50 Million Pound Challenge Walk Off Set For Saturday WHO: Mayor Dwight C. Jones Dr. Ian Smith (founder/creator of The 50 Million Pound Challenge, New York Times bestselling author of The 4 Day Diet) WHAT: 50 Million Pound Challenge Walk/Run Off WHEN: September 12, 2009 Registration begins at 8 a.m. Opening remarks at 8:30 a.m. Challenge Walk/Run Off begins at 9 a.m. WHERE: Chimborazo Park East Broad Street and 32nd Street BACKGROUND: The 50 Million Pound Challenge is a free national health initiative encouraging people to come together and take control of their health by getting fit. Richmond joins 15 cities and more than 37,000 teams from across the country that will be participating in the Challenge Walk Off on September 12. Challenge event activities include a 2-mile walk/run-off, line dancing, clowns, arts and crafts, and wellness vendors. State Farm will provide raffle prizes during the event to i...

Mayor Dwight C. Jones and Dr. Ian Smith, founder and creator of the 50 Million Pound Challenge, invite residents to participate in the 50 Million Pound Challenge Walk Off, from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, September 12, at Chimborazo Park. In an effort to encourage citizens to take a step toward a healthier lifestyle, Mayor Jones, the Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Facilities and the Richmond City Health District have planned a family friendly event at Chimborazo Park, East Broad and 32nd Streets. Event registration begins at 8 a.m. and the 2-mile walk/run begins at 9 a.m. Other activities for the Challenge include line dancing, clowns, arts and crafts, and wellness vendors. State Farm will provide raffle prizes during the event to include $100 Visa gift cards, iPod Shuffles, a Wii Fitness system, and more. Everyone that signs up for the Challenge walk or run will receive free healthy snacks and a free 50 Million Pound Challenge t-shirt provided by State Farm. To join ...

Internal panel designed to help ensure compliance The City of Richmond announced today its intent to step up efforts to ensure departmental compliance with procurement rules for city contracts. The enhancements are partly a result of an administrative review recently conducted by Mayor Dwight Jones' Administration following an Inspector General's report on the city's Procurement Services Department. The Inspector General's report was issued as a result of a 2007 complaint alleging that the Procurement Services Department incorrectly awarded a sole source contract for the purchase of police vehicles. "Our internal review of this matter indicates that the Procurement Services Department did not properly follow procurement rules in the awarding of the contract in question. The Department took corrective actions within 60 days of the questionable procurement. However, our findings indicate that there still aren't sufficient safeguards to ensure full complianc...

Client Services Will Not Be Impacted Mayor Dwight C. Jones’ administration announced today efforts to reorganize the Richmond Department of Social Services and to correct what has been determined to be major financial management failures. This week the administration became aware of billing errors that have been generated by the department to the Commonwealth of Virginia. “We’ve identified financial management failures that have resulted in an estimated $3.8 million in over billing to the Commonwealth of Virginia. We’ve already begun the process of correcting the billing with the proper State representatives and we're working closely with the City's Auditor,” said City Chief Administrative Officer Byron Marshall. “This management failure has highlighted for us an area of City government that must be retooled. We have no evidence that any of this is based in fraud or corruption, but rather poor management and record keeping which indicates a need to make significant proced...

The City has opened three cooling shelters to assist residents during the anticipated heat this week. The cooling shelters are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., today, Monday, August 10 through Wednesday, August 12. City cooling shelters are opened when the temperature/heat index reaches or exceeds the 95 degree mark. Cooling shelters are located at: -Southside Community Center, 4100 Hull Street -Department of Social Services, 900 East Marshall Street -East District Center, 701 North 25th Street Bottled water will be available, but food will not be provided. Pets, with the exception of service animals, will not be allowed. All residents should take measures to stay hydrated and avoid prolonged exposure to the heat during the day. For more information regarding cooling services, citizens can contact the Department of Social Services Fuel Assistance Office, 646-7046. Elderly citizens with heat related issues can contact the Adult Protective Service Unit, 646-7367. In the event ...

The Circuit Court of Richmond’s Adult Drug Court will hold a graduation ceremony for five Adult Drug Court graduates on Friday, July 31, at 1 p.m., at the Richmond Police Academy, 1202 Graham Road. David Hicks, City Senior Policy Advisor to the Mayor will be the guest speaker. The ceremony and reception to follow, which is open to the public, marks the completion of an intensive 18-month outpatient program of drug treatment, probation supervision, judicial monitoring, and community service for participants in the Adult Drug Court. One of 1,500 drug courts operating in the United States and one of 26 drug courts in Virginia, the Richmond Adult Drug Court monitors non-violent drug-addicted offenders with pending cases in Richmond’s Circuit Court. Offenders volunteer for the program, and participate only after approval of the Richmond Commonwealth Attorney. Participants must meet all program requirements to graduate, including maintaining gainful employment, abstinen...

“Bringing City Hall to the Community” WHO: Mayor Dwight C. Jones City Officials WHAT: Town Hall Meeting WHEN: 6 – 8 p.m. - Wednesday, July 29, 2009 WHERE: Southside Community Service Center 4100 Hull Street Richmond, VA 23234 BACKGROUND: Mayor Dwight Jones invites residents to the initial Town Hall Meeting at Southside Plaza with the emphasis of the event being “Bringing City Hall to the Community.” During this meeting, the Mayor will specifically discuss crime, federal economic stimulus funding, and the 2010 census. Officials from the City departments of Community Development, Economic Development, Finance, Fire and Emergency Services, General Services, Hispanic Liaison Office, Human Resources, Justice Services, Libraries, Minority Business Development, Parks and Community Facilities, Police, Public Works, Public Utilities, Richmond City Health District, Richmond Public Schools, Sheriff’s Office, Social Services, an...