Down home fun // Two-year-old Mali Bey creates bubbles and his own fun last Saturday at the Down Home Family Reunion at Abner Clay Park in Jackson Ward. Families came together to enjoy music, dance, stories, food and shopping at the annual event.

College classes have begun in the Richmond area, with thousands of freshmen joining the quest for degrees. Classes for nearly 32,000 students on Virginia Commonwealth University’s academic and medical campuses begin Thursday, Aug. 25. The university announced a record freshman class of 4,200 students, many of whom moved into campus residence halls last Friday and Saturday. Nearly 900 African-Americans are among the new students, representing 19 percent of the freshman class, according to VCU. Another 13 percent of freshmen are Asians and 9 percent are Latinos, the school reported. Overall, minorities represent about half of the freshman class, with nearly 90 percent Virginia residents, VCU stated. Classes also have started at the two other universities in the city. Virginia Union University welcomed more than 600 freshmen among the 1,800 mostly African-American students attending classes at its North Side campus. Separately, the University of Richmond reported enrolling about 800 freshmen — 28 percent of whom are students of color — beginning the fall session. Overall, the university reports nearly 2,900 students are enrolled at the West End campus.

Freshman Selina Sykes of Baltimore, center, receives a helping hand from her grandmother, Albertha Sykes, and her dad, Lee Sykes, as she moves into Virginia Commonwealth University’s Johnson Hall last Saturday. Parents, relatives and friends formed the line of movers at the West Franklin Street residence hall.

New Roundabout in North Side // This aerial view shows the new roundabout that has replaced the traffic lights at the Six Points intersection in Highland Park. Above, Mayor Dwight C. Jones officially opened the $1.2 million traffic circle Tuesday after more than eight months of construction. Federal funds paid for 90 percent of the work at the crossroads of Brookland Park Boulevard, Meadowbridge Road and Second and Dill avenues. This is one of a series of roundabouts the city has developed in recent years, primarily in the East End.

The purpose: To improve traffic and pedestrian safety and reduce accidents, according to city officials.

Family, folklore and food were highlighted last Saturday at the 26th Annual Down Home Family Reunion organized by the Elegba Folklore Society. Festivalgoers enjoyed performances by musical groups, including headliners The Intruders, and browsed tables in the cultural marketplace filled with wares and information linking West African and African-American history and traditions. Left, Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, who represents the 3rd District that formerly included Richmond, pauses to talk with a festivalgoer.

Its a family Reunion //Right, Nahla Elzubair, 10; left, Salma, 6; and Ahmed Haroun, 9; and Leena Salin, 11, who were with family at the Sudanese table, walk around the festival at Abner Clay Park in Jackson Ward.

Moving to the beat // David and Cierra Lacks find the beat and move their feet last Saturday at the 9th Annual Latin Jazz and Salsa Festival at Richmond’s Dogwood Dell.

Moving to the beat // The event, one of the summer highlights of the 60th Festival of the Arts, drew crowds of people who enjoyed the sounds of several musical groups. Rather than sitting and tapping their feet, many people jumped up and danced to the rhythms.