12 The Hampton Roads Messenger


Volume 9 Number 5 Around Hampton Roads


Miss Virginia Visits Four Chesapeake Schools


Courtney Paige Garrett, Miss Virginia 2014 and 1st runner up in the 2015 Miss America Pageant, visited four schools in Chesapeake on Monday, December 15 and Tuesday, December 16,


2014. Third,


fourth, and fifth grade students at Butts Road Intermediate, Hickory


Elementary School,


and Southeastern Elementary School, as well as sixth grade students


at Hickory Middle


School, had the opportunity to listen to Miss Virginia present “How to be the best YOU that you can be.”


Defying Disabilities is the


platform issue that Courtney brings throughout the state of Virginia as her brother, Austin, has cerebral palsy and autism. Their experiences have molded her vision of respect, understanding, and above all, inclusive environments.


Courtney’s interactive presentation highlighted demystifying disabilities as well as leadership skills, community service, and anti-bullying. Students were encouraged to find their strengths, as well as traits to continue improving, and to celebrate uniqueness. Students participated in a fun and interactive game that showed how some individuals don’t have the luxury of their voices and communicate with their hands. Courtney wrapped up each visit with a song in which the students enjoyed singing along.


Empty Bowls Virginia Peninsula


Accepting Grant Applications March 20 Fundraiser presented by Hampton History Museum and Metro Productions. All ticket sales donated to local hunger-fighting organizations


Hampton, VA– Empty Bowls Virginia Peninsula, Inc., in partnership with the Hampton History Museum and Metro Productions in downtown Hampton, is now accepting grant applications for 2015. Selected grant recipients receive proceeds from an annual fundraiser. Deadline for applications is February 1, 2015.


The grant is open to organizations with 501(c)(3) status based in Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, York County, James City County or Williamsburg that help provide food for people in need in the local community. Empty Bowls grant funds must be used solely for food programs, although the organization may have other programs unrelated to food. The grant application is available online at EmptyBowlsVaPeninsula.org or by emailing EmptyBowlsVaPeninsula@gmail.com to request the form.


At the most recent Empty Bowls Virginia Peninsula event, held in March 2014 at the Hampton History Museum, the organization raised $13,000 that was donated to four local organizations helping to feed people in need in Peninsula communities.


The 4th annual event is scheduled for Friday, March 20, 2015, at the Hampton History Museum, 120 Old Hampton Lane, Hampton, Virginia. Talented chefs from local restaurants will present soups accompanied by crackers, dessert and beverages. Soup tasting, silent auction, raffle, cash bar and bowl selection will take place throughout the Hampton History Museum first floor. The event will receive guests 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 pm, and the festivities, including live music, will continue until 9:00 pm. Additional bowls will be available for purchase after the meal, and a portion of the proceeds from the cash bar will also add to funds raised for the charities. Potters and other local artists donate their talents to make the event unique and memorable.


Tickets will go on sale on January 15th at the Hampton History Museum. An additional ticket location will be at Starving Artist Studio located at 157 Herman Melville Avenue, Newport News, VA 23606, 757-594-0518. Tickets are limited due to space considerations.


The Hampton History Museum, located at 120 Old Hampton Lane, Hampton, VA 23669 is within walking distance of free on-street and garage parking.


For additional information on Empty Bowls of the Virginia Peninsula, please visit emptybowlsvapeninsula.org/. The Hampton History Museum is located at 120 Old Hampton Lane, Hampton, VA. There is ample free parking in the garage across the street. For more information, dial 757/727-1610, visit www.hamptonhistorymuseum.org, or follow on Facebook and Twitter @ HamptonHistoryM.


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January 2015


Newport News Schools Certified


as a Green School Division Newport News Public Schools is one of 33 school divisions in Virginia to be certified "green" through the Virginia School Boards Association's Green Schools Challenge, a competition designed to encourage environmental policies and practical actions that reduce carbon emissions and increase environmental awareness. The awards were announced during the association's annual convention in November.


NNPS received a gold certification for earning "green" points for its practices. To earn the designation, the school division had to be evaluated against 30 benchmarks for energy efficiency, waste management, green buildings, vehicles, educational opportunities, and teamwork with local government. Points are given for energy management policies and practices. The use of recycled paper and outdoor classrooms are encouraged.


Newport News Public Schools has implemented energy improvement programs, launched recycling programs, integrated conservation into the curriculum and created outdoor classrooms.


Over the past 11 years, NNPS has increased its focus on energy management. NNPS' plant services team is installing water source heat pumps, LED exterior lighting, tankless water heaters and utilizing energy control measures, along with replacing older windows with Thermopane windows, and replacing roofs with Energy STAR rated roofs. A district recycling program was expanded in 2009 to include the same materials collected from homes.


Native plants and recycled mulch are used in landscaping when feasible, and wetlands (part of the landscape at five schools and two other sites) are left undisturbed. In addition, NNPS' professional custodial staff uses environmentally friendly cleaning products.


NNPS is the only school district on the Peninsula to earn the VSBA green certification. The VSBA Green Schools Challenge was sponsored by Moseley Architects and ABM Building & Energy Solutions. sbo.nn.k12.va.us


Norfolk Councilwoman Rallies Community for Neighborhood


Beautification Project Norfolk, VA – Students and alumni of Booker T. Washington High School joined with Norfolk Councilwoman Mamie B. Johnson on Saturday, December 13, 2014 to invest a little sweat equity into their community.


The team of volunteers also included City of Norfolk staff, Dr. Samuel King, Superintendent of Norfolk Public Schools and Michael Desplaines, President and CEO of the Norfolk Botanical Garden.


The volunteers beautified the school grounds at the corner of Park Avenue by planting shrubs such as drift roses and azaleas, and ornamental grasses. Additionally, the volunteers learned tips about environmental conservation and how to appreciate and support their community’s environment.


The school’s surrounding neighborhood will now benefit from a colorful and vibrant school yard located on a major Norfolk thoroughfare. norfolk.gov


Keep Portsmouth Beautiful Forms to Build and Sustain a


Vibrant Portsmouth PORTSMOUTH, Va. – Keep America Beautiful (KAB) welcomes Portsmouth, Virginia to its expanding nationwide, community-based network of affiliates, with the affiliation of Keep Portsmouth Beautiful, Keep America Beautiful COO Becky Lyons announced.


“As part of our Keep America Beautiful Network, Portsmouth has pledged to act as a catalyst for positive community change, with the goal of improving quality of life for every resident,” said Lyons. “We welcome Keep Portsmouth Beautiful as an important part of our national affiliate movement, which is building and sustaining vibrate communities.”


Keep Portsmouth Beautiful will join more than 1,200 KAB affiliates and partnering organizations, including 24 statewide affiliates in the United States, and international affiliates in Canada, South Africa and the Bahamas. The KAB network of affiliates mobilizes more than an estimated 4 million volunteers each year to take positive action on environmental concerns. As a result litter is being reduced, solid waste is being managed responsibly, citizens are improving vacant lots, highways and other public spaces, trees and flowers are replacing trash heaps and mounds of scrap tires, and recycling and composting efforts are expanding.


“Clean, livable communities are the foundation for strong local economies,” said Lyons. “Keep America Beautiful affiliates use litter prevention as an obvious place to begin the process of instilling pride and a sense of personal responsibility for the appearance and well-being of one’s community. Our message is a clear and powerful one, and today many of our affiliates are spearheading the revitalization of entire regions and undertaking large- scale renewal projects in partnership with concerned citizens, businesses,


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