Casting a spell // From left, spider sorceress Kayla Samuels and 1970s flower child Dior Flax, both 7, and skeleton Aniyah Thompson, 8, work magic with their smiles last Saturday as they shopped for candy and spotted zombies during the 12th Annual Zombie Walk in Carytown two days before Halloween. Please see more photos of costumed zombies, Page C2.

Groundbreaking // Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones, left, leads the groundbreaking Monday for the $40 million Church Hill North Revitalization Project, which will replace the former Armstrong High School with 250 to 300 new apartments and single-family houses. Location: 1611 N. 31st St. near the Henrico County line. Joining the mayor at the ceremony are, from left, Richmond Delegate Delores L. McQuinn, City Council President Michelle R. Mosby, city Chief Administrative Officer Selena Cuffee-Glenn, Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority Chief Executive Officer T.K. Somanath and Rob Fossi, mid-Atlantic regional director of The Community Builders development firm. The firm will soon raze the building and begin construction. The school building, which has been vacant for 12 years, dates to 1951 when it replaced the original Armstrong building in Jackson Ward that now houses the Richmond Alternative School. The Church Hill North project is part of the city’s effort to fight poverty. The work on the 22-acre Church Hill site is billed as the first step to a bigger project to transform the nearby Creighton Court public housing community into a mixed-income neighborhood.

Warming hearts one coat at a time // Todd “Parney” Parnell, vice president and chief operating officer of the Richmond Flying Squirrels, works with team mascots Nutzy, left, and Nutasha to load coats in a van last Saturday during the 8th Annual Coats for Kids and Ballpark Warming Party at The Diamond. The Flying Squirrels were working with Coats for Kids sponsor, Puritan Cleaners, which collects about 15,000 coats for youngsters each November. The donated coats are washed, repaired and delivered to the Salvation Army for distribution to needy families in Central Virginia. The collection event at The Diamond was part of the free Ballpark Warming Party, where fans of all ages enjoyed live music, chili tasting, crafts, games and raffle prizes, including baseball memorabilia.

Zombies ‘attack’ Carytown // “Zombies” parade down Cary Street in Carytown last Saturday for the 12th Annual Richmond Zombie Walk to benefit the American Cancer Society.

Zombies ‘attack’ Carytown //The sight of dozens of people dressed and made up to zombie perfection caused shoppers, restaurant- goers and spectators to pull out their cell phones, snap photos and shoot videos.

The zombies silently limped and paraded their way west on Cary Street to Nansemond Street, where they made a U-turn and headed east on Cary Street to their final resting place, The Byrd Theatre. The Zombie Walk raises hundreds of dollars for charity each year.

Celebrating artists // Artist and owner of Browne Art Studio, S. Ross Browne,smiles during the opening last Friday of “Then and Now,” a new show at his Manchester studio on Hull Street.

Celebrating artists // The show features art from members of the Black American Art Association of Richmond, a new art collective. Scores of people attended the two-hour opening reception with the 13 artist-members of BAAAR. Bernie Johnson, left, admires a painting during the opening. The exhibit features two pieces from each artist — one work from early in his or her career and a current piece, according to Mr. Browne.

Celebrating artists //The exhibit features two pieces from each artist — one work from early in his or her career and a current piece, according to Mr. Browne. The Browne Art Studio is open11 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. Information: srbrowne@usa.net or (804) 592-1798.