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John Marshall’s players reveal college courts
Three John Marshall High basketball athletes are taking their jump shots to the next level.
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Petersburg’s legendary basketball coach Carl Edward Peal dies
Moses Malone was among the players he helped shine Benedictine’s Starlings heads to Chapel Hill
Carl Edward Peal, perhaps known best as being Moses Malone’s basketball coach at Petersburg High School, died Thursday, May 16, 2022. He was 94 and living in Richmond.
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Benedictine’s Starlings heads to Chapel Hill
Joel Starlings is taking his football talents — as well as his 6-foot-5, 310-pound frame — to Chapel Hill, N.C.
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Much has changed, much remains in newsrooms
The news business is consumed by constant disrup- tors and interruptions. So much so that non-breaking news often gets tossed aside. I should know. Twice in the past two weeks an announcement about me coming aboard as managing editor for the Richmond Free Press was kicked to the curb in favor of major, breaking news. As it should be. No one wants to read about journalists when mass shootings, gun violence and a deadly pandemic continue to wreak havoc locally and throughout the country. Add to that soaring gas prices, babies lacking basics, and a trip to the grocery store akin to a five-course dinner or luxury hotel stay. When such tragedies occur and wallets are hijacked, journalists should be covering them rather than focusing on themselves. This week the news has been a little less jarring, providing time for me to reflect on my new role in a city that I moved to in 1981. Back then, I accepted an offer to work at Richmond’s afternoon daily newspaper, intrigued that the City Council was predominantly Black, which indicated to me that the city was progressive. While that remains a matter of debate among many, I will say that having left Richmond in 2011 to teach Black college students in my hometown of Greensboro, N.C., I was elated to return here five years later. I missed my favorite haunts, my home in a quiet neighborhood, my fun-loving, quirky friends, my church, my sorority and my museums. Upon returning, I continued to teach at various uni- versities but experienced profound joy as a substitute teacher in Henrico County. I completed a book about Black women journalists. I also started a nonprofit me- dia organization and spent several years as a freelance reporter and editor for publications that included the Richmond Free Press. My first few days as the Free Press managing editor were chaotic to say the least. Having just returned from a restful vacation in Hilton Head, S.C. and Savannah, Ga. — you know, the city that Hyundai just chose over Virginia’s Pittsylvania County to spend $5.5 billion and hire more than 8,000 workers — I was tossed into a sea of local, state and national news that I’d not experienced since ...last February. That was when, for two weeks, I served as the Free Press guest editor in the absence of the newspaper’s former managing editor. That also was when, during Black History Month, Virginia’s newly inaugurated governor caused a furor with his condemnation of critical race theory and had folks fired up about a “tip line” to snitch on classroom teachers who dared to teach the truth about American history and slavery. The furor almost made the Ralph Northam 2019 black face debacle appear quaint. (Note to Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin who made his fortune at one of the world’s most influential private equity firms: Don’t you think that time spent dissing teachers could have been better spent helping Pittsylvania County, decimated for more than a decade by furniture industry losses, secure that $5.5 billion Hyundai deal?) Before my recent re-entry into the newsroom, it had been nearly 25 years since I was a full time newspaper employee. Although much has changed since then, many aspects of the industry remain. The decline of daily newspapers began with buyouts and mergers in the early 1990s, around the same time that the Richmond Free Press was born. The dissolution of newsrooms continues today in the form of tight budgets, lean staffs, 24/7 hour news cycles and decreased circulation. Although the Free Press is a weekly newspaper, our mission is similar to that of daily print publications and online outlets. Still in the game, we are deadline driven, truth seekers and zealous about serving Richmond and surrounding communities. We are a Black-owned news- paper and revel in our reputation for providing relevant information for and about Richmond’s Black commu- nity. We also delight in knowing that our newspapers, more often than not, are consumed by many non-Black readers, too. Our staff is small, but mighty. A cadre of talented freelance reporters and photographers stand ready to support us when needed and we are proud of their presence. I remain honored and humbled (and somewhat speech- less) by an invitation from Jean P. Boone, Richmond Free Press president and publisher, to lead the Free Press. In accepting my new role, I am the second editor to do so since the death of Richmond Free Press Founder Raymond H. Boone. Never did I envision being in this position once occupied by a man whose backbone was made of steel, whose mind was sharper than any sword, and whose heart was good as gold. Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Boone for allowing me — a woman who penned her first newspaper article for a Black newspaper, The Carolina Peacemaker, as a col- lege student in 1977 — to lead your life’s passion and tireless work in its continuing journey. It is my hope and prayer that you, dear readers and new readers, will continue this journey with us.
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No vacation from education, by Julianne Malveaux
Students everywhere are anticipating, or already experiencing, their summer vacation. It means freedom from daily classes and the opportunity to break, “chill” and perhaps attend a summer program for many. We know, however, that there is knowledge erosion over the summer, especially for students who don’t continue to read or learn.
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Mayor Stoney and city developers missing mark on Diamond District plans
For the past two decades, I have been outspoken about the city failing to carry out the wishes of Arthur Ashe to build an African-American museum honoring the legacy African-American athletic achievement by way of his well-researched classic book series, “Hard Road to Glory.” In my view, such a facility, with the addition of an indoor sports complex, would be such a major game changer for the city to reap major tourist and revenue benefits for decades to come.
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Additional upgrades are taking place in Byrd Park’s Reservoir, which was built in 1897 and has served residents of Richmond and surrounding counties since then. …
Published on May 26, 2022
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School Board questions its role in Ashe Center’s site plans
Another battle appears to be looming between City Hall and the School Board.
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Governor: Texas gunman said he was going to ‘shoot up school’
The gunman who massacred 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school in Texas warned in online messages sent minutes before the attack that he had shot his grandmother and was going to shoot up a school, the governor said Wednesday.
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Personality: The Rev. Shay W. Auerbach
Sacred Heart Center’s board president says the pandemic has been especially hard for Latino communities
From the doors of the church to the streets of Richmond and beyond, the Rev. Shay W. Auerbach has been a tireless advocate for the city’s Latino community for more than a decade.
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Buffalo supermarket victim Kat Massey, 72, laid to rest
In the late 1980s, Katherine “Kat” Massey was tired of the perpetually overgrown lot on state property on her street, so she sent a letter on “Cherry Street Block Club” letterhead to the governor, which led to it being cleaned up.
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A salute to Richmond’s notable basketball stars
Robert L. “Bobby” Dandridge, aka “Greyhound,” “Bismarck,” and “Pick,” was born in Richmond on Nov. 15, 1947. He became a headliner at Maggie L. Walker High (Stretch Gardner) and Norfolk State (Ernie Fears), and was drafted in the fourth round by Milwaukee in 1969.
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2 artistic directors join Virginia Repertory Theatre
Todd D. Norris and Rick Hammerly will join Desirée Roots, a Richmond-based jazz singer and actress, as artistic directors for the Virginia Repertory Theatre.
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She’s coming!
Michelle Obama to discuss free speech at the Richmond Forum
Former First Lady Michelle Obama will make a long-awaited appearance at the Richmond Forum on June 7.
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New stable for police horses
Richmond’s four police horses, Aslan, Samson, Scooter and Toby, are finally getting a new home.
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City council greenlights coliseum’s replacement
The vacant and closed Richmond Coliseum is headed for redevelopment.
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Local health clinic pauses services
The Richmond and Henrico Health Districts have stopped clinical operations at the Southwood Resource Center due to maintenance issues, bringing a temporary halt to health screenings, exams and other medical services that have been provided to the public there since 2018. The center is located at 1754 Clarkson Road. RHHD officials said patients with scheduled appointments at the site are being contacted to reschedule for other dates and locations until RHHD and Southwood management resolve problems at the site. Information about when the center will reopen has not been released. “This is an emerging and evolving situation,” said Margo Webb, director of community programs, in a statement. “Our clinical and community teams remain dedicated to serving the health needs of Southwood residents and are exploring options to prevent a gap in services.” The Southwood pool house will remain open and active for services and scheduled appointments, including COVID-19 testing and vaccinations, and other outreach efforts.
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Jackson Ward residents question plans for their community
Improved infrastructure, redeveloped housing and better health care are some of the goals city planners are crafting for Richmond’s historic Jackson Ward.
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New names recommended for Fort Lee, Fort A.P. Hill and Fort Pickett Army bases
The names of slavery-defending Confederate military leaders who fought to destroy the U.S. government could finally start disappearing from military installations.
