Mayor Dwight C. Jones created the Neighbor-to-Neighbor initiative to encourage volunteerism as a method of improving the quality of life for City of Richmond residents. Neighbor-to-Neighbor provides meaningful volunteer opportunities to help develop and strengthen the relationships between city residents. As the city continues to improve its economic development, the Mayor would like to increase the focus on collaborative-based civic engagement and volunteerism. Neighbor-to-Neighbor is proud to work in securing volunteers for this summer Meals on Wheels Serving Central Virginia as they are seeking volunteers to serve as Meal Delivery Drivers and Community Kitchen Volunteers for their Willow Lawn distribution site and South Richmond locations. Hours of operation are from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday. Community Kitchen volunteers are needed to work mornings 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and afternoons 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Summer Feeding Program needs volunteers to help package meals...

Mayor Dwight C. Jones and the City of Richmond will kick off the 55th annual Festival of the Arts on Friday, June 10, at 8 p.m. on the Dogwood Dell stage with the Upper East Side Big Band. The festival features 30 evenings of outdoor family entertainment at Dogwood Dell throughout out the summer that are free to attend. Other highlights of the annual summer festival include a Gospel Music Fest on Sunday, July 10, from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., a Latin Jazz and Salsa Festival on Saturday, July 23, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., and a special tribute to local musician Page Wilson on Sunday, July 17, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. that will feature Terry Garland and Lil’ Ronnie, Wilson’s band Reckless Abandon, and the Janet Martin Band performing rock, blues and Americana music. 55th Annual Festival of Arts on June 10 Full Schedule In addition to a wide variety of musical entertainment, the festival also brings dance, movies, and theater to the Dell, as well as an entire lineup of morning and afternoo...

Mayor Jones is continuing his “green” efforts to help build Richmond a sustainable future. The Mayor will be hosting a community meeting, Thursday June 9, 2011, at Carillon Tower in Byrd Park, 1300 Blanton Avenue, from 6 to 8 p.m. All residents are strongly encouraged to attend. The City of Richmond will present work done to date on the Richmond Sustainability Plan and welcomes community feedback to assist in the next steps in the development of the plan. The plan focuses on economic development, environment, energy, transportation, open space and land use. Registration for this event begins at 5 p.m. on June 9, and light refreshments will be available. For more information on the City’s Sustainability Plan, please click here or email: rvagreen@richmondgov.com

WHO: Mayor Dwight C. Jones, City of Richmond WHAT: Removal of the asphalt from the Richmond African Burial Ground WHEN: Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. WHERE: Richmond African Burial Ground at 1554 East Broad Street BACKGROUND: Earlier this month, Mayor Dwight C. Jones announced that three contractors have joined forces to donate services to the city of Richmond for the removal of the asphalt and gravel from Richmond's African Burial Ground. The city will officially take possession of the site on Monday, May 23, 2011. This event will mark the beginning of the asphalt and gravel removal from the 3.4-acre site. The asphalt and gravel that is presently covering the Burial Ground and use of the area as a parking lot has met with much public dissension over the last several years.

Mayor Dwight C. Jones today announced that three contractors have joined forces to donate services to the City for the removal of the asphalt and gravel from Richmond's African Burial Ground. J. E. Liesfeld Contractor, Inc., Dwight Snead Construction Company, and Ty's Hauling and Paving, Inc., have joined together to gift to the City the removal of the asphalt and gravel from the Burial Ground. The gift from the contractors represents $123,000 worth of work and is expected to commence later this month. “It is extremely generous of these contractors to want to take this step to support the city’s effort to honor and preserve Richmond's African Burial Ground,” said Mayor Jones. “I want to thank the NAACP for its efforts and in particular Joe Liesfeld for his role in bringing these contractors together for this project and I am recommending that Richmond City Council approve the acceptance of this gift.” The 3.4-acre parcel, currently owned by Virginia Commonwealth Universi...

The Coliseum Study Group has provided a report on their evaluation of the long-term options surrounding the Coliseum and the Greater Richmond area. Links to the three volume report are available below: ARENA MARKET VALIDATION AND FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY STUDY - Volume I ARENA MARKET VALIDATION AND FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY STUDY - Volume 2 ARENA MARKET VALIDATION AND FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY STUDY - Volume 3 The Coliseum Study Group, which consists of private corporations and public sector entities, retained an experienced sports facility consulting team made up of Barrett Sports group, LLC, Populous Architects, P.C. and Weston Sports & Entertainment. The consulting team provided a report on 1) Market and Financial Feasibility; 2) Preferred Site and Arena Characteristics; and 3) Construction Cost Estimates. # # #

The city has published an updated version of the City's Guide to Neighborhood Improvement . In order to keep the city's neighborhoods thriving and safe, it is important that both residents and city administration work together to maintain vibrant communities in which to live. This helpful booklet summarizes select city ordinances and additional information on penalties and fines. For questions not covered in the guide, please contact customer care at 646-7000 or 311. ###