Cheers RVA!

Today will be mostly cloudy with snow showers likely in the morning, with a high of 34 and a low of 27. The region is under a winter weather advisory until Saturday at 1:00 am. Total accumulation of snow is expected to be less than one inch. Stay safe out there!

the juice:

The City of Richmond, Henrico and Chesterfield County schools will be closed today in anticipation of the first snowstorm of the winter season.

Richmond city offices and courts will be closed as well.

the pulp:

• Mayor Avula, in coordination with Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald, has introduced an ordinance that would move the Participatory Budgeting Process under the office of the CAO. Currently, Richmond is one of two cities in the US with a PB program housed in the City Council Office. The move would “bring the RVAPB team closer to the city staff responsible for implementing PB projects, improving collaboration and coordination.” The ordinance is slated for the City Council agenda on Dec 12.

• The Richmond School Board has voted to rename Armstrong High School to Armstrong-Kennedy, via VPM. Armstrong High School was originally founded in 1865, and first merged with John F. Kennedy High School in 1979.

• A Connectictut-based company is set to buy four medical marijuana dispensaries and a cultivation facility in Richmond for $110 million, via Bizsense.

• The live music performances for the RVA Illuminates event tonight have been cancelled due to inclement weather. However the annual tree lighting and illumination of the downtown skyline will still take place and can be viewed on WRIC beginning at 5:45 pm.

• The fundraiser for constructing a new playground at Chimbarazo Elementary School remains at slightly less than half of its 250k goal.

• After years of planning and delays, Henrico County has finally begun the installation of a protected bike lane on Dumbarton Road, stretching from Staples Mill to Brook Road. The path is expected to eventually connect with Dickens Road and extend to West Broad Street. The project also includes upgrades to traffic signals and pedestrian crossings.

the shout-out:

As you may have noticed, this newsletter has been absent from your inboxes in recent weeks.

I have decided to take a break from writing CheersRVA, but I want to thank everyone who has supported this journey through both donations and positive feedback.

Your encouragement has truly meant a lot to me.

I’ve learned a lot in the last 18 months, and I hope you have as well.

I’d also like to give a shout-out to all the great local reporting out there, specifically:

The Richmond Times-Dispatch, the Richmonder, WTVR, WRIC, WWBT, RVA Mag, the :rva Reddit Community, styleweekly, RVAHub, RICToday, VPM, the Virgina Mercury, Axios, Richmond Magazine, Oregon Hill News, Bizsense, and RVA Dirt.

the vibe:

Have a lovely day RVA!