Court ruling sends wrong message
Re “Special needs advocate appeals conviction, faces another charge,” Nov. 19-21 edition:
Expand Medicaid in the commonwealth
Expanding Medicaid in Virginia should be the dominant issue in the Virginia General Assembly session that begins in January.
‘Where is our Christian humanity?’
Re editorial “Think globally,” Nov. 19-21 edition:
Go vegetarian for Thanksgiving
While President Obama is pardoning two turkeys for Thanksgiving, every one of us can exercise that same presidential power by choosing a nonviolent Thanksgiving observance that spares a turkey’s life.
The Muslim world isn’t silent
I received a call a few days after the Paris terrorist attacks from a relative. She was, quite understandably, deeply unsettled by the attack. She asked me why it was that the Muslim community was so silent about jihadist attacks. I told her that they were — and are — not silent at all. In fact, there were — immediate — statements of condemnation of these attacks from a wide range of organizations and religious leaders in the Arab and Muslim worlds, ranging from the Free Syrian Army to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, that denounced the heinous attacks. My relative then asked me why she and so many other people had not heard word one about this?
Let your spending reflect your values
The buildup began right after Halloween, when the newspapers got thicker, the advertising inserts longer and emails touting shopping bargains coming more frequently.
‘Let us express our gratitude by welcoming others’
President Obama’s 2015 Thanksgiving Proclamation.
“What are you most grateful for this Thanksgiving?”
On this holiday of gratitude, the Free Press talked to people Downtown and they answered the question:
Community Thanksgiving Feast open to all for 10th year
Come one, come all and share Thanksgiving with us. That’s the heartfelt invitation to the community as The Giving Heart prepares to serve a free turkey dinner with all the trimmings in Downtown.
North Side man surprised to find his portrait in library exhibit
The Rev. Robert W. Oliver’s jaw dropped and his eyes lit up with delight when he walked into the Richmond Public Library’s Gellman Room in Downtown.
RVA On Ice opens with ceremony Nov. 25
RVA On Ice, the city’s outdoor ice skating rink, will kick off its sixth season with a opening ceremony and celebration featuring music, games, activities and prizes.
VUU Concert Choir singing songs of season on Dec. 3
The Virginia Union University Concert Choir will present its annual Winter Concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3 in the Allix B. James Chapel at Coburn Hall on the campus.
Miss Fields, Mr. Witherspoon wed in sunrise ceremony
Yolanda Gail Fields and John Wesley Witherspoon are wed. The couple exchanged vows during a 7 a.m. ceremony Saturday, Sept. 26, at a private waterfront residence in Dunnsville. Pastor Gwendolyn G. Young of The Lord’s Healing Church in Chesterfield and the Rev. Robert Murray, pastor of First Baptist Church-Bute Street of Norfolk, officiated.
Congressional Black Caucus chairman to speak Dec. 3 at VUU
Congressman George Kenneth “G. K.” Butterfield, chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, will address students at Virginia Union University at 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3.
Diva Bag Auction scheduled for Dec. 7
Black Girls Rock! Founder Beverly Bond is scheduled to participate in Girls For A Change’s 2015 Diva Bag Auction at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7, at the Trinity Family Life Center.
VUU playoff hopes end in first round
In a game pitting two highly explosive offenses against each other, Virginia Union University came up about a firecracker short. Penalties, turnovers and a failed golden opportunity on the 1-yard line were chief culprits in the season-ending loss. Competing in the NCAA Division II football playoffs for the first time since 1991, the Panthers fell 40-21 at cold, windy Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania during a first-round game for Super Region 1. Don’t be misled by the score.
Southside Ducks, Battery Park big winners in city rec league play
Sheyheim Harris ran over tacklers for five touchdowns and Kevin Gayles punched in four extra points to lead the undefeated Southside Ducks to victory last Saturday in the Richmond Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities’ Youth Tackle Football Championship.
Panthers b-ball hopes to come roaring back
There’s a common thread between one of Virginia Union University’s all-time basketball greats and its current leading man. Both A.J. English II and his protégé, Ray Anderson, hail from the hard courts of Wilmington, Del. The VUU faithful are hoping Anderson, hailed by some as the “Ray of Hope,” can usher the program back to the glory road. English recommended VUU to Anderson and arranged for a visit, recounted the 6-foot-3 junior guard Anderson. “That’s how I got here,” he said.
Former VUU football standout inducted into softball hall of fame
William “Dill” Dillon went from being one of Virginia Union University’s all-time football greats to achieving excellence in another sport — slow-pitch softball. Dillon was inducted Saturday, Nov. 21, into the Central Virginia Amateur Softball Association (ASA) Hall of Fame. The event was held at The Place at Innsbrook in Henrico County.
VCU Rams jostle the crowns of basketball royalty
Native New Yorker Melvin Johnson wasn’t about to get blinded by the lights on arguably college basketball’s brightest stage, Madison Square Garden.
