Elegba Folklore Society explores the origin of civilization
Artifacts, photographs and material culture from Egypt, known in antiquity as Kemet, will go on display at the Elegba Folklore Society’s Cultural Center, beginning Friday, Feb. 2, with an opening reception from 5 to 9 p.m.
VMFA announces RVA Community Makers, events
For the sixth year, RVA Community Makers will honor African-American leaders from various fields. The annual community-activated art project will be unveiled by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, and will remain on display until March 16.
Living the Dream features musical tributes, VUU Gospel Choir
A concert and tribute to the Rev. Nathan Dell will be part of the Community Learning Week events being presented by nonprofit Living the Dream, Inc. (LTD).
Virginia primaries begin in May
In-person voting for statewide candidates in Virginia’s primary elections will kick off Friday, May 3, at local registrar’s offices.
Virginia Opera presents Damien Geter’s “Cotton”
Virginia Opera describes its presentation of Damien Geter’s song cycle, “Cotton,” as a “powerful fusion of music and poetry inspired by the captivating photography of acclaimed Philadelphia artist John Dowell.”
She’s a winner!
Tranelle Pollard is the 2024 RPS Teacher of the Year
Tranelle Pollard, lead school counselor at Dogwood Middle School, has been selected as the Richmond Public Schools 2024 Teacher of the Year.
New urgent care centers coming to fruition
Church Hill is moving closer to the opening of its first urgent care center.
City receives excellent credit ratings from Standard & Poor’s
S&P Global Ratings, Moody’s Investors Service, and Fitch Ratings have affirmed the City of Richmond’s ratings at AA+, Aa1, and AA+, respectively, according to City officials. The rating agencies commended Richmond for its very strong economic growth, attention to increasing reserves, and sound and conservative financial management and policies.
USATF National Cross Country Championships return to Richmond Region
Hanover County’s Pole Green Park play host to nation’s top runners
The excitement is building for the 2024 USA Track & Field National Cross Country Championships to take place in Hanover County’s Pole Green Park Jan. 20.
Early voting for president
Early voting in Virginia’s March 5 presidential primaries is to begin on Friday, Jan. 19, and continue through Saturday, March 2, it has been announced.
JMI, VSU summit dips into global issues
Best-selling author Bakari Sellers, former Google exec Jewel Burks-Solomon among speakers
Bakari Sellers’ 2020 memoir “My Vanishing Country,” is filled with delicious morsels that stay with readers long after they’ve been digested.
3 Richmond Symphony concerts highlight MLK
The Richmond Symphony has scheduled three concerts leading up to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday, which is Jan. 15.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority presents 2023 debutantes
“A Royal Holiday Affair” was the theme for this year’s Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Debutante Presentation and Ball on Dec. 16 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Seventeen young women participated in this year’s ball sponsored by the AKA’s Upsilon Omega Chapter in collaboration with Zenobia’s Promise Foundation.
Richmond church gains $1.25M mental health program grant
A historic East End church has been awarded $1.25 million from the Lilly Endowment to promote mental health and hire psychologists and other professionals to serve congregants and the community.
9th District School Board seat open
With Nicole Jones moving to City Council, the Richmond School Board Tuesday began seeking applicants interested in filling the 9th District School Board until a new representative is elected in November 2024.
A Wilder celebration
Former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder will be celebrated for his 70 years of public service and historic achievements next year in “A National Ovation to L. Douglas Wilder.”
RVA Sports Awards finalists announced
The Richmond Region Tourism Foundation and its partners have announced the finalists for the 3rd Annual RVA Sports Awards, an event to honor athletes, coaches and groups working to better the region through sports.
VMFA announces free admission to ‘Elegy’ for state employees, preschool, K-12 teachers
Commonwealth of Virginia employees and preschool and K–12 teachers (public and private) will receive free admission to the new exhibition Virginia Museum of Fine Arts “Dawoud Bey: Elegy,” according to the museum. Active duty military and their immediate families also can receive free admission to special exhibitions through the museum’s year-round participation in the Blue Star Museums program. The exhibition is now on view at VMFA through February 25, 2024.
Library of Virginia’s ‘Indigenous Perspectives,’ highlights state’s tribal citizens
A new multimedia exhibition at the Library of Virginia explores voices and experiences of Virginia’s tribal communities and how they remain a vital part of Virginia’s culture today.
Christmas at Creighton
Gifts that keep on giving
Holiday cheer is coming to the Creighton Court public housing community on Saturday, Dec. 16, during Christmas at Creighton.
VCU Health Sciences Library exhibits focus on HIV/AIDS
“Let communities lead” was the theme of World AIDS Day, which this year fell on Friday, Dec. 1. Although AIDS deaths and HIV infection rates do not often lead news reports in 2023, that does not mean that HIV/ AIDS does not continue to impact people’s lives and our health care systems.
Shining stars
Bernadine Simmons, L. Victor Collins and Andre Braugher remembered
The world had Oprah. Richmond had Bernie. Longtime television journalist Bernadine A. “Bernie” Simmons, who died Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, at age 79, was well known to many in Richmond and surrounding communities as the creator and face of NBC12’s popular “12 About Town” news show.
Library of Virginia and William & Mary Libraries announce Children’s Literary Award
The Library of Virginia, in partnership with William & Mary Libraries, is accepting nominations for a new award honoring excellence in the field of children’s literature with a focus on Virginia.
Virginia Repertory Theatre presents “Gospel Nativity” this weekend
Virginia Repertory Theatre will present “Gospel Nativity,” a special holiday show as a workshop at 7 p.m. Dec 16 and 17 in the Jessie Bogese Theatre at Virginia Rep Center for Arts and Education, 4202 Hermitage Road.
Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights voted best in the nation
The Richmond region is now home to the country’s best “Botanical Garden Holiday Lights.” This year, voters helped Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden secure the number one spot in the USA Today 10 Best contest. The win comes after two consecutive years in the No. 2 spot.
Richmond Symphony hopes to give and receive
The Richmond Symphony will accompany “The Nutcracker,” a holiday tradition for many, at the Carpenter Theater Dec. 8-24.
VCU reflection room promotes student wellness
A new, multipurpose space on the second floor of Virginia Commonwealth University’s James Branch Cabell Library will provide students a quiet area for meditation, contemplation and prayer.
Home again: VMFA returns ancient works to their countries of origin
44 pieces are back in Italy, Egypt and Türkiye
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) announced Tuesday that it has deaccessioned and returned 44 works of ancient art following an investigation by the Antiquities Trafficking Unit of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the Department of Homeland Security into the global trafficking of looted or stolen antiquities.
Longtime Henrico County educator Marilyn Hinson Royal dies
Marilyn (Elise) Hinson Royal, a trailblazing force at the intersection of teaching, learning, and leadership, died on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, leaving behind a legacy as vast as the universe she inspired her students to explore.
VSU Marching Band named top divisional band by ESPN
Virginia State University’s Trojan Explosion Marching Band has been named the top Division II HBCU band in the country in 2023, according to ESPN the university has announced.
Virginia War Memorial, Navy League commemorate Pearl Harbor
The Virginia War Memorial and the Navy League of the United States, Richmond Chapter, will co-host the 82nd Commonwealth’s Pearl Harbor Day Remembrance Ceremony on Dec. 7 at 11 a.m. The ceremony will be outdoors in the Memorial’s Shrine of Memory — 20th Century at 621 S. Belvidere St. The public is invited and should dress accordingly.
Getting homes winter-ready
With El Niño returning for the first time in four years, Virginia could be in for a cold, snowy winter. Chill. Help is on the way.
Hanover County bans books in schools
“The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Wicked” and “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” are among the 75 books Hanover County school administrators directed teachers and librarians to remove from their schools last Friday, according to various news reports.
Bon Appetit!
VMHC exhibit to showcase American chef and TV personality Julia Child
As families prepare to gather around the table this week for Thanksgiving, the Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC) is preparing a new exhibition that will explore the life and legacy of American chef and TV personality Julia Child.
Virginia Holocaust Museum presents ‘Memorial Without Witness’
“Memorial Without Witness,” an exhibit of eight floor-to-ceiling size photographs taken at the Auschwitz death camp by Dr. Charles W. Sydnor Jr., will be on display at the Virginia Holocaust Museum until Nov. 30.
VSU to host presidential debate
Virginia State University will be one of the three universities to host a presidential debate in 2024, the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates announced Monday.
Community Foundation announces local R.E.B. Foundation winners
Several Richmond area teachers have been recognized for their contributions to public education — and given the means and opportunity to take their work even further.
Dennis T. Clark is new librarian of Virginia
Dennis T. Clark has been appointed to serve as the 10th librarian of Virginia.
Dominion Energy offers energy saving tips and bill payment assistance options as winter approaches
The fall and winter months typically bring higher energy bills as customers use more electricity to heat their homes. Dominion Energy Virginia is reminding customers of energy-saving tips to help save money. The utility also offers bill payment assistance options for customers in need.
Richmond marathon street closings
Richmond residents and visitors are advised to be aware of street closings and no parking zones that will go into effect Friday, Nov. 10, and Saturday, Nov. 11, as part of the Richmond Marathon. Vehicles parked along the race course will be towed to ensure safety during the event.
RPS announces open enrollment applications
Families can now apply for open enrollment schools, specialty schools and regional Governor’s Schools for the 2024-2025 Richmond school year at www.attendrvaschools.com. Applications for specialty and regional Governor’s Schools must be submitted by Friday, Dec. 1, at 4:30 p.m.
Chesterfield to celebrate Veterans Day Nov. 11
Community is invited to 2 p.m. ceremony at fairgrounds
Chesterfield County and the Chesterfield County Historical Society of Virginia invite the public to attend this year’s Veterans Day Ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 11, at 2 p.m. at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Building at the Chesterfield County Fairgrounds (10300 Courthouse Road).
Free Thanksgiving meals and turkeys
Young Achievers and Making Men, along with the Beta Gamma Lambda Educational Foundation, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Beta Gamma Lambda Chapter, The Links, Commonwealth (VA) Chapter, will sponsor a Turkey Giveaway on Nov. 18 from 12 to 2 p.m., 1830 Creighton Road, 23223.
Anniversary celebrations at Richmond Public Library
Richmond Public Library will celebrate memory, music and community in honor of the library’s 100th anniversary Saturday, Nov. 4.
VSU team takes off with NASA challenge
A team of students at Virginia State University has been invited for the first time to participate in the NASA Student Launch Challenge.
Shaping RPS’ future
Richmond Public Schools students, families, staff and members of the community are invited to help shape the future of RPS, as the school system will begin hosting Dreams4RPS meetings, beginning Wednesday, Nov. 8, to receive public input on the strategic plan for the district.
Putting women on the map
National Center of Women’s Innovations selects Dr. Gladys B. West as inaugural honoree
Dr. Gladys B. West, the African-American mathematician whose mapping of the world enabled Global Positioning System (GPS), was chosen by the newly launched National Center of Women’s Innovations (NCWI) as its inaugural “Forgotten Women Innovator.”
PROC Foundation hosts 27th Beautillion
The achievements of four beaux (young men) will be recognized during the Profes- sionals Reaching Out to the Community (PROC) Founda- tion’s 27th Beautillion on Nov. 11 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. The Beautillion offers high school juniors and seniors educational, social and cultural experiences, along with the chance to earn a college schol- arship during the eight-month Beautillion program. The theme of this year’s Beautillion is “Creating the Nar- rative for a Better Tomorrow.” During the black-tie event, educational and book scholar- ships will be awarded. This year’s participants include: Matthew Lamar Edwards – A junior at Matoaca High School, he is the son of Mr. Marvin L. Edwards and Mrs. Letitia M. Edwards. His escort is J’adore Cadet. Bishop Ramon Foster – A
Chesterfield opens early voting sites
Chesterfield County opened five library satellite sites for in person, early voting on Oct. 23.
