Vice President Kamala Harris was in Richmond on May 6 in honor of Small Business Week and to highlight the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to uplifting small businesses.

Julius Dengel, 7, jumps Double Dutch during the Rho Eta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and the Sarah Garland Jones Center for Healthy Living’s “Passport to Wellness,” a day of health-centered information and nutrition on April 29. The event, at 2900 Nine Mile Road, featured yoga, food, information on health for men and women, financial literacy and more.

The James River Association broke ground on the James A. Buzzard River Education Center Monday, May 8, at 2825 Dock St. along the James River. Attending the ceremonial groundbreaking was Virginia Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources Travis Voyles, left, James River Association President and CEO Bill Street, Mayor Levar M. Stoney and Richmond City Councilwoman Cynthia I. Newbille. The state-of-the-art facility will serve as a catalyst for river education, environmental awareness and community connection, said Mr. Street. However, there was no mention of the James River’s Indigenous name, Powhatan, nor the Native Americans, the Powhatan tribe, who lived below the Fall Line (Richmond) when the Jamestown colonists arrived in 1607. The Powhatan River then was named the James River after King James I of England. Mayor Stoney, in his remarks, did note the James River’s “instrumental role” in Virgina’s history. “We know a number of great stories about how the river brought Abraham Lincoln down here, but also we know the story it played in the slave trade here as well. The good, the bad and the ugly. It’s my hope that every child in this city learns about the river and has a healthy respect for the river and the power of this natural resource that we have right in our backyard.”

A Little Free Library was dedicated to the life and memory of Anthony J. Binga Jr. on May 6 at The Baker Street Apartments, 100 W. Baker St. Mr. Binga, who died at age 60 on Oct. 14, 2022, was a North Side Richmond native and resident. Passionate about contributing to communities in need of assistance, he was especially attached to the children and families of Gilpin Court.

Also in attendance for the ceremony and unveiling was his mother, Thomasina Binga, seated center, along with close friends of Mrs. Binga and her son.

West End blooms

Several hundred people turned out last Saturday for the benefit Derby Day Party in Richmond to enjoy music, games, food and the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby and raise money for the Professionals Reaching Out to the Community (PROC). Leaders of the event included from left, Charmayne B. Vincent, chair of PROC; and the two co-chairs of the event, Janet Hawkes-Pleasants and Natalie Smith. Location: Bon Secours Training Center on Leigh Street. PROC is best known for sponsoring The Beautillion, an etiquette and leadership program for male high school students.

Michael Morris and Shameka Massenburg check out greeting cards by photographer Adam N. Goldsmith Art during the 52nd Annual Arts in the Park event showcasing more than 350 exhibitors from throughout the country. Painting, pottery and ceramics, jewelry, furniture, photography, woodworking, glass, and more were featured during the May 6 event.

Poised and pretty the Panamanian Traditional Dance Group of RVA was among many performers May 6 during the 22nd annual Que Pasa Festival on Brown’s Island.

This was a new location for the festival that formerly took place on the Canal Walk. The switch didn’t matter as thousands of people came out to celebrate Richmond and the surrounding areas’ Hispanic and Latin American cultures.

Sponsored by the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the annual festival showcases the diversity and beauty of Hispanic and Latin American cultures while highlighting local businesses, artisans, food vendors featuring Latino culinary delights and entertainers. Among the live artist exhibitions, homemade crafts and gifts were fun family activities in the Kids Area featuring educational installations with arts and crafts activities.