM docuseries “Life in the Heart Land” explores the toughest challenges facing America’s rural communities and how some people are creating solutions.
Photo Courtesy of Monica Pedynkowski
Brookland Park Fest returning with food, music and family activities
Free Press staff report
Brookland Park Fest returns to the neighborhood on Nov. 9 from 1 to 5 p.m. along Brookland Park Boulevard between Fendall and North avenues. The free festival will showcase local businesses, community organizations and family-friendly activities.
Visitors can expect music from Mamie Lue, Andrew Ali and the Mainline, and Daniel White Sound, along with a variety of food and beverage vendors, including Nomad’s Deli, Harlym
Blue’Z, Ruby Scoop’s, Auntie Ning’s, Fuzzy Cactus, Morty’s, Smoky Mug, Die by Fry/Slay Burger, Shrimp’s, Julio’s, Ninja Kombucha and Manchu.
Art and culture offerings will feature Alma’s, Unkindness Art, Nevermore Gallery, ILYSM Books, Nostalgia Tattoo, Brookland Park Flowers and Hand Thrown. Other activities include a bounce house, bubble and chalk play areas, a mocktail workshop and interactive painting and a photo booth.
Several participating businesses will host special events.
Lights and color transform Maymont for Garden Glow
Sound Co. worked with Maymont staff on the experience. Right, after dark, Maymont transforms into an enchanted landscape with soft colors and special lighting effects. “L’Envol,” presented by Genworth, features an illuminated flock of origami birds suspended among the trees.
Garden Glow has returned to Maymont’s gardens nightly, through Nov. 9. The annual event features mesmerizing light installations by international artists — some paired with coordinated soundscapes and music — along with the activity-filled Glow Village, food and drinks. Opening times and ticket prices vary. Proceeds support the care of Maymont’s gardens, resident animals and historic mansion.
A child takes in the colorful light displays in Maymont’s gardens. Ticket prices vary over the course of the event, ranging from $16 to $25; see maymont.org for details. Reservations are recommended.
Tricks, treats and togetherness
Families flocked to the Science Museum of Virginia on Halloween for U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan’s annual Community Harvest Festival. The event, held Friday evening, offered Richmond-area children a safe space to trick-or-treat, enjoy museum exhibits and connect with community resources. Guests explored hands-on experiences in the museum’s Speed, Boost and The Power of Poison exhibits, along with its Animal, Art and Eco Labs. Halloween laser shows and live science demos added to the night’s festivities.
Nostalgia Tattoo will feature a flash sheet of Brookland Park designs. Alma’s will offer a pay-what-you-can DIY glass ornament activity, baked goods from Slash Bakehouse, and screen printing of the Brookland Park logo on T-shirts and totes. Ninja Kombucha will debut a new infused switchel and celebrate its 10th anniversary with a performance by Holy River from 5 to 7 p.m. Hand Thrown will sell ceramic work and offer a free magnet-making workshop. ILYSM will give away books, and RVA Community Fridges will paint a new fridge. Salt and Acid will lead an all-ages mocktail workshop, with donations benefiting RVA Community Fridges.
The festival, founded in 2014 by the Brookland Park Business Association, highlights the neighborhood’s business corridor and fosters community engagement. This year’s event features more than a dozen new businesses along the boulevard.
‘A Distinct Society’ to premiere at Firehouse Theatre
Press staff report
Firehouse Theatre will stage the Virginia premiere of “A Distinct Society,” a play written and directed by acclaimed playwright Kareem Fahmy, opening Nov. 14 on the Carol Piersol Stage at 1609 W. Broad St.
Inspired by real events at the Haskell Free Library and Opera House — a building that straddles the U.S.-Canada border — “A Distinct Society” tells the story of five people whose lives intersect when an Iranian father and daughter, separated by the federal “Muslim ban,” use the library as their only meeting place. The production explores themes of family, politics and compassion with touches of humor and humanity.
The cast includes Josh Marin, returning to the Firehouse stage, alongside local actor Grey Garrett. They are joined by Firehouse newcomers Maboud Ebrahimzadeh, Auveen Dezgaran and JD Lawrence.
The play will have pay-what-you-will preview performances Nov. 12 and 13 and will run through Nov. 30.
Fahmy, a Canadian-born, New York-based playwright, director and screenwriter, has had his work produced across the U.S. and Canada. He is the recipient of the Woodward/Newman Playwriting Award and fellowships from MacDowell, Yaddo and Sundance, among others. He also co-founded the Middle Eastern American Writers Lab and created the BIPOC Director Database.
The production team includes scenic designer James Ogden, lighting designer Gretta Daughtrey, costume designer Amber Marie Martinez, sound designer Mark Van Hare and props designer Tim Moehring. Erica Hughes serves as dialect coach, Angelica Burgos as choreographer, Kelsey Cordrey as assistant to the director and Grace Brown LaBelle as stage manager. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at firehousetheatre.org or by calling (804) 355-2001. Active-duty military and veterans receive a 15% discount, and tickets for college and high school students are $15. Pay-what-you-will pricing is also available all matinees, except the closing show on Nov. 30.
Photos by Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
The light sculpture installations at Garden Glow were created by U.K.-based Culture Creative in collaboration with French art studios Tilt and Pitaya. Richmond-based Lighting &
Photos by Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
The museum opened several exhibits and experiences for children to enjoy throughout the event.
Aniyah Ruffin, 5, and her sister Miciyah Ruffin, 2, learn about healthy dental practices from Virginia Commonwealth University dental students.
U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan, dressed as the Wicked Witch, greets families during her annual Community Harvest Festival on Halloween.
Celebration honors Lesane’s 70th birthday, retirement
Free Press staff report
More than 100 family members, friends and former colleagues gathered Saturday, Oct. 25 at The Westin Hotel to celebrate the 70th birthday and retirement of the Rev. Warren J. Lesane Jr.
An ordained Presbyterian minister from Mayesville, South Carolina, Lesane dedicated 45 years to ministry. He also spent 28 years as a U.S. Air Force chaplain, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. Since 2014, he served as executive and stated clerk for the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) governing body overseeing 14 presbyteries across the D.C. area, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and parts of West Virginia.
The evening featured musical performances and reflections from representing family, friends,
classmates, fraternity brothers and former colleagues. Lesane was also presented with a plaque honoring him as a life member of the NAACP. The celebration ended with dancing, mingling and photos. Weekend festivities concluded Sunday with a champagne brunch at The Jefferson Hotel attended by 32 guests.
Second Baptist, West End to celebrate 179th homecoming
Free Press staff report
The congregation of Second Baptist Church at 1400 Idlewood Ave. in Richmond’s Randolph community will celebrate its 179th anniversary and the 35th anniversary of its pastor, the Rev. Dr. James Henry Harris, on Nov. 16 and 23. Lunch will follow worship on both Sundays.
“It is a blessing that Second Baptist has been serving the community for 179 years through slavery, Jim Crow and the present day. I am grateful that I have served 35 of those years,” Harris said. At 11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 16, the Rev. Dr. Ernest L. Reid Jr., senior pastor of Second Missionary Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee, will preach the pastor’s anniversary sermon. Reid,
Rev. Dr. James Henry Harris
Bethlehem Baptist Church welcomes new senior pastor
Free Press staff report
Bethlehem Baptist Church has turned a page in its long history with the appointment of the Rev. George Brown as senior pastor.
Brown, a graduate of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University, brings more than 20 years of pastoral and ministerial experience, focusing on preaching, teaching and fostering intergenerational faith communities.
George Brown
“It is a blessing to be entrusted with leading this congregation into its next season of growth,”
Brown said. “We will honor the foundation built by generations before us while embracing new ways to serve both our congregation and the greater Richmond community.”
The church thanked the Rev. Dr. J. Elisha Burke, who served three years as transitional pastor during the search process. Bethlehem said Burke’s leadership helped guide the congregation through a period of reflection and renewal. Brown will be formally installed at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9 at Bethlehem Baptist Church, 215 Wilkinson Road. The Rev. Dr. F. Todd Gray will deliver the installation sermon.
a native of Suffolk, earned his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Virginia Union University School of Theology.
At 11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, Harris, a professor of homiletics and pastoral theology and research scholar in religion and the humanities at VUU’s School of Theology, will preach the churh anniversary sermon.
Rev.
The Rev. Carroll Jenkins, the Rev. Warren J. Lesane Jr. and the Rev. Floretta BarbeeWatkins are seen at the celebration.
of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.
It is ORDERED that the defendant, whose whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 3rd day of December, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. and protect her interests.
ORDER OF PUBLICATION
The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.
It is ORDERED that the defendant, whose whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 11th day of December, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. 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 MARY WILSON, Plaintiff v. DEREK WILSON, Defendant. Case No.: CL25001252-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION
The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.
It is ORDERED that the defendant, whose whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 3rd day of December, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. and protect his interests.
A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR.,
Clerk I ask for this: Dorothy M. Eure, Esquire VSB# 27724 Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804 798-9667
VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER BORIS VILLAFANI, Plaintiff v. THALITA OLIVEIRA DE MELO, Defendant. Case No.: CL25003617-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION
The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground
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 CUSTODY
VIRGINIA: IN THE JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND Commonwealth of Virginia, in re ITZA’KING NY’SIEL FARROW RDSS v. UNKNOWN FATHER, REGINALD FARROW & VASHONTE EDWARDS File No. JJ-103955-05, 06, 07 BEL ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“TPR”) of Unknown Father (Father), Reginald Farrow (Father), & Vashonte Edwards (Mother), of Itza’King Ny’siel Farrow, child DOB 3/7/2024. “TPR” means all rights and responsibilities remaining with parent after transfer of legal custody or guardianship of the person, including but not limited to rights of: visitation: adoption consent; determination of religious affiliation; and responsibility for support. It is ORDERED that the defendant Unknown Father (Father), Reginald Farrow (Father), Vashonte Edwards (Mother) to appear at the above-named Court and protect his/her interest on or before 12/5/2025 at 9:20 A.M., COURTROOM #1 PROPERTY
VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE CITY OF RICHMOND John Marshall Courts Building FRANCES L. TEASLEY Plaintiff, v. DAVID TEASLEY, JR., et als. Defendants. Case No. CL 21-5354-DED ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to seek to quiet title to real property in the City of Richmond, Virginia, known and described as 1709 Stockton Street, Richmond, Virginia, partition of same, and in the alternative sale/ allotment of same in lieu of partition. IT APPEARING that there
from previous column
Continued on next column Continued from previous column are parties designated in the Complaint as “Unknown”; specifically, Unknown Heirs of Lavelle Teasley and Unknown Heirs of John Teasley, as well as one Defendant whose whereabouts remain unknown after due diligence, namely Lavon Teasley, and that an affidavit has been duly filed requesting entry of an Order of Publication to effectuate service and notice upon said individuals and parties designated in the Complaint as “Unknown” and whose whereabouts are presently unknown. UPON CONSIDERATION WHEREOF, this Order of Publication is granted, and it is ORDERED that this Notice shall be published once per week for 4 successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation serving the City of Richmond, Virginia, and the aforesaid individual(s) are hereby ORDERED to appear before this Court on or before December 19, 2025, at 10:00 A.M., to do what is necessary to protect their interest. EDWARD F. JEWETT, Clerk I ASK FOR THIS: Bryan K. Streeter (VSB #44578) THE LAW OFFICE OF BRYAN K. STREETER, PLLC 6958 Forest Hill Avenue Richmond, Virginia 23225 Telephone: (804) 729-4106 Facsimile: (804) 729-4164 bryan@bstreeterlaw.com
v. MICHELLE R. DANIELS, et als. Defendants. Case No. CL25002522-00RDC ORDER OF PUBLICATION
The object of this suit is to seek to quiet title to real property in the City of Richmond, Virginia, known and described as 104 E. 15th Street, Richmond, Virginia 23224, declaratory relief, adverse possession of same, and in the alternative, allotment of same in lieu of partition. IT APPEARING that there are parties designated in the Complaint as “Unknown”; specifically, Unknown Heirs of the Estate of Queen Esther Black and Elijah William Libron, as well John & Jane Does 1-100 and all persons unknown or parties claiming an interest, inherited or otherwise, in the real property known as 104 E. 15th Street, Richmond, Virginia 23224, and that an affidavit has been duly filed requesting entry of an Order of Publication to effectuate service and notice upon said individuals and parties designated in the Complaint as “Unknown”. UPON CONSIDERATION
VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE CITY OF RICHMOND John Marshall Courts Building HANNA HOMES LLC Plaintiff,
WHEREOF, this Order of Publication is granted, and it is ORDERED that this Notice shall be published once per week for 4 successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation serving the City of Richmond, Virginia, and the aforesaid individual(s) are hereby ORDERED to appear before this Court on or before December 22, 2025, at 10:00 A.M., to do what is necessary
to protect their interest. ENTER: October 20, 2025 EDWARD F. JEWETT, Clerk I ASK FOR THIS: Bryan K. Streeter (VSB #44578) THE LAW OFFICE OF BRYAN K. STREETER, PLLC 6958 Forest Hill Avenue Richmond, Virginia 23225 Telephone: (804) 729-4106 Facsimile: (804) 729-4164 bryan@bstreeterlaw.com ABC LICENSE Sub Rosa, LLC Trading as: Sub Rosa Bakery 620 N. 25th St, Bldg Richmond, VA 23223 The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL AUTHORITY (ABC) for a Retail Restaurant or Caterer ApplicationRestaurant, Wine, Beer, Consumed On and Off Premises license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages. Evrim Dogu 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.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL The University of Virginia seeks a firm to provide - Housekeeping and Custodial SuppliesRFP-UVA-00101 email: pur-rfp@eservices. virginia.edu
Darbytown Road & Doran Road Roundabout County of Henrico, Virginia Public Information Meeting
The County of Henrico is proposing to realign Doran Road to tie into Darbytown Road at the intersection with Henry Ward Boulevard. The improvements will include a roundabout at the new Doran Road/ Darbytown Road/Henry Ward Blvd intersection, creating a cul-de-sac on Doran Road prior to the existing intersection of Doran Road and Darbytown Road, and constructing sidewalk along Doran Road and Darbytown Road.
At the public information meeting, project plans and schematics will be available to view, and County staff will be available to answer questions. You will also have the opportunity to provide comments on forms provided at the meeting or via the online survey at the project webpage link below. Comments can be submitted to the capital projects manager listed below after the meeting until December 18, 2025. The meeting will be openhouse format. No formal presentation will be provided.
The meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at the Dorey Park Recreation Center (Henricus Room) 2999 Darbytown Road, Henrico, VA 23231 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Project information which includes the construction plans, project schedule, and funding information can be reviewed at the County of Henrico, Department of Public Works, Administration Annex Building, 4305 E. Parham Road, Henrico, VA 23228. Telephone: (804) 501-4616. Project information is also available at the following website: https://henrico.gov/ projects/doran-road-roundabout/. Contact Bayley Harlow at the phone number above or at Har280@henrico.gov with any questions. The County ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you need more information or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, contact Bayley Harlow at the above address, phone number or email.
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held a groundbreaking ceremony Oct. 26 for a new memorial across from Brown Grove Baptist Church in Ashland. The memorial honors the historic Brown Grove School, a two-room schoolhouse built in 1925 that educated African American children in grades 1–7 until it was destroyed by fire in 1942. The school served as
Photos by Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press
The Rev. Darius Beecham, pastor of The Historic Brown Grove Baptist Church leads church and community members across the street for the groundbreaking.
The Rev. Darius Beecham, Saundra Watkins, Brenda Brown, Stefany Whittaker, Benjamin Jackson, Roger Brown, Shelia Spencer and Renada Harris celebrate the start of construction at Brown Grove.
Attendees hold hands during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Brown Grove School Memorial, designed in part by civil engineer Fyiad Constantine to symbolize the original two-room schoolhouse.