My Community: Richmond
Tell us what's happening in the city of Richmond! Maybe there's a community event planned at your child's school, or youth recreation signups are under way. Is your club recruiting new members? Have you - or someone close to you - received an honor lately? Maybe your church is looking for volunteers for a service project. Let us know by posting your news. Send us your photos too. Click here to submit your post. Please keep your post related to the actual city and not the surrounding counties.

Living Word Stage Company’s current production is August Wilson’s “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” It is playing at Pine Camp Cultural Center (4901 Old Brook Road).  The show runs from February 2 through February 25.  Show times are Friday and Saturday night at 8 pm and Sunday afternoon at 4 pm.  The show stars Carl Gordon, formerly of the Fox television show “Roc”

Kelsie Bradberry, a Monacan High School graduate, was named Playtex Sport Team Player of the Month for December. Kelsie won a cash scholarship as well as a donation to a charity of her choice. She is a senior at Longwood University.

Dwayne Gibson, restaurant manager at the McDonald’s on Huguenot Road, has been named a 2007 Ray Kroc Award winner.

McDonald’s USA presented Gibson with the award Jan. 26 at a surprise congratulatory reception at the restaurant. McDonald’s created this award in honor of its founder to recognize superior performance. As a recipient of the award, Gibson received a prize package including a $2,500 cash award, trophy, and recognition at an awards banquet in Chicago later this year.

Richmond Mayor L. Douglas Wilder has decided to build a new jail to replace the city’s aging, overcrowded facility. (See our special report)

The city is talking with Prince WIlliam and Powhatan counties about building the facility as a regional jail, which could mean more state funds than are usually available for jail construction.  City officials are also talking with the U.S. Marshal’s Service, hoping to tap into federal funds in return for allowing the new jail to serve as a holding facility for federal inmates as they are being transferred between federal prisons.

For more details, read Saturday’s Times-Dispatch. Leave your comments here as well.

VCU has taken over many of the properties (for better or worse) in the historic Court End neighborhood. It is still a really cool place to see old Richmond and the preservation efforts in the area are impressive.  The City of Richmond should get a tourism boost when the Capitol Rennovations are complete.

Since our Times-Dispatch offices are downtown, I sometimes get out for walks at lunch for some exercise while I see the sites.  I concentrated recently on Court End and have many decent photos from my walking tours to compliment our more in-depth video coverage of the Valentine Richmond History Center, John Marshall House and the embattled Museum and White House of the Confederacy (see more on MOC’s problems).  Take a look and tell us what you think.  What should we do next in Richmond?

Phil Riggan
DiscoverRichmond.com

Richmond’s Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities J. R. Pope met with Keirra Gustus, an eighth grade student from Thompson Middle School, who was one of 164 Richmond students participating in Job Shadowing Day on Feb. 6. Keirra and the director discussed the wide variety of career possibilities within the department, which provides opportunities to work not only as parks and recreation professionals, but also in fields such as accounting, marketing, technology, planning and many others. 

SCFOJ- Feb 12- Meeting the Governor’s Land Conservation Goal
http://virginia.sierraclub.org/foj/

Please mark your calendars now for this Sierra Club- Falls of the James event:
February 12, 7:00 pm - General Membership Meeting
Location: The Science Museum of Virginia (Discovery Room)
Program: Meeting the Governor’s Land Conservation Goal
Speaker: Sarah Richardson, Land Conservation Coordinator Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation

“With every passing day, land is becoming more expensive and scarce. I will set up and meet this preservation goal during my term, not just because it’s the right thing to do. I will do it because, if I don’t, the opportunity to do it will not be there for future governors and future Virginians.”
- Governor Tim Kaine

In 1999, the General Assembly established the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation to help buy and protect open spaces and parklands, lands of historic or cultural significance, farmlands and forests, and natural areas. During its first few years, its funding was minimal, and few resources were given permanent protection. Shortly after Governor Tim Kaine?s election, he announced an initiative to protect an additional 400,000 acres of land by the year 2010.

Ms Richardson will provide updates on the progress of this initiative, and share her vision of what Virginia must endeavor to preserve, and where and why, and offer suggestions as to new strategies for making the Commonwealth greener and cleaner.

Hello Richmond,

We are requesting the assistance of powerful men & women who have been through adversity; yet have conquered their storms, in assisting in helping our youth and their families to get back on track after the set back. Divine Covering is interested in making Richmond an awesome place to live, by using grass-root soldiers to get this city back to what it once was. If interested please contact:

Keesha Simms, Administrator, Divine Covering
804-562-1860
804-562-4431

Come join us at 1100 E. Brookland Park Blvd as we collectly shed the extra pounds.  Every Wednesday from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Low Impact workouts every Wednesday, only $2 per week.

Lose weight and have the opportunity to win $500! Call 329-6360 for more information.

Six Richmond City high school seniors have been awarded $1,500 Ram Slam scholarships from Dr. Domenic Sica, a medical professor and doctor at Virginia Commonwealth University Hospitals.

This year’s recipients are: Jasmine Alston, George Wythe High School; Kiara Burroughs, Armstrong High School; Jessica Nicole Frazier, Franklin Military Academy; Martine Jackson, Huguenot High School; Sierra Kelley, Richmond Community High School; and Barbaratta Whitaker, Armstrong High School.

Dr. Sica established the ram Slam Scholarship Program in 1998 to recognize students for both community service and academic excellence.

from the Richmond Public Schools page

Several Richmond students at Hampden-Sydney College were named to the Dean’s List for the first semester of the 2006-2007 academic year. To earn this distinction, students must achieve at least a 3.3 semester grade point average out of a possible 4.0.

Patrick Sullivan Albrecht, a senior, graduated from Mills E. Godwin High School and is the son of Tom and Pam Albrecht of Richmond.

Andrew Daniel Baker, a senior, graduated from Mills E. Godwin High School and is the son of Glynn and Andrea Baker of Richmond.

Matthew Jared Green, a senior, graduated from Thomas Dale High School and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard H. Green of Richmond.

Charles Michael Gundlach, a senior, graduated from Mills E. Godwin High School and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles T. Gundlach of Richmond.

Michael Craig Hammon, a sophomore, graduated from Manchester High School and is the son of Craig and Stella Hammon of Richmond.

Rhorie Peter Richard Kerr, a freshman, graduated from St. Christopher’s School and is the son of Dr. Gordon H. and Dr. Shireen P Kerr of Richmond.

Thomas Benjamin Price II, a feshamn, graduated from Collegiate School and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan R. Price of Richmond.

Corey Edward Sedlar, a sophomore, graduated from Hermitage High School and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Sedlar of Richmond.

Reid Thomas Shepherd, a sophomore, graduated from Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Shepherd of Richmond.

Joshua Landon Simpson, a sophomore, graduated from Mills E. Godwin High School and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Landon B. Simpson of Richmond.

Henry Clarke Skiba, a sophomore, graduated from Benedictine High School and is the son of Mary carter Hyman and Joe Skiba of Richmond.

Andrew Bain Smith, a junior, graduated from Mills E. Godwin High School and is the son of Dick and Jane Smith of Richmond.

William Nesbitt Smith III, a freshman, graduated from Mills E. Godwin High School and is the son of Glynn & Andrea Baker of Richmond.

J. Matthew Thornton, a sophomore, graduated from James River High School and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Steven Thornton of Richmond.

Garrett Douglas Trego, a junior, graduated from Mills E. Godwin High School and is the son of Nancy R. Trego of Richmond.