Aug. 25 Newsletter: An original environmentalist
Weather: Still warm, but a gorgeous week awaits as highs return to the 70s tomorrow.
On this date in 1981, a grand jury indicts four people on charges related to organized crime rings operating out of Richmond-area pizza shops.
One of Richmond's original environmentalists left behind a wealth of information on wildflowers near the James River
Newton Ancarrow was a luxury boat builder who eventually became one of the city’s staunchest environmentalists in the ‘60s and ‘70s as he fought for a cleaner James River. While trekking around the city to document river pollution, he uncovered a new love, wildflowers, and was compelled to record them.
Ancarrow was worried about increased tourism near the river. “Its beauty is its undoing,” he wrote of the vibrant red cardinal flower. “Where the public has been given access to the river it has already almost disappeared.” Read more here.
RPS hires new COO, a W&M grad who arrives from Indianapolis
Jason Kamras has filled one of his most important vacancies, hiring new Chief Operating Officer Patrick Herrel.
After a week dominated by headlines of mold and HVAC issues in schools, he said he’s coming in with his eyes open.
“I know it’s going to be really tough,” he said. “Really, really tough.” Read more here.
Virginia's voice of horse racing had a long journey to the PA booth
Jason Beem originally intended to be a lawyer before finding his calling at horse racing tracks. He currently serves as the in-house announcer at Colonial Downs.
Beem said he battles anxiety, and at one point had frequent panic attacks that left him homebound for nearly two years.
“I’m not happy I went through it because it was hard … but I appreciate what I’ve got now because of what it used to be," he said. "I’ve learned, if I get anxious, I need to have quiet time, do my breathing … and it works itself out.” Read more here.
Emily DuBose shines the light for women in recovery
DuBose had never experienced addiction, so she doubted her ability to help in a meaningful way. Still, she couldn’t ignore the “stirring” she felt to create a space for the women she cared for, which led to The LightHouseRVA.
DuBose and 120 active volunteers now support around 500 women in recovery.
“The opposite of addiction is connection,” she said. Read more here.
In other news
- Second teacher arrested in Chesterfield child porn case
- VCU enters semester with fully Youngkin-appointed board (Commonwealth Times)
- Joint commission hears roadmaps for Virginia’s retail cannabis rollout (Virginia Mercury)
The editor's desk
Finally made it to the Lotte Market in the West End, and as a grocery store lover, I was not disappointed. There's a variety of Asian foods, including many I didn't recognize, and a food court with cuisines from across the continent.
Michael Phillips, founding editor
mphillips@richmonder.org
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