Tidbits – January 2022

Denice Counce, senior vice president, diversity and inclusion officer at TowneBank, is the newest member of Housing Development Corporation of Hampton Roads’ board of directors. Counce has been a TowneBank employee for 17 years. She is active in the community, serving on the boards of Menchville House, Southeastern Virginia Health System; Peninsula Chapter of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities; and People to People.


Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital has been awarded an “A” from The Leapfrog Group’s fall 2021 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Guide. This national distinction recognizes the hospital’s achievements in providing safer health care. The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization committed to improving health care quality and safety for consumers and purchasers.


Michelle Robinson, an associate advisor with Joss Brown Wealth Advisors, has successfully passed the CFP® examination and will be a Certified Financial Planner Practitioner. The CFP® exam is a 170-question, six-hour test assuring that the applicant has the ability to understand and apply financial planning to clients’ real life situations. Robinson has been with Joss Brown Wealth Advisors since 2019. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s degree in wealth management from Regent University.


The Vermiculture (worm composting) Workshop, sponsored by VCE Newport News Extension Master Gardeners, is scheduled for Saturday, February 5 at 11a.m. at the Brittingham Midtown Community Center – Pavilion, located at 570 McLawhorne Drive, Newport News. Participants can pick up a worm bin, worms and other supplies and watch the YouTube video on vermiculture. Rain Barrel Workshops will be conducted on the same day. Pre-registration is required. Register and pay online at www.nngo
greenexpo.org/vermiculture-class.


The pre-Thanksgiving season was the perfect time for the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation to celebrate 16 nonprofits which use their blessings for the benefit of the Peninsula community. Each nonprofit was awarded a $25,000 grant to support a project which would bring the nonprofit to the next level of operational, programmatic, financial or organizational maturity to more effectively and efficiently advance its mission further its sustainability. The awardees were: Center for Child and Family Services; Commonwealth Catholic Charities; Denbigh House (a program of community brain injury services); Edmarc Hospice for Children; Freekind; Gloucester Housing Partnership; Hampton Roads Ecumenical Lodgings and Provisions, Inc.; Natasha House; NetworkPeninsula; Peake Childhood Center; Soundscapes; Center for Sexual Assault Survivors; DeGood Foundation; THRIVE Peninsula; Transitions Family Violence Services; and VersAbility Resources. In addition to the grants, Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation is making available to nonprofits in Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson and York and Gloucester Counties $15,000 in Ongoing Education Funds and $20,000 in “Set-Aside” Funds (monies to cover emergencies and/or unbudgeted needs).


Marion Sparks was the top November sales agent for Coldwell Banker Traditions – Peninsula office. 


Chaz Fiscella

Top November agents for CENTURY 21 Nachman Realty’s Peninsula office were Chaz Fiscella, top listing, closing and producing agent and Angelena Hankins, top selling agent.


The Newport News City Jail has earned its third consecutive accreditation for inmate medical care from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC). The mission of NCCHC is to improve the quality of health care in jails, prisons and juvenile facilities. It establishes standards for health services in correctional facilities, operates a voluntary accreditation program for institutions that meet those standards, produces resource publications, conducts educational conferences and offers certification for correctional health professionals. The NCCHC certification lasts for three years. This reaccreditation highlights Sheriff Gabe Morgan and the staff at the Newport News City Jail’s commitment to inmate health.


Robert Criner
Paul Criner

Criner Remodeling has been recognized as one of four finalists for the national Fred Case Award for 2021. As a finalist, Criner Remodeling is entitled to a $2,500 cash award. On an annual basis, the Fred Case Award is awarded based on a business’s creativity, innovation and display of entrepreneurial spirit in the remodeling industry. Robert and Paul Criner have worked to increase morale and build a unified team at Criner Remodeling. While the pandemic affected industries in a variety of ways, Criner Remodeling took this as an opportunity to expand its business by adding a real-estate wing. The company purchased a home and gave it a full remodel. This gave less experienced carpenters the opportunity to learn how to manage a multi-faceted project and receive mentorship from veteran-skilled employees.


Jordan Krevonick of Poquoson and Sandra Deans of Hampton were named winners of the 12th “ZOOM IN on Newport News” photo contest, sponsored by Newport News Tourism, depicting this year’s theme of “The Great Outdoors.” Krevonick won the $500 Grand Prize for her entry, “Hilton Fisherman,” taken at the Hilton Pier in Historic Hilton Village. Deans was awarded Honorable Mention for her submission, “Another Day is Done,” also taken at the Hilton Pier. Deans received $100 and free admission passes for four to all Newport News attractions. A total of 92 people submitted 226 photographs to the contest. This year marks the 12th year the “ZOOM IN on Newport News” photo contest has taken place. The panel of three judges were Tyler Adams, director of sales and marketing with The Vacation Channel; Sandy Bridgman, executive vice president of WB Marketing; and Cindy Brouillard, director of tourism with Newport News Parks, Recreation and Tourism.

“Hilton Fisherman” by Jordan Krevonick
“Another Day is Done” by Sandra Deans


Lawrence G. Cumming, William L. Holt, L. Scott Seymour, Winthrop A. Short, Timothy O. Trant II, Philip Hatchett and James L. Windsor, attorneys in the Newport News office of Kaufman & Canoles, P.C., have been selected for inclusion in Virginia Business magazine’s 2021 Legal Elite. Cummings’ practice specializes in taxes, estates and trusts. Holt’s practice focuses on young lawyers. Seymour’s practice centers on corporate counsel. Winthrop Short’s practice concentrates on civil litigation. Trant’s practice specializes in environmental law. Hatchett’s practice involves taxes, estates and trusts. Windsor’s practice specialty is real estate and land use. 

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