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>>> COMING UP: TEAM BETTER BLOCK IS UP AT BAT,
THEY'RE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. AN HRBT EXPANSION UPDATE, MLK
REMEMBERED, AND TEN MORE STORIES FROM ACROSS THE MERMAID CITY ARE
COMING YOUR WAY ON NORFOLK NEWS NOW.
CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION ASSOCIATES, LLC
www.captionassociates.com >>> WELCOME TO THE FEBRUARY
EDITION OF NORFOLK NEWS NOW. I'M KAREN PARKER-CHESSON WITH
THE NORFOLK POLICE DEPARTMENT. THANKS FOR JOINING US.
ONE OF NORFOLK'S BIGGEST INITIATIVES THE PAST FEW YEARS
HAS BEEN THE NEIGHBORS BUILDING NEIGHBORHOODS PHILOSOPHY, A
COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP MODEL FOR EFFECTIVE NEIGHBORHOOD
REVITALIZATION, ESSENTIALLY CREATING NEIGHBORHOODS OF CHOICE
WHERE FAMILIES LIVE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO, IN ADDITION TO HELP
FROM THE COMMUNITY, NORFOLK HAS A HAND FROM TEAM BETTER BLOCK, A
NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION COMPANY FROM TEXAS WITH A LITTLE
DIFFERENT WAY OF DOING THINGS. THEY WERE RECENTLY IN NORFOLK TO
GIVE A PRESENTATION TO RESIDENTS AND CITY LEADERS.
OUR MAN JOHN LINKA CAPTURED THAT MOMENT ON VIDEO.
>> HOW CAN WE TAKE THE BEST PARTS OF ALL OF THE CITY AND PUT
IT IN ONE PLACE TO GET IT KICK STARTED, URBAN DEFIBRILLATE THAT
PLACE, MAKE IT ALIVE AGAIN. >> TEAM BETTER BLOCK WITH IT'S
PRINCIPALS, ANDREW HOWARD AND JASON ROBERTS, CREATE QUICK,
INEXPENSIVE, HIGH-IMPACT PROJECTS OR CHANGES TO ONE BLOCK
AT A TIME THAT CAN HELP UNDERUTILIZED AREAS THAT NEED
REVITALIZATION. >> WE DO THAT THROUGH A
PARTICIPATORY PROCESS WHERE WE GET OUT THERE AND BUILD IT
TOGETHER. WE'RE NOT JUST DRAWING PRETTY
PICTURES ABOUT HOW WE CAN REINVENT OUR COMMUNITY.
>> EVERY CITY HAS THIS PROBLEM WHERE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
RESOURCES AND THIS HUGE SCALE. YOU HAVE A CITY THAT YOU CAN'T
REPAIR EVERYTHING OVERNIGHT. YOU HAVE TO START AT A SMALLER
LEVEL, SO OUR APPROACH IS AT THE BLOCK.
>> TEAM BETTER BLOCK CAME IN AND DID AN ANALYSIS OF FOUR PRIMARY
AREAS OF THE CITY. THOSE WERE BASED ON THREE, OUR
ECONOMIC STRATEGIC AREA INITIATIVES THAT ARE PART OF OUR
NEW GENERAL PLAN, SO THEY DID AN ANALYSIS AS FAR AS THE
LIKELIHOOD THAT A DEMONSTRATION PROJECT COULD TAKE PLACE THERE.
WE WILL GET THAT FEEDBACK AND WE'LL START PLANNING WITH THEM.
THE INITIAL FEEDBACK IS THAT MOST OF THE AREAS THAT WE DID
PICK DO FIT THE MODEL. >> WE LOOK AT THINGS LIKE FORM,
YOU KNOW, IS THERE GOOD BUILDINGS OUT THERE, THE STREETS
CALM AND ABLE TO BE HELPED, IS THERE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATED
WITH IT, ARE THERE VAI CAN'T SPOTS THAT -- VACANT SPOTS THAT
WE CAN FILL AND WE SAW THAT IN EVERY ONE OF THOSE.
>> INEXPENSIVE MATERIALS, PAINT, SIGNS, MOVABLE CHAIRS, THESE ARE
THINGS WE'RE CITIES NOW USE AS WAYS TO TRANSFORM LOCATIONS.
WE LIKE TO WORK IN SHORT TIME FRAMES, 90, 120 DAYS, AND WHAT
WE LIKE TO SAY IS WITHIN TWO YEARS, YOU CAN SEE A DRAMATIC
CHANGE IN A PLACE. >> THERE NEEDS TO BE A
BOLSTERING OF THE BICYCLE COMMUNITY.
I WOULD SAY NUMBER ONE, YOU HAVE A BIKE MONTH.
I WOULD EXTEND THAT AND I WOULD DO MORE THAN ONCE A MONTH OR
WOULD MONTH OUT OF THE YEAR. I'D -- ONE MONTH OUT OF THE
YEAR. I'D DO SOMETHING EVERY OTHER
MONTH OR SO, BUILD THAT BIKE COMMUNITY.
THE MOST AWESOME WAY TO GET YOUR COMMUNITY ENERGIZED ABOUT
NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION AND PRESERVING OLD BUILDINGS AND
BUILDING COMMUNITY IS YOU GET THEM ON THE BICYCLE.
WE GO SLOWER AND LOOK AT PLACES BETTER WHEN WE DO THAT AND IT
ALSO BUILDS A LOT OF NETWORK BECAUSE YOU GET THE STUFF DONE,
IT TAKES MORE THAN JUST ONE OR TWO PEOPLE.
IT TAKES A NETWORK OF FOLKS TO SHARE RESPONSIBILITY.
>> BASICALLY SHOWS THAT ON A SMALL SCALE AND THROUGH
CO-RESPONSIBILITY OF HAVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY COMMITTED IN
THAT AREA, TO START THE MOMENTUM FOR HAVING BUSINESS GROWTH, FOR
HAVING A YOOFT STREETS, USE -- USE OF THE STREETS, USE OF
PUBLIC SPACES OR RECREATING PUBLIC SPACES, THAT MAYBE FOLKS
HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR SOME SORT OF HUGE INVESTMENT, BUT REALIZE
IF THEY JUST START DOING IT, THEY CAN MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.
>> YOU DON'T NEED A LOT OF BUREAUCRACY TO MAKE THIS CITY
BETTER. WE JUST NEED TO GET OUR PEOPLE
DOING THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO IN OTHER PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN
SEE THEM AND BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S THAT COMMUNITY THAT'S GOING TO MAKE THESE SPACES IN THE CITY
THAT HAVE SO MUCH POTENTIAL FOR SOMETHING THAT JUST MAKES
NORFOLK EVERYTHING THAT IT COULD POSSIBLY BE.
>> SO WE'LL LOOK TO CONTINUE TO DO SOME STAKEHOLDER INPUT AND
PROBABLY SET AN EVENT FOR THEM TO SEE OR DO, IF NOT ONE, BUT AT
LEAST A COUPLE OF THESE. >> WHEN YOU DO A BETTER BLOCK
HERE, IT'S GOING TO USE SOME OF THESE PRINCIPLES THAT I WENT
OVER TODAY, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE VERY MUCH WHAT Y'ALL MAKE IT.
I SAID "Y'ALL." >> TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TEAM
BETTER BLOCK AND WHAT IT COULD DO FOR NORFOLK, JUST LOG ON TO
WWW.TEAMBETTERBLOCK.COM. >>> THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION AND THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION ARE
STUDYING THE I-64 HAMPTON ROADS BRIDGE TUNNEL CORRIDOR FROM
I-664 IN HAMPTON TO I-564 IN NORFOLK.
THE STUDY IS INTENDED TO FIND AN ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION TO
ADDRESS THE LACK OF CAPACITY AND TO CORRECT ROADWAY, BRIDGE, AND
TUNNEL DEFICIENCIES IN THE CORRIDOR.
A DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT HAS THE ATTENTION OF
RESIDENTS AND OFFICIALS IN NORFOLK.
MANY OF THEM MADE THEIR VOICES HEARD DURING THE VDOT HEARING
LAST MONTH. ACCORDING TO THE DRAFT, THE
PROJECT WOULD IMPACT ABOUT 150 ACRES OF REAL ESTATE IN THE CITY
AND WOULD DISTURB ABOUT 50 ACRES OF WETLANDS AND SEVEN DIFFERENT
PARK AND RECREATION FACILITIES IN NORFOLK.
THE STUDY INDICATES UPWARDS OF 185 RESIDENCES MAY NEED TO BE
ACQUIRED AND MORE THAN 700 PROPERTIES WOULD BE IMPACTED BY
NOISE FROM THE PROJECT. THERE WOULD ALSO BE IMPACTS TO
MERRIMAC LANDING AND FOREST LAWN CEMETERY, BOTH HISTORIC
PROPERTIES. RESIDENTS CAN SEE THE ENTIRE
DRAFT ON VDOT'S WEBSITE, VDOT.VIRGINIA.GOV.
>>> THE RESIDENTS OF FAIRMOUNT PARK HEADED INTO 2013 RIDING A
WAVE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT. THEY RECENTLY CELEBRATED THEIR
MANY ACCOMPLISHMENT AT AN ANNUAL HOLIDAY DINNER.
THE THE FAIRMOUNT PARK
BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE ANNOUNCED IT HAD NOTIFIED ABOUT
30 RESIDENTS ABOUT POSSIBLE CODE VIOLATIONS.
23 OF THOSE RESIDENTS STEPPED UP AND ADDRESSED THE CONCERNS ON
THEIR OWN. A NEW DOLLAR DEALS STORE OPENED
FOR BUSINESS IN A ONCE RUN-DOWN BUILDING.
THE CIVIC LEAGUE WAS AWARDED GRANTS THAT THEY PLAN TO USE TO
RESTORE A WETLANDS AREA AND CREATE A POCKET PARK.
BUT IT WASN'T JUST THE ADULTS GETTING INTO THE COMMUNITY
SPIRIT. THE YOUTH CIVIC LEAGUE SOLD 75
T-SHIRTS, MADE 70 FRUIT BASKETS FOR THE TEACHERS AT
LAFAYETTE-WINONA MIDDLE SCHOOL, BUILT SEVEN BIRDHOUSES FOR THE
NEARBY WETLANDS, AND MADE FOOD BASKETS FOR FOUR NEEDY FAMILIES.
THE RESULTS OF THE COMMUNITY EFFORT SHOW.
VIOLENT CRIME IN THE AREA IS DOWN 18% AND PROPERTY CRIMES
DROPPED BY 7%. >>> IT'S AIR, ONLY BETTER.
NORFOLK'S ADDRESS INFORMATION RESOURCE, OR AIR, HAS BEEN
UPGRADED TO PROVIDE EVEN MORE USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT
PROPERTY THROUGHOUT THE CITY. THE SYSTEM PULLS TOGETHER 200
DIFFERENT DATA ELEMENTS FOR EACH PROPERTY, INCLUDING FLOOD ZONE
INFORMATION, AERIAL PHOTOS, AND STRUCTURE INFORMATION.
THE UPDATED VERSION INCLUDES UPGRADES BASED ON FEEDBACK CITY
RESIDENTS AND STAFF HAVE PROVIDED OVER THE PAST THREE
YEARS. USERS CAN NOW FIND AND PRINT
RECYCLING DATES, LOOK UP ZONING INFORMATION, GET INFORMATION
ABOUT CODES, CASES, AND MORE. THE USER INTERFACE HAS ALSO BEEN
REVAMPED TO MAKE THE SITE EASIER TO USE.
TO TAKE AIR 2.0 FOR A TEST DRIVE, GO TO
NORFOLK.GOV/NORFOLKAIR. CLICK ON THE WORD MAPS ON THE
LEFT SIDE OF THE PAGE. >>> NORFOLK AND PORTSMOUTH ARE
TEAMING UP TO HELP MORE RESIDENTS QUALIFY TO BE A PART
OF A COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM OR CERT.
THE PROGRAM TRAINS VOLUNTEERS TO HELP THEMSELVES AND OTHERS IN
THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH OF A DISASTER AND TO PROVIDE DIRECTED
ASSISTANCE TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND CITY OFFICIALS IN THE AFTERMATH.
CERT TRAINING REQUIRES PARTICIPANTS TO ATTEND NINE
2-1/2-HOUR TRAINING SESSIONS. THIS YEAR, PARTICIPANTS CAN TAKE
THE CLASSES IN NORFOLK ON WEDNESDAY EVENINGS OR IN
PORTSMOUTH ON THURSDAY EVENINGS. CLASSES BEGIN MID FEBRUARY AND
MEET ONCE A WEEK THROUGH APRIL 6th.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CERT TRAINING, CALL 441-5619.
>>> LAST MONTH, RESIDENTS AND CITY LEADERS CAME TOGETHER TO
CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WITH A WALK AND
SPECIAL CEREMONY AT THE MLK MEMORIAL DOWNTOWN.
THE TRIPLE-N'S JOHN LINKA WAS THERE.
>> THE AIR WAS CRISP AND CLEAR, AND SO WAS THE MARCH AND ITS
MESSAGE. \M HAND IN HAND TOGETHER, WE
SHALL OVERCOME SOME DAY \M >> THE MARCH WAS NORFOLK'S
TRIBUTE TO DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
>> ONE THING THAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT AND VERY PROUD
OF IS THAT THERE'S A LEGACY THAT WE ARE ENDEAVORING TO CONTINUE
IN CELEBRATING AND COMMEMORATING THE LEGACY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER
KING JR. >> FOR THE SECOND TIME,
NORFOLK'S GARDEN OF PRAYER WORSHIP CENTER JOINED THE CITY
OF NORFOLK AND HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE
CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER. >> AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT
DR. KING WAS ABOUT, COLLECTIVISM AND OUR EFFORTS TO BRING ABOUT A
GREATER SOCIETY. >> THE WALK BEGAN AT THE WORSHIP
CENTER AND CONTINUE DOWN THIRD STREET TO A CEREMONY AT THE
MARTIN LUTHER KING MEMORIAL AT THE INTERSECTION OF CHURCH
STREET AND BRAMBLETON AVENUE. \M\M
>> OH, YEAH! >> TODAY HERE IN NORFOLK AND
ACROSS THE NATION, PEOPLE ARE GATHERING TO CELEBRATE AND
REMEMBER THE LIFE AND THE LEGACY OF ONE OF AMERICA'S GREAT SONS,
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WE HONOR DR. KING ON THIS
SPECIAL DAY FOR HIS COURAGE AND FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND FOR HIS
ACHIEVEMENTS AND HIS MESSAGE OF HOPE.
>> THE DAY HAD DOUBLE SIGNIFICANCE.
>> OUR COMMUNITY IS READY TO CELEBRATE, NOT ONLY DR. MARTIN
LUTHER KING, BUT THE PRESIDENT AS WELL.
AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE FACT THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA MADE SURE
THAT HIS INAUGURAL WOULD BE HELD ON THE DAY OF MARTIN LUTHER
KING'S CELEBRATION. >> BECAUSE OF HIS INSISTENCE AND
PERSEVERANCE OF DR. KING, AMERICA HAS BECOME THE AMERICA
THAT HE ENVISIONED. THEY INDUCTED THIS PRESIDENT BY
THE CONTENT OF HIS CHARACTER AND NOT THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN.
>> SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED WITHOUT THE MAN
WHOM EVERYONE HERE MARCHED IN HONOR OF, TO CELEBRATE, TO
REMEMBER, AND TO TEACH OTHERS ABOUT.
>> I HAVE SOME GREAT NIECES AND NEPHEWS THAT'S NEVER
PARTICIPATED IN THE MARCH, SO I BROUGHT THEM ALONG TODAY, PLUS A
GRANDDAUGHTER THAT THEY HAVE PARTICIPATE, SO IT'S JUST
SOMETHING THAT I WANT THEM JUST TO REMEMBER AND, YOU KNOW, JUST
LEARN THAT IT'S A GREAT HONOR. >> HE WAS A LEADER.
HE WAS -- HE HAD A NOBEL PEACE PRIZE.
>> HE WOULD LIKE FOR US TO ALL BE TOGETHER AND MARCHING.
>> DR. KING INSPIRED US ALL TO BELIEVE THERE WOULD BE A DAY
WHEN PEOPLE OF EVERY RACE WOULD COME TOGETHER IN A COLOR-BLIND
AND UNIFIED AMERICA, AND EVERY YEAR WE MUST STRIVE TO MOVE MORE
CLOSELY TO THAT GOAL. >> FOR NORFOLK NEWS NOW, I'M
JOHN LINKA. >>> A HEALTHY NORFOLK IS ONE OF
CITY MANAGER MARCUS JONES' INITIATIVES FOR THE MERMAID
CITY. LAST MONTH, THE DEPARTMENT OF
RECREATION, PARKS, AND OPEN SPACE DID THEIR PART IN HELPING
TO CELEBRATE HEALTHY YOUTH DAY. THE TRIPLE-N'S JOHN LINKA WAS
THERE. >> READY?
>> THESE NORFOLK KIDS WERE NOODLING AROUND FOR THEIR
HEALTH. >> TODAY IS VIRGINIA HEALTHY
YOUTH TODAY, A STATEWIDE HOLIDAY AND WE JUST WANT TO PROMOTE
CHILDREN TO BE HEALTHY, BE ACTIVE, EAT WELL, ALL THOSE
TYPES OF THINGS. IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT CAUSE WITH
OBESITY ON THE RISE, WE'RE TRYING TO FIGHT THAT.
>> THE WEAPON OF CHOICE IN ADDITION TO THE NOODLES, OF
DANCING TO THE MUSIC. >> DANCING TO THE MUSIC OF
ZUMBA. SKIPPING TO THEIR LOU.
>> RIGHT, LEFT. LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT AND --
>> A LITTLE VOLLEYBALL AND DODGEBALL.
IT WAS ALL THANKS TO THE CITY OF NORFOLK AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
RECREATION, PARKS AND OPEN SPACE, TO HELP TEACH THESE KIDS
ABOUT BEING HEALTHY AND LIVING HEALTHY LIVES.
>> IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU STAY HEALTHY, THAT YOU EAT WELL,
THAT YOU GET OUT AND MOVE ABOUT SO THAT WHEN YOU GET OLDER, WHEN
YOU'RE ALL GROWN UP, YOU'RE NOT ALL STIFF AND ACHY AND ALL THAT
STUFF. >> THE KIDS WERE GREETED BY THE
GRANBY HIGH SCHOOL CHEER SQUAD. THE NORFOLK ADMIRALS, AND THE
NORFOLK TIDE'S MASCOT RIPTIDE, WHO LET'S BE HONEST, COULD MAYBE
USE A LITTLE MORE HEALTHY ACTIVITY TO TRIM UP SOME OF
THOSE PESKY NETHER REGIONS. WITH ALL THIS ACTIVITY, THE KIDS
WERE BOUND TO GET THIRSTY. >> WHO LIKES MOUNTAIN DEW?
>> BUT THERE WAS A HEALTH LESSON HERE TOO.
ONE OF THOSE BOTTLES OF MOUNTAIN DEW CONTAINS 77 GRAMS OF SUGAR,
EQUAL TO THIS MANY TEASPOONS OF SUGAR.
>> 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 1/2. THE SUGAR THAT WAS IN HERE IS
NOW IN HERE. NOW IF I SAY HERE, HAVE A
MOUNTAIN DEW, START DRINKING. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IS IN THIS.
ONE, ONE OF THESE, AND AMERICANS NORMALLY DRINK TWO, THREE, FOUR
OF THEM. THAT'S HOW WE GET 150 POUNDS OF
SUGAR IN OUR BODY AND THIS IS WHY 70% OF AMERICANS RIGHT NOW
ARE OVERWEIGHT AND OBESE. BECAUSE THEY'RE EATING PROCESSED
FOODS INSTEAD OF CAULIFLOWER AND SPINACH AND BROCCOLI.
>> I THINK IT'S A REALLY GREAT THING BECAUSE IT ENCOURAGES THEM
TO NOT ONLY EAT HEALTHY BUT TO BE ACTIVE.
WE HEAR THE HEALTH STATISTICS ABOUT THE HEALTH OF SOME OF
AMERICANS BEING SO POOR, SO I THINK THIS IS A REALLY GOOD
OUTREACH TOOL TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO REALLY TAKE CARE OF THEIR
BODIES. >> ENCOURAGING THEM TO TAKE CARE
OF THEIR BODIES SO THEY CAN RUN AROUND LIKE THIS FOR A VERY,
VERY LONG TIME. FOR NORFOLK NEWS NOW, I'M JOHN
LINKA. >>> WHEN WE COME BACK, A NEW GYM
MEANS NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR THE INGLESIDE COMMUNITY.
PLUS, GUNS AND HOSES LIVE IN NORFOLK.
WE'LL EXPLAIN. AND A LOOK AT WHAT AND WHO IS
NEW AT THE ZOO. >>> SO RACHEL, WE'VE BEEN DATING
TO QUITE A WHILE NOW AND THINGS ARE GREAT BETWEEN US.
>> YES. YES, THEY ARE.
>> AND YOU KNOW I'VE BEEN SAVING MY MONEY TO BUY SOMETHING
EXPENSIVE. SO ON MONDAY, I'M GOING TO A
PAID TAX PREPARATION SERVICE AND GET A RAPID REFUND LOAN SO THAT
I CAN -- SO THAT I CAN BUY A MOTORCYCLE.
>> THAT IS ONE OF THE CRAZIEST THINGS I'VE EVER HEARD COME OUT
OF YOUR MOUTH. WHY WOULD YOU GO THERE TO GET
YOUR TAXES DONE WHEN YOU CAN GET YOUR TAXES DONE AT A VITA SITE?
>> I HEARD YOU DON'T GET YOUR TAX REFUND BACK FOR A LONG TIME
WHEN YOU GO TO ONE OF THOSE PLACES.
I CAN GET MINE BACK THE SAME DAY.
>> BUT YOU PAY HEFTY FEES FOR IT, FEES FOR GETTING YOUR TAXES
PREPARED AND FEES FOR THE LOAN. I GOT MY TAXES PREPARED AT A
VITA SITE LAST YEAR AND I GOT MY TAX REFUND BACK A LITTLE OVER A
WEEK LATER AND IT WAS FREE. >> THAT QUICK?
>> YOU CAN GO TO THE VITA SITE AND YOU CAN STILL HAVE ENOUGH
MONEY TO PUT IN YOUR SAVINGS AND RIDE THAT MOTORCYCLE AND BUY ME
A BLACK LEATHER JACKET. >> FOR MORE ON FREE TAX
PREPARATION, CALL OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE.
>>> WELCOME BACK TO THE TRIPLE-N.
NOW THAT WE'RE IN FEBRUARY, HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE BASKETBALL IS
IN FULL SWING. BUT THERE IS ALSO REASON TO
CELEBRATE COMMUNITY BASKETBALL IN NORFOLK.
JOHN LINKA TAKES US INSIDE A NEW GYM AND A NEW WORLD OF RESIDENT
OPPORTUNITY, YOUNG AND YOUNGER. >> BASKETS WERE SCORED AND NETS
WOULD CUT, BUT THIS WAS NOT FOR A VICTORY IN A BASKETBALL GAME.
IT WAS FOR A VICTORY IN THE OPENING OF A BRAND-NEW
GYMNASIUM. >> WHEN MEMBERS OF A
NEIGHBORHOOD AND CITY LEADERS COME TOGETHER WITH COMMON GOALS,
GREAT THINGS CAN HAPPEN, AND LOOK AROUND.
A GREAT THING DID HAPPEN. >> THAT GREAT THING IS THE NEW
$1.9 MILLION INGLESIDE GYMNASIUM ADJACENT TO INGLESIDE ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL. IT HAS A HIGH SCHOOL REGULATION
BASKETBALL COURT AND TWO SIDE RUNNING COURTS.
>> THE CHILDREN IN THE AREA DIDN'T HAVE ANY PLACE TO PLAY
WHEN IT GOT COLD OUT OR WHEN IT GOT DARK, AND THE STUDENTS AT
THE SCHOOL HERE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A GYM.
WE THOUGHT IF WE COULD DO ONE GYM, WE'D GET A TWO-FOR.
THE RESIDENTS COULD USE IT ON THE WEEKENDS AND EVENINGS AND
THE STUDENTS COULD USE IT DURING THE DAY.
>> IN ALL, IT'S A LARGE FACILITY TO ATHLETIC LEAGUES, P.E.
CLASSES AND BASKETBALL FUN. PLENTY OF STAYS FOR COUNCILWOMAN
ANGELIA WILLIAMS TO GET IN MORE PRACTICE.
>> I SEE THIS AS AN EXTENSION OF ACTUALLY FIRST LADY MICHELLE
OBAMA'S INITIATIVE ON LET'S MOVE, TO GET OUR CHILDREN OUT,
ACTIVE, AND KEEP THEM HEALTHY, SO THIS IS A WONDERFUL
OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR KIDS TO HAVE SOMEWHERE TO PLAY.
>> A PLACE TO PLAY THAT WILL KEEP THEM HERE PLAYING INSTEAD
OF BEING OUT ELSEWHERE IN THEIR FREE TIME.
>> MY THING IS THAT REC CENTERS AND GYMS ARE NEEDED.
THEY ARE NEEDED, I MEAN, BECAUSE IF THERE'S NO GYM, NO REC
CENTER, NOWHERE FOR THE CHILDREN TO PLAY, THEN THAT LEAVES THEM
IN THE STREET IDLE AND IF THEY'RE IN THE STREET IDLE, THEN
THEY'RE GOING TO GET THIS TROUBLE.
>> FOR NORFOLK NEWS NOW, I'M JOHN LINKA.
>>> LET THE MADNESS BEGIN. MARCH MADNESS, THAT IS.
NORFOLK SCOPE WILL BE PLAYING HOST TO THIS YEAR'S MEN'S AND
WOMEN'S MEAC BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS.
THE FESTIVITIES START SATURDAY, MARCH 9th, WITH A CONCERT BY
ARETHA FRANKLIN. EVENTS AND GAMES CONTINUE
THROUGH THE WEEK AND CULMINATE THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY WITH THE
MEN'S AND WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES.
HAMPTON UNIVERSITY'S LADY PIRATES ARE THE DEFENDING
WOMEN'S CHAMPS. THE NORFOLK STATE SPARTANS WILL
BE TRYING TO HANG ONTO THE MEN'S TOP SPOT FOR A SECOND YEAR.
FOR A COMPLETE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS, TICKETS, AND
INFORMATION, VISIT THE TOURNAMENT WEBSITE AT
MEACHOOPS.COM. >>> WOULD YOU GO TO AN EVENT
WHERE POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS RACE A RUCKUS WITH STICKS AND
PUCKS WHILE RAISING BIG MONEY FOR A LOCAL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL?
COUNT US IN. EVERY YEAR, POLICE OFFICERS AND
FIREFIGHTERS FROM AROUND HAMPTON ROADS FACE OFF ON THE ICE AT
SCOPE. IT'S CALLED GUNS AND HOSES AND
THE PROCEEDS FROM THE EVENT GO TO THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF
THE KING'S DAUGHTER. EACH YEAR THE GUNS AND HOSES
GAME GETS BIGGER. TEAM BRAVEST, THE FIREFIGHTERS,
LEADS TEAM FINEST, THE POLICE, IN THE SERIES 4-3.
IT MAY HAVE HELPED THAT THE FIREFIGHTERS HAVE A FORMER
NORFOLK ADD MILLER ON OUR SIDE, BUT -- ADMIRAL ON THEIR SIDE,
BUT WE'RE NOT TALKING BLOWOUTS HERE.
FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS, EVERY GAME HAS BEEN DECIDED BY TWO
GOALS OR LESS. THE MONEY RAISED THIS TIME
SURPASSED LAST YEAR'S TOTAL OF $14,000 RAISED FOR CHKD.
>>> THERE WAS QUITE THE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION RECENTLY AT KEEP
NORFOLK BEAUTIFUL'S ERNIE MORGAN CENTER.
IT WAS AN OPEN HOUSE CELEBRATION, RECOGNIZING KNB'S
15 YEARS OF SUPPORTING SUSTAINABILITY.
THE EVENT WAS CO-HOSTED BY THE NORFOLK ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
AND FRIENDS OF NORFOLK'S ENVIRONMENT.
THE ALL-DAY EVENT WAS LOADED WITH HISTORICAL INFORMATION
ABOUT THE ERNIE MORGAN CENTER, ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY,
FOOD AND, OF COURSE, LOTS OF FUN.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE GREAT WORK DONE BY THE FOLKS AT KEEP
NORFOLK BEAUTIFUL, JUST LOG ON TO WWW.NORFOLKBEAUTIFUL.ORG.
>>> EACH MONTH, THE MARY D. PRETLOW LIBRARY HOSTS A
MEET/LEARN/DISCOVER SERIES OF LECTURES AND GUESTS SPONSORED BY
NORFOLK PUBLIC LIBRARY AND AARP. LAST MONTH, THEY GOT A SPECIAL
TREAT. \M\M
A STRING QUARTET FROM THE VIRGINIA SYMPHONY STRUMMED THEIR
STRINGS IN FRONT OF A PACKED ROOM IN A PERFORMANCE CALLED
"FROM BACH TO BEATBOX." FOLKS GOT TO EXPERIENCE THE
MUSIC OF VIVALDI, BACH, MOZART, BEETHOVEN, THE BEATLES, AND
TODAY'S CONTEMPORARY BEATBOX SOUND WITH AN ORCHESTRAL TWIST.
FOR MORE ON THE VIRGINIA SYMPHONY, JUST LOG ON TO
VIRGINIASYMPHONY.ORG. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NPL'S
MEET/LEARN/DISCOVER SERIES, WHICH TAKES PLACE ON THE THIRD
WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH, JUST CALL 664-7328, EXTENSION 340.
ALL ADULTS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND, NO REGISTRATION IS
REQUIRED, AND LIBRARY PROGRAMS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
>>> THERE ARE SOME NEW ADDITIONS TO THE POPULATION OF THE
VIRGINIA ZOO. RECENTLY, THE TRIPLE-N'S JOHN
LINKA GOT A CHANCE TO CHECK OUT WHO'S NEW AT THE ZOO.
>> THERE WAS QUITE THE SURPRISE AT THE VIRGINIA ZOO BACK IN
AUGUST. >> OUR MALE AND FEMALE SIAMANG,
WE KNEW THEY WERE EXHIBITING BREEDING BEHAVIOR, BUT
UNFORTUNATELY, WE DID NOT PICK UP THE SIGNS THAT SHE IS
PREGNANT. WE WERE LOOKING FOR IT, BUT THEY
JUST DIDN'T SHOW UP TO THE EXTENT WE NOTICED, AND SO THE
ZOOKEEPERS CAME IN ONE DAY AND WE HAD A BABY SIAMANG.
>> IN ADDITION TO THE NATURAL ADDITION, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME
OTHER PLANNED IMPORTS SINCE NOVEMBER, INCLUDING A.J., A
TWO-YEAR-OLD BONGO FROM THE JACKSONVILLE ZOO.
>> BONGOS ARE THE LARGEST SPECIES OF FOREST ANTELOPE.
THEY COME FROM AFRICA, SPECIFICALLY, A LOT OF THEM IN
THE KENYA AREA. THEY HAVE A STRIKING WHITE STRIP
WHICH IS CAMOUFLAGE FOR THEM. >> WE'VE HAD A SUCCESSFUL BONGO
BREEDING AREA HERE AT THE VIRGINIA ZOO AND TWOU, ONE OF
OUR BONGOS WE BRED HERE WAS SEPTEMBER BACK TO AFRICA TO
HELP -- SENT BACK TO AFRICA TO HELP REPOPULATE THEM IN THE
WILD. >> THERE'S ALSO THESE THREE NEW
LEAF-TAILED GECKOS. SEE?
THAT'S PROOF THE CAMOUFLAGE WORKS REALLY WELL.
THEY CAN HIDE FROM PREDATORS AND OUR EYES ALSO.
AND THERE'S THIS GUY. >> THIS IS AN IRANIAN NEWT.
THEY COME FROM LOWER AREAS OF ASIA LIKE TOWARDS THE MIDDLE
EAST AND THEY CAN SURVIVE BOTH DRY AND WET SEASONS, DEPENDING
ON BREEDING. AND THEY'RE HIGHLY ENDANGERED
SPECIES, SO THERE'S A BIG CONSERVATION CALL FOR THEM, AND
THEY'RE MAINLY CARNIVOROUS. THEY WILL EAT SMALL INSECTS AND
ANYTHING THAT FLOATS IN THE WATER, BUT ALSO CRICKETS AND
SMALL WORMS. >> THERE'S ALSO A NEW SOLOMON
ISLAND LEAF FROG AND A BABY SNAKE THAT'S A RHINO, AT LEAST
AS FAR AS THE NOSE GOES. >> THIS IS ONE OF OUR FEMALE
RHINO RAT SNAKES. THESE GUYS GET THEIR NAME BASED
ON THE NUB THAT'S RIGHT THERE ON TOP OF THEIR NOSE.
IT'S NOT SHARN, KIND OF -- SHARP, KIND OF SPONGY.
THEY JUST USE IT TO DECORATION THOUGH.
WHEN A SMALL RODENT COMES BY, THEY WILL ACTUALLY STRIKE.
>> WITH COUNTLESS ANIMALS TO CHOOSE FROM, WHY BRING IN THESE
GUYS? >> THE ANIMALS WE HAVE HERE ARE
TYPICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES AND ONE OF OUR MISSIONS IS TO TRY TO
CONSERVE THE SPECIES BY BREEDING THEM IN ZOOS AND MAINTAINING A
VIABLE GENETIC POPULATION AND TO BE USED SOME DAY IN CASES LIKE
THE BONGO TO REPOPULATE THEM. >> THERE WILL SOON BE A BROOND
NEW ANIMAL CARE CAMPUS TO HELP THE POPULATION HERE AT THE ZOO
AND IT'S EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN THE SPRING OR
SUMMER OF THIS YEAR. BUT THIS NEW CAMPUS IS NOT JUST
FOR THE ANIMALS. >> ANOTHER ONE OF OUR THEMES IN
ADDITION TO CONSERVATION IS EDUCATION, SO THE ANIMAL
WELLNESS CAMPUS WILL HAVE AN EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT WHERE
PEOPLE WILL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO WATCH PROCEDURES BEING DONE AND
THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, SO IT WILL BE A LOT OF FUN.
>> NOT AS MUCH FUN AS THE BABY SIAMANG IS HAVING WITH HER MOM,
EATING BREAKFAST WHILE SITTING IN THEIR BREAKFAST PLACE.
FOR NORFOLK NEWS NOW, I'M JOHN LINKA.
>>> THAT WRAPS UP THE FEBRUARY EDITION OF NORFOLK NEWS NOW ON
THE TRIPLE-N. THANKS FOR WATCHING NORFOLK'S
NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK FOR ALL THINGS NORFOLK.
I'M KAREN PARKER-CHESSON WITH THE NORFOLK POLICE DEPARTMENT.
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND YOUR CITY, AND CELEBRATE LIFE DAILY.
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