Ryan Feldman, 19, a Douglas Freeman High School Graduate, and a sophmore at James Madison University, died of self-inflicted wounds on Thursday.
Harrisonburg’s WHSV reports:

JMU President Linwood H. Rose says, “We are all deeply saddened by the loss of one of our own. Ryan’s death reminds us of the fragility of human life and should encourage us all to reach out to support and nurture our friends and colleagues. The entire JMU community sends its deepest sympathies to Ryan’s family.”

Counseling services are available to anyone affected by this. Police first reported the death on Thursday.

The National Folk Festival announced today the full list of performers for the Folk Festival’s free 3-day event at the river, October 12-14th.

These artists include: Junk Yard Band – Go-go, Big Country Bluegrass – bluegrass, Cindy Cashdollar, Elana James, and the Hot Club of Cowtown – Western Swing, Bryan Bowers – Autoharp player and singer, Karan Casey – Irish Song and Music, Dovie Thomason Sickles – Native American Story Teller, Moges Seyoum & The Yared Choir – Ethiopian Christian Liturgical Music, Manoocheher Sadeghi – Persian Santur, Palabuniyan Kulintang Ensemble – Philipino Gong Orchestra, Wild Style 25th Anniversary – Hip-hop Innovator, Marimba Linda Xelajú – Guatemalan Marimba, The Jerry Grcevich Tamburitza Orchestra – Tamburitza Musician and Composer, Melody of China – Chinese Music, and Ubaldo Sanchez – Guatemalan Alfrombra Maker.

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Here are the latest building permits for our area today from the Times-Dispatch:

Ryan Homes West; 1026 Southwinds Drive, $303,000; 1024 Southwinds Drive, $230,000; 1022 Southwinds Drive, $236,000; 1020 Southwinds Drive, $303,000; 4104 Birch Point Court, $171,000; 4102 Birch Point Court, $167,000; 4100 Birch Point Court, $199,000; 4110 Maple Tree Court, $203,000; 4108 Maple Tree Court, $186,000; 4106 Maple Tree Court, $182,000; 4104 Maple Tree Court, $186,000; 4102 Maple Tree Court, $170,000; 4100 Maple Tree Court, $203,000; 916 Pale Moon Drive, $207,000; 914 Pale Moon Drive, $189,000; 912 Pale Moon Drive, $189,000; 910 Pale Moon Drive, $205,000; 906 Wellston Court, $210,000; 904 Wellston Court, $208,000; 902 Wellston Court, $205,000; 900 Wellston Court, $269,000; 1010 Southwinds Drive, $261,000; 1012 Southwinds Drive, $247,000; 1014 Southwinds Drive, $247,000; 1016 Southwinds Drive, $262,000; 2900 Murano Way, $339,700; 2902 Murano Way, $287,000; 2904 Murano Way, $337,700; 2906 Murano Way, $282,700; 551 Siena Lane, $321,400; 553 Siena Lane, $320,400; 555 Siena Lane, $324,000; 557 Siena Lane, $300,400; 5109 Austin Healey Drive, $528,000; 4900 Austin Healey Place, $513,000; 121 Hawk West Court, $341,000.

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The National Folk Festival is offering free harmonicas and free harmonica lessons to the first 100 children who participate in Phil Wiggin’s Harmonica class at the Capital One Family area of the festival both Saturday and Sunday.
From the Folk Festival’s website:

A highlight of this year’s Capital One Family Area is the addition of a one-of-a-kind Harmonica Master Class with Phil Wiggins. Harmonica great Phil Wiggins will offer children a lesson in harmonica basics. Hohner USA will provide complimentary harmonicas to the first one hundred participating children on both Saturday and Sunday.

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Henrico County Public Schools will offer debit-like lunch cards for students this year. The goal is to make it easier for students to keep track of their money. The fringe benefit is that parents can track what their children are buying to eat at school.
The Times Dispatch reports:

Henrico County students and their parents will have the opportunity this year to open an account through myLunchMoney.com, where students will receive a card they can swipe to pay for school lunches.

Parents will be able to replenish the cards electronically from home using Visa or MasterCard credit or debit cards, and be notified when their child’s balance drops below a certain amount.

Another bonus — they’ll be able to keep track of what their child eats for lunch each day.

University of Richmond’s poor defense leads to 41-17 loss for the Spiders against Vanderbilt, The Times Dispatch reports.

The annual State Fair of Virginia comes to Henrico’s Richmond International Raceway September 27th through Oct. 7th. Discounted advance sale tickets are on sale now.
This year rides are not included in general admission tickets. You can purchase a wristband to ride unlimited rides, or purchase individual tickets.
September 30th, Fair admission also includes free admission to a Delbert McClinton concert. And October 3rd Fair admission includes 2 free KOS (Kings of Swing) concerts at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

The Valentine Richmond History Museum announced 5 Richmond History Makers — folks who really make a difference to the Richmond community. To read more about these exceptional Richmonders, click here.

Greg Muzik, principal of Mary Munford Elementary School, hit the nail on the head when he responded to the proposal by 26 business leaders for an appointed school board. Muzik wrote as a guest columnist for the Times Dispatch on Sunday. Someone needed to stand up for our schools and I’m glad he did.

As a principal with more than 30 years’ experience in the Richmond public school system, I have received a good deal of feedback from parents and teachers about the recent letter from 26 business leaders proposing a governance change as a solution to our urban school challenges. No one thinks this is a good idea. But I am less concerned about the proposal for an appointed board than the potential damage this kind of public criticism does to the system.

These business leaders have publicized misleading and outdated data to show that our schools are in some sort of crisis. It feeds a negative community perception that all of us in the Richmond schools have to fight every day.

The mayor in particular has been a constant, vocal critic of the schools when he should be cheering recent progress, and working with the School Board and City Council to bring about improvements. While the Richmond school system has many challenges and certainly should be working continually to improve, the progress made by the district during the past 10 years is nothing short of amazing.

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Henrico’s West Broad Street has come a long way since 2003 when Philip Morris USA located its headquarters here. In addition, Henrico designating the area as a Virginia Enterprise Zone, from the City line to Glenside Drive, has helped push things along.
The Times Dispatch reports:

Philip Morris USA did more than bring hundreds of jobs to Henrico County when it moved its headquarters to West Broad Street.

The relocation announcement in 2003 also prompted state and local officials to roll out financial incentives aimed at revitalizing businesses on what was once Richmond’s most prominent suburban commercial corridor.

Since being designated as a Virginia Enterprise Zone, an area covering specific properties on both sides of West Broad from the Richmond city line to Glenside Drive has begun a major overhaul.

Evidence of the zone’s impact is more anecdotal than comprehensive because much of the work isn’t finished, but officials say it’s undeniable.

The Times Dispatch article fails to mention that the new Reynold’s Crossing Development at 64/Broad Street and Glenside Drive also has benefited from the Virginia Enterprise Zone. Also, is it just me or does it seem like the timing of this article is hinting that a relocation of Altria Group, Philip Morris USA’s parent company might also share space as part of the Reynold’s Crossing Development, located adjacent to the Philip Morris USA headquarters.