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12 The Hampton Roads Messenger


Volume 10 Number 2 Around Hampton Roads


Job Skills Workshop to be Presented by Chesapeake-


city's direction. This is their moment to lead.


Virginia Beach Delta Foundation Chesapeake, Va.—Female job seekers can learn interviewing skills, how to complete an application, how to prepare a resume, and other job-search related skills during “Tools for Success” a Job Skills Workshop being presented by the Chesapeake-Virginia Beach Delta Foundation. The workshop will be held Saturday, October 17, from 9 a.m. until noon at St. Joseph AME Zion Church, 1540 Atlantic Avenue in Chesapeake.


The workshop is being presented by the Foundation, in partnership with Reverend Dr. Sandi Hutchinson and St. Joseph AME Zion Church, as one of its initiatives to educate, enrich, and empower our community—which is at the core of the Foundation’s mission.


In addition to learning job seeking skills, attendees—who must be female, age 18 and up, and pursuing employment—will also learn how to dress for success. There also will be limited complimentary business attire available for attendees.


The workshop, which includes a continental breakfast starting at 8 a.m., is free and open to the public. However, registration is required by October 8. To register, please email cvbdfrsvp@gmail.com and place “tools for success” in the subject line or call (757) 548-5988.


Free Support for Moms-to-Be The Hampton Health Department is offering a new Baby Basics Moms Club, free and open to all pregnant women in Hampton (and their partner or other support person).


Topics include crib and car seat safety, breastfeeding, healthy eating and healthy relationships, pregnancy and labor, and more.


Meetings are on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at West Hampton Community Center, 1638 Briarfield Road, for 14 weeks from Sept. 22 through Dec. 15.


Registration is not required, and women at any point in their pregnancy are invited. Snacks will be served, and there will be giveaways, such as diapers. Participants at the Sept. 22 meeting will receive a free copy of the “Baby Basics” book and a pregnancy planner.


The group is funded by the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant and collaborates with the March of Dimes. Each Moms Club meeting is led by trained facilitators and focuses on health aspects of pregnancy


Moms Club offers a free prenatal education to all pregnant women in an effort to promote healthy pregnancies, prevent premature births, and improve birth outcomes. The program will help establish a support system among moms and health care professionals.


For more information call 757-727-1172 x 21737 or email meena.tamakloe@vdh. virginia.gov or visit www.bbmomsclub.com


Waterworks Department Facilities Manager Receives


Prestigious Fuller Award State drinking water industry honors Michael L. Hotaling


Michael L. Hotaling, Facilities Manager of Newport News Waterworks Department, was awarded the prestigious Fuller Award at the Virginia Section American Water Works Association (VA AWWA) annual conference on September 16, 2015. This is the highest award given by the state drinking water industry for dedication and involvement in the drinking water industry.


Hotaling was hired by the Waterworks in 1994 as Water Production Manager. He has a BS in Chemical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and MBA from Marist College. He has been a member of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) since 1990, serving on a multitude of technical advisory committees for AWWA to study and consider proposed changes to drinking water regulations. He has also supported research efforts by the Water Research Foundation through direct or utility participation. He currently serves as a Virginia Section Trustee.


The Fuller Award has been likened to the equivalent of being elected to the Virginia water hall of fame. Mike’s expertise is recognized across the state and nationally.


There have been five previous Newport News Waterworks recipients of the Fuller Award: E. F. Dugger in 1942; W. B. Harman in 1955; J. M. Pharr in 1967; Sherry L. Williams in 2001; and Brian L. Ramaley in 2003.


Statement of Mayor Paul Fraim Regarding His Decision Not to


By making this statement now, it will allow time for candidates waiting in the wings to declare and to articulate their vision for the future of the city. Elections should be about the future and this one will be.


It is comforting to know that Norfolk has made great progress over the last several decades. The quality of life is vastly improved. Our financial house is in order, so is our economy. Our wonderfully diverse population is growing. The city is safe. We have a strong council in place along with an excellent city manager and great city employees who are the backbone of our success. Numerous public and private investments in the future are being made. Additional investments are in the planning stage, all of which will position Norfolk for continued growth and well- being. There is good reason for optimism.


Many people have inspired and assisted me along the way, too many to begin to thank all of them now. As time allows, I hope to reach out to each one and express my deep appreciation for all they have done for me and our city.


I feel a true sense of obligation to those who have worked with me over the years to build a better Norfolk. I hope I have not disappointed them with this announcement. As much as I would like to continue to serve, the time is right for me to step aside.


The city lives and breathes. It fights for its life every day. It demands and deserves our very best. I have given it my very best for nearly thirty years. I will continue to do so until the end of my term.


United for Libraries Designates Bertha Mae Winborne Edwards


October 2015


as a Literary Landmark Portsmouth, VA – Bertha Mae Winborne Edwards, former librarian of the Portsmouth Community Library (1945-1963), won national recognition this month from The United for Libraries/American Library Association. The Association declared Edwards to be a nationally recognized Literary Landmark in the United States.


Edwards is the first African American Literary Landmark to be named in Virginia. She joins Langston Hughes, Frederick Douglass, Zora Neal, Richard Wright, William Faulkner, Dr. Seuss, Alex Haley and Gwendolyn Brooks and many others who also have been named as literary landmarks outside of Virginia.


The Friends of the Portsmouth Library President, Ms. Glenn Tinsley, partnered with the Portsmouth Community Library Museum, the Portsmouth Public Library, and the African American Historical Society of Portsmouth to nominate Edwards as a Literary Landmark.


The Literary Landmark designation recognizes any special location in a community that is tied to a deceased literary figure, author, or his or her work. Ms. Edwards was selected based on her dedication to developing the first comprehensive resource on Portsmouth’s 300 years of black history.


Edwards began her research on black history in Portsmouth as a librarian at the Community Library which served blacks during the period of segregation. Following the integration of the Portsmouth Library in l963, Edwards worked at the Court Street public library and continued her research there. Edwards continued to devote time to completing this groundbreaking project during her retirement years.


Edwards chronicled local African-American people, history and culture and compiled two volumes of black history in Portsmouth. Edwards also preserved the historic images of Lee Rogers, photographer and Portsmouth Star columnist who wrote “Colored Notes.”


Retired librarian Dean Burgess recalled, “We found a classic collection of black photographs dumped on the floor of the abandoned newspaper office filled with water. Because of Mrs. Edwards, this invaluable collection has been preserved.” Images from this collection are on deposit in the Portsmouth Library local history room and on-line.


Other volumes compiled by Edwards include historic biographical sketches of black males in Portsmouth in 1974 and 1996, a history of the Capitol Theater, and a history of black baseball in Portsmouth.


Sue Burton who worked as a librarian in Portsmouth for nearly four decades explained that


Edwards deserves a special place in Portsmouth history “for pulling together-- pretty much on her own-- a library to serve blacks during segregation and for saving a history of African


American s in Portsmouth that would have been lost otherwise.” Burton recalled that Edwards also wrote poetry as a personal pastime.


The Literary Landmark program is administered by United for Libraries. One hundred and forty Literary Landmarks across the United States have been dedicated since the program began in 1986.


In honor of this designation, the Friends of the Portsmouth Public Library, along with the Department of Portsmouth Museums, plans to host an unveiling and plaque dedication ceremony before the end of the year.


Run For Re-Election After much thought and discussion with my family and friends, I have decided not to run for re election as mayor of the city I love.


I have been involved in the civic life of Norfolk for four decades. I have served on the city council nearly thirty years, the last twenty-two as mayor. I have run in and won nine straight elections. Each time I have received the generous support and confidence of the voters.


It has been the honor of my life to have been allowed to serve my hometown as its mayor - the only job in politics I ever wanted. I am very grateful for the opportunity I have been given and I have cherished the long conversation I have had with the citizens about the well-being of our community.


I am encouraged in my decision by knowing that there is a talented, eager, younger generation here that also cares deeply about Norfolk and is prepared to guide the


Patrick Roberts Named City


Manager of Suffolk Suffolk City Council voted 8-0 on Wednesday evening to


offer Patrick Roberts the position of City Manager. The vote occurred during the New Business portion of Suffolk’s City Council Meeting.


Roberts has served in the Interim position since May 2015. He had served as Deputy City Manager since June 2008. Mr. Roberts previously worked for the City of Suffolk as Assistant Director in the Department of Planning and Community Development. Prior to that, he was Senior Assistant to the Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Richmond,


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