Aug. 19 Newsletter: Baseball proposal steps up to bat
Weather: Sunny, high of 90.
On this date in 1884, the Richmond Virginians fall to 2-8 as a Major League team with a loss in Baltimore. The Virginians were a minor-league team, but played the final month of the season in the American Association (which later merged into the National League) after a team went bankrupt.
Today's newsletter sponsored by Virginia Commonwealth University. As a top 20% global university, Virginia Commonwealth University is an unparalleled powerhouse of innovation and creative problem solving. VCU attacks challenges as opportunities. It's truly a university unlike any you’ve ever seen.
Baseball and soccer fields proposed at Lois Harrison-Jones Elementary after tennis facility falls through
Nearly a year after a proposal to build a $15-$20 million indoor tennis facility behind Lois Harrison-Jones Elementary died from a lack of community support, a different group is now stepping in to propose building a soccer field and baseball field in what would’ve been the facility’s place.
The school's principal said students have long desired a soccer field, leading to the proposal. Read more here.
Ellwood Thompson's parent company acquired by data center owner
The Florida-based company that bought Ellwood Thompson’s three years ago, Healthy Choices Wellness Corp., is being acquired by a private equity developer of data centers.
HCWC said the step was taken to ease a cash crunch that raises “substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern” for the next 12 months. Read more here.
Inflation, deferred maintenance contribute to $850 million in needs, Chesterfield school officials say
As Chesterfield voters prepare to weigh in this November on whether to raise the sales tax 1% to fund school construction, the county’s school system unveiled a study that said it needs an estimated $850 million over the next decade to address maintenance across its campuses.
Chesterfield passed a bond referendum in 2022, but officials said many of those projects couldn't be completed due to rapid inflation. Read more here.
New murder-mystery graphic novel explores Richmond’s art world
The idea for Dash Shaw’s latest graphic novel, the COVID-era murder mystery “Like Swimmers,” began at the Lombardy Street Kroger.
The launch party for “Like Swimmers” will be held at 7:30 PM on Wednesday at Studio Two Three, and the book will be stocked at Velocity. Read more here.
Christie Chipps Peters leads Richmond Animal Care and Control with optimism
One of Peters' favorite parts of her job is running the adoption desk every Sunday, something she started when she was hired as director.
“It's the best part of people coming in looking for a forever best friend, and for me it's really rewarding to see everything come full circle,” she said. Read more here.
Today's sponsor
VCU researcher Carolyn Hawley shines the light – and leads the way – on the national challenge of gambling addiction
Carolyn Hawley, Ph.D., professor in Virginia Commonwealth University’s College of Health Professions and director of the Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health, helped create one of the nation’s first comprehensive systems for treatment, recovery and prevention of gambling addiction.
Read more about how Carolyn Hawley is creating a lifeline for countless people grappling with gambling addiction – and establishing a framework that has allowed Virginia to emerge as a national model for gambling health infrastructure.
In other news
- Avula administration drops duplex proposal in third draft of code refresh
- The mayor acknowledged dropping the proposal would likely decrease the amount of home construction that will occur as a result of the code refresh, but said compromises were necessary.
- In a rapidly gentrifying city, one majority-Black school in North Side is facing something unexpected: a sudden influx of white students (Richmond Magazine)
- Since the 2023-24 school year, Henderson has seen its white student population more than double.
- Henrico Schools sets screen time limits, prohibits digital homework for elementary students (Henrico Citizen)
- First graders are allowed no more than 60 minutes per day of technology use.
The editor's desk
Editor Michael Phillips is out of office.
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