Pansy bloom on North Side

The big Stone Brewery beer production center is heading toward completion in the East End. Location: Williamsburg Avenue and Stony Run Road. The California-based company selected Richmond for its East Coast brewery last October. To help get the plant up and running quickly, the city has borrowed $23 million to build the factory, which the company is to repay in monthly installments over 25 years. The company is directly investing $51 million in the equipment, land and other costs. Brewing is expected to begin early next year, possibly in January. Production could top 120,000 barrels a year and could grow to 500,000 barrels a year. Up to 100 people could be employed there. Separately, the city is beginning to make plans for creating an $8 million restaurant and beer garden for Stone Brewery at the now vacant Intermediate Terminal on the riverfront. The company also would repay the city for that investment. As yet, there has been no indication on when construction of that restaurant and entertainment development might begin. Initially, work on that portion of the project was expected to begin at least two years after the brewery opening.

Brimming with excitement, Jessica Henderson, 14, reaches back to help Jordyn Henderson, 12, stay on her feet as the two skate at the city’s outdoor rink in the 600 block of East Broad Street in Downtown. They joined dozens of other skaters at last Friday’s opening ceremony for RVA On Ice, which debuted its sixth season with music, games, activities and prizes. American Idol finalist Rayvon Owen of Henrico County and the Richmond Boys Choir performed at the kickoff event that was hosted by Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones. The rink will be open for skating through Sunday, Jan. 3.

Be a lifesaver // Representatives of three Virginia Union University organizations display plaques awarded to their groups Nov. 21 for having the highest number of registrants for the “Be The Match Registry.” That’s a national bone marrow databank designed to connect possible donors to people in need of a marrow transplant to fight diseases such as sickle cell anemia, leukemia and blood cancers. From left, the students are Paige McGilvery and Jahnae McCoy of Destiny’s Daughters (second place), Miss Virginia Union Khadijah Harvin of The University Choir (third place) and Deondrai McKithen of the VUU Student Government Association (first place). The drive was organized by the James River Valley Chapter of The Links Inc. The Links chapter will host its second annual community bone marrow drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at Chesterfield Towne Center, 11500 Midlothian Turnpike. The public is invited to participate.

Thanksgiving Feast // Carlera Camp, 2, prepares to dig into her plate loaded with turkey and all the fixings on Thanksgiving Day at the 10th Annual Community Thanksgiving Feast at the Greater Richmond Convention Center in Downtown.

Thanksgiving Feast // Volunteer Alexis Harris carries a tray full of dinners to serve diners who enjoyed a free hot meal provided by Richmond area businesses and prepared and served by volunteers.

Thanksgiving Feast // Vicki L. Neilson, executive director of The Giving Heart nonprofit that spearheads the event, said 2,400 people were served at the community gathering, while 863 people volun- teered to cook, greet, seat and serve guests. Among the food served: 276 turkeys, 55 hams, 50 dozen Krispy Kreme donuts and 360 cans of cranberry sauce.

Honoring a pioneer // President Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Katherine G. Johnson of Newport News on Nov. 24 during an event in the East Room of the White House. The 97-year-old was one of the few women and African-Americans who worked for NASA when she started as a pool mathematician at the space agency’s Langley Research Center in Hampton in 1953. Her mathematic computations have influenced every major space program from America’s first manned space flight in 1961 to today’s Space Shuttle program. Mrs. Johnson was one of 17 individuals honored last week by President Obama, some posthumously, with the nation’s highest civilian award.

It’s that time of the year again as churches, synagogues, schools, businesses and others in the community spread holiday cheer and promote a giving spirit by putting up festive decorations, organizing community programs and donating their time and gifts to help others. In that spirit, Mary G. Gleaton, senior pastor at Faith Covenant Christian Fellowship Church, second from left, is joined by youths from the church in putting up decorations Nov. 27 outside the church at 1400 Spotsylvania St. in the East End.