Leave it to Santa: Skye Cook, 6, tells all her Christmas wishes to Soul Santa during a recent visit to the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia in Jackson Ward. Soul Santa is always a big hit at the museum on December weekends leading up to the holiday. In just a few days, the youngster will see if Santa truly delivered. (Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press)

After more than a year of construction, a residential and retail complex is taking shape in Church Hill in the block bounded by Nine Mile Road, Fairmount Avenue and 25th, 24th and Redd streets. Looking north from S Street, the complex’s largest element is the new apartment buildings, at left, with 42 units that face Fairmount Avenue. At the center, just beyond a barricade blocking entry to 25th Street is the building that will house the new grocery store, the Market at 25th. At right, the steel skeleton of the J. Sargeant Reynolds Culinary School is going up adjacent to Nine Mile Road. The city has contributed $500,000 to support the development Steven and Kathie Markel are undertaking with other partners, including J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. The site is just a few blocks west of the Church Hill North development that is bringing new apartments and homes to the property that once housed Armstrong High School at Nine Mile Road and 31st Street. (Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press)

Socks for others: Home-schooled students who take online classes through Virginia Virtual Academy decorate a large Christmas stocking last Friday at the Richmond Public Library Main Branch in Downtown. Honoring the spirit of the season, the youngsters stuffed the decorated stocking with new socks of all sizes. The giant stocking then was donated to St. Joseph’s Villa to help people in need. Denise Haverty-Jackson of Petersburg, standing, checks the decorating progress of her son, Emmanuel Hollis-Jackson, and the other students, Dahlia Mohr of Bowling Green and James Searles of Fredericksburg. (Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press)

Toys, toys, toys! Richmond Sheriff Antionette V. Irving talks with youngsters at the “No Child Without a Toy” event last Friday at Woodville Elementary School in the East End. The city Sheriff’s Office is partnering with St. Paul’s Baptist Church and AFOI, Assisting Families of Inmates, to ensure that youngsters have gifts during this holiday season. The youngsters in AFOI’s “Milk and Cookies” mentoring program enjoyed face painting, decorating ornaments and other activities before the toys were distributed. The mentoring program is active in several Richmond elementary schools, including Woodville, Chimborazo and Swansboro. (Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press)

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Poinsettia in the West End