Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION ASSOCIATES, LLC
www.captionassociates.com >>> COMING UP, THE RISE OF THE
TIDE, A NEW COMMUNITY CENTER IS ONE STEP CLOSER, AND THREE
NORFOLK HISTORICAL TREASURES HAVE A CHANCE AT A PLACE OF
HONOR IN VIRGINIA'S COLLECTIONS. THESE AND 12 OTHER STORIES UP
NEXT ON NORFOLK NEWS NOW. >>> WELCOME TO THE SEPTEMBER
EDITION OF NORFOLK NEWS NOW. I'M KAREN PARKER-CHESSON WITH
THE NORFOLK POLICE DEPARTMENT. THANKS FOR JOINING US.
A WHOLE NEW WAY TO GET FROM ONE PLACE TO THE OTHER IN NORFOLK.
AND EARLY RESULTS SHOW THE TIDE IS CATCHING ON FAST.
THE TRIPLE-N'S JOHN LINKA HAS MORE.
>> NORFOLK'S LIGHT RAIL BECAME A FORMALITY IN DECEMBER OF 2007
WITH A GROUND BREAKING AND A WHOLE LOT OF COMPUTER ANIMATION.
FAST FORWARD TO AUGUST OF 2011, AND LIGHT RAIL HAS OFFICIALLY
OPENED WITH A RIBBON CUTTING AND A LOT OF CELEBRATION.
>> THE NEW ERA IN MASS TRANSIT WILL BEGIN FOR NORFOLK, HAMPTON
ROADS, AND FOR THE COMMONWEALTH. ALWAYS ENVISIONED AS A REGIONAL
SYSTEM, NORFOLK'S LIGHT RAIL IS BUT THE FIRST LEG OF WHAT CAN
BECOME AN INTEGRATED RAIL NETWORK THAT WILL MOVE LARGE
NUMBERS OF PEOPLE EFFICIENTLY TO AND FROM HOME AND WORK.
>> THERE WERE HUGS ALL AROUND, ESPECIALLY BETWEEN TWO OF THE
BIGGEST PLAYERS IN BRINGING LIGHT RAIL TO NORFOLK, FORMER
COUNCILMAN RANDY WRIGHT AND MAYOR PAUL FRAIM.
THE OPENING WAS SO BIG, IN FACT, IT TURNED INTO TWO OPENING
CEREMONIES. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WERE READY
FOR THE OH-DARK-100 EXPRESS ON THE MORNING OF AUGUST 19th,
2011, AT THE NEW TOWN ROAD STATION.
THE 5:55 A.M. INAUGURAL RIDE ON THE TIDE LIGHT RAIL WAS PACKED
FOR ITS FIRST TRIP INTO DOWNTOWN NORFOLK.
>> TODAY IS PROOF THAT TRANSIT, THE LIGHT RAIL WILL FILL MODES
OF TRANSPORTATION IN HAMPTON ROADS AND THIS IS A FIRST STEP
AND A GREAT STEP. >> IT'S GOING TO BE A GOOD THING
FOR OUR BUSINESS. WE HAVE OUR BUSINESS OFF LOOP
DRIVE, AND A LOT OF OUR CUSTOMERS WORK DOWNTOWN NORFOLK
AND THIS IS GOING TO WORK OUT WELL FOR US.
>> AND IF YOU THOUGHT THE TRAIN ARRIVED EARLY ON OPENING DAY --
>> I WAS UP AT 1:00 A.M. THIS MORNING AND I ARRIVED AT THE NEW
TOWN STATION AROUND 1:30. >> GREAT TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE
HERE. WE ACTUALLY HAVE A LOT OF FANS
FOR LIGHT RAIL, AND THE BUZZ IN THE CITY OVER THE PAST SEVERAL
DAYS HAS BEEN VERY POSITIVE, AND SO IT'S SORT OF A RELIEF TO GET
TO THIS MOMENT AND HAVE THE SYSTEM SO WELL RECEIVED.
>> WELL RECEIVED WOULD BE THE UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE WEEKEND.
WE'LL GET TO THAT IN A MINUTE. BUT FIRST, LET'*** THE WAYBACK
MACHINE FOR A SECOND, SHALL WE? WE MENTIONED THE GROUNDBREAKING
IN DECEMBER OF 2007. IN JANUARY 2009, THERE WAS A
TRIP TO HIGH STEEL STRUCTURES IN LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.
WHERE LIGHT RAIL STEEL BRIDGE GIRDERS WERE BEING GHAILT WOULD
GO -- BEING BUILT THAT WOULD GO INTO THE OVERPASSES ALONG THE
ROUTE AND IT TOOK MORE THAN TWO DAYS TO BRING THIS 55,000-POUND
BEAST MORE THAN 400 MILES THROUGH RAIN, SLEET, AND SNOW
BACK TO NORFOLK. IN 2009, WE MET 91-YEAR-OLD
RANDALL PIKE, THE OLDEST LIVING NORFOLK STREET CAR DRIVER FROM
THE HEYDAY IN THE 1940s, WHO GOT A CHANCE TO SIT AT THE CONTROLS
OF ONE OF THE NEW TRAINS. MORE RECENTLY, MEMBERS OF
NORFOLK CITY COUNCIL GOT A SNEAK SPEAK VIP RIDE ON THE TIDE AND A
TOUR OF THE TIDE'S MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS FACILITY.
>> WE HAVE A PLACE IN THE AREA TO ALLOWS US TO ASSEMBLE AND
DISASSEMBLE THE ASSEMBLIES UNDERNEATH THE TRAIN.
IT'S AN AWFUL LOT OF HEAVY METAL AND AP PAT RUS THAT MAKES THE
TRAINS GO. >> CONTROL CENTER IS CONSIDERED
THE NERVE CENTER OF THE RAIL. THE CONTROLLER'S JOB, PRIME
RESPONSIBILITY IS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE SAFE TRAIN MOVEMENT.
>> ENOUGH ABOUT THE PAST. THIS THREE-DAY OPENING WEEKEND
OF THE TIDE WAS ABOUT A CELEBRATION.
A CELEBRATION OF THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA OF PUBLIC TRANSIT
IN NORFOLK AND THE STATE OF VIRGINIA.
>> MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREAS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE PURSUED
LIGHT RAIL AND WE ARE, IN FACT, THE SMALL LESS CITY IN THE
COUNTRY TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL. >> THERE WAS SOMETHING FOR
EVERYONE THROUGHOUT THE 11 LIGHT RAIL STATIONS ON OPENING
WEEKEND, INCLUDING FREE COFFEE FOR THE EARLY RISERS, A LIVE
RADIO BROADCAST AS WELL AS ENTERTAINMENT.
AND ON OPENING WEEKEND, EVERYONE GOT TO RIDE THE TIDE FOR FREE.
NOT JUST ON THE INAUGURAL RIDE, BUT EVERY RIDE ON FRIDAY,
SATURDAY, AND SUNDAY ALONG THE ENTIRE 7.4-MILE ROUTE.
>> THE EXPERIENCE IS NICE. IT'S AWESOME.
>> REMEMBER MAYOR PAUL FRAIM SAYING THIS EARLIER IN THE
STORY? >> SORT OF A RELIEF TO GET TO
THIS MOMENT AND HAVE THE SYSTEM SO WELL RECEIVED.
>> IT WAS WELL RECEIVED, ALL RIGHT.
JUST A FEW HOURS INTO THE FIRST DAY OF OPENING WEEKEND, IT WAS
TIME TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS MORE CROWD, THE TRAINS THEMSELVES.
>> THEY DON'T WANT TO GET OUT. >> OR THE LINES TO GET ON THE
TRAINS, WHICH SEEMED LONGER THAN THE ENTIRE LIGHT RAIL ROUTE.
>> IT'S SO CROWDS, YOU CAN'T REALLY ENJOY IT.
I WAS THINKING, YOU KNOW, FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, EVERYBODY
WAS GOING TO BE LOOKING TO GET TO IT, AND NECESSARILY LOW DOWN
IN THE EVENING, BUT NO, JUST AS CROWDED AS IT WAS THIS MORNING.
>> I COULDN'T GET ON THE TRAIN WHEN I LEFT CITY HALL TO GET
BACK TO MY OFFICE, I HAD TO WALK.
>> THAT PROMPTED THEM TO PUT ALL THE TRAINS IN USE AND JOIN
NORFOLK CITY COUNCIL IN A BIG DECISION, EXTENDING THE FREE
RIDERSHIP FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK. >> WE WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE A GOOD
EXPERIENCE. >> OPENING DAY SAW MORE THAN
25,000 RIDERS AND THE FIRST WEEKEND HAD MORE THAN 75,000
FOLKS RIDING THE TIDE. BY THE TIME YOU'RE WATCHING
THIS, THE FREE RIDE WILL BE OVER AND YOU HAVE TO BUY A TICKET TO
RIDE THE TIDE, SO HOW DO YOU DO THAT?
WITH THESE KIOSKS. THE COSTS ARE $1.50 PER TRIP AND
YOU CAN BUY VARIETY OF GO PASSES THAT ARE GOOD FROM ANYWHERE FROM
ONE DAY TO 30 DAYS AT A TIME, SO MATTER WHAT TYPE OF TICKET YOU
BUY, YOU WILL BE MUCH HAPPIER SITTING IN THE TIDE THAN SITTING
IN TRAFFIC LIKE THIS WATCHING THE TIDE GO BY.
FOURD BY AN OVERHEAD ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, NORFOLK'S LIGHT RAIL IS
THE GREEN WAY TO GET AROUND NORFOLK.
>> THE BEST THING ABOUT IT IS YOU'RE RIDING WITH OTHERS AND
YOU ARE AVOIDING THE USE OF FOSSIL FUEL, GASOLINE AS FOSSIL
FUEL AND BY BURNING THAT IN YOUR CAR, THOSE POLLUTANTS END UP
GOING INTO THE ATMOSPHERE AND END UP CREATING PROBLEMS FOR OUR
ENVIRONMENT. >> EACH OF THESE NINE LIGHT RAIL
VEHICLES IS JUST OVER 93 FEET LONG, JUST UNDER 100,000 POUNDS,
AND CAN TRAVEL UP TO 55 MILES PER HOUR.
BEING THAT BIG AND FAST, THESE LIGHT RAIL TRAINS ARE NOTHING TO
PLAY WITH. >> VERY IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE
PAY ATTENTION TO THE SIGNALS, PAY ATTENTION TO THEIR DRIVING,
THEIR WALKING, AND REMEMBER THAT TRAINS WILL BE RUNNING ON A
REGULAR SCHEDULE. >> THEY SEAT A TOTAL OF 68 AND
CAN CARRY UP TO 180 PASSENGERS. THERE ARE EVEN FOUR WHEELCHAIR
SPACES AND BIKE RACKS ON THE TRAIN AND WHETHER YOU'RE SITTING
OR STANDING, YOU WILL HAVE SOME GREAT VIEWS OF NORFOLK, BUT
PERHAPS THE BEST VIEW OF ALL, SEEING NORFOLK LEAD THE WAY WHEN
IT COMES TO PUBLIC TRANSIT IN VIRGINIA.
>> THE BIGGEST THANKS GOES TO THE CITIZENS OF NORFOLK.
IN SPITE OF COST OVERRUNS, DELAYS IN THE STARTING DATE AND
UNFLATTERING ARTICLES, YOU STUCK WITH US.
OUR CITIZENS NEVER LOST CONFIDENCE.
THEY NEVER TURNED THEIR BACKS ON US, AND OUR HEARTIEST THANKS
IMPOSE OUT TO THE CITIZENS OF NORFOLK.
>> THE CITIZENS OF NORFOLK AND, IN FACT, ALL OF HAMPTON ROADS
HAVE EMBRACED LIGHT RAIL. WE'VE HAD RIDERS FROM THE
PENINSULA, LOTS OF RIDERS FROM VIRGINIA BEACH AND CHESAPEAKE,
FROM ALL OVER THE REGION AND THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN VERY, VERY
FAVORABLE. WE'RE ON TO SOMETHING VERY BIG
HERE. >> THANK YOU FOR RIDING THE
TIDE. WE HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR TRIP.
>> FOR NORFOLK NEWS NOW, I'M JOHN LINKA.
>> FOR MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON THE TIDE, INCLUDING ROUTE
TIMES AND FARE COSTS, JUST LOG ON TO NORFOLK.GOV.
>>> NEARLY 5,000 NORFOLK SENIORS GOT ALMOST $7 MILLION IN REAL
ESTATE TAX RELIEF LAST YEAR THANKS TO A CITY
COUNCIL-APPROVED CAP. THE CAP IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE
FINANCIAL RELIEF FOR OLDER NORFOLK CITIZENS WHO ARE
FREQUENTLY STRUGGLING WITH THE CHALLENGES OF A FIXED INCOME.
THE PROGRAM IS ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER
OF THE REVENUE. DURING MARCH, APRIL, AND MAY OF
EACH YEAR, TAX RELIEF TEAMS SET UP SHOP IN FOUR SATELLITE
OFFICES THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO HELP SENIORS FILL OUT THE
NECESSARY PAPERWORK. TEAM MEMBERS SAY SENIORS
FREQUENTLY TELL THEM THE MONEY THEY SAVE THROUGH TAX RELIEF
MAKES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BUYING GROCERIES AND PAYING THE
ELECTRIC BILL. TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT REAL
ESTATE TAX RELIEF FOR SENIOR CITIZENS, CALL 664-7888.
>>> THE CITY AND THE SALVATION ARMY ARE TAKING THE NEXT STEPS
TOWARD MAKING THE RAY AND JOAN KROC COMMUNITY CENTER A REALITY.
THE 80,000-SQUARE-FOOT CENTER WILL BE BUILT IN THE BROAD CREEK
SECTION OF THE CITY. BROAD CREEK WAS SELECTED BECAUSE
IT IS HOME TO A RACIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DIVERSE COMMUNITY
OF RESIDENTS. THE COMMUNITY CENTER WILL BE
DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED BY THE SALVATION ARMY, WHO IS TASKED
WITH CREATING CENTERS IN MORE THAN TWO DOZEN COMMUNITIES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY. >> THE SALVATION ARMY IS
COMMITTED TO CREATING A FIRST-CLASS GATEWAY AND
SPIRITUAL CENTER, PRODUCING TANGIBLE OUTCOMES THAT WILL
TRANSFORM YOUTH, FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS IN HAMPTON ROADS
THROUGH EDUCATIONAL, CREATIVE ARTS, AND RECREATIONAL
ACTIVITIES. >> IT WILL SIT AT THE CORNER OF
BALLENTINE BOULEVARD AND PRINCESS ANNE ROAD.
PLANS INCLUDE A POOL AND WATER PARK, EXERCISE ROOMS, ELEVATED
INDOOR RUNNING TRACK, AUDITORIUM/PERFORMING ARTS AREA,
MEETING ROOMS, AND ROOMS FOR CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS.
THE SALVATION ARMY REQUIRES $28 MILLION IN PRIVATE
CONTRIBUTIONS, WHICH IT WILL MATCH, TO SET UP AN ENDOWMENT TO
RUN THE CENTER ONCE IT IS BUILT. THE SALVATION ARMY WILL SPEND
APPROXIMATELY $28 MILLION ON CONSTRUCTION.
NOW THAT FUNDRAISING IS NEARLY COMPLETE, THE NEXT STEP INVOLVES
THE CITY ATTORNEY AND SALVATION ARMY FINALIZING ALL NECESSARY
LEGAL DOCUMENTS AND RELATED CLOSINGS FOR THE SALE OF LAND BY
THE CITY TO THE SALVATION ARMY. >>> IN A CONTINUING EFFORT TO
BUILD AND IMPROVE NEIGHBORHOODS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS, MEMBERS
OF NORFOLK CITY COUNCIL HAVE TEAMED UP WITH THE WARDS CORNER
TASK FORCE TO PURCHASE PROPERTIES WITHIN THE DENBY PARK
NEIGHBORHOOD. THE CITY HAS ACQUIRED A TOTAL OF
68 APARTMENT UNITS THROUGHOUT SEVEN BUILDINGS IN THE TEXAS
STREETS SECTION OF DENBY PARK AT A TOTAL PRICE OF JUST OVER
$2.7 MILLION. >> THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT STEP
FORWARD, AS I SAID, FOR ALL OF WARDS CORNER.
EVERYBODY HERE, ALL OF MY COUNCIL MEMBERS, HAVE WORKED
VERY *** THIS ISSUE. THE MONIES THAT WE ARE SPENDING
FOR THE ACQUISITION HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATED OVER A COUPLE OF
BUDGETS. OUR GOAL IN THE FUTURE IS
ACTUALLY TO BUY MORE OF THESE APARTMENTS AND DO MORE GOOD HERE
IN WARDS CORNER. >> THE BUILDINGS ARE ON SAN
ANTONIO BOULEVARD. 16 OF THE UNITS ARE CURRENTLY
OCCUPIED BUT WORK IS UNDERWAY TO PROVIDE TENANTS WITH EQUAL OR
BETTER APARTMENT. WITHIN PROPERTIES OF THE CURRENT
LAND OWNERS. >> THE WARDS CORNER IS IN THE
MIDDLE OF OUR CITY AND IT AFFECTS ALL OF US AND FIVE
COUNCIL PEOPLE TOUCH THIS AREA, SO THIS IS A MAJOR STEP.
>> IT CANNOT STOP JUST ON THE ACQUISITION OF THESE UNITS.
WE HAVE THE COMMERCIAL AREA TO DEAL WITH AND THE CONTINUED
EFFORT TO BRING THE COMMERCIAL AREA BACK TO WHAT IT WAS, AND
THIS IS THE ABSOLUTE FIRST STEP TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
>> ALL OF THE CURRENT LEASES EXPIRE NO LATER THAN JULY 2012
AS UNITS BECOME AVAILABLE AND A ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY WILL BE
CONDUCTED. >> WE'RE COMMITTED AS A CITY AND
AS COUNCIL MEMBERS TO LISTEN TO THE CITIZENS OF DENBY PARK AND
WARDS KOERNTION AND I BELIEVE THAT -- CORNER AND I BELIEVE
THAT THIS ACTION IS THE FIRST OF MANY STEPS TO REVITALIZE THE
DENBY PARK AND WARDS CORNER AREA, AND MAKE IT PART OF WHAT
MAKES NORFOLK A WONDERFUL CITY TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.
>>> THE DIVISION OF TRANSPORTATION HAS TAKEN STEPS
TO MAKE THINGS A LITTLE SAFER FOR MOTORISTS ON TIDEWATER DRIVE
AND GRANBY STREET. WORKERS HAVE CREATED A SO-CALLED
SAFE ZONE. THE ZONE IS A SMALL ACCESS LANE
CREATED BY NARROWING AND RESTRIPING THE APPROACHING LANES
ON GRANBY STREET. THE ADJUSTMENT PROVIDES SAFER
ACCESS FOR VEHICLES ENTERING FROM TIDEWATER DRIVE.
THE CHANGE WAS MADE AT THE REQUEST OF A CITIZEN HOPING TO
CALM TRAFFIC IN THE BUSY CORRIDOR.
MOTORISTS HAVE ALREADY NOTICED THE DIFFERENCE IN THE NEW
CONFIGURATION AND HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR THANKS TO PUBLIC WORKS FOR
THE IMPROVED ACCESS AND VISIBILITY.
>>> CITY INSPECTORS ROUTINELY EVALUATE NORFOLK'S BRIDGES
AGAINST NATIONAL BRIDGE INSPECTION STANDARDS.
THE VIRGINIA BEACH BOULEVARD BRIDGE WAS RECENTLY CHECKED AND
FOUND TO HAVE SOME MINOR DETERIORATION.
TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, CREWS REPAIRED MINOR CRACKS ON THE
SURFACE OF THE BRIDGE WITH ASPHALT.
THE BRIDGE'S SUPERSTRUCTURE, THE SUPPORTS BELOW THE DRIVING
SURFACE, AND THE SUBSTRUCTURES, THE FOUNDATION AND SUPPORT
POSTS, WERE ALL DEEMED SOUND. >>> THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S
FREE CAR SEAT AND BOOSTER SEAT PROGRAM HAS MOVED TO A NEW HOME.
THE POPULAR PROGRAM IS NOW AT THE NORFOLK PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER
AT 830 SOUTHAMPTON AVENUE NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF BRAMBLETON
AND COLLEY. THERE IS SOME FREE PARKING
AVAILABLE RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING.
ADDITIONAL PARKING IS AVAILABLE IN THE FORT NORFOLK PLAZA
GARAGE. THE FIRST HOUR AT THE GARAGE IS
FREE. PREGNANT WOMEN AND SENIORS
APPLYING FOR A FREE CHILD SAFETY SEAT WHO PARK IN THE GARAGE ARE
ELIGIBLE FOR FREE GOLF CART SHUTTLE SERVICE TO AND FROM THE
PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER. >>> WHEN WE COME BACK, A NEW
LOOK FOR ONE OF NORFOLK'S SHELTERS.
>>> PLUS, NO NEED TO FEAR THE LIBRARY DURING FINE-FREE DAYS.
>>> AND WE'LL TELL YOU WHAT HAD FOLKS BUZZING AT THE BOTANICAL
GARDEN. >>> WELCOME BACK TO THE
TRIPLE-N. 22 NEW RECRUITS ARE HITTING THE
BOOKS AND THE GYM, WORKING TOWARD A GOAL OF BECOMING
DEPUTIES IN THE NORFOLK SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
THE 17 MEN AND FIVE WOMEN ARE PART OF THE 47th BASIC TRAINING
ACADEMY. THEY WILL TRAIN FOR THREE MONTHS
IN EVERYTHING FROM CORRECTIONS POLICY TO WEAPONS.
RECRUITS WHO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE RIGOROUS PROGRAM
WILL GRADUATE FROM ACADEMY ON NOVEMBER 10th.
>>> IF YOU'VE BEEN HIDING FROM THE NORFOLK PUBLIC LIBRARY
BECAUSE YOU HAVE OVERDUE ITEMS OR A MISSING CARD, SEPTEMBER IS
YOUR LUCKY MONTH. IN HONOR OF NATIONAL LIBRARY
CARD SIGN-UP MONTH, THE NORFOLK PUBLIC LIBRARY IS EXTENDING
AMNESTY TO THE MORE FORGETFUL AMONG US.
FOR TWO WEEKS, SEPTEMBER 16th THROUGH THE 30th, PATRONS CAN
RETURN OVERDUE BOOKS AND OTHER MATERIALS WITHOUT FEAR OF FINES.
YOU CAN ALSO COME BY AND REPLACE A LOST LIBRARY CARD WITHOUT ANY
FEE AS WELL. AND WITH ALL THAT MONEY YOU SAVE
ON FINES, YOU CAN HELP OUT YOUR NEIGHBORS.
NPL IS HOSTING A FOOD DRIVE TO BENEFIT THE FOODBANK OF
SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA TO COINCIDE WITH FINE-FREE DAYS.
YOU CAN DROP OFF NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS AT ANY NPL LOCATION
BETWEEN THE 16th AND THE 30th. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
FINE-FREE DAYS OR THE FOOD DRIVE, CALL 664-7328 AND ASK FOR
EXTENSION 352. >>> THE KIDS MAY BE BACK IN
SCHOOL, BUT THANKS TO NPL, THEY SPENT THE SUMMER HITTING THE
BOOKS. THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR'S SUMMER
READING PROGRAM WAS "AMAZING TALES AT YOUR LIBRARY."
BUT ALL THE ACTION WASN'T JUST IN THE PAGES OF GOOD BOOKS.
MAGICIANS, JUGGLERS, FIRE-BREATHING STUNTMEN,
MUSICIANS, AND MORE VISITED VARIOUS BRANCHES TO BRING THE
ADVENTURE OF READING TO LIFE. PARTICIPANTS EARNED PRIZES AS AN
INCENTIVE FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM.
AND ONE GRAND PRIZE WINNER WON A NOOK COLOR E-READER FOR
PARTICIPATING. THE READING FUN WASN'T LIMITED
TO THE KIDS, THOUGH. ADULTS PARTICIPATED IN THEIR OWN
VERSION OF THE PROGRAM BY SUBMITTING MORE THAN 800 REVIEWS
FOR BOOKS THEY READ OVER THE SUMMER.
SIX WINNERS OF WEEKLY DRAWINGS WON PRIZES FROM BOOK LIGHTS TO
DVDs. >>> THE DWELLING PLACE, ONE OF
NORFOLK'S PARTNER PROGRAMS PROVIDING SHELTER AND SUPPORT TO
HOMELESS FAMILIES, IS GETTING A BIT OF A FACELIFT.
MAYORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WERE INVITED TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS
FOR SHELTERS IN THEIR CITY TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LIFT
SPIRITS THROUGH A NEW COAT OF PAINT.
ONE CITY WAS SELECTED FOR EACH STATE AND NORFOLK WAS NAMED THE
WINNER FOR VIRGINIA. THE AWARD INCLUDES A
CONTRIBUTION OF PAINT FROM BENJAMIN MOORE AND VOLUNTEER
PROFESSIONAL PAINTING CONTRACTORS WILL PAINT THE
INTERIOR OF THE DWELLING PLACE FOR FREE.
>>> THE CITY OF NORFOLK HAS THREE ENTRIES COMPETING TO BE
NAMED AMONG VIRGINIA'S TOP 10 ARTIFACTS.
THE GOAL OF VIRGINIA'S TOP 10 IS TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT
CARE OF COLLECTIONS THROUGHOUT VIRGINIA, D.C., AND BEYOND.
THE CONTEST IS COORDINATED BY THE VIRGINIA COLLECTIONS
INSTITUTE, A STATEWIDE COLLABORATION AIMED AT ENSURING
THE ONGOING SAFETY AND STEWARDSHIP OF COLLECTIONS HELD
BY VIRGINIA'S MUSEUMS, ARCHIVES, AND LIBRARIES.
THE "USS WISCONSIN" AT NAUTICUS, THE MOSES EZEKIEL STATUE
COLLECTION AT THE NORFOLK BOTANICAL GARDEN, AND AN 1843
COPY OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE FROM THE NORFOLK
HISTORICAL SOCIETY HAVE ALL BEEN NOMINATED.
>> WE APPARENTLY HAVE HAD THIS DOCUMENT TO PROBABLY 30 OR SO
YEARS. WE'RE NOT REALLY SURE WHO GAVE
IT TO US, ALTHOUGH WE NOR IT WAS FRAMED -- WE KNOW IT WAS FRAMED
IN PORTSMOUTH BECAUSE THERE'S A LITTLE PLATE ON THE BACK OF THE
PICTURE SAYING WHERE IT WAS FRAMED.
WE'VE HAD IT FOR A REALLY LONG TIME, HAD IT HANGING OUT AT FORT
NORFOLK IN ONE OF THE BUILDINGS OUT THERE, EXPOSED TO THE
DAYLIGHT AND ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE NOT REALLY GOOD FOR
ARTIFACTS, AND WE STARTED LOOKING AT SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT WE HAD. WE'RE STARTING TO DO AN
INVENTORY OF SOME OF OUR BOOKS AND OTHER MATERIALS, AND WHEN WE
SAW THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, WE IMMEDIATELY DID
RESEARCH TO SEE IF IT'S AN ORIGINAL 1776, AND IT'S NOT, BUT
WE DID DATE IT BACK TO 1843, WHICH WAS THE SECOND FACSIMILE
PRINTING OF THE DECLARATION, SO STILL PRETTY RARE.
WE IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT OFF THE WALL AND NOW WE'RE TRYING TO GET
IT DECLARED ONE OF THE MOST ENDANGERED ARTIFACTS.
WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO USE THAT TO GET FUNDING TO HAVE IT
CONSERVED PROPERLY SO THAT WE CAN DISPLAY IT MAYBE EVEN NEXT
YEAR DURING THE BUY CENTENNIAL OF THE WAR OF 1812.
>> TO VOTE, GO TO VATOP10ARTIFACTS.ORG AND CLICK
THE "HOW DO I VOTE" TAB AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE.
THE TEN ITEMS SELECTED BY VOTERS WILL EARN THE DISTINCTION OF
BECOMING ONE OF VIRGINIA'S TOP 10 ENDANGERED ARTIFACTS.
>>> THE DISCOVERY MUSIC SERIES AT THE ATTUCKS THEATER KICKS OFF
THIS MONTH WITH THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF TEN PERFORMANCES.
THE SERIES RUNS THROUGH APRIL OF NEXT YEAR.
AND THIS YEAR'S BLUES AND INDY ARTISTS ARE THE COWBOY JUNKIES
AND RUTHIE FOSTER. THE TICKETS START AT $95.
SUBSCRIBERS ALSO GET ACCESS TO THE VEER MAGAZINE LIBATION
LOUNGE, DISCOUNTS FROM DOWNTOWN RESTAURANTS, AND A DISCOVERY
SERIES T-SHIRT AND POSTER. TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED FROM
TICKETMASTER AT 1-800-745-3000 OR ONLINE AT TICKETMASTER.COM.
>>> THERE WAS PLENTY OF BUZZ AT THE NORFOLK BOTANICAL GARDEN NOT
TOO LONG AGO. NBG HOSTED AN EVENT TO MARK
NATIONAL HONEY BEE AWARENESS DAY RECENTLY.
THE EVENT FEATURED PLENTY OF ACTIVITIES FOR THE KIDS,
REFRESHMENTS AND DOOR PRIZES, AND, OF COURSE, HONEY AND BEE
VENDORS. VISITORS ALSO GOT AN UP-CLOSE
LOOK INSIDE A REAL BEE HIVE. THE EVENT WAS HOSTED IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BEEKEEPERS GUILD OF SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA.
>>> LIGHT IS FADING EARLIER IN THE EVENING THIS TIME OF YEAR,
SO IT'S A GREAT TIME TO LOOK FOR INDOOR ACTIVITIES TO FILL YOUR
TIME. "GOOD TIMES" IS THE PLACE TO GO
TO FIND ALL THERE IS TO DO IN NORFOLK THIS FALL.
FROM SWIMMING CLASSES TO FIRING UP THE POTTERY KILN, THERE ARE
EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES SURE TO SUIT ANY AND ALL LEVELS OF
ABILITY. YOU CAN CHECK OUT A COMPLETE
LISTING OF RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FALL
EDITION OF "GOOD TIMES" MAGAZINE.
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD IT FROM THE CITY'S WEBSITE AT
WWW.NORFOLK.GOV/GOOD TIMES. THE MAGAZINE HAS ALL THE DETAILS
ON LOCATIONS, TIMES, AND ANY ASSOCIATED FEES.
>>> THAT WRAPS UP THE SEPTEMBER 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.
CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION ASSOCIATES, LLC
www.captionassociates.com