September 2012


Veteran Wait Times In April, The Bay Citizen, a part of


FROM PAGE 6


the Center for Investigative Reporting, revealed that 80 percent of veterans served by the VA’s Oakland office were waiting more than 125 days for an answer on benefits. That prompted U.S. Rep. Jerry McNerney, a Democrat from California who sits on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, to write a letter to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki. The letter, signed by 15 colleagues,


www.hamptonroadsmessenger.com


demanded that Shinseki “send immediate help” to the Oakland office.


The agency responded by shuttering


the Oakland office for four weeks in June while providing “challenge training” to claims processors. In an email, VA spokesman Josh Taylor said veterans served by the Oakland office – those living between Bakersfield and the Oregon border – “were not adversely impacted by this training effort.”


Yet the data tells a different story. Four months after The Bay Citizen’s


Upcoming Events


Sundays through September 2, 2012 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Event location:


Big Bands on the Bay Event Dates:


Ocean View Beach Park 100 W. Ocean View Ave. Norfolk, VA Contact Info: 757-441-234


Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) Weight Management Support Group


Mondays 5:30 PM (except holidays) Event location:


Event Dates:


Norview Community Center 6380 Sewells Point Road, Norfolk, VA Contact Info: 289-7088


Chesapeake Branch NAACP Monthly Meeting Event Dates:


Providence United Church of Christ 2200 Vicker Avenue Chesapeake, VA Contact info: (757)485-8916


First Tuesday of the month 7:00pm-8:00pm Event location:


Lafayette Branch Library 1610 Cromwell Drive Norfolk, VA Contact info: 441-2842


Wednesdays at 4:00 PM Event location:


Family Gaming Night Event Dates:


The Chrysler Museum’s Art of Jazz Event Dates:


Every first Wednesday 6:15-8:45 pm Event location:


MaryAnn Toboz 757-664-4675


The Chrysler Museum 245 W. Olney Road Norfolk 23510 Contact Info:


NAMI Connection Veterans Support Group Event Dates:


To RSVP: Monyka Ruiz 788-0049


100 Medical Drive, Suite A Hampton, VA 23666 Contact info:


1st Thursday of the Month 6:00-7:30pm Event location:


Learning on Laptops: Homework Help (ages 12-18) Event Dates:


First Thursday of each month 6-8 p.m. excluding holidays Event location: Grissom Library 366 Deshazor Drive Newport News, VA 23608 Contact info: 757-369-3190


First Friday of the month 5p.m.-8p.m. Event location:


First Friday in Olde Towne Portsmouth Event Dates:


Katie Cross (757) 397-8473


Olde Towne Portsmouth High Street Portsmouth VA, Contact info:


First Friday of the month 5pm – 8pm Event location:


Concert in the Courtyard - Free Music Series Event Dates:


Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center Corner of High & Court St. Contact Info: 393-8543


2nd Monday of the month 7pm-8pm Event location:


Norfolk Branch NAACP Meeting Event Dates:


Huntersville Community Center 830 Goff Street Norfolk, VA Contact info: 757 627-1096


Hampton Citizens’ Unity Commission General Monthly Meeting


2nd Thursday of the month 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm Event location: Hampton City Hall 22 Lincoln Street Contact info:


Event Dates:


Wanda Ferrell (757) 728-3279


2nd Saturday of the month 10:30 am Event location:


NCNW Norfolk Section Meeting Event Dates:


Oakmont Family Investment Center 7241 Oakmont Drive, Norfolk, VA Contact info: 757-701-9819


Cynthia Masterstaff 757 727-8314


09/07/2012 - 09/09/2012 Event location: Downtown Hampton Contact info:


Hampton Bay Days Event Dates:


22nd Annual Newport News Southeast Community Day Parade And Festival Event Dates:


Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012 1p.m. - 5pm Event location:


Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza 600 Martin Luther King Way


Break-Out Sessions for Job Seekers


Second Monday of each month excluding holidays 3:00 - 5:00 p.m Event location: Pearl Bailey Library 2510 Wickham Avenue Newport News, VA Contact info: 757-247-8677


Event Dates:


Show Me the Money: Searching for Grant Money Event Dates:


Sept. 12, 2012 12:30 pm - 2 pm Event location: Central Library


4100 Virginia Beach Boulevard Virginia Beach, Virginia Contact info: (757) 385-0150


Sept. 15, 2012 10:00 am – 3:00 pm Event location:


Fall Gardening Festival Event Dates:


1444 Diamond Springs Road, Virginia Beach, VA Contact info: (757) 385-4769


Queen Street Baptist Church 147th Anniversary Event Dates


98 N. Armistead Avenue Hampton, VA 23669 Contact info: (757) 723-6630


Homecoming Sunday Sept. 16th 10:30am Anniversary Sunday Sept. 23rd 10:30am Event location:


Monday, Sept. 17 and 24 at 5:00 PM Event location:


The I. Sherman Greene Chorale Audition for New Members Event Dates:


Booker T. Washington High School Choir Room


www.ishermangreenechorale.org


1111 Park Avenue Norfolk, VA Contact info:


Portsmouth Community Meeting Event Dates:


Woodrow Wilson High School 1401 Elmhurst Lane Portsmouth, VA 23701 Contact info: 757-393-8000


Tuesday, Sept. 17 7:00 PM Event location:


Hampton Roads Black Caucus Kick-Off Event Dates:


Thursday, September 20, 2012 6:00PM – 8:00PM Event location: Holiday Inn


Virginia Beach, VA 23462 Contact info/Registration: info@hrbcva.org


5655 Greenwich Road


The 4th Annual Chesapeake Mayor’s Breakfast to Honor Veterans Event Dates:


Wayne Truxillo 757-687-3702


September 22, 2012 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM Event location: Marriot Chesapeake 725 Woodlake Drive Chesapeake, Virginia Contact info/Registration:


Saturday, September 22, 2012 8:00 am - 12:00 pm Event location:


Norfolk Historic Cemeteries Volunteer Workday Event Dates:


Contact info/Registration: Bobi Nelson 441-2654 bobette.nelson@norfolk.gov


Cedar Grove Cemetery 238 E. Princess Anne Road Norfolk VA 23510


Front Porch Neighborhood Summit Event Dates:


Saturday, September 22, 2012 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Event location: City Hall


810 Union Street Norfolk VA 23510


Coupon Clippin’ Class Event Dates:


7853 Tarpon Place, Norfolk, VA 23518 Contact info/Registration: Melanie Greene - 757-441-175 melanie.greene@norfolk.gov


Little Creek Branch Library


Saturday, September 22 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Event location:


Let’s Move Day: Family Fun Run/ Walk and Health Expo Event Dates:


Campostella Heights SDA Church 1006 Oakwood Street, Norfolk, VA 23523 Contact Info/Registration: Dr. Lynnette Moore 757.641.2129


Sunday, September 23, 2012 Event Location:


“The Science of Handwriting” with Speaker Dixon Ogden (All Ages) Event Dates:


Barron F. Black Branch Library 6700 E. Tanners Creek Drive Norfolk, VA 23513 Contact info: (757) 441-5806


Monday, September 24 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM Event location:


Mondays - Thursday, September 24 - December 19 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Event location:


Homework Help Nights Event Dates:


Carolyn Miller 441-1968


Downing Branch Library 555 E. Liberty Street Norfolk, VA 23523 Contact info:


Big Brothers Big Sisters Male Mentoring Program with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity (ages 9-18) Event Dates:


Fourth Thursday of each month, excluding holidays 4:30 p.m. Event location: Pearl Bailey Library 2510 Wickham Avenue Newport News, VA 23607 Contact info/Registration: 757-247-8677


Grief and Loss: Bereavement Support Group Event Dates:


Mary Immaculate Hospital, Heart Center Waiting Room, 2 Bernardine Drive, Newport News, VA Contact info:


4th Thursday of Each Month Event location:


Charles Chappell 886-6934


Friday September 28, 2012 - Sunday September 30, 2012 Event location:


2012 Women’s Day Celebration Event Dates:


Ebenezer Baptist Church 875 Baker Road


Virginia Beach, Virginia Contact info: Ms. Ivory Warren (757) 499-8467


Consumer Health Information at Your Fingertips Event Dates:


Friday, September 28 11am-1pm Event location: 4207 Victoria Blvd Hampton, VA 23669 Contact info: 757-727-1154


September 29, 2012 10:00am Event location: Downtown Suffolk Contact info: 757.539.6751


Suffolk Peanut Fest Parade Event Dates:


Breakfast and a Book Program Event Dates:


Saturday, Sept. 29th 11:00 am. Event location:


Dr Clarence V Cuffee Library 2726 Border Road Chesapeake, VA Contact info: 757-410-7034


Sustainable Living Expo Event Dates:


Virginia Beach Convention Center 1000 19th Street


September 29, 2012 10:00am - 6:00 pm Event location:


Virginia Beach, Virginia Contact info: (757) 263-1090


Harvest Moon Festival Event Dates:


Virginia Beach, Virginia Contact info/Registration: 385-2627


Kempsville Area Library 832 Kempsville Road


September 30, 2012 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm Event location:


Rally for Change Ministry in the Park Event Dates:


minister2setfree@yahoo.com


Sunday September 30, 2012 3:00pm 6:30pm Event location: King-Lincoln Park Newport News Contact info:


Identity Theft – How To Protect Yourself Workshop Event Dates:


Tuesday, October 2, 2012 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Event location:


2000 Bennett’s Creek Park Road. Contact info: (757) 514-7150


North Suffolk Library


39th Newport News Fall Festival of Folklife


October 6 & 7, 2012 10am -5 pm Event location: Newport News Park Newport News, Virginia Contact info: (757) 926-1400


Event Dates:


Pretlow Harvest Festival Event Dates:


Mary D. Pretlow Anchor Branch Library 111 W. Ocean View Avenue Norfolk, VA 23503 Contact info: (757) 441-1750


Saturday, October 6 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Event location:


Send us your upcoming Free events and you may see them here!


events@hamptonroadsmessenger.com ▼


story and pressure from Congress, 90 percent of claims filed in Oakland have been pending at least four months – the highest proportion in the country.


An inspector general’s report


released in May also revealed that staff at the VA’s Oakland office failed to process 39 percent of claims correctly and did not inform veterans returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan that they are entitled to free mental health care. One disability claim, the inspector general found, had languished for 8½ years.


The Hampton Roads Messenger 13 In separate reports also released in


May, the inspector general found the VA made mistakes on 53 percent of claims at the San Diego office and 71 percent of claims at the Los Angeles office.


“We voted for these additional


resources, we expected to see results; we’re not seeing them,” McNerney said. “I used to take them at their word. I can’t do that anymore.”


This story was edited by Amy Pyle and copy edited by Nikki Frick and Christine Lee.


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