Stephen Sibert, with Personal Training Associates, has completed his Youth Fitness Specialist Certification, qualifying him to assist the younger population to safely improve themselves. Sibert received his bachelor’s degree in exercise science and is a Nationally Certified Personal Fitness Trainer with Orthopedic, Senior Fitness and Functional Training Specialty Certifications by the American Council on Exercise.
Mariners’ Museum has scheduled its June programs with the disclaimer that events are subject to change. June 2, Beyond the Frame, a behind-the-scenes look of the Museum’s world-class art collection with Kyra Duffley, digital content specialist; June 11, Friendly Hours (in-person program); June 12, Blood Drive, hosted by the museum in partnership with American Red Cross; June 24, The Mariners’ Sips & Trips, presented by The Bronze Door Society; For times, registration and fees, visit www.MarinersMuseum.org or the Live Programming webpage.
Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has opened new offices in City Center at 700 Town Center Drive. Bob McKenna is president and CEO.
The City of Newport News and the Newport News Green Foundation received a $125,000 grant from the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America and the African American Mayors Association. Four cities with African American mayors received grants to advance programs that improve community health, increase access to affordable nutrition and offer educational components to help market the program to residents. The grant will support the Sarfan Food Forest, currently under development in southeast Newport News. The focus of the project is an active green space with more than 75 different species of fruit-bearing trees. Plans include an outdoor classroom, community farm stand, plants for an indigenous garden and pollinator meadow and recreational areas. Through this project, Newport News is creating the third-largest food forest in the nation.
Virginia Peninsula Foodbank was visited by Congressman Rob Wittman to receive an updated tour. Since his last visit in 2021, many new programs have been set up to provide more equitable distribution of nutritious food. Foodbank CEO Karen Joyner discussed with Rep. Wittman the importance of Congress passing a bipartisan 2023 Farm Bill to bolster the nation’s federal nutrition programs, including The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The City of Newport News and Christopher Newport University (CNU) received the Governor’s Environmental Excellence Bronze Award for their Town & Gown Partnership: Solving Sustainability Together. The award was presented by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality in recognition of the success of the sustainability program, which addresses community challenges such as energy use, food scarcity, waste management and social justice. The award recognizes programs that broadly address many aspects of environmental sustainability. Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones recognized sister city Greifswald, Germany’s Lord Mayor Stefan Fassbinder during a recent visit for Greifswald’s role through STADTRADELN, or city cycling. Greifswald invited Newport News to participate in the amateur cycling competition, taking place across the globe from May to September. The friendly competition is designed to improve the environment by reducing emissions, promoting cycling and improving the quality of life in municipalities. Newport News was the first city in the U.S. and CNU was the first U.S. university to participate in City Cycling. Shown here are (left to right) Jones; Dr. Linda Manning of CNU; Fassbinder; and Jennifer Privette, Newport News sustainability manager.
Liz Moore & Associates has been included in the RealTrends 500, a ranking of power brokers in the United States. The realty company, celebrating its 20th anniversary in business, was ranked 111th among private independent brokerages in the country and fourth in Virginia, based on 2022 transaction sides. RealTrends has been ranking the nation’s best brokerages for 34 years. Companies are ranked based on sales volume and transaction sides; the RealTrends 500 represents the top half of one percent of all brokerages in the United States. Liz Moore is company president.
Newport News Public Library (NNPL) has won two awards for Outstanding Adult Program for the We Stand for Justice program and Outstanding Website for www.library.nnva.gov (in the population category 50,000–199,999) by the Virginia Public Library Directors Association. The We Stand for Justice: A Salute to African American Heroes program is part of the Say It Loud Project, a multi-component project aimed at documenting the socio-political history of the Newport News Southeast Community. The NNPL website, www.library.nnva.gov, was recognized for outstanding design and user-friendly features. Anita Jennings is library director of Newport News Public Libraries.
Sheriff Gabe Morgan and the Newport News Sheriff’s Office will hold its annual Shred Day on Saturday, June 24, from
8 am to 11 am at Todd Stadium, located at 12465 Warwick Boulevard. This annual free service is offered to help individuals and families protect themselves from identity theft. Businesses are excluded from this service. Paper bags and boxes are requested for papers (no plastic bags). Learn about the kinds of papers that need to be destroyed and other timely information on the Sheriff’s office website,
www.nnva.gov/sheriff.
Peninsula Dermatology has incorporated the revolutionary Nordlys™ Light & Bright system from Candela®, which uses intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy to improve the tone and texture of skin quickly and effectively with minimal downtime. The Nordlys™ platform was named the 2022 Aesthetic Awards Device of the Year, and was featured on the Today Show. Peninsula Dermatology Skin Cancer Surgery Center is the first clinic in Williamsburg to include this system into its state-of-the-art practice. Shown here is Dr. Joselin D. Tacastacas with the new laser.
Jimmy Fay Insurance Agency, a State Farm provider, hosted the first Running of the Jakes event during the Victory at Yorktown Races on April 1. More than 800 runners attended. All proceeds and donations will enable the Victory Family YMCA to help families in its community. Shown here are (left to right) Jimmy Fay, State Farm insurance agent, “Jake, the State Farm guy” and Jason Loe, winner of the Beat the Jake contest, who received a free entry into the Chick-Fil-A 5K.
The Newport News Waterworks Department received the Bronze Award for Land Conservation at the Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award ceremony during the 2023 Environment Virginia Symposium. The award recognizes Waterworks’ commitment to protecting the 747 acres of forested watershed in suburban York County. Shown here are (left to right) Travis Wells, Virginia Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources; Joanna Green and Brad McDonald, Virginia Department of Historic Resources; Andrew Rich and Muriel Bradbury, Newport News Waterworks; Matthew Wells, director, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; and Mike Rolband, director, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.
Joining Hampton Roads Orthopaedics Spine and Sports Medicine (HROSM) are Ronald Smith, PA-C, physician associate; Heidi Blaski, DNP, FNP-C, nurse practitioner; and Tiffany Hooks, DNP, FNP-C, RNC-OB, nurse practitioner. HROSM offers joint replacement, spine care, sports medicine, podiatry, physical therapy, wound care, interventional pain management, open MRI and more.
Top March agents for CENTURY 21 Nachman Realty’s Peninsula office were Kimi Dornan, top listing and closing agent; and Angelena Hankins, top selling, top producing and top referral agent.
Top April agents were Michael Nachman-Adelson, top listing agent; Kimi Dornan, top selling and top producing agent; and Angelena Hankins, top closing and top referring agent.
The Center for Child & Family Services (CCFS), which has provided a host of behavioral, mental health and financial services to Peninsula residents since 1943, held an open house and ribbon cutting for its new office in April. The agency has relocated from Hampton to 739 Thimble Shoals Boulevard, Suite 400. Among the attendees were Michael Edmonds, CCFS executive director (9th from left) and Hampton Mayor Donnie Tuck (10th from left) who praised the staff for their work to assist residents of all Peninsula localities, which it is continuing to do in its new quarters.
Newport News has been recognized as one of the nine most beautiful cities in Virginia by WorldAtlas, one of the largest publishing online resources in geography. In the feature, the city’s natural beauty was mentioned along with highlighting the city’s history, noting the preservation of its original buildings and homes as well as the attractions of old battle sites, monuments and museums. The article reports the beauty of the communities creates a variety of opportunities for residents and visitors. Read the “Nine Most Beautiful Cities in Virginia” feature on the WorldAtlas website.
Tyler Stover has joined the Newport News Visitor Center as a part-time travel counselor. Stover is part of a team of travel counselors responsible for providing tourism information to visitors, selling gift-shop merchandise, proofing promotional materials and assisting with data entry. A native of Las Vegas, NV, Stover most recently worked with Avis Budget Group at Newport News-Williamsburg Airport.
Tyler Stover has joined the Newport News Visitor Center as a part-time travel counselor. Stover is part of a team of travel counselors responsible for providing tourism information to visitors, selling gift-shop merchandise, proofing promotional materials and assisting with data entry. A native of Las Vegas, NV, Stover most recently worked with Avis Budget Group at Newport News-Williamsburg Airport.
Warwick at City Center Rotary Group welcomed new members. Shown on left are (left to right): Sharon Martin, sponsor; Robin Nelhuebel, new member; and Amber Lempke, president. In right photo (left to right): Lempke; Diane Fulton, corporate sponsorship of Newport News Marriott City Center; Anne Wozniak, membership chair; Theresa Rasback, new member; and Leigh Mitchell, sponsor and secretary.
Nature Nurtures and Technology Teaches is a two-part project supporting neighbors at Four Oaks Day Service and Training Center in Newport News. Two Rotary Clubs, Warwick at City Center Newport News and Virginia Peninsula, joined together to provide a District 7600 grant to support individuals experiencing homelessness to feed their mind with a peaceful space and career-building knowledge. Rotarians assisted in building and funding courtyard renovations by weeding, planting, mulching and working with Center patrons to beautify the courtyard gardens into a welcoming outdoor environment. Warwick at City Center Rotarians who volunteered to set up the computer lab included (left to right) Elizabeth McCoury, Roberta Thyer Smith, Judi Hines, Davetta Rinehart and Rebecca Kleinhample.
