Aug. 10 Newsletter: Preserving historic cemeteries
Weather: High of 95 as the dog days of summer continue.
On this date in 1976, legal wrangling over Richmond’s 1970 annexation of a portion of Chesterfield County finally ends with a ruling in Richmond’s favor. (map)
Slow, but steady, restoration efforts continue for century-old Black cemeteries
The graves of bank president Maggie L. Waker, Richmond Planet editor John Mitchell Jr. and Richmond's first Black teacher, Rosa Dixon Bowser, are among those at two cemeteries which are the focus of rehabilitation efforts that have recently grown more ambitious and collaborative.
A previous nonprofit, the EnRichmond Foundation, collapsed suddenly in 2022, but volunteer labor and city support have resumed the efforts to protect the historic sites. Read more here.
Emails raise questions over RPS handling of former facilities director’s resignation
Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras initially accepted the resignation of former Director of Facilities Bobby Hathaway, but was later overruled by the Richmond School Board, according to emails released to The Richmonder under the state’s Freedom of Information Act.
When asked about Kamras’ delay in presenting the report, a spokesperson said that the Board received the report at the May meeting, which was the next scheduled meeting after the report was filed. Read more here.
Paper cups, pizza boxes now OK to recycle in Richmond
Richmond's regional recycling group. the Central Virginia Waste Management Authority, has added two items to the list of things Richmonders can recycle.
Pizza boxes are now accepted after a study showed that grease and residual cheese is not an issue for recyclers.
Paper cups have become more common now that styrofoam is banned in Virginia, and can also be recycled. Read more here.
Gabriela León-Pérez does research to offer real-world solutions
Now a sociology professor at VCU, she has made a concerted effort to bring her research beyond the ivory towers of academia into the community.
- In 2023, she started the Latino Virginia Oral History project with her colleague Daniel Morales.
- She’s also working to improve the mental health of the city’s Latino youth community, producing an online directory of bilingual mental health services.
“Sometimes we see all this really important research being done at universities, but then it just stays there,” she said. “These are findings that could change the lives of people." Read more here.
In other news
- Downtown Bio+Tech Center will expand again
- Construction officially began on July 6 with prep and safety work, and build-out will commence once the current demolition finishes.
- The Auricular’s new website is a treasure trove of Richmond music content (VPM)
- The site has been reviewing new albums, highlighting shows, interviewing artists, and directing music makers to local resources for almost eight years.
- Lewis Ginter makes 'best and final' offer to workers, union says (Henrico Citizen)
- The in-unit union members will review the proposed contract at a meeting this week and then vote. CEO Brian Trader said concert cancellations related to the strike have caused the garden to lose "tens of thousands of dollars in revenue."
Last week's top stories
- Three years ago, mysterious waste barrels appeared across the Richmond area. Two men have now pled guilty to dumping them
- Anna Julia Cooper School founder retires; school he started keeps growing
- Contentious meeting ends with approval for Shockoe Valley street plan
The editor's desk
We're thrilled to welcome George Copeland Jr. to our freelance roster – he did great work at the Richmond Free Press, and his cover story is an important follow-up for those of you who remember the EnRichmond saga.
Michael Phillips, founder
mphillips@richmonder.org
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