‘Isn’t She Lovely’ art to open at Pine Camp
Photographs, paintings, quilts, sculptures, masks and other works of art will focus on themes of African-American female beauty. They will be showcased at the “Isn’t She Lovely” art exhibition, hosted by the Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities.
Rosenwald schools focus of new exhibit
“African-American Schools during the Segregated Era” is now on view at historic Trinity Church in Chesterfield County. Open to the public, the exhibit focuses on six of the 10 schools that were built in the county with the support of the Rosenwald Fund, according to the organizer, the nonprofit Chesterfield County Historical Society.
Paintings by local artists on view beginning Feb. 6
It’s called “Congruent Images.” The exhibit of paintings by veteran Richmond area artists P. Muzi Branch and William “Blue” Johnson will be presented by the Elegba Folklore Society at its cultural center, 101 E. Broad St. in Downtown.
Holton to guest direct VCU jazz benefit concert
State Secretary of Education Anne Holton will serve as guest director at a Virginia Commonwealth University jazz event to raise money for legal services for low-income communities, the school has announced. Ms. Holton is to guest direct the VCU Jazz Orchestra I at the inaugural Jazz 4 Justice concert Friday, Jan. 30, according to a university news release.
Personality: Todd B. Waldo
Spotlight on president of Robinson Theater Community Arts Center
Todd B. Waldo recalls eagerly watching the restoration of the Robinson Theater at 29th and Q streets in Church Hill in 2008. “I live two blocks from there,” he says. “I still remember the first time I walked by and saw the marquee lights turned on. I was proud of the work. And seeing ‘Robinson’ shining brightly at the front of the building gave me hope.” The newly renovated facility reopened in February 2009 as the Robinson Theater Community Arts Center under the leadership of Executive Director Betsy Hart.
On the cusp of Black History Month, area ministers reflect on community issues
Like many others, the Rev. Emory Berry of Fourth Baptist Church in the East End is on a reflective journey as the nation commemorates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and nears the start of Black History Month. The self-examination comes amid an ongoing “national conversation” on searing social issues such as law enforcement’s fractured relationship with African-Americans, a widening economic gap and disparities in jobs and educational opportunities in communities of color.
Essie L. Miller, 63, RRHA commissioner
Essie LaDean Miller, a former commissioner of the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority, sought to make life better for residents of Fairfield Court and other public housing communities Ms. Miller was an outspoken voice for residents until her death Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015. She was 63.
Evelyn S. Fraser succumbs at 97
Evelyn Swann Fraser was known for her kind, loving, generous spirit and her devotion to her family and friends. When her sister, Lillian, fell ill at an early age, she cared for her until her death at age 38.
James L. Hawkins, 95, retired educator
James L. Hawkins had a treasured saying he loved to pass along to his stu- dents during more than two decades as an educator. “Use your mind, but use your hands as well,” his son, Darryl Hawkins, recalled of his father’s adherence to a strong work ethic in and outside of the classroom.
Gloria Cephas Venter, 79, retired teacher
Whether she was teaching a classroom of students or spending time with her four grandchildren, Gloria Cephas Venter loved to dote on youngsters. “What really stood out was Mom’s dedication to young minds,” said her daughter, Julie V. Edmonds. “Mom had a way of making every child feel important and worthy. She really made a difference in a lot of lives.”
Petersburg vice mayor Carl ‘Mike’ Ross, 63
Carl “Mike” Ross loved serving others. It was in his DNA. For two decades, he dedicated his life to public service in Petersburg. He was on the Petersburg City Council for the past 11 years and had been appointed the city’s vice mayor in early January. Before that, he was on the Petersburg School Board from 1995 to 2001. He served as board chair from 1998 to 2001.
Baseball pioneer Ernie Banks dies at 83
Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer Ernie Banks, the pioneering and famously affable slugger hailed by the team as “the greatest Cub in franchise history,” died Friday, Jan. 23, 2015, at age 83, the club announced.
HBCU athletes with Super Bowl past
Athletes from historically black colleges don’t figure to make much noise in this year’s Super Bowl, but that wasn’t the case in the event’s early years.
Richmond’s Russell Wilson heads to Super Bowl
The Seattle Seahawks’ Russell Wilson is listed at 5-foot-11, quite short by NFL quarterback standards. But Richmond’s link to Sunday’s Super Bowl may be up to 6-foot now, maybe even 6-foot-1, if you don’t press the measuring stick too hard atop his noggin.
VCU to drop SAT requirement
Virginia Commonwealth University is joining a growing national trend and no longer will require applicants to submit Scholastic Aptitude Test scores. The change will apply to applicants with a high school GPA of 3.3 or higher. VCU President Michael Rao delivered the news in his State of the University address Tuesday to students, faculty and staff in the University Student Commons.
McDonnell skirts jail with appeal
Former Gov. Bob McDonnell will remain free on bond while he appeals his conviction on corruption charges. In a win for the one-time Republican star, he will not have to report to prison in two weeks to start his two-year sentence. That’s the result of Monday’s order from the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The order approved the request from Mr. McDonnell’s legal team for him to remain free while his jury conviction is challenged. The two-page order also took a slap at U.S.JudgeJamesR.Spencer,whopresided
Did Miss Jamaica’s hair cut short her chance?
Halle Berry won an Academy Award for her dramatic role in the 2002 movie “Monster’s Ball” with a beautiful, short hairstyle. So why, an astonished audience at Sunday’s Miss Universe Pageant protested, didn’t their overwhelming favorite win? Their favorite: Short-haired beauty Miss Jamaica, 22-year-old Kaci Fennell.
U.S. surgeon general checks health, pulse of Richmond
The surgeon general of the United States learned Tuesday that affording health care is as much of a struggle as maintaining good health for some Richmond residents. Dr. Vivek Murthy, who at 37 is one of the youngest surgeon generals in the nation’s history and the first of Indian- American descent, met with community leaders, health care workers and residents in Richmond at The Daily Planet, a health center on West Grace Street that serves the homeless and low-income people and families.
Documents surface in Morrissey case
Information has begun to surface that appears to bolster Delegate Joseph D. Morris- sey’s claim that the new felony charges against him “are absolutely false.” Take the court document that the Henrico County grand jury has charged the scandal-tainted legislator with forging — the key element of the four counts
#BlackLivesMatter: It’s not your parents’ revolution
Black lives matter to Evandra Catherine. And that means more than fixing a broken criminal justice system. “Black Lives Matter doesn’t only focus on police brutality. Black lives also matter in systematic things like housing, education, looking for jobs, wages,” said Ms. Catherine, referring to the Black Lives Matter movement, a grassroots network of organizations and community leaders working to improve the lives of black people on all fronts.
