~14 U.S. city mayors guest of Senegal President Abdoulaye Wade~ Mayor Dwight C. Jones is part of a delegation traveling to the west coast of Africa for the World Festival of Black Arts and Cultures, an international gathering of musicians, artists, civil rights leaders and elected officials. The World Festival of Black Arts and Cultures will take place in Dakar, Senegal and the 2010 event is only the third time in 50 years that the event has taken place. More than 200 African-American leaders will participate in the Festival, including groups from the National Conference of Black Mayors, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, and the National Association of Equal Opportunity in Higher Education. In all, the festival is expected to attract 60,000 participants from 80 countries. Mayor Jones is one of 14 mayors that make up the U.S. delegation. The invitation was extended through the National Conference of Black Mayors. The Festival is being viewed as an important opportunity to

City Agrees that Proper Procedure Should be Followed ~All necessary permits for ice skating rink have been applied for~ The city of Richmond's Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) today underscored that a building permit should have been issued prior to work beginning: however, no mechanical or electrical work for the downtown ice skating rink preceded the permitting process and that all permits have been filed for and approved. Questions about the permitting process were raised after the city's department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities constructed a wooden frame and filled the area with sand to ensure a level base prior to the impending installation of the portable ice skating rink. "All relevant city departments are being reminded that they are to determine whether permits are required for work even if that work seems routine," said CAO Byron Marshall. "The only work that transpired prior to the permitting process was essentially the building of a

The city of Richmond will receive the Sierra Club Falls of the James Group's Green Giant Award during the group's annual "Mistletoe and Holly" gala at the Science Museum of Virginia tonight. The city is receiving the award for environmental pioneering work, as it is the first major locality in the region to hire a sustainability manager and an energy manager to develop a comprehensive program to improve overall energy performance and increase sustainability. Among other items, the comprehensive program includes establishing a baseline greenhouse gas emissions inventory, retrofitting 220 intersections with LED lights by the end of 2010, and creating two new green alleys with permeable pavers to reduce storm water run-off. "I thank the Sierra Club Falls of the James Group for this award. This recognition underscores my objective of developing and implementing sustainable policies and practices to conserve resources while creating cost savings for the city and taxpa

~Grand opening scheduled for December 22~ The city of Richmond is getting further into the holiday spirit as Mayor Dwight C. Jones announced the imminent opening of an 8,400 square foot ice skating rink. Work has begun to prepare the site for the installation of the rink, which is expected to be in place within two weeks. "Plan to get those ice skates out or rent a pair on site, but do prepare to come downtown and enjoy the skating pleasure this holiday season," said Mayor Jones. Mayor Jones announced last year his desire to place an ice skating rink attraction in downtown Richmond. The city's new ice skating rink will be located adjacent to Center Stage at 6th Street on the Broad Street side. Children under ten will be allowed free admission, but will require adult supervision. The admission price for all others will be $5 per person. Skate rentals are $3 a pair for kids and $5 for adults. Rink users can bring their own skates. A grand opening event for the rink is b