12 The Hampton Roads Messenger


Volume 8 Number 2 Around Hampton Roads


Hampton Roads Youth to Participate in Anti-Bullying Roundtable


CHESAPEAKE, VA.-- In today's digital world, bullying does not just take place in the school yard or hallways. Increasingly, harassment and intimidation are taking place online. The first step to curbing this trend is open communication, especially among our youth.


Such is the impetus for the TakeCharge! of Online Bullying Roundtable, to be held Thursday, October 3 at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. Dara Pomerantz, a senior at Western Branch High School in Chesapeake will be among 12 youth from across the country participating. Hosted by Cox Communications and USA Network's Characters Unite, the youth will talk about the impact of cyberbullying on their lives and steps they can take to curb the trend.


"The average family uses five Internet-enabled devices at home, and not all of these devices have parental controls like computers," said Gary McCollum, senior vice president and general manager for Cox Virginia. "Therefore, youth of today have a greater chance of being exposed to some form of bullying during their adolescence. Fortunately, there are resources available to help prevent bullying and support for those confronted by it, such as the resources available through TakeCharge!."


Take Charge! is a community outreach campaign developed by Cox to empower parents and caregivers to manage their children's access to mass media content. Now in its tenth year, this initiative strives to increase customers' awareness and use of the parental controls and filtering tools already available on cable, Internet and wireless services.


The Take Charge! Roundtable is being hosted in conjunction with the #UniteLIVE: The Concert to Rock Out Bullying. Presented by USA Network's Characters Unite, R&R Partners Foundations Flip the Script and Cox, the concert will be headlined by GRAMMY nominated, multi-platinum recording artist Carly Rae Jepsen. Jepsen is also being featured in a Characters Unite "I Won't Stand For..." public service announcement being aired on USA Network and on charactersunite. com throughout October, which is national bullying prevention month. Pomerantz will meet Jepsen at a VIP receipt prior to the concert.


Molly Ward Appointed to White House


Post, Resigns as Mayor The City of Hampton announced today that Mayor Molly Joseph Ward has been appointed as a Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director for the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and will step down as mayor, effective Friday, October 4. In her new role, Molly will lead White House engagement with mayors, county and municipal officials across the country.


Mayor Ward has served as mayor of Hampton for five years. Prior to being elected mayor, she served as the city treasurer. She is an attorney and of counsel with the law firm of McDermottWard, P.C. Hampton City Council named Vice Mayor George Wallace to replace Ward as mayor until an election is held, most likely in May.


Scott Commends Newport News on Community-Based Violence Prevention


Program Grant Award NEWPORT NEWS, VA - Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, the Ranking Democratic Member on the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations, joined Newport News Mayor McKinley Price, and Robert Listenbee, Jr., the Administrator of the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, in announcing that the City of Newport News has been awarded a Community- Based Violence Prevention Program grant.


The Community-Based Violence Prevention Program provides funding for localities to support federal, state, and local partnerships to replicate proven multi-disciplinary, community-based strategies to reduce violence.


Newport News will use the grant to help fund an expansion of the City's Targeted Outreach Program (TOP), which is a community-based collaborative youth violence prevention initiative. TOP provides comprehensive resources and prevention services to youth and their families in an effort to engage and empower them to make positive contributions to their families and communities.


"I am very pleased that Newport News has been awarded a Community-Based Violence Prevention Program grant," commented Rep. Scott. "This funding will assist the city in expanding a successful program that helps the most at-risk young people in our community stay on the right track by engaging a wide range of community stakeholders toward reducing crime and youth violence. This community-based approach has been shown to work time and time again. Numerous studies have predicted an average cost savings of $3 to $5 for each one dollar invested in evidence-based prevention and intervention initiatives. That is why Congressman Walter Jones and I have introduced the Youth PROMISE Act in Congress, which will greatly expand the availability of funding for successful, evidence-based programs like the TOP program here in Newport News. We shouldn't wait to respond to crime when we have reams of science and evidence to show that evidence-based programs applied in a comprehensive and collaborative manner, as the Youth PROMISE Act calls for, will help save lives, taxpayers, our children and society from the ravages and enormous costs of crime. Today's modest, but important, investment from the federal government will do just that here in Newport News."


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Sentinel Chicken Tests Positive for West


Nile and Eastern Equine Encephalitis NORFOLK, VA - The Norfolk Department of Public Health (NDPH) reports that two sentinel chickens have tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV) and one has tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). The 2 WNV-positive chickens are located in the Ballentine Place community, while the EEE-positive chicken is located near the Old Dominion University neighborhood. This is the only incidence that Norfolk sentinel chickens have tested positive for mosquito-borne disease this year. Weather permitting, the NDPH Vector Control Division will begin fogging in these area. Additionally, NDPH staff will increase mosquito trapping and surveillance.


Norfolk residents, especially people over age 50, should take action to prevent and protect themselves and their families from mosquito-borne illnesses such as West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis, spread to birds, humans, horses, and other mammals through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Most people bitten by an infected mosquito do not get sick. People who do get sick usually suffer a mild flu-like illness and those over age 50 are at greatest risk of serious illness, such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord).


• • •


The Virginia Department of Health recommends the following tips to reduce exposure to mosquitoes:


Check windows and door screens to ensure that mosquitoes can't enter your home.


• Wear long, loose and light-colored clothing. If possible, limit outdoor exposure between dusk and dawn.


• Use insect repellent with the smallest percentage of DEET necessary for the length of time you are exposed to mosquitoes. Use according to the manufacturer's directions and DEET should not be applied to infants under 2 months old.


• Turn over or remove containers in your yard where water collects, such as old tires, potted plant trays, buckets and toys.


• • •


Eliminate standing water on tarps or flat roofs. Clean out birdbaths and wading pools once a week. Clean roof gutters and downspout screens


For additional information on mosquito control or to report areas of potential mosquito breeding, call the Vector Control Division at (757) 683-2840, week days from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.


Portsmouth Fire and Rescue Participates


in Breast Cancer Awareness Month During the month of October, Portsmouth Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services personnel will be hanging up their uniform shirts and choosing to wear pink on the weekends. The Fire and Rescue personnel are joining forces with Susan G. Komen Tidewater to spread awareness, education, and to give financial support during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.


If you see Portsmouth’s Fire and Rescue personnel out in the community on weekends with their pink shirts, please introduce yourself, and ask them about their mission. They will give you information that will help to educate about breast cancer. Remember, early detection is the key to survival and the mission this month is to stress the importance of clinical breast exams.


For more information about breast cancer prevention, please contact Tammy J. Barton, Affiliate Administrator, Susan G. Komen for the Cure – Tidewater, (757) 490-7794.


The Suffolk Partnership for a


Healthy Community Turns 15 Suffolk, VA – Celebrating its 15-year anniversary, the Suffolk Partnership for a Healthy Community is marking its milestone with the launch of its $15 @ 15 campaign at the October 5th Suffolk on the Move 1 mile/5K Peanut Fest Walk/Run at Constant’s Wharf.


“As part of this milestone year, we want to raise awareness of The Partnership’s mission, celebrate our partners and inform the community of ways they can support and engage in health initiatives across Suffolk,” said Robbie Laughton, Executive Director.


Founded in 1998, SPHC has had a laser focus on health initiatives since then.


“Our mission is about bringing people together from across Suffolk to dialogue and create solutions to improve the health of everyone in the community—regardless of age or socio- economics.” “It’s a very collaborative and public approach to addressing the health gaps in Suffolk,” Caroline Martin, current President of the Board of Directors said.


“With our partners, The Partnership has made great strides in focusing its resources and targeting its efforts to improve and be impactful in the community,” Martin added.


Early in its formation, The Partnership conducted a community-wide health assessment. “It clearly pointed out a gap in access to healthcare services for the uninsured and working poor who could not afford to pay for health insurance,” Martin continued.


“That sparked people from


every part of the community—civic organizations, business and governmental leaders, churches and individuals—to join together and create a plan.” As a result, Western Tidewater Free Clinic came into being in 2007 and is now a free-standing, separate entity filling that gap.


Starting with a strong foundation has lead to establishment of other health-oriented initiatives with coalition partners:


• Community & School Gardens – 16 gardens are in place providing access to healthy foods. They sow seeds of opportunity, education and activity to yield a harvest of healthy, engaged and informed citizens.


• Suffolk on the Move – hosts active living opportunities throughout the year: bike riding, walks, runs and fitness events for people of all ages. In addition, smoking cessation classes are offered specifically for the adult population and Wii bowling events for the senior and special needs population.


• Positive Lifestyle Commitment Program – assists adults and at-risk individuals in health literacy by identifying healthy and risky behaviors, setting health goals and encouraging self- responsibility for personal health.


October 2013


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