Sept 14 16, 2017 issue

Sloane Stephens wins U.S. Open title

By Fred Jeter

It’s unlikely for two African-American women to match strokes in the final of the U.S. Open tennis tournament.

It’s far more unlikely for neither to be

named Williams.

Against all odds, that’s just what happened last Saturday, with Sloane Stephens topping Madison Keys 6-3, 6-0 to win the singles crown at Arthur Ashe Stadium in

Flushing Meadows, N.Y. Serena Williams missed the U.S. Open this year while on maternity leave; her Please turn to A4

Richmond Free Press © 2017 Paradigm Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

VOL. 26 NO. 37

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

www.richmondfreepress.com

ee Fr

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c e l e brat ing o u r 2 5 t h A nniv e rsar y

September 14-16, 2017

18

out of

44

That’s how many city public schools are fully accredited

By Jerermy M. Lazarus

The good news: 18 of Richmond’s 44 public schools — 41 percent — are fully accredited based on relatively high student pass rates on state Standards of Learning tests.

That’s an increase from last year’s 17 accredited schools, according to the Virginia Department of Education.

The bad news: Richmond has 19 schools that have been denied accreditation because of low student pass rates on SOL tests.

That’s an increase of six schools from last year and by far the largest number of schools in a single district denied accreditation in the state.

The Virginia Department of Education released on Wednesday the accreditation status of 1,823 public schools statewide.

Richmond Public Schools does not come off looking good in a year when 86 percent of all public schools are rated as fully accredited, up 5 percent from 2016.

The number of failing schools in Richmond was not a surprise given the VDOE August report on the percentage of city students passing SOL tests.

Those results showed that students in a majority of the city’s schools were not meeting the benchmarks — a 75 percent pass rate on reading tests and

Bloodshed Gilpin Court becomes a lightning rod for tragedy and possible change

By Ronald E. Carrington

Every day since Sunday, Takeila Knight has held her own personal vigil outside the Gilpin Court apartment of her stepbrother, Marvin Christopher “Pee Wee” Eley, 26, one of the four people killed early Sunday morning in a horrific spate of violence in the public housing community.

Haunted by her stepbrother’s death, Ms. Knight hung a silver star-shaped balloon with “I love you” inscribed in black magic marker and four long-stemmed red roses on a tree in front of his home.

“I can’t believe he’s gone,” Ms. Knight said. “He was the kind of guy who would give you the shirt off his back. He had his problems, but took care of his family.”

Over the course of eight days, nine people were fatally shot in Richmond, prompting grieving families and city officials alike to decry all the killing and ask what will it take to make it end.

Mr. Eley’s body was discovered at 5:40 a.m. Sunday on the ground outside of his apartment in the 100 block of Federal Street. Police said he had been shot about two blocks away in the 1200 block of St. James Street.

About an hour earlier Sunday and two blocks from where Mr. Eley was found, police were called to the 1200 block of St. Paul Street for a report of gunfire. They discovered the bodies of Aaron Robinson, 50, Jenelle Smith, 26, and Cynthia K. Wil-

Please turn to A4

Please turn to A4

Photos by Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Top right, Takeila Knight holds her own vigil Tuesday outside the Gilpin Court apartment of her stepbrother, Marvin Christopher “Pee Wee” Eley, who was killed early Sunday.

Her button is in memory of one of six other relatives who she said were killed in recent years. Top left, roses and a balloon form a memorial Ms. Knight put up in memory of Mr. Eley. Above, Mayor Levar M. Stoney listens intently as Police Chief Alfred Durham addresses the media about the city’s rising homicide rate at Tuesday’s news conference.

Candidates address education, Confederate statues at NAACP forum address recruitment and retention, but said, “I also think we The major party candidates have to shake up the system a seeking to become Virginia’s little bit.” next governor offered difHe called for Virginia to ferent visions for Virginia’s allow the opening of more public education system at a public charter schools, saying, candidates’ forum hosted Sept.

“People of means have educa7 by several state NAACP tion choice.” branches.

The audience applauded.

At the forum held at Virginia “If you do them right and you Union University, Democratic do them in the right population Lt. Gov. Ralph S. Northam and centers with the right school Republican Ed Gillespie said systems, I think they provide they want Virginia’s schools to parents more options.” be top notch, but differ slightly Lt. Gov. Northam told the on how to make it so. audience he strongly supports “We start by making sure guiding tax dollars exclusively Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press we pay our teachers ­at least into public schools. the national average,” Lt. Gov. Gubernatorial candidates Ed Gillespie, left, a Republican, and “You hear people talk about Northam said, citing 2016 data Lt. Gov. Ralph S. Northam, a Democrat, in a photo opportunity vouchers sometimes, and that from the National Education between their separate appearances at the NAACP candidates’ sounds good. But until we make Association showing Virginia forum Sept. 7 at Virginia Union University.

K through 5 public education teachers are paid about $7,500 less than the U.S. average. strong, we have to be very careful we’re not taking any money “We also have to look at classroom size,” he said, noting that away from the K through 12 public education system,” he said high classroom head counts are linked in part to poor teacher to applause. recruitment and retention.

The candidates did not appear together on stage. Instead, Mr. Gillespie pledged to prioritize teacher compensation and they each took a 45-minute round of questions from moderators

By Saraya Wintersmith

Phillip E. Thompson, president of the Loudoun County Branch NAACP, D.J. Jordan, vice chair of the Prince William County Republican Committee, and former Delegate Michael Futrell, a Democrat who represented Prince William County.

As a follow-up for Lt. Gov. Northam, Mr. Jordan pointed Please turn to A5

Will Richmond be the next Charlottesville?

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

In defiance of Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s ban on demonstrations at the Robert E. Lee statue on Monument Avenue, a little known Tennessee-based group of Confederate sympathizers is going ahead with a rally to promote protection of the statue.

In a Facebook post, the group calling itself CSA II: The New Confederate States of America said the rally is to take place 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16.

Already, it has created a backlash, with an opposition rally expected to greet them organized by the Community of Richmond or CORVA. Others also are planning anti-racism rallies and programs, but at venues away from the statue site.

Richmond is prepared to allow demonstrations near the statue, but officials are seeking to head off the violent clashes that occurred in Charlottesville that led to three deaths and dozens of injuries.

“We will respect peaceful and law-

abiding freedom of expression and assembly,” Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney stated. “But we will not tolerate any activity in our city that seeks to cause violence to individuals or property, or endangers public health or public safety.

If you do not respect our city, we will lock you up.”

Police Chief Alfred Durham is making plans to ensure the Charlottesville violence is not repeated.

“We do not want what happened in Please turn to A4

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Child’s play Children in the Overby-Sheppard Elementary VPI-Pre K program enjoy the playground equipment at their temporary home at Clark Springs Elementary in the city’s Randolph neighborhood. Overby-Sheppard is undergoing renovations, with the students expected to return in January.

Richmond Free Press

A2 September 14-16, 2017

Local News

Linemen bound for Fla. to restore power lost after Hurricane Irma Chuck Lafoon hands supplies to Justin Carmichael as the two Dominion Energy linemen load a bucket truck at the company’s operations center at 7500 W. Broad St. before heading to Florida to help restore power lost after Hurricane Irma blew through.

They are among 120 Dominion employees, including safety experts, damage assessors and others, deployed Tuesday to the Sunshine State to help rebuild the power grid from Miami to Jacksonville that the powerful storm destroyed, leaving millions of people in the dark.

Dominion also has sent 700 employees of private tree contractors it uses in Virginia and North Carolina to help remove Slices of life and scenes in Richmond downed trees that took out power lines.

The company also is sending drones and helicopters to provide crews with aerial feedback about conditions they will face on the ground.

This is just one way that Central Virginia is responding to help in the wake of hurricanes Harvey and Irma that struck Texas, Florida and several other Southern states. Everything from money to bottled water has flowed to distressed areas, while many people and rescued pets have found temporary refuge in Virginia.

Dominion’s response is evidence of the mutual assistance pact among electric utilities that ensures outside help when a member like Florida Power & Light is overwhelmed by a storm. Florida and other states have provided similar help to Dominion after storms have knocked out power to huge swaths of the Virginia company’s grid in recent years.

“We are proud of the willingness of our employees and contractors to leave their families and friends to work long days providing desperately needed help,” said Ed Baine, Dominion Energy’s senior vice president for power delivery.

Mr. Carmichael said he and his colleagues expect to be away at least two weeks. He said linemen are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to respond to emergencies, and this is just the latest to come up.

“We know how important our work is and how much people are depending on us at this time to get their power back on,” he said.

Cityscape

Rick Winston leaves Consolidated for City Hall Darryl R. “Rick” Winston has jumped from banker to bureaucrat at City Hall.

He is now the administrator for city economic development programs after serving two years as president of Premier Bank’s Consolidated Division in Jackson Ward.

Mr. Winston, 62, started his new position just after Labor Day in the city Department of Economic Development.

Since August 2015, he had been in charge of the Huntington, W.Va.-based bank’s two branches in Richmond and Hampton.

The branches represent the remnants of what once was Consolidated Bank & Trust Co., the bank that famed Richmonder Maggie L. Walker founded in 1903 and led until her death in 1934.

Consolidated Bank was sold nearly 14 years ago to a Washington bank that later became part of Premier Bank during the Great Recession.

Mr. Winston Mr. Winston, who has 20 years of banking experience, worked in a variety of positions with Consolidated when it was still an independent bank. He began in 1992, rising to serve as president and chief operating officer from 1997 to 2000.

He went on to manage Metro-County Bank’s first Richmond branch. The branch later closed after Metro-County became part of Southern Financial Bank and later merged with other banks.

Mr. Winston also served on the staff of Richmond-based Johnson Inc., a marketing, public relations and consulting firm.

He was involved in monitoring minority participation in the construction of four new schools in Richmond.

He earned a bachelor’s degree the University of Virginia and a master’s in business administration from Virginia Commonwealth University. — JEREMY M. LAZARUS

School Board under time crunch to fill 7th District seat

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

The Richmond School Board has yet to begin the process of replacing Nadine Marsh-Carter, but it will not be able to dawdle in filling the 7th District seat from which she resigned last week or in deciding when to hold a special election.

State law gives the now eight-member board 45 days to appoint a temporary representative until a special election can be held to fill the remainder of Ms. Marsh-Carter’s four-year term.

Ms. Marsh-Carter was elected in November 2016 and took office in January.

Her resignation came after the deadline for candidates to get on the ballot for the upcoming Nov. 7 election, requiring the board to make an appointment.

Already under pressure to find a new superintendent, the board has two options for a special election.

The board could follow the same proceMs. Marsh-Carter dure it did in replacing now Delegate Jeff M. Bourne. The board named Cindy A. Menz-Erb to fill the 3rd District seat that Mr. Bourne gave up upon his election to the House of Delegates until the next general election. That special election for the 3rd District seat will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 7, the same day as the general election.

If the same process is used, the board would name a 7th District replacement and then hold the special election with the November 2018 general election.

The other option is for the board to name a replacement and then seek a special election in the winter or spring to let voters fill the seat more quickly.

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Black History Museum board calls for Confederate statue removal

By Bonnie V. Winston

parks statues of Confederates Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson clashed with The Confederate statues on Richmond’s counterprotesters.

Monument Avenue should go.

Heather Heyer, a 32-year-old CharlotThat sentiment was expressed by the tesville paralegal, was killed and 19 others board of directors of the Black History were injured when a white supremacist drove Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia his car into a crowd of counterprotesters. in a letter submitted last week to the Free “Charlottesville was a flashpoint,” said Press.

Dr. Monroe E. Harris Jr., a Richmond oral “Silence is not an option,” Adele surgeon and chairman of the 11-member Johnson, the museum’s interim executive museum board. director, wrote on behalf of the “It was the sentiment of the board. “Silence is complacency, board after seeing the violence and we cannot be complacent. in Charlottesville and what those “Removing Confederate statues represent that they should monuments is a step out of the be removed and put in a more many years of complacency and proper place.” acceptance,” the letter stated.

He said scholars and experts “Let the monuments and what should help decide where that they represented remain part of place is.

Dr. Harris history, not the present. Now is By removing the statues, he the time for us all to applaud and support said, “it gives us a feeling that people unthe decision to move forward.” derstand how these monuments represent Ms. Johnson said the board discussed oppression and terror to a large segment the Confederate monuments in late Au- of this community. We don’t need that gust and approved the letter following anymore. We don’t want to reach back the violent outbreak in Charlottesville, and try to romanticize things.” where white supremacists protesting Dr. Harris views the Black History Muthat city’s planned removal from public seum as a “counterbalance to the celebration

of those (Confederate) statues” because it recognizes “the contributions of AfricanAmericans to this state and the world.”

He invited people to come to the museum, located at 122 W. Leigh St. in Jackson Ward, to see that part of history.

“We realize that history is not just about the past, but history is being made every day and we must take responsibility for this history,” the letter stated.

“We condemn and despise the rise of hate that was expressed by the neo-Nazis, the KKK and the white supremacists. But they remind us that some people cannot accept that the world has changed around them …”

The board called on people to become ambassadors of the “new Richmond.”

Dr. Harris acknowledged that the city has many pressing problems that require resources. “Saying that removing the statues should be No. 1 on the list is short-sighted,” he said. “But it should be somewhere on the list.

“What we need is reconciliation,” Dr. Harris said, “and moving forward in an honest way.”

A full text of the letter appears on Page A7.

Opposition mounts to bike lanes

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Jackson Ward residents and business owners are fighting back against city plans to allow bikes exclusive use of one lane of 1st and 2nd streets, which comprise the main commercial district for the historically African-American section of Downtown.

The proposal is one of the first pieces of legislation that Mayor Levar M. Stoney introduced after he took office in January.

But the backlash from Jackson Ward residents and two City Council representatives, Kim B. Gray, 2nd District, and Ellen F. Robertson, 6th District, have stalled the $300,000 project and the federal funding that largely would pay for it.

The plan calls for extending the existing bike lanes from the Lee Bridge along 2nd Street to Duval Street and along 1st Street, part of the plan for creating a network of cycling lanes across the city.

The mayor’s proposal claims that both streets, which have four lanes — two of which are used for parking — have excess capacity that would allow one lane to be dedicated to bikes.

That view has not won many fans. The Historic Jackson Ward Association, the area’s civic group, has voted to oppose the mayor’s bike plan for the area, a strong indication of the lack of interest.

Hippodrome Theater owner Ron Stallings and other business owners see creating an exclusive lane for bikes as creating greater traffic congestion and greater trouble for customers trying to find street parking, which already is in short supply.

Mr. Stallings said the construction of the Eggleston Plaza apartment and retail complex at 2nd and Leigh streets has given everyone an education on the problems that are created when the four-lane street loses a lane, even for a short stretch.

He said the project tied up part of one lane on 2nd Street between Leigh and Clay streets, creating traffic backups and delays.

He also said that delivery trucks for the area’s restaurants struggle to find room to unload food and beverages. “They have to park in the front because we don’t have alleys,” he said.

Ms. Robertson said she is disappointed that Mayor Stoney introduced the legislation despite a promise to her and Ms. Gray

First ladies stumping for education Virginia first ladies join Pam Northam, center, wife of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ralph S. Northam, in a roundtable discussion about education opportunity and policy last Friday in Richmond. The event, held at 6PIC in Highland Park, was an opportunity to highlight the Democratic candidate’s education platform. Joining Mrs. Northam, an elementary school science teacher, are, from left, Princess R.

to wait until Jackson Ward residents and business owners could be consulted.

Ms. Gray, who is seeking to kill the mayor’s plan based on the feedback she has received, views the lanes as creating a negative impact. She has suggested using 3rd Street as an alternate route for exclusive bike lanes, but Ms. Robertson said that might not be an option.

Ms. Robertson said there are concerns about using 3rd Street because it handles traffic coming into Richmond from the interstate. She also indicated that the Greater Richmond Convention Center, which fronts on 3rd Street, also is not thrilled with the idea.

The Virginia Department of Transportation is reviewing comments from a recent community meeting, she said, and is to offer city officials a proposal for review. She said she is awaiting VDOT’s recommendation.

Another option would be to have a shared lane for vehicles and cyclists.

Mr. Stallings said he would not oppose that kind of road-sharing option and believes that might be acceptable to others.

“We just can’t lose a travel lane,” he said.

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Moss, a Louisa County music teacher and secretary-treasurer of the National Education Association; former First Lady Lynda Johnson Robb, wife of former Gov. Chuck Robb; First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe, wife of Gov. Terry McAuliffe; and former First Lady Anne Holton, former state secretary of education and wife of former governor and current U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine.

T:11”

Richmond Free Press

September 14-16, 2017

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Richmond Free Press

A4 September 14-16, 2017

News

Sloane wins U.S. Open, $3.7M Continued from A1

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Sloan Stephens jubilantly holds her trophy last Saturday after beating Madison Keys to win the singles title at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York.

older sister, Venus Williams, was defeated by Stephens in the tournament’s semifinal round.

Serena Williams, the world’s topranked player, has won six previous U.S. Open tournaments. Venus Williams is a three-time champ of the Grand Slam event.

Serena and Venus have twice faced each other in the U.S. Open singles final, with Venus winning in 2001 and Serena in 2002.

Unseeded Stephens and 15th seeded Keys both are rebounding from injury.

Stephens missed time following foot surgery, while Keys had been sidelined with a wrist ailment.

Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic, who entered the tournament as its top seed, lost in the quarterfinals to American CoCo Vandeweghe, who later

lost to Keys in the semifinals.

The victory was worth $3.7 million for Stephens, who resides in Coral Springs, Fla. Another unusual twist to this year’s event is that both Stephens and Keys are coached by Lindsay Davenport, the 1998 U.S. Open champ.

The right-handed Stephens, 24, comes from an athletic family. Her father, the late John Stephens, was an NFL running back from 1988 to 1993. He was AFC Rookie of the Year in 1988 with the New England Patriots, rushing for 1,168 yards.

Mr. Stephens, who played collegiately at Northwestern State University in Louisiana, died in a car accident in 2009.

Stephens’ mother, Sybil Smith, was the first African-American woman to win NCAA Division I All-American swimming honors, competing for Boston University in 1988.

Keys, 22, is 5-foot-10 and the daughter of Rick Keys, an African-American, and Christine Keys, who is Korean.

Both are attorneys. She resides in Boca Raton, Fla. The first African-American woman to capture the U.S. Open singles title was Althea Gibson, who won in 1957 and again in 1958 when it was still an amateur event.

Aside from the Williams sisters, the only other woman of color to reach the U.S. Open final was Evonne Goolagong.

An Australian aborigine, Goolagong was a finalist in 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976, but never won. Goolagong won the Wimbledon singles championship in 1971 and 1980.

The lone African-American male champion at Flushing Meadows is native Richmonder Arthur Ashe, who defeated Tom Okker of The Netherlands for the 1968 men’s singles title.

Gilpin Court a lightning rod for tragedy, possible change Continued from A1

liams, 26, inside an apartment.

Police have not said whether there was a connection between the two incidents. But Chief Alfred Durham noted, “There is almost always a backstory to these shootings.”

In a plea he has sounded before, Chief Durham and other city leaders called on residents to come forward with information.

But Ms. Knight and others in Gilpin Court said they are hesitant to talk with police about what they’ve seen or heard.

“I don’t got outside after dark because it’s dangerous,” said Annie Mahdee, president of the Gilpin Court Tenants Council.

“I’m 75 years old and afraid to talk to the police.”

She said she fears retaliation.

Police also are looking for witnesses with information about a Highland Park shooting about 10:20 p.m. last Saturday in which a 9-year-old girl was struck by a bullet as she stood with other children on a porch on 5th Avenue. Nearby on Pollock Street, police found Victor A. Harris, 57, who had been shot in the head while riding a bike. He died Monday night at a local hospital.

The rise in violence has shaken the city and spurred a shift of attention, focus and possible resources on the city’s public housing communities, where much of the violence has occurred and where more than 2,000 people call home.

In response to the violence, Mayor Levar M. Stoney called a City Hall news conference Tuesday morning. Flanked by Chief Durham, Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael N. Herring and T.K. Somanath, CEO of the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority that operates the city’s public housing communities, Mayor Stoney talked about the long- and short-term efforts to address the problem.

“My heart sinks every time I receive a phone call from Chief Durham early in the wee hours of the morning because I know what it means,” Mayor Stoney said. “Our prayers go out to the families of the victims. I want us to not only come together to mourn their loss, but to strengthen our resolve as a community to do everything we can to stop the violence.”

He charged Chief Durham and Mr. Somanath to use any and all “legal means necessary” to stem the tide of violence.

“We have made13 arrests after the Sunday event,” Chief Durham said. “We have weekly strategy meetings to address these homicide issues and assigned two walking patrolmen to Gilpin” as was done in Mosby Court in the East End after a State Police special agent was shot and killed in May. “We are doing the best we can,” Chief Durham said Mr. Somanath said new lighting and cameras will be added to public housing communities and stricter lease enforcement efforts will be undertaken, with RRHA ready to evict residents

found involved with guns, drugs or gang activity.

He said residents will be required on Oct. 1 to have decals on their cars so that RRHA staff “can easily identify vehicles that are not associated with a lease owner.”

Mr. Herring said as the city’s chief prosecutor, he needs the cooperation and assistance of witnesses and others in helping to bring justice. But he also asked for patience from city residents as officials develop a long-term strategy to curb the violence.

“Sadly, what is a little different for Richmond and some of the other cities is that guns are so prevalent they are like accessories in the way the Chief or Mr. Somanath and I put on a tie,” Mr. Herring lamented. “There is a new generation of people who, for whatever reason and probably fueled by social media, carry themselves that way.”

The city administration has talked for decades about the problems arising from a concentration of poverty in low-income neighborhoods. The administration is coordinating a housing summit on Oct. 31 with representatives from RRHA, the Better Housing Coalition, the Richmond Association of Realtors and other organizations to design a plan for affordable housing in the city. Included will be options for dedicated funding sources for the redevelopment of public housing.

One in four Richmonders lives in poverty, including many living in the city’s public housing communities. RRHA officials said this week they have worked to offer economic and education solutions to public housing residents to escape the social ills connected with poverty.

Resident services coordinators in each of the public housing communities provide job assistance, education and health care management services for residents, including those in Gilpin Court.

“We have a resource center where residents, young and older, can come into the Calhoun Center to take care of health-related issues,” said an RRHA official at Gilpin Court who did not want to provide her name for fear of losing the trust of residents.

“We work with the Workforce Development Center, where we help people set up appointments and transport them in the van to find jobs.”

RRHA, she said, helps pay for GED classes and job searches, offers a job club and often has employers come to the center to recruit employees.

She talked about the success of the Family Self-Sufficiency program. Under it, residents establish a five-year plan and find a job. Once employed, their rent, which is income based, rises.

Under the program, the difference paid by residents because of the higher income is put into an escrow account. At the end of the five years, she said, the residents get the money in the account if they have reached the goals they outlined and all adults in the home are working. They can spend the money on

Only 18 of Richmond’s 44 public schools are fully accredited; one more than last year Continued from A1

a 70 percent pass rate in three other core areas — history, math and science.

Interim Superintendent Thomas E. “Tommy” Kranz focused on the positives from the new state accreditation report.

He expressed pride that 24 of 44 Richmond schools are either fully or partially accredited, although last year, Richmond had 28 schools that were fully or partially accredited.

He also pointed out that four elementary schools denied accreditation last year or that were only partially accredited have become fully accredited in the latest report —John B. Cary, Miles Jones, Elizabeth D. Redd and J.E.B. Stuart.

He also spotlighted schools such as Chimborazo and Miles Jones elementaries and Albert Hill and Henderson middle schools that reported increases in student SOL pass rates in a specific subject, such as science or math.

School Board Chair Dawn Page also focused on the positives.

“While our ultimate goal is to achieve full accreditation for all of our schools, we are proud of the efforts of the entire RPS team. I believe our internal support system, coupled with our collaboration with VDOE, will enable us to meet our goal of providing equitable education opportunities for all of our students,” she said.

She noted that RPS is developing a corrective action plan through a memorandum of understanding with the VDOE that is aimed at aligning efforts to achieve full accreditation.

Unmentioned, however, are the years of effort, the heavy spending and multiple

corrective action plans that RPS has created with VDOE to raise student achievement at multiple schools that have failed to show success.

For example, of the six elementary schools that were partially accredited last year as their leadership and staffs were reconstituted under action plans approved

by VDOE, four — J.L. Francis, Ginter Park, Oak Grove and G.H. Reid — were denied accreditation this year as a result of low SOL test results. John B. Cary and Miles Jones, the other two, went on to full accreditation.

Overall, 14 of the city’s 26 elementary schools are rated as fully accredited this year, up from 11 last year.

But the puzzle is why Bellevue Elementary slipped from being fully accredited to partially accredited with warning, or why nearby George Mason, Chimborazo and Woodville elementary schools in Church Hill remained on the denied list while Fairfield Court Elementary in the same area continues to be fully accredited.

The positive spin also cannot erase the fact that five of the city’s seven middle schools are not accredited, while one, Elkhardt-Thompson Middle, is only partially accredited. The status of Albert Hill Middle, which was on warning last year and only partially accredited, is still to be determined.

That poor showing in the accreditation ratings is a hard pill to swallow for many given the various private and public programs that have been deployed to the middle schools in a bid to raise student achievement. Binford Middle, which had a curriculum overhaul, remains on the denied list.

The relatively poor academic results

suggest why many parents select private options for their children when they reach middle school age.

At Richmond’s newest middle school, Martin Luther King Jr., only one in four students passed SOL tests in reading and writing last spring, while only one in five passed the SOL tests in math.

Except for Franklin Military Academy, which now has middle school grades along with its high school students, none of the six other middle schools reported having 75 percent or more of students passing reading tests, an essential for accreditation.

Albert Hill came closest with 71 percent of students passing the SOL reading test last year. Lucille Brown and Binford reported about 62 percent of students passed. At the other middle schools, less than 50 percent of students passed.

Of the eight high schools, Franklin Military, Open High and Richmond Community are the only ones receiving full accreditation.

John Marshall, which was fully accredited last year, joined two other high schools as partially accredited with warning for low pass rates in key subjects. Both George Wythe and Huguenot were on warning last year and retained that status this year.

Armstrong High continues to rank at the bottom and once again was denied accreditation. Despite a bevy of improvement plans, less than 50 percent of Armstrong’s students passed SOL tests in reading, writing, history, math and science.

At Armstrong, only one in three students passed reading and math tests last spring, and just two in five passed science and writing tests.

a down payment for a home, to send a child to college, a car or whatever the resident wants.

The goal, she said, is to help move families from poverty to self-sufficiency.

She also talked about RRHA’s Tomorrow’s Promise Fund, which has awarded more than $200,000 in college scholarships to about 75 high school graduates living in public housing.

She talked about programs at Gilpin Court for young people, including a sports partnership with Virginia Commonwealth University, a fine arts academy, pre-employment assistance and life skills workshops.

“It’s important for our young people to take field trips, too, so they can see what’s outside of their community,” the RRHA official said. “That’s the beauty of these programs — to help residents escape poverty and become successful.”

Will Richmond be the next Charlottesville?

Continued from A1

Charlottesville to happen in Richmond,” the chief stated in a letter that was issued to residents of the area.

That’s just fine with CSA II, according to its Facebook page.

This protest is all about “heritage not hate,” the website states, and the group stated that it will chase off neo-Nazis and anyone else with a hate group.

“No Racist Groups Will Be Allowed In Our Rally Area!!!” the protest organizers stated.

How many the CSA group will muster is unknown, but an early estimate is between 50 to 100.

The CSA group appears to be unknown to Confederate groups such as the Virginia Flaggers and the Sons of the Confederacy that hold rallies at the Lee statue around his birthday on Jan. 19. Those groups have no plans to attend the rally.

Meanwhile, CORVA also is promoting a nonviolent approach to their counterdemonstration, which the group claims is aimed at protecting the city from the “the same violent extremists that were at Charlottesville.”

Organizers promoting the counterprotest on Facebook are urging those who take part to pass out white roses, a symbol of nonviolent resistance in Nazi Germany.

The goal of the counterdemonstration, according to a Facebook post: “To send a message as a community and as individuals … that our love is stronger than their hate. We aren’t afraid to stand up for what is right, but we aren’t ‘violent thugs,’ and we are protecting our right to live in a place free of oppression, segregation and hate.”

Ahead of what could turn out to be a tame affair of chants and banner waving rather than violence, Chief Durham and Mayor Stoney are to meet with city residents 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, at First Baptist Church at Monument Avenue and the Boulevard to brief them on plans for handling the rally at the Lee statue and any others that take place.

Police are creating a large, empty zone around the statue, with no parking allowed near the statue along Allen and Monument avenues and Grace

Street.

A heavy police presence is expected in the statue area.

Chief Durham has pledges of support from several police departments to supplement his forces, including the Virginia Commonwealth University Police Department and the State Police. It is possible that officers could outnumber the demonstrators.

In compliance with Gov. McAuliffe’s ban, the state has rebuffed at least three requests for parade permits at the Lee statue for Sept. 16, which for unexplained reasons turned out to be a popular date.

On Wednesday, Gov. McAuliffe repeated that the ban on demonstrations at the stateowned Lee statue, itself, will “be enforced.”

City police previously have allowed other groups to parade down city streets and even temporarily block traffic as long as they stuck to vocally making their point.

Still, there is high anxiety among residents and others as the rally nears.

Separately, the Richmond Peace Education Center, First Unitarian Universalist Church and other groups plan hold a Richmond Stands United for Racial Justice Rally 8:45 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the Maggie L. Walker statue at Broad and Adams streets, followed by a march for justice.

The purpose: To show that residents “stand united in the former capital of the Confederacy in rejecting false ‘Lost Cause’ myths,” to “embrace and celebrate the rich diversity of our community” and to show a commitment “to building a future in which every child in the Richmond region, regardless of race or ZIP code, has full access to hope, safety and opportunity… free of white supremacy,” according to the rally’s Facebook post.

In addition, the YWCA and a diverse coalition of groups, including the American Civil War Museum, Diversity Richmond and several faith groups, will host a public program on “Building a Just Richmond” 1 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Huguenot High School, 7945 Forest Hill Ave. The goal of the program is to bring the Richmond community together to learn and take action, “to stand against hatred and pursue a more inclusive, equitable and just community.”

Richmond Free Press

September 14-16, 2017 A5

News

City Council names interim city auditor

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

A split Richmond City Council on Monday ended weeks of debate and named forensic accounting expert William C. Barrett III to temporarily fill the key post of city auditor.

The post had been vacant since the forced resignation of auditor Umesh Dalal, an 11-year veteran in the post, eight weeks ago.

Mr. Barrett secured the appointment as interim city auditor on a 6-3 vote by the council despite complaints from two members that they were denied key information about his salary until the last minute.

Councilman Michael J. Jones, 9th District, led the opposition to Mr. Barrett, arguing that the pay he would receive — $5,000 biweekly or the equivalent of $130,000 a year — was too much.

The council plans to conduct a national search to find a permanent replacement for Mr. Dalal, although Mr. Barrett is a possible contender for the post. City Council President Chris Hilbert expects the post to be filled before February.

City Council was under pressure to name an interim auditor after learning that the vacancy was holding up the city’s effort to complete its annual financial audit.

Councilman Parker C. Agelasto, 5th District, said that council was advised that the city auditor had to approve the contract with the outside auditing firm the city has hired to prepare the city’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for fiscal year

DACA program also impacts black immigrants Special from the Trice Edney News Wire/NorthStarNewsToday.com

The Black Alliance for Just Immigration, the nation’s largest black-led organization championing racial justice and immigrant rights, blasted the Trump administration for rescinding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that has allowed 800,000 immigrant youths to live in the United States without fear of deportation.

“BAJI is appalled by President Trump’s decision to rescind DACA. By canceling the program, President Trump is again pandering to white supremacists over immigrant and poor communities as well as millions of organizations, businesses and allies that support DACA recipients,” said Opal Tometi, executive director of the New York-based BAJI. Ms. Tometi is the daughter of Nigerian immigrants and grew up in Phoenix. She now lives in New York and is a co-founder of Black Lives Matter.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced Sept. 5 that the Trump administration was rescinding DACA because it was unconstitutional. The program provided a legal status for recipients, including participation in Social Security, for nearly 800,000 immigrants who were brought to the United States illegally as children. Most are now in their 20s and attend colleges and have jobs.

During a news conference Sept. 7 hosted by New America Media and Ready California, a collaborative effort to support organizations providing information and legal services to immigrant community members, experts outlined the new landscape without DACA. Luis Quiroz, a DACA recipient, said his parents brought him to the United States from Mexico when he was 6 months old.

“I am an American. I don’t know another country,” said Mr. Quiroz, who is 27.

He is worried about what will happen with DACA being rescinded. His parents and older brother, who is now deceased, were deported to Mexico.

“I’m unsure what my future looks like without DACA,” said Mr. Quiroz, who lives in San Francisco.

Many observers wrongly assume that all DACA participants are Latino. There are 575,000 undocumented black immigrants living in the United States, with roughly 1 percent signed up under the DACA program, according to statistics.

The leading countries for black DACAenrollees are Jamaica (5,302), Trinidad and Tobago (4,077), and Nigeria (2,095).

Ms. Tometi urged Congress to step in and fix the nation’s immigration system.

“It is now up to Congress to come up with a long-term solution to a broken immigration system that protects human rights and enables immigrant families to live and thrive in the U.S.,” she said.

President Trump said Congress has six months to fix the immigration program or he will step in again.

2017 that ended July 1.

Mayor Stoney has pledged the new report would be completed by the Nov. 30 deadline. The city has failed to meet the deadline for the past two fiscal years.

Mr. Barrett brings an impressive résumé, including service on the IRS Tax Appeals Board and experience in a wide range of cases involving disputes over money. A certified public accountant, he also has taught forensic accounting at George Mason and Virginia Union universities, directed U.S. Treasury investigations into money laundering and embezzlement and been involved in government accounting at the local and state levels.

Mr. Agelasto and Councilwoman Kim B. Gray, 2nd District, suggested Mr. Barrett as an option after other candidates fell by the wayside, most notably Amarilis Hernandez, the deputy city auditor, who would have been the first woman to hold the post.

Initially, she was City Council’s first choice. Her nomination failed on Aug. 11 when City Council could not muster the necessary six votes to put her name in nomination after Mr. Jones abstained.

However, Mr. Jones said at Monday’s council meeting that the cost to taxpayers would be far less if Ms. Hernandez were appointed as the interim auditor. He said her pay would need to be increased only by $12,000. He also expressed frustration that Mr. Barrett’s salary requirements

VCU prof receives NIH grant for child asthma collaboration

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Robin S. Everhart is seeking to prove that community collaboration can upgrade the health and well-being of Richmond children suffering from asthma, the chronic lung disease that makes if difficult to breathe.

She’ll have her chance.

The Virginia Commonwealth University assistant professor of psychology has been awarded a $4.73 million research grant from the National Institutes of Health for that purpose.

The six-year grant announced recently will enable Dr. Everhart and the team of partners she has assembled to set up and manage RVA Breathes, a collaboration aimed at reducing treatment disparities for children with asthma, particularly those living in poverty.

Nationally one in 10 children suffers from asthma, and in Richmond, which ranks among the worst places for asthma in the country, an estimated one in eight children, or about 5,000, are afflicted with the disease.

“Pediatric asthma is manageable, but it is not curable,” Dr. Everhart said. “It can be challenging for families to manage their child’s asthma at home and at school.

“This grant will provide a comprehensive, communitybased asthma care program for those children at highest risk for poor asthma outcomes,” she said.

Richmond repeatedly has been named an “asthma capital,” she said, or one of the most challenging places to live for children with asthma because of the numerous triggers, like dust, that can bring on an attack.

RVA Breathes will focus on elementary schoolchildren and provide coordinated asthma care across four sectors — the family, home, community and medical care.

Candidates address education, Confederate statues at forum Continued from A1

to a controversial TV One/RolandSMartin. com poll that concluded 72 percent of the African-American parents surveyed favor charter schools.

The candidates also talked about last month’s deadly white supremacists rally in Charlottesville and their views on removing Confederate statues from public property.

Lt. Gov. Northam reiterated his stance made public following the Aug. 12 Charlottesville violence that Confederate statues should be removed throughout the state and that “civil rights advocates like Barbara Johns and Oliver Hill” should be memorialized with statues instead.

He also criticized President Trump for not denouncing the neo-Nazi, Ku Klux Klan, white supremacists and other hate groups that instigated the violence.

“When we talk about diversity, inclusivity starts with leadership. And I regret

were disclosed only when members arrived for Monday’s meeting. He said he would have voted for Ms. Hernandez if he had known.

The pay for Mr. Barrett adds to the expense the city has incurred in ousting Mr. Dalal. By a 6-3 vote in July, City Council awarded $400,000 in severance to Mr. Dalal to speed his departure.

Andreas Addison, 1st District, joined Mr. Jones in opposing Mr. Barrett because of the last-minute disclosures. Ellen F. Roberton, 6th District, also voted against the interim appointment, but did not make her reasons public.

Mr. Hilbert said later that Mr. Jones had his chance to ensure the appointment of Ms. Hernandez, but chose to abstain on the key vote. Mr. Hilbert indicated that support for Ms. Hernandez had waned since that vote, “and we needed to move in another direction.”

While he did not explain, other members said privately that Ms. Hernandez lost support after it was learned she was being backed by Mayor Levar M. Stoney and his chief administrative officer, Selena Cuffee-Glenn.

“We need someone who is more independent of the administration,” one member said, noting that was a trademark of Mr. Dalal, whose departure was fueled in large measure by complaints about his abrasive management style.

Concern that Ms. Hernandez embraced Mr. Dalal’s style of management also cost her support.

that the president of this great country did not denounce what they were there for. He didn’t call it out for what it was,” Lt. Gov. Northam said.

Mr. Gillespie condemned the hate groups who attended the rally, but did not comment on his views on President Trump’s remarks on the matter.

He also said decisions on whether to remove Confederate statues from public property should be made at the local level.

“If you impose a solution from the top down,” he explained, “you don’t ease tensions, you exacerbate them.”

He said his personal preference is to put the statues in “historical context,” an approach to which should be decided by localities.

“I would not take them down,” Mr. Gillespie said. “I think we do need to teach about the objects of the statues. We don’t need to glorify them. We need to educate about them. We need to acknowledge that we were on the wrong side of history in Virginia.”

Children and nurses will work their families will with children in the be randomly selected classroom. to participate in a “This project will clinical trial that will test our ability to sucinclude a 12-month cessfully introduce follow-up to assess evidence-based comthe impact of the munity interventions program on child that are specifically Dr. Everhart asthma outcomes. customized for use in The program calls for com- Richmond and to sustain these munity health workers with the efforts once the research comWashington-based Institute for ponent is finished,” said Dr. MiPublic Health Innovation to chael Schechter, professor and help teach families and children chief of pulmonary medicine about asthma management. at the Children’s Hospital of The Richmond City Health Richmond at VCU. District’s Healthy Homes InitiaVCU has an internal protive also will work with families gram, UCAN, that assists to remove asthma triggers in families of children with asthma the home. And public school who seek help through the

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emergency room. RVA Breathes essentially seeks to expand that program to a larger group of Richmond children.

“I have been thrilled to work with Dr. Everhart and the rest of the research team in developing this program. And now, for the sake of the children of Richmond, I look forward to seeing its successful implementation.”

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“RVA Breathes was developed with feedback from Richmond parents and children with asthma,” Dr. Everhart said.

If all goes well, she said the program would continue as a collaborative community program after the grant ends.

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Richmond Free Press

Fire nandina in North Side

Editorial Page

A6

September 14-16, 2017

Restoring the peace The escalating bloodshed and death toll in Richmond is alarming, its latest dead and wounded ranging in age from 9 to 57.

No longer can Richmonders feel immune or insulated from the mayhem simply because they don’t live in Gilpin Court or Highland Park, the neighborhoods where the latest carnage took place. The magnitude and seriousness of the problem demands the attention and unified efforts of all segments of the community — from law enforcement to government, to the courts, schools, churches and nonprofit organizations, to individuals who live in this city.

While it is easier to leave these problems at the feet of Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham and Mayor Levar M. Stoney, or to blame the people living in the affected communities who are fearful to come forward with information, none of us can escape the responsibility of trying to help change the grisly course that has overrun the lives of our fellow Richmonders.

Richmond is not alone in this struggle. Other cities, including Chicago and Los Angeles, have seen growing violence and escalating homicide numbers in recent years. Richmond went through a similar spate of violence in the 1990s, when we earned a spot on the infamous list of “murder capitals” in the United States because of our gruesome murder rate.

We don’t want to go back to that time.

Instead, we need a concentrated effort running along parallel tracks to combat the problem. We offer this range of efforts that have been talked about and/or employed in Richmond and other cities to stem the violence: • Crack down on rules and regulations the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority already has in place for public housing residents.

• Use daily data analytics and conference calls among police precinct commanders to concentrate law enforcement officers daily in crime “hot spots” to help show police presence, boost residents’ feelings of security and quell violence.

• Push for more stringent gun laws to make it harder to obtain firearms and root out gun trafficking networks.

• If money is a motivator for people to turn to crime, use money to motivate people to stop crime by offering larger monetary incentives provided by private sources for information in high-crime neighborhoods.

• Use our local university resources — Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Union University, University of Richmond and J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College — to produce a joint, in-depth study on the causes of the violence. Would such a study uncover something officials may have overlooked? A university coalition, in concert with public and private interests and people in the community, could craft a comprehensive, multiyear plan to help solve some of these problems.

• Create a focused, joint effort by the city and the private business community to offer an alternative to crime — a job — through specialized recruitment and placement efforts for people living in high-crime neighborhoods.

• Boost education and job training efforts for residents in public housing communities.

• Offer conflict resolution training for all grade levels in public schools, with specialized programs provided by churches and other nonprofit groups to residents of neighborhoods in need.

• Enhance and support after-school and evening sports and interest programs at area community centers.

• Provide more parent training programs and mentoring programs for youngsters.

• Provide more funding for mental health services and drug rehabilitation.

• Use libraries more as centers for community learning and activity.

This list is just a starting point for community consideration.

Solutions and efforts must be comprehensive, not piecemeal, and must involve everyone for peace to return to our city.

What affects one part of our community affects us all.

Lock them up Just when we thought things were quieting down after Charlottesville, another right wing group of out-of-towners is planning to stir things up in Richmond.

CSA II: The New Confederate States of America based in Dandridge, Tenn., has advertised a “Heritage Not Hate” rally in Richmond at the statue of Confederate Robert E. Lee on Monument Avenue.

This group, which reportedly was part of the white supremacist contingent at Charlottesville’s bloody protest in August, has no permit to hold a protest or rally in Richmond. After the death of 32-year-old Heather Heyer in the Charlottesville event, Gov. Terry McAuliffe issued a moratorium on permit rallies around the controversial public monuments.

“We are not here to stir up any trouble,” Tara Brandau, one of the Confederate organizers, told a Richmond media outlet. She also said the people coming would be armed because Virginia is an open carry state for firearms.

We believe Ms. Brandau and any other person coming to Richmond for this unlawful rally should be locked up the minute they step out in a protest on Monument Avenue. The group already has defined itself as lawbreakers by scheduling and advertising a protest in open defiance of permit laws.

Saying they are bringing weapons is a clear indication of intimidation — that they won’t let the police or anyone else stop them from their terrorist mission of supporting the Confederacy.

Do we need another Charlottesville for people to understand the savagery the symbolism of the Confederacy engenders? These statues honor traitors of the United States, people who preferred killing others rather than releasing people from human bondage.

These statues and what they represent are spurring the same sort of hatred and violence today. These neo-Confederate race haters would rather ride into town waving Confederate flags and guns, breaking the laws of the city and state, than to stand down and respect the diverse people of Richmond.

This smacks entirely of hate, not heritage, and is one more reason why the statues of Confederate traitors need to come down.

We call on Mayor Levar M. Stoney and Police Chief Alfred Durham to protect the law-abiding, peace-loving citizens of Richmond by rounding up these out of town criminals and locking them up.

Beyond holding an unlawful public rally, they potentially would be violating several state laws against carrying loaded firearms in public areas and brandishing weapons in a manner reasonably intended to intimidate others. Under the law, every gun carried could be confiscated by the state.

We hope Chief Durham will do his job by locking them up and taking their guns.

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

‘Deal with the … devils’ stopped Confederate monument removal 25 years ago Twenty-five years have passed since I wrote a letter to a Richmond newspaper about the statues on Monument Avenue.

Since that time, so much has changed in Richmond. But sadly, some things remain the same.

I would have thought that by now, enough people would have learned that slavery was a cruel, immoral and inhumane institution. I also hoped that more citizens would understand that our most beautiful avenue was the site of symbols that perpetuate the culture and values of a system of slavery.

Twenty-five years ago I was criticized, lambasted and excoriated for urging the city to change Monument Avenue. Although I preferred that the confederate symbols be removed, I agreed to retain them to secure the blessings of some members of Richmond Renaissance. I struck a deal with the proverbial devils to succeed in having the Arthur Ashe statue become a reality on Monument Avenue. Even worse, I compromised my position on the unconditional removal of the Jefferson Davis statue. I had threatened to introduce a City Council proposal on the Davis statue, white supremacy and all the ugly abuses and atrocities

of slavery, including lynchings, rapes and public beatings. The Richmond businessmen were staunch supporters of the statues.

(I have exercised great restraint regarding circumstances and names of these persons, but there comes a point when forbearance ceases to be a virtue.)

I was shortsighted 25 years

Chuck Richardson ago and eager to achieve one goal — namely an AfricanAmerican figure on Monument Avenue that would allow black children to imagine themselves worthy of praise and greatness like other people.

I hoped that time would change people and that one day, we would all come to understand that man is not perfect and that we make mistakes as individuals and as governments, that slavery was a mistake and morally wrong.

I had hoped that more people would see that the cause for which these confederates fought was consistent with divine moral law that stipulates the equality of all persons before God. I believed 25 years ago that men would recognize that the Lost Cause was lost because it was wrong and destined for failure.

However, men are imperfect and the mistake of slavery was evident from the beginning.

Our pathway to redemption is to acknowledge our mistakes and to forgive our trespasses as

we forgive those who trespass against us.

As I sat in those meetings 25 years ago with great men like Clarence L. Townes, Miles Jones, Darrel Rollins, T. Justin Moore, James C. Wheat, Tazewell Carrington and many others, all my senior by many years, I recognized that the fault was not in the machination of government, but rather in the passions and weaknesses of men.

The arrogance and haughtiness of individual attitudes, the stubborn unwillingness to admit a mistake, the failure to recognize self aggrandizement and to feel the pains and sentiments of one’s fellow human beings — these human factors derailed the search for a solution about the statues on Monument Avenue.

The fault is not with the landscape of our avenues, but rather with the small-minded, self-centered gardens from which our thoughts grow.

All of these fine men have passed on; it is only because of my youthful status at that time, and God’s grace, that I am still here. The one thing youth afforded me at that time was the mandate to listen rather than speak. All those gentlemen were intelligent, polite, poised and well spoken. But even they could not restrain their passions, and the Monument Avenue symbols elicited harsh, volatile and dangerous emotions.

I wrote Mayor Levar M. Stoney recently and suggested

A grave mistake

“I have been particularly struck by the many comments and reactions from children for whom Harriet Tubman is not just a historical figure, but a role model for leadership and participation in our democracy. You shared your thoughts about her life and her works and how they changed our nation and represented our most cherished values … Her incredible story of courage and commitment to equality embodies the ideals of democracy that our nation celebrates, and we will continue to value her legacy by honoring her on our currency.” — Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew As the nation has begun the process of removing public monuments to the Confederacy — traitors who waged war against the United States to preserve slavery — we have at last begun to focus on the difference between observing history and honoring heroes.

One way nations honor national heroes is by depicting them on currency. Around the world, currency depicts writers, artists, scientists, activists and others as a means of national tribute. Against the backdrop of the Confederate monument debate, a planned tribute to abolitionist and anti-slavery activist Harriet Tubman would

be a powerful gesture of racial reconciliation.

Now, however, that gesture of reconciliation is threatened.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchen, the former CEO of a major bank that stands accused of racial discrimination, has backed away from plans to feature Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill.

Abandoning this long-over-

Marc H. Morial due tribute would be a grave mistake. At a time when the nation desperately seeks reconciliation, this gesture sends the callous message that white supremacy takes precedence over the history of slavery and the unfathomable courage of those who fought to end it.

It is particularly apt that Harriet Tubman’s image was chosen to replace that of Andrew Jackson, a slaveholder whose chief achievement as president was the forced removal of 15,000 Native Americans from their ancestral homes. More than 4,000 people died during the brutal upheaval known as the Trail of Tears.

Harriet Tubman not only escaped from bondage and rescued dozens of people from enslavement as a conductor on the Underground Railroad, she served the Union Army as a nurse, an armed scout and a spy. She risked her life — many times over — and gave all she had in service of others.

The debate over the $20 bill reflects a larger struggle hap-

pening right now in the United States. The nation grows more diverse as women and people of color are taking their rightful places of leadership. There are many who meet this change with fear and resistance. The neo-Nazis who marched in Charlottesville earlier this summer chanted, “You will not replace us!” — a desperate cry of fear if ever there was one.

The demographic shift in the United States represents a broadening of perspectives, not a replacement. Our history is not solely the story of wealthy white men, although our choice of public tributes might reflect that. As my friend Mitch Landrieu, mayor of New Orleans, said as he removed Confederate monuments from my beloved home city, “All we hold dear is created by throwing everything in the pot; creating, producing something better; everything a product of our historic diversity.

We are proof that out of many we are one — and better for it!”

It’s time that our public institutions reflected that historic diversity. We are a nation of many colors, many creeds and our history is rich with the contributions of men and women of every background and heritage.

Honoring Harriet Tubman is a step forward in acknowledging our truth as a nation. Now is not the time to step backward.

The writer, who served as mayor of New Orleans from 1994 to 2002, is president and CEO of the National Urban League.

The Free Press welcomes letters The Richmond Free Press respects the opinions of its readers. We want to hear from you.

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

that he cancel further public hearings on these statues. In as much as these, the best of men, would falter in this regard, I concluded that we could expect no less of others, particularly considering what had occurred during the initial public forum at the Virginia Historical Society.

In lieu of open public meetings, I suggested in my letter to the mayor that the Monument Avenue Commission solicit written ideas and evaluate the ideas in private quarters and then make final recommendations to the mayor.

Unfortunately, there is a superficial appearance of racial tranquility in the city of Richmond. But just beneath the surface smolders a hotbed of cinders of racial unrest that could be sparked by the slightest incentive. We don’t need to risk a “Charlottesville.”

The writer served on Richmond City Council from 1977 to 1995.

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Richmond Free Press

September 14-16, 2017

A7

Letters to the Editor

Add statue honoring U.S. Colored Troops Keep the Confederates on Monument Avenue to teach about the Lost Cause era, but add a monument to the United States Colored Troops for their valor during the Civil War. Fourteen veterans of the USCT were awarded Medals of Honor for their bravery in the 1864 Battle of New Market Heights near Richmond. The 1989 movie “Glory”

tells the story.

Also, the USCT were among the first Union troops to enter Richmond when it fell to Union forces on April 3, 1865.

The Confederate statues on Monument Avenue were erected during the post-Civil War Lost Cause era and were all made by the best sculptors of the time. The United States Colored

Troops, likewise, ought to be honored with a high-quality work of art by a sculptor to be selected in an international competition.

BOB SWISHER Richmond

‘Removing Confederate monuments is a step out of … complacency and acceptance’ Full text of letter submitted on behalf of the board and staff of the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia: A year ago, the renovation of the old Leigh Street Armory was completed and the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia moved into its new home. We have welcomed nearly 20,000 visitors to our modernized facility and we are happy to attract tourists from near and far to see our permanent exhibition that highlights Emancipation, Reconstruction, Jim Crow and Civil Rights, along with traveling exhibitions presenting contemporary history makers.

We have heightened our standing as a museum and we are broadening our community impact by enhancing learning opportunities — ongoing programs for children, literary presentations, community conversations, art and history discussions, music and dance performances, as well as topical debates.

We realize, however, that amidst these wonderful changes, the words of one of our early champions, John L. Mitchell Jr.,

still have relevance in today’s world, “… howl, yes howl loudly, until the American people hear our cries.”

John L. Mitchell Jr. was the editor and publisher of the blackowned newspaper, the Richmond Planet, and one of his many initiatives of parity was an armory to serve African-American soldiers for drills and assemblies as well as to rest and relax. His words symbolize the struggle and plea for help to end racism and the lynching of black people in the South. This plea was to all Americans at the height of mob and vigilante violence against black people at the turn of the century.

Mr. Mitchell was one of the most prolific and outspoken crusaders to stop lynch mobs in the South. A Richmonder, he was one of the most daring people, at the risk of his own safety, in confronting mob violence in Virginia. He was able to navigate the tumultuous times and Virginia government bureaucracy of the 1890s to halt unjust sentencing against black people and to protest against lynching.

This time period, albeit different, sounds all too familiar of

Armstrong High needs volunteers The wrecking balls have come to 1611 N. 31st St. in the East End, the site of Armstrong High School since 1952.

For me, Armstrong High School holds so many pleasant memories. This is where I taught 12 Government and Economics when I did my cadet teaching in 1970. Maxie Robinson Sr. was the basketball coach at the time and taught history. Many of the faculty members at the time went on to become leaders in education in Richmond, including Lucille Brown, who went on to become superintendent of Richmond Public Schools and who now has a middle school named in her honor.

The school also has many outstanding alumni, including former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder and the late Vice Admiral Samuel L. Gravely, who was once the first African-American to command a Navy ship.

The Armstrong name is now on the building at 2300 Cool Lane that was once John F. Kennedy High School.

While the name of Armstrong has not changed, the “rose garden” has been rotated.

By that, I mean the rose garden represents Armstrong High School and the roses represent students at Armstrong.

There are approximately 1,000 roses in

the garden, some of which failed to bloom during the past academic year.

Armstrong welcomes volunteers. And as an alumni, I am requesting that people, including alumni, serve as mentors for the 2017-18 academic year.

I cannot promise you that this will be an easy task. You may have to weed, prune and water not just your rose but other roses that have begun to droop.

As alumni, you can make a difference by taking the road less traveled.

MARVIN CURTIS JONES SR. Mechanicsville

race-hating mob violence in today’s headlines.

We realize that history is not just about the past, but history is being made every day and we must take responsibility for this history. We condemn and despise the rise of hate that has become an everyday headline and “newsworthy” story.

We despise the hate that was expressed by the neo-Nazis, the KKK and the white supremacists. But they remind us all that hate is always present looking for a reason to express itself.

They remind us that some people cannot accept that the world has changed around them and that it will continue to change both socially and ethnically.

Silence is not an option, as many have already stated. Silence is complacency, and we cannot be complacent.

Removing Confederate monuments is a step out of the many years of complacency and acceptance. Let the monuments and what they represented remain part of history not the present.

Now is the time for us all to applaud and support the decision to move forward. Let’s change the narrative and become one of the new cities of hope and peace within our national fabric, choosing to be aspirational and inspirational for the future. Become an ambassador of the new Richmond. Let your voice be a part of this historic moment. Remember the valiant efforts and death of those unafraid; let their memory fuel our future by questioning assumptions, stimulating curiosity and inspiring people to think about our world differently.

We, the board and staff of the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia, express our sincere condolences to the families of Heather Heyer, and Virginia State Police Lt. H. Jay Cullen and Trooper Berke Bates. We grieve with you and offer our deepest sympathies.

Ms. Heyer, Lt. Cullen and Trooper Bates, are to be remembered for their heroic acts and sense of duty against the hate and mob violence in Charlottesville that will not be forgotten.

ADELE JOHNSON Interim executive director Richmond

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Applications due September 26.

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Robins & Morton is currently seeking bids from qualified Subcontractors and Suppliers for the Chippenham Hospital ED Expansion Project.

Richmond, Virginia and surrounding area businesses are invited to attend a Preconstruction Meet & Greet to learn more about opportunities associated with the upcoming project.

The multi-phased project consists of an expansion of the existing emergency department, followed by renovation of the existing emergency department. Existing buildings on campus will also be demolished to create space to install new parking lots.

Bid Packages associated with the project include the following:

Demolition • Site Work • Landscaping/Irrigation • Helical Piles • Concrete • Masonry • Structural Steel (w/AESS) • Metal Panels (Interior & Exterior) • Roofing • Point Supported Glass Canopy • Fireproofing (Cementitious/Intumescent) • Firestopping • Waterproofing • Sealants • Doors, Frames & Hardware • Auto Sliding Entrances • Glass & Glazing • Decorative Glass Films • Drywall & Acoustical Ceilings • Hard Tile • Resilient Flooring • Paint & Wallcovering • Specialties • Casework • Mechanical/Plumbing • Test & Balance • Fire Protection • Electrical • Low Voltage

What:

Preconstruction Meet & Greet

When:

Thursday, September 21, 2017 @ 4:00 pm.

Where:

Chippenham Hospital

Kraus Auditorium 7101 Jahnke Road, Richmond, VA 23225

Robins & Morton and HCA/Chippenham Hospital are strongly committed to the development and implementation of initiatives which promote the inclusion of all local construction related businesses with an emphasis on minority and women-owned enterprise firms. Please join us at the Preconstruction Meet & Greet to explore more opportunities.

For information regarding the bid packages for this project, contact: Chris McCall, Preconstruction Manager at (615) 377-3666 or via email at cmccall@robinsmorton.com To RSVP for the upcoming Meet & Greet, contact: Rhea Kinnard at (615) 941-8396 kinn0167@aol.com

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VUU right at home in Bailey Classic Virginia Union University football has two goals this weekend — to honor its rich past and to build on its present momentum.

For the inaugural Willard Bailey Classic, the Panthers will play host to longtime rival Winston-Salem State University under the lights at Hovey Field on Saturday, Sept. 16.

Coach Bailey, who resides in the Richmond area, posted a 157-72-6 coaching record in two stints at VUU. His teams won six CIAA titles and earned five NCAA Division II playoff bids.

VUU’s last CIAA title was won under Coach Bailey in 2001.

Coach Bailey will be recognized Friday, Sept. 15, at the Claude G. Perkins Living and Learning Center on the VUU campus and again during the game.

The Bailey Classic looms as a pivotal matchup for fourth-year VUU Coach Mark James.

Winston-Salem State has become the CIAA’s dominant program, much like VUU was under Coach Bailey in the 1970s and 1980s.

Despite a 31-13 home loss to Bowie State University last Saturday, the Winston-Salem State Rams have won the past two CIAA titles and four of the last six.

In 2012, the Rams advanced to the NCAA Division II finals, the best ever performance by a CIAA entry.

VUU, which is 1-1 so far this season, is feeling frisky after defeating visiting Newberry College 31-23 last Saturday at Hovey Field. The victory avenged a 44-22 loss to Newberry last year in South Carolina and put the brakes on a three-game VUU losing streak over the past two seasons.

The Panthers prevailed with a ground and pound attack, producing 249 rushing yards.

Highlights included a breathtaking 93-yard touchdown dash by Tabyus Taylor and a 69yard touchdown pass from Darius Taylor to Gustavious Dames.

Lowlights included 14 penalties for a loss of 112 yards.

Tabyus Taylor’s first quarter touchdown masterpiece in cleats was the fourth longest in VUU annals. The university’s only longer touchdown romps were by: • Fred “Cannonball” Cooper, 98 yards against North Carolina A&T, 1940, • Bobby Phillips, 96 yards against Howard University, 1993, and • Lofell Williams, who played under Coach Bailey, 95 yards against Johnson C. Smith University, 1972.

Tabyus Taylor, a former Hopewell High

Cordelral Cook

Niko Johnson

Cook, Johnson lead VSU to big win over Johnson C. Smith

James Haskins/Richmond Free Press

Virginia Union University quarterback Darius Taylor kicks up dust as he runs the ball on a play in last Saturday’s victorious home game against Newberry College of South Carolina.

School All-State performer who has been out Freshman kicker Jefferson Souza, who of football for three years, isn’t alone in the booted a 39-yard field goal, hails from Deerfield Panthers’ stacked backfield.

Beach, Fla. Rodney McKay, who had 90 yards on 11 VUU was an enigma a year ago. The Panthers carries against Newberry College, also ar- went 5-5, but rose to the occasion to defeat both rives with glistening the CIAA’s Southern credentials. McKay Division champion, Willard Bailey was the Palm Beach Winston-Salem State, Football Classic Player of the Year a and the Northern DiSaturday, Sept. 16 season ago in leadvision champ, Bowie Virginia Union University ing Pahokee High State. takes on Winston-Salem School to the Florida This weekend’s State University at Hovey State 1A crown. game will be the secField on the VUU campus.

Dames is a freshond of three straight Kickoff: 6 p.m. man out of Booker Hovey Field appearCoach Bailey T. Washington High ances. The Panthers School in Miami, while quarterback Darius will play host to Fayetteville State University Taylor is a transfer from Monroe College in at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23.

New York.

The CIAA so far is less than impressive.

Another Floridian, senior linebacker Karl VUU was the lone CIAA school to post a Calhoun from Sanford, led the VUU defense non-conference victory on Saturday, Sept. 9. with eight tackles, including two sacks, plus a The rest of the conference teams were 0-7 out fumble recovery. of the league.

Trying to find just one man to replace quarterback Tarian Ayres would be difficult. So Virginia State University has located two for the assignment.

Cordelral Cook and Niko Johnson have taken turns directing the Trojans to a 2-0 start heading into its Saturday, Sept. 16, bye week.

VSU, now 2-0 after trouncing Johnson C. Smith University 44-6 last Saturday in Charlotte, N.C., is off until Saturday, Sept. 23, when it opens at home against Winston-Salem State University at Rogers Stadium in Ettrick. Kickoff is 6 p.m.

Ayres served as VSU’s quarterback most of three seasons under coaches Latrell Scott (2014), Byron Thweatt (2015) and in 2016 under Reggie Barlow.

Cook hails from Stone Mountain, Ga., and transferred to VSU from Alabama State University, where Coach Barlow coached previously.

Cook was Ayres’ top reserve a year ago.

Johnson is a former Hermitage High School standout who backed up Ayres in 2014 before taking a two-year break from football.

Against John C. Smith University, Cook passed for 106 yards, ran for 104 more and rushed for two touchdowns. Johnson came off the bench to hit four of eight passes for 64 yards, with two touchdown aerials.

In 2014, Johnson guided VSU to the CIAA championship win over Winston-Salem State University while Ayres was serving a one-game suspension.

Senior Trenton Cannon, on a mission to become VSU’s all-time rusher and scorer, raced for 152 yards and two touchdowns in last Saturday’s game.

VSU has now won six straight games over two seasons while outscoring the opposition a combined 259-100.

The Sept. 23 game against Winston-Salem State also will serve as Military Appreciation Day at VSU, located just 4.6 miles from Fort Lee.

Thomas Jefferson Vikings want the victories

Coach Adams

Thomas Jefferson High School is altering its football strategy — and the plan seems to be working.

Among Richmond’s beleaguered football programs, Thomas Jefferson is most determined to schedule opponents more in line with its own size and capabilities.

“We’re trying to place our kids in a situation where they have a chance for some (wins) and at least to be competitive,” said the school’s activities director, Dr. William Holt. “No one wants 50-0 games.”

That’s a comforting philosophy for first-year Vikings Coach P.J. Adams, a former assistant coach who recalls hard times.

“I remember games, like against Hermitage, where we knew we couldn’t win. We just hoped no one got hurt,” Coach Adams said.

“That put a lot of wear and tear on our players and coaches.”

Last year, with a more realistic schedule, the West End school won four games under Coach Chris Mitchell, the most wins since 2004.

With a current enrollment of 867 students, Thomas Jefferson is rated in enrollment Class 3 — on a scale of 1 to 6 — by the Virginia High School League.

The Vikings struggled mightily in the past against the old Colonial District schedule in playing larger schools from Henrico and Hanover counties. Dr. Holt has made it a pet project to level the playing the field in all sports, starting with the gridiron.

Thomas Jefferson’s current schedule includes playing against two Class 1 schools, Essex High of Tappahannock and William Campbell High of Campbell County; two Class 2 schools, Goochland High and Greensville County High of Emporia; two Class 3 schools, Richmond’s Armstrong and John Marshall;

a Class 4 school, Caroline High of Caroline County; and three Class 5 schools, Henrico County’s J.R. Tucker, Glen Allen and Deep Run. Tucker, Glen Allen and Deep Run are the suburban schools against which Thomas Jefferson has been more competitive.

“There’s no awe factor with any of our opponents,” Coach Adams said. “Yeah, it’s more travel. But we feel like we have a chance to be successful every week.”

Gone from the season schedule are Class 5 perennial playoff contenders Hermitage, Douglas Freeman, Mills Godwin and Patrick Henry from the former Colonial District era.

Thomas Jefferson football bottomed out in 2011, with the team going 0-10 while being outPhotos by James Haskins/Richmond Free Press scored 432-65.

TJ running back Jalen Jackson In its final two games against Henrico’s Hermitage and Richmond’s John Marshall, the Vikings were pounded by a combined 110-0.

There was a cry for a change.

Chad Hornig arrived as coach in 2012 and got the ball rolling with improvements in facilities and uniforms and by organizing the sponsoring TeeJay Viking Fund. He also assisted in removing juggernaut Hermitage High from the schedule in 2015. From 2010 through 2014, Hermitage walloped Thomas Jefferson 245-21.

“High school football is often a numbers game, and we don’t have the numbers,” Dr. Holt said. “When you take into account how many of our male students are ineligible or working a job after school or just not interested, our target base is down to 30 to 40 kids.”

The Vikings were 9-32 under Coach Hornig after going 1-59 during the previous six seasons.

Despite mounting losses, often by embarWin-loss record rassing margins, other Thomas Jefferson High Richmond schools have School football winmostly stuck with their loss record, based on long-standing schedules, MaxPreps.com: based mostly on a com2004 – 3 - 7 bination of convenience, 2005 – 0 - 10 tradition, location, lin2006 – 0 - 10 gering contractual agree2007 – 1 - 9 ments and also prospects 2008 – 0 - 10 of higher revenue against 2009 – 0 - 10 more familiar oppo2010 – 0 - 10 2011 ­– 0 - 10 nents.

2012 – 1 - 9 Dr. Holt is hope2013 – 3 - 8 ful the less formidable 2014 – 2 - 8 schedule will foster an 2015 – 3 - 7 upgrade in team and 2016 – 4 - 7 school spirit.

2017 – 2 - 1 “The kids aren’t stuThe Thomas Jefferson Vikings pid,” Dr. Holt said. “They this season have defeated don’t want to sign up for Armstrong and Greensville a team that they know in high schools, while losing to advance is going to get Goochland High School. The pounded. team will host Caroline High “With out current School on Friday, Sept. 15. schedule, we can recruit Kickoff is 4 p.m. better within the building. And we’re confident that as we become more competitive, our crowds will grow.”

Outstanding seasons have been scarce in recent decades for the school at 4100 W. Grace St. Thomas Jefferson, called the Presidents at the time, won state titles decided by media vote in 1943 and 1952 before the introduction of the playoff system in 1967.

Since then, Thomas Jefferson shared its best seasons with Huguenot and George Wythe high schools as part of the Jefferson-Huguenot-Wythe merger in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Then with the name the Trojans, JeffersonHuguenot-Wythe reached the Central Region final in 1979, 1981 and 1983, losing to Petersburg, Highland Springs and Hopewell, respectively, all under Coach Frank Butts.

September 14-16, 2017 B1

Section

B

Richmond Free Press

YOU CAN STILL FILE

Happenings

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Get rid of debts that you can’t pay.

“Get A Fresh Start” Keep paying on your house and car as long as you owe what they are worth.

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Personality: Joshua Ryan ‘Josh’ Epperson E Z Car Rental Spotlight on co-founder of FeastRVA

Josh Epperson, co-founder of FeastRVA, lives each day by a quote by Howard Thurman: “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

It was during what he calls his transition from “can’t to can” in 2011 that FeastRVA was born.

The nonprofit pairs people who have great ideas with people who can help fund them.

Specifically, people pitch their ideas to a group of about 250 people at a community dinner.

The diners then vote on the idea or program that impresses them the most, with the winner receiving a grant of either $500 or $1,000 to help bring the idea to life.

The dinners are held quarterly. About 250 tickets — at $25 each — are sold to diners, with proceeds from the “feast” funding the various projects.

Through FeastRVA, Mr. Epperson says, “We’re changing the entire fabric of society by giving people a taste of ‘can’ through funding ideas running the gamut — from kids programs, a project fighting sex trafficking and teaching kindergarteners yoga to relax, which is hilarious and heartwarming.”

FeastRVA has awarded 21 grants totaling $10,000 in the last six years.

The organization’s next feast will be 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept.

17, at Glave Kocen Gallery, 1620 W. Main St. Tickets are available online at https:// www.eventbrite.com/e/feastrva-september-17th-2017tickets-37139361831 or at the door.

“We like to say that we fund the small steps that make big ideas happen,” Mr. Epperson says. “Unlike many other grant-giving organizations in Richmond, we focus on giving individuals small amounts of money through a democratic process.

“Our grants are intentionally small because we believe to get big things done, you have to take small steps. And, sometimes, great ideas don’t require a ton of cash. Our grants are an invitation to break your dreams down into actionable goals and then fund the steps along your path.”

Even if some presenters don’t win a grant, engagement with the community and practicing pitching an idea can be priceless, he says.

The 34-year old Maryland native who says he grew up as “a troubled child” in the Stonegate projects in Reston, Va., was inspired to start the Richmond nonprofit because of FEAST Brooklyn, which is no longer in operation.

In New York, “FEAST” was an acronym for “Funding Emerging Arts with Sustainable Tactics.”

“We loved the concept,” he says, “except we lost the acronym and just let feast stand for coming together over food.

“We changed some things from the Brooklyn iteration, simplifying some things and dialing up others,” he explains.

“But the concept is the same — bring people together, combine resources, share ideas and give away money to make a project come to life.”

Mr. Epperson believes FeastRVA helps people recognize the “can” in their own abilities.

Rejection or difficulty from the outside then becomes less important because of personal confidence, he says.

“These are ‘can’people who have come alive and don’t ask what the world needs, but give what the world needs.”

Meet this week’s Personality, inspiring community activist and dream funder, Josh Epperson: Occupation: Writer for Prophet, an international branding firm, and freelance writer for projects through my company,

the money for FeastRVA comes from ticket and beverage sales at our events.

PWT, which stands for “Putting Words Together.”

Top volunteer role: Co-founder of FeastRVA. Date and place of birth: May 18 in Bethesda, Md. Current residence: Randolph in Richmond’s West End. Education: Northern Virginia Community College; bachelor’s degree in psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University.

Family: Parents, Tyrone Epperson and Shannon DeVall, and sister, Buffy Epperson.

When FeastRVA was founded: Feast RVA was founded in 2011.

How many recipients have received grants since founding: We have officially given away 21 grants through Feast RVA. Two were awarded at the first event. However, there have been several events where an attendee liked an idea so much that they offered that presenter a grant even though they didn’t win based on votes. So we’ve probably funded closer to 25 or so projects in Richmond.

H o w F e a s t RVA i s f i nanced: FeastRVA currently receives no outside financing.

However, we’re hoping to change that. Right now, all of

What community means to me: To me, community is actually very complicated. It is both one of the oldest, most human things to build, and yet the most difficult. Ever since we started creating civilization in Africa and in the Fertile Crescent, we’ve been trying to figure out how lots of us can congregate in a finite geographic area and make it work. I think that’s community when it’s at its greatest — different ideas and different people living together making it work. But we’re still experimenting with how to do that as a human species.

How I start the day: As a writer, I don’t have a definite structure every day and my outlook reflects that. I start every day with a level of curiosity and interest in exploring what potential there is in that day and how I can make the most of it.

A perfect day for me is: A perfect day for me would be to wake up fully rested, have a leisurely breakfast, be somewhere where I can see the ocean and then have a combination of producing some writing that I love and learning something new. Plus sprinkle in some great conversations with some smart and beautiful people and maybe seeing a little art to top things off.

How I unwind: I like to unwind by having a really nice cocktail in a cozy bar with mood lighting and a good friend or two.

ever taught me: Don’t be a victim.

Person who influenced me the most: My mother influenced me a ton. She was a writer. She exposed me to art. She exposed me to language and has always been a huge supporter.

Book that influenced me the most: “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho.

What I’m reading now: “Our Kind of People” by Lawrence Otis Graham.

My next goal: To see more of the world and to continue writing and increasing my skill.

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170914-FreePress.indd 1

Hobby: I love to learn, so I love going to museums or watching documentaries about history or art or culture. Plus, anytime that I can write for myself outside of the work stuff is fun.

Best late-night snack: Pie. The best thing my parents

4 bands to host hurricane relief benefit Four Richmond bands will host a musical party this weekend to raise money for hurricane relief, it has been announced.

The benefit concert will be 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept.

17, at the Westin Hotel, 6603 W. Broad St., according to James Carson, leader of the Trademark band and one of the organizers.

Along with Trademark, the show will feature Julius Pittman and the Revival, Inside Out and En’Novation, Mr. Carson said.

“We’re asking for a minimum donation of $10 per person, and all proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross,” he said. “We’re grateful the hotel is donating the space and all of the bands are donating their time and talent.”

He said his wife, Kathy Carson, lead vocalist for Trademark, came up with the vision for the benefit, and he embraced the idea.

He said he approached James “Petey” Taylor, leader of En’Novation, and things started to fall in place. The other bands soon were enlisted, as was event planner Danette Hodges.

“The devastation from hurricanes Harvey and Irma reminds us of what we went through when Virginia suffered blows from hurricanes Isabel and Gaston,” Ms. Hodges said. “We know how long, exhausting and expensive the recovery process was, and now we want to do what we can to help other communities in need.”

Details: Ms. Hodges, (804) 212-6656 or hurricanereliefbenefitconcert@gmail.com.

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Richmond Free Press

B2 September 14-16, 2017

Happenings Heritage Ensemble Theatre Company starts new season with ‘Wine in the Wilderness’

By Thomas Kidd

When the curtain goes up on the Heritage Ensemble Theatre Company’s 2017-18 season next week, the actors won’t be on stage for self-promotion, celebrity or big money.

Instead, they will be performing to bring the African-American experience to the stage.

The small but ambitious company returns for a fourth season to highlight the work of African-American writers, actors and behind-the-scenes artists. First up is “Wine in the Wilderness” by the late playwright Alice Childress, who was known for writing, producing and publishing plays for more than four decades.

Set in Harlem during the 1964 riots, the romantic comedy explores the diverse perceptions of personal relationships in the African-American community, specifically the misconceptions derived when a male artist attempts to define black womanhood.

It’s a perfect fit for the young theater company.

“No one tells your story the way you do,” said Margarette Joyner, founder of the Heritage Ensemble and a theater instructor at Virginia Union University.

Ms. Joyner, who moved to Richmond 10 years ago from Mobile, Ala., to work as a costume designer for the former Theatre IV, noticed how few African-American theater companies were in the city.

“There is more to black theater than August Wilson,” she said of the late Pulitzer Prizewinning playwright. “We love him, but there are writers like Alice Childress, Don Evans, Judi Ann Mason and Charles Fuller — to name a few — who need to be heard as well.”

The New Brunswick, N.J., native has been producing plays by both published and unpublished African-American writers, as well as cultivating the actors who bring these works to life.

In 2011, she and fellow actors Shalandis Wheeler Smith and Stephanie Pope Hubbard

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Margarette Joyner, founder of the Heritage Ensemble Theatre and a theater instructor at Virginia Union University, started the company in 2011.

Want to go?

What: Heritage Ensemble Theatre Company’s season opening production, “Wine in the Wilderness.”

When: 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21, through Saturday, Sept. 23; 4 p.m. matinee Saturday, Sept. 23; 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27; and 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, through Saturday, Sept. 30.

Where: Pine Camp Cultural Arts Center, 4901 Old Brook Road.

Tickets: General admission, $15; seniors 55 and older and students with I.D., $12.

Details: http://wineinthewilderness.bpt.me/ or www.facebook. com/theheritageensembletheatrecompany/

She recalls her shaky start with the Heritage Ensemble Theatre — not behind the scenes, but as an actress.

“It was awful,” she recalled of her first audition with the company. “I forgot my entire monologue. But surprisingly, they called me back. I guess Ms. Joyner saw something in me.”

Thanks to the group’s tutelage, Ms. Archer Shaw has become an invaluable member of the theater ensemble. She not only offers her talents on stage, but assists with running sound, lights or directing stage readings.

“Heritage takes an angle few others take,” she noted. “They nurture and develop. They freely give what you have to pay schools to teach you.”

The “Wine in the Wilderness” cast includes Rakeem Laws, Dorothy “Dee-D” Miller, Toney Q. Cobb, Muslima Musawwir and Foree Shalom. It is directed by dl Hopkins.

Ms. Joyner said she sees a correlation between Heritage Ensemble’s struggle to forge an identity and that of the play’s main character.

“I am really excited about this production,” she said. “It’s an underdog story and I love an underdog story.”

Jazz exhibition opens Sept.19 at The Valentine

Nearly three dozen Virginia-based musicians who made national and international contributions to the development of jazz will be showcased in an exhibit opening next week at The Valentine.

“Virginia Jazz: The Early Years,” an exhibition hosted by the Richmond Jazz Society, opens 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, at the museum at 1015 E. Clay St., in Downtown.

Refreshments and live jazz will highlight the opening, which is free to the public.

The exhibition runs through April 30 and focuses on the development of jazz from the early 1900s to the mid-1960s. Photographs, memorabilia and biographies of the 35 musicians will be featured, along with a video montage of vintage film clips and music.

In conjunction with the exhibition, the Richmond Jazz Society is hosting a series of performances and talks by noted jazz celebrities.

Mercedes Ellington, dancer, entertainer and granddaughter of Duke Ellington, will talk about her book, “Duke Ellington, An American Composer and Icon,” during a signing event 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15, at The Valentine.

Cecelia Calloway, storyteller, vocalist and daughter of Cab Calloway, will perform 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, at the Capital Ale House Downtown Music Hall, 623 E. Main St. Tickets are available at www.va.jazz.org.

Dr. John Edward Hasse, retired curator of American music at The Smithsonian, will host a discussion and slide presentation, “Ella Fitzgerald at 100,” and sign his book, “Beyond Category: The Life and Genius of Duke Ellington,” at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19 at The Valentine.

Details: www.vajazz.org or (804) 643-1972.

Afrikana Independent Film Festival starts Friday

Forty films from four continents over three days, all featuring black artistic expression.

That’s what will be on hand at the 2nd Annual Afrikana Independent Film Festival.

The festival returns this week with a full slate of films, discussions and parties.

Created and managed by Enjoli Moon, the festival runs Thursday, Sept. 14, through Saturday, Sept. 16.

The festival launches with a reception and preview screening of “Checked Inn” 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia in Jackson Ward.

“Checked Inn” is a new reality show set to air on the Oprah Winfrey Network. The show features guests at a bed-andbreakfast owned by Monique Greenwood, former editor-in-chief of Essence. A star in the show, she will be on hand for the post-discussion.

The event also will feature the debut of the “Love Jones RVA” exhibit of Jonathan Kirven’s photographs of loving AfricanAmerican couples.

On Friday, Sept. 15, the festival will showcase “Chasing Trane,” a film on the life and times of jazz artist John Coltrane, followed by a discussion featuring Brooklyn-based hip-hop artist Talib Kweli, Richmond funk artist Plunky Branch and Richmond open-mic poetry hostess Lorna Pinckney.

The screening is 7 p.m., with an after-party that Mr. Kweli will DJ at The Hofheimer Building, 2818 W. Broad St. On Saturday, short films will be showcased at six Downtown venues between noon and 6 p.m. and then wrap up with

By Jeremy M. Lazarus deux. Ms. Small dances with Mate Szentes on the pas a evening show, according to the schedule. de deux, and Ms. Bello’s partner is Matthew Frain.

The finale will include a Maggie Small is excited and honored to be portrayRichmond Ballet artistic director Stoner Winslett ing Billie Holiday in next week’s opening show of the has long championed Mr. Butler’s works, most notably screening of the 2016 film Richmond Ballet’s new season.

“Carmina Burana” and “After Eden.” She is president “Insecure” about the trials and tribulations of an AfricanTo prepare for the role, the 31-year-old Richmond of the John Butler Foundation. native has read as much as she can about the late jazz As the Richmond Ballet marks its 60th year and 42nd American woman, followed by a and blues singer whose troubled life inspired late cho- year as a professional company, Ms. Winslett included discussion featuring actress and reographer John Butler to create “Portrait of Billie.”

“Portrait of Billie” as one of the three pieces to open comedian Amanda Seals and an after-party she will DJ. “I want to try to understand her as much as I can the studio season.

The finale will be 7:30 p.m. and bring that to my performance,” said Ms. Small, a She also is close friends with Carmen de Lavallade, at the Grace Street Theater, 934 professional dancer with the company for 14 years. for whom the role was created by Mr. Butler in 1959.

Ms. Small will share the role with Ms. De Lavallade came to Richmond W. Grace St. on the campus of fellow dancer Elena Bello, who will in mid-August to help prepare Ms. Virginia Commonwealth University, with an after-party at perform in several of the nine perforSmall and Ms. Bello for the role. mances to be offered Tuesday, Sept.

“It was a thrill,” said Ms. Small, The Hofheimer Building.

What: “Portrait of Billie,” one of Saturday’s locations for the three pieces opening the Richmond 19, through Sunday, Sept. 24. who considers Ms. De Lavallade a Ballet’s studio season.

The dance includes Mr. Butler’s role model who also inspired her as short film showings include the W h e n : Tu e s d a y, S e p t . 1 9 , Black History Museum, 122 trademark elements — a blending of she was growing up. through Sunday, Sept. 24. Most E. Leigh St.; Candela Books ballet and innovative modern dance The show also will feature the performances are at 6:30 p.m., and Gallery, 214 W. Broad St.; and dramatic storytelling that also world premiere of “Winter’s Angels,” with some at 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and provides starring roles for Africana new piece the Richmond Ballet Elegba Folklore Society, 101 8:30 p.m.

American performers.

Where: Richmond Ballet Studio commissioned from Ma Cong, the E. Broad St.; The Bijou, 304 Theatre, 407 E. Canal St. The dance seeks to bring Bilrenowned modern choreographer E. Broad St.; and the 1708 Art Tickets: $23.50 and up; may lie Holiday to life with portrayals born in China and now living in Gallery, 317 W. Broad. be purchased online at www.

The sixth venue, Art 180, 114 of her public glory and her private Tulsa, Okla. This is the fourth work richmondballet.com; by phone, W. Marshall St., will offer prohe has offered in Richmond.

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press demons. A soundtrack of her voice (804) 344-0906; or at the Richmond gramming for young people.

Dancers Maggie Small and Mate Szentes plays along with the dance.

Also on the bill is a revival of the Ballet box office, 407 E. Canal St. Details and tickets: www. rehearse their pas de deux for “Portrait of Billie” Done in four parts, the dance late George Blanchine’s 1954 work Details: www.richmondballet.com by the late noted choreographer John Butler. includes two solos and two pas de afrikanafilmfestival.org.

“Tarantella.” formed a small group called Creative Souls Acting Troupe.

In no time, Creative Souls had begun working with nearly a dozen artists.

The company then expanded and began operating as Heritage Ensemble Theatre, with Ms. Smith as production manager, Ms. Hubbard as financial director and Ms. Joyner as artistic director.

Ms. Joyner put up $2,000 of her own money to finance the group’s first production in 2014, “Reflections of a Black Cowboy.”

“For every show, it was our goal to make that $2,000 back,” she laughed, as she recounted the ensemble’s start in a Free Press interview. “Luckily, we kept making it back.”

The group has added to that original seed money, thanks to

the ensemble’s commitment to quality productions and to the generosity of a committed community supporter.

“I saw them when they were performing on the VUU campus and simply liked what I saw,” said Albert Ruffin, whose independent insurance company buys out an entire show every season and allows the Heritage Ensemble and other nonprofit organizations to sell the tickets as a fundraiser.

Thanks to such efforts, Heritage Ensemble thrives, and along with it, developing artists like Pamela Archer Shaw. While she has no formal training in the theater, Ms. Archer Shaw has been part of nearly all of the company’s productions since its inception. She is the sound designer and prop master for “Wine in the Wilderness.”

Maggie Small to dance in ‘Portrait of Billie’

Want to go?

Celebration of ‘suds’

Photos by Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Stone Brewing celebrates the one-year anniversary of producing its first local beer with “Stone’s Throw Down in RVA,” a bash last Saturday featuring craft beer, music and food. The event at Brown’s Island in Downtown drew several thousand music and beer lovers, including, above center, Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney, left, and Gov. Terry McAuliffe. Stephanie Williams, right, enjoys a drink in the sunshine during the daylong event featuring six bands. The City of Richmond put up more than $20 million to help attract and build the brewery in Fulton Bottom.

Richmond Free Press

September 14-16, 2017 B3

Faith News/Directory

Washington National Cathedral to remove windows of Confederates remove the windows.”

“The Chapter believes that these windows are not only inconsistent with our current mission to serve as a house of prayer for all people, but also a barrier to our important work on racial justice and racial reconciliation,” stated a letter from Washington Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, Washington National Cathedral Dean Randy Hollerith and Cathedral Chapter Chair John Donoghue.

In August 2016, the cathedral quietly removed panels depicting the Confederate flag

WASHINGTON Following “considerable prayer and discussion” prompted by last month’s white supremacist protest in Charlottesville, the Washington National Cathedral has decided to remove stained-glass windows honoring two Confederate generals.

A statement released Sept.

6 read that “after considerable prayer and discussion,” the cathedral’s board, or chapter, voted a day earlier “to immediately

Mission Statement: People of God developing Disciples for Jesus Christ through Preaching and Teaching of God’s Holy Word reaching the people of the Church and the Community.

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

Sunday, September 17, 2017

Men’s Day 8:30 a.m. ... Sunday School 10:00 a.m... Morning Worship

Worship Services 500 E. Laburnum Avenue, Richmond, VA 23222

Speaker: Dr. Ronald Taylor

St. Luke Baptist Church 7901 Plum Point Road, West Point, Va. 23181 Church (804) 843-4266 Website: www.slbc1913.org Bible Study: Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.

You are invited to come and help celebrate the

2nd Anniversary of Rev. Dr. Walter Roy, Sr. Sunday, September 17, 2017 Sunday School: 9:45 a.m. • Sunday Services: 11:00 a.m.

Anniversary Celebration: 3:00 p.m.

St. Luke Baptist Church, Plum Point Community

Riverview

Baptist Church

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

Saturday, September 16, 2017 4:00 PM The Sanctuary Choir of Riverview Baptist Church Presents:

An Afternoon of Praise and Worship Featuring The Servants of Praise

Sunday, September 17, 2017 — Wednesday, September 20, 2017

and replaced them with red and blue panes to match surrounding glass. But the overall glass and stone bays honoring Confederate Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson remained.

“These windows will be deconsecrated, removed, conserved and stored until we can determine a more appropriate future for them,” the leaders wrote. “The window openings and stone work in the LeeJackson Bay will be covered over until we determine what will go in their place.”

The side-by-side windows honoring the Confederate generals were added in 1953 with the support of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, a group that sought to honor the memory of veterans who fought for the South.

The church officials said they hope the windows may serve to be a teaching tool elsewhere but were no longer appropriate for the cathedral’s sanctuary.

“We recognize that there are people of goodwill who disagree with our decision, and also others who have been hurt or confused by the amount of time it took us to reach it,” the leaders concluded. “We trust, however, that what unites us in Christ is greater than our differences.”

10 a.m. Sunday

7 p.m. Monday

7 p.m. Tuesday

7 p.m. Wednesday

Dr. Cheryl Ivey Green

Rev. Linda Stevens

Rev. Qasarah Bey Spencer

Rev. Kaiya Jennings

   o o o



omecoming H 2017 &

J.A. Godfrey Mass Choir

31st AnniversAry

September

17th – 20th

Sunday, September 17, 2017 • 3:30 PM

sunday, september 17

Guests: Rev. Deborah Logan and The New Beginning Choir The Davis Family Master of Ceremony:

11:00 am – Worship Service Reverend Melvin F. Shearin II, Pastor

Mon

18 11aM tue

Guest Speaker: Reverend Dr. Derik Jones

Free Admission

First Baptist Church of South Richmond

19 7pM

Guest Speaker: Reverend Jaimal Hayes

WeD

Guest Speaker:

Broad Rock Baptist Church

Abner Baptist Church

First Union Baptist Church

2101 Venable Street, Richmond, VA 23223 • 804-648-8041

Star Fellowship Baptist Church h

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Dr. Johnny Branch

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

Reverend Alvin Armstead 20 7pM Great Hope Baptist CHurCH

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  oo o 

   

 o   

Great Hope Baptist Church Family Invites You To Join Us As We Celebrate

Revival

By Adelle M. Banks Religion News Service

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2223 Keswick Ave., Richmond, Virginia 23224 • 804-233-0059 Rev. Larry D. Barham, Sr., Pastor

the Spirit Move” t e L “ HOMECOMING Celebration Theme:

Sunday, September 17, 2017 11:00 AM 3:00 PM Worship Service Evening Service Special Guests: Rev. James Hedgepeth and Congregation North Gayton Baptist Church

FALL REVIVAL

l! l l a aome 017 v i v , c 20 2 e e R me on R 18 th

th

E hip s o B r o c TEM d W EP e an PM s S

e is 6:45 vic r e S Nightly Guest val 0PM i Revivalist: v Re 7:0 Pastor

Pra

Vernon Gordon The Life Church

Michael R. Lomax, Pastor Chief Servant In Residence

Monday - Wednesday, September 18 - 20, 2017 7:00 PM Prayer and Praise 7:30 PM Revival Service Guest Evangelist: Rev. Herbert R. Holly, II and Congregation Pastor, St. John Baptist Church, Stony Creek, VA

Come out and join us in this momentous celebration!

Sixth mount Zion baptiSt ChurCh presents 3rd annuaL

September 16, 2017 • 6:00pm

Lip Sync BattLe September 17 • 10:45 am

150 th

Anniversary & Homecoming Worship t! oun eM h T at t us Mee 14 West Duval Street, Richmond, Va. 23220 Phone: 804.648.7511 • Web: www.smzbc.org Rev. Tyrone E. Nelson, Pastor

Rev. Dr. Marvin McMickle

915 Glenburnie road, richmond, Va 23226

Office: 804-288-3224 • Church: 804-288-3223 • http://westwoodbaptist-va.org

Richmond Free Press

B4 September 14-16, 2017

Faith News/Directory Congregation to vote on pastor’s request to stay

Andrew Nicholas ‘Bo’ Hobbs, Jr. Those we love don’t go away, They walk beside us every day…

Unseen, unheard but always near, Still loved, still missed and very dear.

Dr. Morris G. Henderson announced his retirement in late May, but now he is seeking to stay on as pastor of Thirty-first Street Baptist Church.

Members will have a chance to vote on whether to allow Dr. Henderson to stay or authorize his retirement at a congregational meeting to be held Monday, Sept. 25, at the 102-year-old church at 831 N. 31st St. in Church Hill.

Previously postponed from August, the meeting had been scheduled for Monday. However, it was postponed another two weeks at Dr. Henderson’s request.

The congregation has been rattled by concerns about finances and a decline in membership.

Dr. Henderson has led the church since 2007. The former minister of music at Thirty-first Street, he was installed as the church’s sixth pastor following the death of Dr. Darrel Rollins.

Dr. Henderson is best known for collaborating with community groups to create a garden complex on church property to improve the supply of fresh vegetables in Church Hill.

In Loving Memory Auntie Audrey

Sixth Baptist Church Theme for 2016-2020: Mobilizing For Ministry Refreshing The Old and Emerging The New We Embrace Diversity — Love For All! Come worship with us!

Family and Friends Community Weekend Saturday, September 16, 2017 Great Big Festival – Church Grounds 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM

A 21st Century Church With Ministry For Everyone

Family and Friends community Worship Sunday, September 17, 2017 10:45 AM – Worship Service

VBS 2017

“All Things Through Christ!” Phillippians 4:13

Rev. Aamon R. Miller

11:00 AM Mid-day Meditation

Serving Richmond since 1887

WedneSday 12:00 p.m. Bible Study 7:00 p.m. Bible Study



Sunday 9:00 a.m. Sunday School 10:00 a.m. Worship Service

All ARe Welcome

Tuesdays

Noon Day Bible Study

Wednesdays

6:30 p.m.

Prayer and Praise 7:00 p.m.

Bible Study

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

At New Deliverance,You Are Home!

See you there and bring a friend.

Sunday, September 17, 2017

8:30 a.m. Intercessory Prayer

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

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

Visit www.ndec.net.

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

11:00 a.m.

9:30 a.m.

Every 3rd Sunday 2nd Sunday, 11 a.m.

Mon. 6:30 p.m.

Tues. 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Wed. 6:45 p.m.

Wed. 4:30 p.m.

Wed. 6:00 p.m.

Thurs., 11:45 a.m.

Dr. Wallace J. Cook, Pastor Emeritus  Rev. Dr. James E. Leary, Interim Pastor

8:00 a.m.

Early Morning Worship 9:30 a.m.

Sunday School 11:00 a.m.

Morning Worship

New Deliverance Evangelistic Church

Saturday

Worship 7:00 p.m. Nightly

Sunday Worship Sunday Church School Service of Holy Communion Service of Baptism Life Application Bible Class Mid-Week Senior Adult Fellowship Wednesday Meditation & Bible Study Homework & Tutoring Scouting Program Thursday Bible Study

Sundays

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

Jr.

“The People’s Church”

Pastor Kevin Cook

(First Peter 5:6)

Wednesday, September 20, 2017 • Dr. George W.C. Lyons, Gillfield Baptist Church, Petersburg, VA

216 W. Leigh St. • Richmond, Va. 23220 Tel: 804-643-3366 • Fax: 804-643-3367 Email: ebcoffice1@yahoo.com • web: www.richmondebenezer.com

“MAKE IT HAPPEN”

2017 Theme: The Year of Elevation

Sr.

1858

Early Morning Worship ~ 8 a.m.

Sunday School ~ 9:30 a.m.

Morning Worship ~ 11 a.m.

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

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

Sermons Available at BRBCONLINE.org

Rev. Darryl G. Thompson, Pastor

Tuesday, September 19, 2017 • Dr. Robert A. Diggs, Tabernacle Baptist Church, Petersburg, VA

Ebenezer Baptist Church

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

Mount Olive Baptist Church

Monday, September 18, 2017 • Dr. Roscoe D. Cooper, III Rising Mount Zion Baptist Church, Richmond, VA

3200 East Broad Street Richmond, Virginia 23223 (804) 226-1176

Broad Rock Baptist Church

Noonday Bible Study 12noon-1:00 p.m.

Sanctuary - All Are Welcome!

Wednesday Evening Bible Study 7:00 p.m. Prayer

(near Byrd Park)

Sunday, September 17, 2017 • 10:00 am Homecoming/Unity Worship

6:30 PM Prayer Meeting

Wednesday Services

400 South Addison Street, Richmond, Va. 23220 (804) 359- 1691 or 359- 3498 ï Fax (804) 359- 3798 www.sixthbaptistchurch.org

Homecoming & Fall Revival

Tuesday Sunday 10:30 AM Bible Study 9:30 AM Church School 6:30 PM Church-wide Bible Study 11:00 AM Worship Service 6:30 PM Men's Bible Study (Each 2nd and 4th) (Holy Communion Thursday each 2nd Sunday) Wednesday (Following 2nd Sunday)

8:00 a.m. Sunday School 9:00 a.m. Worship Service

Facebook sixthbaptistrva

Come and Join us in Worship as we Celebrate

Dr. Sylvester T. Smith, Pastor “There’s A Place for You”

Sunday

Twitter sixthbaptistrva

Dr. Kirkland R. Walton, Pastor

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

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

, Pastor

St. Peter Baptist Church

Good Shepherd Baptist Church



Message: Rethinking King Series Message #16 Rethinking My Friend Proverbs 18:24

Antioch Baptist Church

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

“Redeeming God’s People for Gods Purpose”

Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 a.m.

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

SERVICES

SUNDAY WORSHIP HOUR – 10:00 A.M. CHILDREN’S CHURCH & BUS MINISTRY AVAILABLE SUNDAY SCHOOL (FOR ALL AGES) – 9:00 A.M. TUESDAY MID-DAY BIBLE STUDY – 12 NOON WEDNESDAY MID-WEEK PRAYER & BIBLE STUDY – 7:00 P.M.

Come Join Us! Reverend Dr. Lester D. Frye Pastor and Founder

DR. JAMES L. SAILES PASTOR

A MISSION BASED CHURCH FAMILY EXCITING MINISTRIES FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH, YOUNG ADULTS & SENIOR ADULTS BIBLE REVELATION TEACHING DIVERSE MUSIC MINISTRY LOVING, CARING ENVIRONMENT

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

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

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

- Matthew 4:23

Thirty-first Street Baptist Church

Bishop “Mr. Richard Clean” White

Guest Speaker:

“Working For You In This Difficult Hour”

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A National Recording Artist

ENROLL NOW!!!

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

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

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

o

❖

SUNDAYS Church School 9:30 a.m.

Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. ❖

Tune in on sunday morning to wTvr - channel 6 - 8:30 a.m.

THE NEw DElivEraNcE cHrisTiaN acaDEmy (NDca)

C

everence e with e evanc R g in Dr. Morris Henderson, Senior Pastor bin

Joseph Jenkins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. 2011-2049 Grayland Avenue Richmond, Virginia 23220 (804) 358-9177

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Joseph Jenkins, Jr., Founder (Dec. 19, 1938 - Dec. 9, 2006) Joseph Jenkins, III. • Jason K. Jenkins • Maxine T. Jenkins

WEDNESDAYS Bible Study 12:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. ❖

MONDAY-FRIDAY Nutrition Center and Clothes Closet 11:30 a.m. & 1:00 p.m.

823 North 31st Street Richmond, VA 23223 (804) 226-0150 Office www.31sbc.org

Richmond Free Press

September 14-16, 2017 B5

Legal Notices City of Richmond, Virginia CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the Council of the City of Richmond has scheduled a public hearing, open to all interested citizens, on Monday, September 25, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber on the Second Floor of City Hall, located at 900 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, to consider the following ordinances: Ordinance No. 2017-150 As Amended To amend City Code §§ 30-446.2, 30-446.3, 30-446.6, and 30-446.8, concerning the B-7 MixedUse Business District; to amend ch. 30, art. IV of the City Code by adding therein a new div. 31 consisting of §§ 30-457.1 through 30.457.10, concerning the establishment of a new TOD-1 TransitOriented Nodal District; to amend ch. 30, art. V, div. 2 by adding therein a new § 30-518.4, concerning signage in the new TOD-1 Transit-Oriented Nodal District; to amend City Code § 30-694.2, wireless communications facilities; to amend City Code §§ 30-710.1, 30710.2, 30-710.2:3, 30710.3:1, 30-710.4, and 30-710.13, concerning parking and perimeter buffers; to amend City Code §§ 30-720.1 and 30-720.5, concerning loading requirements; and to amend City Code § 30-1220, concerning definitions, for the purpose of establishing a new Transit-Oriented Nodal District, including smallscale manufacturing as a permitted principal use in the B-7 Mixed-Use Business District, defining the terms “priority street” and “street-oriented commercial frontage,” and imposing requirements for priority streets.

Ordinance No. 2017-158 To amend Ord. No. 2017036, adopted May 15, 2017, which adopted the Fiscal Year 2017-2018 General Fund Budget and made appropriations pursuant thereto, by creating a new program within the Finance agency called “Finance-Commissioner of Revenue” and transferring and re-appropriating $708,451.00 from the Finance Operations program to the new FinanceCommissioner of Revenue program for the purpose of separating the appropriations for commissioner of the revenue functions from the appropriations for other Department of Finance operations.

Ordinance No. 2017-159 To amend Ord. No. 2017036, adopted May 15, 2017, which adopted the Fiscal Year 2017-2018 General Fund Budget and made appropriations pursuant thereto, by creating a new program within the Justice Services agency called “Justice ServicesAdult Day Reporting” and transferring and re-appropriating $476,494.00 from the Justice ServicesOperations program to the new Adult Day Reporting program for the purpose of separating the appropriations for the adult day reporting center from the appropriations for other Department of Justice Services operations.

Ordinance No. 2017-160 To amend Ord. No. 2017036, adopted May 15, 2017, which adopted the Fiscal Year 2017-2018 General Fund Budget and made appropriations pursuant thereto, by transferring and re-appropriating $118,663.00 from the Police-Area I and Area II program to the PoliceAdministration program for the purpose of ensuring appropriations properly reflect the reassignment of police officers out of operational police units.

Ordinance No. 2017-161 To amend Ord. No. 2017036, adopted May 15, 2017, which adopted the Fiscal Year 2017-2018 General Fund Budget and made appropriations pursuant thereto, by transferring and re-appropriating $1,059,530.00 from the Police-Administration program to the Police-Area I and Area II program for the purpose of ensuring appropriations properly reflect the assignment of police academy graduates to operational police units.

Ordinance No. 2017-162 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept funds in the amount of $4,500.00 from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2017-2018 General Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Non-Departmental General Fund Budget by $4,500.00 for the purpose of providing a grant of $2,250.00 of such funds each to the Cadence Theatre Company and to CultureWorks, Inc.

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Fiscal Year 2017-2018 Special Fund Budget and made appropriations pursuant thereto, by creating a new special fund for the Department of Public Works called the Bike Share System special fund and by increasing estimated revenues from the bicycle share system provided pursuant to City Code §12-121(a) and the amount appropriated to the Department of Public Works’ Bike Share System special fund by $450,000.00 for the purpose of operating the bicycle share system provided pursuant to City Code §12-121(a).

Ordinance No. 2017-164 To declare that a public necessity exists and to authorize the acquisition by gift, purchase, condemnation, or otherwise of a fee simple interest at the intersection of Forest Hill Avenue and the Powhite Parkway for the purpose of constructing multimodal transportation and drainage improvements along Forest Hill Avenue between its intersection with Hathaway Road and its intersection with the Powhite Parkway.

Ordinance No. 2017-165 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to accept funds in the total amount of $4,450,000.00 from the Virginia Department of Transportation, and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2017-2018 Capital Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amounts appropriated to various projects in various categories as set forth on the attachment by $4,450,000.00 for the purpose of appropriating funding received from the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Fiscal Year 2018 Revenue Sharing Program for various projects.

Ordinance No. 2017-166 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a First Amendment to Utilities Agreement between the City of Richmond and Fulton Hill Properties, L.L.C., for the purpose of establishing new conditions for the release of an existing City sewer utility easement located at 4907 Goddin Court. (COMMITTEE: Land Use, Housing and Transportation, Tuesday, September 19, 2017, 1:00 p.m., Council Chamber) Ordinance No. 2017-167 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a General Services Administration Public Buildings Service Lease Amendment between the City of Richmond and the Government of the United States of America for the purpose of decreasing the number of parking spaces leased to the federal government from 42 to 21 at a City-owned parking facility located at 500 East Marshall Street from Oct. 1, 2017, through Sept. 30, 2018. (COMMITTEE: Land Use, Housing and Transportation, Tuesday, September 19, 2017, 1:00 p.m., Council Chamber) Ordinance No. 2017-168 To declare that a public necessity exists and to authorize the acquisition by gift, purchase, condemnation, or otherwise of a permanent utility easement at 2911 Hathaway Road for the purpose of constructing multimodal transportation and drainage improvements along Forest Hill Avenue between its intersection with Hathaway Road and its intersection with the Powhite Parkway. (COMMITTEE: Land Use, Housing and Transportation, Tuesday, September 19, 2017, 1:00 p.m., Council Chamber) Ordinance No. 2017-169 To amend and reordain Ord. No. 80-260-81-41, adopted Mar. 9, 1981, as previously amended

by Ord. Nos. 81-152-138, adopted August 24, 1981, 84-110-83, adopted May 29, 1984, 89-318-295, adopted Nov. 13, 1989, 2006-26-52, adopted Feb. 27, 2006, 2006260-263, adopted Oct. 23, 2006, and 2012-163-164, adopted Oct. 8, 2012, concerning the Beaufont Oaks Community Unit Plan, to amend the permitted uses to include a church use. (COMMITTEE: Land Use, Housing and Transportation, Tuesday, September 19, 2017, 1:00 p.m., Council Chamber)

Ordinance No. 2017-163 To amend Ord. No. 2017037, adopted May 15, 2017, which adopted the

Ordinance No. 2017-170 To amend City Code §§ 8-56 and 8-58, concerning the reporting and sale of City-owned real estate, to require that certain records concerning Cityowned real estate be published on the City’s website, to require the biennial submission of a real estate strategies plan to the Council, and to establish certain standards for the acceptance of unsolicited offers for City-owned

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real estate. (COMMITTEE: Land Use, Housing and Transportation, Tuesday, September 19, 2017, 1:00 p.m., Council Chamber) Ordinance No. 2017-171 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to accept a donation of software and related services valued at approximately $1,062,190.00 from AvePoint Public Sector, Inc., and in connection therewith to execute a Contract for Donated Goods and Services between the City and AvePoint Public Sector, Inc., for the purpose of providing a citizen relationship management software to enhance the City’s customer service interactions with its citizens.

(COMMITTEE: Finance and Economic Development, Thursday, September 21, 2017, 5:00 p.m., Council Chamber) Interested citizens who wish to speak will be given an opportunity to do so.

Copies of the full text of all ordinances are available by visiting the City Clerk’s page on the City’s Website at www.Richmondgov. com and in the Office of the City Clerk, City Hall, 900 East Broad Street, Suite 200, Richmond, VA 23219, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Jean V. Capel City Clerk City of Richmond, Virginia CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the Council of the City of Richmond has scheduled a public hearing, open to all interested citizens, on Monday, September 25, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber on the Second Floor of City Hall, located at 900 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, to consider the following ordinances: Ordinance No. 2017-148 To adopt an amendment to the Master Plan for the City of Richmond, adopted by the City Planning Commission on Nov. 6, 2000, and by the City Council by Ord. No. 2000-371-200111, adopted Jan. 8, 2001, as previously amended, to incorporate the Richmond Riverfront Plan Amendment 1: Downriver Update 2017, applicable to the downriver area along the James River identified in the Richmond Riverfront Plan, extending from Great Shiplock Park east to the border with Henrico County, as part of the Master Plan. (COMMITTEE: Land Use, Housing and Transportation, Tuesday, September 19, 2017, 3:00 p.m., Council Chamber) Ordinance No. 2017-157 To amend ch. 2, art. IV, div. 3, by adding therein a new § 2-305, concerning a microenterprise loan program, for the purpose of establishing a microenterprise loan program. (COMMITTEE: Finance and Economic Development, Thursday, September 21, 2017, 5:00 p.m., Council Chamber) Interested citizens who wish to speak will be given an opportunity to do so.

Copies of the full text of all ordinances are available by visiting the City Clerk’s page on the City’s Website at www.Richmondgov. com and in the Office of the City Clerk, City Hall, 900 East Broad Street, Suite 200, Richmond, VA 23219, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Jean V. Capel City Clerk

Divorce VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER PAULINE MARTIN, Plaintiff v.

CARSON MARTIN, III, Defendant.

Case No.: CL17001131-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

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

It is ORDERED that the defendant, who has been served with the Complaint by posted service appear here on or before the 27th day of October, 2017 and protect his interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Dorothy M. Eure Counsel for Plaintiff VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER BRYANT WILLIAMS, SR., Plaintiff v.

CATHY WILLIAMS, Defendant.

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Case No.: CL17001194-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

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

It is ORDERED that the defendant, who has been served with the Complaint by posted service appear here on or before the 27th day of October, 2017 and protect her interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Dorothy M. Eure Counsel for Plaintiff VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667

Plaintiff v.

PREZSHEA BAKER, Defendant.

Case No.: CL17001476-00 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 26th day of October, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. and protect her interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Dorothy M. Eure Counsel for Plaintiff VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667

months.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, who whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 6th day of October, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. and protect his interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Dorothy M. Eure Counsel for Plaintiff VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER STEPHEN GULLINS, Plaintiff v.

MARGARETHA GULLINS, Defendant.

Case No.: CL17001515-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

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

It is ORDERED that the defendant, who has been served with the Complaint by posted service appear here on or before the 27th day of October, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. and protect her interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Dorothy M. Eure Counsel for Plaintiff VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER RAYMOND MCCAULEY, III, Plaintiff v.

LISA MCCAULEY, Defendant.

Case No.: CL17002199-00 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 27th day of October, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. and protect her interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Dorothy M. Eure Counsel for Plaintiff VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER LESLIE SPINNER, Plaintiff v.

JAMARRA BROWN, Defendant.

Case No.: CL15003189-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

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

It is ORDERED that the defendant, who is a nonresident, appear here on or before the 27th day of October, 2017 and protect his interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Dorothy M. Eure Counsel for Plaintiff VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HENRICO MARGARET J. JACOBSON, Plaintiff v.

TED W. JACOBSON, Defendant.

Case No.: CL17-1760 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce.

WHEREFORE, an affidavit having been filed by the Plaintiff, Margaret J. Jacobson, that due diligence has been used without effect to ascertain the location of the Defendant, Ted W. Jacobson, it is ORDERED that Ted W. Jacobson appear before this Court on October 30, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. and protect his interests herein.

An Extract, Teste: HEIDI S. BARSHINGER, Clerk Mary Ashby Brown, Esq. Friedman Law Firm PC 9401 Courthouse Road Chesterfield, VA 23832 (804) 717-1969 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER DAMIEN DUGGER, Continued on next page

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER MARLON LUNDY, Plaintiff v.

CHANETTELLE LUNDY, Defendant.

Case No.: CL17002221-00 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 the26th day of October, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. and protect her interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Dorothy M. Eure Counsel for Plaintiff VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF PRINCE GEORGE YVETTE FLORES, Plaintiff v.

OSCAR BLANCAS CRUZ, Defendant.

Case No.: CL17-595 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to grant Yvette Flores, the Plaintiff, a divorce from Oscar Blancas Cruz, the Defendant, on the ground that the Plaintiff and Defendant have lived separate and apart for a period in excess of one year.

WHEREFORE, an affidavit having been filed that due diligence has been used without effect to ascertain the location of Oscar Blancas Cruz, it is hereby ORDERED that Oscar Blancas Cruz appear before the Circuit Court for the County of Prince George by September 26, 2017, which is no less than fifty days from the entry of this order, to protect his interests herein.

An Extract, Teste: BISHOP KNOTT, JR., Clerk Raul Novo, Esq.(VSB#41064) Novo Taghavi, Ltd. 1500 Forest Ave. Suite 124 Richmond, VA 23229 Phone: (804) 614-6920 Fax: (804) 528-4142 Email: info@novotaghavi.com Counsel for the Plaintiff VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE COUNTY OF HENRICO JESSICA LEE LANE, Plaintiff v.

PEDRO LOPEZ MARTINEZ, Defendant.

Case No.: CL17-1913 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

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

It appearing by affidavit filed according to law that the Defendant, Pedtro Lopez Martinez, is not a resident of the State of Virginia and that his last known address is unknown, it is therefore ORDERED that Defendant, Pedro Lopez Martinez, appear before this Court on or before the 2nd day of October, 2017 and do what is necessary to protect his interests in this suit.

A Copy, Teste: HEIDI S. BARSHINGER, Clerk I ask for this: Jesse Baez, Esq. (VSB #85986) Hairfield Morton, PLC 2800 Buford Road, Suite 201 Richmond, Virginia 23235 (804 320-6600 telephone (804) 320-8040 facsimile Counsel for Plaintiff

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER KHALID COLEMAN, Plaintiff v.

SHENITA WILLIAMS, Defendant.

Case No.: CL17001431-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

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

It is ORDERED that the defendant, who has been served with the Complaint by posted service appear here on or before the10th day of October, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. in Courtroom 2 and protect her interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Dorothy M. Eure Counsel for Plaintiff VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667

CUSTODY virgiNia: iN thE JuvENiLE aND DOmEstic rELatiONs District cOurt IN the COunty of Chesterfield Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Asley m dieguezjurado, lilia angelines jurado espina v. carlos faustino dieguez posada Case No. JJ092082-01-00 OrDEr Of puBLicatiON

The object of this suit is to: Determine custody of Asley Maritza Elizabeth Dieguez-Jurado (DOB: 2/28/01), whose mother is Lilia Angelines Jurado Espina and whose father is Carlos Faustino Dieguez Posada, pursuant to Virginia Code Section 16.1-241A3. Father’s last known address was in Jutiapa, Dept of Jutiapa, Guatemala.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Carlos Faustino Dieguez Posada appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before November 06, 2017 at 12:00 P.M. virgiNia: iN thE JuvENiLE aND DOmEstic rELatiONs District cOurt Of the City of Richmond Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Evelyn rose grau, Children’s Home Society of Virginia v.

Legal Father, John Grau and UNKNOWN BIRTH FATHER File No. J-094672-01-00 AMENDED OrDEr Of puBLicatiON

The object of this suit is to: Pursuant to VA Code § 16.1-277.01, Children’s Home Society of Virginia is requesting that the Court terminate the residual parental rights of the legal birth father, John Grau, whose whereabouts are unknown, and of any unknown birth father whose identity and whereabouts are unknown, and transfer custody of the infant, Evelyn Rose Grau, d/o/b 05/28/2017 to the Children’s Home Society of Virginia with the right to place the infant for adoption.

It is ORDERED that the Legal father and any Unknown Birth Father, appear at the above-named Court and protect his interests on or before 11/16/2017, at 9:20 AM, Court Room #4

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10:20 AM STATE OF INDIANA: IN THE HAMILTON SUPERIOR COURT 1 COUNTY OF HAMILTON IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION OF INFANT FEMALE ENDER CAUSE NO.: 29D01-1708-AD-1092 NOTICE TO UNNAMED FATHER

The unnamed putative father of the child born to Leana Dawn Ender, or the person who claims to be the father of the child born to Leana Dawn Ender on August 25, 2017, is notified that a Petition for Adoption of the child was filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Hamilton County Superior Court, 1 Hamilton County Square, Noblesville, Indiana 46060.

If the unnamed putative father seeks to contest the adoption of the child, the unnamed putative father must file a motion to contest the Adoption in accordance with I.C. 31-19-10-1 in the abovenamed Court within thirty (30) days after the date of service of this Notice. This Notice may be served by publication.

If the unnamed putative father does not file a motion to contest the Adoption within thirty (30) days after service of this Notice the above-named Court will hear and determine the Petition for Adoption. The unnamed putative father’s Consent is irrevocably implied and the unnamed putative father loses the right to contest the adoption or the validity of the unnamed putative father’s implied consent to the adoption. The unnamed putative father loses the right to establish paternity of the child under I.C. 31-14.

Nothing Leana Dawn Ender or anyone else says to the unnamed putative father of the child relieves the unnamed putative father of his obligations under this notice.

Under Indiana law, a putative father is a person who is named as or claims that he may be the father of a child born out of wedlock but who has not yet been legally proven to be the child’s father.

This Notice complies with I.C. 31-19-4-4, but does not exhaustively set forth the unnamed putative father’s legal obligations under the Indiana adoption statutes.

A person being served with this Notice should consult the Indiana adoption statutes.

Tammy Baitz, CLERK, Hamilton Superior Court Prepared by: Nathan A. Leach (Attorney #25673-49) HERRIN & LEACH, LLC 3815 River Crossing Parkway, Suite 100 Indianapolis, IN 46240 (317) 566-2174 Nate@IndianaAdoptionLawyer.com virgiNia: iN thE JuvENiLE aND DOmEstic rELatiONs District cOurt Of the City of Richmond Commonwealth of Virginia, in re BRENT DANIEL BROOKS File No. J-090872-10 OrDEr Of puBLicatiON

The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“RPR”) Unknown (Father), of Brent Daniel Brooks, child, DOB 04/23/2015, “RPR” means all rights and responsibilities remaining with parent after transfer of legal custody or guardianship of the person, including but not limited to rights of: visitation; adoption consent; determination of religious affiliation; and responsibility for support.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Unknown (Father), to appear at the above-named Court and protect his interest on or before 10/25/2017, at 2:00 PM, CourtRoom #5

PROPERTY

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER KACHELLE BROWN, Plaintiff v.

JAMES BROWN, Defendant.

Case No.: CL17002069-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

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

virgiNia: iN thE JuvENiLE aND DOmEstic rELatiONs District cOurt Of the City of Richmond Commonwealth of Virginia, in re JONATHAN ALVARENGA-GARAY File No. JJ094740-01-00 OrDEr Of puBLicatiON

The object of this suit is to: Seek custody of Jonathan Abraham Alvarenga Garay.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Ana Nicolasa Garay Molina, appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before 12/07/2017, at

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND JOHN MARSHALL COURTS BUILDING LONNIE TURNAGE, CHARLES WYNN, SR., JONNELL LILLY, ERNESTINE TOWNES, KEVETTE ELLIOTT TRUSTEES OF ST. JOHN’S UNITED HOLY CHURCH, Plaintiff v.

KENYA BURRELL, TRACEY BURRELL GALLOWAY, JAMES BURRELL, MARVA BURRELL, SHANEISE WILLIAMS, UNKNOWN HEIRS Defendants Case Number CL17-4042-3 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object and purpose of this suit is to permit Plaintiff, Lonnie Turnage, Charles Wynn, Sr., Jonnell Lilly, Ernestine Townes, and Kevette Elliott, Trustees of St. John’s United Holy Church, to purchase the remaining interests outstanding of the real property described as 1517 North 28th Street, Richmond, Virginia, of which Plaintiff currently owns the majority interests.

An affidavit having been made and signed that due diligence has been used by or on behalf of Plaintiff to ascertain in what city or county and at what addresses the Defendants, Kenya Burrell, Tracey Burrell Galloway, James Burrell, Marva Burrell, Shaneise Williams and any Unknown Heirs dwell and the identity of any Unknown Heirs, if any, without effect, it is hereby ORDERED that Kenya Burrell, Tracey Burrell, Galloway, James Burrell, Marva Burrell, Shaneise

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Order of Publication Henrico County Circuit Court Commonwealth of Virginia, In re Ashley Beacham (Name change minor) Brian Matthew Dimantova III v.

Brian Dimantova II Case No. CL17-2472 The object of this is to notify Brian Matthew Dimantova II of the name change hearing.

It is ORDERED that Brian Matthew Dimantova II appear at the above named court and protect his interests on or before October 6, 2017 at 9am.

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Williams and any Unknown Heirs appear on the return date of October 30, 2017 at 9:00 AM and do whatever is necessary to protect their interest in said land.

An Extract, Edward F. Jewett, Clerk Kevette B. Elliott, Esq. The Elliott Law Office 5012 Monument Ave, Ste 201 Richmond, VA 23230 804-355-4688 phone 804-355-5355 fax attykbe@gmail.com VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND JOHN MARSHALL COURTS BUILDING CITY OF RICHMOND, Plaintiff, v.

DANIEL BOINEST, et al.

Defendants.

Case No.: CL17-3850 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 1315 North 27th Street, Richmond, Virginia, Tax Map Number E0000622/023, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owner of record, Daniel Boinest.

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

IT IS ORDERED that DANIEL BOINEST and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before OCTOBER 19. 2017 and do what is necessary to protect their interests in this matter.

An Extract, Teste: Edward F. Jewett, Clerk Gregory A. Lukanuski, Esq. City of Richmond, Office of the City Attorney 900 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219 804-646-7940 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND JOHN MARSHALL COURTS BUILDING CITY OF RICHMOND, Plaintiff, v.

JAMES E. MILLER, SR., et al., Defendants.

Case No.: CL17-3386 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 3125 4th Avenue, Richmond, Virginia, Tax Map Number N0000998/014, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owners of record, James E. Miller, Sr., and Dorothy C. Miller.

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

IT IS ORDERED that JAMES E. MILLER, SR., DOROTHY C. MILLER, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before OCTOBER 19. 2017 and do what is necessary to protect their interests in this matter.

An Extract, Teste: Edward F. Jewett, Clerk Gregory A. Lukanuski, Esq. City of Richmond, Office of the City Attorney 900 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219 804-646-7940 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND JOHN MARSHALL COURTS BUILDING CITY OF RICHMOND, Plaintiff, v.

KENNETH H. TYLER, et al., Defendants.

Case No.: CL17-2437 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 3310 2nd Avenue, Richmond, Virginia, Tax Map Number N000-1071/007, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owners of record, Kenneth H. Tyler and Dawn Tyler.

An Affidavit having been filed that said owners, KENNETH H. TYLER and DAWN TYLER, who have been served by posting and by mailing a copy of the complaint to their last known address, have not been personally located and have not filed a response to this action; that EXCEL CAPITAL 4, LLC, A Foreign Limited Liability Company Transacting business in Virginia without a certificate of registration, which may be a creditor with an interest in said property, has not filed a response to this action; and that any heirs, devisees, assignees, successors in interest, successors in title and/or any creditors with a current or future interest in Continued on next page

Richmond Free Press

B6 September 14-16, 2017

Sports Plus

African-American NFL quarterbacks working to turn ripple into wave

By Fred Jeter

Cleveland Browns rookie DeShone Kizer burst onto the national spotlight while passing a football on Virginia soil.

Now the former University of Notre Dame quarterback is the latest addition to the NFL’s select club of African-American starting quarterbacks.

While the player makeup in the NFL is about 70 percent African-American overall, the single difference-making position — quarterback — remains only about 16 percent AfricanAmerican, counting newcomer Kizer.

The rookie had his ups and downs, but a few more downs than ups in his debut against the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 2118 loss on Sunday, Sept. 10. Kizer passed for 222 yards and ran for a touchdown, but also tossed an interception and was sacked seven times.

From Toledo, Ohio, Kizer was a little known backup to Notre Dame quarterback Malik Zaire when the Fighting Irish rolled into Charlottesville on Sept. 12, 2015, to take on the University of Virginia. Despite being ranked No. 9 nationally, Notre Dame trailed 27-26 in the closing minute when Zaire went down with a season-ending ankle fracture.

Enter Kizer.

In his unanticipated college debut, Kizer hooked up with Will Fuller for a 39-yard touchdown pass with 12 seconds left, denying U.Va.’s then embattled coach, Mike London, a possible job-saving triumph.

Kizer took over as quarterback at Notre Dame for the rest of 2015 and all of 2016 and became the Cleveland Browns’ second round draft pick after foregoing his senior year of eligibility in South Bend, Ind. In training camp, Kizer beat out returnee Cody Kessler and trade acquisition Brock Osweiler to win the starting nod from Browns Coach Hue Jackson.

Sometimes be careful what you wish for, however.

Kiser becomes the 27th different starting quarterback for the Browns since 1999.

Long-suffering “Brownies” are hopeful Kizer fares better than Robert Griffin III, who suffered a shoulder separation on opening day a year ago.

Here’s an update on the NFL’s roster of African-American quarterbacks:

DeShone Kizer

Deshaun Watson

Patrick Mahomes

The rookies DeShone Kizer of the Cleveland Browns — The latest in a long line of Notre Dame quarterbacks to reach the NFL. He joins the likes of Paul Hornung, Rick Mirer, Brady Quinn, Steve Beuerlein, Joe Montana and Joe Theismann.

Deshaun Watson of the Houston Texans — This two-time Heisman Trophy finalist led Clemson University to the 2017 national title, dethroning the University of Alabama. He figures to be the hot breath on the back of the neck of the Texans’ starter, Tom Savage.

Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs — He will study this season under Chiefs starting quarterback Alex Smith after a brilliant three years at Texas Tech, where he passed for 11,252 yards and 93 touchdowns.

Joshua Dobbs of the Pittsburgh Steelers — Oft-injured Ben Roethlisberger, 35, can’t last forever. Dobbs, a fourth round draft pick from the University of Tennessee, hopes to be “Big Ben’s” successor.

Brad Kaaya of the Carolina Panthers — He must wait his turn behind 2015 League MVP Cam Newton. This former Miami University quarterback is the son of actress Angela Means Kaaya.

Returning starters Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers — The 2011 Heisman Trophy winner begins his seventh season as the Panthers’ starting quarterback.

Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks — The former Richmonder enters his sixth season as the Seahawks’ starter.

Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys — Now in his second season as the Cowboys’ starter, he won the job as a rookie.

Jameis Winston of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — This 2014 Heisman Trophy winner enters his third seasons as the Bucs’ starter.

Brad Kaaya

Joshua Dobbs

Tyrod Taylor of the Buffalo Bills — From Virginia Tech, he entered the league in 2011, becoming the Bills’ starter three years ago.

Veteran backups Cardale Jones of the Los Angeles Chargers — This is his second season out of Ohio State University. He will play behind Philip Rivers.

E.J. Manuel of the Oakland Raiders — A Virginia Beach native and former Buffalo Bills starter, he is backup to the Raiders’ Derek Carr.

Geno Smith of the New York Giants — The former Jets starter moved across town to back up Eli Manning.

Brett Hundley of the Green Bay Packers — In his second season out of UCLA, he again will be backup to Aaron Rodgers.

Looking for work Colin Kaepernick — He signed a six-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers in 2014 worth a minimum $13 million.

However, he opted out of the contract in March and remains unsigned because of according to observers, a combination of declining performance and for taking a knee rather than stand for the national anthem in protest of injustices against AfricanAmericans and people of color.

Robert Griffin III — The former Heisman Trophy winner at Baylor University (2011) and NFL Rookie of the Year with Washington (2012) is now a free agent. Injury-riddled Griffin was released by the Washington NFL team in 2016 and by the Cleveland Browns earlier this year.

Jerod Evans — He bypassed his senior season at Virginia Tech to enter the NFL draft. He failed to get drafted, but signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles. He was released by the Eagles in training camp.

Legal Notices/Employment Opportunities Continued from previous page

Continued from previous column

said property, have not been identified and/or served despite diligent efforts to do so and are defendants to this suit by the general description of “Parties Unknown.”

IT IS ORDERED that KENNETH H. TYLER, DAW N T Y L E R , E X C E L CAPITAL 4, LLC, A Foreign Limited Liability Company Transacting business in Virginia without a certificate of registration, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before OCTOBER 19. 2017 and do what is necessary to protect their interests in this matter.

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

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

IT IS ORDERED that ROBERT LEROY NELSON, SR., P L A Z A M OTO R S INC. A purged Virginia Corporation, LANDMARKFLEET SURVEYORS, P.C., Successor in Interest to CHARLES H. FLEET & ASSOC PC, Bruce C. Landes, Registered Agent, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before OCTOBER 19. 2017 and do what is necessary to protect their interests in this matter.

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

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

ROBERT LEROY NELSON, SR., et al., Defendants.

Case No.: CL17-3261 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 2414 Ruffin Road, Richmond, Virginia, Tax Map Number S0080706/007, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owner of record, Robert Leroy Nelson

An Affidavit having been filed that said owner, ROBERT LEROY NELSON, SR., who has been served by posting and by mailing a copy of the complaint to his last known address, has not been personally located and has not filed a response to this action; that PLAZA MOTORS INC. A purged Virginia Corporation, which may be a creditor with an interest in said property, has not been located and has not files a response to this action; that LANDMARKFLEET SURVEYORS, P.C., Successor in Interest to CHARLES H. FLEET & ASSOC PC, Bruce C. Landes, Registered Agent, which may be a creditor with an interest in said property, has been served by posting and by mailing a copy of the complaint to the registered agent’s last known address, Continued on next column

BIDS ITB # 17-1490-8PEW Belmont Golf Course Bunker Renovations This project consists of removing and renovating existing sand bunkers on 18Hole course. Due 2:00 pm, October 9, 2017. Additional information available at: http:// henrico.us/purchasing/.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Notice to Citizens of Richmond, Virginia NOTE: PUBLIC MEETING DATE CHANGED!!

As directed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RRHA) has completed its proposed FY 2018 Annual Agency Plan. RRHA seeks to amend its proposed Annual Agency Plan (for fiscal year beginning October 2017) includes information about the housing authority’s current policies, operations, programs, and services.

A copy of the amended Annual Agency Plan and supporting documents will be available August 27, 2017 through October 12, 2017 for public review at the Authority’s Administrative offices located at 901 and 918 Chamberlayne Parkway, Richmond, Virginia and all Public Housing Management Offices between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Also, copies may be obtained from our website at www.rrha.com.

All interested persons wishing to comment on the proposed plan may submit written comments to RRHA, Attention: Office of the Chief Operating Officer, 901Chamberlayne Parkway, Richmond, Virginia 23220, by October 12, 2017.

A public meeting to receive comments on amending the proposed plan will be held Friday, October 13, 2017, at 5:30 p.m. at the Calhoun Family Investment Center, 436 Calhoun Street, Richmond, Virginia 23220.

The public meeting will be wheelchair accessible. A sign language interpreter or other accommodations will be provided upon request. To request assistance, please contact RRHA four (4) business days in advance of the meeting at (804) 780-4276 or TDD – Dial 711.

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR (Position Number #G00110)

Partnership for People with Disabilities

A University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University The Partnership for People with Disabilities at VCU is currently recruiting for an Associate Director. The Partnership is recognized as Virginia’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) by the US Department of Health and Human Services, and is charged with conducting interdisciplinary preservice and community training, continuing education, direct service, research and evaluation, policy, and dissemination. The Partnership implements these mandates across four content areas: community living, early intervention/early childhood, education, and health. With approximately 100 employees, we manage between 35 and 40 projects, funded through federal, state, and other sources. The Partnership is administratively situated in VCU’s School of Education.

This Associate Director will assist the Executive Director with all programmatic requirements of the organization’s core funding and project funding. This position also oversees training, technical assistance, and direct service functions. The Associate Director will collaborate with the Associate Director of Research to oversee program development, data collection, and report writing for the organization. The position is a non-tenure track, grant-funded faculty position.

Please go to www.vcujobs.com for more information about the position and how to submit your application (Position # G00110).

For questions, please contact Angela Best at ppdhr@vcu.edu or call (804) 828-8253.

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

Ministry Opportunities:

St. James Baptist Church of Varina has the following positions available:

The disAbility Law Center of Virginia (dLCV) has an opening for a Disability Rights Advocate.

Please visit www.dlcv.org for more information.

To apply, email jobs@dlcv.org or mail resume with detailed cover letter describing qualifications to: Human Resources, 1512 Willow Lawn, Suite 100, Richmond, Virginia 23230, or FAX (804) 662-7431.

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

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

EOE M/F/D/V

Mt. Sinai Baptist Church located in Midlothian, Virginia is looking for a spirit filled, passionate and dedicated musician for our music ministry. Preferably, someone to play for all worship services and support our choirs for outside engagements. They would need to be flexible, organized and able to work with God’s people. Interested persons are asked to contact the church office at (804)794-5624 or email mtsinaibaptistchurch@aol.com

Pediatric Hospitalist, Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Richmond, VA. Provide direct patient medical management of infants, children and teens on the pediatric inpatient units at St. Mary’s Hospital, including admission evaluation, continued inpatient management and discharge, and discharge education of patients. Applicants should forward CV to: Chief of Pediatrics, Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital, 5801 Bremo Road, Richmond, VA 23226.

Graphic designer part-time

Submit resumé and samples of work to: Human Resources, Richmond Free Press, P.O. Box 27709, Richmond, Virginia 23261.

No phone calls please.

Organist/Pianist/Worship Leader Youth Minister

Interested candidates are asked to submit your credentials to:

webmaster@sjbcofvarina.org

These positions will remain open until filled.

A criminal background check is required.

No Phone Calls Please.

PATIENT ACCOUNTS ANALYST I To apply, please visit www.raaems.org to complete an application. Applications must be received no later than 5:00 pm on September 18, 2017.

To advertise in the Richmond Free Press call 644-0496

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

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