The 17th Street Farmers’ Market will kick off the holiday season with the 11th Annual Holiday Market on Friday, November 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will feature local crafters, artisans, food vendors and live entertainment. The 17th Street Farmers’ Market will have Frasier Fur trees available for the “Virginia’s Finest” Christmas tree sale. These trees are grown on the mountains of Floyd County in southwestern Virginia and are known as some of the finest Christmas trees in the region. The Christmas trees are priced at $37 for 6 to 7 foot trees and $47 for 7 to 8 foot trees. The Christmas tree sale will continue to December 13, or as supplies last. Holiday Market proceeds benefit the 2010 17th Street Farmers’ Market children’s garden program. The program provides funding for local children to purchase seeds and plants for a new children’s garden in the spring of 2010. The market is regularly open on Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays a

Mayor Dwight C. Jones attended today’s informal session of Richmond City Council to speak in support of expediting a resolution to accept the Richmond Public Schools Phase 1 Construction Plan. Eight members of City Council signed on as co-sponsors of the resolution with the Mayor. “Education remains a top priority for the city of Richmond and this administration,” said Mayor Jones. “We have waited too long to deal with the long-overdue problem of antiquated schools. This is a fiscally-prudent and educationally-imperative plan. We are at a juncture now where we are ready to move forward together and develop very specific timelines for the construction of our schools.” Phase 1 of the school’s construction plan consists of two parts, the building of new schools and substantial renovations to some existing schools. Phase 1A of the plan includes a new Huguenot High School, Broad Rock Elementary School, Oak Grove Elementary School and Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School. The new Huguenot