~ U.S. Congressman Bobby Scott to be ceremony guest speaker and retiring Judge Richard D. Taylor to be honored ~   The Richmond Circuit Court’s Adult Drug Treatment Court will hold a graduation ceremony on Friday, December 5 at 1 p.m. at the Richmond Police Training Academy, 1202 West Graham Road. The Honorable Robert “Bobby” Scott, U.S. Representative for Virginia’s 3rd Congressional District, will be the guest speaker and Dalen Harris, representing the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy will also be present to acknowledge the achievements of the graduates. The ceremony will mark the completion of an intensive 18-month outpatient program of drug treatment, probation supervision, judicial monitoring and community service for five Adult Drug Court graduates. Additionally, a special presentation will take place honoring the years of service for retiring Judge Richard D. Taylor, Jr., Richmond Circuit Court (2002-2014) and former Juvenile Court Judge (1993-2002). As on...

~ Commonwealth Attorney, School Superintendent promote use ~ Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Herring revealed a Public Service Announcement (PSA) today featuring Redskin’s Cornerback Bashaud Breeland. The PSA was produced as a result of Breeland being cited with misdemeanor possession of marijuana in August of this year by a VCU Police Officer. The misdemeanor offense, which can often lead to community service sentencing, has instead resulted in the production of a public message that Herring sees as being more far-reaching and having potentially greater impact with young people than other more traditional forms of community services. “I saw this case, which qualifies for first-offender status, as a unique and different opportunity that presented us with the possibility of making a significant impact, as opposed to simply just giving out a punishment,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Herring. “Our goal here was to capitalize on Bashaud Breeland’s willingness to allow h...

The purpose of the Request for Funding Combined Application is to solicit applications from various organizations to address unmet critical needs in both human services and economic and community development. Funding to support eligible programs is made possible through City General Funds and the following federal funds - Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Home Investment Partnership (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) and Housing Opportunity for Persons with AIDS/HIV (HOPWA). Please click here for the City General Fund and Federal Fund guidelines , here to obtain the FY16/FY17 Non-Departmental and Federal Funding Application ,or here to obtain the FY16/FY17 Non-Departmental Budget Pages Submission Form . Please call the City of Richmond Office of Budget and Strategic Planning at (804) 646-5778 if you have questions or need additional information.

City of Richmond government offices, including City Hall, will be closed on Thursday, November 27 and Friday, November 28 for the Thanksgiving holiday. City offices will reopen at regular business hours on Monday, December 1, 2014. This closure includes all City community centers which are closed Thursday, November 27 through Sunday, November 30. All City community centers will reopen on Monday, December 1 at normal hours. All branches of the Richmond Public Libraries will close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 26 and will reopen at 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 29. The Broad Rock Library is open on Sundays, and will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 30. Richmond Animal Care and Control will also be closed on November 27. The shelter will open on November 28 to assist residents who find stray animals or who are looking for missing pets. Current volunteers are welcome at the shelter between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. during this time period to socialize with shelter animals. The shel...

~Event to include family activities, health screenings and health and wellness information~ The public is invited to the Richmond City Community Schools initiative Kickoff this Saturday, November 22 from 11a.m. to 3p.m. at the Bellemeade Community Center, 1800 Lynhaven Avenue. Mayor Dwight C. Jones will begin the event by officially announcing the initiative, which is a major collaboration between the City, Richmond Public Schools and community partners. Community Schools serve as community “hubs” designed to promote academic achievement, personal wellness, and holistic family and community stability through coordinated partnerships. The Richmond City Community Schools initiative is an outgrowth of the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Policy. Mayor Jones will be joined in launching the initiative by Richmond Public School Board Member, Dr. Derik Jones and Richmond Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Dana Bedden. Saturday’s kickoff event will be filled with a variety of family...

The City of Richmond and Radio One Annual Toy Drive has begun! Donations of new, unwrapped toys, books and clothing are being accepted at any City fire station, the Department of Social Services Marshall Street Plaza (900 East Marshall Street), Southside Community Services Center (4100 Hull Street Road), East District Initiative (701 North 25th Street), and at City Hall (900 East Broad Street) until 4 p.m. on Thursday, December 11. All Radio One Richmond DJ’s will broadcast live from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on December 9, 10, and 11 to “PACK THE PODS” with donations of new unwrapped toys targeting children ages newborn to Age 13 at the Walmart Supercenter, 2410 Sheila Lane. On behalf of Richmond area Lowes Stores, Richmond store General Manager Michael Sida has already committed to donating 75 new bicycles for the toy distribution. Other drop off locations will be announced on iPower92.1FM; Praise104.7FM; and KISS-FM 99.3/105.7FM. Donations will be distributed to children in need within the...

The City will begin installing approximately 40 new parking pay stations, to include 12 to 14 more in the VCU area in late November. The locations for the pay stations near VCU are: 600 and 700 blocks of West Franklin Street 600 and 700 blocks of West Main Street 300 through 500 blocks of West Franklin Street The new stations, near the campus, are being placed in areas where there are no parking meters and on-street parking is time-regulated with a two-hour limit.   The City began replacing parking meters with pay stations in the Central Business District in 2012. To date, approximately 125 parking stations have been installed.   It costs 75 cents per hour to park at a pay station. The meters accept credit cards, debit cards, cash and coins. The machines dispense a receipt that must be placed on the dashboard and is visible from the windshield.   To learn more about City services and programs, please visit www.RichmondGov.com .