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CIAA legend to be inducted into Hall of Fame
Abraham “Ham” Mitchell has wowed audiences at the CIAA Basketball Tournament for more than four decades with his dazzling attire, engaging personality and stylish strut. Known as “Mr. CIAA,” he has entertained thousands of appreciative fans with the dapper tailor-made suits he wears during games that often reflect the official colors of the teams playing at the time on the basketball court.
Attention deficit?
Busy school superintendent wants to teach college course
Busy school superintendent wants to teach college course
City opens emergency cold weather shelter
Men and women again will be able to spend cold nights inside the city’s former Public Safety Building in coming months. For the third consecutive year, the City of Richmond will use a portion of the building at 501 N. 9th St. as its emergency overflow shelter, according to Tammy D. Hawley, a spokesperson for Mayor Dwight C. Jones.
Former ROC property to become residential school for adults
The North Side building and property that once served as home to the Richmond Outreach Center’s School of Urban Ministry has a new owner.
Scout leaders step down after more than 50 years
Gladys Lewis and Anna Washington have faithfully led the Girl Scouts troop at their church, St. Philip’s Episcopal Church on North Side, for more than 50 years. Through their selfless service, the Richmond residents have helped hundreds of young girls fulfill their scouting dreams. They will officially step down as troop leaders Sunday, March 13, the day they are to be honored in a 10:30 a.m. ceremony at the church at 2900 Hanes Ave.
Harriet’s Place tea ministry opens in Washington Park
More than 100 colorful teapots of all shapes and sizes fill the idyllic home in the historic Washington Park community on North Side. They will serve as the centerpiece for Scripture Tea Fellowship Ministries, whose mission is to “provide spiritual, social, educational and economic empowerment in a safe place of refuge and relaxation over a cup of tea and the word of God,” according to the Rev. Jeanette Brown, the ministry’s founder.
NFL quarterback Russell Wilson gets hometown welcome
Seattle Seahawks All-Pro quarterback Russell Wilson scored a touchdown with a hometown crowd of 4,500 people at the Richmond Forum, where he was the special guest and speaker Saturday night at the Altria Theatre.
State looks to expand youth voter participation
Thanks to a little-known law, many 17-year-olds in Virginia can have a voice in which Democratic or Republican candidate is selected to represent their party in the 2016 presidential election. The state law allows 17-year-olds who will turn 18 by the Nov. 8, 2016, election to register in advance and vote in the state’s 2016 presidential primaries on March 1.
VUU’s history grounded in incubating the oppressed for success
Audience members rose to their feet with impassioned shouts of “Hallelujah!” and “Amen!” at Virginia Union University’s Founders Day Convocation last Friday.
Dr. Bedden gets 2-year extension
The Richmond School Board presented Superintendent Dana T. Bedden with an early Christmas gift Monday when six of its nine members voted to extend his contract by two years — through June 30, 2019. The extension comes midway through Dr. Bedden’s initial 3½-year contract that began Jan. 13, 2014, and was scheduled to expire on June 30, 2017.
Richmond Public Schools losing budget director during critical season
Richmond Public Schools is losing one of its chief budget architects as the School Board and Superintendent Dana T. Bedden prepare to kick off their budget negotiations for fiscal year 2017 with Mayor Dwight C. Jones and Richmond City Council. Betsy Drewry, RPS director of budget and planning, will leave her position Friday, Feb. 5, to become director of budget and finance for Prince George County, she told the Free Press at Monday’s School Board meeting at City Hall. Ms. Drewry is exiting after 18 months in the position. She was the Prince George school system’s budget chief for 14 years prior to coming to Richmond.
Rivalry brings out the spirit
It was a classic showdown between two city rivals — George Wythe and Huguenot high schools.
School Board tensions rise
Richmond Schools Superintendent Dana T. Bedden wore an incredulous look when two members of the School Board tried to scuttle an agreement aimed at putting the city’s worst middle school, Fred D. Thompson, on the road to regaining accreditation.
School bus plan raises safety concerns
Tara Spencer stands on her porch in the Creighton Court public housing community each school day and watches as her 12-year-old daughter, Japria, waits about 20 yards down the street to catch the bus to Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School where she is a sixth-grader.
TEDxRVA brings inspiration to Downtown
A university president with a comedic touch. A burlesque performer on a mission to continue the revival of her craft.
Mayoral hopeful hosts symposium
It had all the appearances of an event designed to promote her candidacy for the Richmond mayor’s job. But Richmond City Council President Michelle Mosby denied that to be the case this week during the Mayoral Symposium that featured three current and former female African-American mayors from across the nation.
Former presidential candidate Wilder offers advice to Clinton campaign
Former Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder — the nation’s first elected African-American governor and one-time Democratic presidential candidate — issued a cautionary warning to Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton’s campaign prior to a talk and book-signing event Tuesday at his alma mater, Virginia Union University.
Dr. Boykin Sanders honored for distinguished career, service
Dr. Boykin Sanders wore a huge smile as he walked into the Claude G. Perkins Living and Learning Center on the campus of Virginia Union University Saturday night, where about 200 people were gathered for a reception and banquet in his honor. Attendees broke into applause as he strode in holding his 3-year-old granddaughter, Sage, in his arms. Many were his former students at VUU, where Dr. Sanders has served as a professor and mentor for the last 32 years. The event also was a celebration of Dr. Sanders’ 70th birthday.
Sharpton on GOP: ‘They entertain you with foolishness’
“And let us not be weary in well doing!” the Rev. Al Sharpton said. “For in due season, we shall reap, if we faint not!” Moved by those stirring words, more than 1,000 worshippers rose to their feet, cheering and applauding Rev. Sharpton on Sunday during his sermon at the Men’s Day service at historic Gillfield Baptist Church in Petersburg. “If you give up, think of those ahead of you. If they had given up, where would we be?”
Rev. Canon Charles Poindexter, 82, former rector at St. Philip’s
Rev. Canon Charles L.L. Poindexter followed his childhood dream and served in the priesthood for more than five decades, including as rector at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church on North Side from 1998 to 2004.
