VIRGINIA BEACH The aquatic life of Virginia past, present and maybe-could-have-been gets a fancy new home Saturday when the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center unveils its “Restless Planet” renovation. 

The purpose of St. Joseph’s Villa hasn’t changed much over its 175 years. It began as a small orphanage for girls in downtown Richmond, led by three religious women, and has evolved into a center where hundreds of children with special needs receive an education and the therapeutic care they require. The vision of its founders, the Daughters of Charity, was “to establish a community that would care for, protect and educate children who had no one else to look after them,“ said St. Joseph’s Villa’s CEO Kathleen Burke Barrett.

Dueling with Jynocel Basweti over 26.2 miles, said Michael Wardian, is invariably an all-or-nothing proposition. “Either he’s going to crash and burn or he’s going to run pretty well,“ Wardian said. “Today he ran pretty well, I guess.“ Basweti, a 22-year-old Kenyan, became the SunTrust Richmond Marathon’s first back-to-back winner in five years by delivering an elegant effort yesterday in raw, windy conditions. He finished in 2:18:28—the sixth-fastest time in the event’s 32-year history—and defeated Wardian, the runner-up, by nearly seven minutes.

Chalk up another victory for defense and special teams in a meaningful football game. Highland Springs blocked two field goal attempts by Varina, one at the end of the first half and the other with 18 seconds remaining, to edge the Blue Devils 17-16 yesterday afternoon before a crowd of about 4,000 at Highland Springs. The victory set off a joyful celebration for the Springers and their fans. Sixth-ranked in The Times-Dispatch Top 10, Highland Springs (6-0, 9-1) won the Capital District title and a guaranteed berth in the Central Region Division 6 playoffs next Saturday.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine yesterday visited two cities hit especially hard by a drenching storm and flooding and heard appeals from residents for assistance. In Norfolk, Kaine stopped by the Ocean View section of the city. Part of the main thoroughfare, Ocean View Avenue, and a number of side streets, remain under water. Downed trees and power lines blocked other streets.

Cosby and Clover Hill will play each other a sixth time in a boys volleyball match this season. The two Dominion District powers, separated by a couple of miles, will meet for the Central Region tournament championship tonight at 5:30 at Cosby. The winner will earn a home game in the state quarterfinals next week against the Eastern Region runner-up.

Open the door to Fisher House on any Wednesday morning and prepare to have your willpower brought to its knees. The sweet aromas of chocolate, cinnamon and who-knows-what-else grab your senses.

BlueStarRichmond.org.
  Fisher House: To see a wish list for the house, visit RichmondFisherHouse.org or call (804) 675-6601.

There was no shortage of spirit yesterday inside Virginia Commonwealth University’s Siegel Center. Whether it was from the ebullient cheerleaders on the floor or the roaring ovations from their supporters in the stands, the arena was rocking. Cheerleaders and dancers from across Virginia converged on downtown Richmond for the 29th annual Virginia State Cheer & Dance Championships. Richmond has been home to the championships since the competition’s inception in 1980.

In a canoe in the James River, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine made an easy paddle stroke and recalled how he landed in Richmond.

The last minute included a one-handed touchdown reception, a wide-left field goal try, and the conclusion of a 17-game winning streak. Villanova’s Brandyn Harvey made the one-handed grab for a 29-yard touchdown with 59 seconds left—on fourth and 11, no less. The University of Richmond’s Andrew Howard missed a 35-yard field goal attempt at :05.

Evergreen Cemetery, the final resting place for bank founder Maggie L. Walker, newspaper editor John Mitchell Jr. and other prominent blacks of Richmond, is being reclaimed from years of neglect. About 25 volunteers, plus a tree-service company, spent about eight hours yesterday removing thick brush that had swallowed a section of the cemetery in the city’s East End.

He blew through the finish line at Pole Green Park late yesterday afternoon, then decelerated, then slowed to a walk as a meet official recorded his race number. Once he reached the end of the chute, Ted Richardson of James River, the newly minted Central Region cross country champion, turned and paused for a moment as runner-up Grant Pollock of Mills Godwin approached.

As fast as cooks stirred up cauldrons of Brunswick stew at the 17th Street Farmers’ Market yesterday, Lenny and Jeri Sturm bought it. Walking through the crowded market, the Sturms each carried bags with containers of stew purchased from vendors competing for Best in Show. Their two favorites had more of a tomatoey flavor, said Lenny Sturm of Chesterfield County, noting that some of the stews were too sweet for their tastes.

Trailing top-ranked Meadowbrook by 13 points with 10:14 left in last night’s clash of Central District unbeatens, Thomas Dale’s players could’ve hung their heads and watched another season draw to a close without a Central Region playoff berth. Instead, the sixth-ranked Knights put together a remarkable rally that leaves them on the verge of a district championship.