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...

The city press release sent on November 16, 2009, incorrectly detailed the educational background of Carolyn N. Graham, the city’s new Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (DCAO) for Human Services. Graham majored in psychology at the University of Baltimore in Baltimore, Maryland however; she did not receive a bachelor’s degree as previously noted, as she was allowed early enrollment in graduate school at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. She obtained her first master’s degree in education from Antioch College, and she also holds a masters in public administration from City University of New York Bernard Baruch College in New York, New York; a masters of divinity from the New York Theological Seminary in New York, New York; and a doctorate in ministry from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. She has previously served as deputy Mayor for Children, Youth, Families & Elders for the District of Columbia; national director for Council Services, Girl Scouts of the U...

~Outlines initial strategy to respond to projected revenue shortfall~ Mayor Dwight C. Jones today announced that city revenue projections for the current fiscal year (FY 2010) are tracking behind the officially adopted FY 2010 Budget. Reductions in state funding, as well as the drop in sales taxes, were cited as leading to an overall projected revenue shortfall of $10 million for FY 2010. “The entire nation has been experiencing lingering effects of the recession and Richmond is no exception,” said Mayor Jones. “A number of key revenue sources weakened in FY 2009, and they are continuing to falter in the current year (FY 2010). Moreover, we have to be realistic and assume that the ripple effects will continue into FY 2011.” The updated revenue estimates are based on revenue collections and economic data from the first quarter of FY 2010. The main driver in the lower-than-projected revenue is a decline in sales tax collections. The local option sales tax is $7.9 million less tha...

~Directors of Social Services and Justice Services also announced~ Carolyn N. Graham has been named Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (DCAO) for Human Services for the city of Richmond. In this capacity, she has oversight of the Department of Social Services, Department of Justice Services, as well as the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities. Her appointment is effective immediately. She is coming to the Richmond area from Washington, D.C. where she has had an accomplished career in human services and support programs. “We are fortunate that Ms. Graham has accepted this position which now completes our executive leadership team,” said Mayor Jones. “The human services component of the city’s work is such a crucial area for service delivery. Ms. Graham’s training and experience with children, youth and families and neighborhood-based municipal services will serve the city of Richmond extremely well.” Graham received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from...

On November 7, a fall rite of passage will commence at the city’s 17th Street Farmers’ market, the 10th Annual Brunswick Stew Festival. The Brunswick Stew Festival will start at 11 a.m. and run through 5 p.m. at the historic 17th Street Farmers’ Market located at 17th and Main Streets. This years festival will include music from three bands, Jackass Flats, Proverbial and Native son, beverages from Brown Distributing, and of course plenty of Brunswick stew. There will be over a dozen stew masters ready to take on the challenge of impressing the regions diehard stew lovers. Stew sample cups will be sold at each both from 11 a.m. till 1 p.m., at which time you will be able to purchase quart sized containers from your favorite stew master. As with every event at the 17th Street Farmers’ Market, free parking is available at our lot at 18th and Grace Streets. Contact: George Bolos, (804) 646-0477

“Bringing City Hall to the Community” WHO: Mayor Dwight C. Jones City Officials WHAT: Town Hall to discuss topics such as crime, federal stimulus funding, economic development, H1N1 virus, and the 2010 census. WHEN: Thursday, October 29, 2009 from 6 to 8 p.m. WHERE : John Marshall High School North Cafeteria 4225 Old Brook Road BACKGROUND: Mayor Jones invites residents to the first North Side Town Hall Meeting of his administration, at 6 p.m. this Thursday at John Marshall High School. Similar to the July Southside Town Hall, the emphasis of the North Side Town Hall is to “Bring City Hall to the Community.” Topics of discussion include crime, federal stimulus funding, economic development, H1N1 virus, and the 2010 census. Officials from the city departments of Community Development; Economic Development; Finance; Fire and Emergency Services; General Services (to include the 3-1-1 Call Center); Hispanic Liaison Office; Human ...