Hosted by the Salvation Army Virginia Peninsula, the 10th Annual Red Kettle Classic will be held on Thursday, October 2, at Kiln Creek Golf Club & Resort. Potential sponsors and golf foursomes should contact bit.ly/vapeninredkettleclassic25 or text SALARMYGIVE to 51555 to make a donation. For additional information, contact the Salvation Army Virginia Peninsula at 757-838-4875.
Literacy for Life, offering individualized, one-to-one tutoring for adults in reading, writing and math, as well as English for speakers of other languages, has located Peninsula Center offices in Newport News at Grace United Methodist Church, at 1209 Country Club Road. Jason Thornton is executive director. For hours of operation and additional information, call 757-221-1144.
Jake Evans has been promoted to general manager of the Liz Moore & Associates Property Management Division. Evans has served as director of operations for Liz Moore & Associates for more than five years and will continue in that role with the help of Grayson Moore, assistant director of operations.
Top June agents for Coldwell Banker Traditions’ Peninsula office were Lelani Clayton, top selling agent and Angela Lee, top listing agent.
A $5,000 donation to the Peninsula Rescue Mission’s Women’s Shelter was made by the Woman’s Club of Newport News. Participating in the presentation were (from left) Shirley Faison; Susan Bosse; Ella Abney; Faith DeFriese; Carol Preston, president; Tina Fields; Patty Clements and Susie Mowry.
Tracy S. Brooks, special assistant to the superintendent of Newport News Public Schools, has been named chair of the Peninsula chapter for the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC). Brooks is joined by Vidal B. Dickerson, of Christopher Newport University, vice chair; Doretha J. Spells of Hampton University, retired, secretary; and Nhu Q. Yeargin, landscape contractor with YLS Inc., immediate past chair. Viviana Andrade, of A Plus Academics; Ada L. Badgley, of Virginia Peninsula Community College; and A. Jerome Fowlkes, with Langley Federal Credit Union, are new VCIC Peninsula chapter members. Joni L. Ivey, a community volunteer, has joined VCIC’s State Board of Directors as a representative from the Peninsula area.
The City of Newport News received numerous awards from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA). A Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting was presented for its Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. This award is the highest form of recognition in the field of governmental accounting and financial reporting. The city’s Department of Finance received the Award of Financial Reporting Achievement (AFRA), presented to the individual(s) or department primarily responsible for preparing the award-winning report. The Finance Department also received the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting for its Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR), which presents complex financial information in a format that is accessible and easy to understand for residents and the general public. Newport News also earned the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its Fiscal Year 2025 budget document, recognizing the quality of its budgeting process and its commitment to communicating financial plans clearly and effectively. Further demonstrating the city’s commitment to sound financial stewardship, the Newport News Employees’ Retirement Fund and the Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) Fund, each received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for their respective annual financial reports. The GFOA established the Certificate of Achievement program to encourage state and local governments to exceed the minimum requirements of generally accepted accounting principles and to prepare comprehensive annual financial reports that demonstrate transparency and full disclosure. Alan K. Archer is Newport News city manager.
Sam Brothers, Tomas Grinkevicius, Karen Richa, Nicole Pappas, Tap Pierce and Joel Shoy have joined CENTURY 21 Nachman Realty as new agents.
Top July agents for CENTURY 21 Nachman Realty’s Peninsula office were Chaz Fiscella, top listing agent; Karen Richa, top producing agent; Nicole Pappas, top referral agent; Denise Smith, top closing agent; and Jamie Coldsnow, top selling agent.
Towne Insurance Agency ranked number 51 in the annual listing of Business Insurance recording the Top 100 brokers of U.S. business measuring brokerage revenue generated by U.S.-based clients. The bank rose three spots from the list released in July 2024. Still the largest bank-owned agency nationwide, Towne Insurance has more than 20 offices throughout Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, many of which promote collaboration among insurance professionals and representatives from the bank, mortgage, wealth management and realty partners. W. Douglas “Doug” Russell is Towne Insurance’s president and CEO.
Newport News assistant director of development, has been appointed interim executive director of the Newport News-Williamsburg Airport. This transition follows the release of a comprehensive study outlining strategies to improve and diversify the airport’s long-term economic impact. Morello will work with airport staff, the Peninsula Airport Commission and regional stakeholders to address recommendations from the study, maintain operational continuity and support long-term planning. Morello holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Bachelor of Science in telecommunications journalism from James Madison University.
