From DPU

WHO:  City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities (https://twitter.com/DPUStreetNews)

WHAT:  Lane closures for a water replacement project

WHEN:  Work has started and is scheduled to be complete by October 2023

WHERE: Forest Hill Avenue between Westover Hills Boulevard and Dorchester Road

PROJECT SCOPE:  Water mains will be replaced in both east and westbound lanes of Forest Hill. Traffic will be reduced to one lane as needed for the duration of this project.

Dear #RPSStrong Family,

As you have likely heard by now, the two individuals killed in yesterday’s tragedy were Shawn Smith, a Huguenot HS senior, and his step-father, Lorenzo Smith. Please join me in expressing our deepest condolences to Ms. Smith; yesterday, she lost her son and her husband. As superintendent – and as a father, husband, and son – I grieve today with Ms. Smith and her entire family.

I did not know Shawn, but I shook his hand and wished him congratulations about 20 minutes before he died. Those who did know him, like Kevin Olds, a former assistant principal at Huguenot and now the principal at Wythe HS, described him as “bubbly” and “the life of the party.” Mr. Olds shared the following reflection with me.

When Shawn started ninth grade, he struggled a bit with the structure of high school. As a result, he often found his way to my office. I’m grateful for that because, over time, we formed a strong bond.

Shawn had a joyous and infectious smile. His sense of humor made him full of life, laughter, and all things fun. He was also a very bright young man who could master any textbook.

• No bags of any kind will be permitted inside the school (no exceptions).
• No flowers, balloons, or amplified devices of any kind will be permitted inside the school.
• Everyone will be subject to searches.

• Open High School – Friday, June 9, 9 am, at Richmond Community High School
• Franklin Military Academy – Monday, June 12, 9 am, at Franklin Military Academy
• Armstrong High School – Monday, June 12, 11:30 am, at Armstrong High School
• Thomas Jefferson High School – Monday, June 12, 2 pm, at Thomas Jefferson High School
• John Marshall High School – Tuesday, June 13, 9 am, at John Marshall High School
• George Wythe High School – Tuesday, June 13, 12 pm, at John Marshall High School

Mental Health Resources – If you or someone you know needs mental health support, please access the resources below. There is absolutely no shame in doing so. I have accessed them, and I urge you to do the same.

• The RPS Crisis Team will be providing virtual support to students and families from 11 am – 4 pm and 5 pm – 7 pm. You can access the support through Google Meet.
• Students who need emergency mental health support should call the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority at (804) 819-4100 or the ChildSavers Immediate Response line at (804) 305-2420 (or send a text to 741741).
• An additional counseling resource available to students and families is Challenge Discovery Projects. Their counselors can be reached by calling (804) 643-0002.
• The Latinos in Virginia Empowerment Center will be open all day for any Latino/Hispanic individuals affected by the shooting. Their 24/7 hotline number is (804) 728-0048.
• The Trauma Healing Response Network is a coalition of grassroots, community-based organizations and mental health partners that provide support services to families and communities impacted by gun violence. The network can also facilitate the distribution of emergency relief funds to help those in crisis. For more information, email [email protected].
• RPS employees in need of emergency support should contact the Cigna 24/7 crisis line at (833) ME-CIGNA (833-632-4462). Additional counseling and support services are also available through the Cigna Employee Assistance (EAP) program by calling (800) 544-6931.
• If you are looking for resources to help you talk to your children about this latest tragedy, please see this document from the National Council on Family Relations.

With great appreciation and love,

Friends of Fonticello Park, a dedicated all volunteer non-profit organization with a mission to honor the history of the park, while creating a safe, welcoming and nourishing outdoor space for our community and neighbors, is delighted to announce that they have been chosen as the recipient of the Get Outdoors grant from the Virginia Outdoor Foundation (VOF).

The Get Outdoors grant program, established by the VOF, aims to support initiatives that promote outdoor education, conservation, and community engagement throughout the state of Virginia. This highly competitive grant program recognizes projects that encourage individuals to connect with nature, explore the outdoors, and cultivate a deeper understanding and appreciation for the environment.

The Friends of Fonticello Park’s project proposal, titled “The Native Meadow Project: Creating Equitable Access to Natural Urban Educational Spaces in Fonticello Park,” was selected from a pool of exceptional applicants due to its innovative approach to creating a vibrant educational space within the park. With the generous grant of $20,000 from the VOF, the organization will undertake the transformational task of establishing a native meadow within Fonticello Park.

Virginia Outdoor Foundation Executive Director, Brett Glymph shared, “We are thrilled to support the development of the native meadow, and we especially love that kids will help with its design and construction. Spaces such as these are vital to strengthening communities, improving health, and connecting people to nature.”

The native meadow will serve as an educational hub, providing children and community members with the opportunity to learn about native plant species, their role in supporting local ecosystems, wildlife and pollinator conservation, as well as their contributions to improved soil health and cleaner waterways. The project aims to engage neighborhood schools and organizations, involving children in various aspects of the project, from plant selection and space design to land preparation, planting, and ongoing maintenance and educational programming. This project is aligned with the vision of the Friends of Fonticello Park to bring more programming in the park in order to combat and eliminate the rash of gun violence that has plagued the park in recent years, including the death of 9 year old Markiya Dickson on Memorial Day weekend in 2019.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have been awarded the Get Outdoors grant from the Virginia Outdoor Foundation,” said Teresa Cole, Board Chair of Friends of Fonticello Park. “This grant will allow us to create an inclusive and educational natural space within Fonticello Park, where community members, particularly children, can connect with nature, learn about our local ecosystem, and actively participate in its preservation. This also allows us to support one of our goals to return the park to a natural state through a process of rewilding that will support the local ecosystem, reduce stormwater runoff,  and contribute to the reduction of the heat island effect in our community. Most importantly, it allows us to deliver high quality, positive programming for our community to combat the gun violence that has become a part of our park’s history.”

Friends of Fonticello Park will collaborate closely with local schools, organizations, and community members to ensure the successful implementation of the native meadow project. The organization is committed to fostering equitable access to educational and recreational opportunities, promoting environmental awareness, and strengthening community bonds within the Fonticello Park area.

The Get Outdoors grant from the Virginia Outdoor Foundation signifies the dedication and hard work of Friends of Fonticello Park in their mission to positively impact the community. The organization gratefully accepts this grant and looks forward to embarking on this transformative project that will enrich the park and the lives of its visitors.

For more information about Friends of Fonticello Park and their initiatives, please visit fonticelloparkrva.com.