Aug. 7 Newsletter: Unclaimed scholarships
Weather: A hot and steamy weekend, but relatively dry for the Jazz and Music Festival.
On this date in 1974, Richmond Delegate Philip B. Morris calls for the creation of a regional airport authority to enhance service. The Capital Region Airport Commission is established the following year.
UR has a pile of money set aside for the children of Hungarian Reformed Church ministers. It can’t find any takers
Earlier this year, the University of Richmond made a unique request to the state government. The school said it has a scholarship that it can’t award.
The Jenӧ Balajthy Scholarship Fund was created by a bequest, and the university could only award the scholarship to “a daughter or son of an ordained minister (or)...of a presbyter of the Hungarian Reformed Church whether situated in Europe, North America or Australia.”
In the decade since, only one student has met the criteria and received the scholarship. The school has been given permission to repurpose the $3.8 million it's holding. Read more here.
Contentious meeting ends with approval for Shockoe Valley street plan
Asked to approve a plan it hadn't seen for seven years, Planning Commission members were unhappy with the process that led to Tuesday night's vote.
“It’s not the same project. It’s not the same budget. It’s not the same anything,” one said. “I will support this project, but I feel held hostage in a lot of ways, and I resent that.”
Two new roundabouts are intended to improve the flow of traffic exiting Interstate 95, which currently has a short merge into Oliver Hill Way before being routed onto East Broad Street.
Exactly what the administration’s stance on the project was became a significant point of confusion during the meeting. Read more here.
Monthly report shows spike in delinquent taxes, but history says the money is on the way
A report given to City Council showed that Richmond collected just 25% of the car taxes owed by residents this year.
But last year’s numbers were similarly alarming, and in the final report issued months later, 91% of the tax had been collected.
While the car tax number was a headliner on the report, the city’s primary source of revenue is the real estate tax, and those bills have been collected at a 98% rate from residents in each of the last two years. Read more here.
Chesterfield’s own Li’l Sebastian? Miniature horse has returned home
Fans of the TV show “Parks and Recreation” are familiar with the ill-fated miniature horse, Li’l Sebastian. Well, Chesterfield now has its own tiny equine celebrity, and it was roaming the streets Wednesday afternoon.
"Mini" is now safely home after spending a night in the care of the county. Read more here.
High society
The city's 804 Week festivities continued Thursday night with a basketball game between teams assembled by Police Chief Rick Edwards (left) and CAO Odie Donald, who both played collegiately. Donald described the two as "recovering basketball addicts." They each played at Fork Union Military Academy, but at different times.
LaDonna Lewis ensures no young woman feels alone while battling breast cancer
LaDonna Lewis was only 27 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. From that moment forward, she knew her mission was to support young women enduring the same battle she once faced.
“When I had breast cancer I had support. I had people helping to make sure I didn't miss my mortgage payments, making sure I had food, that my house was clean,” she said.
Her nonprofit, the Pink Christmas Foundation, is dedicated to supporting women and families of women battling breast cancer under the age of 40. Read more here.
In other news
- Judge finds Richmond School Board member defamed former rival, awards $100 in damages
- Emmett Jafari (8th District) owes his former election opponent compensatory damages for a disparaging Facebook post made during the 2024 election season.
- Abigail Spanberger: Why I’m intervening in the Dominion-NextEra merger (Washington Post)
- "I know this action is unprecedented by a Virginia governor — but so, too, is the size of this proposed merger and its potential impact on the commonwealth."
- Henrico rethinks Lakeside's future after plan backlash (Axios)
- Henrico spent roughly a year developing its latest vision for Lakeside, but stripped the proposal from a long-term plan following pushback from some residents and business owners.
The editor's desk
Elmo shows off the virtual set technology at the new VPM headquarters on Broad Street. I'm excited for VPM's new gear, but much more excited to have them contributing to what hopefully becomes a downtown renaissance.
Michael Phillips, founder
mphillips@richmonder.org
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