Headlines

Headlines Week of December 20th

Richmond based grocer, Ukrop's, was purchased for $140 million on December 17^th by the Dutch firm Royal Ahold, according to The Richmond Times-Dispatch. A division of that company, Giant-Carlisle, will gain control of the Ukrop's supermarket chain. The company's sources say that the sale of alcohol and Sunday hours could very well be in the future.

Governor-elect, Bob McDonnell stated December 16th that his budget plan may affect state employee's jobs, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. As revenues of the state continue to decrease, cuts will have to continue to be made according to McDonnell.

Record breaking snowfall hit Central Virginia Friday night dumping 17 inches of snow. State police assisted at least 6,100 vehicles who had crashed or were disabled since snow began on Friday. According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch four died in weather related deaths on Virginia roads. On Saturday, 100 flights were cancelled, according to flyrichmond.com. But, Sunday, things were back on track with 30 cancellations.

No snowfall is forecasted for the week but the highs are in the mid-30s to low-40s. Rain is expected on Thursday, December 24^th.

December 18^th marks the conviction of Antonio Lamont “Tony” Allison for sexual battery and object sexual penetration of a jogger on Belle Isle on July 9, 2008 according to the December 19^th Richmond Times-Dispatch Article. The jury recommended 40 years in prison, 15 more years than the minimum. Allison’s sentence hearing will take place on February 24^th. The victim and her family are satisfied with recommendation and conviction.

Don’t head to Carytown to see the ball drop this New Years. According to Style Weekly, the Carytown Merchants Association lost $54,000 with the event last year. Since October 20^th Mayor Dwight C. Jones was in talks with the Carytown Merchants Association to get the event back. But last stitch efforts proved unfruitful. The city hasn’t agreed to help foot the bill for a similar event, but is considering relocating.

Three local rappers busted on coke charges on December 9^th. The rap group “Get Money Green Brothers” have been sentenced in Federal Court for distributing more than 110 pounds of cocaine. Christopher “Big Get It” Woolridge, Natasha “P Get It” Payne, and Terry “Little Get It” Battle used their proceeds from their drug trafficking ring to continue their music ventures. They were also found guilty of dangerous weapons. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, three local police departments, the Virginia State Police and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Project Winterfood

Project Winterfood

Apples, spinach, and sweet potatoes. That was the theme for the first year of Project Winterfood. A group of VCU Graphic Design students set up this event to create a service for the community, by providing a local food resource, and with this event having an art exhibition, and funraising opportunities and live music on Wednesday, December 2^nd.

Project Winterfood partnered up with local organizations, including the Farm to Family Veggie Bus, Dominion Harvest, Savor Café, Ipanema, Rostov’s Coffee and Tea, Ukrops, and Ellwood Thompson’s. Project Winterfood’s mission is to provide an outlet for the people of Richmond to experience the food culture by making the most of all the local food options assessable to Richmond.

They wish to introduce different options for seasonal winter local produce by creating a unique experience. With their different art events, live music, tasting booths, and coffee and tea provided by Rostov’s Coffee and Tea, Project Winterfood, brought the community together, with fun, food, and art.

Noah Scalin, the teacher of the Design Rebels class at VCU has been teaching the class since 2002. With his class he provides an outlet for all design students to take a glimpse into what he does for a living and describes it as social conscious design.

His class is designed to get his students out of the classroom and work with the community using their design skills to create something practical in the real world.

“What I’m interested in is for them to learn some practical skills and then applying them to community projects and understanding how they can have a positive affect with their art,” said Scalin.

Mim Scalin, a former teacher at VCU, who now produces art, loves the idea of promoting local food. She also said that it’s interesting to see how students are promoting local activity that saw little to no recognition years ago.

“I love the idea of promoting food, I think this is great!” said Mim Scalin. “And winter food, most people think you can’t get food in the winter.”

The concept of Project Winterfood was the brainchild of Christina Gleixner, a senior graphic design student at VCU. She enrolled in Noah Scalin’s Design Rebels class, and the entire class voted on her idea. The problem with the winter months is that most people don’t know what types of local produce can be found, and that was one of the main goals that Gleixner had with her project.

“The project ended up being this Project Winterfood and it came out of something I felt very passionate about and drawn to,” said Gleixner. “Supporting the local economy, supporting endangered family farms, and strengthening the food culture in Richmond.”

Johnny Utterback, a senior graphic design student at VCU is also enrolled in Scalin’s Design Rebel’s class. He says the Project Winterfood is designed to promote local food and show all the benefits that it brings to the community.

“It is important for people to buy locally grown food because it helps support the local economy and farmers,” said Utterback. “It definitely keeps the money in the same areas. It leaves no room for questioning where does my food come from, not many people question that today.”

Although the actual event occurred last week, the art exhibit that was held can be seen still at Gallery 5 from December 4^th- 31^st. All funds that are raised from Project Winterfood will benefit the Central Virginia Food Bank and Gallery 5.

-Laura Peters