School staff cheered Shayne Williams on his first day of fifth grade at Oak Grove-Bellemeade Elementary School on Monday, July 21. Oak Grove-Bellemeade is one of four Richmond Public Schools operating on a 200-day calendar. Richmond Public Schools launched the extended-year pilot in the 2023-24 school year at Fairfield Court and Cardinal elementary schools to address long-standing equity and achievement gaps worsened by the pandemic.

Liza Mickens, great-great-granddaughter of Maggie L. Walker, joins local volunteers, Richmond’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities and the National Park Service for a community service event July 19 at Abner Clay Park in honor of Walker’s birthday. Other participants included Mayor Danny Avula, Richmond City Council Vice President Katherine Jordan, Maggie L. Walker High School alumni and community leaders.

Trumpet vine in South Side