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Entrepreneurs pitch products aimed at senior market
Patricia Fitzpatrick enthusiastically pitched the UZURV ride reservation service website and app that she and other entrepreneurs created to a three-member judges panel resembling the popular product pitch TV show “Shark Tank” at the Aging 2.0 Global Startup Search competition last week in Henrico County.
Democrats choose Dance
She is the nominee to replace Marsh
Petersburg Democrats strongly backed Delegate Rosalyn R. Dance to be the Democratic candidate for 16th District Senate seat, previously held by Henry L. Marsh III.
NFL quarterback Russell Wilson gets hometown welcome
Seattle Seahawks All-Pro quarterback Russell Wilson scored a touchdown with a hometown crowd of 4,500 people at the Richmond Forum, where he was the special guest and speaker Saturday night at the Altria Theatre.
Twins lend voices, expertise to healthy heart education
Fraternal twins Kimberly Ketter and Shaun Rivers share a deep faith and a desire to help others. And they aspire to live life to its fullest.
Song by local music minister up for Stellar Awards
James Johnson was aboard a plane last spring bound for a recording session with the Arkansas Gospel Mass Choir when inspiration struck. “I was looking out at the clouds, at his creation, and I was thinking about just how great God is,” he recalled. At that moment, Mr. Johnson, the minister of music at Richmond’s Cedar Street Baptist Church of God, wrote the verses and the end of the song, “You Alone.”
Smithsonian’s new African-American museum focus of forum
Throngs of visitors are expected to view exhibits chronicling the enslavement and emancipation of hundreds of thousands of Africans and African-Americans in the United States when the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture opens this fall on the National Mall in Washington. And they will see displays about President Obama’s historic election and leadership as the nation’s first African-American president.
Richmond Public Schools losing budget director during critical season
Richmond Public Schools is losing one of its chief budget architects as the School Board and Superintendent Dana T. Bedden prepare to kick off their budget negotiations for fiscal year 2017 with Mayor Dwight C. Jones and Richmond City Council. Betsy Drewry, RPS director of budget and planning, will leave her position Friday, Feb. 5, to become director of budget and finance for Prince George County, she told the Free Press at Monday’s School Board meeting at City Hall. Ms. Drewry is exiting after 18 months in the position. She was the Prince George school system’s budget chief for 14 years prior to coming to Richmond.
Petersburg man holds memories from Selma march
As people across the nation flocked to the movies to watch “Selma,” 80-year-old Petersburg native Herbert V. Coulton Sr. already knew the story — because he was there.
Violent crime in city down in 2015
Mayor Dwight C. Jones and Police Chief Alfred Durham trumpeted a major decrease in violent crimes committed in the city during 2015 at a news conference last Friday. But the grim reality of crime’s impact on the community was illustrated when Charlene Boone stepped to the podium during the officials’ announcement last Friday at the Richmond Police Training Academy.
Call to action issued at Community Leaders Breakfast
“It’s not time for us to be silent!” Gov. Terry McAuliffe thundered. “It’s time to fire it up!” With smiling Baptist minister and Mayor Dwight C. Jones seated nearby at the 37th Annual Community Leaders Breakfast to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Gov. McAuliffe sounded every bit the mission-driven evangelist as he called for the com- munity to rally around his agenda for more jobs, a commitment to early childhood education and full restoration of rights for nonviolent ex-offenders.
Faith leaders, elected officials call for calm, respect for Muslims
Imam Ammar Amonette said he and the 2,000 members of his congregation at the Islamic Center of Virginia in Bon Air have seen the ugly face of hate in the wake of the recent terror attacks by Muslim extremists in San Bernadino, Calif., and Paris.
March set for Linwood Lambert death
The family of Linwood Lambert Jr. and other community members will mark the third anniversary of the former Richmond resident’s death with a march for justice Wednesday, May 4, in South Boston, where he died after three police officers stunned him 20 times with Tasers while he was in their custody.
VSU Gospel Chorale wins $10,000 in national competition
The highly acclaimed Virginia State University Gospel Chorale continues to win accolades. The latest honor: The choir, under the direction of Richmonder Perry Evans II, claimed first place in the 2015 Steve Harvey Neighborhood Awards Gospel Choir Competition.
Virginia now for all lovers
Jubilant couples head to courthouse for marriage licenses
On Monday, the Supreme Court effectively allowed same-sex marriage to proceed in Virginia when it refused to take up a 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that overturned the same-sex marriage ban.
School supplies giveaways scheduled
Several groups are holding back-to-school giveaways for Richmond students. City Council President Michelle R. Mosby is organizing a back-to-school giveaway as part of a 9th District National Night Out event 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, at the Southside Community Center and Sports Complex, 6255 Old Warwick Road. It’s the first public event to be held at the property that formerly served as the home to the Richmond Outreach Center. The city purchased the 17.7-acre property in August 2014 for $1.7 million.
‘Dialogue’ pages create feedback for School Board
Richmond Public Schools wants to make it easier for parents, students, teachers and the public to ask School Board members questions, make suggestions, express concerns or compliment their work — and get responses in a timely manner.
Rayvon Owen hometown ‘Idol’
He sang for Richmond Boys Choir, took talent to national stage
Rayvon Owen’s eyes sparkled with delight. When the limousine carrying Rayvon and his mother, Patrice Fitzgerald, pulled up to the James Center in Downtown last Friday, about 1,000 cheering fans were waiting for him in the rain.
Family seeks criminal charges in Taser death by police
Gwendolyn Smalls said not a day goes by that she and her family don’t feel anguish over the inhumane and unnecessary death of her 46-year-old brother, Linwood R. Lambert Jr. The former Richmond resident died nearly three years ago while he was in the custody of three South Boston police officers who fired 20 Taser shots at him while his hands and legs were shackled.
VSU president answers students, faculty
Dr. Keith T. Miller, the beleaguered president of Virginia State University, stood face to face with concerned faculty members, staff and students.
School success
Carver Elementary teamwork fosters rewards for students
“We take an all-hands-on-deck approach to educating our children.” That’s how George Washington Carver Elementary School Principal Kiwana Yates enthusiastically describes the full community involvement approach she and her staff utilize.
