SKY SHOW- For the child in all of us, radiant fireworks light up the skies and the James River for thousands of wide-eyed observers who attended the city’s annual fireworks show last Friday launched from Brown’s Island in Downtown. Other fireworks shows were held across town on Saturday, July 4, at The Diamond and at Dogwood Dell.

FIREWORKS OVER RICHMOND -Thousands of spectators gathered to see the skies painted in spectacular colors last Friday at the city’s annual fireworks show at Brown’s Island in Downtown.

FIREWORKS OVER RICHMOND - Many sat in chairs and on blankets on the lawn next to the Lee Bridge to view the aerial show.

FIREWORKS OVER RICHMOND-Others watched the fireworks from the Virginia War Memorial on South Belvidere Street.

SINGING FOR A SAINT- The Greater Richmond Metro Mass Choir sings at the homegoing service for gospel music icon Maggie Ingram. Hundreds of people attended the service last Thursday at Saint Paul’s Baptist Church in Henrico County to celebrate the life of Mrs. Ingram, who for more than six decades led the family gospel group Maggie Ingram and the Ingramettes.

Traffic now flows east and west on Grace Street between 4th and 9th streets. The double lines show the change. This view was taken from 6th Street looking east. The statue of George Washington at the State Capitol can be seen in the background. The work began in late April and was completed last month. The street remains one-way westbound between 4th and Belvidere streets, but that stretch will eventually be converted to two-way. The purpose of the change: To test whether this makes the street more attractive to businesses.

ON HER SIDE- Kandise Lucas, a volunteer advocate for schoolchildren with mental challenges, receives a pledge of state NAACP support Monday from Jack Gravely, interim executive director of the civil rights group. Location: The state NAACP headquarters in Richmond. The state NAACP rallied to assist Ms. Lucas after she was arrested in May for trespassing at a Chesterfield County school from which she was barred. She was handcuffed after she showed up to serve as an advocate for a special needs child at the request of the child’s parents. Ms. Lucas chose not to fight the charge in court Tuesday. She entered an Alford plea in which she maintained her innocence, but agreed the evidence was strong enough to convict her. She was placed on 12 months’ probation, with the prospect the charge could be dismissed if she is not arrested or convicted again.

Hibiscus on North Side